Must one believe that Jesus is God in order to be saved?

This passage from Isaiah 45:21-23 makes it perfectly clear that it is applicable to both God and Christ: Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

We see here that our Saviour is God, and we find in the New Testament that Jesus is called “the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

One may be saved without knowing the name "Jesus".

There seem to be a large number of “Christians” today who do not believe that Jesus is God: ‘About a third of evangelicals say Jesus was a “good teacher” but was not God, according to a LifeWay Research study created for Ligonier Ministries. Also, 65 percent of evangelicals believe “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God” a statement that goes against the Bible’s teachings.’
https://www.beliefnet.com/columnist...evangelicals-say-jesus-was-not-god-poll-shows

Also, there are at least nine “faith groups” which reject the doctrine of the Holy Trinity as held by Bible-believing Chiristians. They include Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Scientists, Christadelphians, Oneness Pentecostals, Unification Church, Unity School of Christianity, Armstrongists, and Scientologists.

So the question remains “Must one believe that Jesus is God in order to be saved?” And the answer from Scripture is a resounding “Yes”.

This passage from Isaiah 45:21-23 makes it perfectly clear that it is applicable to both God and Christ: Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

We see here that our Saviour is God, and we find in the New Testament that Jesus is called “the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

Did Jesus insist that believing in Him as God was necessary in order to be saved? Yes, He did. In John chapter 8 there is a lengthy discourse between Christ and His enemies. Jesus declared to the scribes and Pharisees that He was the Light of the world. Then He went on to say in verse 24: I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM [he], ye shall die in your sins.

The King James translators failed to translate this verse correctly. “I AM” is the name of God (Exodus 3:14) and it is capitalized in the OT. That is how it should have been translated in the New Testament and there are several times when this was not done. Also there is no “he” in that verse, and that is why it is in italics. Here is how the Greek in written in the Received Text: εἶπον οὖν ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀποθανεῖσθε ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν· ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ πιστεύσητε ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι ἀποθανεῖσθε ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν, and it literally reads as “I said therefore to you that you will die in the sins of you. If for not you believe that I AM, you will die in the sins of you”.

We find in Exodus 3, that Jesus is called (1) the Angel of the Lord (in His pre-incarnate form), (2) the LORD (YHWH=Yahweh), (3) God, (4) the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, (5) IAM THAT I AM, and (6) I AM. Jesus chose to call Himself “I AM” therefore He also said to the Jews “Before Abraham was I AM” (John 8:58). Unless it meant exactly what it meant in Exodus, that statement would not make grammatical sense.

This goes back to the fact that (a) Jesus is “God manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim 3:16) and (b) Jesus is “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). There could be only one sinless Substite for the sins of the whole world, and that is God as sinless Man dying on the cross of Calvary, and being made “Sin” for us. The very fact that our Saviour was named “Yehoshua” or “Yeshua” or “Yahshua” (which is “Iesous” in Greek and “Jesus” in English) proves that Jesus is God. His name means “God is our Salvation”.

So why is it that in spite of all these Scripture, people reject the deity of Christ and therefore face eternal damnation? There can only be one reason. Satan blinds the minds of people to prevent them from believing the truth, and then deceives them into believing a lie. His ultimate goal is to see the entire human race in Hell. But the light of the Gospel is given so that people will come to the Light of the world -- Jesus. Therefore God will bring many to salvation.

There seem to be a large number of “Christians” today who do not believe that Jesus is God: ‘About a third of evangelicals say Jesus was a “good teacher” but was not God, according to a LifeWay Research study created for Ligonier Ministries. Also, 65 percent of evangelicals believe “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God” a statement that goes against the Bible’s teachings.’
https://www.beliefnet.com/columnist...evangelicals-say-jesus-was-not-god-poll-shows

Also, there are at least nine “faith groups” which reject the doctrine of the Holy Trinity as held by Bible-believing Chiristians. They include Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Scientists, Christadelphians, Oneness Pentecostals, Unification Church, Unity School of Christianity, Armstrongists, and Scientologists.

