There is perhaps no doctrine of the Bible that has been attacked with greater subtlety yet vehemence than the doctrine of the deity of Christ—the indisputable fact that Jesus Christ is God and very God.
The very fact that this doctrine has been subject to these incessant attacks throughout history is itself proof of its biblical primacy. Because Satan could never fulfill His insidious and diabolical desire to be like the most High (Isa 14:14), it became obvious to him that he would have to settle to try to make the most High (Christ) like him—a created being.
Of course, it’s not enough to simply take a blog post’s word for it concerning this—or any—doctrine. Therefore, let’s identify some false doctrines concerning Christ’s deity followed by the true biblical doctrines concerning it, including seven places the Bible specifically demonstrates that Jesus is God.
Identifying False Doctrines Concerning the Deity of Christ in the Last Days
Atheism
Atheism is a discipline of thought that presupposes that God does not exist. Atheists are generally people who pride themselves on being intellectual, so they won’t deny the existence of Jesus Christ since His life is an undisputed historical fact.
However, an atheist believes that Jesus Christ was only a man. They’ll likely give you the fact that Jesus was a very moral, intellectual, and influential teacher and philosopher, but they certainly don’t believe He rose from the dead, because that would mean He was God, as He exercised power over death and of life.
This is what C.S. Lewis had to say about the Jesus as a moral man argument:
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else He would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Christadelphians
This is a group you may not have heard of, but you likely will at some point and you ought to at least know where they’re coming from. Their beliefs are very similar to some false teachings that date back as far as the 1st and 2nd centuries under the name of Gnosticism.
They believe that at a certain point in time, God created Jesus, just like He did man and the angels. As a created being, Jesus will never be equal to God or totally divine. They believe, however, that Jesus is the literal Word of God who became flesh. In that flesh, they believe He was a very special yet mortal man.
They believe that at His baptism, Jesus of Nazareth received the “Christ Spirit”, or His divine power, but at the beginning of His suffering on the cross, the “Christ” or “God” part left, leaving the man Jesus there to die. Since they assert that man has no soul, He ceased to exist during the three days He was dead, and then upon His resurrection they believe Jesus became the fullness of deity in bodily form.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Perhaps more accurately identified as Jehovah’s False Witness. They teach that Jesus was created by God just prior to the creation of everything else. Then, Jesus, a god (but not the God) created everything else. That’s why, where our Bible reads in Colossians 1:16, “For by him were all things created...” the Jehovah’s False Witnesses’ Bible, the New World Translation (NWT), changes the text to make it read, “By Him all other things were created.” There’s not a Greek manuscript anywhere in existence—or that has ever been in existence—that has the word “other” in Colossians 1:16.
And to make sure that Jesus is kept distinct from Jehovah, where our Bible reads in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” the JFWs have changed it to read in their so-called Bible, “And the word was a God.”
Mormons (Also called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
There’s a phrase used within Mormonism that pretty much sums up their theology: “As man now is, God once was. As God now is, man can become.”
Mormons believe that Jesus was created by God, and is a brother to Satan. They teach what is called “divine progression” or “divine potential.” The way this fleshes out in their doctrine is that Jesus was once just a man who lived on another planet, but He eventually progressed to a state of being equal to God and came to colonize planet earth with gods-to-be, or humans. But, unforeseen to Christ, Satan (and of course, you remember that he’s Jesus’s brother, and they had a little sibling rivalry as you know brothers are prone to have!) put a kink in Christ’s plan when he deceived Adam and Eve. As a result of their sin, Jesus was then required to die for fallen man—His creation.
Jesus, therefore, is a model for us, and we too have the possibility of becoming equal to God and colonizing other planets. They teach that there are millions of other planets being colonized right now, in this same way, in other galaxies.
