Is Jesus Christ God?
I have been studying God’s Word for a few weeks to equip myself for the Jehovah’s Witnesses who come by. They were supposed to return to study with me last week, but they didn’t. If they don’t come this week, I’ll conclude that they’re avoiding me. That would surprise me because I don’t think I was scary the last time we spoke and also I felt reasonably sure from the way they acted that they would come back.
I started looking for resources to help me in this study at Answers in Genesis. That link is to the ASK section, full of articles on all sorts of topics. They have many, many great resources, not just for understanding God’s Creation, but for understanding and defending our faith.
The main proofs for which I was searching were proofs that Jesus Christ is God. Jehovah Witnesses believe that Jesus is one of God’s creations and lower than God. I don’t believe this. AIG has at least two relevant sub-topics on the ASK page –> Jesus and the Bible. God’s word clearly shows that Jesus Christ IS God.
It seems to me that if I ever have a question about anything God-related, Answers in Genesis has the answer. What an awesome ministry!
You might really enjoy the article “Is Jesus God?” at “Intohislikeness.info”
Thanks! That is a wonderful and rich article! Love, Wardeh
I think it is great that you want to share the Truth with the JWs. My hubby is good at talking with them and we have a couple that comes by at least once a month. I prefer to not talk with them though I try to be polite.
A few weeks ago we had 2 groups in as many days come by
don’t they tell each other where they are canvasing? 
There is a book, “The Case for Christ” that I am beginning to read. I has a lot of information for non-believers or new believers. Our church will be handing this out as we interact with people, so I thought I should read it first. It has some good references and this may help you.
Lee
I do not believe that Jesus is God. The JW have it right on this one. I am personally not a Jw. If Jesus was God why then would he pray to his Father! when he was in the garden of gethsemene or how about when he told his apostles that he would soon ascend to his Father’s right hand. To assume that Jesus is God is to say that god is lying or misleading us when he said that he gave his ONLY begotten SON (Jesus) that who so ever believed in him shall have everlasting life. Why would Jesus go around saying that the ONLY way to the Father was through him (the son)!
The Bible is true as a whole. If we believe that God is God, that He is trustworthy, that He does not lead us astray, we must put all the pieces of God’s Word together for complete understanding. Jesus did say what you mentioned and I believe He was referring to His role, His job as part of the Trinity.
But he also said He is God.
God called Himself I AM:
Jesus called Himself I AM:
Jesus said Moses spoke to Him, yet Moses was speaking to Jehovah God, therefore Jesus is Jehovah God:
In Isaiah 43:25, God said He blots out our transgressions, yet Jesus forgave a paralytic man’s sins (Mark 2:5-7). If God is the only One who forgives sins, yet Jesus did it, then Jesus must be God.
These words refer to God…
And they also refer to Jesus…
Thomas addresses Jesus as God, and Jesus did not rebuke Him.
Based on these Scriptures, and many more, I believe we should call Jesus God — the God. These are other articles for your reference, all from Christian Apologetics Research Ministry (CARM.org):
Jesus’ Two Natures: God and Man
Bible Verses That Show Jesus is God
Jehovah is Jesus
100 Truths About Jesus
If Jesus Is God, Why Did He Say The Father Was Greater Than He?
If Jesus Were Not God, then Explain…
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. I do appreciate it, even though I disagree with your conclusions. ~Wardeh
I found your website because I was looking for a whole wheat tortilla recipe and came across your understanding of God and Jesus Christ. I believe that they are separate beings but one in purpose - I believe that they play different roles in the plan of salvation and that they are of equal importance in that plan. Just wanted to add my two cents.
Amy, I agree that God and Jesus have separate roles (”jobs”) and that they are one in purpose. But God’s word tells us that Jesus and God are One. Jesus Himself called Himself God (John 8:58) and He never rebuked anyone for calling Him God (John 20:28). The Spirit-filled writers of the Bible referred to God and Jesus with the same names. I don’t believe they were confused — they were spirit-filled! I mentioned other scriptures in my comments to capttea. Thank you for adding your two cents, I do appreciate it. Love, Wardeh
Isn’t Jesus and God all part of the holy trinity? The son, the father and the holy spirit? I once asked my methodist minister to explain how all three can be as one. He simply told me to just believe…. there is no exact reasoning behind it. He said we must just except the fact that Jesus is God and trust in our hearts that it is true.
