From: rpitts@emperor.gatech.edu (Richard Pitts)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: Top 10 Reasons for Believing in the Deity of Jesus Christ.
Date: 7 Apr 92 12:51:26 GMT
Organization: CERL-EE, Georgia Institue of Technology

In article <1992Apr6.211053.16893@dg-rtp.dg.com> samir@sphinx.rtp.dg.com (M. Yasser Samir) writes:
>
>    The following is the original article and then my reply to it.
>
>In article <1992Apr3.082542.5206@serval.net.wsu.edu>, wvanweer@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu (Wayne VanWeerthuizen) writes:
>|> 
>|>       TOP 10 BIBLICAL REASONS FOR BELIEVING IN THE DIETY OF CHRIST
>|>     ----------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>  Please note that I did use the same source as the original article did,
>which is "The Holy Bible".  It would make the discussion much easier, if
>both of us use the same book.  

By "The Holy Bible" you evidentally are referring to the King James Version???
Remember that the King James Version is one of many translations, which 
would be considered to be the Holy Bible.  The content of the book is the
meat not the name stamped on the cover.

Also, since you are using the Bible, I can assume you are giving it authority.
Not just what was recorded that Jesus said, but what is recorded about Him.
-------------------------------

    I understand Christ to be the Messiah (the Savior) - note proper
nouns.  The only Christ I know of is Jesus the Christ (written this
way, because Jesus was his given name and Christ is a title, not his
last name.)  He was born in the city of David (Jerusalem) and at His
birth, his birth was hearlded by the angel to the shepherds with the 
words "he is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)  Again, Christ is 
"The Christ" (Greek) and "the Messiah" (Hebrew), which both mean "the
Anointed One".  He was a physical person (God in human flesh).

    In John chapter 1, Jesus is given the attributes of being the Word
(v1), being with God (v1), being God (v1), being with God in the 
beginning (v2), being reponsible for the creation of all things (v3),
being in the world (v10), made flesh (v14), and dwelt among us (v14).
John says they have seen his glory, of the One and Only, who came 
from the Father (v14).

    Jesus claimed to be equal with God (John 5:16-18, especially v18.)
The Jews understood his claim to be equal to God.

    Jesus said the Father sent Him (John 8:18).  Jesus even gave a very
strong warning about not believing the right thing about Himself -
saying that "if you do not believe I am the one I claim to be, you
will be die in your sins." (John 8:24)

    Jesus accepted the titles of Lord and Master and The Christ, the Son
of the Living God (Matt. 16:15-17).  In John 13:13, Jesus said that
he is rightly called Teacher and Lord, for that is what he is.

    The greek for Lord, I believe, is the parallel for the Hebrew word Jehovah.
    
>       TOP 10 BIBLICAL REASONS FOR "NOT" BELIEVING IN THE DIETY OF CHRIST 
>     ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Your 10 reasons for not believeing was a pretty good framework for 
establishing the Trinity.  The Father is the head of the Son and the Son
will be come subject to the Father in the end (1 Cor 15:28).

> (6) Was subject to change (Lk. 2:21, 52), but God is immutable.

     Jesus was circumcized and grew, just like all the other Jewish boys.
     Colossians 1:19 - it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness
                      [of the Godhead, Deity] should dwell [in bodily form].
     He was human, too.

>
> (7) Did not accept to be called good, and defered to God (Mk. 10:18).

    Was not Jesus questioning them about their motives?  He did not deny
he was God, but questioned them.

> (9) Referred to himself as a prophet (Lk. 13:33-34).
>     Others also called him a prophet (Lk.  7:16, 24:19, Jn. 6:14, 40, Heb. 3:1).
>     Referred to a servant of God (Acts 3:13, 4:27, 30, Matt. 12:18).

Others (Peter) called him the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  And Jesus
responded with a complement to Peter saying that flesh and blood (man) had
not revealed this to him (Peter), but the Father which is in heaven. (Matt 16)

>   For our friends out there, who will answer me back by saying : But he said :
>
> (1) I'm the way, the truth.

    In context, I am the way the truth and life, NO ONE comes to the Father
    but by me (Jesus).

> (2) I and the father are one.

    Denotes same mind and purpose - trinity parallel.

> (3) If you have seen me, you have seen the father.

    Colossians 1:15 - He is the image of the invisible God.
    Colossians 1:19 - it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness
                      [of the Godhead, Deity] should dwell [in bodily form].

>
>        May Allah bless this news group for NOT having a moderator
>        ==========================================================
             ^^^^^ - Does Mohommed(sp) not believe that Jesus was just a 
                     prophet?

    1 John 2:22-23, "Who is a liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus
is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist - he denies the Father and the
Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the
Son has the Father also." 1 John 4:2-3, "This is how you can recongnize the
Spirit of God; Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus (the) Christ has
come in the flesh if from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge
Jesus is not from God."

Sincerely,
Richard Pitts
-- 
rpitts@cerl.gatech.edu       |    
Atlanta, GA                --|-- 
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