JESUS IS GOD: The Biblical Revelation of the Divine Nature of Jesus Christ

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba

Shimba Theological Institute

Introduction

The identity of Jesus Christ remains the most important question in human history. Christianity stands or falls on the answer to one question asked by Jesus Himself:

"But who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:15)

The New Testament consistently presents Jesus Christ not merely as a prophet, teacher, or messenger, but as God incarnate—the eternal Son of God who entered human history to redeem fallen humanity. The doctrine of Christ's deity is not based on a single isolated verse but on the unified testimony of Scripture. From Genesis to Revelation, God progressively revealed His plan to send the divine Redeemer who would conquer sin, Satan, and death.

This article examines the biblical evidence demonstrating that Jesus Christ is truly God while remaining fully human.

The Promise of the Divine Redeemer

God announced His plan of salvation immediately after Adam and Eve sinned.

Genesis 3:15 declares:

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel."

This first Messianic prophecy foretells a coming Deliverer who would defeat Satan. Throughout the Old Testament, God gradually revealed that this Deliverer would be far more than an ordinary man.

Centuries later, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed:

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

Matthew 1:23 explains that Immanuel means:

"God with us."

The Messiah would therefore be God dwelling among humanity.

Isaiah further revealed the divine identity of this promised Child:

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given...and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6–7)

A child would be born in time, yet He would be called Mighty God, demonstrating the union of genuine humanity with eternal deity.

The Incarnation: God Became Flesh

The New Testament identifies Jesus as the fulfillment of these ancient prophecies.

The eternal Son of God assumed human nature without surrendering His divine nature. He was not half God and half man; He was fully God and fully man in one Person.

This truth explains why the virgin birth was essential. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and therefore entered the world without inherited human sin while remaining genuinely human.

Titus 2:13 Identifies Jesus as God

The Apostle Paul writes:

"...looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:13)

Paul explicitly calls Jesus:

• Our Great God
• Our Savior

There is no distinction between two persons in this verse. Jesus Himself is identified as both God and Savior.

God the Father Calls the Son "God"

Hebrews chapter 1 presents one of the clearest testimonies concerning Christ's deity.

Hebrews 1:6 states:

"Let all God's angels worship Him."

Only God is worthy of worship.

Even more remarkable is Hebrews 1:8:

"But unto the Son He says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.'"

Here God the Father directly addresses His Son as God.

This passage alone destroys the claim that Jesus is merely a created being.

The Father Commands Humanity to Worship the Son

Psalm 2 speaks prophetically of the Messiah.

Verses 10–12 command the rulers of the earth:

"Kiss the Son...Blessed are all who take refuge in Him."

The Son is presented as worthy of the same honor and submission due to God Himself.

Jesus Declared Himself to Be the Messiah

At Jacob's Well, Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman.

She said:

"I know that Messiah is coming."

Jesus answered:

"I who speak to you am He." (John 4:25–26)

Jesus openly identified Himself as Israel's promised Messiah.

Jesus Claimed the Divine Name "I AM"

Perhaps no statement shocked the Jewish leaders more than Jesus' declaration:

"Before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58)

This statement echoes Exodus 3:14 where God revealed His covenant name to Moses:

"I AM WHO I AM."

The Jews immediately understood Jesus' claim because they attempted to stone Him for blasphemy (John 8:59).

Jesus was not merely claiming preexistence.

He was claiming the very divine identity of Yahweh.

Jesus Claimed Equality with God

Jesus declared:

"I and the Father are one." (John 10:30)

The Jewish leaders immediately responded:

"You, being a man, make Yourself God." (John 10:33)

Notice that Jesus did not deny their understanding.

Instead, He continued defending His divine identity.

Likewise, John records:

"...He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God." (John 5:18)

The Jewish authorities clearly recognized that Jesus was claiming equality with God.

The Son of Man in Daniel's Vision

Jesus frequently called Himself "the Son of Man."

This title was not merely a reference to His humanity.

It pointed directly to Daniel 7:13–14, where one "like a Son of Man" comes before the Ancient of Days and receives:

• everlasting dominion,
• universal authority,
• and worship from all nations.

During His trial before the Sanhedrin, Jesus declared:

"You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven." (Mark 14:61–64)

The high priest immediately accused Him of blasphemy because Jesus identified Himself as Daniel's divine Son of Man.

Jesus Existed Before Creation

In His High Priestly Prayer Jesus prayed:

"Father, glorify Me...with the glory which I had with You before the world existed." (John 17:5)

No created being possessed divine glory before creation.

Jesus claimed eternal existence with the Father.

Jesus Accepted Worship

Scripture consistently teaches that only God deserves worship.

Examples include:

• Exodus 34:14
• Deuteronomy 6:13
• Matthew 4:10

Whenever angels or apostles received worship, they immediately rejected it (Acts 14:11–18; Revelation 19:10; Revelation 22:8–9).

Jesus never rejected worship.

Instead, He accepted it repeatedly:

• Matthew 14:33
• Matthew 28:9
• Matthew 28:17
• Luke 24:52
• John 9:38
• John 20:28

Thomas declared:

"My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28)

Jesus accepted this confession without correction.

If Jesus were not God, accepting worship would have been sinful.

Instead, He received it because it rightly belonged to Him.

The Son Gives Life and Judges the World

Jesus declared:

"For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will...that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father." (John 5:21–23)

Only God possesses the authority to:

• give eternal life,
• raise the dead,
• judge humanity,
• receive equal honor with the Father.

Jesus claimed all four.

The command to honor the Son exactly as the Father demonstrates the equality of both Persons within the Godhead.

Peter's Confession

When Jesus asked His disciples:

"Who do you say that I am?"

Peter answered:

"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16)

Jesus declared this confession came directly from the Father.

The true identity of Christ is revealed by God Himself.

Conclusion

The biblical evidence is overwhelming.

Jesus Christ is:

• the promised Messiah,
• Immanuel—God with us,
• the Mighty God of Isaiah,
• the eternal "I AM,"
• the Son worshipped by angels,
• the One called "God" by the Father,
• the giver of life,
• the Judge of all humanity,
• the One worthy of the same honor given to the Father.

The doctrine of Christ's deity is not the invention of later church councils; it is rooted in the testimony of the prophets, affirmed by Jesus Himself, proclaimed by the apostles, and confirmed by the Father.

The Christian faith rests upon this glorious truth:

Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man—the eternal Son of God who became flesh to redeem sinners through His death and resurrection.

As the Apostle Paul declared:

"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." (Colossians 2:9)

And as the Apostle John concluded:

"We are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." (1 John 5:20)

May every reader respond as Thomas did after witnessing the risen Christ:

"My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28)

Soli Deo Gloria.

Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute