Jesus: God and Son of God

What does the Bible say?

The Bible shows us that Jesus is God and yet the Son of God at the same time. The vast majority of the time (I’d say 95% or more), He is called the Son of God. Still, here are some verses that show He is God at the same time.

• Here Jesus is called the Word (and God created the world by His Word!). He is with God, and is God:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” — John 1:1, 1:14

• Again we see how Jesus is the image of God, and was part of creation:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 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.” — Colossians 1:15–16

• Jesus said those who have seen Him, have seen the Father:

“‘If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.’ Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.’ 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’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.’” — John 14:7–11

• Hebrews 1 goes back and forth:

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 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; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 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”? But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.” But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” — Hebrews 1:1–9

• The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Jesus:

“”And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” — John 14:16–18

“”If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” — John 14:23

“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” — Romans 8:9

Who do we pray to?

Many Christians wonder if we should pray to Jesus or God the Father. Jesus said we wouldn’t have to pray to Him but we could go to the Father directly. I don’t believe it matters, because people often see prayers answered either way. It’s important to believe there is only one God (Isaiah 44:6). Being raised as a Christian, it’s always been automatic for me to pray only to God, yet realizing that Jesus is one with God at the same time. It’s not something to stress over; simply pray, knowing there is only one God.

What do we need to believe?

The Bible says we need to believe God sent His Son, in order to be saved. We must believe Jesus died as a perfect sacrifice for our sins (part of that means, He is more than human; He has God’s nature and He is perfect!).

Isik Abla was a depressed, suicidal Muslim woman. She was about to take her life, when God miraculously turned her life around and led her to believe Jesus. When that happened, she didn’t have to answer her questions about the Trinity (Jesus being God); she just knew He was the truth. (Click here to watch her story.)

We don’t have to have perfect understanding of God’s nature. We just have to be willing to take Him at His Word!