The Bible teaches that Jesus did not stop being God when he came to earth. While he took on a human nature and lived as a real man, he never gave up his divine essence. Theologians call this the “hypostatic union,” meaning Jesus is fully God and fully man at the same time. He voluntarily set aside his heavenly glory and certain divine prerogatives to serve us, but he remained God throughout his entire earthly life.
The Mystery of the Incarnation
To understand if Jesus remained God, we have to look at the “Incarnation.” This term refers to the moment the eternal Son of God took on human flesh. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem, he didn’t trade his divinity for humanity. Instead, he added humanity to his divinity. He became something he had never been before—a man—without ceasing to be what he has always been—God.
This transition was not a subtraction of his nature but an addition of a human nature. He became a bridge between heaven and earth. Because he stayed God, he had the power to save us. Because he became man, he could represent us. The Gospel of John makes this clear from the very beginning of his account.
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God… So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (John 1:1-2, 14)
What Did Jesus Lay Aside?
A common point of confusion comes from a passage in the book of Philippians. It says that Jesus “emptied himself.” Some people wrongly assume this means he emptied himself of his deity or his “God-powers.” However, the context shows that Jesus emptied himself of his status and his rights, not his nature.
While on earth, Jesus chose not to use his divine attributes for his own advantage. He experienced hunger, thirst, and tiredness. He relied on the power of the Holy Spirit and prayer to the Father. He traded his crown for a cross and his throne for a manger. He gave up the independent use of his divine attributes, but those attributes were still present within his person. He was still the Creator of the universe even while he was sleeping in the back of a boat.
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8)
Proof of His Divinity on Earth
If Jesus had stopped being God, he would not have been able to do the things he did during his ministry. Throughout the Gospels, we see flashes of his divine identity breaking through his human exterior. He forgave sins, which is something only God can do. He accepted worship from his disciples, which any mere man or angel would have strictly forbidden.
Jesus also claimed the very name of God for himself. When he told the religious leaders, “Before Abraham was even born, I AM,” he was using the sacred name God gave to Moses at the burning bush. The people around him knew exactly what he meant because they picked up stones to kill him for claiming to be God. He didn’t just perform miracles; he performed them by his own authority. He showed power over nature, demons, sickness, and even death itself.
Why His Divinity Matters
The question of whether Jesus remained God is not just a theological debate. It is the foundation of the entire Christian faith. If Jesus stopped being God, his death on the cross would have been the death of a good man, but it would not have been enough to pay for the sins of the whole world. An infinite debt of sin requires a savior with infinite value.
Only a Savior who is fully God could satisfy the perfect justice of God. Only a Savior who is fully man could die in the place of humans. By remaining God while becoming man, Jesus became the perfect mediator. He reached out one hand to God the Father and the other hand to sinful humanity, bringing the two together through his sacrifice.
For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. (Colossians 2:9-10)
The Takeaway
Jesus did not stop being God when he came to earth; he simply masked his glory in human flesh. He remained the sovereign Creator while living as a humble servant. This truth ensures that his sacrifice has the power to save us and his life provides the perfect example for us. Because he is both God and man, we can have a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe.
