Question for all Christians why do you think jesus is God

[Adamski]

For me it isn’t the bible even through I think it’s true it isn’t how God has worked in my life even though he has it is modern catholic miricles such as a host that turned to blood at a parish near my home (holy family seattle) the fact that the fabric of our lady of Guadalupe should have rotted away 100’s of years ago and hasn’t, the Eucharist bread in sienna has lasted 300+ years I really could go on and on for hours about catholic miracles in the modern age. They are extremely tangible.

When I was an agnostic or as a child I had never heard of any of these I viewed the bible really no different than any other “holy” book and I could see how athiest could live good and pretty holy lives.

What makes you believe jesus is God

 

[SteveVH]

For me it isn’t the bible even through I think it’s true it isn’t how God has worked in my life even though he has it is modern catholic miricles such as a host that turned to blood at a parish near my home (holy family seattle) the fact that the fabric of our lady of Guadalupe should have rotted away 100’s of years ago and hasn’t, the Eucharist bread in sienna has lasted 300+ years I really could go on and on for hours about catholic miracles in the modern age. They are extremely tangible.

When I was an agnostic or as a child I had never heard of any of these I viewed the bible really no different than any other “holy” book and I could see how athiest could live good and pretty holy lives.

What makes you believe jesus is God

It is based upon an encounter with the Person of Christ, which I find in the sacraments, the liturgies, the scriptures and the holiness I witness in the saints.

 

[irenaeuslyons]

Jesus claimed to be the Messiah (Jn. 4:26). He fulfilled the Messianic prophecies (Mt. 11:3-5; Lk. 7:22-23; 4:18-21). He is denoted by Messianic names, “king of Israel” (Lk. 19:38), “Son of David” (Mt. 9:27), “Son of man”, “he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Mt. 21:9). Moreover, Jesus claims to be greater than Abraham (Jn. 8:53,56), than Moses (Mt. 19:8-9), than Solomon and Jonah (Mt. 12:41-42); He claims to be sent by God (Jn. 5:36,37,43), calls God His Father (Lk. 2:49), and He accepts the titles “Master” and “Lord” (Jn.13:13-14). He forgives sin in answer to the observation that God alone can forgive sin (Mk. 2:7,10; Lk. 5:21,24). He acts as the Lord of the Sabbath (Mt. 12:8), and tells Peter that as “Son” He is free from the duty of paying temple tribute (Mt. 17:24,25). He allows Nathanael to call Him “Son of God” (Jn. 1:49). The apostles (Mt. 14:33) and Martha (Jn. 11:27) give Him the same title. Twice He approves of Peter calling Him “the Christ, the Son of God” (Jn. 6:69), “Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt. 16:16). Four distinct times does He proclaim Himself the Son of God; to the man born blind (Jn. 10:30,36); and to the two assemblies of the Jewish Sanhedrin (Mt. 26:63-64; Mk. 14:61-62; Lk. 22:70). Jesus applies to Himself, and allows others to apply to Him, the title “Son of God” in its full meaning. The offspring of an eagle is an eagle. The offspring of a lion is a lion. That which is begotten, takes on the nature of the parent. So too, the eternally begotten son of God the Father, is God the Son. If there had been a misunderstanding Jesus would have corrected it, just as Paul and Barnabas corrected those who mistook them for gods (Acts. 14:12-14).

“We have also as a Physician the Lord our God, Jesus the Christ, the only-begotten Son and Word, before time began, but who afterwards became also man, of Mary the virgin.”
St. Ignatius of Antioch, To the Ephesians (A.D. 110)

“For if you had understood what has been written by the prophets, you would not have denied that He was God, Son of the only, unbegotten, unutterable God.”
St. Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho (A.D. 155)

“But nothing exists, the cause of whose existence is not supplied by God. Nothing, then, is hated by God, nor yet by the Word. For both are one–that is, God.”
St. Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (A.D. 202)

 

[dronald]

Thomas seemed to think so, and Jesus was quite alright with that.

(John 20:28-29)

 

[pianistclare]

Jesus claimed to be the Messiah (Jn. 4:26). He fulfilled the Messianic prophecies (Mt. 11:3-5; Lk. 7:22-23; 4:18-21). He is denoted by Messianic names, “king of Israel” (Lk. 19:38), “Son of David” (Mt. 9:27), “Son of man”, “he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Mt. 21:9). Moreover, Jesus claims to be greater than Abraham (Jn. 8:53,56), than Moses (Mt. 19:8-9), than Solomon and Jonah (Mt. 12:41-42); He claims to be sent by God (Jn. 5:36,37,43), calls God His Father (Lk. 2:49), and He accepts the titles “Master” and “Lord” (Jn.13:13-14). He forgives sin in answer to the observation that God alone can forgive sin (Mk. 2:7,10; Lk. 5:21,24). He acts as the Lord of the Sabbath (Mt. 12:8), and tells Peter that as “Son” He is free from the duty of paying temple tribute (Mt. 17:24,25). He allows Nathanael to call Him “Son of God” (Jn. 1:49). The apostles (Mt. 14:33) and Martha (Jn. 11:27) give Him the same title. Twice He approves of Peter calling Him “the Christ, the Son of God” (Jn. 6:69), “Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt. 16:16). Four distinct times does He proclaim Himself the Son of God; to the man born blind (Jn. 10:30,36); and to the two assemblies of the Jewish Sanhedrin (Mt. 26:63-64; Mk. 14:61-62; Lk. 22:70). Jesus applies to Himself, and allows others to apply to Him, the title “Son of God” in its full meaning. The offspring of an eagle is an eagle. The offspring of a lion is a lion. That which is begotten, takes on the nature of the parent. So too, the eternally begotten son of God the Father, is God the Son. If there had been a misunderstanding Jesus would have corrected it, just as Paul and Barnabas corrected those who mistook them for gods (Acts. 14:12-14).