Since its inception under Joseph Smith in the 19th century, Mormonism taught that men must marry as many earthly women as possible through a Mormon Temple ceremony to establish what they believed would be an eternal celestial marriage. Then, in the resurrection, all good Mormon men would call from the dead those women they married in a temple ceremony, at which time they would fly off to some uninhabited planet with their many wives and populate that planet where they would be God, just like Jesus is God of planet Earth. The church did not change their views on marriage until Utah was denied entrance into the union because of it, though it continues to teach a revised version of divine progression minus the polygamy.
Identifying True Biblical Doctrines Concerning the Deity of Jesus Christ
Obviously, the true doctrine of Jesus Christ taught in the Bible in no way, shape or form resembles any of the teachings we just listed above. The Bible teaches that:
• Jesus pre-existed His physical birth.
• He was the creator of ALL things and therefore is not a created being.
• He is the second person of the trinity.
• The Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit are one in essence and attributes, yet three in distinct work and purpose.
• Jesus is co-equal, co-eternal, and coexistent with the Father and the Spirit.
• The Bible does teach that one day we will share the divine pattern of moral conduct and be equal to God in righteousness, but mankind will in no sense ever be considered or have become divine, or equal to God in essence.
That’s what the Bible says, and anything less than that or more than that is a lie right out of the pit of Hell…literally!
But how do we take our Bibles and actually prove that Jesus Christ is, in fact, Jehovah God?
Biblical Proof That Jesus Christ Is Jehovah God
Section One: The Old Testament prophesies of a Divine Saviour
One of the biggest objections to the deity of Christ is the fact of His humanity. Many have a difficult time reconciling how it could be that the true God of the Old Testament, Jehovah, the self-existing One, the great I AM who manifested Himself to Moses (Exo 3:14) could be Jesus Christ, because after all, Jesus Christ was a man. He was a literal flesh-and-blood man who was born into this world at a particular point in time, just like all of us. What many fail to realize, however, is that the Old Testament prophesied the fact that Jehovah God Himself would be born into this world as a man.
Proof 1: Psalm 110
One of the key places this is revealed is Psalm 110, which is what is referred to as a Messianic Psalm—or a psalm that is prophesying concerning the Messiah. There would, no doubt, be some who would contend and/or contest my referring to this psalm in this manner, and would argue that I’m “leading the witness” by reading Jesus into the psalm before we even get started in order to make my own slanted point. However, this isn’t a Messianic Psalm because I want it to be, or because I say it is, or because I think it is—it’s a Messianic Psalm because the writer of Hebrews identifies it that way in Hebrews 1:13, 5:6, and 7:17. In each of these references, he quotes directly out of Psalm 110, with specific reference to the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Psalm 110:1, David begins by saying something monumental: “The LORD said unto my Lord, sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”
Notice several things here. First, notice that David begins by talking about “The LORD.” The word that is used here is the Hebrew word for Jehovah, identified for us in English in our King James Bible by the translators’ usage of small caps. And so David says, “[Jehovah] said unto my Lord...” Of course, the question is, who was David referring to as “my Lord”? Well, according to the references from the book of Hebrews listed above, we know that David’s reference to his Lord was none other than our Lord Jesus Christ! And the point is, 1,000 years before Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, David already recognized that the Messiah existed, that the Messiah was His Lord, and that He would one day come to this earth to mete out His judgment upon His enemies (Ps 110:1, Rev 19:15).
But note something else about this psalm! It isn’t just my cutesie little argument to prove the deity of Jesus Christ. Did you know the Lord Jesus Christ Himself used this very psalm as proof of His deity in the Gospel of Matthew 22?
In Matthew 22, the Pharisees were, as was their mode of operation, trying to trip Jesus up. Through their willful blindness to the reality of who Christ was, they had defiantly determined that Jesus wasn’t the Christ (the promised Messiah of the Old Testament), so they were trying to somehow catch Him in His words to justify their beliefs concerning Him.
