This Quick Facts study examines one of the most important questions in Christianity: Who did Jesus say He was? By comparing the words of Jesus with passages such as John 10:36, John 17:3, John 20:31, Mark 12:29, and 1 Corinthians 8:6, this article encourages readers to search the Scriptures and test every doctrine against the Bible.
Is Jesus God?
What Did Jesus Actually Say About Himself?
Quick Facts
One of the most important questions every Christian should ask is:
Who did Jesus say He was?
Rather than relying on later traditions or theological systems, we should begin with the words of Jesus Himself.
What Must We Believe?
Jesus taught that eternal life is found through believing in Him and obeying His teaching.
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life."
John 3:36
"Whoever believes has eternal life."
John 6:47
John also writes:
"Whoever believes in Him is not condemned... because he has believed in the name of the only Son of God."
John 3:18
Notice that John says we must believe Jesus is the only Son of God.
Did Jesus Ever Say, "I Am God"?
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus never records the words:
"I am God."
"Worship Me because I am Almighty God."
"Believe that I am God in order to be saved."
Instead, Jesus repeatedly described Himself as the Son of God.
John 10:33–36
The Jewish leaders accused Jesus of making Himself God:
"You, being a man, make yourself God."
John 10:33
But notice Jesus' reply only a few verses later:
"...because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?"
John 10:36
Rather than affirming the accusation, Jesus identifies Himself as the Son of God.
What About Salvation?
The New Testament repeatedly connects salvation with believing that Jesus is:
the Christ,
the Messiah,
and the Son of God.
For example:
"These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."
John 20:31
John later adds:
"Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?"
1 John 5:5
The Greatest Commandment
When asked the greatest commandment, Jesus answered by quoting the Shema:
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."
Mark 12:29
Jesus pointed His hearers back to Israel's historic confession of one God.
The Invitation
Jesus said:
"If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:31–32
Every Christian should carefully examine the Scriptures and ask:
Did Jesus teach that He is Almighty God, or did He consistently present Himself as the Messiah and the Son of God?
This article examines the key passages commonly used in this discussion and compares them with the words of Jesus Himself, encouraging every reader to search the Scriptures and reach their own conclusion.
Is Jesus God?
What Did Jesus Actually Say About Himself?
By Simon Brown
One of the most important questions every Christian can ask is:
Who did Jesus say He was?
Rather than beginning with church traditions or later theological creeds, we should begin with the words of Jesus Himself. After all, if anyone can tell us who Jesus is, it is Jesus.
Jesus also warned that our salvation depends upon believing and obeying His teaching.
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever rejects the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."
John 3:36
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life."
John 6:47
The obvious question then becomes:
What exactly did Jesus tell us to believe?
The Bible's Simple Answer
John tells us plainly:
"Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God."
John 3:18
Notice carefully what John says.
He does not say we must believe Jesus is Almighty God.
He says we must believe that Jesus is the only Son of God.
Later, John explains why he wrote his Gospel:
"These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."
John 20:31
Again, the purpose of John's Gospel is that we believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Did Jesus Ever Say, "I Am God"?
This is a question every honest Bible student should ask.
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus never records the words:
"I am God."
"I am God the Son."
"Believe I am God in order to be saved."
Instead, Jesus repeatedly referred to Himself as:
the Son of God,
the Son of Man,
the Messiah,
the Christ,
the One sent by the Father.
John 10:33–36
One passage often discussed is John 10.
The Jewish leaders accused Jesus:
"You, being a man, make yourself God."
John 10:33
Many people stop reading there.
But Jesus immediately answered their accusation:
"...because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?"
John 10:36
Notice what Jesus did not say.
He did not reply,
"You are correct—I am God."
Instead, He restated His own claim:
"I am the Son of God."
The Only True God
Perhaps Jesus' clearest statement is found in His prayer to the Father.
"This is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
John 17:3
Jesus identifies the Father as "the only true God" and distinguishes Himself as the One sent by the Father.
This verse has become one of the most important passages for Christians seeking to understand the relationship between God and His Son.
The Apostle Paul Agrees
Paul writes:
"Yet for us there is one God, the Father... and one Lord, Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 8:6
Paul distinguishes between:
one God — the Father
one Lord — Jesus Christ
without confusing the two.
The Greatest Commandment
When Jesus was asked which commandment was the greatest, He quoted the Shema of Israel.
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one."
Mark 12:29
Jesus affirmed the very same belief that faithful Jews had confessed for centuries.
He did not alter it or expand it into a doctrine of three divine persons.
Search the Scriptures
Jesus encouraged His followers to continue in His teaching.
"If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
John 8:31–32
Likewise, the Bereans were commended because they carefully examined the Scriptures.
"They received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so."
Acts 17:11
Every Christian should do the same.
Rather than simply accepting what others teach, we should ask:
Did Jesus ever say He is Almighty God?
Why did He consistently call Himself the Son of God?
Why does John say believing Jesus is the Son of God brings eternal life?
Why did Jesus call the Father "the only true God"?
These are questions every sincere believer should prayerfully consider.
Final Thought
This article is not asking you to accept my conclusions.
It is inviting you to do what Jesus encouraged every disciple to do:
Read His words carefully. Compare every doctrine with Scripture. Test everything. Hold fast to what is true.
If we genuinely want to follow Christ, then His own teaching—not later traditions or human opinions—must always remain our highest authority.
"Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand."
Matthew 11:15
Simon Brown
https://wwwrealdiscoveriesorg-simon.blogspot.com
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