The Image of God: Examining Jesus in Human Form

Is Jesus... God... in human form? This question has puzzled theologians, philosophers, and believers for centuries. It is crucial to understand the concept and answers to this question to gain a deeper insight into the nature of God and His relationship with humanity.

Believing in the Historical Jesus

Firstly, one must believe that Jesus existed at a specific point in human history. If one does not believe that Jesus lived among human beings over 2000 years ago, they should stop here. The essence of the question relies on a specific historical figure, not a mythical or fictional character.

Jesus of Nazareth

We are speaking of a man born in Roman-controlled Palestine during the 1st century. He was commonly known as 'Jesus of Nazareth' or 'Jesus son of Joseph and Mary.' This Jesus is not the one referred to as 'hey-suss' at the corner market, but the figure described by the renowned historian Flavius Josephus.

Understanding God

To address the question, we must first clarify that the term 'God' is not a pronoun but a proper noun, representing the supreme being who is the creator of all things, the mover and shaker of heaven and earth, all present, all powerful, all loving, and the judge of all living creatures. This God is often referred to as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation.

Scriptural Evidence

The Bible provides clear evidence of Jesus being God in human form. As the 'Word' of God (John 1:1), Jesus is identified as God. He is worshiped as such, as stated in John 20:28, and referred to as 'God' by John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:3). Scripture also describes Jesus as God: 'God is Christ in the Flesh' (Romans 9:5) and as 'equal to God' (Philippians 2:6). Other passages emphasize Jesus' divine nature, such as

'He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature' (Hebrews 1:3) 'The Everlasting Father' (Isaiah 9:6) 'God with us' (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:22–23) 'Sits on the Throne of God' (Hebrews 1:8) 'The Way, the Truth and the Life' (John 14:6)

Jesus also possesses attributes that only God can have, such as omnipresence (Matthew 18:20), omniscience (John 2:24), omnipotence (Isaiah 9:6), and immutability (Hebrews 13:8). This divine nature is further confirmed by the fact that Jesus accepted worship, used authority over the Sabbath, was prayed to, and lived a sinless life (1 John 1:1).

Divine Manifestation

Jesus is described as God in human form because He fully embodied the divine nature, which was not a mere pretense. His harsh critics did not deny his claims but believed he was claiming to be God, which they thought was blasphemy and punishable by death (John 10:36). This indicates that He did not merely pretend to be God but actually identified Himself as such.

The manifestation of Jesus as God in human form highlights the true essence of God's love and sacrifice for humanity, as seen in His sacrifice on the cross. He paid the price for the sins of those who would accept the pardon offered, fulfilling God's justice on humanity's behalf.

Lastly, Jesus said, 'Before Abraham was I AM' (John 8:58), which concludes the theological debate on this subject. To deny this is to fail at the one and only thing one is supposed to get right in life.

Therefore, believing that Jesus is God in human form is essential for understanding the nature of God and His relationship with humanity. It not only confirms the validity of Jesus' claims but also highlights the significance of His role in humanity's salvation.