I AM .................... BIBLE VERSES THAT SAY JESUS IS GOD IN THE THREE!

I Am “And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming inthe clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62) After His arrest, “the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none” (Mark 14:55). Then they gottheir sought-after witness from Jesus Himself when the high priest asked Him: “Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” (v. 61), and it only took two words from Him. “I Am!” As a matter of fact, this was not the first time He had thus identified Himself as the self-existent, eternal God. On an earlier occasion in Jerusalem, He had told the Pharisees: “I am the light of the world,” and then, “I am from above:..I am not of this world....Ifye believe not that I am, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:12, 23-24; the “he” in verse 24 is not in the Greek original). He made this especially clear a few minutes later when He asserted: “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). But when He finally made this wonderfully truthfulclaim in the presence of the council, “they all condemned him to be guilty of death” (Mark 14:64). He had committed the capital crime of blasphemy in theiropinion, by claiming to be God. “I am” is, in fact, the very name of God. When Moses, at the burning bush, was called by God to deliver the Israelites from slavery, God said His name was “I Am That I Am” (Exodus3:14). The name Jehovah (or Yahweh), the most frequently used name of the Lord in the Old Testament, is essentially this name. One can count at least 196 “I am” claims of God in Christ (“I am the way, the truth, and the life,” for example—John 14:6) in the Bible. Truly, our LordJesus Christ is the eternal, self-existent God, “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last” (Revelation 22:13). HMM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bible verses that say Jesus is God If anyone tries to tell you that Jesus is not God in the flesh close your ears because anyone who believes that blasphemy will not enter into Heaven. Jesussaid if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. If Jesus wasn’t God how could He die for our sins? Not only your sins or my sins, but everyone in the whole world. God said that He is the only Savior. Can God lie? Scripture clearly says thereis only one God so you must believe the Trinity. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are 3 divine persons in one. These Bible verses are to show and provethat Jesus is God unlike what the Mormons teach. The Pharisees were angered because Jesus claimed to be God. If you claim Jesusis not God what makes you different from the Pharisees? Quotes “Jesus is the only God who has a date in history.” “Jesus Christ God’s Son died for me. Jesus rose from the grave for me, Jesus represents me, Jesus is for me. Jesus will raise me when I die. Your gods body or your religiousbody that you worship is still in the grave for he or she is not God. Only Jesus God’s Son is God. Worship Him. “Jesus was God in the form of man. That’s hard for people to swallow that, even today, that “He was God.” That’s what He was. He wasn’t nothing less than God. He was God manifestedin flesh.” “If Jesus is not God, then there is no Christianity, and we who worship Him are nothing more than idolaters. Conversely, if He is God, those who say He was merely a good man,or even the best of men, are blasphemers. More serious still, if He is not God, then He is a blasphemer in the fullest sense of the word. If He is not God, He is not even good.” J. Oswald Sanders “We tend to focus our attention at Christmas on the infancy of Christ. The greater truth of the holiday is His deity. More astonishing than a baby in the manger is the truththat this promised baby is the omnipotent Creator of the heavens and the earth!” John F. MacArthur “If Jesus Christ is not true God, how could he help us? If he is not true man, how could he help us?” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer What does theBible say? 1. John 10:30 The Father and I are one. 2. Philippians 2:5-6 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Thoughhe was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 3. John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me,and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 4. John 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, whois himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. 5. Colossians 2:9-10 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily. andin Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. Jesusclaimed to be God. 6. John 10:33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “butfor blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” 7. John 5:18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, becausenot only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. Jesus is the Word. 8. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was withGod, and the Word was God. 9. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dweltamong us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jesus Christ is the only way into Heaven. 10. 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son JesusChrist. He is the true God and eternal life. 11. Romans 10:13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” I am He 12. John 8:57-58 The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born,I Am!” 13. John 8:22-24 This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?” But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above.You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die inyour sins.” 14. John 13:18-19 “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned againstme.’ “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. First and Last: There’s only one God 15. Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “Iam the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. 16. 1 Corinthians 8:6 Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and throughwhom we exist. 