“We have also as a Physician the Lord our God, Jesus the Christ, the only-begotten Son and Word, before time began, but who afterwards became also man, of Mary the virgin.”
St. Ignatius of Antioch, To the Ephesians (A.D. 110)

“For if you had understood what has been written by the prophets, you would not have denied that He was God, Son of the only, unbegotten, unutterable God.”
St. Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho (A.D. 155)

“But nothing exists, the cause of whose existence is not supplied by God. Nothing, then, is hated by God, nor yet by the Word. For both are one–that is, God.”
St. Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor (A.D. 202)

All of the above. It most certainly is plainly stated in the Bible.

 

[Della]

For me it boils down to 1 Cor. 15:14 if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. The resurrection is the “proof” that Jesus is and was all he and the Apostles claimed.

 

[MaryT777]

All of the above. It most certainly is plainly stated in the Bible.

 

[Adamski]

Yes but for arguments sake to a non christian there is really nothing that sets the Koran apart from the bible I was recently reading a story of a university of San fransisco professor who went from atheism to a Muslim convert

 

[irenaeuslyons]

Yes but for arguments sake to a non christian there is really nothing that sets the Koran apart from the bible I was recently reading a story of a university of San fransisco professor who went from atheism to a Muslim convert

Mohammed never performed one miracle. He was never pre-announced by prophecy. In fact, when he is said to have seen Gabriel, he wanted to throw himself off a mountain and commit suicide because God’s messenger disturbed him so. These are not the hallmarks of a true prophet.

 

[benjohnson]

For me - Christ it the one who has given me faith.

The old-Adam in me won’t die - I still doubt, I still dis-obey, I still don’t take up my cross.

But through it all, Christ has given me a faith that is as small as a mustard seed and I respond by hearing the Word and receiving the Sacraments.

 

[jinglebelle]

For me it isn’t the bible even through I think it’s true it isn’t how God has worked in my life even though he has it is modern catholic miricles such as a host that turned to blood at a parish near my home (holy family seattle) the fact that the fabric of our lady of Guadalupe should have rotted away 100’s of years ago and hasn’t, the Eucharist bread in sienna has lasted 300+ years I really could go on and on for hours about catholic miracles in the modern age. They are extremely tangible.

When I was an agnostic or as a child I had never heard of any of these I viewed the bible really no different than any other “holy” book and I could see how athiest could live good and pretty holy lives.

What makes you believe jesus is God

fr arendzen christ is god,read this

 

[openmind77]

For me it isn’t the bible even through I think it’s true it isn’t how God has worked in my life even though he has it is modern catholic miricles such as a host that turned to blood at a parish near my home (holy family seattle) the fact that the fabric of our lady of Guadalupe should have rotted away 100’s of years ago and hasn’t, the Eucharist bread in sienna has lasted 300+ years I really could go on and on for hours about catholic miracles in the modern age. They are extremely tangible.

When I was an agnostic or as a child I had never heard of any of these I viewed the bible really no different than any other “holy” book and I could see how athiest could live good and pretty holy lives.

What makes you believe jesus is God

In Hinduism, we worship Krishna and Rama as Gods, but actually they are not thought of as Gods - they are Avatars - human beings into whom divinity (in this case, the God Vishnu) has descended.

Would you make a similar distinction between the Son and Jesus in the same way? Meaning Jesus is the Son, but the Son is not Jesus, the Son is more than Jesus?

If in the future we discover that this is true - that Jesus is a manifestation of the Son, but not identical to the Son, would that be the end of your faith? Would you then stop being a Christian? Or do you think such a possibility is just impossible? If so why?

 

[hazcompat]

The Holy Spirit gave me the most treasured gift of faith.

Peace

 

[Della]

In Hinduism, we worship Krishna and Rama as Gods, but actually they are not thought of as Gods - they are Avatars - human beings into whom divinity (in this case, the God Vishnu) has descended.

Would you make a similar distinction between the Son and Jesus in the same way? Meaning Jesus is the Son, but the Son is not Jesus, the Son is more than Jesus?

If in the future we discover that this is true - that Jesus is a manifestation of the Son, but not identical to the Son, would that be the end of your faith? Would you then stop being a Christian? Or do you think such a possibility is just impossible? If so why?

