Are Jesus and God the same person? (1)
A theological argument on the Deity of Christ and the identity of the Father, Son, and Godhead: distinct Persons or the same divine Person?
Going through my diaries from 2024, I came across this write-up about the infallibility of Christ as the Godhead. I’m not sure whether I authored all of it or if most of it was from research. However, towards the end of the writing, I did find a reference to a website. Although the website does not contain all the information in the writing, it does include a list titled “160 Reasons Jesus Christ Is Almighty God.” I am republishing that write-up here because I believe its central argument remains worth considering. Where the original drew from external sources, I have retained them where possible. My goal is not merely to reproduce an old note but to preserve and share a line of thought that continues to be relevant for anyone seeking to understand the identity and divinity of Christ more deeply.
There have been many debates about the Deity of Christ. While many Christians sincerely confess that Jesus is God, some interpretations of the doctrine of the Trinity have been used to suggest that the Father is a higher or greater Deity than Christ. As a result, the full revelation of Jesus as God has, in some cases, been obscured.
This write-up seeks to bring balance to that discussion by showing that affirming the absolute Deity of Christ does not require diminishing Him in relation to the Father. Rather, it argues that the Father is not another deity above Christ, but Christ Himself revealed in another dimension of His divine manifestation.
Let’s see what the scriptures say.
1. God is One
If the Bible teaches that God (and only God) has certain characteristics and proceeds to apply them to three Persons called the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then they are all one God (since the Bible teaches there is but one: Dt 6:4; 32:39; Is 43:10; 44:8; 1 Cor 8:4-6).
In my research, I have found 40 passages that mention all three Divine Manifestations of the One God. Here are eight of them (just one-fifth of all):
Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, . . . (cf. 61:2; Jesus applies this to Himself in Lk 4:16-30)
Luke 3:21-22 . . . when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,
[22] and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.” (cf. Mt 3:13-17)
John 15:26, “But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me;” (cf. 14:26)
Acts 2:33: Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear. (cf. 7:55)
Acts 20:28: Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God which he obtained with the blood of his own Son.
Romans 15:30: I appeal to you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, (cf. Eph 2:18)
1 Corinthians 6:11 . . . justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. (cf. 1 Pet 1:2)
2 Corinthians 13:14: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Is the Holy Spirit directly referred to as God?
Yes; here is the best single passage along those lines:
Acts 5:3-4 But Peter said, “Anani’as, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? [4] . . . You have not lied to men but to God.” . . .
Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit; at the same time, he lied to God; therefore, the Holy Spirit and God are synonymous: one and the same.
This sort of thing occurs over and over in the Bible: equivalent characteristics in many respects are applied to all three Divine manifestations:
Who raised Jesus from the dead? Well, it was God the Father (Gal 1:1; 1 Thess 1:10); it was also Jesus Himself (Jn 2:19; 10:17-18); and it was the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:11). Because the three manifestations is of the Same Spirit which is Christ.
Who gave the new covenant? The Father (Jer 31:33-34); Jesus (Heb 8:1-13; 10:29; 12:24; 13:20); the Holy Spirit (Heb 10:15-17).
Who sanctifies believers? The Father (1 Thess 5:23); Jesus (Heb 13:12); the Holy Spirit (1 Pet 1:2).
Who is the creator? The Father (Gen 1:1; Is 44:24; Acts 17:24; Eph 3:9); Jesus (Jn 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:8, 10); the Holy Spirit (Job 33:4).Job 33:4.
Who indwells believers? The Father (1 Cor 3:16a; 2 Cor 6:16; 1 Jn 3:24); Jesus (Jn 6:56; Rom 8:10; Eph 3:17); the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:16-17; Rom 8:9, 11; 1 Cor 3:16b).
The Bible even describes this in terms of different combinations:
Father and Son (Jn 14:23); Father and Holy Spirit (Eph 2:21-22; 1 Jn 3:24); Son and Holy Spirit (Gal 4:6).
What one manifestation does, the others also do in complete agreement and unity, and the manifestations “interpenetrate” each other. Christian theology has 50 cent words for this: circumincession (Latin) or perichoresis (Greek).
Lots of things are very difficult to understand yet firmly believed; for starters: quantum mechanics, the physics of black holes, the nuclear fusion that occurs in the center of our sun, and the “bending” of space and time (Einstein’s relativity). Physical reality has turned out to be very “weird” and unpredictable. Theology is also sometimes striking and seemingly “odd” and unfathomable. This should not surprise us at all (since God is an extraordinary Being).
