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Will the real Jesus, the only Begotten Son of God be made known to all? "the god of this age has blinded the minds" 2 Corinthians 4:4 Despite more than nine out of 10 Americans agreeing Jesus was a historical figure, there is still confusion on who he is. What do they actually believe about Him? A survey from the Barna Research Group surveying more than 4,000 U.S. adults online and by phone suggests Americans are conflicted about the central figure of Christianity and have failed to successfully pass on their faith to succeeding generations. That Jesus once walked the Earth as a man was accepted by 92 percent of respondents, with even 87 percent of Millennials (those born between 1984 and 2002) agreeing. This overwhelming belief in Jesus’ historicity is reflected in the success of popular movies and television shows such as “Son of God,” “The Passion of the Christ,” “The Bible” and “A.D.: The Bible Continues.” But when the divinity of Jesus is asserted, only 56 percent of Americans agreed. Among those born before 1946 – 62 percent said Jesus was God, but among Millennials, the number dropped to 48 percent. Those rejecting Jesus as God said He was a just another spiritual figure, comparable to Muhammad or Buddha. 52 percent of Americans say Jesus was a sinner like other people while living on Earth. one in four Gen Z adults believe Jesus was a man who sinned like everyone else. The American Bible Society (ABS) and its latest “State of the Bible 2022” report found that 38% of people ages 18-25 believe “Jesus Christ was human and committed sins, like other people.” The sinlessness of Jesus has always been a central tenet of Christian theology as His unique qualification to be an effective sacrifice for the sins of others. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For He (God) made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews echoed the same point, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Gen Z and then Millennials showed the greatest departure from orthodoxy saying Jesus sinned. “ There isn’t much argument about whether Jesus Christ actually was a historical person, but nearly everything else about His life generates enormous, and sometimes rancorous, debate,” said David Kinnaman, president of Barna Group and director of the national study. The majority of church denominations have in their belief statements agree on the nature of Christ—that Jesus Christ is fully human and fully God. However what they teach within the church (with individual pastors) may not be the case. The influence of secularism in education, entertainment and public morality in America, there is 62 percent reported having made a past personal commitment to Jesus that remains important in their life. Among blacks, 80 percent claimed to have made a commitment, while only 60 percent of whites said so. Only 46 percent of Millennials said they had made such a commitment, compared to 59 percent of Gen-Xers, 65 percent of Boomers and 71 percent Elders. “Much has been made about whether Millennials will get more serious about church and faith as they age, but the fact is younger Americans are not as connected as older generations are to Christ,” said Kinnaman. “Jesus is a friend of sinners, but many Millennials are ‘unfriending’ Him at a time when their lives are being shaped and their trajectories set toward the future. “This study shows the extent of Christian commitment in the nation – more than 150 million Americans say they have professed faith in Christ,” said Kinnaman. “This impressive number begs the question of how well this commitment is expressed. As much of our previous research shows, Americans’ dedication to Jesus is, in most cases, a mile wide and an inch deep.” A large proportion of young adults are unaffiliated with church. It may be because they do not understand the gospel and what is required of them Basic Buddhism has no opinion of Jesus since it preceded him, most Buddhists believe there are many ways to God, their emphasis in life is based on the path that we must work by our own effort. Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism: 'The doctrines of the divinity and the resurrection Of Christ are outside the province of rational thought.... Gurus like Sri Chinmoy: " To say that Christ is the Savior and the only way to salvation is a mistake. ... He laughs when His followers say He is the only savior.” The Bible tells us to believe in the Son; to have life. Which son? Certain churches believe the Son is just a man, he had no preexistence. Like Iglesia Ni Christo, the Way and others that deny his deity (The son had the same nature as his father BEFORE He took humanity and incarnated as man (Jn.17)) Iglesia Ni Cristo (Felix Manalo) says, " f there is any verse which people claim proves the alleged deity of Christ, this verse has been wrongly interpreted by the people." The 'Apostle Paul clearly taught that our Lord Jesus Christ is man. He is different from God. He is not God, neither is He God-Man.” Unity School of Christianity believe God is an unseen, impersonal principle within everyone and everything, he is not a person. Christ realized his spiritual identity, which is something everyone can achieve. Jesus did not resurrect from the dead, he reincarnated.Armstrongism (Philadelphia Church of God, Global Church of God, United Church of God) Original Armstrongism denies God as a Trinity, defining God as "a family of individuals." That Jesus did not have a physical resurrection, therefore they have no gospel. Christadelphians deny the divinity of Jesus, claiming he is fully human and completely separate from God. The Jehovah Witnesses say the same that Jesus was Jehovah’s first creation. Jesus is not God, nor part of the Godhead. They also add Jesus body was disposed of at death, gone. If you do not have the Son that died and was raised from the dead you are not believing in the Son who will give you his same resurrection. Then you are not believing in the son. The Mormons say the Son is literally born of the Father and is a brother of Lucifer, the created angel. They too do not have the actual Son of God. Today there are those who claim Christianity that are confused and hold to a untruthful view of who Jesus actually is. To some he’s an angel, or only a man or just one in a procession of light bearers from the different religions (Bahai) False messiahs, little messiahs, little