Differences Between God and Jesus

If we want to know what God is like, all we have to do is look at Jesus.

Christ is, in fact, God's chosen ambassador, his perfect representation (Hebrews 1:3).  Jesus said, "when you see me, you have seen the Father" (John 14:9).  God's word, character, and works are revealed in the man Jesus Christ.  As the agent of God, who has been "given all authority" by God (Matt 28:18), Jesus often performs many of the same functions, and even holds the same titles as God.  Nevertheless, Jesus and God are not one-and-the same.  No two things can be identifical if there is even one difference between them.  Christ explains that there are indeed two different entities we must recognize: "Believe in God, believe also in me" (John 14:1).  Here Jesus clearly presents a disctinction, not simply between "God-the-Son" and "God-the-Father," but between Jesus and "God". 

The following is a list of just a few of the differences between the biblical God and his son Jesus Christ:

  • Temptation

    God cannot be tempted

    "God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;" - James 1:13

    Jesus was in all points tempted like we are

    "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." - Hebrews 4:15
  • Immortal

    God cannot die - He is immortal by nature

    "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." - Psalm 90:2
    "God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see." - 1 Timothy 6:15,16

    Jesus died and was dead for three days

    "For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." - Matthew 12:40
    "From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." - Matthew 16:21
  • Invisible

    God cannot be seen by men

    " God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see." - 1 Timothy 6:15,16
    But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."- Exodus 33:20
    "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." - 1 John 4:12

    Jesus was seen and touched by many people

    " That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life." - 1 John 1:1
  • Omniscient

    God knows everything

    "Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure." - Psalm 147:5
    "For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything." - 1 John 3:20

    Jesus grew in wisdom, learned obedience, and limited knowledge

    "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." - Mark 13:32
    "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." - Luke 2:52
    "Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered." - Hebrews 5:8
  • Subordinate

    God is greater than His Son

    "you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God." - 1 Corinthians 3:23
    "But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God." - 1 Corinthians 11:3

    Jesus said his Father is greater than him

    "If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I." - John 14:28
  • The One True God

    The Father of Jesus is the only one God

    "And this is eternal life, that they know you [Father] the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." - John 17:3
    "for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live;" - 1 Corinthians 8:6

    Jesus Explained that His father is the God of the Jews

    Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’"- John 8:54
  • Sent By God

    God sent His Son

    "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. For the works that the Father has given me to finish--the very works that I am doing--testify that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form," - John 5:30,36,37
    "Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me." - John 7:16

    Jesus was the sent one (see above).

  • Authority

    God has all the authority according to His will

    "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." - Luke 22:42
    "By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me." - John 5:30

    Jesus Was given his authority by God

    "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." - Matthew 28:18
    "but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things" - Hebrews 1:2
  • Nature

    God is spirit

    "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." - John 4:24

    Jesus received the holy spirit in his baptism

    the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."- Luke 3:22
    "the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;" - Matthew 3:16
  • Omnipotent

    God is all powerful (many passages).

    Jesus Can only do what his father shows him

    "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise." - John 5:19
  • Relationship

    God is the Father of Jesus (many passages).

    Jesus is the Son of God (Yahweh) (more than 100 times).

  • Beginning

    God existed since the beginning

    "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." - Genesis 1:1

    Jesus was created by miracle of God

    "Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit." - Matthew 1:18
    "And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God." - Luke 1:35
    "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law" - Galatians 4:4
  • Gave

    God gave all things to His Son (Matt. 28:18; 1 Cor. 15:24-28, Rev 1:1).

    Jesus received all things from His Father and then will be subjected to Him at the end. (1 Cor 15:28)