17. Revelation 2:8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. 18. Revelation 1:17-18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not,I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Only God canbe worshiped. Jesus was worshiped. 19. Matthew 2:1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has beenborn king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 20. Matthew 28:8-9 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. Theycame to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Jesus is prayedto 21. Acts 7:59-60 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “LordJesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees hecried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, hefell asleep. The Trinity 22. Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizingthem in the name of the Father andof the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 23. 2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Biblical examples 24. John 20:27-28 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; seemy hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 25. 2 Peter 1:1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those whohave obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Bonus Acts 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Beshepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Jesus Christ John14:6 ESV / 1,551 helpful votes Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 1Timothy 2:5 ESV / 1,419 helpful votes For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, John3:16 ESV / 1,402 helpful votes “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Proverbs8:35-36 ESV / 1,376 helpful votes For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.” John1:1 ESV / 1,354 helpful votes In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Acts4:11-12 ESV / 1,330 helpful votes This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 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.” John11:35 ESV / 1,277 helpful votes Jesus wept. Hebrews4:10 ESV / 1,208 helpful votes For whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. John1:14 ESV / 1,171 helpful votes And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Hebrews13:8 ESV / 1,136 helpful votes Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Acts2:38 ESV / 1,095 helpful votes And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. John8:58 ESV / 1,027 helpful votes Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” Isaiah53:5 ESV / 1,020 helpful votes But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. John8:12 ESV / 805 helpful votes Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Isaiah7:14 ESV / 734 helpful votes Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Hebrews2:14 ESV / 670 helpful votes Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, Colossians2:9 ESV / 641 helpful votes For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, Revelation17:14 ESV / 620 helpful votes They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” Philippians2:8-11 ESV / 534 helpful votes And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the nameof Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. John20:28 ESV / 518 helpful votes Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Ephesians2:8-9 ESV / 430 helpful votes For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 1Corinthians 16:22 ESV / 393 helpful votes If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! Romans15:17 ESV / 386 helpful votes In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. John8:24 ESV / 354 helpful votes I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” 1Corinthians 15:3-4 ESV / 328 helpful votes For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, Micah5:2 ESV / 302 helpful votes But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Matthew24:44 ESV / 197 helpful votes Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Isaiah9:6 ESV / 167 helpful votes 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. Hebrews4:3 ESV / 59 helpful votes For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. Romans10:9 ESV / 37 helpful votes Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Revelation22:13 ESV / 27 helpful votes I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” John10:30-33 ESV / 27 helpful votes I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not fora good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” Matthew16:25 ESV / 27 helpful votes For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. John10:30 ESV / 26 helpful votes I and the Father are one.” Matthew16:15-16 ESV / 24 helpful votes He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew25:13 ESV / 21 helpful votes Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Galatians3:28 ESV / 20 helpful votes There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Matthew28:18 ESV / 20 helpful votes And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 1Peter 2:24 ESV / 18 helpful votes He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. Hebrews12:2 ESV / 18 helpful votes Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Luke16:19-31 ESV / 18 helpful votes “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man'stable. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus athis side. ... Matthew24:36 ESV / 18 helpful votes “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Isaiah1:1-31 ESV / 18 helpful votes The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord hasspoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspringof evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why willyou continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. ... 