Jesus: The Son of God and God the Son

Jesus: The Son of God and God the Son

This is the most important question in human history. Some call Him a prophet, others a good teacher, and some say He was merely a revolutionary. But the Bible is clear: Jesus is God in the flesh, the eternal Son, the promised Messiah, and the only hope for salvation.

This article is designed to walk through the essential truths about Jesus—from His identity and divinity, to the worship He received, to the salvation He alone can provide.

Understanding the Trinity

To understand who Jesus is, one must first grasp the Christian teaching on the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that there is one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), eternally existing in three distinct persons:

• God the Father (John 6:27)

• God the Son (Jesus Christ – John 1:1, 14)

• God the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3–4)

These are not three gods, but one divine being in three persons—co-equal, co-eternal, and fully unified. This doctrine is not a contradiction; it is a mystery revealed progressively throughout Scripture and essential to orthodox Christianity.

Jesus Claimed to Be God

Some argue that Jesus never claimed to be divine. That is simply not true. Jesus spoke with divine authority, used God’s name for Himself, forgave sins, received worship, and accepted titles reserved only for God.

The "I AM" Statements

The clearest way Jesus claimed divinity was through His repeated use of the divine name “I AM” (ἐγώ εἰμι, egō eimi — Strong’s G1473 + G1510). This phrase echoes Exodus 3:14, where God identifies Himself as “I AM WHO I AM”. Jesus intentionally uses this formula throughout the Gospel of John:

• “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35)

• “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)

• “I am the door” (John 10:9)

• “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11)

• “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25)

• “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)

• “I am the true vine” (John 15:1)

Most significantly, in John 8:58, Jesus says:

“Before Abraham was even born, I AM.”

The result? The Jewish leaders picked up stones to kill Him (v. 59), recognizing that He had claimed the sacred name of Yahweh for Himself.

Jesus Accepted Worship

Unlike prophets or angels, who rebuke those who try to worship them (Acts 10:26; Revelation 22:8–9), Jesus receives worship without hesitation. This is critical—only God is worthy of worship (Exodus 20:3–5; Matthew 4:10).

Biblical examples include:

• Matthew 14:33 – The disciples worshiped Him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

• John 9:38 – The healed blind man says, “Lord, I believe,” and worshiped Him.

• Matthew 28:9, 17 – Post-resurrection appearances include the disciples falling at His feet in worship.

• Hebrews 1:6 – God commands all His angels to worship Jesus, referencing the Greek Old Testament (LXX) version of Deuteronomy 32:43.

The Apostles Declared Him God

The New Testament writers did not merely hint at Jesus’ deity; they stated it directly.

• John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

• John 1:14 – “The Word became human and made his home among us.”

• Romans 9:5 – “Christ… is God over all, blessed forever.”

• Titus 2:13 – “Our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

• 2 Peter 1:1 – “Our God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

• Colossians 2:9 – “For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.”

• Philippians 2:6 – “Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.”

• Hebrews 1:3 – “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God.”

• John 20:28 – Thomas declares, “My Lord and my God!”, and Jesus affirms him rather than correcting him.

These statements are neither poetic exaggeration nor theological evolution. They represent the immediate and unanimous testimony of those who knew Him best.

What Jesus Did for Us

Jesus did not come merely to teach or to perform miracles—though He did both with unparalleled authority and compassion. He came to save.

As Romans 3:23 makes clear, “Everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” The penalty of sin is death and separation from God (Romans 6:23). But Jesus, God incarnate, came to bear that penalty on our behalf.

• He lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15).

• He offered Himself as a substitutionary sacrifice (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 3:18).

• He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, fulfilling both Jewish prophecy and Roman legal execution (Matthew 27; Acts 2:23).

• He rose again on the third day, defeating death (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

• He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father (Acts 1:9–11; Hebrews 1:3).

• He intercedes for us even now (Romans 8:34).

His death was not a tragic accident—it was the divine plan of redemption. As Jesus Himself said in John 10:18:

“No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily.”

Through faith in Him, sinners are justified, adopted as children of God, and granted eternal life.

Why This Matters

If Jesus is not God, then His death is meaningless, and Christianity collapses. But if He is God—as He claimed, as He proved, and as His followers believed—then everything changes. He is not merely a teacher of truth; He is the Truth (John 14:6). He is not just a healer of bodies; He is the Savior of souls.