According to the Bible (Old & New Testament) Jesus Christ is God

Hello everyone! I would like to thank Con for accepting the debate and would like to jump in it reminding you that I will be showing evidence that proves that according to the bible Jesus Christ is God. I will be using the ESV translation unless stated otherwise. My approach will be to show firstly passages that show the divinity or deity of Christ and then in the next round I will focus on attributes that indicate the divinity or deity of Christ. Noteworthy passages: Hebrews 1:8-12: Beginning with Hebrews chapter one it is important to note the context in which we understand quickly to be an exhortation of Jesus being superior to angels. Hebrews one begins then by comparing angels to Jesus and the writer in verse eight says, “But of the Son he says”. It is important that I note that the son is shown to be Jesus throughout scripture, and the context of Hebrews one also shows that we are speaking of Jesus. Following verse eight we see a quotation from Deuteronomy 32:43, which is a verse being addressed to God. Below is the quotation, which was not only attributed to both God and Jesus, but the quote itself being attributed to “the son” indicates Jesus it God. (My emphasis added below) “But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;therefore God, your God, has anointed youwith the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”” (Hebrews 1:8-9) Verse 10 picks up with, “and” which is significant to indicate that we are still referring to the son, Jesus Christ. Verses 10 through 12 are also a quotation, but this time from the psalms, specifically psalm 102:25-27. The psalm is again addressing God to which there is no dispute as the psalms are a collection of prayers, songs, and petitions towards God. It is also worthy to note that the writer of Hebrews again makes it clear that Jesus is God by addressing Christ with a passage that describes acts and the attributes of God. (see below: Emphasis added) “And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed.1 But you are the same, and your years will have no end.” (Hebrews 1:10-12) John 12:37-43: In this passage Jesus has just finished his public ministry, and the writer of John is speaking on those who heard Jesus teaching and did not believe. The writer gives explanation as to why people refused to believe Jesus’ words and teachings by quoting Isaiah 6:10. The chapter of Isaiah 6 focuses on Isaiah’s encounter with the throne of God and of course, God being on that throne. John 12:40 is a direct quotation from Isaiah’s encounter with God in the throne room. The writer of John is speaking of Jesus’ ministry here and verse 41 goes on to say, “Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.” (Emphasis added). So we have the writer of John saying that while Isaiah encountered God in the throne room he “saw his glory and spoke of him”, but here he is speaking of Jesus. The question then is whom did Isaiah see? Jesus or God? Or is Jesus God? Here is John 12:37-43 in its entirety with verse notations to show verse 40, which is the quote from Isaiah 6, “37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, 40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” 41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.” It is important to also note in verse 37 that John establishes that the following verses are attributed to Jesus as he speaks on many people not believing in him despite the “many signs before them.” Exodus 3:13-17 & John 8:58-59 In Exodus we see a discussion between Moses and God at the classic narrative of the burning bush. Exodus 3:13-17 says (with Emphasis added), “Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”” The name that God gives Moses is, “I Am”. This was not only a personal name for God, but an indicator to the Israelites as it also symbolizes that God is, was, and is to come, he simply is. Moving past this encounter we make our way to the Gospel of John. In John there are seven statements beginning with “I am” (John 6:35; 8:12; 10:9; 10:11; 11:25; 14:6; 15:5). Not only do all of these statements put an emphasis on who Jesus is, but the wording itself is quite suspicious. This certainly doesn’t warrant any conclusion regarding Jesus’ divinity until his “I am” statement in John 8:58-59. “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.’ So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.” In this passage we see “I am”, but alone, but not only that Jesus states, “before Abraham was, I am” and this also brings about that indication of God being who was, is, and is to come. Jesus places his existence before Abraham and then also states, “I am”. It is very important to note verse 59, “So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.” The Pharisees whom Jesus was speaking to knew exactly what Jesus meant by this statement and this isn’t the first instance where they tried to stone him for blasphemy or by “making himself equal to God.” Final Considerations for Round 2: Revelation 1:8 states, “I am the Alpha and the Omega.” Says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Emphasis added) Revelation 22:12-13 is a quote from Jesus Christ saying, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has don. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Emphasis added) If Jesus is not God, can there be two Alphas? Two Omegas? Can there be two firsts and two lasts? Or two beginnings and ends? These “titles” leave no room for two beings to hold them. As God made this claim and then Jesus it is then, reasonable, to conclude that Jesus is God. Titus 2:13 states, “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Emphasis added) Finally, Jesus is known as the Word of God in the flesh, and the living word. In the beginning of the Gospel of John we are faced with John 1:1 which states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Conclusion: I look forward to seeing Con’s position and I hope that my case has been presented sufficiently.