The Oneness of God Affirmed in Old Testament

Since the time of Moses the people of Israel were expecting an outstanding ruler, for they had the prophecy of Deuteronomy 18:15: "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken." Later, the prophet Isaiah penned more of the prophecy: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

At the time Isaiah prophesied, Israel as a nation was beginning to fall apart. The people were looking forward to the promised Messiah, a wise ruler who would fill the description of Isaiah's vision. His name in Hebrew usage reflects His ability, character, and purpose. This verse of Scripture speaks of the Messiah, to Jesus, who was to be born. Isaiah also wrote: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14). Emmanuel means God with us.

New Testament Scriptures

The birth of Jesus at Bethlehem began the fulfillment of the words of the prophets. In the mind and plan of God, Jesus would become the redeemer of man and pay the price for sin, thus giving mankind a second chance. Jesus was God with us: "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" (John 1:14).

The words of the prophets who proclaimed the coming Messiah became a reality, for the Word became flesh when Jesus was born. The name Jesus is English for the Hebrew Jehoshua or Yeshua, which means salvation, or to save His people from their sins. "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 (I Timothy 3:16). Jesus was in the form of God (see Philippians 12:6), "the express image of his person" (Hebrews 1:3), for "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself" (II Corinthians 2:19).

Jesus said, "I and my Father are one"; "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father;" "Before Abraham was, I am" (John 10:30, 14:9; 8:58).

Did the apostles accept Jesus as God? Yes: "And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God" (John 20:28).