1John 3:5 ESV / 16 helpful votes You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 1John 2:2 ESV / 16 helpful votes He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Colossians1:17 ESV / 16 helpful votes And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Acts4:12 ESV / 16 helpful votes 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.” John7:38 ESV / 16 helpful votes Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John1:3 ESV / 16 helpful votes All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 1Peter 3:18 ESV / 15 helpful votes For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, Titus2:13 ESV / 15 helpful votes Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Acts1:1-26 ESV / 15 helpful votes In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himselfalive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ... 2Corinthians 5:21 ESV / 14 helpful votes For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Proverbs8:22-36 ESV / 14 helpful votes “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning ofthe earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust ofthe world. ... Hebrews4:15 ESV / 13 helpful votes For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. John4:24 ESV / 13 helpful votes God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Matthew2:11 ESV / 13 helpful votes And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Revelation1:5 ESV / 12 helpful votes And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 1John 2:1 ESV / 12 helpful votes My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1Peter 3:15 ESV / 12 helpful votes But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, Hebrews10:37 ESV / 12 helpful votes For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; Hebrews4:12 ESV / 12 helpful votes For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV / 12 helpful votes Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Philippians2:5 ESV / 12 helpful votes Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, Exodus3:14 ESV / 12 helpful votes God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sentme to you.’” Revelation19:16 ESV / 11 helpful votes On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. Ephesians5:2 ESV / 11 helpful votes And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians2:10 ESV / 11 helpful votes For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Acts1:11 ESV / 11 helpful votes And said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Acts1:1-2:1 ESV / 11 helpful votes In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himselfalive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” ... John17:5 ESV / 11 helpful votes And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. John2:25 ESV / 11 helpful votes And needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. Matthew1:23 ESV / 11 helpful votes “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew1:18-25 ESV / 11 helpful votes Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man andunwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived inher is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ... Songof Solomon 1:1-17 ESV / 11 helpful votes The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine; your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you. Draw me after you;let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will exult and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine; rightly do they love you. I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.... Revelation1:1-20 ESV / 10 helpful votes The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimonyof Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you andpeace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from oursins by his blood ... Hebrews9:28 ESV / 10 helpful votes So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews7:25 ESV / 10 helpful votes Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 1Thessalonians 5:19-22 ESV / 10 helpful votes Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Philippians2:5-7 ESV / 10 helpful votes Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born inthe likeness of men. Ephesians2:6 ESV / 10 helpful votes And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, John15:13 ESV / 10 helpful votes Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John11:25 ESV / 10 helpful votes Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, Luke24:13-35 ESV / 10 helpful votes That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesushimself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. ... Matthew5:16 ESV / 10 helpful votes In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew5:7 ESV / 10 helpful votes “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 1John 5:10 ESV / 9 helpful votes Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 1John 4:9 ESV / 9 helpful votes In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 1John 3:16 ESV / 9 helpful votes By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 1John 1:9 ESV / 9 helpful votes If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Philippians4:19 ESV / 9 helpful votes And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians3:20 ESV / 9 helpful votes But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, John12:50 ESV / 9 helpful votes And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.” Matthew11:1-5 ESV / 9 helpful votes When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Areyou the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor havegood news preached to them. Revelation1:8 ESV / 8 helpful votes “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Hebrews9:26 ESV / 8 helpful votes For then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. John19:30 ESV / 8 helpful votes When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Isaiah53:10 ESV / 8 helpful votes Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; heshall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Psalm91:1-16 ESV / 8 helpful votes He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom Itrust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night,nor the arrow that flies by day, ... 