Hi
The last verse of 1 Timothy 3 directly disproves AJH's theology.
View attachment 85841
Basic algebra:
If A = B, and B = C, then A = C.
If God was manifest in the flesh, and Jesus was in the flesh, seen of angels (and rest of above verse), then Jesus = God.
Hi
If Jesus died and was then resurrected by God, as the apostles wrote, then Jesus could not possibly have been God.
In the Quran it warns that those who say Jesus is God are committing blasphemy and will be punished, unless they repent.
In addition, it gives plenty of logical explanations why that is so.
In the Bible, it also says that God is not a man, neither the son of man.
This does not mean that God was not in Christ, as God is everywhere (i.e. Omnipresent).
Jesus made plenty of statements that makes completely clear that whatever you think or believe he said elsewhere, cannot possibly mean that he claimed to be God. But Jesus was aware of God's Spirit in him and he was obedient to It/Him.
The apostles also consistently make the differentiation (eg. Paul)
between God (our Heavenly Father/Creator);
and Christ (the Mediator/Master/Lord i.e. Adonai,
sent by God) when they wrote things like:
1 Timothy
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour,
and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father
and Jesus Christ our Lord.
God our Father (Creator)
Jesus Christ our Lord (Adonai - Master) - sent by God.
If they believed Jesus WAS God, like the Catholic religion teaches everyone (and that carries over into most other Christian churches even today) then they would not have written it like this, they would have stated it plainly.
But, they did not, because they knew the Scriptures, and Christ's Teachings, Christ Who prayed to God, had to eat food, was a man (bodily) and could die (bodily), etc.
The Christian response is to quote outlier verses that are supposed to show that Jesus claimed to be God, because he existed before Abraham etc. but that could not mean that he claimed to be God, as he clarified it all later with his other statements. My expectation is not to convert anyone by saying these things, because no one can truly convert another. Each has to decide what they believe on their own; but merely to point this out.
1 Timothy
3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
God was manifest in the flesh (of Jesus), since Christ
obeyed the Spirit of God (The Father) even unto his own execution and death.
That is what everyone is supposed to be striving for, is it not?
I.e. obeying
the Spirit of God, in order for God's Will to be manifested (in and through the believers / Christs followers) on Earth (in their flesh) like Christ (the Example) did and showed to the world.
By doing God's Will (both for themselves and / unto others).
"Christ being the author and finisher of
our faith."
In Revelation, it says to have the
faith of Jesus.
Jesus'
Faith, was in the Father (his and our Creator) and he obeyed God in living it out, even unto his own death.
Christians however accept a different interpretation that they choose to stick to.
Even though the Bible clearly teaches that God is not a man, neither the son of man (Jesus was a man and he often referred to himself as being the son of man). He knew the Scriptures and to anyone else who knew (or knows) them, Jesus is thereby saying each time, that he is not God, but was sent by God.
The Bible teaches that God fills heaven and earth and that He is not a man or the son of man:
Jeremiah 23:24
King James Version
24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.
Numbers 23:19
King James Version
19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Jesus was the son of man (and son of Mary - Mary was the daughter of man/mankind) and he/Christ was
sent by God.
There is the Soul and there is the body.
The body is temporary; it ages.
The soul is not the body, it leaves the body (which Jesus said was worthless i.e. the flesh profiteth nothing) behind when the body dies.
Christ/The Word exists before Abraham was born, but His Father (God i.e. Christ's and our Creator) is as Christ said, Greater.
Hence, "
What would Jesus do?"
My purpose in writing this is not to debate anyone, but to strive to show a Scriptural point.
May everyone ask our Loving Creator for His Guidance.
Peace,
Amen.