Do catholic belief that God and Jesus is the same person?

There are several reasons. Let's look at a few:

1. Scripture. From the prophets of the Old Testament (who prophesised Jesus as Emmanual - 'God with us') to the prologue of John's Gospel ('In the beginning was the Word (Jesus) and the Word was with God and the Word WAS God...) scripture makes it very clear just who Jesus is. In Paul's letters he makes it clear that Jesus is God incarnate - God in human flesh. The Gospel writers also make this very clear too - especially John who declares that he writes his gospel simply to persuade the reader that Jesus is God. The climax to his gospel is the appearance of Jesus to the doubter Thomas who worships him on his knees and declares Jesus as 'My Lord and my God'.

2. Jesus' own Words. Throughout the gospel accounts, Jesus claims to be God incarnate. He forgavesins (only God could do that), he accepted worship, he performed miracles in his own name (in the past any miracles such as those Moses performed were performed in God's name not Moses.). He made many declarations that he was God (My Father and I are one.... before Abraham was, I AM.... He who has seen me has seen the Father... ). And, because of his life, teaching, miracles and sinless nature his claims could not be considered as delusional but profound truth.

3. Theological study. The most compelling evidence of Jesus' divinity comes from the theology of the Cross and his death. We are told that God is a God of love - supreme, unconditional, infinite love. If Jesus was not God, then God sacrificed SOMEONE ELSE on the Cross. This would be the act of a vengeful God demanding sacrifice

• just as the false gods, say, of The Aztecs demanded. It would not

be a supreme act of love. However, if Jesus IS God, then God sacrificed HIMSELF on the Cross - in his human form, knowing suffering and death as we would know. This is a supreme act of love, reflecting God's infinite love for us.

Therefore the Christian Church worldwide believes that Jesus Christ is God incarnate and, along with the Father and Holy Spirit a part of a Trinitarian Godhead. There are some sects, of course, that refuse to accept this doctrine, but thay cannot be regarded as part of the mainstream Christian Church as a result of this rejection of Christ's divinity.