It's a question many people struggle with.

Many religions, such as the Islamic faith, say Jesus is not God and was only a messenger and a prophet. Even some Christian denominations deny the deity of Christ.

So the big question is, is Jesus God?

Today we will lay the question to rest once and for all.

Throughout the entire Bible, we will find that Jesus is God. If we look at scripture, we find our answer displayed crystal clear.

The Bible tells us that Jesus, the Eternal Son of God, became human for us (Matthew 20:28).

We get the simple, uncomplicated answer from Jesus Himself.

In John 10:30 Jesus says, "I and my Father are One."

That means that Jesus is, in fact, God and the Son of God. They are two in One, and actually three in One (the Trinity) when we include the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7). The Father and the Son are inseparably One God, but individuals within the Godhead. But let's look at the evidence we are given to prove this.

How do we know that Jesus is not a created being, and always existed alongside the Father?

John 1:1-5 tells us, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not comprehend it." (Emphasis added).

But who is the Word of God here mentioned? The Bible gives us a very clear answer.

Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

Clearly the Word must be God, as God created the heavens and earth. But it is Jesus who is identified as the Word, who through all things was made.

John 1:14 states, "And the Word became 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." (Emphasis added).

Here John (the writer of the book of John) identifies 'the Word' as Jesus Himself, who came to earth as a human for the redemption of our souls. Jesus alone perfectly fits this criterion. But let's not stop there.

Genesis 1:26 informs us, "Then God said let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness." (Emphasis added).

This undoubtedly indicates that God is One God, but is comprised of more than one individual, as indicated by the use of 'Us' and 'Our'.

Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men."

Here again, Jesus is described as being in the form of God. He goes on to say that Jesus did not feel it robbery (or an injustice) to lower Himself to the low standard of taking on humanity because He loves us so much. He was selfless and humble enough to come to earth, where all is sin and darkness. Jesus did not stop being God but allowed Himself the humiliation of suffering an agonising death on the cross for our sake.

This is illustrated in Hebrews 2:9-10 where it says, "But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for every one. For it was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering." (Emphasis added).

Here we find even more clarity on the question. We see that Jesus allowed Himself to be made for a short time lower than the angels. This implies that He was higher than the angels, and only God is higher than the angels (Hebrews 1:4). But does that mean that Jesus stopped being God if He became lower than the angels?

No, it does not.

Hebrews 13:8 assures us, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."

Psalm 8:5 says, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor."

Here we see that man was made a little lower than the angels. Jesus took on humanity, with its weaknesses, and therefore became a little lower than the angels. We also see that it was only for a little while, that Jesus was both fully God and fully human and that Jesus is now back to His former glory (in fact, greater glory) after His ascension to heaven.

The verse then also goes on to explain to us again that Jesus is the Creator and by Him and through Him, all things exist. He is not a created being, but the Creator. The One by whom we all exist.

Isaiah 9:6, speaking about Jesus, tells us, "For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Here we see further evidence of the true nature of Jesus. He is called Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Our powerful and loving Saviour is both the Father and the Son, united together as God and yet individual. This is a mystery we cannot truly comprehend, but we must take God for His Word.

Jesus even informs us that, "I am the way, the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6).

But again, let's not stop there! There is an incredible amount of evidence given on this subject.

In Hebrews 1:8 we are told, "But to the Son He says: 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Your kingdom." (Emphasis added).

God the Father Himself is here addressing Jesus as God.

We are informed further in the book of Colossians.

Colossians 2:8-10 says, "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." (Emphasis added)

Not only are we warned against the empty philosophy of the world, but we are also directed to Christ as our pillar of strength, founded in the fact that He is God.

1 John 5:20 informs us, "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life." (Emphasis added).

Again, we find Jesus described as God.

Revelation 1:8 boldly asserts Jesus's true stature.

"'I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End,' says the Lord, 'who is and was and is to come, the Almighty.'"

John 20:28 talks about the confession and proclamation of one of Jesus's twelve disciples, "Thomas answered Him, 'My Lord and my God!'"

The people close around Jesus acknowledged His divinity and recognised Him accordingly. It was not easy for his disciples to grasp this, and Philip, in particular, was slow to see the truth. We read Jesus correcting his lack of faith.

John 14:8-10 says, "Philip said to Him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us'. Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and He is in Me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does the works." (Emphasis added).

We find another striking statement in John 5:22-23 where it says, "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgement to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father."

Psalm 7:11 tells us, "God is a righteous judge." (Emphasis added).

Matthew 28:18 says, "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'"

We find more compelling confirmation of Jesus's divinity through Jesus accepting worship.

The Bible tells us in Revelation 22:8-9 that John, in vision, sees an angel and falls to worship the angel.

"I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. But he said to me, 'Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God.'"

Luke 4:8 tells us that, "It is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve."

Unlike the angel which refused to accept worship, Jesus allows and accepts worship. This indicates that He is God, who alone may receive worship. Let's look at a few cases where this is illustrated.

In John 9:38 a blind man declares, "'Lord I believe,' and worshipped Him."

Hebrews 1:6 tells us that God the Father says, "But when He again brings the firstborn into the world He says, 'Let all the angels of God worship Him.'"

Luke 24:52 says, "And they worshipped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy."

Matthew 28:9 states, "And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshipped him."

Philippians 2:10 says boldly, "So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth."

Hebrews 1:3 declares of Jesus, "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power."

Titus 2:13 asserts we are, "Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."

Not only did Jesus accept worship as only God may receive, He forgave sins (1 John 1:9, Matthew 9:2, Acts 5:31, Mark 2:5, Luke 7:48, Luke 5:10).

As pointed out by the Pharisees in Luke 7:49, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Many try to use James 5:16 as a verse that says humans may forgive sins. Some new translations say, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

However, this is an inaccurate translation. The Greek word used is παράπτωμα or 'paraptōma' which literally means 'faults' or 'trespasses', and not 'sin'. This verse is telling us to hold each other accountable and to tell each other what we are struggling with, so that we may pray with them for strength and healing. No human has the power to forgive sin, only God does.

This shows the divinity and deity of Christ, who is and was and is to come.

We must remember that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Acts 4:12 states, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

The Scriptures are abundantly clear that Jesus is God, just as the Father is God. We are to honor Jesus as much as we honor the Father. Our salvation is found in Christ alone, who died for us.

I hope this has been an interesting study and has given you a new perspective.