Cumulative arguments based on scores of individual indications become very compelling: much as a large rope, consisting of many individual strands woven together, is exceedingly strong. Such is the nature of biblical indications for the Godhead. We find them at every turn. No one should be led astray to think that the Holy Trinity, as a doctrine of three distinct beings, is “biblical.”
Having seen the many reasonable proofs, we believe in faith that all the manifestations of God throughout the scriptures point to the working of one deity and not three as many claim, and that deity is Christ.
Thus far, then, we have some compelling reasons for Jesus as God. Unfathomable? Yes. Paradoxical? Yes. Illogical or incoherent? No.
2. Jesus as God in fulfilled prophecy
Next, I simply give 20 prophetic scriptures and their New Testament fulfillment that teach that Jesus is the one and only God.
Revelation 1:7-8 says that Jesus is the Almighty.
And Genesis 17:1 says that the Almighty is God.
John 8:58 says that Jesus is the “I Am”
And Exodus 3:14 says that the “I Am” is God
Acts 3:14 says that Jesus is the “HOLY ONE”
And Isaiah 43:15 says that the “HOLY ONE” is God
John 8:24 says that Jesus is the “I Am He”
And Isaiah 43:10 says that the “I Am He” is God
Revelation 22:13 says that Jesus is the “First and the Last”
And Isaiah 44:6 says that the “First and the Last” is God
I Corinthians 10:4 says that Jesus is “The Rock”
Psalm 18:31 says that “The Rock” is God
John 5:21 says that Jesus raises the dead.
And 1 Samuel 2:6 says that God raises the dead
John 8:12 says that Jesus is the Light
And Isaiah 60:19-20 says that God is the Light.
Matthew 25:31-46 says that Jesus is the Judge
And in Joel 3:12 it says that God is the Judge
Colossians 1:16 says that Jesus is the Creator of angels:
And Psalms 148:5 says that the Creator of angels is God
Hebrews 1:6 says that angles worshiped Jesus
And in Psalm 148:2 it says that angles worship God
2 Corinthians 11:2 says that Jesus is the “One HUSBAND”
And Jeremiah 31:32 says that the “One HUSBAND” is God
Matthew 23:8 says that Jesus is the “ONE MASTER”
And Malachi 1:6 says that the “ONE MASTER” is God
John 10:16 says that Jesus is the “One SHEPHERD”
And Isaiah 40:11 says that the “ONE SHEPHERD” is God
Acts 4:12 says that Jesus is the “ONE SAVIOR”
And Isaiah 45:21 says that the “ONE SAVIOR” is God
Luke 1:68 says that Jesus is the “ONE REDEEMER”
And Isaiah 41:14 says that the “ONE REDEEMER” is God
Revelation 19:16 says that Jesus is “LORD OF LORDS
And Deuteronomy 10:17 says that the “LORD OF LORDS” is God
Philippians 2:10 says that Every knee must bow to Jesus
And Isaiah 45:23 says that Every knee must bow to God
John 1: 3-10 says that Jesus is the “ONE CREATOR”
And Genesis 1:1 says that the “ONE CREATOR” is God
John 1:49 says that Jesus is “KING OF ISRAEL”
And Isaiah 44:6 says that the “KING OF ISRAEL” is
3. An Old Testament case study from Isaiah
Muslims, and for that matter Jews, do not know about the duality of prophecy (both far and near events). The far or ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 goes far beyond Ahaz to announce the miraculous virgin birth of Jesus Christ.
Firstly, a reminder of what it says from verse 10:
“[10] Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz: [11] “Ask for a sign from the Lord your God — from the depths of Sheol to the heights of heaven.”
[12] But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask. I will not test the Lord.”
[13] Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men? Will you also try the patience of my God? [14] Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you [note in Hebrew, the word you is plural] a sign: The virgin will conceive, will have a son, and name him Immanuel.”
(i). We know this passage speaks of Jesus because the Holy Spirit says so through Matthew:
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Mattew 1:23)
(ii). We know this passage speaks of Jesus because the prophecy is addressed not only to Ahaz but also to David’s entire house
(O house of David!).
(iii). We know this passage speaks of Jesus because it says the virgin shall conceive, and that conception would be a sign to David’s entire house. Those who deny the virgin birth of Jesus like to point out that the Hebrew word translated as “virgin” (almah) can also be translated as “young woman.” The idea is that Isaiah was simply saying that a “young woman” would give birth, not a virgin. While the near fulfillment may have reference to a young woman giving birth, the far or ultimate fulfillment clearly points to a woman miraculously conceiving and giving birth. This is especially clear because the Old Testament never uses the word in a context other than “virgin” and because the Septuagint translates it categorically as “virgin” (parthenos).