gods, light bearers; it matters not what you label them as they are all leading you to the same place, away from the true savior God sent in Jesus. With all this confusion is it any wonder people cannot grasp the gospel or who Jesus actually is? Being the one and only messiah for the world, yet is it not anything that he had not told us of himself or that this would take place before His return. Believe in Jesus. Jesus who? Jesus of Islam who is only a prophet? Jesus of the new age a ascended master? Or Jesus of the Urantia book who did not die for our sins. Most people do not know that the Bible tells us there are other Jesus’… Everyone has an opinion and they are entitled to believe what they want, but they should also expect a challenge back, since they are challenging others by holding a different viewpoint that is untrue according to the Scripture. It’s one thing to hold to an individual belief that is wrong and not teach it to others, but when someone is teaching it to others it brings harm. When a pastor or teacher on the radio or TV teaches what the Bible calls heresy (division from the Word) then it needs to be addressed in the same way it was distributed, openly. Since it is not a personal offense no one is obligated to go to the person who disseminated the error. There is no more of an important subject than that of who is Jesus? This is the very thing He asked his followers at one point in his ministry. So I ask you, what Jesus do you have? Whom do you believe? The Bible teaches us the Word was God (the Word= a synonym for Jesus) (Jn.1:1) and the word became flesh (v.14). That all the fullness of God, his deity was in the man Jesus (Col.1:19; 2:9; 2 Cor.5:19) Mt.16:17 records Peter being blessed by Jesus saying he is the Son of the living God. “For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Similarly, Paul was revealed the gospel in the same manner as Peter was revealed who Jesus is. He writes in Gal.1:12: “For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ .” He is referring to his Damascus road experience when he saw the glory of God and Jesus spoke to him. One needs a revelation from God to know who Jesus is and understand the gospel. That means they must be open and searching for truth and not be satisfied with a lie so that God can reveal to them who his son is. To the Jewish mindset of their day Jesus’ declaration of being “the Son of the living God” meant he was God, Literally in Greek, “of God the Living One.”(Adam Clarke's Commentary) the eternal one, the I Am. How does the Bible record what the Son of God means. The Pharisees were upset because of His claims, “The Jews answered by our law He ought to die, because He made himself the Son of God.”(Jn.19:7) The Jews understood this as a unique claim, it would not have any significance if it only meant he claimed to be son like others, only a man. They knew what he meant when He said I and my father are one in Jn.10:30. I realize there is never enough sufficient proof for those who deny his true deity as in the same manner there is never enough proof for an atheist who does not want to believe that God even exists. In Jn.10:33 the Pharisees react to his claim by saying “because you being a man make yourself to be God.” They understood what He meant claiming to be the Son of God and picked up stones to kill him. Jesus responds in v.36 “do you say of Him who the Father set apart and sent into the world, you are blaspheming, because I said I am the Son of God ?” Here Jesus interprets what He meant when he said they are one, that he is the Son in deity and that the Father sent him. Before his trial he is brought before the Pharisees and the high priest said to Him “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Jesus said to him, “It is as you said.” (Matt 26:63-64) They already knew that He claimed He was deity but they wanted to hear it from His own mouth to incriminate Him on blasphemy so he could be crucified. Which Jesus do you have? Some say Jesus was always accepting, always loving, always willing to make a bridge, to compromise, he loved everyone, accepted them. Is this true? If one reads the Scripture they find the Jesus is written of in a very different light. Jesus was sarcastic, he was not speaking pleasantries. He mocked people who challenged him. He judged what was true and false. He confronted people on doing wrong. He exposed sin and lies. Who IS Jesus? Testimonies from the Bible The messiah in the old testament was witnessed by all the prophets The Father says he is well pleased of his son, no other was he well pleased with Matt 12:18 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles . Jesus said in Jn.8:29 "And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." John 1:1-3 the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. John 1:14 “ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” And the angel answered and said to her (Mary), " The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.” “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."-John the Baptist "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." -Peter the Apostle "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God."-Martha, sister of Lazarus and Mary Magdalene "Surely this man was the Son of God." -Roman centurion, speaking after he had participated in crucifying Jesus After the resurrection the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God! John writes in his gospel, but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. John writes in his letter, and we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God , God abides in him, and he in God.” The Father Matt 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son , in whom I am well pleased.” Matt 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” In these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power Heb. 1:2-3. V.8 to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever”V.10 “You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. Do you have the Jesus who is Lord of all (Acts 10:46), the creator of heaven and earth? If Not you do not have the Jesus of the Bible. He is unable to forgive your sin, nor will resurrect you. Consider what Jesus said, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am, you will die in your sins Then they said to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning.”(John 8:24-25) |
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