Joseph Turner Christian, Sunday School Teacher, Actor, Health Food Worker

In my humble opinion, Jesus did, in fact, make claims of being equal (while being submissive) to God in the New Testament.

Before I go on, I would like to point out that there are prophecies in the Old Testament about the Messiah that fit Jesus Christ to a 'T'. For example, the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 describes the way that Jesus died. And let me remind the reader that God says in Isaiah 43:11 that there is no Savior other than Him. So, to claim Messiah is, in itself, a claim to deity.

If someone were to read through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, there are definitely pronounced claims. Notwithstanding the claims of other people that Jesus is the Son of God as well as the worship they heaped on Him (which, by the way, He never refuted nor rebuked, so one logically concludes that He approved) Jesus Himself claims to be the Son of Man (John 1:51). Throughout the Bible, God uses the term 'son of man' to basically refer to a human. In Daniel 7:13-14 we have a look at one such figure. This particular one is described as being 'like a son of man', meaning that the figure has the form of a man. However, this particular 'son of man' is given everything in creation and all the glory and an eternal kingdom. So, in essence, this person is ascribed qualities that belong to God alone. 

Again, if you know what things to look for, its obvious, all one has to do is read it. The Book of John has a lot of overt claims to being the Son of Man, like in John 8:28. Jesus Himself makes the connection that the Son of Man must be lifted up like the serpent in the desert (John 3:14; Numbers 21:9) Jesus claims to be the resurrection and the life in John 11:25. He claims that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and that none may come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Not only the people and Jesus, but God the Father says in Matthew 17:5 that Jesus is His Son. 

Then finally, in Matthew 26:63-65, the High Priest asks Him, and Jesus says all the above that I have mentioned, to which the High Priest tears his robes and accuses Jesus of blasphemy. 

You see, Jesus was claiming to be God the whole time. However, when He was put before the people who should have recognized Him as such in the first place, they accused Him of lying and then proceeded to hand Him over to the Romans and urged that He be crucified, which ended up being the fulfillment of everything illustrated in the Old and New Testaments, as well as what Jesus said. Of course, not only was the work (i.e. the payment of sin) completed on the cross (John 19:30), Jesus confirmed He was God, the Son of God, the Son of Man, and the Christ when He rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures (Luke 24:25-27; Matthew 28:17-20).

What I have said is by no means a comprehensive list. This is merely a glimpse into the vast body of evidence that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Savior of the world Who was sacrificed for the forgiveness of sins, and rose from the dead. Don't forget that, once someone believes in these things, they not only have Jesus (God the Son), but they have access to God the Father and the Holy Spirit, Who makes these things clear, according to Jesus Himself (John 14:26). Everyone who trusts in Christ alone for their salvation from sin and God's wrath has eternal life right now! (John 6:40)

I pray that God will open the eyes, ears, and hearts of all to the Gospel. 

God bless! Shalom! Maranatha! :)

October 08 2014 • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Vivian McLemore

In my humble opinion I will respond first to the comments and later to the question posted. The comments posted states "This is an apologetics question. Many muslim organizations like TNTJ are arising against people of other faiths, especially Christians, and are calling for argument about this question. Hence the users of this site, and I need a solid answer to refute their assertions." As believers we know God of Abraham, Isaac or Jacob. It is written; "But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 2 Timothy 2:23.s not embrace any type of strife or confusion regarding His love for all. The Holy Scriptures aka Bible was written 500 years before Muhammad and therefore has nothing to say about Islam. In fact, the Bible only directly condemns pagan worship.

