The truth of the Gospel has never existed without opposition. From its earliest proclamation, the message of who Jesus Christ is and why He came has been challenged, reinterpreted and denied.
In recent years, those challenges have grown louder, with voices questioning not only the authority of Scripture but the very identity of Christ Himself. Yet the Gospel does not rest on shifting opinions. It stands on the unchanging testimony of God’s Word.
In a recent teaching, Pastor Jack Hibbs addressed one of the most persistent claims resurfacing today, that Jesus Christ is not God. Hibbs confronted the assertion directly, stating, “It’s nothing new when people say Jesus is not God.” He explained that such claims are not modern discoveries or enlightened reinterpretations. “This has been going on since the day Jesus was born,” he said.
Rather than engaging speculation, Hibbs anchored the discussion firmly in Scripture. “The fact of the matter is, the Bible does teach that Jesus Christ is God,” he said.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, Hibbs emphasized that the full witness of Scripture consistently reveals Jesus as eternal, divine and fully God.
One of the clearest examples, he explained, appears in the prophet Micah. “Micah 5:2 says that behold, in Bethlehem, out of you He shall come forth to Me whose goings forth have been from of old, even everlasting,” Hibbs said.
While the passage speaks of the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem, it also declares His eternal existence. “It’s talking about the birth of the Messiah, the Anointed One, in the town of Bethlehem, who is eternal,” he said.
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Jesus Himself later affirmed that same truth.
Referencing John 8, Hibbs pointed to Christ’s own words: “Before Abraham ever was, I existed.” Hibbs explained that this was not symbolic language. “Abraham rejoiced when he saw My day,” Jesus said, a statement Hibbs noted implies a real interaction before the incarnation. This aligns with Old Testament appearances of Christ, often identified as the Angel of the Lord.
Hibbs also pointed to the response of the Pharisees, who clearly understood Jesus’ claim. “They said, ‘We don’t want to kill You because of the miracles. We want to kill You because You have declared Yourself to be God,’” Hibbs said. Their reaction confirms that Christ’s claim to deity was unmistakable to those who heard Him.
The Gospel of John leaves no ambiguity. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” Hibbs quoted, adding that Scripture later declares, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” He summarized the conclusion simply: “There’s no getting away from Jesus Christ being deity.”
That truth, Hibbs emphasized, is foundational to the faith. “There is no salvation without believing that,” he said. Scripture repeatedly affirms this reality, including the declaration, “Behold, in the volume of the book, it is written of Me,” a passage Hebrews applies directly to Jesus Christ.
Hibbs cautioned that confusion about Christ’s identity often comes from selective Bible reading. “All of this talk comes from people not reading the Bible from cover to cover,” he said.
His encouragement to believers was straightforward and reassuring. “You want to know the truth and be kept safe from lies?” Hibbs asked. “Read the Bible all the way through.” He concluded, “Do that, and you’ll do well.”
Far from being unsettled by cultural voices questioning Christ’s identity, Hibbs’ message offers reassurance. Scripture speaks clearly. Jesus Christ has always been God, remains God, and revealed Himself fully in the flesh. The truth is not hidden or fragile. It is written plainly, from beginning to end.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
