Are God and Jesus the same?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

When we use the name "God," what are we actually saying? Who is God, and how does Jesus fit into the picture?

The Hebrew word for God is elohim, which is a singular noun with a plural ending. Genesis 1:26 uses that term. This means that there is one God, but more than one person shares that identity. So then, God exists in the form of YHWH, the Father (in relation to Jesus); Jesus, the Son (in relation to the Father); and the Holy Spirit, the indwelling presence of God in all believers.

All three of these persons share in the immutable divine attributes - those which cannot be given to any created thing. These are omniscience (all-knowing), omnipresence (everywhere at once), and omnipotence (all-powerful). Jesus shows us He knew everyone's hearts and thoughts (Matthew 9:4), He held power over all creation (Matthew 8:24-27), and He is now everywhere within believers through the Holy Spirit.

In addition to these characteristics, Jesus also shares God's glory (John 17:5), His holiness (Mark 1:24), His compassion (Matthew 15:32), and His love (Romans 5:8). Thus, we can confidently conclude that Jesus is God.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• When God made man, He said "Let us", pointing to a plural Godhead (Genesis 1:26). The word for God in Hebrew, elohim, is a singular noun with a plural ending.
• David points to a future King from his royal bloodline who will reign forever (Psalm 110:1-7). This is Jesus. Only the eternal God is "from everlasting to everlasting" (Psalm 90:2; Nehemiah 9:5), able to reign forever.
• Isaiah prophesied of a Savior doing things only God could, such as living a sinless life. (Isaiah 53:9)

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• John directly states that Jesus is God: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1).
• When speaking with religious leaders, Jesus calls Himself God, using the name He gave to Moses, YHWH, I AM (John 8:58). They took this as a claim to be God, which is why they picked up stones to kill Him (John 8:59).
• Jesus performed many miracles, including power over nature (Matthew 8:24-27), power over demons who knew Him as God (Luke 8:26-33), power over sickness (Matthew 8:14-15), and power over death (Matthew 28:5-6; John 11:25-26).
• Jesus is omniscient—or all-knowing—a trait that only God can have (Matthew 9:4).
• Jesus' sacrifice on the cross had to be perfect and spotless, meaning He had to have never sinned in His life (2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15). Only God could accomplish this, since everyone born of man has a sin nature (Romans 5:12).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

"Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 15:16). Jesus asked this most important of all questions to His apostles. Enlightened by the Holy Spirit, Peter got it right: "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 15:16-17). We must get it right, too. Virtually every theological heresy is connected to a misunderstanding or rejection of who God is. God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

"God" is the general term to describe those three persons of the Trinity. All three are God, moving in unique ways to accomplish the single mission of restoring mankind to its original state, walking beside Him in spiritual union.

Jesus came to show us the Father's heart, telling us the good news of salvation, dying in our place, rising from the grave to give us life, and reigning in Heaven for all eternity.

Despite what some today claim, Jesus was more than merely a moral teacher or a "good man." He is Emmanuel, God with us. This should stir our hearts to humbly bow before Him and to worshipfully thank Him for His sacrifice and love.

UNDERSTAND

• Jesus is the Son, the second person of the Godhead.
• Jesus shares every attribute of God, including omniscience and omnipotence.
• Jesus is the visible image of God, showing us the way back to Him and dying in our place.

REFLECT

• How does knowing that Jesus is fully God change the way you worship Him?
• In what ways do you see Jesus revealing the Father’s character?
• How does your understanding of salvation deepen when you reflect on the fact that Jesus is God and shares all divine attributes with the Father and the Holy Spirit?

ENGAGE

• How can we clearly explain Jesus’ divinity to those who view Him only as a moral teacher or prophet?
• In what practical ways can we help believers grasp the mystery of the Trinity without oversimplifying it?
• How does affirming Jesus’ full divinity strengthen our confidence in His sacrifice and resurrection when sharing the gospel?