I’m not a Christian, please educate me on how Jesus is God?
Asked & Answered
The belief that Jesus is God is a central tenet of Christianity, rooted in the doctrine of the Trinity, which holds that God exists as three persons in one essence: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. This belief is complex, and different Christian denominations may emphasize various aspects of it, but I’ll provide a general explanation.
1. The Doctrine of the Trinity: Christians believe in one God who is revealed in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. These three are not separate gods but are distinct persons within the one essence of God. This concept is known as the Trinity.
2. Jesus as the Son of God: According to Christian belief, Jesus is the Son of God. The New Testament presents Jesus as having a unique relationship with God the Father. For example, in the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to God as “Father” and himself as the “Son,” indicating a special, divine relationship (John 10:30).
3. Incarnation: Christians believe that Jesus is the incarnation of God, meaning that God took on human flesh and became a man in the person of Jesus Christ. The idea is that Jesus is both fully God and fully human. This is based on passages like John 1:1, 14, which state, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
4. Jesus’ Divinity: The belief that Jesus is God is supported by various New Testament passages where Jesus is attributed divine qualities, performs miracles, forgives sins (which, according to Jewish belief, only God could do), and accepts worship. In John 8:58, Jesus says, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” This phrase “I am” (in Greek, “ego eimi”) echoes the name God used for Himself in the Old Testament, suggesting that Jesus was identifying himself with God.
5. Resurrection and Ascension: The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is central to Christian belief and is seen as a powerful confirmation of his divinity. Christians believe that Jesus’ victory over death and his subsequent ascension to heaven confirm that he is indeed God.
6. Worship and Prayer: In Christian practice, Jesus is worshipped as God. Prayers are often directed to Jesus, and he is revered in the same way God the Father is. The early Christians, including the apostles, worshipped Jesus, which was a significant departure from Jewish monotheism that strictly worshipped only Yahweh.
7. Creeds and Councils: Over the centuries, various Christian creeds and ecumenical councils (like the Nicene Creed in 325 AD) affirmed the belief in Jesus as fully God and fully human. These creeds helped to define and clarify Christian belief in the divinity of Jesus.
In summary, the belief that Jesus is God is rooted in the Christian understanding of the Trinity, the incarnation, and the teachings and actions of Jesus as recorded in the New Testament. While this belief is central to Christianity, it is also one of the most complex and mysterious aspects of the faith.