Q. Why do you Christians call Jesus "God" when nowhere in the scriptures does He ever call Himself this?

Firstly, the apostles called Yah'shua (Jesus) "God (Elohim)" and He never once corrected them, which He would have done if it had been blasphemous. Following His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples and invited doubting Thomas, saying "Thomas, reach out your fingers here and see My hands; and put your hand and place it in My side. Do not be faithless and incredulous, but {stop your unbelief and} believe! Thomas answered Him, MY LORD (Master) AND MY GOD (Elohim)! Jesus said to him, because you have seen Me, Thomas, do you now believe (trust, have faith)? Blessed and happy and to be envied are those who have never seen Me, and yet have believed and adhered and trusted in and relied on Me" (John 20:27-29, Amplified Bible). Notice, no correction or rebuke. Jesus accepted Thomas' worship.

Now consider John's testimony: "And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, in the world below, and in the sea -- all living beings in the universe -- and they were singing: 'To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour, glory and might, for ever and ever!'" (Rev.5:13, TEV).

Notice that there are two beings here -- the One who sits on the throne -- God the Father .. and the Lamb. In the chapter before we read how the 24 elders fell down and worshipped the Lamb (see Rev.4:10; cp. 5:1,5-7). The Lamb is one with, and yet distinct from, the One on the throne, God the Father. If, as many pseudo-Christians and New Agers maintain, that the Lamb is less than God, how would violating the first commandment, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me" (Ex.20:3, AV) be tolerated in God's presence? There is only one answer: Jesus is God just as the Father is God!

Two passages in Isaiah confirm this truth all the more. In Isaiah 42:8 we read: "I am the Lord; that is My Name! I will not give My glory to another or My praise to idols" (NIV). Remember the testimony of John: "'To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour, glory and might, for ever and ever!'" (Rev.5:13, TEV). The Lamb, Jesus, shares in God's glory; He cannot be "another". He is, as He said, "one" with the Father (John 10:30). In Isaiah 48:11 the Lord said: "I will not yield My glory to another" (NIV).

What should we do, then? "All (should) honour the Son as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent Him" (John 5:23, NIV). Though the Father and Son are distinct Persons, they are one God. The Father is God and Jesus is God. The scriptures clearly teach that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, three Persons in one Godhead.

Therefore it is very clear that both the apostles, as well as Jesus Himself, regarded Him as God. And if He isn't, then Christianity is meaningless, with no greater authority than any other religion.

This page was created on 18 April 1998 Last updated on 18 April 1998

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