Faith~Hope~Love~Believe!
Kelly, your minister is partly right. But if we are just to believe, we could believe anything. We must believe what God tell us through His Word. For great information on the Trinity, go to CARM.org, and scroll down to the Trinity section. Love, Wardeh
I recommend reading The Underground Bible by the Jewish scholar Elijah — the most remarkable book I have read about Christianity and the Bible’s writings. This subject is addressed in Chapters 16 and 36. It’s no wonder Jesus said ’salvation is of the Jews’ — it takes an understanding of the ancient Biblical language and Jewish thinking to understand many of the Bible’s teachings. The proof is in the Bible itself, but it takes some serious study to get the ‘right’ answer. You can also email Elijah at info@undergroundbible.com with specific questions. -Lucy
Hi, Lucy. Thank you for mentioning the book. I found the reference to the verse you quoted, it is John 4:22. I went to Elijah’s site and while I’m intrigued, I wish he would make more clear on his site what his big secret is.
I don’t agree that it takes an understanding of ancient Biblical language to figure out God’s truths. If that were true, God would have made every one of us a Jew. Also, Jesus said “suffer the little children and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 19:14, We need only a child’s faith, unpolluted and sincere and true, to come to the Lord. That is simple, not scholarly. Of course, God does ask us to move on in our faith to deepen it.
Can you tell me, since you’ve read Elijah’s writings, does he say that Jesus is God, or not? Or does he say something different? I really would like to know.
Thanks for chiming in. Love, Wardeh
Hello,
It’s great that you are going to talk to the JWs. I’ll pray for your meeting.
Forgive me if you already know this, but I recently learned that John 12:40 quotes Isaiah 6:10, and John 12:41 says that while Isaiah was in heaven in Isaiah 6, and saw Jehovah (the LORD) in His glory, and being worshipped, he was seeing Jesus.
Supposedly the NWT has the same cross references for John 12:40, but I’m still trying to verify that. Even if it no longer has the same cross references, Isaiah saw Jehovah (and so did Abraham in Genesis 18), but no one has seen the Father (John 6:46). So people have seen Jehovah, but no one has seen the Father. I’ve been trying to get JWs to debate me on my blog and YouTube, and none of them have been able to answer this.
Thanks,
Bill
No, I didn’t know any of that. I’ll add those verses to my studying. And I will pray that the Lord is glorified through your discussions! ~Wardeh
I started experimenting with making wheat berries into cream of wheat in my Vita-Mix this morning and decided to Google ” making cream of wheat from wheat berries”. Your website came up and I was delighted to find a “kindred spirit” to quote Anne of Green Gables. We share many common interests but most importantly faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you as you rear those precious gifts in the fear and admonition of HIm. Becky
Wardeh,
I am sorry but I can’t believe that Jesus and God are the same.
The following scriptures say otherwise.
Matthew 3:16-17
16 And Jesus, when he was abaptized, went up bstraightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the cSpirit of God descending like a ddove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a avoice from heaven, saying, This is my bbeloved cSon, in whom I am well pleased.
Luke 3:21-2221 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being abaptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
22 And the aHoly Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a bdove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
John 14:28
28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I ago unto the Father: for my bFather is greater than I.
John 20:17
17 Jesus saith unto her, aTouch me not; for I am not yet bascended to my cFather: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my dFather, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
Acts 7:55-56
55 But he, being full of the aHoly Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the bglory of cGod, and dJesus estanding on the fright hand of God,
56 And said, Behold, I asee the heavens bopened, and the cSon of man standing on the right dhand of eGod.
I do not wish to offend you or argue over scripture, for I believe that the “spirit” of the law is more important, than the “letter” of the law. Jesus taught by example: love, kindness, mercy, service. I feel that is the way all christians should live, and have seen that in you many times.
