Why do Christians believe Jesus is God?
Join Jack and Kitty’s Voice of Faith Newsletter
Question: Why do Christians believe Jesus is God?
Answer:
Christians believe Jesus is God based on several theological, biblical, and historical reasons. Here are the key points that support this belief:
1. Biblical Evidence
- Divine Titles and Attributes: The New Testament attributes titles and qualities to Jesus that are reserved for God. For instance, Jesus is called “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). He is referred to as “the Word” in John 1:1, which states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
- Jesus’ Claims: Jesus himself made claims to divinity. In John 10:30, Jesus says, “I and the Father are one,” which the Jews understood as a claim to divinity, leading them to accuse him of blasphemy. In John 8:58, Jesus states, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” echoing God’s self-identification in Exodus 3:14.
- Worship and Prayer: Jesus accepted worship, which is due only to God (Matthew 14:33, John 20:28). Additionally, prayers are directed to Jesus (Acts 7:59).
2. Early Church Teachings
- Apostolic Teaching: The apostles taught the divinity of Jesus. For example, Paul refers to Jesus as “our great God and Savior” in Titus 2:13. Philippians 2:6-7 speaks of Jesus, “who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.”
- Creedal Formulations: Early Christian creeds affirm the divinity of Jesus. The Nicene Creed (325 AD) states that Jesus is “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.”
3. Historical Witnesses
- Early Church Fathers: The writings of early church fathers such as Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, and Irenaeus of Lyons affirm the divinity of Jesus. These early theologians defended the belief against various heresies and contributed to the development of orthodox Christian doctrine.
- Council Decisions: Ecumenical councils, such as the Council of Nicaea and the Council of Chalcedon, formalized the doctrine of Jesus’ divinity, condemning views that denied it, such as Arianism.
4. Theological Reasoning
- Incarnation: The doctrine of the Incarnation teaches that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:14). This belief is foundational to understanding Jesus’ dual nature as fully God and fully human.
- Atonement and Salvation: The Christian understanding of salvation requires Jesus to be divine. Only a perfect, sinless being could atone for the sins of humanity (Hebrews 9:14).
These points, supported by scriptural, historical, and theological evidence, form the basis for the Christian belief in the divinity of Jesus Christ.