Jesus Is God in the Flesh

INTRODUCTION – The Most Important Truth About Jesus

When people talk about Jesus, they often say He was a good man, a wise teacher, or a prophet. But the Bible says far more than that. It doesn’t leave room for Jesus to be just a man—it reveals that He is God Himself, come in the flesh. If you miss that, you miss everything.

Believing that Jesus is God in the flesh is not a side issue—it’s the foundation of the Gospel. If He’s not God, then His blood can’t save. If He’s not man, then He can’t represent us. But if He’s both—God and man united in one person—then He alone is qualified to be the Savior of the world. There is no one else.

Let’s walk through the Scriptures and discover what God says about His Son—not just what men say, but what He has revealed.

I. Jesus Is the Eternal Word

The Gospel of John opens not with a baby in a cradle, but with eternity.

John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Before time began, before creation, the Word already existed. He was with God (distinct in person), and was God (identical in essence). The Word is not a created being—He is the Creator Himself.

We’re not left guessing who this “Word” is. A few verses later, John makes it unmistakably clear.

II. The Word Was Made Flesh

God didn’t send a message from heaven. He came down Himself.

John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The eternal Word—the second person of the Trinity—became flesh. He didn’t stop being God; He added humanity to Himself.

“Dwelt among us” means He tabernacled with us, just like God’s glory filled the Tabernacle in Moses’ day. But this time, the glory wasn’t hidden behind a veil—He walked, He talked, He ate, He wept. The disciples didn’t just hear about God—they beheld His glory.

III. God Manifest in the Flesh

This truth isn’t obscure or debatable. Paul calls it a foundational mystery of our faith.

1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

The “mystery of godliness” is not about what God revealed—it’s about how He did it.

God—unseen, immortal, unapproachable—manifested (made visible) in human form. This is not a metaphor. Paul said, “God was manifest in the flesh.”

Jesus didn’t become part God and part man. He is fully God and fully man at the same time—the only being in the universe who is both infinite and infant, Creator and carpenter, Judge and justifier.

IV. Jesus Claimed to Be the “I AM”

The Jews understood exactly what Jesus meant when He said this:

John 8:58
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

He wasn’t just claiming to pre-date Abraham. He was claiming to be the I AM—the very name God gave Himself in the burning bush.

Exodus 3:14
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

This name reveals self-existence—He is not caused, not created, not confined. Jesus applies that name to Himself. Not “I was,” but “I AM”—eternal present tense.

He is not a created being. He is the uncaused cause, the self-existent One. I AM.

That’s why the Jews picked up stones to kill Him. They knew He was declaring Himself to be Jehovah.

V. Jesus Claimed Equality With God

Jesus didn’t claim to be “like” God or “close” to God. He claimed to be one with the Father.

John 10:30
I and my Father are one.

His enemies understood the claim—and they hated it.

John 10:31-33
Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Jesus didn’t say, “I’m similar to God.” He said, “I am one with Him.” Not one in purpose only—one in essence. The Jews didn’t misunderstand Him—they understood exactly what He was claiming. That’s why they wanted to kill Him.

This wasn’t arrogance—it was truth. The Son and the Father are not two gods. They are two persons—one essence. One God.

VI. Jesus Received Worship

No angel, prophet, or apostle ever received worship without rebuke. But Jesus did—and He welcomed it.

Matthew 14:33
Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Matthew 28:9
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

This was no mistake. Jesus accepted worship—because He deserves it.

Angels refuse worship. Apostles reject it. But Jesus receives it—and affirms it. If Jesus were not God, worshiping Him would be idolatry. But because He is God, worship is the only right response.

Reverence belongs to no man. But it belongs to Jesus.

VII. The Father Calls the Son “God”

The deity of Christ isn’t just declared by Christ—it’s declared by the Father.

Hebrews 1:8
But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

The Father says to the Son: “Thy throne, O God.” That’s not metaphor. That’s divine authority. God calls Jesus God.

The Father isn’t using a figure of speech. He is addressing the Son as God, enthroned forever.

This verse alone refutes every cult that says Jesus is “a lesser god” or “a created being.” The Father says otherwise.

VIII. All the Fullness of God Lives in Jesus

Jesus doesn’t just reflect God—He contains all that God is.

Colossians 2:9
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

The Godhead—the full divine nature—dwells bodily in Christ. That means when you look at Jesus, you’re looking at the full presence of Almighty God.

In Jesus, nothing of God is missing. He’s not a reflection or a representative. He’s the fullness of God—in bodily form.

The divine nature didn’t visit Jesus. It dwells in Him permanently. He is the living temple of deity, not temporarily filled, but eternally God.

IX. Jesus Created All Things

The Bible says only Jehovah created all things—but it also says Jesus did.

Colossians 1:16-17
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

He made it all. He holds it all together. He is God.

He is not part of creation—He made it. Every atom in existence was crafted by His hand. Every angel, every throne, every dimension—by Him and for Him.

And He didn’t walk away. “By him all things consist”—that means He holds it all together, moment by moment.

X. Jesus Forgave Sins as God

The power to forgive sins belongs to God alone.

Mark 2:5-7
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

The scribes were right—only God can forgive sins. But they didn’t realize they were standing in the presence of God in the flesh.

Forgiveness is not just a nice gesture. Only the offended party can forgive the offense. And every sin is against God.

So when Jesus forgave sins—He was declaring that He is the One offended—and the One able to pardon.

XI. Thomas Called Him God—and Jesus Approved

When Thomas saw the risen Christ, he gave the highest confession a man can give.

John 20:28-29
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Jesus didn’t rebuke him. He confirmed him—and He blessed all of us who believe without seeing.

Jesus didn’t say, “Don’t call me God.” He affirmed the statement and pronounced a blessing on all who believe the same.

Jesus is not just a master teacher. He is “my Lord and my God.”

XII. Jesus Is the Word of God in Revelation

John’s vision of Jesus in glory makes it crystal clear:

Revelation 19:13
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

The same Word who was with God and was God in John 1:1 is the one coming again in power.

This is not John’s poetry. This is John’s heavenly vision. The returning Christ is still called “The Word of God.”

Why? Because Jesus didn’t stop being God’s voice when He ascended. He still is. He always will be.

He is God’s final and perfect self-expression—in glory, in judgment, in power. Jesus is God in the flesh.

XIII. Jesus Is LORD of the Old Testament

The Old Testament says the LORD made all things:

Isaiah 44:24
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

But the New Testament says Jesus did:

John 1:3
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

If the LORD created all things, and Jesus created all things—then Jesus is the LORD.

The LORD says He created all things—alone. John says Jesus created everything.

There is no room for two Creators. Either the LORD and Jesus are the same person—or one is lying. The Bible leaves no doubt: Jesus is THE LORD. Jesus is the Almighty Creator of all things.

XIV. Denying the Deity of Christ Is Antichrist

This is not a side doctrine—it’s a salvation issue.

1 John 4:2-3
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

To deny that God came in the flesh is to embrace the spirit of antichrist.

Many believe in a historical Jesus. Others believe in a spiritual Jesus. But the Bible says true faith confesses Jesus Christ come in the flesh—fully God, fully man.

CONCLUSION – The Living God Has a Name

The question is not, “Did Jesus exist?” It’s not even, “Did He rise from the dead?” The real question is: Who is He?

John 8:24
I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

To be saved, you must believe that Jesus is not just a man, not just a prophet, but the eternal God who came in flesh to die for you, rise again, and reign forever.

He is the image of the invisible God.

He is the Word made flesh.

He is the great I AM.

He is the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

He is God—and there is none else.

Let’s pray.