Love, Tiffany
Hi, Tiffany! You’ve not offended me. I love the Scriptures you shared! They are true — Jesus is God’s Son; I believe the entirety of the Bible is true. Scriptures (such as the ones I shared in other comments) show us in addition to being God’s Son, Jesus is also God.
I’m going to back up and explain why I believe every word in the Holy Bible to be true:
1) Its historical accuracy.
2) Its manuscript support, which is unparalled compared to any other work of literature the world has ever seen.
3) How God’s words explain the human condition, Creation, and God’s character.
4) Its fulfillment of prophecy.
5) Jesus Himself verified the authority of the OT writers, and He also authorized the NT writers (see A Look At The Canon).
So the Bible is God’s Word, therefore every word it contains is true. Scripture tells us this:
God’s Word also tells us not to add anything to His words that is not there:
We are also admonished not to subtract any of His words:
So here’s my point — God’s word is all true; no one should ignore any parts of it, or add things that are not there. In addition, we don’t need anything else to know God. Because the Bible tells us that Jesus is God (Psalm 45 w/ Heb 1) and also that He is God’s Son, the only understanding we can come to is that they are both true. That’s what God’s word says.
I also want to say that I don’t wish to offend. But I do wish to know and share the truth. I am not judgmental, but I care that everyone would hear the truth.
Love, Wardeh
Here is a talk by a man named Jeffrey R. Holland on this subject. He is a living apostle of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, just as Christ had apostles during his earthly ministry. I know you do not believe in modern revelation, but I know that we do. It burns true in my heart, and I feel a desire to share it with everyone.
Video:
http://broadcast.lds.org/genconf/2007/10/20/GC_2007_10_27_HollandJR__02381_eng_vc1.wmv
Text:
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-775-15,00.html
Hi, Erin. I certainly don’t mind that you share your links. I won’t be able to watch the video (because of being on a slooooowww dial-up), but I will read the text.
You are right that I don’t believe in modern revelation. My belief is founded on Scriptures which say that God’s Word is complete (2 Tim 3:16-17, Proverbs 30:6, and Revelation 22:18-19) and on the authority of Jesus — who authorized all the Old Testament writers and the apostles who gave us the New Testament. See A Look at the Canon for specifics on the authority of the Bible’s writers.
Love, Wardeh
Dear Wardeh,
I love your website and recipes, but especially appreciate the way you share the truth of God, and His word. It isn’t judgmental or haughty in any way, you use His word to share with others the truth. I will pray that He will use this site as a witness. That it will prompt them to search the scriptures for themselves.
Your sister in Christ,
Shari
Wardeh,
Hi, I just wanted to respond to the above comments. This is scripture from the Bible, that I believe to be truth.
Ezekiel 37:16
Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Ezekiel 37:19
Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
The stick of Judah represents the Bible, the stick of Ephraim represents the Book of Mormon.
I have more things for you also, but haven’t had time to put it together yet.
I hope you had a great weekend!
Love,
Tiffany
Tiffany… I am adding a new comment in response to your comment.
Greetings again Wardeh.
Elijah writes in Chapter 16 of The Underground Bible:
“God’s Spirit is a multiple Spirit able to be inside everyone at the same time. God’s Spirit is giving us life and operating our bodies. When Jesus’ personal spirit was glorified by God fifty days after the crucifixion, Jesus’ personal spirit was multiplied by God and became the Holy Spirit to enable his spirit to live inside all living human beings from that moment forward; and it doesn’t matter if a person believe it or does not believe it. It doesn’t matter if a person is black, green, white, yellow or red; or if a person is a Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, non-religious or other religion. Jesus is our Conscience, all the time, at the same time, and everywhere. The Bible says Jesus’ throne is right next to God’s throne. It even tells us it is on the right side of God’s throne. Since God’s throne is inside us, then Jesus’ throne is inside us right next to God. Hence, Jesus sits at the right hand of God.”
