The Divinity of Jesus Christ: Overview | Cross & Crescent Ministries

The Divinity of Jesus Christ:

Overview

Question: Does the New Testament identify Jesus as God?

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Overview

The divinity of Jesus is established in the New Testament by Jesus claiming divine attributes and divine authority. In addition to this, the New Testament authors apply to Jesus the exclusive titles and descriptions of God from the Old Testament. It should be noted that although Jesus is God, Jesus is not the Father and Jesus is not the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Second Person of the Triune God: Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit.

The following is an overview of Jesus being identified as God in the New Testament.

The Lord of the Sabbath: The Old Testament says that God is the Lord of the Sabbath (Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:8-11, 31:12-17 & Leviticus 23:1-3). The New Testament says that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-8, Mark 2:23-28 & Luke 6:1-5).

The Walk of God: The Old Testament says that God stretches out the heavens and walks on the waves of the sea (Job 9:8-11). The New Testament says that Jesus walks on the waves of the sea (Matthew 14:22-34, Mark 6:45-53 & John 6:16-21).

The Recipient of Prayer: The Old Testament says that the Jewish people call on the name of the LORD in prayer and worship (Genesis 4:25-26, 12:8, 13:3-4, 21:33, Psalm 99:6-7, 116:1-4, 116:13, 116:17 & Joel 2:32). The New Testament says that Christians call on the name of Jesus in prayer and worship (John 14:13-14, Acts 9:1-22, Romans 10:9-13 & 1 Corinthians 1:1-3).

The First & Last: The Old Testament says that God is the First and Last (Isaiah 41:4, 44:6 & 48:12-13). The New Testament says that Jesus is the First and Last (Revelation 1:17-18, 2:8 & 22:12-13).

The Almighty Creator: The Old Testament says that God is the Almighty Creator (Genesis 1:1, Exodus 20:8-11, Psalm 102:23-28 & Isaiah 48:12-13). The New Testament says that Jesus is the Almighty Creator (John 1:1-3, 1:10, 1 Corinthians 8:4-6, Colossians 1:15-17, Hebrews 1:1-3 & 1:10-12).

The Jewish Shema: The Old Testament says that Jehovah is the One God of the Jewish Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). The New Testament says that God the Father and the Lord Jesus are the One God of the Jewish Shema (1 Corinthians 8:4-6).

In summary, Jesus is God (John 1:1-3, 1:18, Acts 20:28, Romans 9:1-5 & 1 John 5:20) according to the New Testament.

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Bible Passages - The Lord of the Sabbath

Genesis 2:2-3

(2) By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. (3) Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Exodus 20:8-11

(8) Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. (9) Six days you shall labour and do all your work, (10) but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. (11) For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 31:12-17

(12) Then the LORD said to Moses, (13) “Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. (14) Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. (15) For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. (16) The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. (17) It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”

Leviticus 23:1-3

(1) The LORD said to Moses, (2) “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. (3) There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the LORD.

Matthew 12:1-8

(1) At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. (2) When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

(3) He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? (4) He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread - which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. (5) Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? (6) I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. (7) If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. (8) For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Mark 2:23-28

(23) One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. (24) The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

(25) He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? (26) In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”

(27) Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. (28) So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Luke 6:1-5

(1) One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. (2) Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

(3) Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? (4) He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” (5) Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Bible Passages - The Walk of God

Job 9:8-11

(8) He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. (9) He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. (10) He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. (11) When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.

Matthew 14:22-34

(22) Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. (23) After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, (24) and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

(25) Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. (26) When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

(27) But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

(28) “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

(29) “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (30) But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

(31) Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

(32) And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. (33) Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

(34) When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.

Mark 6:45-53

(45) Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. (46) After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

(47) Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. (48) He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, (49) but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, (50) because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (51) Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, (52) for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

(53) When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.

John 6:16-21

(16) When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, (17) where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. (18) A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. (19) When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. (20) But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” (21) Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Bible Passages - The Recipient of Prayer

Genesis 4:25-26

(25) Adam made love to his wife again, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.” (26) Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the LORD.

Genesis 12:8

(8) From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.

Genesis 13:3-4

(3) From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier (4) and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD.

Genesis 21:33

(33) Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God.

Psalm 99:6-7

(6) Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the LORD and he answered them. (7) He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.

Psalm 116:1-4, 116:13 & 116:1

(1) I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. (2) Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. (3) The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. (4) Then I called on the name of the LORD: “LORD, save me!”

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(13) I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.

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(17) I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.

Joel 2:32

(32) And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.

John 14:13-14

(13) And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Acts 9:1-22

(1) Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest (2) and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. (3) As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. (4) He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

(5) “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. (6) “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

(7) The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. (8) Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. (9) For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

(10) In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

(11) The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. (12) In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

(13) “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. (14) And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

(15) But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. (16) I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

(17) Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord - Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here - has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” (18) Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, (19) and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. (20) At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. (21) All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” (22) Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

Romans 10:9-13

(9) If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (11) As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (12) For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, (13) for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

1 Corinthians 1:1-3

(1) Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, (2) to the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ - their Lord and ours: (3) Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Bible Passages - The First & Last

Isaiah 41:4

(4) Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD - with the first of them and with the last - I am He.

Isaiah 44:6

(6) This is what the LORD says - Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the First and I am the Last; apart from me there is no God.

Isaiah 48:12-13

(12) Listen to me, Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am He; I am the First and I am the Last. (13) My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together.

Revelation 1:17-18

(17) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. (18) I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Revelation 2:8

(8) To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: "These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.

Revelation 22:12-13

(12) Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. (13) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.

Bible Passages - The Almighty Creator

Genesis 1:1

(1) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Exodus 20:8-11

Psalm 102:23-28

(23) In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days. (24) So I said: “Do not take me away, my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations. (25) In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. (26) They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. (27) But you remain the same, and your years will never end. (28) The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.”

Isaiah 48:12-13

John 1:1-3

(1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was with God in the beginning. (3) Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

John 1:10

(10) He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6

(4) So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world” and that “There is no God but one.” (5) For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), (6) yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

Colossians 1:15-17

(15) The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. (16) For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. (17) He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Hebrews 1:1-3

(1) In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, (2) but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. (3) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Hebrews 1:10-12

(10) He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. (11) They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. (12) You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

Bible Passages - The Jewish Shema

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

(4) Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (5) Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

1 Corinthians 8:4-6

Bible Passages - God

John 1:1-3

John 1:18

(18) No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Acts 20:28

(28) Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Romans 9:1-5

(9) I speak the truth in Christ - I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit - (2) I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. (3) For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, (4) the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. (5) Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

1 John 5:20

(20) We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

See 1 John 1:1-4

(1) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched - this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. (2) The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. (3) We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. (4) We write this to make our joy complete.