5- Is Jesus God?
"So the Word became flesh and resided among us, and we had a view of his glory, a glory such as belongs to an only-begotten son from a father; and he was full of divine favor and truth." (John 1:14)
In the Bible, Jesus Christ is described as God's only begotten Son, his firstborn.
The Greek word in the original text is "monogenes" and means "only born" or "only one of this kind".
However, it is said of all other things and living beings:
"because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible," (Colossians 1:16a)
The Greek word in the original text for "create" is "ektisthe". "Creating" is obviously a different process than "begetting" or "giving birth".
What I beget, give birth to or "bring forth as with labor pains" (Proverbs 8:24, 25) as a human being is exactly of my kind, of the same nature as I am: a human being.
What I create, however, is my creation, perhaps from paper, paint, clay, wood or textiles - but in terms of texture and ability it is far from being like me, it's creator.
What the Almighty God JHWH begets, gives birth to, brings forth as if in labour, is therefore also a being of a divine nature, "a God":
"For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us; and the rulership will rest on his shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." (Isayah 9:6)
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. This one was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1,2)
"In answer Thomas said to him: “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him: “Because you have seen me, have you believed? Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (John 20:28,29)
Note: Jesus did not correct Thomas who called him "my God". Why not? Obviously Thomas had been telling the truth.
"God" as a nature of being
A bear begets a bear,
a person begets a person,
a plant produces a plant,
and God Almighty begat a ... God.
This explains why, for example, the apostle Thomas said to the resurrected, glorified Jesus: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). He recognised Him as His Lord, and He recognised God, His Father, in Him (just as in many sons their fther can be recognised).
It is interesting that Jesus' "being God" (nature: "God") is mentioned for the period of time when he was with the Father in heaven BEFORE he became man:
"But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom." (Hebrews 1:8; NEV; also see KJV, NIRV and ESV)
and for the period AFTER his death as a human being:
"No man has seen God [YHWH] at any time; the only-begotten god [Jesus Christ] who is at the Father’s side is the one who has explained Him." (John 1:18)
During his time as an earthly man, however, he did not call himself "God" but "the Son of Man" (his nature was "man") and "the Son of God" (designation of origin, descent, legitimation).
He was wholly human, from his procreation and birth to his violent death - a perfect human being in perfect communion with the heavenly Father, just as it was intended for Adam and Eve. If he had been something else, such as a "God-man" or mixed being, he could not have been an exactly corresponding ransom and counterpart to the sinful man Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45). Nor would it have been fair to ask people to follow in the footsteps of a "demigod".
Conclusion:
YES - Jesus is God, His nature of being is "God". He is very much like his father in his nature and is in closest contact with him.
NO - Jesus is not the Almighty God JHWH. He is lower than his Father.
Also read the essay: "The True Name of "Jesus"."