# Is Jesus God? What The Bible And Jesus Himself Say

- Canonical: https://www.iamreborn.net/blog/is-jesus-god
- Author: Daniel Ziedins (https://www.iamreborn.net/about-daniel-ziedins)
- Published: 2026-11-04
- Reading time: 3 minutes

## Short answer

The Bible teaches that Jesus is God the Son who became fully human. John writes that the Word “was God” and “became flesh” (John 1:1, 14), and Paul says the whole fullness of deity dwells in Him bodily (Colossians 2:9). Jesus claimed it Himself — “before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58), using God's name, and His hearers tried to stone Him for blasphemy. He forgave sins, accepted worship (John 20:28) and rose from the dead (Romans 1:4). Christians confess Him as fully God and fully human, which is why His death can save.

Almost everyone agrees Jesus was a real person, and most people think He was a good teacher. But Christianity makes a much bigger claim: that Jesus of Nazareth is God — not a lesser god, not a prophet who became divine, but God the Son, who became human.

Is that what the Bible actually says? And did Jesus ever claim it Himself? Let's look.

## What the New Testament writers said

> In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
>
> — John 1:1

A few verses later John tells us who the Word is: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The other writers say the same thing in different ways:

- “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9).
- He is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3).
- “Our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
- “Though he was in the form of God”, He humbled Himself and became a servant (Philippians 2:6–7).

## What Jesus said about Himself

Jesus rarely said the exact words “I am God” — but His listeners understood exactly what He was claiming.

> Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
>
> — John 8:58

“I am” was the name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). The crowd picked up stones to kill Him (John 8:59) — the penalty for blasphemy. When He said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), they tried again, saying it was “because you, being a man, make yourself God” (John 10:33).

## What Jesus did that only God does

- **He forgave sins.** When Jesus told a paralysed man his sins were forgiven, the religious leaders asked, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:5–7). Exactly.
- **He accepted worship.** Angels and apostles refuse worship (Acts 10:25–26; Revelation 22:8–9). Jesus received it — from the disciples in the boat (Matthew 14:33) and from Thomas, who called Him “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
- **He claimed authority over life and death.** “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25) — and then He raised Lazarus.
- **He rose from the dead.** Paul says the resurrection declared Him to be the Son of God in power (Romans 1:4).

> His enemies understood His claims better than many of His admirers do today. That's why they picked up stones.

## Fully God and fully human

The Bible is just as clear that Jesus was truly human. He was born, grew, got hungry and tired, wept, and died (Luke 2:52; John 4:6; John 11:35). He was “in every respect … tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Christians confess that He is one person with two natures — fully God and fully man — not half of each.

## Why it matters

- **Only God can save.** If Jesus were merely a good man, His death couldn't pay for the sins of the world. Because He is God, His sacrifice is enough (see [What Is The Gospel?](https://www.iamreborn.net/blog/what-is-the-gospel)).
- **We know what God is like.** “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). If you want to know God's heart, look at Jesus.
- **He's worthy of everything.** If Jesus is God, He isn't just a teacher to admire. He's a Lord to follow.

## “Just a good teacher” isn't an option

C. S. Lewis famously argued in _Mere Christianity_ that, given what Jesus claimed, calling Him merely a great moral teacher doesn't work. A man who said what He said was either deceived, deceiving — or telling the truth. The question each of us has to answer is the one Jesus asked His disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).

**Is Jesus God? In short**

- **The New Testament says yes** (John 1:1; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:3; Titus 2:13).
- **Jesus claimed it:** “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58).
- **He did what only God does:** forgave sins, accepted worship, raised the dead, rose again.
- **Fully God, fully human** (Hebrews 4:15).
- **It matters:** only God can save, and Jesus shows us who God is (John 14:9).

For how the Father, Son and Holy Spirit relate, read [What Is The Trinity?](https://www.iamreborn.net/blog/what-is-the-trinity)

[Answer Jesus' question today](https://www.iamreborn.net/born-again) — The good news, a prayer, and your first steps.

## Frequently asked questions

### Did Jesus ever claim to be God?

Yes, in ways His hearers clearly understood. He said “before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58), using the divine name of Exodus 3:14, and “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Both times they tried to stone Him for making Himself God (John 10:33).

### What Bible verses say Jesus is God?

John 1:1 and 1:14, John 20:28, Colossians 2:9, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 1:3 and Philippians 2:6–7 are among the clearest.

### Was Jesus fully human?

Yes. He was born, grew, became hungry and tired, wept and died, and was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). Christians confess Him as one person, fully God and fully human.

### Why does it matter whether Jesus is God?

Because only God can save: Jesus' death can pay for the sins of the world because of who He is. It also means we see what God is like by looking at Jesus (John 14:9).

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From the Reborn Journal at I AM REBORN — https://www.iamreborn.net/blog/is-jesus-god