|
Who is Jesus?
Without a doubt, you have often heard the claim that Jesus is God, the second
person in the "Holy trinity." However, the very Bible which is used
as a basis for knowledge about Jesus and as the basis for doctrine within
Christianity clearly belies this claim. We urge you to consult your own Bible
and verify that the following conclusions are not drawn out of context:
1. God is All Knowing.....but Jesus was not
When speaking of the day of judgment, Jesus clearly gave evidence of a
limitation on his knowledge when he said, "but of that day and hour
knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in Heaven, neither the son, but
the Father." Mark 13:32, and Matt 24:36. But God knows all. His
knowledge is without any limitations. That Jesus, of his own admission, did
not know when the day of judgment would be, is clear proof that Jesus is not
all-knowing, and that Jesus is therefore not God.
2. God is All Powerful.....but Jesus was not
While Jesus performed many miracles, he himself admitted that the power he
had was not his own but was derived from God when he said, "Verily,
verily I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth
the Father do..." St. John 5:19. Again he said, "I can of mine own
self do nothing: as I hear I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek
not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." St.
John 5:30. But God is not only all-powerful, He is also the source of all power
and authority. That Jesus, of his own admission, could do nothing on his own
is clear proof that Jesus is not all-powerful, and that therefore Jesus is
not God.
3. God does not have a God.....but Jesus did have a God.
God is the ultimate judge and refuge for all, and He does not call upon nor
pray to any others. But Jesus acknowledged that there was one whom he
worshipped and to whom he prayed when he said, "l ascend unto my Father
and your Father, and to my God and your God." St. John 20:17. He is also
reported to have cried out while on the cross, "My God, my God why hast
thou forsaken me?" Matt 27:46. If Jesus were God, then couldn't this be
read, "Myself, myself why hast thou forsaken me?" Would that not be
pure nonsense? When Jesus prayed the Lord's prayer (Luke 11:2-4), was he
praying to himself? When in the garden of Gethsemane he prayed, "O my
Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: Nevertheless not as I
will but as thou wilt." Matt 26:36-39. Was Jesus praying to himself?
That Jesus, of his own admission and by his own actions, acknowledged,
worshipped, and prayed to another being as God is clear proof that Jesus
himself is not God.
4. God is an invisible spirit.....but Jesus was flesh and blood
While thousands saw Jesus and heard his voice, Jesus himself said that this
could not be done with God when he said. "No man hath seen God at any
time." St. John 1:18. '"Ye have neither heard His voice at any time
nor seen His shape." St. John 5:37. He also said in St. John 4:24.
"God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit
and in truth." That Jesus would say that no one had seen or heard God at
any time, while his followers both saw and heard him, is clear proof that
Jesus was not God.
5. No one is greater than God and no one can direct Him but Jesus
acknowledged someone greater than himself whose will was distinct from his
own.
Perhaps the clearest indication we have that Jesus and God are not equal, and
therefore not one and the same, come again from the mouth of Jesus himself
who said in St. John 14:28, "My Father is greater than I." When
someone referred to him as good master in Matt 19:17, Jesus responded,
"Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is
God..." Furthermore, Jesus drew clear distinctions between himself and
God when he said, "I proceeded forth and came from God, neither came I
of myself but He sent me." St. John 8:42. Jesus gave clear evidence of
his subordination to God, rather than his equality with God,when he said in Luke
22:42, "not my will but thine be done" and in St. John 5:30,
"I seek not mine own will but the will of the Father which hath sent
me." That Jesus would admit that he did not come into the world on his
own initiative but was directed to do so, that he would acknowledge another
being as greater than himself, and that he would negate his own will in
deference to affirming the will of another, give clear proof that Jesus is
not the Supreme One and therefore Jesus is not God.
Conclusion
The Church recognizes the Bible as the primary source of knowledge about God
and Jesus. But since the Bible makes it clear that Jesus is not the Supreme
Being and the Supreme Being is not Jesus, upon what basis have you come to
believe otherwise?
My brother or sister, the belief that the Supreme Being is a Trinity is false
and completely inconsistent with the words of Jesus as presented in the
Bible. God is one, not three. He is a perfect unity.
If you are interested in the truth about God and your relationship to Him, we
invite you to investigate the religion of Islam.
What is the word of God about Jesus:
A. Regarding Sonship of Jesus:
That is Jesus, son of Mary, in word of truth, concerning which they are
doubting. It is not for God to take a son unto Him. Glory be to Him! When He decrees
a thing he but says to it "Be", and it is. (Qur'an 19:34,35).
And they say, 'The All-merciful has taken unto Himself a son.' You have
indeed advanced something hideous. The heavens are well nigh rent of it and
the earth split asunder, and the mountains well nigh fall down crashing for
that they have attributed to the All-Merciful a son; and it behoves not the
All-Merciful to take a son. None is there in the heavens and earth but comes
to the All-Merciful as a servant (Qur'an 19:88-93).
Truly the likeness of Jesus, in God's sight, is as Adam's likeness; He
created him of dust, then said He unto him, "Be", and he was.
(Qur'an 3:59).
People of the Book, go not beyond the bounds in your religion, and say not as
to God but the Truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only the Messenger
of God, and His Word that He committed to Mary, and a spirit from Him. So
believe in God and His Messengers. and say not, 'Three', Refrain, better is
it for you. God is only One God. Glory be on Him - that He should have a son!
To Him belongs that which is in the heavens and on the earth, God suffices
for a guardian. (Qur'an 4:171)
B. Regarding Jesus being God:
And when God said. 'O Jesus son of Mary,did you say unto men, "Take me
and my mother as gods, apart from God?" He Said, 'To You be Glory! It is
not mine to say what I have no right to. If I indeed said it, You knew it,
knowing what is within my soul, and I do not know what is within Your soul;
You know the things unseen. I only said to them what You did command me:
"Serve God, my Lord and your Lord." And I was a witness over them,
while I remained among them; but when You did take me to Yourself the Watcher
over them; You are the witness of everything. (Quran 5:116,117)
C. Regarding Crucifiction of Jesus:
And for their unbelief, and their uttering against Mary a mighty calumny, and
for their saying, 'We slew the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messenger of
God'...yet they did not slay him, neither crucified him, only a likeness of
that was shown to them. Those who are at variance concerning him surely are
in doubt regarding him, they have no knowledge of him, except the following
of surmise; and they did not slay him of certainty... no indeed, God raised
him up to Him; God is Almighty, All-Wise. There is not one of the people of
the Book but will assuredly believe in him before his death, and on the
Resurrection Day he will be a witness against them. (Qur'an 4:156-159)
|
