There are fundamentally two views of Jesus. If people talk about him in an academic setting, he is set forth as a great moral teacher. However in a church setting he is seen as the second person of the Trinity, and co-eternal with God. Since these two views are incompatible, you are invited to decide for yourself by examining these two innocuous seeming titles Jesus used and asking: Did Jesus claim divinity with these two phrases?
1. "Son of Man"
2. "I am"
1. The Son of Man
The title Jesus used most often for himself was "son of man. It occurs 81 times in the four gospels. Yes, people keep track of things like this. Here is an example.
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
--Mark 10:45
At first it may seem that this is a way of expressing humility, but it isn't. You may have noticed that Jesus most often used this title in the third person, leaving some vagueness as to whom he is referring to. However at the end of his ministry there is less vagueness:
Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
--Luke 22:48
To whom else could Jesus be referring to other than himself? Finally Jesus leaves on ambiguity:
...the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
--Mark 14:61-64
Now we finally see that the "Son of Man" is a reference to Daniel 7:13. which describes how he will be given an everlasting kingdom and glory, something normally reserved for God Himself. This is why the high priest declared his answer blasphemous.
13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
--Daniel 7:13-14
2. I Am
John's gospel highlights at least eight times when Jesus used the special phrase "I am", or "ego eimi" in the original Greek. An example of this is found in John 8:58:
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
--John 8:58
The way this verse is translated in the King James version (before Abraham was, I am), is grammatically awkward. It would read smoother if it read I existed, or I was. However, the translators chose to preserve the peculiar nature of the phrase in the original language.
It is not widely known that the Jews in Jesus' day were not as familiar with Hebrew as they were with Greek. Therefore their scriptures were most often read from a translation called the Septuagint"
The Septuagint uses this exact phrase in Exodus 3:14 to translate God's response to Moses, when asked for God's name in the burning bush passage. God's response:
14 And God said unto Moses, I Am (ego eimi) That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.
--Exodus 3:14
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Thursday, November 19, 2015
12 Catholic Questions for Protestants
1 Where is Sola Scriptura in the Bible?
The scriptures were written by people who were very close to the spiritual events they were describing. By what rationale can we supersede the words of the authors of the NT?
2 Where are your bishops and deacons that were in the original church?
Don't understand this question. Churches have pastors, elders and deacons.
For that matter, where are popes in the New Testament?
3 If Christ commands to eat his flesh and blood, how do you do this without transubstantiation?
Just as manna gave the Israelites life, so Jesus gives us life spiritually and physically.
This is the underlying reality, which Communion conveys symbolically.
4 How can you claim to have true faith when "faith without works is dead"?
Obviously your beliefs result in actions, which show what you really believe more than what you say you believe.
5 Why do you not call Mary blessed as Luke 1:48 say you must?
Actually, none of the translations I see express this as something compulsory.
Watch this: in a few questions he is going to ask about women preachers.
6 Do you confess your sins to another? (James 5:16)
7 Where in scripture are women allowed to teach or preach?
8 (a question about unleavened bread and grape juice)
9 (no question 9)
10 and 11 (a question about the deuterocannonical books)
Basically these books were regarded only as a historical supplement and were canonized because they give justification to doctrines such as purgatory. Protestants stopped including them because they had insufficient interest in studying them compared to the extra cost an bulk of the Bible they preferred. The same principle as just buying a NT.
12 If Jesus' flesh is only shared with us symbolically then the sacrifice is symbolic and there is no real salvation (only a symbolic one).
Jesus gives us life, just as food gives us life.
The scriptures were written by people who were very close to the spiritual events they were describing. By what rationale can we supersede the words of the authors of the NT?
2 Where are your bishops and deacons that were in the original church?
Don't understand this question. Churches have pastors, elders and deacons.
For that matter, where are popes in the New Testament?
3 If Christ commands to eat his flesh and blood, how do you do this without transubstantiation?
Just as manna gave the Israelites life, so Jesus gives us life spiritually and physically.
This is the underlying reality, which Communion conveys symbolically.
4 How can you claim to have true faith when "faith without works is dead"?
Obviously your beliefs result in actions, which show what you really believe more than what you say you believe.
5 Why do you not call Mary blessed as Luke 1:48 say you must?
Actually, none of the translations I see express this as something compulsory.
