Throughout the New Testament, we find compelling evidence that Jesus performs the works that are typically attributed to God:
Works Of God Credited To Jesus
The Bible Claims God Created Everything ALONE
Scripture begins with the affirmation that God created the universe (Genesis 1:1), The Bible is also clear that God alone made the universe and asserts that God actively sustains His creation.
6. “You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.
Throughout the book of Isaiah we find God claims sole responsibility for creation
24. Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself,
12. I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.
God continues to claim that He gives life to everything (Isaiah 42:5) and it was his words that made everything in creation (Psalm 104:5-9, Genesis 1) beautifully illustrates how God established and maintains the earth and its natural laws. Even in the New Testament we find God needs nothing (Acts 17:25) as He continues to life to all creation.
The New Testament Claims That Jesus Created Everything ALONE
John starts off his gospel in the New Testament declaring Jesus to be the word of God himself (Jesus Is The Word Of God), paralleling the Genesis opening to show that Jesus was there in the beginning with God (John 1:1). John 1:3, 10 asserts,
3. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made...10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him."
Similarly, Colossians 1:16 affirms that:
16. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him.
We find that these verses teach that Jesus was their at the beginning of creation, and God worked though Jesus to make everything. This seems like it could possibly fit in with the Old Testament theology, although it seems more like an addition to the Jewish belief. However this is not where the New Testament stops talking about Jesus.
The Gospels are replete with instances where Jesus demonstrates divine sovereignty over nature. He calms storms (Matthew 8:23-27), multiplies food (Matthew 14:13-33, 15:32-39), and even controls the catch of fish (John 21:1-14). These events reveal His authority over the natural world, a characteristic often attributed to God. Not only was Jesus there at creation, the Bible teaches that Jesus actively holds creation together just as God does (Romans 11:36). Colossians 1:17, this directly contrasts with the old testament that says God alone created and sustains the universe.
17. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Hebrews 1:2-3 continues this reasoning, not only did God make the world though The Son, Jesus is "upholding the universe by the word of his power," a clear testament to His continuous action in maintaining creation. 1 Corinthians 8:6 directly compares both God and Jesus, saying they both created the universe and sustains it:
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 through whom we exist.
Furthermore, Hebrews 1:10 takes the Old Testament claim about God the Father in Psalm 102 and applies it directly to Jesus:
10. And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;
Thus, the Christian scriptures present a unified vision of God's and Jesus' roles in creation. Initially, the Old Testament attributes creation and maintenance of the universe solely to God. However, the New Testament extends these divine attributes to Jesus, portrays Jesus not merely as a part of creation but as central to its existence and ongoing existence.
All His Words Are Equal To Scripture
In the Gospels, Jesus' teachings are presented not just as teachings but as ultimate truths, God's Word itself. In passages like Mark 2:1; Matthew 5:20-22, 7:24-29, 24:35. Jesus takes God's commands in the Old Testament and adds to them, teaching that what He explains is what the God's words and Laws really meant.
In Matthew 5:20-22, Jesus doesn't just interpret the Law; He fulfills and expands it, stating, "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to those of old... But I say to you..." This shift from "You have heard" to "But I say to you" emphasizes His authority to redefine and deepen the understanding of the Law. The frequent use of the phrase "Amen, I say to you" throughout the Gospels is a testament to this divine authority. The Book of Acts continues this theme by referring to the spoken word and the Gospel as "the word of the Lord" (Acts 8:25, 13:44, 48-49;).
Similarly, in Matthew 7:24-29, Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount by comparing those who heed His words to a wise man who built his house on the rock, enduring all storms. The passage concludes with, "And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes." This astonishment arises from His direct assertion of authority, contrasting with the scribes who relied on existing interpretations. Luke 4:32 and Mark 1:22 similarly notes the reaction to His teaching in the synagogues.
The Son Of Man Has Authority
Jesus' uses of the title "Son of Man" to show His divine authority. For example, in , while healing a paralytic, Jesus says:
10. But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he said to the paralytic — 11. “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.”
This act and statement assert his divine role, as forgiving sins is traditionally exclusive to God. In Matthew 25:31-32, he describes the Son of Man's role in judgment:
31. “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
In a previous conversation with the Pharisees, Jesus references Psalm 110:1 to pose a critical question about the Messiah's lineage and nature:
41. Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42. saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43. He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, 44. “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? 45. If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46. And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
By referring to Psalm 110:1, where David calls the Messiah 'Lord,' Jesus challenges their conventional understanding of the Messiah as merely a descendant of David. He implies that the Messiah, while a physical descendant of David, possesses a higher, divine status and nature.
The Bible clearly establishes that God alone has the power to give life and to take it away, asserting His ultimate authority over all creation, including life and death.
God Alone Controls Life
In Deuteronomy 32:39, God declares, "See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand." This is echoed in 1 Samuel 2:6, which states, "The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up." Job 14:5 further emphasizes God's control over human life: "Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass." Psalm 68:20 proclaims, "Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death." Even the NT, affirms that God is the giver of life (Acts 17:25): "Nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything." Romans 8:11 also speaks to His life-giving power: "If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." These verses collectively show that God alone holds the power over life and death, reinforcing His sovereign authority over all creation.