1Timothy 4:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ What are some of the credentials of the Messiah? The HebrewBible and the Jewish sages describe the Messiah inmore detail than many realize. From these writings we can know his genealogical background, place of birth, the timeframe of his arrival, and other identifying characteristics. These credentials enable us to identify the Messiah and to recognize imposters.Only a few can be listed below; there are many others. Early rabbis and sages recognized all of these passages as referring to the Messiah. • Messiah would be from the tribe of Judah: Genesis 49:10 (Hebrew) • Messiah would be a descendant of King David: 2 Samuel 7:12-16 (Hebrew) • Messiah was to be born at Bethlehem: Micah 5:2 (Hebrew – Micah 5:1) • Messiah would arrive before the destruction of the Second Temple: Daniel 9:24-27 (Hebrew) • Messiah would present himself by riding on a donkey: Zechariah 9:9 (Hebrew) • Messiah would be tortured to death: Psalm 22:1-31 (Hebrew) • Messiah’s life would match a particular description, including suffering, silence at his arrest and trial, death and burial in a rich man’s tomb, and resurrection: Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (Hebrew – Is. 52; Hebrew – Is. 53) In regard to lineage, birthplace,time, and lifestyle, Jesus matched the Messianic expectations of the Hebrew Scriptures. The record of this fulfillment is to be found in the pages of the New Testament. Butseveral other factors combine to further substantiate the Messiahship of Jesus. If Jesus had never made the claim to be the Messiah, why would we bother to try and prove that he was? In the first place, he claimed to be the Messiah! When a woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming," he replied, "I who speak to you am he" (John4:25-26). Naturally, that doesn't prove anything one way or the other. But if Jesus had never made the claim to be the Messiah, why would we bother to try and prove that he was? His own claim lays the groundwork for the rest of the evidence. If these "credentials" in the Hebrew Scriptures are so clear, why didn't most Jewish people believe in Jesus? To understand this, one must realize that by the time of Jesus, the messianic hope had become greatly politicized in the minds of the people. They were seeking deliverance from the tyranny of Rome. Although the Scripture spoke both of the sufferings and ofthe victories of the messiah, the victorious aspect had become uppermost in the minds of the common people because of Roman domination. This "lopsided" view of the Messiah has stuck with many Jewish people, and the politicization of the messianic hope hascontinued to this day. This is not to say that all Jewish people rejected the claims of Jesus. On the contrary, all the first followers of Jesus were Jews. In fact, the rabbis of that time and afterwards were well aware of the manymessianic prophecies which Christians claimed were fulfilled in Jesus. So, for instance, although the Talmudic rabbis concurred that Isaiah53 was a prediction of the Messiah, by medieval times the pressure from those who applied this prophecy to Jesus was so great that Rashi, one of the greatest medieval Biblical scholars, reinterpreted the chapter and said it referred to the nation of Israel.This interpretation is maintained today by many Jewish scholars, though it only dates back to the Middle Ages. What makes Jesus different from others who have claimed to be the Messiah? There have been false messiahs throughout Jewish history. Among the most prominent were Bar Kokhba who led a revolt against Rom (AD 132-135) and Shabbetai Zevi, a self proclaimed messiah of the seventeenth century. During Bar Kokhba's revolt, one of the most famous figures in Jewish history, Rabbi Akiva, proclaimed him to be "King Messiah." Unfortunately, Bar Kochba, Akiva and thousands of Jews were killed in AD 135. when the Romans stormed the stronghold of Betar. Shabbetai Zevi, on the other hand, was a self-proclaimed messiah. Flourishing in seventeenth-century Europe, the Shabbatean movement spread among both the common people and the rabbis. But when Shabbetai Zevi was arrested in 1666 by the Sultan of Turkey, heconverted to Islam rather than face death. We have been tragically wrong before, so it is not surprising that hard evidence should be sought for believing in Jesus. Jesus' life stands in sharp contrast to those of the false messiahs. Jesus' life stands in sharp contrast to those of the false messiahs, and it is a positive demonstration of what we would expect the Messiah to do. Jesus worked many miracles of healing, bringing wholeness into people's lives, forgiving sin and restoring relationships.In contrast to Shabbetai Zevi, for instance, Jesus carried out the Lawof Moses as a devout Jew. And in contrast to Bar Kokhba, although Jesus died he was also resurrected! Jesus rose from the dead. The resurrection is a piece of additional evidence, and it is perhaps the most convincing vindication of Jesus' claims. Israeli scholar, Pinchas Lapide, wrote a book that has attracted no small amount of attention in the Jewish community. In TheResurrection of Jesus: A Jewish Perspective, Lapide argued that the resurrection of Jesus is well within the realm of possibility. After all, he reasoned, the Hebrew Scriptures give a number of accounts of people coming back to life. Why not Jesus aswell? Regrettably, Lapide fails to note that the resurrection of Jesus is described in terms that go far beyond the resuscitations of the other stories. He fails to come to grips with the fact that Jesus predicted his own resurrection, which vindicated hisclaims to Messiahship. Throughout history, people have explained away the resurrection as either non-historical ("It never happened") or as non-supernatural ("Here's how it could have happened"). But these explanations have not been successful. Run through the possibilities yourselfand see which makes the most sense. Did the Roman authorities steal the body of Jesus from the tomb? Then why didn't they produce it when the word spread that Jesus was risen? Or maybe the disciples stole it. But could such a fabrication on their part accountfor the change in their attitude? Three days