Watch this: in a few questions he is going to ask about women preachers.
6 Do you confess your sins to another? (James 5:16)
7 Where in scripture are women allowed to teach or preach?
8 (a question about unleavened bread and grape juice)
9 (no question 9)
10 and 11 (a question about the deuterocannonical books)
Basically these books were regarded only as a historical supplement and were canonized because they give justification to doctrines such as purgatory. Protestants stopped including them because they had insufficient interest in studying them compared to the extra cost an bulk of the Bible they preferred. The same principle as just buying a NT.
12 If Jesus' flesh is only shared with us symbolically then the sacrifice is symbolic and there is no real salvation (only a symbolic one).
Jesus gives us life, just as food gives us life.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
The Cost of being a Disciple of Jesus
Jesus warns of the cost of being his disciple
25 Now great crowds were traveling with Him. So He turned and said to them:
26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
--Luke 14:25-27
31 “Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with 10,000 to oppose the one who comes against him with 20,000?
32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to all his possessions cannot be My disciple.
--Luke 14:31-33
You can have peace with God, but the conditions are complete surrender. You can settle "out of court".
13 Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.
14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
--Matthew 7:13-14
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?
--Hebrews 2:3
25 Now great crowds were traveling with Him. So He turned and said to them:
26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.
27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
--Luke 14:25-27
31 “Or what king, going to war against another king, will not first sit down and decide if he is able with 10,000 to oppose the one who comes against him with 20,000?
32 If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.
33 In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not say good-bye to all his possessions cannot be My disciple.
--Luke 14:31-33
You can have peace with God, but the conditions are complete surrender. You can settle "out of court".
13 Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.
14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
--Matthew 7:13-14
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?
--Hebrews 2:3
Friday, October 9, 2015
How To Know If You Are Saved
Here are the Bible verses from "Is It Real?" by John MacArthur
Have You Enjoyed Fellowship with Christ and the Father?
9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
--1 Cor 1:9
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him.
--1 John 5:1
20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
--Gal 1:20
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
--John 10:10
Light and darkness do not coexist.
If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
--1 John 1:7
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
--1 John 2:1-2
Do we Obey God?
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
--1 John 2:3
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
--Matt 28:28
Do You Reject This Evil World?
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
--1 John 2:15
4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
--2 Cor 4:4
Do You See a Decreasing Pattern of Sin in Your Life?
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
--1 John 2:1-2
Do we Obey God?
3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
--1 John 2:3
20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
--Matt 28:28
Do You Reject This Evil World?
15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
--1 John 2:15
4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
--2 Cor 4:4
Do You See a Decreasing Pattern of Sin in Your Life?
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Repent and Be Baptized!
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
--Mark 1:4
This show baptism is associated with repentance.
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
--Acts 2:36-38
Baptism with true repentance is associated with receiving the holy spirit.
9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.
11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
--Mark 1:9-11
This verse shows that baptism is by immersion.
15 Then He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
--Mark 16:15-16
Baptism is part of the great commission.
Acts 9:18
Paul was baptized
30 ...“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
...Right away he and all his family were baptized.
--Acts 16:30-31
Baptism is the first act after believing.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
--Gal 3:26-28
3 ...do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
--Romans 6:3
We are baptized into Jesus and his death.
ToDo:
Repent verses:
2 Pet 3:9
Acts 17:30-31
Acts 2:38
Matt 3:2
Matt 4:17
--Mark 1:4
This show baptism is associated with repentance.
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
--Acts 2:36-38
Baptism with true repentance is associated with receiving the holy spirit.
9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.
11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
--Mark 1:9-11
This verse shows that baptism is by immersion.
15 Then He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
--Mark 16:15-16
Baptism is part of the great commission.
Acts 9:18
Paul was baptized
30 ...“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
...Right away he and all his family were baptized.
--Acts 16:30-31
Baptism is the first act after believing.
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
--Gal 3:26-28
3 ...do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
--Romans 6:3
We are baptized into Jesus and his death.