So the question remains “Must one believe that Jesus is God in order to be saved?” And the answer from Scripture is a resounding “Yes”.

This passage from Isaiah 45:21-23 makes it perfectly clear that it is applicable to both God and Christ: Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

We see here that our Saviour is God, and we find in the New Testament that Jesus is called “the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

Did Jesus insist that believing in Him as God was necessary in order to be saved? Yes, He did. In John chapter 8 there is a lengthy discourse between Christ and His enemies. Jesus declared to the scribes and Pharisees that He was the Light of the world. Then He went on to say in verse 24: I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM [he], ye shall die in your sins.

The King James translators failed to translate this verse correctly. “I AM” is the name of God (Exodus 3:14) and it is capitalized in the OT. That is how it should have been translated in the New Testament and there are several times when this was not done. Also there is no “he” in that verse, and that is why it is in italics. Here is how the Greek in written in the Received Text: εἶπον οὖν ὑμῖν ὅτι ἀποθανεῖσθε ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν· ἐὰν γὰρ μὴ πιστεύσητε ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι ἀποθανεῖσθε ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν, and it literally reads as “I said therefore to you that you will die in the sins of you. If for not you believe that I AM, you will die in the sins of you”.

We find in Exodus 3, that Jesus is called (1) the Angel of the Lord (in His pre-incarnate form), (2) the LORD (YHWH=Yahweh), (3) God, (4) the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, (5) IAM THAT I AM, and (6) I AM. Jesus chose to call Himself “I AM” therefore He also said to the Jews “Before Abraham was I AM” (John 8:58). Unless it meant exactly what it meant in Exodus, that statement would not make grammatical sense.

This goes back to the fact that (a) Jesus is “God manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim 3:16) and (b) Jesus is “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). There could be only one sinless Substite for the sins of the whole world, and that is God as sinless Man dying on the cross of Calvary, and being made “Sin” for us. The very fact that our Saviour was named “Yehoshua” or “Yeshua” or “Yahshua” (which is “Iesous” in Greek and “Jesus” in English) proves that Jesus is God. His name means “God is our Salvation”.

So why is it that in spite of all these Scripture, people reject the deity of Christ and therefore face eternal damnation? There can only be one reason. Satan blinds the minds of people to prevent them from believing the truth, and then deceives them into believing a lie. His ultimate goal is to see the entire human race in Hell. But the light of the Gospel is given so that people will come to the Light of the world -- Jesus. Therefore God will bring many to salvation.

Jesus, the Father, and We are One. John 17: 21 That they may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent Me.





A. The largest rectangle represents:
1. The Family of God the Father in heaven
2. The Holy Spirit of the Father
3. The Father of Christ
4. God almighty
5. God of all ( including Jesus Christ)
6. Those that are Baptized in the Father's name
7. Supreme Ruler
8. Lord of all

B. The second largest rectangle represents:
1. The first and only creation of the Father
2. The Son
3. The Christ
4. Jesus
5. The Body of Christ
6. The Spirit of Christ
7. Our Lord
8. Our Savior
9. Our God
10. The Right Hand of the Father
11. Jehovah
12. Those Baptized in the Son's name
13. The Holy One of Israel
14. The tabernacle of God
15. The kingdom of the Son
16. The Word


C. The smallest rectangle represents:
1. The Church of Christ
2. The Bride of Christ
3. The spirits of those humans who in their lifetime repented of their
sins, trusted and believed in God's plan for their salvation.
4. The elect
5. Those chosen
6. The saints
7. Those baptized in the Name of the Father
8. Those baptized in the Name of the Son
9. Those that are filled with the Spirit of the Father and Son
10. Those that obey the Spirit of the Law and are filled with God-
given love to accomplish this obedience
11. Those who worship both Father and Son in Spirit and in Truth

