When Jesus identified Himself as “I am,” He was not only claiming to be God, but the very God of the Old Testament
YES, mainstream Christian theology, particularly Trinitarianism, teaches that Jesus is God himself, existing as both fully divine and fully human (the Hypostatic Union) – not a lesser god or demigod, but the eternal Son of God, one in substance with the Father, as expressed in the Nicene Creed.
While some denominations hold differing views (e.g., Jesus as the Son of the only true God but not God Himself), the dominant Christian belief is that Jesus’s actions, claims (like “I AM”), and biblical descriptions (like being the Creator) affirm His divinity as God incarnate.
Key Christian Beliefs
Deity of Jesus: He is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, sharing the same divine essence as God the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Two Natures (Hypostatic Union): Jesus is simultaneously 100 percent God and 100 percent man, with two complete natures united in one person.
Biblical Evidence
Claims of Divinity: Jesus’s use of “I AM” (John 8:58) echoed God’s name to Moses, and He stated, “The Father and I are one” (John 10:30).
Actions & Authority: He forgave sins (a power only God has) and accepted worship.
Creator: The Bible describes Jesus as the one through whom all things were made, affirming His divine power (John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16).
“God from God, Light from Light”: The Nicene Creed describes Jesus as being of the same substance (consubstantial) with the Father.
Alternative Views
Some groups, like Jehovah’s Witnesses, believe Jesus is the Son of God but not God Himself, viewing God the Father as the only true God.
In summary, for most Christians, Jesus is God in human flesh, a central tenet of their faith, distinguishing Him from mere men or lesser divine beings.
Did Jesus claim himself to be God?
When Jesus identified Himself as “I am,” He was not only claiming to be God, but the very God of the Old Testament: The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Of course, the Jews understood exactly what He was claiming, and once again, picked up stones to execute Him for blasphemy.
Do Christians Know That Jesus Christ Is Actually God Himself In The Human Body, Not Two Separate Beings?
This has been debated for centuries. The early church were Jews who absolutely believed and knew that there was ONE God, Yahweh, and ONLY Him, no one else.
The new testament gave a deeper understanding of the ONE God, and without detracting from God’s oneness, it was revealed that God can manifest Himself in more personal, direct, and individual ways than He did to a nation, Israel.
This was initially difficult for Jews to accept since their whole lives were immersed in the absolute belief in ONE God.
Without there being other Gods, it was revealed that the promised, predicted, and coming Messiah would not just be a great leader and the one to deliver the Jews from oppressors, but the actual Son of God.
The idea of God having a son was another shock to them, especially in the form of a carpenter in Nazareth. And God filling ordinary people with His Holy Spirit? Unheard of.
Only priests, prophets, and potentates could partake in THAT. But the prophet Joel told us His Spirit would be poured out on ALL flesh.
So there was controversy over the idea of a “Godhead”, made worse by the factions within Judaism, and the gentile (non-Jew) converts, who were grudgingly accepted into the fold.
And confusion between languages, like Aramaic (Syriac) that Yahshua (Jesus) and His apostles spoke, and Greek, then Latin, all created confusion over this idea of a “Godhead”.
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