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Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 8:14 am
by B. W.
1stjohn0666 wrote:All gifts come from heaven..... that glory must of been waiting in the mind of God. It's a no brainer
Question: What shows more love:

– Making a man meat sacrifice where God remains aloof from mankind in order to expose sin, forgive sin, and reconcile back to God?

– Or God entering the human condition, Himself, as a man to expose sin, die to forgive, and reconcile us back to Himself?

Which of the Two demonstrates more Love?

Which of the Two is biblically substantiated by agape love?

John 666 -- what do Christians mean when they say 'Jesus is God?'

Do you even know?

Article quoted below is from this website: http://www.abouttheway.org/
"Jesus Was God?"


"Jesus is God!" read the sign at a demonstration at a Jehovah's Witness convention. The Jehovah's Witnesses scorned the sign, sure that Christendom had learned this teaching from Satan himself. The Christian holding the sign stood all the more proudly, sure that only spiritual blindness could keep the Watchtower adherents from recognizing the fact that "Jesus is God."

One thing is certain-- the Jehovah's Witnesses, The Way International and other groups with similar beliefs do not really understand the phrase, and Christians may do as much harm as good by emphasizing it.

What Do Cults Think "Jesus is God" Means?

Cultists often understand the phrase to mean things that the Christians never intended to communicate. Many of them assume that when a Christian says "Jesus is God," he or she means, "Jesus is not human." V. P. Wierwille of The Way International, for instance, liked to emphasize that the Savior had to be "one of the flock," that is, fully human, and so could not have been God. Christianity has always emphasized that Jesus Christ certainly was human. In fact, Christ was as fully human as He is fully divine, for "the Word became flesh" (John 1:14).

When other cult members hears "Jesus is God," they think that Christians believe that "Jesus is the Father." They believe this is totally unscriptural, since the Bible maintains a distinction between the Father and the Son, as when the Father calls out "this is my Son" at Jesus' baptism.

The cults are right on this count. Jesus is not the Father. The "Gospel in a nutshell," John 3:16, clearly says that the Father sent the Son, not that the Father is the Son.

The "Jesus Only," or "Oneness" groups like the United Pentecostal Church do believe that Jesus is the Father and the Holy Spirit. Because of this, evangelicals have uniformly counted them as outside the realm of orthodox Christianity.

When other aberrational groups hear "Jesus is God," they think Christians are saying, "There is more than one God." I remember speaking with an ex-witch who had published accounts of her conversion to Christianity in which she stated that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were three gods.

The Bible in no way teaches that there is more than one true God. Christianity continued to believe the ancient Jewish statement of faith recorded in the "Shema," Deuteronomy 6:4, "the Lord is One." The prophets emphasized this repeatedly as worship of other gods infiltrated Israel, and the New Testament carried on this belief.

Jesus Christ: Fully Man and Fully God

John P. Juedes C. 1995

The Biblical faith since the time of Jesus has held that Jesus Christ is both fully human and fully divine. Just as He is just as human as you and I, so He is also just as much God as is the Father Almighty. While this is not humanly possible, with God all things are possible.

Several Bible passages which speak of the nature of Christ emphasize both aspects of his nature. For instance, Philippians 2:6-9 states that Christ took the "form of a man" while quoting a passage from Isaiah, substituting the name "Jesus" for the name "Lord." John 1:1-18 states that the Word "became flesh" while saying that the Word "was God."

The ancient creeds of the Church which have been held by all Christians throughout the centuries have kept in balance these two truths about Jesus Christ. On the one hand, the Apostles, Nicene and Athanasian Creeds all describe the humanity of Christ-- that He was born, suffered and died. But they also describe the divine nature of Jesus Christ-- that He is God of God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.

Pseudo Christian religions like the Jehovah's Witnesses and The Way International understand the fact that Jesus was human, but find it hard to accept that He could be God as well. In order to reconcile their limited human ability to understand spiritual things, they use unscholarly devices to rewrite or reinterpret passages of the Bible which speak of Jesus' divine nature. Books such asThe Integrity and Accuracy of The Way's Word, Jehovah's Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse, and Why You Should Believe in the Trinity (see response card) detail many of these feeble attempts.
Say What You Believe-- and What You Don't Believe.