In this passage, the Sadducees had already given it their best shot and Christ had shut them up (22:34), so the Pharisees thought they would give it a shot. In verses 35-36, they contract a lawyer to do their bidding—obviously, he was somebody known for being quick on his feet and able to catch liars and phonies in their words. This lawyer asks Jesus a question about which was the greatest commandment in the law. Jesus answers in such an impeccable fashion in verses 37 to 40, and it was apparent that they weren’t going to get anything to go off on.
But then in verse 41, Jesus returns the favor. He has a question for them! Verse 41 says, “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, What think ye of Christ?” And you see, He knows they don’t think He’s the Christ—so He asks them in verse 42 regarding this One who was promised in the Old Testament who would come to this earth as the Christ, saying, “Whose son is he?” They respond that he is the son of David. So then Jesus asks them in verses 43-45, “How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?”
Of course, He’s quoting Psalm 110:1 here! Then Jesus faces them with an irrefutable question: “If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?” And check out verse 46 (I love this!): “And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.” In the words of Titus 1:11, Jesus stopped their mouths! In my words, He shut ‘em up!
Jesus knew that a proper understanding of Psalm 110 proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that the Christ who would come would be the Savior of the world; that He pre-existed His physical birth; and was, in fact, God! Jesus calls these things to their attention from Psalm 110, and they didn’t ask any more questions—because they understood the answer! You see, the Old Testament was very clear that the Christ who would come would be none other than God Himself!
That alone is proof enough for any person who is genuinely seeking the truth concerning Christ’s deity, but it is perhaps the prophet Isaiah that makes the Old Testament prediction that a Divine Savior would come clearer than anyone else.
Proof 2: Isaiah 7
In Isaiah 7, I want you to see the prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus Christ in verse 14 (actually a double prophecy!):
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
The first part of the prophecy is that you’ll know the Messiah has come by a sign. That is, He’ll come by way of a miraculous birth—a virgin birth. A virgin, having never physically been with a man, will conceive and give birth to a son. The second part of the prophecy is that his name will be called Immanuel. I wonder why God points out that the Messiah’s name will be “Immanuel”?
Of course, the fulfillment of those two prophecies is found in the New Testament book of Matthew. In Matthew 1:18, Joseph finds out that Mary is with child, and at this point all he knew was that the child wasn’t his! But the passage goes on:
Matthew 1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
The angel is telling Joseph that Mary is the virgin of Isaiah 7:14 who would conceive having never known a man. The next few verses provide necessary commentary so there could be absolutely no doubt about what all of this comes together to mean.
Matthew 1:22-23 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
And that’s exactly what the Lord prophesied through Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14! He spells out exactly who Jesus is; He is God! And not just the God who is “out there”, but the God who is with us.
Proof 3: Isaiah 9
There are also other names that the Old Testament prophesied of Christ that further prove His deity. For example, Isaiah 9:6 says: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder…” So we already know the context. This is in reference to the virgin-born Son who would establish on this earth a governmental kingdom over which He will rule and reign—which, of course, is Jesus Christ. And watch what verse 6 goes on to say: “and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God...”
Though it would seem this verse completely seals the deal, some (such as the Jehovah’s False Witnesses) say, “Well, God the Father created Him at some time in eternity past. So, yeah, He’s a God. He’s even a mighty God. But that doesn’t mean He’s equal to God the Father!”
Well, the next title blows that theory right out of the water, because this child who is born just happens to be referred to as the Everlasting Father! In other words, He is the very self-existent One! He is the One who has always been and will always be—co-existent, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father! Hallelujah!
Section Two: The Bible specifically refers to Jesus Christ as Jehovah
This is both a monumental and irrefutable point! Since the Jehovah’s False Witnesses believe that “Jehovah” is the one true name of the one true God, if we could just come up with some verses that specifically apply the term “Jehovah” to “Jesus Christ,” it would annihilate their entire theology.
You say, “Are there verses that do that?” Well, I’m glad you asked! Let’s look together, beginning in Isaiah 6.
