WHO IS JESUS?

WHO IS JESUS?

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Matthew [GW] 16:13-16 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"They answered, "Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."He asked them, "But who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!"

  What we believe and say of Jesus is essential to salvation. “…everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. Those who believe in him won't be condemned. But those who don't believe are already condemned because they don't believe in God's only Son.”(Jn.3:15-18; also note Rom.10:1-10)

  Summarized from denominational statements, what do others of faith say Jesus is?

Muslims: On the ceiling of their revered shrine inside the Dome of the Rock there is in Arabic a 730 foot long message for Christians stating: The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of God. … So believe in God and his messengers, and say not ‘Three’. … God is only One God. Far be it removed from his transcendent majesty that he should have a son. He may turn Christians to Islam.

Jehovah’s Witnesses: Jesus is not God. Before he lived on earth, he was Michael, the archangel. Jehovah made the universe through him. On earth he was a man who lived a perfect life. After dying on a stake 9not a cross0, he was resurrected as a spirit: his body was destroyed. Jesus is not coming again, he “returned” invisibly in 1914 in spirit. Very soon, he and the angels will destroy all non-Jehovah Witnesses.

Mormonism: Jesus is a separate god from the Father (Elohim). He was created as a spirit child by the Father and Mother in heaven., and is the elder brother of all men and spirit  beings (including Lucifer). His body was created through sexual union between Elohim and Mary. Jesus was married. His death does not provide full atonement for sin but does facilitate resurrection for all people.

Seventh-day Adventists: God the Father in exalting Jesus provoked Lucifer’s jealousy resulting in war in heaven. Jesus’ life proves we can live sinlessly. His death did not complete atonement. Since 1844 his blood is applied for “investigative judgment”. He is also identified as Michael the Archangel.

Hinduism: A teacher or avatar. A child of God as with all others; he did not atone for sin or rise from the dead.

Hare Krishna: A vegetarian teacher of meditation, but not God Incarnate.

Unification church: Though a perfect man Jesus was not God, but son of Zechariah.

Buddhism: An enlightened teacher. An avatar to some.

Tanscendental Meditation (TM); A divine by-discovery presence but not uniquely God. He couldn’t suffer.

Christian Science: Jesus displayed the Christ idea, but was not Christ.

Unity School of Christianity: Jesus was a man with “Christ consciousness” but was not Christ.

New Age: A mishmash of beliefs with Jesus as a sometimes psychic force.

Wicca: Rejected altogether or sometimes considered a spiritual teacher.

Scientology; Rarely mentioned but did not die for sins.

  Again, the personal question of present and eternal consequence we all decide whether by deliberation or neglect: Who do I believe and say Jesus is? Romans 10:9-10

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