PART 3: FURTHER SCRIPTURAL SUPPORT

Having seen that all three persons of the Godhead are called or equated with God. We will now look at even more evidence that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are God. This will also provide evidence that to some extent the writers of the New Testament understood that Jesus and the Holy Spirit were God.

THE WORD WAS GOD

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

These are among the clearest statements that Jesus is God that can be found in the Bible. The Word who is God became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus was God in human flesh.

The problem is that some translate John 1:1 to say "the Word was a god." Which is it? (See When the scholars don't agree.) Does the Greek say, "was" or "was a"?  It's clear that the scholars on one side of this issue are wrong, but which ones? The best way to discover who is correct is to study the rest of the issue and determine what problems arise due to the translation. The most apparent problem is that if Jesus was "a god", then we have two Gods, and the Bible tells us many times there is only one true God.

GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH

1 Tim 3:16

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Paul tells us six things about God, which are all true of Jesus but not of the Father.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

This verse goes hand in hand with the statements, "I and the Father are one" and "he is in me and I in Him." And "If you have seen me you have seen the Father."  This states plainly that God dwelt within the body of Jesus. And it clearly states that it was the fullness of the Godhead.  But what exactly is "the Godhead?" In the Greek it is the word "theotes." It was a form of the word "theios," a word that was used for identifying multiple deities.  The word "theios" is used directly of God in Romans 1:20.
Both "theotes" and "theios" are plural words. Why use words that mean more than one, to identify God in a singular fashion? Again we have a word, like "elohim" of the Old Testament, a plural word being used as the identification of the one God.
The verse in Colossians does not mean that Jesus had in him the fullness of the gods, but all the fullness of the one God, a God that had three persons. How can you have all the fullness of God in you and not be God? Again more evidence that Jesus is God.

JESUS IN THE FORM OF GOD

Philippians 2:5-8

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

What exactly it does it mean to be in the form of God, some translations say in the very nature of God. This passage clearly states that Jesus was existing in God's form.  The word form, means "appearance."  How do you appear as God or have the very nature of God without being God? A clue to what this means is found in the way it is used of a servant. Jesus existed in the very nature of God, but he took on or adopted the very nature of a "servant." Meaning that he became a servant. The fact is Jesus was a servant; he wasn't attempting to just look like one.
 
Jesus, the creator of all things, made himself of no reputation, was fashioned as a man, humbled himself, became obedient, and was a servant. So if "form" of a servant means he "was" a servant, in the same context Jesus being in the form of God, would mean that he was God.

And Jesus would not have to "seize" or "rob" something he already possessed, equality with God, but he voluntarily gave it up to become a servant. But while in the form of a servant he was still God. Jesus made the choice to become a servant, and give up the position he had originally, one equal with God, to become a servant.

THY THRONE O GOD

The Son of God is called God.

Psalm 45:6-7

 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.  Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows

Hebrews 1:8

THE LORD SAID UNTO MY LORD

The Son of God is identified as Lord

Psalm 110:1

The LORD (YHWH)  said unto my Lord(adown) , Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.  (The word adown can mean anything from a ruler to God himself)

Matthew 22:41-46

 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?  If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions

WHO IS OUR SAVIOR
In these passages both God the Father and or Jesus are called savior.

Isaiah 43:11

I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

Titus 3:4-6

 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour

The following verses refer to God as our savior
1 Tim 2:3, 1 Timothy 1:1, Titus 1:3, Titus 2:10, Jude 1:25, Isaiah 45:15, Isaiah 45:21, Isaiah 49:26, Isaiah 60:16, Hosea 13:4 

The following verses refer to Jesus as our savior
Luke 2:11, Philippians 3:20,  2 Timothy 1:10, Titus 1:4,   2 Peter 1:1, 2 Peter 3:18, 1 John 4:14

ONLY WISE GOD, ALMIGHTY GOD
Jude 1:25 

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Genesis 17:1 

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

1 Corinthians 1:24

Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.



NO OTHER GOD
God clearly states that no other God's were formed before him or after him, yet… 

Deuteronomy 32:39

See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

Isaiah 43:10
Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Isaiah 45:22
Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Isaiah 44:6
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.

Isaiah 44:6
Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

1 Timothy 3:5

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Think back to the translation of John 1:1. How does "was a god", i.e. another god, work with the above passages. Clearly the translation that says the Word was God is the correct translation

GOD SAYS THAT HE WOULD BE PIERCED

Zechariah 12:10

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Psalm 22:16-18 Prophecy of Jesus
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Matthew 27:35

And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

John 19:34 
But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

John 20:26-28

And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

WHO GETS THE GLORY

Isaiah 42:8

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

John 17:5

These are just some of the many evidences that Jesus was indeed God in the flesh. But there is still more…