Proof 4: Isaiah 6
This is a very familiar passage of Scripture. It’s where Isaiah writes about the vision he received when he was caught up to the very throne room of God, when he saw Him high and lifted up, His train filling the temple, and the angelic hosts crying out His triune holiness. But I want to call your attention to Isaiah’s response to it all in verse 5: ”Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
Pay close attention to who it is that Isaiah says he saw! He saw “the LORD”—and notice again, that it bears the King James identification of the Hebrew word for Jehovah.
Now, with that in mind, let’s take a look at John 12, beginning in verse 37. The Apostle John writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “But though [Jesus] had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him.”
John continues under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, saying that the reason people rejected Christ despite His unexplainable miracles was for this purpose:
John 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.
And now, here comes the major blockbuster in verse 41! John says: “These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.” To whom is John referring in this passage? He’s clearly referring to Christ!
However, back in the account to which John is referencing in Isaiah 6, Isaiah said that he saw Jehovah and was speaking of Jehovah’s glory. The Holy Spirit inspires John to reference Isaiah 6 to show us that when Isaiah saw Jehovah’s glory, he was seeing Christ’s glory, because Jesus is Jehovah!
Proof 5: Isaiah 40
Another case in point is in Isaiah 40. This is another familiar portion of Scripture because it’s a very famous prophecy concerning John the Baptist.
Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD.
There’s no doubt about who Isaiah is referencing here. Both John 1:22-23 and Matthew 3:1-3 tell us very specifically that this voice crying in the wilderness was an Old Testament reference to John the Baptist proclaiming to Israel that the Messiah was about to arrive.
In John 1:23, John the Baptist himself said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias” as Jesus was about to begin His earthly ministry (also see Matthew 3:3). But watch how Isaiah identifies the One for whom John the Baptist was preparing the way! Isaiah 40:3 specifically says, “...prepare ye the way of the LORD.” And to whom is Isaiah referring in this passage by his usage of the Old Testament phrase “the LORD”? As we’ve talked about earlier, he’s using terminology that lets us know he’s referring to Jehovah. We can clearly see that comparing Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3:3, and John 1:23 shows that Jesus is Jehovah God.
Proof 6: Jeremiah 23
Please allow me to highlight yet another prophecy in the book of Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment, and justice in the earth.
And there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind about who it is of whom Jeremiah is prophesying! This is obviously a Messianic prophecy, fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ.
But notice the next verse:
Jeremiah 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
This verse tells us that one of the names of Jesus is Jehovah Our Righteousness! Once again, another clear Old Testament prophecy concerning Jehovah that was fulfilled in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Proof 7: Joel 2
Let’s look at one last example, this time in the book of Joel.
Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered.
Now look at the fulfillment of this prophecy as Peter is preaching in Acts 2:
Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Now, it’s important to recognize that in this passage, Peter is preaching Jesus to the nation of Israel on the Day of Pentecost, showing that He was, in fact, the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. And notice that he takes them back to the prophecies in the Book of Joel. He quotes Joel 2:32, reminding them that “...whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD (Jehovah) shall be delivered.” But don’t miss the fact that in Acts 2:21, when Peter quotes this verse here to the nation of Israel, he does so in reference to Jesus!
And as if that wasn’t clear enough, in Romans 10:13, Joel 2:32 is quoted again. Paul says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Paul uses that verse here, just like Peter did in Acts 2, in reference to our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice back in Romans 10:9, where Paul says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
As we’ve seen, there are numerous, specific proofs within the Bible declaring that Jesus Christ was not just a godly man, a divine person, or a “little-g” god—and these aren’t even all of them! Instead, it’s very clear that the Bible proclaims He was and is the very Jehovah God of creation.
To hear the testimony of Mark Trotter, check out this episode of the Postscript.
Mark Trotter is the Associate Pastor of ONE Baptist Church in Douglasville, GA and the author of 52 Weeks of Pursuit and The Keys of Bible Study.
For more content about the deity of Christ, listen to the recent episodes of Theology Roundtable, a podcast featuring pastors from the Living Faith Fellowship.