This idea about Jesus was a very early heresy that orthodox Christianity never embraced. The Church’s teaching is and always has been that Jesus is fully God and fully man, not an avatar of either one. It is why his resurrection from the dead is the proof that he is who he said he was. If not, then everything we believe is about Christ “vain” as St. Paul put it, and our faith is vain.

 

[openmind77]

This idea about Jesus was a very early heresy that orthodox Christianity never embraced. The Church’s teaching is and always has been that Jesus is fully God and fully man, not an avatar of either one. It is why his resurrection from the dead is the proof that he is who he said he was. If not, then everything we believe is about Christ “vain” as St. Paul put it, and our faith is vain.

Such faith is of course admirable, but being an Avatar of God is not minor position - I would say that there is no higher position than that on Earth.

I don’t understand why that is not enough satisfy your faith, that the whole authenticity of the Christian faith depends on Jesus being an actual God. When a person is an Avatar, the power as well as all attributes of the God are manifest in the person - he is no longer just a human being.

But the other question I had was - what about the Father who Jesus talked about? What if the Father is actually not the God of the whole, entire universe, but the God only of our planet Earth? Would that also strike a devastating blow to your faith? Have Christians ever considered that possibility?

 

[Adamski]

Mohammed never performed one miracle. He was never pre-announced by prophecy. In fact, when he is said to have seen Gabriel, he wanted to throw himself off a mountain and commit suicide because God’s messenger disturbed him so. These are not the hallmarks of a true prophet.

Yes but to atheists both books are intangible fables

 

[Della]

Such faith is of course admirable, but being an Avatar of God is not minor position - I would say that there is no higher position than that on Earth.

No. The highest position is that of Christ, and us with him–higher than the angels.

I don’t understand why that is not enough satisfy your faith, that the whole authenticity of the Christian faith depends on Jesus being an actual God.

Jesus isn’t a god, he is God–the one who is. He cannot be anything other than who he is, never was anything other than who he is, and never will be anything other than who he is. Jesus becoming man added nothing and took nothing from his divinity.

When a person is an Avatar, the power as well as all attributes of the God are manifest in the person - he is no longer just a human being.

A god’s attributes were not merely manisfest in Christ and his humanity was not assumed into something else. Christ is God and is man–both. That is the mystery of the hypostatic union of God and man.

But the other question I had was - what about the Father who Jesus talked about? What if the Father is actually not the God of the whole, entire universe, but the God only of our planet Earth? Would that also strike a devastating blow to your faith? Have Christians ever considered that possibility?

That is a Mormon idea, not a Christian one. God is. He was before the universe existed, which he created for his own pleasure, to share his love with his creation. Whether earth or we had ever existed he would still be God. We add nothing to his glory and we take nothing away from it. A god of the earth only would not be a big enough god to be the God who is without reference to anything or anyone. While other religions in ancient times had names, God called him simply “I am that I am.” We cannot grasp such a concept because we are finite. We want to bring God down to our level, but that can’t be done nor would it benefit us for he would not be who he is and therefore, we would not be who we are.

 

[SteveVH]

Such faith is of course admirable, but being an Avatar of God is not minor position - I would say that there is no higher position than that on Earth.

I don’t understand why that is not enough satisfy your faith, that the whole authenticity of the Christian faith depends on Jesus being an actual God. When a person is an Avatar, the power as well as all attributes of the God are manifest in the person - he is no longer just a human being.

Our faith is not based upon what is enough to satisfy us. It is based upon a Person, Jesus Christ, who revealed himself to us. He is who he is; both God the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and a man.

But the other question I had was - what about the Father who Jesus talked about? What if the Father is actually not the God of the whole, entire universe, but the God only of our planet Earth? Would that also strike a devastating blow to your faith? Have Christians ever considered that possibility?

No. That is not a consideration. We believe that God is the author of all creation, the entire universe and heaven itself. He is all powerful, all-knowing, all-present. He has already revealed himself so we are not worried about finding some weak god who rules over only one planet.

Peace.

Steve

 

[openmind77]

Our faith is not based upon what is enough to satisfy us. It is based upon a Person, Jesus Christ, who revealed himself to us. He is who he is; both God the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and a man.

No. That is not a consideration. We believe that God is the author of all creation, the entire universe and heaven itself. He is all powerful, all-knowing, all-present. He has already revealed himself so we are not worried about finding some weak god who rules over only one planet.

Peace.

Steve

I don’t understand why you would think that of a God, who manages the evolution of billions of human souls as well as trillions of plants and animals, as a weak God! Some day very soon the truth about who is the Father, who is the Son and who is Jesus will be revealed.

The truth, if slightly different from what you believe, should not destroy your faith, it should make it stronger, because Christianity is not just about these three personalities but about how you should live your life.

 

[ericc]

Mohammed never performed one miracle. He was never pre-announced by prophecy. In fact, when he is said to have seen Gabriel, he wanted to throw himself off a mountain and commit suicide because God’s messenger disturbed him so. These are not the hallmarks of a true prophet.

Yep and he abrogated over 50% of his writings. He obviously didn’t think through most of them. Or may be he did and changed whatever suits him for the circumstances most beneficial to him. After all he wrote a self-referencing book.