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Do you believe in the God of the gospel? 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. Within the church, in America, despite more than nine out of 10 Americans agreeing Jesus was a historical figure, 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 not in agreement on the Messiah of Christianity because of this they have failed to successfully pass on their faith of the Bible to succeeding generations. Jesus who 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 asked about, only 56 percent of Americans agreed. Among Elders – 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 said Jesus was a sinner like other people while living on Earth. The sinlessness of Jesus has always been a major doctrine of Christian theology as His qualification to be our propitiation, the 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). Once again, Millennials showed the greatest departure from orthodoxy with 56 percent 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. Despite the influence of secularism in education, politics, entertainment and public morals in America, a majority – 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.” Basic Buddhism has no opinion of Jesus since it preceded him, most Buddhists believe there are many ways to God, their emphasis 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.” This is the basic opinion of Hinduism that holds to many gods. The Bible tells us to believe in the Son; to have life. But which one? Has your life’s struggles made you desperate for answers or have you been left only taking chances? In the area of Christianity, Iglesia Ni Cristo (Felix Manalo) says, " If 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.” The Jehovah Witnesses say the same and also add Jesus body was disposed of, gone when he died. If you do not have the Son that was raised form the dead you are not believing in the Son who will give to you his same resurrection. Then you are not believing in the Son. The Mormons say the Son is literally born of the Father, (and mother in heaven) They too do not have the right Son. Others say the Son is just a man, he had no preexistence like Iglesia Ni Christo, and ‘The way intenational’ and so many others deny his deity. Scripture teaches The son has the same nature as his father BEFORE He took his humanity. These are those who claim Christianity that have a more confused and a far less truthful view of who Jesus is. To some he’s an angel, or only a man or just one in a procession of light bearers from the different religions. They have False messiahs, little messiahs, little gods, it matters not what you label them as they are all leading you to the same place, away from the true Christ God sent as Jesus to earth. With all this confusion is it any wonder people cannot grasp the gospel or who Jesus actually is? Today there is so much confusion on the one and only messiah for the world, yet is it not anything that he had not told us would take place before His return. He called it deception in the last days. Everyone has an opinion and they are entitled to believe what they want, but they should also expect a challenge if their opinion or viewpoint is different than others, if its untrue. 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, it misleads. 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. They may do this as a courtesy. 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 in? Jesus who? Jesus of Islam whose only a prophet? Jesus of the new age who is one you too can become? 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’… The Bible teaches us the word was God (word is a synonym for Jesus) (Jn.1:1) and the word became flesh (v.14). That all the fullness of deity was in the man Jesus (Col.1:19; 2:9; 2 Cor.5:19). Mt.16:17 records Peter saying to Jesus, that he is the Son of the living God. Jesus told him “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.” One needs a revelation from God to know who Jesus actually is and understand the gospel. That means they must be open and searching for truth and not be satisfied with a lie. And you find this from the Word of God. The Bibles viewpoint 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. 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 because of what they are being taught. 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, 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. Is this true? No, it is not. If one reads the Scripture they find Jesus is written of in a very different light. Jesus was sarcastic, he did not speak pleasantries, He mocked people who challenged him with their opinions He judged what was true and false, He confronted people on doing wrong, He exposed sin and lies. He told them to repent. Who IS Jesus? Whom did they say he was? Testimonies from the Bible of The messiah in the old testament was witnessed by all the prophets The Father says he is well pleased of his son, there is no other he said he was well pleased with by their living. Matt 3:17 “ And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 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." The Father said “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.”(Matt. 12:18) The Father said in the Word “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” (Matt. 17:5) 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.” The Father instructs "Let all the angels of God worship Him." (Heb. 1:6) It is idolatry to worship anyone who is not God. The Father says to the Son: " Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom. And: "You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.” Heb 1:8-10 1 Cor. 15:47 “ The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.” Rom. 9:5 “According to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.” The Witnesses " I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." -John the Baptizer "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Peter - Apostle “…we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."-All the apostles Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." -The apostles "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God." -Martha, sister of Lazarus and Mary Magdalene "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" -Disciple Nathanael "Surely this man was the Son of God." -The Roman centurion, after he had participated in crucifying Jesus. Do you say of Him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? Jesus Maybe you’re a Muslim or a Jehovah Witness, or a Mormon, or just another church member that denies who he is, like Iglesia Ni Christo, or the Way International. My question to you is: Do you have the Jesus who is Lord of all, the creator of heaven and earth? Or, a different Jesus of the Bible? You can only be saved of your sins by the genuine Jesus, not someone you call the name Jesus who is not the same one described in the Bible.
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