Elijah writes in Chapter 36, 1(e):
“God the Father knew Jesus’ personal spirit from the beginning. He was a very special spirit commissioned to carry out a very special job on Earth; but birth would wipe out all memory of eternity where he had traveled from to be born on Earth. The baby Jesus would be like any other baby born. He would have no special powers or understanding, and would have to grow and learn like all human beings. Liars would have you believe otherwise because that would inhibit you from believing you could reach the same heights of faith and power that Jesus had accomplished as a simple man. This is why the Bible tells us Jesus did not consider it robbery to make himself equal to God; and it is enough for the student to become equal to the master, but we can never learn more than the master, Jesus.”
Chapter 36, 2(b):
“Do not err. The Holy Spirit is a different Spirit than the Spirit who is God. The word ‘Holy’ is derived from the English word ‘wholly’. It means completed or 100% as opposed to a spirit with a lesser percent of completion. Therefore, the title ‘Holy’ tells us that this spirit was completed by some means, and was not totally complete prior to its completion. Since God was never completed, and God has always been 100% whole, we see that the Holy Spirit is not God the Father. Since, the Bible tells us that Jesus didn’t consider it robbery to make himself equal to God the Father, we see evidence that Jesus was not equal to God the Father, and therefore was completed by his trials on Earth as a man.”
Chapter 36, 2(c):
“Jesus is the Christ when he was a man living on Earth. He becomes the Holy Spirit, who is the Comforter, after his execution on the cross for a crime he did not commit. Then the Bible tells us, Jesus sits on the right hand of God, which is another reference to his being second to God the Father. Another proof is located in 1 Corinthians 11:3 where the Apostle Paul said:
‘I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.’
Simply analyze Paul’s statement and you will see it is speaking about three types of marriage relationships:
1) A human male married to the Christ.
2) A human male married to a woman.
3) A human male named the Christ is married to God the Father.
The Apostle Paul parallels these three relationships to show us how it works. The way a man marries a woman, is an example of how a human being must marry the Christ, and the two become one. Also, the same way that Christ marries a human being, the Christ married God the Father, and the two became one. The idea behind these relationships is dictating who the head of the marriage is, and who has authority over the subservient one. It dictates who makes the rules and who must be obedient to the rules.”
Chapter 36, 2(d):
“It also shows us that a man and woman are not the same person, neither can a man marry himself; nor is a man and the Christ the same person; neither is Jesus and God the same person; nor can Jesus marry himself. Therefore, Jesus became exactly like God and didn’t rob God by doing so!”
I hope this information helps.
Love, Lucy
Lucy, I am answering this in a new comment…
Wardeh, I apologize for a few typos in my last post — I was typing the information directly from Elijah’s book and my flying fingers skipped a few keys!
Love, Lucy
Lucy,
Thank you for clarifying Elijah’s positions.
1. He wrote in Chapter 16:
This cannot be true because of what God’s word says:
The Holy Spirit was present before Jesus’ death, therefore Jesus could not become the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit was poured out on believers’ after Jesus’ ascension into Heaven, yet Jesus couldn’t be the Holy Spirit because He was seated at the right hand of God: Acts 2:33 “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.”
I am not suggesting that the Holy Spirit isn’t God, or that Jesus isn’t God. Clearly, they are different persons because of the different roles they play in Scripture. But Scripture says over and over that there is only one God, only One who we worship, only One who forgives sin (Isaiah 45:22 — ” 22 “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.)
The conclusion is that Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit are all God — they’ve always been, they always will be. They are different persons, and one God. Not one of them was “made” before the other (Genesis 1:26 — God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.”)
These verses all mention the three persons — God, Jesus and Holy Spirit:
Yet there is only one God:
The Holy Spirit is God: (Acts 5)
2. Elijah wrote,
On the contrary, the only thing that matters is knowing Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) and Peter said “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) It is through the name of Jesus that one is saved; no other way.
