JESUS IS DIVINE

By Kevin Rutherford

Jesus said, “...for if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). The word “He” is italicized indicating it is not found in the Greek text. That is why I left it out of the above quote. Jesus also said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). The term “I AM” was used by God to identify Himself to Moses and the Jews (Exodus 3:14). This is an expression that indicates both the eternal and divine nature of Jesus Christ. To deny that Jesus Christ is divine is to call Him a liar.

John identified Jesus Christ as the “Word” (John 1:14). John tells us that the Word was God, and the Word made all things (John 1:1-3). If all that has been created was made by Jesus Christ, then Jesus Christ is not a created being. Rather He is the Divine Creator. Jesus is the firstborn over all creation in the sense that He has authority over all creation (Matthew 28:18; Colossians 1:15). He has this authority because the Father gave it to Him and because He is the Divine Creator (Colossians 1:16-18). To deny that Jesus is divine is to call John and Paul liars.

When Isaiah prophesied of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, he said that Jesus shall be called “Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). When Matthew recorded the fulfillment of this prophecy he told us the translation of the word “Immanuel” is “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Matthew told us Jesus was “God with us.” To deny the deity of Jesus Christ is to call Matthew a liar. In fact, to deny the divine nature of the Christ is to attack the very integrity of the Word of God.