When witnessing to people about the true nature of Jesus Christ, it is wise to state not only what you do believe, but also what you don't believe. Sometimes it is useful to do this in the form of a question: "Say, what do Christians mean when they say 'Jesus is God?'" You may be amazed at the misconceptions held by many, especially those in aberrational religious groups. Be ready to emphatically agree with them that Jesus is human, that He is not the Father, and that there is only one God. While this may bewilder them, at least they will not reject Biblical teaching as a result of a misunderstanding. Be ready then to take the next step of explaining that Jesus is both God and man.

How can this be? We can easily understand that Jesus is a man because this is well within our experience. We know what human beings are like, and that He shows all the signs of being one. But God is entirely different. We know nothing of what a God-being is like, having never been one. He dwells in a dimension far different and other-worldly. Nicodemus also asked, "How can this be?" Though he studied the Scriptures, he did not understand Jesus' words about heavenly things (John 3:1-21). The Saducees also studied the Scriptures but could not accept the resurrection because they could not accept the power of God. The same is true of many in the cults today, who study the Scriptures, yet can accept neither heavenly things nor the power of God, because it is outside the realm of human experience.

The Bible speaks of Jesus Christ as God, and of the Father as God, and of the existence of only one God. How can we do anything but accept that God knows Himself better than we?

John P. Juedes C. 1995

Back to "Biblical research & Teaching" Menu

Again...

Question: What shows more love:

– Making a man meat sacrifice where God remains aloof from mankind in order to expose sin, forgive sin, and reconcile back to God?

– Or God entering the human condition, Himself, as a man to expose sin, die to forgive, and reconcile us back to Himself?

Which of the Two demonstrates more Love?

Which of the Two is biblically substantiated by agape love?

John 666 -- what do Christians mean when they say 'Jesus is God?'

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Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:15 pm
by 1stjohn0666
God cannot be tempted. Jesus was tempted so he is not God. Jesus was the last Adam that overcame sin, where the first Adam failed. What an awesome God we have to send his own son into the world and do what no human ever could.

Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:33 pm
by Danieltwotwenty
1stjohn0666 wrote:God cannot be tempted. Jesus was tempted so he is not God. Jesus was the last Adam that overcame sin, where the first Adam failed. What an awesome God we have to send his own son into the world and do what no human ever could.

Jesus was not tempted, Satan tried but Jesus rebuked him and remained without sin.

The text is quite clear on that.

Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:40 pm
by 1stjohn0666
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Looks like Jesus was tempted not just in the wilderness, but "in all things"

Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 7:44 pm
by Danieltwotwenty
1stjohn0666 wrote:Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Looks like Jesus was tempted not just in the wilderness, but "in all things"

You are confusing the act of someone trying to tempt with actually giving in to that temptation.

God cannot be tempted, just as Jesus was not tempted by Satan's offerings, Jesus rebuked him with scripture and did not let himself be tempted proving that he was divine.
Matthew 4

4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
At no point in the testing was Jesus tempted.

Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 10:21 pm
by B. W.
1stjohn0666 wrote:God cannot be tempted. Jesus was tempted so he is not God. Jesus was the last Adam that overcame sin, where the first Adam failed. What an awesome God we have to send his own son into the world and do what no human ever could.
Again...Please stay on topic and answer the questions:

Question: What shows more love:

– Making a man meat sacrifice where God remains aloof from mankind in order to expose sin, forgive sin, and reconcile back to God?

– Or God entering the human condition, Himself, as a man to expose sin, die to forgive, and reconcile us back to Himself?

Which of the Two demonstrates more Love?

Which of the Two is biblically substantiated by agape love?

John 666 -- what do Christians mean when they say 'Jesus is God?'
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Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 1:36 am
by 1stjohn0666
I am NOT answering your questions because I have to be a "non-Christian" on this website.

Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 6:16 am
by RickD
1stjohn0666 wrote:I am NOT answering your questions because I have to be a "non-Christian" on this website.
This is a discussion forum. Where things are discussed. Where questions are asked, and answered. Please answer B. W.'s questions.

Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 12:12 pm
by 1stjohn0666
Yaweh created man NOT to be robots "I love you, I love you, I love you" The first Adam was created to love and be obedient to Yaweh, but failed. Jesus (whom I believe was Created) was the last Adam, was tempted, and overcame the world. Jesus came through (not as God or a robot) I see a perfect loving savior "the man Jesus" If I have to pick one of the 2 choices you gave, I am sorry I have to decline.

Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 12:23 pm
by PaulSacramento
1stjohn0666 wrote:Yaweh created man NOT to be robots "I love you, I love you, I love you" The first Adam was created to love and be obedient to Yaweh, but failed. Jesus (whom I believe was Created) was the last Adam, was tempted, and overcame the world. Jesus came through (not as God or a robot) I see a perfect loving savior "the man Jesus" If I have to pick one of the 2 choices you gave, I am sorry I have to decline.
Two questions:
Where does it say that Jesus was created?
DO you believe God can change? that what God commands one day, he can change and allow the opposite another?

Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 12:24 pm
by Byblos
1stjohn0666 wrote:Yaweh created man NOT to be robots "I love you, I love you, I love you" The first Adam was created to love and be obedient to Yaweh, but failed. Jesus (whom I believe was Created) was the last Adam, was tempted, and overcame the world. Jesus came through (not as God or a robot) I see a perfect loving savior "the man Jesus" If I have to pick one of the 2 choices you gave, I am sorry I have to decline.
If Jesus were a mere man (albeit the son of God), then why was he needed at all? Why wasn't Moses or any of the OT prophets good enough to save humanity?

Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 2:22 pm
by 1stjohn0666
Acts 13:33...Psalm 2:7, Hebrews 1:5 "Today" Jesus was begotten in the womb of Mary. As the Creeds have the phrase "eternally begotten" that is nowhere to be found in scripture. Even if it was, Jesus would have been begotten at some point in eternity. This would mean that there would have been two "begettings" LOL spellcheck. I can reconsider my view on when Jesus was begotten. John 3:16 powerful and wonderful

Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 5:52 am
by PaulSacramento
1stjohn0666 wrote:Acts 13:33...Psalm 2:7, Hebrews 1:5 "Today" Jesus was begotten in the womb of Mary. As the Creeds have the phrase "eternally begotten" that is nowhere to be found in scripture. Even if it was, Jesus would have been begotten at some point in eternity. This would mean that there would have been two "begettings" LOL spellcheck. I can reconsider my view on when Jesus was begotten. John 3:16 powerful and wonderful
Can I ask you something?
Do you agree that Jesus is the Word of God? the Logos that John speaks of in the GOJ?

Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 8:36 am
by 1stjohn0666
With Deut 18:15-18 in the picture, Yes the words are that of the Father put into the sons mouth. So when Jesus speaks, he is speaking as his Father commands. It is in harmony with John 14:29. John 1:1-3 is in harmony with Genesis 1:1-3. When I look at all the lexicons that define "logos" it never is used to describe a person. Tyndale does a good job with John as with all 8 English translations prior to 1582. "The "word" made flesh.... Jesus who speaks only the words of his Father certainly was a person. Does that make sense?

Re: inspired or dictated?

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:26 am
by PaulSacramento
1stjohn0666 wrote:With Deut 18:15-18 in the picture, Yes the words are that of the Father put into the sons mouth. So when Jesus speaks, he is speaking as his Father commands. It is in harmony with John 14:29. John 1:1-3 is in harmony with Genesis 1:1-3. When I look at all the lexicons that define "logos" it never is used to describe a person. Tyndale does a good job with John as with all 8 English translations prior to 1582. "The "word" made flesh.... Jesus who speaks only the words of his Father certainly was a person. Does that make sense?
So, If I understand you correctly, your view is that Logos, the word, is simply the word(s) of God.
So, anyone speaking for God is "the Logos of God", yes?
Logos is NOT a being of any sort, yes?