Guided by The Gospel - Issue 56 (Jesus' Divinity)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we continue our series on the most pressing doubts and concerns in Christian belief, today we’re diving into one of the central claims of our faith: Was Jesus truly God?

For believers, this question is foundational. The entire Christian faith hinges on the belief that Jesus wasn’t just a good teacher or a moral example, but that He was (and is) fully God and fully man. Without the divinity of Christ, His sacrifice on the cross would lose its eternal significance. Yet, this is also one of the most debated and challenged aspects of our faith—both in ancient times and today.

Many people, even those who respect Jesus as a great teacher, struggle with the idea that He was divine. Some ask, "Did Jesus ever claim to be God?" Others wonder if this concept of Jesus being divine was something the early church developed later on.

Let’s start with Jesus’ own words. In John 10:30, He says, "I and the Father are one." This was a bold and direct claim. The religious leaders of the time understood exactly what He was saying, which is why they accused Him of blasphemy (John 10:33). In another powerful moment, Jesus tells His disciples in John 14:9, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."

These are not just vague statements. They are profound, and they point to something greater than mere human wisdom. Jesus wasn’t claiming to be just a messenger or prophet—He was identifying Himself with God.

C.S. Lewis famously said, "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice." Either Jesus is who He says He is, or He isn’t.

And that’s the crux of the matter: Jesus’ divinity is what makes Christianity unique. If He were simply a good moral teacher, then we could take or leave His words like we might with any other philosopher. But if He is God, then His words are life, and His promises are eternal.

The Bible doesn’t leave us in the dark about who Jesus is. Paul writes in Colossians 2:9, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form." And the opening of John’s Gospel tells us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1).

Even in the Old Testament, we see glimpses of the coming Messiah’s divine nature. Isaiah 9:6 prophesies about the child to be born and calls Him "Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Jesus’ miracles, His authority over nature, and His power over life and death all testify to His divine identity. Most importantly, His resurrection from the dead—the cornerstone of our faith—proves that He is indeed God.

You might wonder, "Why does this matter to me in my daily life?" The divinity of Jesus isn’t just a theological point for scholars to debate; it’s the foundation of our salvation. If Jesus is God, then His sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate act of love, and His resurrection guarantees our hope for eternal life.

When we understand that Jesus is God, it changes everything. We can trust Him completely. He has the power to save, to heal, and to transform. We are not following a distant, disconnected deity—we are following a God who took on flesh, walked among us, and knows our struggles firsthand.

As we reflect on Jesus’ divinity, I encourage you to draw near to Him in prayer. If you’ve ever doubted or wondered about this aspect of His identity, bring those questions before Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you in new and personal ways.

And as always, I’d love to hear from you. How has your understanding of Jesus’ divinity impacted your walk of faith? Have you ever struggled with this question? Let’s continue this conversation and grow together in the knowledge of our Savior.

In His eternal grace,

Edward C. Thomas

Guided by The Gospel

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