They're classics because the are definitive. Reject them, and you reject Christianity. Reject Christianity, do not pass Go, do not collect $200.
God had the concept of Messiah planned when he created the Universe. Yawn!
Agreed. But what is the Messiah?
41 ¶ While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42 "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" "The son of David," they replied.
43 He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,
44 "‘The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet." ‘
45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?" 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
-- Mat. 22:41-46Remember: the Jews sought to stone Jesus Christ because, "You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God." (Jn 6:33). They didn't want to kill him for claiming to be sent from God -- many before had made that claim, gathered a following, and died a violent death leading his blind acolytes into battle. No, Jesus claimed to be God.
Don't believe it? Fine. But don't go around with this patronising bullcrap about Jesus being Messiah but not God.