The Koran directly attacks the major doctrines of Christianity. The Christian faith has several key beliefs. The teaching that is unique to the Christian faith is that there is one God who eternally manifests Himself in three persons: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is known as the Godhead or the blessed Trinity. The second critical doctrine is that Jesus of Nazareth is the only begotten Son of God; therefore He is unique from everyone else. His Father was not human, but the holy God of Israel. The third key doctrine is that the Lord Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for man’s sin and then rose from the dead. There are other important doctrines, but these three really comprise the very heart of the Christian faith. Let us also read and understand why Muslims believe what they believe. The Koran clearly states that Christians lie when claiming God is in the form of a Trinity. These are strong words; however this is exactly what the Koran states. The Koran claims that the Lord Jesus is only an apostle and for Christians to desist from teaching the blessed Trinity! In this same Sura, the Koran denies the Lord Jesus is the Son of God.

In one Sura the Koran attacks the very heart of Christianity by denying the blessed Trinity and that the Lord Jesus is the only begotten Son of God! It calls Christians liars and demands that the preaching of the Trinity and Jesus being the Son of God stop. The Koran identifies Christians sometimes as “followers of the book,” but when they proclaim Christian doctrine, the Koran then calls them liars. Muhammad writes that it is acceptable to believe the Bible, but not Christian doctrine. STOP! THINK and Understand. The Muslims do not believe in Jesus or He is the Son of God. What is written let us take heed to; Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6). The "dogs" and "swine" here stand for the unappreciative and worldly; unappreciative and uncaring men and women who belittle the value of what is offered to them. "That which is holy" would be the meat offered in sacrifice to God. A dog could care less whether it came from the altar or the garbage. The swine have no appreciation for either the beauty nor the value of the pearls under their feet.

Your life, time, energy, opportunities and abilities are God's pearls. They're His! You and I are merely His stewards overseeing His possessions (1 Corinthians 6:19,20; 4:1,2; 1 Peter 4:8-11). We must show discernment as to what use we make of God's possessions. It is possible to waste them either by using them when we should not as well as not using them when we should. The teachings of the Koran are in stark contrast to the Bible. The Koran states that God does not have a son. If a person believes the Koran and heart is not opened to Christianity the question will never be valued of any worth. 
Either you are a believer or you reject the Scripture, the Gospel of Christ Jesus. Resources: http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-matthew-7-6.htm and 
http://www.defendproclaimthefaith.org/blog_koran_hate_speech.htm. Shalom and Peace!

October 08 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Gloria Pannhorst

Jesus did not come to earth for the purpose of exalting Himself as Almighty God, but He came as Phil 2:5-11 states to give Himself as a servant and sacrifice for our sins. The need was for all men to realize this was a need in each of us because we were born sinners in need of a Savior. Jesus became that Savior. He did many miracles to confirm His relationship within the Godhead, the most revealing being to raising people from the dead, and Himself being raised from the dead by the Father in heaven. The Bible tells us no one can come to the Father except the Father draw him, so God the Holy Spirit must be at work in a persons life for faith in the person of Jesus, the Son of God, to be expressed leading to salvation. There are plenty of things that Jesus said in the Gospels that reveal His Sonship and that people can only come to the Father but through Him. When one reads the Bible with a humble heart, truly desiring to learn, God extends grace to that person and faith increases unto salvation.

Philippians 2:5-11English Standard Version (ESV)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[b] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

October 09 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Andrew Knight

In order for our sins to be forgiven and remitted it required the blood of a sacrifice that a person made. The Jews chose to crucify Jesus rather than let him be free, because the people had to want to shed his blood. This is why Jesus is referred to has the lamb of god(John 1:29). And in Isaiah 53 it speaks of the crucifixion of Jesus and in verse 7 it says '... he is brought like a lamb to the slaughter...', Jesus had to be like a lamb sacrificed for for our sins to be forgiven and remitted.
Now if the Jews had truly known who he was, they would have never crucified him and we would never be able to have the atonement that the work on Calvary gives us. That is why in Matthew 16:20 he told the disciples to tell no one who he was, and in Luke 4:34-35 when Jesus cast the demon out he told the demon to hold his peace so that no one would find out exactly who he was, even the Devils knew who he was and in James 2:19 states that even the Devils believe in one lord and tremble. 
So Jesus had to conceal who he was so that the atonement could be fulfilled and that we could be saved.

October 08 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report