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Posted on 12/22/2013 7:28:20 AM PST by DouglasKC
“The Christian faith has not been tried and found wanting. It has rather been found difficult and left untried.” —Chesterton
I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending.The story of Jesus is either the greatest event in history or the cruelest hoax. If it is a hoax, then the whole of the Christian message crumbles together with the hopes of those multitudes of lives built on his name. The apostle Paul said:
“And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up; if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” -1 Corinthians 15:14-19 (NKJV)
But if the story is true, then this world has been hit with extraordinary news of earth-shaking consequences. Have you taken the trouble to decide which it is?
In a matter this weighty, it is in your interest to explore the truth or falsity of Christ's claims. Amazingly however, many people who don't believe have never bothered to explore the evidence in support of Jesus,[1] but to the contrary, often run away from it. At the same time, many Christians themselves are not sure, at bottom, whether the claims of their faith are solid. Is the Christian claim a hoax? Is it just wishful thinking? Or is it actually true?
(Excerpt) Read more at christiananswers.net ...
Indeed. It should be obvious that by attributing uniquely Divine titles, glory and powers to the Son of God, the Holy spirit is teaching He is God, sharing the same nature as the Father, light from light, true God from truie God, even though, as in a marriage, there are positional distinctions, so that the Son is subject to the Father, while we are aliens to God unless we are made "accepted in the Beloved."
Other texts in John which reveal Christ as being God are those in which He is declared to be the I AM of Ex. 3:14
And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I Am, ye shall die in your sins. (John 8:23-24)
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58)
Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I Am. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I Am, they went backward, and fell to the ground. (John 18:4-6)
In all these there is no "he" in the Greek after "I Am." Likewise in Jn. 5 the Lord uniquely claimed to be the Son of God, which then was a claim to oneness of nature. .
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:18)
But also called God his own Father (alla kai patera idion elege ton theon). “His own” (idion) in a sense not true of others. That is precisely what Jesus meant by “My Father.” See Rom_8:32 for ho idios huios, “his own Son.” - WORD PICTURES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT by Archibald Thomas Robertson
And one of the most subtle teachings on the Deity of Christ is that which begins with the question, "who is this Son of man?" (John 12:34)
John goes on to tell us that that Jesus is the Lord whom Isaiah saw high and lifted up in glory when Isaiah made was is one of the most quoted OT texts seen in the NT.
Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him. (John 12:39-41)
Thus,
Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me. (John 12:44)
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Revelation 1:8)
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)
More by God's grace.
O worship the King, all glorious above...
You do not have your own understanding. You have a kind of brainwashing put on you by a Church.
You couldn't be more wrong. I believe after spending years examining the EVIDENCE. Prior to that I was a God-hater.
Did Jesus Christ, Peter, John or any other disciple rebuke Thomas when he said this?:
John 20:
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
I see your point, but there is clearly some issues with faith in a salvation purchased by “just a man.” One would have to believe Jesus Christ Son of God is one of the three following:
1. Truly God and Truly man-which puts salvation in the firm hands of God’s Sovereignty
2. A “demigod” as “son” of a “God”
3. Just a man who was at times indwelled with God’s attributes and was empowered to follow the Law perfectly
To select 2 or 3 above one would have to answer a lot of questions about the Nature of the Holy Spirit. Also would have to answer a bunch of questions on how Jesus Christ claimed Himself as always BEING...The Alpha and Omega.
Which brings us to the discussion point of those who deny Jesus Christ is God then was He created? Since God is the Creator and everything else is the created. So if one takes the position “Jesus is not God” then they would have to concede Jesus Christ was a created Being. And if He was a created being, then the perfect spotless sacrifice for sins is called to question.
Then of course we come to the following revelation from Thomas when he doubted Christ was raised from the dead:
John 20:
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Was Thomas rebuked? No. Was there some language difficulty in the passage which would call Thomas’ revelation into question...No. I posted this passage 5 times with no answer from those who deny Jesus Christ as Truly God and Truly man.
>> “ Upon that rock” <<
.
Yes, on the Rock Yeshua, not the pebble, Simon Bar Jonah, nicknamed pebble early in life because he was given to impetuous actions.
Alef and Tav!
Indeed ears to hear. What is better than finding the truth of the matter? Hearing or seeing? How do explain Thomas a disciple of Jesus Christ saying the following to Jesus Christ:
John 20:
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas,“Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
You must have missed the scriptural verse:
There was never any question Christ declared Himself to be one with the Father. It wasn't that they had the same spirit. They were the same. And Luke seemed to think so as well.
I’m curious: what is the “deep reason” people have “fallen into this apostasy” of believing Jesus is God?
My God! Was just that..like omg! He was not saying that Jesus was God! How can you guys be so willfully blind?
In your view when did this "apostasy" begin? With the disciple Thomas?
John 20:
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
LOL so now your answer is Thomas, and thus John for communicating it, is a blasphemer by taking God's Name in vain? Or did you miss that Thomas said “My Lord and my God!” Jesus Christ also accepted worship and forgave sins. One only has to read the reactions from the Jews and how many times they were primed to stone Jesus Christ.
It was worth the try, but no man in the presence of Jesus would be taking God's Name in vain. Thomas made a declaration.
I will ask the same question no one has bothered to answer from your camp. If Jesus Christ is not God, then what is His Nature? Is He a "demigod", "higher creatED Being." Do tell. It seems folks say "He is not God" but never say what He is.
A good question for Fabian to be sure.
I'd still like to know what this "deep reason" he believes there is for people's belief that Jesus is God.I doubt fabian is saying the reason people have for such "aposasy" is Scripture. Unless you claim the Scripture redleghunter provided is "apostasy". Do you fabian?
I doubt you do. Or you won't say you do. Regardless, I'm still curious: what is this "deep reason" apparently many have for believing Jesus is God?
Which Church of Christ are you referring to in the above statement? Are you referring to the one associated with the Restoration Movement?
The Invisible Church of Christ
When someone says,..my God! That is not blasphemy. You don’t get it and you don’t want to. If you look at the last very important words of Jezus before his body died, it was all about not judging and instant forgiveness..the thief and that his tormentors knew not what they were doing...compelled by evil just as we all are until salvation comes. If believing he was God was so important, funny that hd never mentioned it there...uuhhmm..you guys are totally missing the boat by making that even an issue. The whole point of Jesus’ teaching is forgive and we will be forgiven...don’t judge! Yet you guys are all about him being God. How utterly ridiculous.
I will ask the same question no one has bothered to answer from your camp. If Jesus Christ is not God, then what is His Nature? Is He a “demigod”, “higher creatED Being.” Do tell. It seems folks say “He is not God” but never say what He is.
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He is the Christ and Messiah.
He is the only begotten Son of the Father,just as the Scripture states. He is the one sent by God to restore men to right standing with God thru belief in him. Thru belief in Him we can be Born Again. He is the Messiah, Redeemer, Savior but not the Father himself. And He never claimed to be.
Thru Him we can become adopted Sons of God.
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Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a MAN approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
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