Jesus Controls Life
The New Testament reveals that Jesus claims the same authority over life and death, which would be contradictory if He were not God. While Paul (Romans 8:11) says it was God that raised Jesus from the dead, Jesus himself says it was His own power that raised him.
17. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Jesus declares this several times thoughout the Gospels.
19. Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20. The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21. But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
This statement, referring to His own body, foreshadows His resurrection, demonstrating His power over life and death. In fact, Acts 3:15 refers to Jesus as "the Author of life" . Jesus would later claim to be the one that judge the living and the dead (John 5:28-29). It can not be simply that the Father gave Jesus the authority, because later Jesus proclaims;
25. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26. and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Jesus doubles down in Revelations stating he controls life and death itself;
17. 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, 18. and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Not only does Jesus take the claim of controlling life, He directly quotes the Old Testament, specifically Deuteronomy 32:39, where God proclaims no one can take from his hand and changes it to be about those that believe in Him:
28. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
These passages make it clear: Jesus not only claims the power to raise the dead but also identifies Himself as the source of life. This is a direct assertion of His divine status. If Jesus were not God, these claims would be contradictory or even blasphemy, as the Old Testament clearly states that God alone has the power over life and death. Therefore, the New Testament’s portrayal of Jesus having authority over life and death undeniably supports the belief in His divinity.
Only God Can Forgive Sins
The biblical narrative consistently teaches that all sin ultimately transgresses against God Himself (Daniel 9:9; Exodus 34:7). Nevertheless, Scripture affirms that God, in His boundless mercy, stands ready to forgive those who earnestly seek Him and repent (Psalm 130:4-8; Jeremiah 31:34; Isaiah 43:25). As human beings are created in God's image (Genesis 1:27), actions that harm others or oneself are not only personal offenses but are viewed as affronts against God. The term 'image' (selem) in historical contexts often refers to an idol or physical representation, suggesting that humans, as God's 'images,' are meant to embody and reflect His character and authority on earth (Richard_Middleton2005-jw, Day2014-tu). When we sin against each other, it's not just a violation against another person; it's a desecration of the divine image within us, hence a direct offense against God Himself.
Forgiveness for sins primarily resides with God and the directly affected individual. For instance, if a person wrongs another—such as in the case of sexual abuse—it is not within a third party's authority or right to extend forgiveness on behalf of the victim. This is because forgiveness, in a biblical context, is deeply personal and contingent upon the relationship between the victim and the transgressor, and ultimately, between the individual and God. Only the aggrieved party has the prerogative to forgive the offender for the personal harm done, just as only God can forgive the sin as it is an offense against His divine order and law.
Jesus Forgives Sins In The Place Of God
The Bible is also clear that Jesus can and does forgive sin as well (Mark 2:5-12;
Luke 5:20-21, 5:20, 7:48; Acts 5:31; Matthew 9:2; Colossians 3:13; James 5:15; 1 John 1:9, 2:12;), Mark describes this as the authority to forgive sins:
5. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6. Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7. “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8. And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9. Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10. But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he said to the paralytic — 11. “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12. And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
When Jesus declared that the Son of Man "has authority on earth to forgive sins," He was revealing His identity (Colossians 2:9; Philippians 2:6-7). He is not claiming to exercise a delegated power; rather, He is stating that He is forgiveness itself. This aligns with the biblical understanding that only God can forgive sins, thereby asserting Jesus as the exact image of everything God is (Hebrews 1:3). Thus, the act of forgiving sins directly associates Jesus with the divine, conclusively affirming His identity as God manifested in the flesh (John 10:30). This also is seen in the Old Testament by the Angle that could forgive sins (The Angel Of The Lord Clothes Us In Righteousness And Forgives Sins)
The New Testament portrays Jesus as the ultimate judge of humanity, a role traditionally attributed to God. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus describes His future role in judging all nations.
John 5:22-23 and Acts 10:42 further affirm His appointed position as the judge, a concept that is reiterated in Romans 2:16, 2 Corinthians 5:10, and Revelation 2:23. This judicial authority underscores His divine nature and His integral role in God's redemptive plan.
Jesus is portrayed as performing works traditionally attributed solely to God. This includes His role in creation, where Jesus is described as not only the agent through whom all things were made but was the one the made everything with His own power. Scriptures like John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16 assert that Jesus was not only present at creation but actively maintains the cosmos, mirroring God's role as depicted in Nehemiah 9:6 and Isaiah 42:5. Jesus' divine authority is further evident in His teachings, where He speaks with ultimate truth and authority, transforming and fulfilling the law beyond the traditional interpretations of the scribes and Pharisees, as shown in Matthew 5:20-22, 7:24-29. Moreover, Jesus' power over life and death, demonstrated through the raising of the dead, echoes God's sovereign power over life. His authority to forgive sins and His role as the ultimate judge of humanity showcase His ultimate position within heaven.