earlier, they were disillusioned, defeated idealists who had hoped that Jesus would usher in a new world order. Could a lie, which they knew to be a lie, now account for their hope, their boldness in the face ofofficial persecution, and for the high ethical standards they set? Perhaps Jesus never died; perhaps he just fainted on the cross and revived in the tomb. This idea was popularized in the book The Passover Plot by Hugh J.Schonfield. Unfortunately, the author overlooked the fact that the Romans pierced Jesus’ side, which would have most certainly killed him. Also, there was a contingent of Roman soldiers guarding the tomb as well as a huge stone that blocked its entrance. Therewas no way that a resuscitated Jesus could have escaped and then convinced hundreds of skeptical eyewitnesses that he had conquered death forever! Or was it all a hallucination? It must have been quite a hallucination to be seen by vastly different kinds ofpeople at different times of day in many different places. You might be able to fool one person, but can you fool 500 who saw him at one time? And, unlike hallucinations, these appearances of the resurrectedJesus stopped as suddenly as they started, 40 days after the resurrection had taken place. The only satisfactory explanation is that the resurrection actually occurred, just as the record says. And if that’s the case, it’s a solid reason for accepting the Messiahship of Jesus. Jesus transforms people's lives. Because he provides atonement for sin and reconciliation with God, Jesus brings peace, joy, and purpose into people's lives. Apart from faith in him, there is no basis for true peace or direction, for, as the psalmist says, "Man is estranged from the womb."That this estrangement is healed by the reconciling ministry of Jesus is the common experience of those who believe in him. Between the objective evidence of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, and the subjective verification in our own lives—we think there's ample evidence that Jesus was who he claimed to be! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Old Testament Prophecies of Jesus’ Resurrection Weekly Q & A with Dr. William Lane Craig Question Hello Dr. Craig, I wanted to start off by saying that I am a great admirer of your work. Your apologetics are superb and have really helped me feel confidence in my faith. I am a Christian, and I really do see you as inspirational in the world of theology. You've said beforethat you do not have "fans", merely students, but I would probably consider myself a fan. My question is in regards to the Origin of the Disciple's Belief, which is one of the main facts you use in argument for the Resurrection. I know that the disciples hada Jewish concept of resurrection, and thus believed in a general raising of the dead rather than an individual raising. However, I was wondering why the disciples quote the Psalms during their sermons given in Acts, as though they believed that these passagesspoke of resurrection. Specifically, I'm referring to Psalm 16, where David mentions how the Holy One's flesh would not see corruption. At first I believed that David either meant this in a poetic, metaphorical sense, or perhaps was referring to the general resurrection. However,if this was the case, then why would the disciples quote from it as to directly parallel David's body with Christ's? It seems that the Atheist could argue that this passage inspired the origin of the disciple's belief, as they speak of Jesus "fulfilling" thispassage. Couldn't this passage be used to argue that the resurrection wasn't necessary for the origin of the disciple's belief, but rather the Psalms could have been misinterpreted to give the impression that Individual Resurrection was indeed something thatwas alluded to in the Old Testament, but only fulfilled later by Jesus? I know that the disciples didn't have expectations of a dying and rising Messiah, but this passage has always bothered me, especially since it is quoted in Acts by Peter. Dr. William Lane Craig's Response You ask, “Why would the disciples quote [Ps 16.10] as to directly parallel David's body with Christ's?” The answer that they wanted to show that Jesus’ resurrection was in some sense a fulfillment of Scripture, and,since the Old Testament has almost nothing to say about the resurrection, they had to apply novel interpretations to passages that weren’t really about the resurrection. Now if that sort of hermeneutic strikes you as dishonest, understand that for an ancientJewish exegete discerning such deeper meanings in the Scriptures was normal procedure and would be seen as a strength of one’s view. Giving a novel interpretation to familiar passages was seen as providing additional insight into Scripture. So in Psalm 16. 9-10 David says, Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure. For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit. He’s not talking about some future resurrection; rather he’s saying that God will preserve his life (“not give me up to Sheol”). The Psalm is not about rising from the dead but avoiding death! The Apostle Peter lends to the Psalm the novel interpretation that it is about the Messiah’s resurrection, thereby discovering a deeper layer of meaning (Acts 2.29-32). Jews of that day might say in response, “Hmm! I never read it that way before. Interesting!” The very obscurity of such Old Testament passages (Hosea 6.2 and the story of Jonah and the whale are other examples) has led scholars to reject the 19th centuryview that the disciples came to believe that Jesus was risen by reading such Old Testament passages. On the contrary, nobody would have read them that way apart from a prior belief in Jesus’ resurrection. Because they had come to believe that Jesus was risen,the disciples went to the Old Testament to find proof texts for their belief. That usually involved reading such passages in a new way that would not have occurred to them had they not come to believe that Jesus was risen. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------