Bible Question:

Does the Old Testament present Jesus as God?

Bible Answer:

It is important to us whether or not the Old Testament presents Jesus as God. Come with me on an extended journey and enjoy this adventure. Open your Bible to Isaiah 44:6. In this passage God is speaking about Himself. It is a remarkable passage. God says,

I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me. And who is like Me? . . . Isa 44:6 (NAS95S)

God declares that He was the first and He will be the last. He will exist forever. He is God and there is no other God. That is a very strong statement. There no other god such as Baal, Jupiter, Budda, or Alla. This message is repeated once more in Isaiah 45:5 when He says,

I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides Me there is no God . . . Isa 45:5 (NAS95S)

Then in the next verse, Isaiah 45:6, He repeats the statement again,

. . . there is no one besides Me, I am the Lord, and there is no other. Isa 45:6 (NAS95S)

It is not possible to miss the message. He is the only God who exists. There is no other. Then in an extended passage in the next chapter, Isaiah 45:18-22, we read that He is the one who created the universe,

For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), I am the LORD . . . I have not spoken in secret, in some dark land; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, “Seek Me in a waste place” . . . There is none except Me. Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. Isa 45:18-22 (NAS95S)

Then again in Isaiah 46:5-9 He says,

To whom would you liken Me, And make Me equal and compare Me, that we should be alike? Those who lavish gold from the purse and weigh silver on the scale hire a goldsmith, and he makes it {into} a god; They bow down, indeed they worship it. They lift it upon the shoulder and carry it; they set it in its place and it stands (there.) It does not move from its place. Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer; It cannot deliver him from his distress. Remember this, and be assured; recall it to mind . . . Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me . . . Isa 46:5-9 (NAS95S)

Now He asks, “Who is like Me?” Yet, men and women create gods to worship. Some make their gods out of construction materials such as wood, metal, and clay. Often demons will make such idols appear to have god like powers. Demonic forces are the actual power behind such gods. Others make gods out of work, politics, family, cars, and pleasure. These are more subtle and dangerous.

Then in Isaiah 45:21, God says,

And there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior. Isa 45:21 (NAS95S)

Who is speaking? Do you think it is Jesus? Whoever He is, He says that there is no other god and then He adds that He is the only Savior. In Isaiah 48:12-13 He adds,

I am He, I am the first, I am the last. Surely My hand founded the earth . . . Isa 48:12-13 (NAS95S)

The message has been repeated over and over. He is God and there is no other. He is the only Savior. He is the first and last, He is the alpha and omega. There is no one like Him. There is no one like Him. And then we come to Isa 48:16 and we read this,

From the first I have not spoken in secret, from the time it took place, I was there. And now the Lord God has sent Me, and His Spirit. Isa 48:18(NAS95S)

Who has been speaking? The answer is God. He has been speaking for four chapters since Isa 44:6. He has been repeating the message again and again that there is no other god. And all of a sudden He says, “The Lord God has sent Me.” This says that God has sent God. How can He say that He is the only God and yet He has a God? The answer is, there is only one God – they are the same God. The Lord God is God the Father. He is also Jesus Christ. We have a tremendous statement that the Lord God is also Jesus Christ, our Savior (Isa. 45:21), and the Holy Spirit. They are all the same God – three-in-one. Our God is a triune being.

Conclusion:

Jesus is God.

Suggested Links:

Searching For God
Jesus Our Savior