Where does the Bible says Jesus is God?

Question from Douglas:
I need your help. I was asked...where in the Bible does it say God and Jesus are the same person?...

Answer from Pastor Bob:
John 1:1 says "the Word" is God and verse 17 of that chapter makes it clear its talking about Jesus Christ.
Colossians 2:9 says that the entire fullness of God's nature dwells bodily in Christ.
When Doubting Thomas saw the hands and feet of the Risen Christ, he called Jesus "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28) and in the next verse, Jesus blessed him for making the statement.
Some people make a big issue about how Jesus was the "Son" of God, as if somehow it made Jesus' nature less divine to be God's Son. Nothing could be further from the truth. They point to John 14:28, where Jesus says "the Father is greater than I." But that only means that Jesus follows the leadership of His father, just as an earthly son would listen to the counsel of his earthly father. It does not mean Jesus is any less divine. That's why Jesus could also say "The Father and I are one" (John 10:30). Perhaps the most important verse is John 5:18, which proves that the Jews themselves understood that when Jesus called Himself the Son of God, he was "making Himself equal with God."

Before we were Christians, was our "father" Satan?

Question from Bryan:

Is it okay to say that our father before we were Christians was Satan? Is that biblically correct?

Answer from Pastor Bob:

I hadn't thought of it that way, but yes, I guess you could say that, since Jesus told the Pharisees they were of their father, the devil (John 8:44).

What should I call God in prayer?

Question from Edmond:

Brother Bob...I was just recently doing some research into just what the significance of baal worship is into the old testament when I came across Hosea 2:16-17. It reads:
"In that day," declares the LORD,
"you will call me 'my husband';
you will no longer call me 'my master' (or baal in Hebrew)....
I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips;
no longer will their names be invoked."

My question is: Does God dislike it when we refer to him as "God" and "Lord" and "Master"? B/c that's how I usually do it. I always call Him Lord in prayer and when I am speaking to Him. Should I stop and adopt a more...equal word, like say Father? What are your thoughts? It seems contradict the New Testament usage...

Answer from Pastor Bob:

The context of Hosea 2 is that Israel was unfaithful to the Lord their God and the Israelites were following after other gods, like Baal. Hosea the prophet had this illustrated this in his own marriage, as his wife Gomer was unfaithful to him. So this was a pun on the name "Baal" because the word "baal" had a double meaning, as the word meant "master" and could be used by a wife to refer to her husband and could also be used as the name of the pagan Canaanite god. God considered Israel to be unfaithful to Him the way an adulterous wife is unfaithful to her husband. Thus the main point of Hosea 2:16-17 is that God was saying he wanted Israel's complete loyalty.
A similar analogy to Hosea 2:16-17 would be if an Arabic-speaking Muslim became a Christian. The word for "God" in Arabic is allah. However, Allah is used by Muslims for their God, and so the Arabic-speaking Christian might prefer to use another term, such as "Lord," to avoid sounding like he is still worshiping the God of Islam.
Regarding what you and I should call God in prayer, Jesus taught us in the Lord's Prayer to call Him "Father." He is also addressed as "Lord," "Master" and "God" in many passages. Any of these terms are appropriate for the Christian to pray. The key is that we address God with respect and love.

Does Exodus contradict itself about saying Moses talked to God "face to face"?

Question from Keri's Bible class:

It says that Moses sat down and talked to God face to face, yet it later says that God put Moses in a cleft so that he couldn't see God's face because nobody had ever seen God's face. Don't these accounts seem to contradict themselves?

Answer from Pastor Bob:

Exodus 33:11 says Moses spoke with God "face to face" but Exodus 33:20 says nobody can see God's face and live, and Exodus 33:23 says God allowed Moses to see His back, but not his face. Apparently when the scripture says Moses spoke "face to face" this expression was not meant to be taken literally, but was a way of saying that they spoke personally.

If I had a bad father, how can I pray to God as Father?

Question from Anonymous:

I had a bad experience with my father when I was growing up. I know Jesus taught us to pray to God as "Our Father," but it's really hard for me when I have such negative images of a father. How do I love my heavenly Father when I never felt loved by my earthly father?

Answer from Pastor Bob:

My heart goes out to you. We have talked privately about this, and I thank you for giving me permission to post this answer so that others with a similar struggle could benefit.
Here is a key verse you may want to memorize: "Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me." (Psalm 27:10, NIV)
Perhaps it will help to read scripture about God as Father, and learn what a good father should be. Then focus on developing your relationship with your Heavenly Father, thanking Him for being there for you, even when your earthly father was not. Notice these qualities of God that make us love Him as our Father:
1) Because He takes care of us. Psalm 68:5, Luke 12:30, Matthew 7:9-11.
2) Because He disciplines us for our good. Proverbs 3:11-12, Hebrews 12:7-8, 1 Peter 1:17.
"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent His rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son He delights in." (Proverbs 3:11-12, NIV)
3) Because He loves us. 1 John 4:7-10.
4) Because He forgives us. Read the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-24.
5) Because He adopts us as His children. Romans 8:14-17. God adopts us and lets us call Him "Abba," which is Aramaic for "Daddy."
God is not an indulgent uncle, a doting grandfather, or an approving friend. He is a loving Father. He is there for us, to discipline us for our good, to guide us, provide for us, and never will He leave us. Get to know Him as your Heavenly Father, and let His love replace the rejection you felt from your earthly father.