I ended my last post, Jesus is God, by saying that Jesus proved His claim that He was God by doing something that only God can do and that is to forgive sin.
Jeremiah 31:34 (HCSB) No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least to the greatest of them”—⌊this is⌋ the LORD’s declaration. “For I will forgive their wrongdoing and never again remember their sin.”
Isaiah 43:25 (HCSB)25 “It is I who sweep away your transgressions for My own sake and remember your sins no more.
Jesus, forgave sin on a number of occasions
Mark 2:5-11 (HCSB) Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”6 But some of the scribes were sitting there, thinking to themselves:7 “Why does He speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”8 Right away Jesus understood in His spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’?10 But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He told the paralytic,11 “I tell you: get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”
Luke 7:44-49 (HCSB)44 Turning to the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she, with her tears, has washed My feet and wiped them with her hair.45 You gave Me no kiss, but she hasn’t stopped kissing My feet since I came in.46 You didn’t anoint My head with olive oil, but she has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that’s why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little.”48 Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”49 Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
In this post I’m going to present additional evidence that Jesus is God through attributes, or characteristics that only exist in God
“ALL” is a big statement and I don’t have the space or the time to list all of the attributes of God that are found in Jesus but, I’ll give you a few here. These attributes, or characteristics are unique to God. These attributes are those which no created being can have because the one having them must be divine, must be God.
Jesus is eternal
There was never a time when God did not exist.
Psalm 90:2 (NKJV) Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.
Jesus was not created; He existed eternally.
John 1:1-3 (NKJV)1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
The Word did not become; he was. With God suggests equality as well as association. The Word was God (deity) without confusion of the persons. - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary.
John 17:5 (NKJV)5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
Hebrews 1:8-11 (NKJV)8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions."10 And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;
Colossians 1:15-17 (NKJV)15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
The divine Son, however, is the archetype, the effluence (a substance that flows out from something) of God's glory and not, as other men, its reflection - The Wycliffe Bible Commentary. (Bold mine)
Jesus is everywhere-present (Omnipresent)
Man is limited by a physical body, and can be only in one place at any one time. God, however, is spirit and can be everywhere in the universe at the same time. This attribute, is also related to His unlimited power to act and to know. God is present everywhere in the sense that everything everywhere is in His presence - He can see, know, and act in all places at once.
Jesus promised His disciples that He would be with them no matter where they were.
Matthew 18:19-20 (NKJV)19 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
People gather in Jesus’ name all over the world and many at the same time. The only way He can be present is to be omnipresent. While on the earth, Jesus limited His power by taking on a physical body, being physically present where that body was. Nevertheless, He possessed the power to be everywhere at once, a unique characteristic of God, in that He is able to see, know, and act upon events no matter where they are.
Jesus is all-powerful (Omnipotent)
Man and other created beings have limited power over other created things. Only God has unlimited power over all creation. Absolutely nothing is impossible for Him.
Job 42:1-2 (NKJV) Then Job answered the LORD and said:2 "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
Christ created the entire universe
Unlimited power doesn’t mean that God does everything He has power to do. It means that He has the power to do whatever he chooses to do. For example God had the power to kill every person in Egypt to force Pharaoh to release the His people but, He voluntarily limited His power to the first born sons of the Egyptians. With that said Jesus had all power because He was still God, but to fulfill His purpose as a human He limited the use of His power.
John 1:1-3 (NKJV)1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.2 He was in the beginning with God.3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
Hebrews 1:1-2 (NKJV)1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
While on earth, as a human, Jesus exercised power over;
Nature
Luke 8:24-25 (NKJV)24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.25 But He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!"
Physical Diseases
Matthew 8:2-4 (NKJV)2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Demonic Spirits
Mark 1:32-34 (NKJV)32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door.34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
Death
John 11:14-15, 41-44 (NKJV)14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him." 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me."43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."
If God has the power to do whatever He chooses to do, it makes sense that He also has unlimited knowledge and wisdom.
Psalm 147:4-5 (NKJV)4 He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name.5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.
Colossians 2:1-3 (NKJV)1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Peter and his friends were experienced fishermen and after working all night in a place that they knew well they didn’t caught any fish. Jesus however, a carpenter’s son and no fisherman, knew exactly where to go to catch the fish.
Luke 5:4-9 (NKJV)4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."5 But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; John 16:30; 21:17 - Jesus' disciples claimed that He knew all things. He never contradicted this claim nor rebuked them for it.
Peter needed money for the taxes and Jesus knew where to get it.
Matthew 17:24-27 (NKJV)24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?"25 He said, "Yes." And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?"26 Peter said to Him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free.27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you."
I know what you’re thinking. If Jesus is God, and all knowing, why didn’t He know when the end will come?
Matthew 24:36 (NKJV)36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
This is one of the mysteries of God that we do not have a complete revelation of today and, we may just have to wait for the answer. However I’ll attempt an explanation based on my study of scripture and research done by others. In the future I may do a post addressing this scripture.
During His earthly ministry, Jesus operated in the power of the Holy Spirit not by His own divine power.
John 1:32 (NKJV)32 And John bore witness, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.
Hebrews 2:9 (NKJV)9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
Jesus was ministering completely as a man under the Law.
Galatians 4:4-6 (NKJV)4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
We know that God is a Spirit and does not possess human characteristics or limitations, but when Jesus entered this world God chose to be revealed as a man in order for man to more easily grasp who He is.
John 14:9 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
In His humanity Jesus was completely dependent on The Father and had all the limitations of being human. As a human, and still God, He was not lying or admitting that He was not God when He said that He didn’t know the day or the hour of His own return.
Scripture is emphatic that only God can be worshiped.
Exodus 20:3 (NKJV) You shall have no other gods before Me.
Deuteronomy 6:13-15 (NKJV) You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you15 (for the LORD your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the LORD your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth.
Matthew 4:10 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "
Yet there are many examples of people worshiping Jesus. There is no account in scripture where He stopped the worshiper.
Matthew 8:2-4 (NKJV)2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.4 And Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
Matthew 9:18-19 (NKJV)18 While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live."19 So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.
Matthew 28:9-10 (NKJV)9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."
Matthew 28:17-20 (NKJV)17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
John 20:28 (NKJV) And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
The angels also worshiped Him.
Hebrews 1:5-6 (NKJV)5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: "You are My Son, Today I have begotten You"? And again: "I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son"?6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: "Let all the angels of God worship Him."
You may argue that this worship was improper. There are examples of people trying to worship angels and, in some cases Jesus’ disciples, but in those instances they were warned to stop.
Revelation 22:8-9 (NKJV)8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.9 Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."
Acts 10:25-26 (NKJV)25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself am also a man."
If Jesus was not God and He allowed others to worship Him, He sinned, and if He sinned He couldn’t be our Savior. In order to redeem mankind from the penalty of sin He must have no sin.
Yes Jesus is God
Jesus emptied Himself and took on the form of man and walked with His creation in the flesh for thirty-three years but He was and still is God.
1 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
In my first post I wrote about Jesus’ claims that He is God; in this post I’ve given you attributes that only God can have, and Jesus has these same attributes. In my next post I’ll talk about some other characteristics that only God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit share. I’ll get to the question you’re asking about how it’s possible to be the Son of God, Son of Man, and God all at the same time? Stay tuned.