Jesus Christ reigns supreme over all creation, and no one can reach God and Heaven except with His express permission.
The concept of grace is at the heart of the Christian faith. Jesus Christ demonstrates the depth of God’s love and mercy by offering everyone the possibility of salvation and forgiveness.
Jesus is not only our Savior but also the one to whom God the Father has entrusted all authority and judgment. As the Alpha and the Omega, Jesus shares in the duplicate divine titles and attributes as God the Father, embodying His perfect nature and character.
Scripture unveils Jesus’ unity with the Father, clarifying that Jesus is ultimately God, worthy of worship, and able to save all who come to Him.
1. Jesus as Judge and Advocate
The Gospel of John affirms that God has committed judgment to His Son. John 5:22 declares, “For the Father judges no one but has delegated all judgment to the Son.” Jesus alone can judge humanity and mediate on sinners’ behalf.
Hebrews 7:25 reinforces this: “Therefore, he can save completely those who come to God through him because he always lives to intercede for them.”
As the “firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15), Jesus has authority and supremacy over everything. He not only holds the role of Judge but is also our Advocate with the Father, as seen in 1 John 2:1: “If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” This dual role shows the unique power and grace Jesus offers. Unlike humans, Jesus can judge impartially and plead for mercy for those who trust Him.
2. Jesus, the Image of God
Hebrews 1:3 describes Jesus as the “radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Here, Scripture affirms that Jesus is not merely a messenger or prophet; He is the exact image of God.
In John 14:9, Jesus tells Philip, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” This passage shows that Jesus is a complete revelation of God. To know Jesus is to know God. His words, actions, and character embody the Father’s heart: to save, forgive, and draw us near.
Philippians 2:6 also highlights Jesus’ divine nature: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his advantage.” This passage further shows that Jesus did not need to grasp divinity; He was and is God by nature. His humility in taking on human form to redeem humanity speaks of the incredible grace God offers through His Son.
3. The Divinity of Jesus and His Titles
Isaiah 9:6 prophetically refers to the coming Messiah, who will have divine titles that mirror those of God the Father. “For us, a child is born, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
This prophecy points forward to Jesus, attributing to Him titles that affirm His divinity, including “Mighty God” and “Everlasting Father.”
Revelation 22:13 records Jesus saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” These are titles that only God could claim, demonstrating Jesus’ eternal nature and authority over all creation. In Revelation 1:8, the Father also speaks of Himself as the Alpha and Omega. This shared title is not coincidental but reflects the unity between the Father and the Son. Jesus, like the Father, has no beginning or end, existing from eternity.
In John 10:30, Jesus states, “I and the Father are one.” This claim led to opposition from those who understood He was claiming equality with God. Jesus, fully aware of His identity, did not shrink back from this statement, affirming the truth of His divine unity with the Father.
4. Jesus, the Savior and Redeemer
In addition to His divine titles, Jesus is uniquely qualified as our Savior and Redeemer. Acts 4:12 proclaims, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Jesus alone can save, and His sacrifice on the cross reveals the depth of God’s grace and forgiveness.
Colossians 2:9 further declares, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” This verse affirms that Jesus is fully God, possessing the entirety of God’s divine nature. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He accomplished redemption for humanity, extending forgiveness and reconciliation to all who believe.
The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus, who was sinless, took on the punishment for sin so that we could be forgiven. His sacrifice and resurrection display the ultimate power of God’s grace and justice working together.
5. Jesus’ Power to Forgive Sins
The power to forgive sins is a divine prerogative that Jesus exercised during His earthly ministry. In Mark 2:5-7, Jesus tells a paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” The religious leaders questioned this, asking, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus responds by healing the man to show He has the authority to forgive sins on earth, a power that belongs to God alone.
In Luke 7:47–48, Jesus tells a woman who anoints His feet, “Your sins are forgiven.” He speaks forgiveness and embodies it, acting with the divine authority that only God possesses. These acts of forgiveness reveal that Jesus desires to forgive and has the authority to do so, confirming His divinity.
6. Jesus’ Authority Over Life and Death
Jesus’ authority over life and death is another area where His divine nature is evident. In John 11:25–26, He says, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” By proclaiming Himself as the resurrection and the life, Jesus declares His power over death, an authority that belongs only to God.
In Revelation 1:18, Jesus states, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Holding the keys of death signifies that He has ultimate authority over the realm of the dead, a power no human possesses. Jesus’ victory over death through His resurrection is the foundation of our hope as believers.
7. Jesus’ Eternal Kingdom
Scripture consistently affirms that Jesus reigns in an eternal kingdom, a privilege reserved for God alone. In Hebrews 1:8, God the Father addresses the Son, saying, “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever.” Here, the Father acknowledges the Son as God, affirming His eternal rule and authority.
Daniel 7:13-14 prophetically describes the “Son of Man” receiving an everlasting kingdom from the “Ancient of Days.” This Son of Man, whom Jesus identifies Himself within the Gospels, is given “authority, glory, and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him.” Such worship belongs to God alone, affirming Jesus’ divinity and His rightful place as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Conclusion: The Power of Grace through Jesus
The Scriptures leave no doubt about Jesus’s’ divine identity and authority. He is entirely God, sharing the exact nature, authority, and titles as God the Father. As the Alpha and Omega, the accurate representation of God, Jesus holds all judgment and power. His ability to forgive sins, victory over death, and eternal kingdom testify to His unmatched authority and divine nature.
The power of God’s grace through Jesus is beyond human comprehension. He came to reveal the Father’s heart and offer Himself as the means of forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus provides a way for all people to experience God’s grace, forgiveness, and eternal life. As Paul writes in Romans 8:1, “There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.”
By trusting in Jesus, we receive the power of God’s grace to forgive, redeem, and transform. His authority as Judge, Advocate, and Savior offers us hope and assurance that our sins are forgiven and that we stand justified before God. Jesus is not only our Savior but also the very image and fullness of God, able to save to the utmost and bring us into a relationship with the Father. In Him, the grace of God is made manifest, inviting all to experience His eternal love and mercy.