A1.,A6. Eph 3: 14-15 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.
A2. Eph 1: 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
THe Father is not only the Father and God of Jesus Christ, but is the Father or source of His Holy Spirit which He indwells both spirits and humans to communicate , empower, enlighten, and perform His will. When someone is glorified, he is filled with the Father's Holy Spirit.
A3. Eph 1: 2-3 Grace be to you, and peace, from God, our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
John 17: 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

A4. Eph 1: 19-21 And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come;
It was the mighty power of the Father that raised Christ from the dead and set Him in His position of Honor in Heaven and Earth.
John 10: 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father
John 12: 49-50 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father, who sent me, He gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting; whatsoever I speak, therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
The Father through His Holy Spirit communicates through Christ to the point that it is actually the Father speaking through Jesus.
Isaiah 45: 11-12 Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and His Maker: Ask me of things to come concerning my sons; and concerning the work of my hands, command ye me. I have made the earth, and created man upon it; I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. The Lord, the Holy One of Israel, is the Christ, and His Maker is the Father.

A5. 1 Cor 15 : 27-28 For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted who did put all things under Him.
The Father put all things under Jesus' feet except Himself. Even Jesus is subject unto Him because the Father's Spirit resides in Jesus and in us.

A7., A8. Deut 10: 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and awesome , who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.
John 10: 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father
The Father issues commands and the Son obeys. Why is it so difficult to understand the chain of command?

Jesus, the Father, and We are One. John 17: 21 That they may be one, as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent Me.





A. The largest rectangle represents:
1. The Family of God the Father in heaven
2. The Holy Spirit of the Father
3. The Father of Christ
4. God almighty
5. God of all ( including Jesus Christ)
6. Those that are Baptized in the Father's name
7. Supreme Ruler
8. Lord of all

B. The second largest rectangle represents:
1. The first and only creation of the Father
2. The Son
3. The Christ
4. Jesus
5. The Body of Christ
6. The Spirit of Christ
7. Our Lord
8. Our Savior
9. Our God
10. The Right Hand of the Father
11. Jehovah
12. Those Baptized in the Son's name
13. The Holy One of Israel
14. The tabernacle of God
15. The kingdom of the Son
16. The Word


C. The smallest rectangle represents:
1. The Church of Christ
2. The Bride of Christ
3. The spirits of those humans who in their lifetime repented of their
sins, trusted and believed in God's plan for their salvation.
4. The elect
5. Those chosen
6. The saints
7. Those baptized in the Name of the Father
8. Those baptized in the Name of the Son
9. Those that are filled with the Spirit of the Father and Son
10. Those that obey the Spirit of the Law and are filled with God-
given love to accomplish this obedience
11. Those who worship both Father and Son in Spirit and in Truth

The first and only creation of the Father

Can a person be saved and not yet believe that Jesus is God? Yes, absolutely. I was there myself for a few years.

???

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

When the Gospel is preached is it not an integral part of the Gospel to show people that God became sinless Man in order to die for their sins? It would be impossible to preach the true Gospel and avoid the supernatural birth of Christ and what it meant.

When I first became a Christian, I knew at least that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is the only One who could save me. However, I didn't fully grasp the concept of Jesus being fully God Himself at the time I was saved.

I have come to lot better understanding of that since then.

The Holy Spirit knows which level of understanding each person needs in order to accept Christ as Savior. Some will better understand His divine nature than others will at the moment of salvation. Then the Spirit will work on each person to illuminate his/her understanding of who & what God really is.

$0.02

The Scripture you shared is correct, but unrelated to my statement. When I said "without knowing the name 'Jesus' ", I was referring to people who never heard the gospel, never seen a Bible, never heard a preacher preach, the isolated, etc.

“When Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them...God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.” (Romans 2:14–16)

I encourage you to study the passage if you'd like more clarification.