Jesus is God: The Central Truth of Christianity

Among the many titles attributed to Jesus—teacher, prophet, healer—one essential truth stands at the core of Christian faith: Jesus is God. This fundamental aspect of His identity is not merely a title; it is the profound reality that distinguishes Christianity from other religions and philosophies.

While many outside the Christian faith are comfortable recognizing Jesus as a moral guide or a wise prophet, they often stop short of acknowledging His divinity. Moreover, some within the Christian community, influenced perhaps by a desire for ecumenism, may downplay this truth in the pursuit of common ground with other faiths. However, such concessions obscure the true nature of Jesus and lead to a dilution of the gospel.

Biblical Affirmations of Jesus’ Divinity

The New Testament is replete with evidence of Jesus’ divinity. John’s Gospel opens with unequivocal clarity: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). Here, Jesus is identified as the Word, existing from the beginning with God, and being God Himself. This verse not only affirms His eternal nature but also His active role in creation: “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:3).

Moreover, Jesus Himself makes statements about His divine identity that leave little room for ambiguity. In John 10:30, Jesus declares, “I and the Father are one.” This assertion of unity with God the Father provoked fierce reactions from the religious leaders of His day, who understood clearly that He was claiming divinity, a claim for which they sought to stone Him for blasphemy (John 10:31-33).

The Resurrection: Ultimate Proof of Divinity

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead serves as the ultimate vindication of His claims to divinity. Romans 1:4 states that He "was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead." The resurrection is not just a testament to God’s power but also a declaration of Jesus' divine nature. It confirms His victory over death and His authority to grant eternal life, something only God can do.

Furthermore, the apostle Thomas’ response upon witnessing the resurrected Christ underscores this truth profoundly. He exclaims, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28), a declaration of Jesus’ divinity that Jesus does not correct but accepts, thereby confirming His identity as God.

The Importance of Upholding Jesus' Divinity

To deny that Jesus is God is to ignore the overwhelming biblical evidence and the foundational creed of the Christian faith. Such denial not only distorts the true essence of who Jesus is but also undermines the salvation He offers. For if Jesus were not God, His death could not have atoned for the sins of humanity, nor could His resurrection offer us the hope of eternal life. It is imperative, then, that we hold firmly to the truth of Jesus’ divinity, proclaiming it boldly as the cornerstone of our faith and the sure foundation of our hope.