Did Jesus Say He Was God?

Many who doubt or deny the deity of Jesus Christ have asked the question: “Where in the Bible did Jesus actually say He was God?”
Or the question: “Where did Jesus say ‘I am God. Worship Me’?”

While it is true that Jesus did not say the exact words “I am God”, this does not mean that Jesus was not God.

Without saying the exact words “I am God” – Jesus did verbally claim to be God in different ways.
In fact, He not only claimed to be God with His words, but He also physically or miraculously demonstrated that He was indeed God in the flesh (John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16).

It’s also important to note that one of the main reasons why the Pharisees and Scribes sought to stone and kill Jesus was because of the fact that Jesus verbally claimed to be God.
John 10:33 says the following: The Jews answered Him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

If a person or human claimed to be God, it was punishable by stoning and death and yet Jesus Himself in different ways verbally claimed and demonstrated that He was the God whom the Scriptures spoke of.

How Did Jesus Verbally Claim To Be God?

In John 10:28 Jesus Christ made the verbal claim that He is the Giver of eternal life when He said: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish”

So we must ask ourselves: If Jesus were an ordinary man and a flawed man – why would He verbally claim that He was capable of giving people eternal life?
If Jesus was just an ordinary man, then why would He verbally claim to have the same infinite qualities as God, such as the power to give humans eternal life?

In John 10:30, Jesus also makes this verbal claim: “I and the Father are one”

Jesus Christ claimed equality with God the Father – meaning that He had equal status with the Father.
It’s at this point in John 10:31-33 that the Jews pick up stones to kill Jesus because they understood that He was claiming to be God.

So when Jesus claimed to be the Giver of eternal life and that He and the Father are one, the Jews knew exactly what He was saying. They understood Jesus’ assertion that He was verbally claiming to be God (John 10:33).

More evidence where Jesus verbally claims to be God is found in John 8:58-59 which says the following:
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” 59 So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.

To the Jews this phrase “I AM” was very significant because the phrase was only designated for God alone. In the Old Testament when God called Moses to lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt, He told Moses to tell the nation that “I AM” has sent you (Exodus 3:13-15).
“I AM” is the covenant God of Israel. Therefore, the great “I AM” is the designation for God to the nation of Israel.

So when Jesus says: “… before Abraham was, I AM” – Christ is not only claiming that He existed before Abraham, but He is also verbally claiming that He is “I AM” – the same covenant God of Israel who approached Moses and who was responsible for leading the nation of Israel out of Egypt.
So again – Jesus was verbally claiming that He is God, and the Jews understood Christ’s claim to be deity.

Similarly, just as they had done in John 10:31, the Jews responded by wanting to stone Christ because of His verbal claim that He was God (John 8:59).

Jesus also made other verbal claims in the Scriptures which spoke of His deity or assertion that He was indeed identifying Himself as God.
For example, He stated that He was the bread of life (John 6:35). He said that He was the light of the world (John 8:12; John 9:5). He said that He was the door (John 10:7) and the Good Shepherd (John 10:11). He said that He was the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). He said that He was the way, the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). He also said that He was the true vine (John 15:1,5) and that without Him we can do nothing.

No ordinary man could claim to be the light of the world, nor the only way to the Father. No ordinary man could claim to the world that it can do nothing without Him.
All of the above claims by Jesus reflect that He was indeed verbally identifying Himself as God and as Messiah.

So did Jesus say He was God? Yes He did. Christ not only claimed He was God through His speech – but He also demonstrated that He was God by the miracles He performed.
Did Jesus claim to be God? Yes He did. Christ proved that He was no ordinary man when He was crucified and resurrected on the third day.
Through the death of Christ on the Cross, the sins of the world were paid for by His blood.
Christ’s resurrection proves that He was God in the flesh and that He has power and victory over death.
Therefore Jesus Christ is indeed God and He is able to give eternal life to anyone who would follow Him.

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN or A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST?

1. ACKNOWLEDGE: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
This means that we have all broken God’s laws and God’s 10 Commandments like those mentioned in Exodus 20:1-17. For example, if you have told a lie; if you have stolen something; if you have lusted after somebody or if you have coveted. This means you are guilty of breaking at least one or more of God’s 10 Commandments. Breaking God’s commandments makes us sinners. The fact that we are sinners who have broken God’s law means that we are accountable to God who is the Lawgiver. Romans 6:23 says that “the wages of sin is death BUT the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”
You must acknowledge that you are a sinner who has broken God’s commandments and that you therefore need Jesus in your life.

2. REPENT: “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3), “Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19)
Repenting means: to change your mind; a sincere turning away, in heart, mind and action;
Therefore God wants you to change your mind about sinful values and of sinful living. God wants you to decide to follow Him and to make Jesus the Lord of your life.

3. CONFESSION: “If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9)
God is a forgiving God. God will forgive any sin that you have done because Jesus died for ALL your sins and to set you free from the bondage of all types of sin in your life.

4. BELIEVE: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
You must believe that ONLY Jesus can save you and restore your relationship with God. You must believe that Jesus is the ONLY way by which you can have everlasting life and escape from eternal separation from God. You must believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and resurrected from the grave.
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive him, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12)
By faith, You must receive Jesus as Your Lord & Savior and therefore; you become a child of God; you become born again; you become a Christian; you restore your broken relationship with God

Why Not Make Your Eternal Decision NOW?

We become born again Christians by GRACE through FAITH or TOTAL TRUST in Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior (Galatians 3:26) & (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is a FREE gift received through FAITH in Christ.

PLEASE NOTE: You can choose to pray in your own words. This prayer is a sample prayer and it is only an EXPRESSION of your faith, belief & trust in Jesus. Salvation is by GRACE through FAITH or BELIEVING in Christ Jesus as your Lord & Saviour.

“Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your love. I thank You that You died on the cross for me and resurrected so that I may have eternal life through You.
I confess Lord that I have sinned against You and broken your laws and commandments. Today I ask You to forgive me of all of my sins, past present and future.
Today I repent and I’ve decided to follow You. Thank You for forgiving all my sins.
From this moment, come into my life Lord Jesus & take full control of my life. I want to follow You Jesus and I want to follow Your ways. Save me and from today, make me a new creation in Christ.
I receive You Lord Jesus right now by faith. I trust You as my Lord and Savior – Amen”

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