ToDo:
Repent verses:
2 Pet 3:9
Acts 17:30-31
Acts 2:38
Matt 3:2
Matt 4:17
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Belief, Repentance, Baptism & New Life
Matt 7:13-14
Matt 22:14
Matt 11:29
Luke 11:46
Hebrews 11:1
Romans 10:17
Acts 2:22-24 and 30-32
John 4:19-24
John 9:39-41
John 17:3
Hebrews 11:6
Acts 8:12
Romans 10:14
(also 1 Cor 15:1-2)
Romans 4:13-14, 20-25 (quoting Gen 15:6)
Galatians 3:7-11
All things are possible to him who believeth
--Mark 9:23-24
Matt 22:14
Matt 11:29
Luke 11:46
Hebrews 11:1
Romans 10:17
Acts 2:22-24 and 30-32
John 4:19-24
John 9:39-41
John 17:3
Hebrews 11:6
Acts 8:12
Romans 10:14
(also 1 Cor 15:1-2)
Romans 4:13-14, 20-25 (quoting Gen 15:6)
Galatians 3:7-11
All things are possible to him who believeth
--Mark 9:23-24
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Protestant Grievances with the Roman Catholic Church
Relic Worship.
Calling the Pope "Holy Father", same title as God in John 17
In Matthew, Jesus says to not call anyone on earth "Father".
5 ...They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,
6 and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
7 the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ by men.
8 But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.
9 Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.
10 Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ.
11 But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.
12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
--Matt 23:5-12
6...you have revoked God’s word because of your tradition.
--Matt 15:6
By calling himself "Holy Father", the Pope steals glory from God.
Jesus clearly teaches against taking on exalted titles:
17 ..."Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"
18 Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God.
--Mark 10:17
Col 1:18 says Christ gets first place in everything.
(this material snarfed from "Are Catholics Saved? - John MacArthur")
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
--1 Tim 2:5
(Not Mary)
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
--2 Cor 11:3
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
--2 Cor 11:14-15
10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
--Deut 18:11
1 Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write and exhort you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all.
--Jude 1:3
(nothing further needed)
7 “Why does He speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?
--Mark 2:7
21 Jesus told her, “... an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
--John 4:21
23 But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him.
24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
--John 4:23
It is not about a place, but about you.
12 but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
--Hebrews 10:12
Christ is not re-sacrificed over and over again.
30..."It is finished!"
--John 19:30
26 You both see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made by hand are not gods!
27 So not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin — the very one all of Asia and the world adore.”
--Acts 19:26-27
Statues of saints are a continuation of this pagan practice.
The old pantheon of gods became the pantheon of saints.
2 I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
-- 1 Cor 2:2
Paul's gospel was essentially about Jesus.
Calling the Pope "Holy Father", same title as God in John 17
In Matthew, Jesus says to not call anyone on earth "Father".
5 ...They make their phylacteries broad, enlarge the fringes of their garments,
6 and love the place of honor at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
7 the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ by men.
8 But don’t you be called ‘Rabbi,’ for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.
9 Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.
10 Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ.
11 But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.
12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
--Matt 23:5-12
6...you have revoked God’s word because of your tradition.
--Matt 15:6
By calling himself "Holy Father", the Pope steals glory from God.
Jesus clearly teaches against taking on exalted titles:
17 ..."Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"
18 Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—God.
--Mark 10:17
Col 1:18 says Christ gets first place in everything.
(this material snarfed from "Are Catholics Saved? - John MacArthur")
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
--1 Tim 2:5
(Not Mary)
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
--2 Cor 11:3
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
--2 Cor 11:14-15
10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
11 or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
--Deut 18:11
1 Dear friends, although I was eager to write you about the salvation we share, I found it necessary to write and exhort you to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all.
--Jude 1:3
(nothing further needed)
7 “Why does He speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?
--Mark 2:7
21 Jesus told her, “... an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
--John 4:21
23 But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him.
24 God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
--John 4:23
It is not about a place, but about you.
12 but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
--Hebrews 10:12
Christ is not re-sacrificed over and over again.
30..."It is finished!"
--John 19:30
26 You both see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, this man Paul has persuaded and misled a considerable number of people by saying that gods made by hand are not gods!
27 So not only do we run a risk that our business may be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be despised and her magnificence come to the verge of ruin — the very one all of Asia and the world adore.”
--Acts 19:26-27
Statues of saints are a continuation of this pagan practice.
The old pantheon of gods became the pantheon of saints.
2 I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
-- 1 Cor 2:2
Paul's gospel was essentially about Jesus.
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