(iv). We know this passage speaks of Jesus because it says,
He will be known as Immanuel, meaning “God with Us.”
This was true of Jesus in fact, not only as a title. Immanuel speaks both of the deity of Jesus (God with us) and His identification and nearness to man (God with us).
(v). Jesus is truly Immanuel, God with us. “Christ, indeed, was not called by this name, Immanuel, that we anywhere read of . . . but the import of this name is most truly affirmed and acknowledged to be fully made good in him.”
4. More proof texts for a multi-personal God from Isaiah
“For I Yahweh your God, the Holy One of Israel, AND YOUR SAVIOR, give Egypt as a ransom for you, Cush and Seba in your place. “You are My witnesses” — this is the Lord ’s declaration — “AND MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN, so that you may know and believe Me and understand that I AM HE. No god was formed before Me, and there will be none after Me. I, I am Yahweh, AND THERE IS NO OTHER SAVIOR BUT ME.” (Isaiah 43:3, 10-11 HCSB)
I have emboldened that part of the text that is referring to the fact that it was Jesus speaking who at that time was known as Yahweh or Elohim.
Then another passage from Isaiah:
“Approach Me and listen to this. From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time anything existed, I was there.” And now the Lord God has sent me and His Spirit.” (Isaiah 48:16 HCSB)
This passage should be noted in full context, Isaiah 48:12-17:
“Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last. Surely My hand founded the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; When I call to them, they stand together. Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them has declared these things? [Yahweh] or the LORD loves him; he shall carry out His good pleasure on Babylon, and His arm shall be against the Chaldeans. I, even I, have spoken; indeed I have called him, I have brought him, and He will make his ways successful. Come near to Me, listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, from the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit.”
The identity of the speaker is clearly the God of Israel because He calls Himself “the first and last” in verse 12. This title had already been used of Yahweh of Hosts in Isaiah 44:6:
“Thus says [Yahweh], the King of Israel and his Redeemer, [Yahweh] of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me.’”
The Hebrew for “I am the first and I am the last” is the same in Isaiah 44:6 and 48:12....
This God is further identified as “the Yahweh of armies” in Isaiah 44:6.
The divine title “the first and the last” means that He is the first God and the last God because there are no other gods before or after Him. He alone is God.
The speaker in Isaiah 48 is further identified by doing things that only God can do, such as absolute foreknowledge (vs. 3,5,6), creation (v.13), sovereignty (v. 15), and omnipresence (v. 16).
Who else but the one true God could say:
“For My own sake, for My own sake, I will act; For how can My name be profaned? And My glory I will not give to another.” (Isaiah 48:11)
No one should have the slightest difficulty in identifying the speaker as God. The context of the passage and the grammar of the text are both very clear. ‘Trinitarians’ (I believe you understand my use of this word already) fail to see how the speaker kept saying “I,” “my,” etc., showing God is ONE and the fact that he manifested as Jesus or the Holy Ghost doesn’t duplicate or multiply him.
“Come near to Me, listen to this: From the first I have not spoken in secret, from the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit.” (Isaiah 48:16)
If the passage is interpreted in its natural and normal meaning, there are three persons in this passage who are all God!
But how can God be sent by God if there are no several Persons within the Godhead?
Let’s break it down:
God is all-powerful; he can be in one billion rooms at the same time. God is seeing everyone on the planet at the same time, billions of people, because God is everywhere at the same time! He can sit on every seat in a stadium at the same time and be the players and the commentators all by himself!
Since the Father sent the Son and the Spirit in Trinitarian theology, they concluded that God and the Godhead must consist of three distinct individuals, even though the Bible had clearly stated there is only one God.
5. A New Testament case study from John’s gospel
John 17:5: “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”
If we examine this passage where Jesus prayed in the garden before His betrayal, mock trial, and death, we find a few important facts:
Jesus existed before the world.
At that time, Jesus was (in) with the Father.
When Jesus was with the Father before the world began, He had the same glory as the Father because He was the Everlasting Father!
Jesus’ request to the Father in this prayer is to be restored to that glory.
From these facts we can also make some certain deductions:
Jesus laid aside the glory that He had (in) with the Father because:
When He was praying, He was in the form of a human.
Because He prayed with expectancy to have that glory restored, He had some reason to lay it aside, which of course would have been some kind of plan that required Him to take the form of a man.
From the derived facts and implications, you should develop a few questions:
What was Jesus’ plan that made Him leave the splendor of glory?
What does that plan mean to me?
Since Jesus was in glory with the Father before the earth was, that must surely mean He truly was God wrapped in the flesh of a man?
This concludes the first section of this study. In part two, we will examine the next five points in this argument.