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Summary Point

What are the reasons to believe that Jesus really is God?

Subpoints

Jesus validated His claim to be God by living a sinless life, performing miracles and rising from the dead.

  1. According to Jesus’ followers, He lived a sinless life, which no mere human could do.1,2

    • The Apostle Peter wrote – For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps. He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth; (1 Peter 2:21-22 CSB emphasis added)

    • The Apostle Paul wrote -  He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  (2 Corinthians 5:21 CSB emphasis added)

    • The Apostle John wrote - You know that He was revealed so that He might take away sins, and there is no sin in Him. (1 John 3:5 CSB emphasis added)

    • The author of Hebrews wrote - Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens-Jesus the Son of God-let us hold fast to the confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:14-15 CSB emphais added)

  2. Jesus performed miracles.1

    • Jesus asked people to believe His claim to be God, but pointed to His miracles as further evidence.

      • John quotes Jesus – Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves. (John 14:11 CSB emphasis added)

    • The Bible records Jesus performing over 35 miracles, including numerous healings.3

      • Jesus’ miracles in the Bible can be believed because of embarrassing details included in certain accounts.

    • In the example below, Jesus performs a miracle partly to confirm His authority to forgive sins.

      • But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -He told the paralyzed man, "I tell you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home." (Luke5:24 CSB)

  3. Jesus’ resurrection provides the ultimate proof that He is God.1

    • When the scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus for a miracle, He was indignant with them, perhaps because of their motive behind the request. Nonetheless, He predicted His death and resurrection as confirmation for His credibility and authority.

      • Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." But He answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. (Matthew 12:38-40 CSB emphasis added)

    • There is strong historical evidence for Jesus' resurrection.

      • There is no plausible natural explanation that accounts for this evidence.

Jesus is the perfect lamb of God

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but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. (1 Peter 1:19 CSB)

Links to external resources on this topic:

Anchor 1

Context:

  • According to core Christian doctrine, Jesus was fully human and fully divine. The prior page cited Bible verses related to Jesus divinity. Regarding His humanity, Jesus was born of a woman and below is one Bible verse that clarifies He was like us.

    • Therefore He had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17 CSB)

  • What are the reasons to believe that Jesus really is Lord (God) as He claimed to be?  Perhaps He simply lied about His identity or maybe He was a lunatic, really thinking He was God. Both of these options are unlikely, as Geisler & Turek point out:

    • Liar:  “Liar doesn’t fit the facts.  Jesus lived and taught the highest standard of ethics. And it’s unlikely he would have laid down his life unless he really thought he was telling the truth.”4

    • Lunatic:  “Jesus uttered some of the most profound sayings ever recorded. And everyone – even his enemies – claimed that Jesus was a man of integrity who taught the truth (Mark 12:14).”4

  • Based on what we read about Jesus, it is highly unlikely that He was a liar or lunatic.

  • Although liar and lunatic seem unlikely, we need stronger reasons to believe Jesus is God, which this page provides.

Anchor 2

Sources (complete reference information provided on SOURCE PAGE):

  1. Geisler & Turek, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, p.348.

  2. Website lists several verses: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Jesus-Christ,-Sinlessness.

  3. Geisler, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics, pp.484-485. (Geisler cites a number of miracles including those performed by Jesus. The same miracle recorded in multiple Gospels is only counted once).

  4. Geisler & Turek, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, p.346.

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