How do we really know that Jesus is the Son of God

QUESTION: How do we really know that Jesus is the Son of God?

ANSWER:

How do we really know that Jesus is the son of God? Did Jesus ever say, "I am God" in those words? Those words are not recorded in the Bible. However, Jesus did proclaim His deity. For instance, in John 10:30, Jesus said, "I and My Father are one." How did His audience react to His words? "The Jews answered Him, saying, 'For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God'" (John 10:33). They understood that Jesus claimed to be God.

You can read another example in John 8:58, "Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.'" The Jews picked up stones and wanted to stone Jesus. The Jews believed Jesus' statement to be blasphemy. They understood that Jesus claimed to be God!

Thomas, Jesus' disciple said, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). You will see that Jesus doesn't correct him.

In the Bible, Jesus often receives worship. For example, Matthew 2:11 says, "And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh." (See also Matthew 14:33; 28:9, 17; Luke 24:52; John 9:38).

Is Jesus man or God? It is essential to believe that Jesus is God! Jesus has to be God for His death to be sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of the world. 1 John 2:2 says, "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world." Only Jesus, who is God, could pay such an infinite price!

Since Jesus is God, when did He realize it? Jesus realized who He was from eternity past. Consider these verses:

John 8:58 - "'I tell you the truth,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I AM!'"

Genesis 1:26 - "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'"

John 17:5 - "And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."

Revelation 13:8 - "All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast - all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world."

Even as a child, Jesus was aware He was preparing to finish the work of His Father. In Luke 2:49 Jesus says, "Why were you searching for me . . . Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" Later in Luke, it reads "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."

If Jesus knew everything, He would not need to "grow in wisdom." Jesus needed to grow physically. He also voluntarily put himself in a position to gain knowledge as a human. Yes, Jesus was still God. Theology refers to this as the hypostatic union. (Hypostatic union means the union of two natures - God and man.)

Is Jesus God? Yes, and He has known from eternity past that He is God.

Ask yourself, "Do I believe that Jesus is God?" and "What are the reasons why I should believe that Jesus is God?" No legitimate historian denies that Jesus lived on earth, but it is up to you to decide for yourself whether Jesus is God in your life.