You CANNOT be a CHRISTian unless you believe Jesus is God.
That is the very definition of Christian.
You might be a Witness or a Mormon or who knows what else..
but you are NOT a Christian person.
The difference between me and an Orthodox Christian is that I do not affirm some of the doctrines that are considered "orthodox." An Orthodox Christian believes in the Trinity Doctrine and the Deity of Jesus. I don't believe these doctrines because they aren't Biblical.
Here's the problem C....
I'm saying that you should go study some church history.
Find out what was believed by the Apostles and all those that came after them.
Thomas exclaimed MY LORD AND MY GOD....
and Jesus did not correct him.
Those that came after ALSO believed Jesus was God.
So, tell us, why should we believe YOU when you state plainly that you don't believe in orthodox Christianity.
Believing in orthodox Christianity is WHAT MAKES YOU CHRISTIAN.
You don't get to make up your own rules.
The rules have already been established and by your own words you do NOT accept them.
So do Christianity a favor and stop calling yourself one.
They were invented by people living in the fourth century, based on Plato and Aristotle's view of reality, which, as it turns out, is incorrect.
Wow. So Christianity is based on Plato and Aristotle.
No comment.
You might want to post some supporting proof of this outlandish claim.
Yes. The debate is over what it means to be "with us." I take my cues from Isaiah where the term was first established. In that context, the phrase "God with us" -- Immanuel -- means God is for us. He is working the good on our behalf. He will bless us and protect us from our enemies.
You DID notice that Jesus was born?
IMMANUEL....a title as you must surely know.
GOD WITH US.
Matthew 1:23
20But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
21“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.”
This is the fulfillment of the prophecy in
Isaiah 7:14
14“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.
In verse 22 of Matthew, he states that this is the fulfillment of the prophecy.
I think we should learn from Matthew.
I think he knew the OT and prophecy much better than we do.
Technically, I encouraged you to study the background of the phrase.
I don't think I diminished it's meaning.
Well, of course you did!
Jesus and Stephen died for using the term SON OF GOD.
YOU, otoh, claim that it doesn't mean much.
You are DIMINISHING its meaning.
Why diminish what early believers DIED FOR??
Because YOU cannot accept the tenets of Christianity....even though you
insist on calling yourself a Christian.
As I said, the Jews believe that the Messiah would be an angel or a theophany. So when Jesus, being a man, claimed to be the Messiah, they wrongly assumed that Jesus was claiming to be an angel or a theophany.
As I've already stated to you...the above is such nonsense that I will not reply.
Post some scripture...if you can proving what you've stated.
I've asked you this before.
But Jesus wasn't killed because the Jews were righteously enforcing the Law. They acted out of hatred and fear because as they said, they were afraid that he would take away their place. The blaspheme charge was trumped up and false.
Oh. And you think THE ROMANS cared about Jesus being or not being God?
If you remember He did die on a Roman cross.
It's THE JEWS that said Jesus was blaspheming by calling Himself God.
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