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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)
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