Was Jesus God?
The answer of the Bible is an unqualified "Yes!" The Bible teaches that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit are one, and yet they are three. Note these statements from Scripture:
Isaiah 7:14 /Matthew 1:23 = Messiah/Jesus is to be named "Imanuel," which means, God with us.
Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Mark 2:1-12 "No one can forgive sins but God alone"
Mark 10:18 (also Luke 18:19) "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone?"
Our Lord existed in eternity past. He was the Creator (John 1:1-3; Col 1:15-19). He existed before Abraham (John 8:58). See Micah 5:2. John 10:30-33, 36-28
Jesus claimed to be "one" with the Father. They accused Jesus of blasphemy for making Himself equal with God (see also John 5). Jesus did not deny these charges. It is what He claimed, and what they thought He claimed. Thomas, on seeing the resurrected Christ, proclaimed, "My Lord and My God" (John 20:28).
John 1:51Angels ascend and descend on the Son of Man (Jesus), which is an image that is found in Jacob's dream in Genesis 28:12. John 14:9 "He who has seen Me has seen the Father."
While men and angels refuse worship, since they are not God, Jesus accepts worship as God: See John 9:38; Acts 10:25-26; Matthew 28:9; Matthew 14:33; Matthew 2:11; Revelation 19:9-10; 1:9-20.
Other texts refer to our Lord as both Jesus and God: John 11:4; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 5:20
Other texts which apply to this issue are: Hebrews 1:1-4; Philippians 2:5ff.; Colossians 2:9; Revelation 1:9-20
As to the possibility that Jesus is somehow a diminished version or representation of God, I would particularly consider: Hebrews 1:1-4; Colossians 1:15-19 (note especially v. 19); Colossians 2:19.
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