Jesus Is God

I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!” The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!’ Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” Jesus answered, “If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, ‘He is our God,’ but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.” The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!” At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.

John 8:51‭-‬59 NLT

Jesus is not less than God, he is God.

Jesus can ultimately deal with our sin.

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

Mark 2:5‭-‬7 NLT

Jesus can only cover the weight of our sin if he is God.

We should not see the story as "poor Jesus".

Jesus was not a victim of the wrath of God. If Jesus IS God, it is the most punk rock story in the history of the world. God sacrificed himself. Eternal wrath vs. eternal compassion.

Jesus died on the cross for YOUR sin.

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

Colossians 1:15‭-‬17 NLT

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

Colossians 1:19‭-‬20 NLT

What Does this Mean For Us?

  1. If Jesus is God, his way of life isn't just a good idea, it is the right way to live, it is the right way to be a human.
  2. If Jesus is God, either he is, or I am. BUT, these two things cannot exist together.

Our culture tells us that we find authority within ourselves. This is the original lie: That we can be like God.

The call of Jesus is for us to surrender to him.

When you think about God, do you think about Jesus, or some amorphous concept?

Wrestle with the man Jesus Christ. God does not command from far off, he is right here with us.