3. Elijah also wrote,
Jesus is fully God:
Yet Jesus was a man, too: Phil 2:6 — “who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God”; Phil 2:8 — “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
There is a power at work in us, but it is not because Jesus was a man and gave us this example that we can attain this.
4. Elijah wrote,
I find this to be faulty logic. There is a subservient relationship between Jesus and the Father, between a husband and wife, etc. This has to do with their roles, not their nature. A man and a woman who are married are both humans. One submits to the other for the sake of order, purpose and efficiency. This doesn’t have anything to do with their nature. Jesus Himself showed this — He claimed to be God (John 8:58 — Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”) and He forgave sins (Mark 2:5-7 — When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”). While being God fully (there is only one God, by God’s own claim) he lowered Himself for a time to be our Savior. He was God the whole time, fulfilling a special role that was not performed by either the Father or the Holy Spirit.
You did help me understand Elijah’s position. I do not find his conclusions to be Scriptural upon examining them. Thank you for taking the time to type it all out.
Love, Wardeh
Hi, Tiffany. These verses do not offer support for the Book of Mormon.
1) The word “stick” refers to a piece of wood, not a scroll, in the original Hebrew.
2) The historical context surrounding Ezekiel’s words is that the tribes of Israel are split into a southern Kingdom (Judah) and a northern Kingdom (Israel). Ezekiel is encouraging God’s people that God will bring back together the people who have been divided.
In addition, the Bible does NOT pave the way for more scriptures (such as the Book of Mormon).
God tells us to search His word for the Truth: Acts 17:11 — These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Now what are the Scriptures? The Holy Bible. God’s word is complete (2 Tim 3:16-17) — “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” We should not add to it (Proverbs 30:6 — Do not add to His words).
Paul was the last apostle; He wrote, filled with the Spirit, that He was the last to see Jesus: 1 Corinthians 15:8 — “8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”
So, in searching the Scriptures, I find no basis for additional apostles or additional Scriptures.
Thanks for taking the time to share the Scriptures that came to mind. I will happily hear other things you have to say, and continue our discussion.
Love, Wardeh
Erin,
You posted the link to a speech by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Mormon church. Thank you for sharing it.
I have read it and have these comments.
1) He makes the claim that the doctrine of the Trinity is not to be found in the New Testament. Okay, perhaps the word Trinity is not used. I don’t think that’s what he meant, though. I read it that he doesn’t hold that the idea of the Trinity is to be found in the New Testament, the Trinity being defined as: One God, in Three Persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
This is simply not true, and I need only share God’s words and none of my own to show this:
These verses all mention the three persons — God, Jesus and Holy Spirit:
Matt. 28:18, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
1 Cor. 12:4-6, Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
2 Cor. 13:14, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Eph. 4:4-7, There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
1 Pet. 1:2, “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.”
Jude 20-21, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”
But the important part to note is that there is only one God:
“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me,” (Isaiah 44:6).
“I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God, (Isaiah 55:5).
There’s the Trinity, black and white.
2) Jeffrey Holland claimed that Joseph Smith saw Jesus.
According to God’s Word, Jesus promised us a helper (Acts 2:33) — “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear” until He returns when He comes “again to receive you unto Myself that where I am there ye may be also.” (John 14:3).
If Joseph Smith were to have seen Jesus it would be a contradiction of God’s words and we know that is not possible: 2 Tm 3:16 — “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
In addition, Paul was the last apostle; He wrote, filled with the Spirit, that He was the last to see Jesus: 1 Corinthians 15:8 — “Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”
For Paul to call Himself the last to see Jesus and also Joseph Smith to see Jesus is a contradiction of Scripture. Once again, that is not possible: 2 Tm 3:16 — “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
3. Jeffrey Holland wrote, “That day marked the beginning of the return of the true, New Testament gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the restoration of other prophetic truths…”
Yet Jesus said He would build His church through Peter. Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18)
Erin, I thank you for sharing the links. I appreciated being able to read them and see where you are coming from. Upon examining his words, I find them to be contrary to God’s Word.
Love, Wardeh