benning@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com (04/29/91)
?_?_ Do Jews need Jesus _?_? >............. My interpretation of Christ's message in the New Testament >regarding the Jews is that they are saved by God's grace and the ancient >covenant He made with the Israelites a millenium before Christ's birth. >-Jeff Fields With all due respect, Jeff, your notions about the Jewish people being saved (atoned) through the covenant of Moses stems from a faulty perception based on self-righteousness. This self-righteousness is a distortion of G-ds righteousness. Supporters of this view judge what they will allow G-d to be and do by their own feelings, rather than Scripture. We have Nicodemus as an example. Here was a man who surly followed the Law as close as any man could. He was able to recognize that Jesus was a man sent from G-d, and came to talk to him one night. When Jesus and Nicodemus began to engage in conversation, Jesus didn't say "keep up the good deeds and you're a shoe in." But he did say to a man who was in tune with the Spirit, that he needed a total rebirth of his soul and spirit. And Nicodemus obeyed. We must ask ourselves with all seriousness: If Jews do not need Jesus, then who does? If we presume that G-d is competent, we have to answer the question of why G-d would send a savior to the Jewish people when the savior was needed by the gentiles and not the Jews. And if we can give a valid answer to these questions, then surly they apply to other religions. The question then becomes: Who really needs Jesus? If Jews don't need to be saved, why was there Calvary? Was it a meaningless act? Did Jesus' suffering accomplish anything? Doesn't all this trivialize the cross? IT IS FOOLISHNESS to say the Jewish people don't need Jesus, when the message of the Messiah came from the Jewish prophets. If the gentiles were the ones who needed a Messiah, why was he born Jewish, in Israel? We must face the fact that the truth, that the Jewish people DO need Jesus, makes us all feel a little UNCOMFORTABLE. These are the people who are always picked on. Our own history has black marks in our treatment of them. And we must also admit that doing G-ds will isn't always easy. Truth is seldom convenient, unless it is a truth designed by us for us. Yes, speaking to our Jewish brothers about Messiah Jesus, and their need for Him as savior will offend some. We may even take great abuse, like Paul took when he spoke to his brethren. It will also bring joy to others. We are to sow seeds. G-d will do the rest. The offense comes from when we force them to listen and respond to Jesus. I hope we have all learned that it is G-d who changes the heart and not us. If your efforts with our Jewish brothers and sisters is unfruitful, don't get angry at them, but seek G-d and ask him to bless your ministry. [Proverbs 16:3; 3:6] We can't force anyone to believe, but we MUST tell them about Jesus. If Messiah Jesus is the only way of salvation -and the Scriptures teach that He is- the worst form of anti-Semitism is keeping the message of the Messiah of the world from them. For a good reference book on this subject see the New Testament, especially Matthew, John, ACTS, Romans. "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of G-d for the salvation of everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then for the Gentile." [Romans 1:16] Bruce Benning __________ benning@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com -------------Religion may inform and reform------------- ----------but only Messiah Jesus can Transform----------
lshaw@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (logan shaw) (05/02/91)
In article <Apr.28.18.24.12.1991.20227@athos.rutgers.edu> benning@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com writes: > ?_?_ Do Jews need Jesus _?_? > We must ask ourselves with all seriousness: If Jews do not need Jesus, then > who does? If we presume that G-d is competent, we have to answer the question > of why G-d would send a savior to the Jewish people when the savior was > needed by the gentiles and not the Jews. And if we can give a valid answer > to these questions, then surly they apply to other religions. The question > then becomes: Who really needs Jesus? If Jews don't need to be saved, why > was there Calvary? Was it a meaningless act? Did Jesus' suffering accomplish > anything? Doesn't all this trivialize the cross? While I don't pretend to know whether Judaism is still a route to salvation, I think it is possible that Jews have always been saved by the blood of Christ, it's just that they never knew it. I think God's plan of salvation is independant of time. Also note that people weren't saved by works in the Old Testament either. Abraham was saved by faith. (See Romans 4:3, Genesis 15:6) Perhaps if their hearts are right towards God, Jews can be saved. But there is still the question of whether Jews' hearts can be right with the Lord if they reject Jesus. At any rate, the best way to know you have salvation is to be a Christian. Adios, Logan -- // # "He said that He had your number; you cut the telephone line. \X/ # You said you needed a reason; He said 'there ain't much time.' Logan # You kept trying to avoid it; He kept knocking on the door. Shaw # In a flash it was over; you were a prisoner of war." -Rez Band
tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) (05/02/91)
In article <Apr.28.18.24.12.1991.20227@athos.rutgers.edu> benning@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com writes: > We have Nicodemus as an example. Here was a man who surly followed the Law > as close as any man could. He was able to recognize that Jesus was a man > sent from G-d, and came to talk to him one night. When Jesus and Nicodemus > began to engage in conversation, Jesus didn't say "keep up the good deeds > and you're a shoe in." But he did say to a man who was in tune with the > Spirit, that he needed a total rebirth of his soul and spirit. And Nicodemus > obeyed. Did Jesus say to Nicodemus "And if you're ever gonna get into heaven you'll have to start worshipping *me*"? He did talk about being born again, but I don't remember anything about becoming a disciple or anything like that. Tom Blake SUNY-Binghamton
jefff@locus.com (Jeff Fields) (05/03/91)
In article <Apr.28.18.24.12.1991.20227@athos.rutgers.edu> benning@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com writes: > >>............. My interpretation of Christ's message in the New Testament >>regarding the Jews is that they are saved by God's grace and the ancient >>covenant He made with the Israelites a millenium before Christ's birth. > >>-Jeff Fields > > With all due respect, Jeff, your notions about the Jewish people being > saved (atoned) through the covenant of Moses stems from a faulty perception > based on self-righteousness. This self-righteousness is a distortion of > G-ds righteousness. Supporters of this view judge what they will allow > G-d to be and do by their own feelings, rather than Scripture. With all due respect, Bruce, your opinion on how I derive my beliefs regarding the salvation of the Jews, is only an opinion. It is quite obvious that we both interpret scripture differently on this topic. I believe that the Jews are saved by their original convenant with God, and you do not. I was offended for a moment that you would group me in the ranks of deluded self-righteousness. I felt for a moment, "Now who's being self righteous, here." But rather than casting an ill light on your righteousness, I have instead forgiven your offense. I ask that you not pass judgement on me again. I cannot pass judgement on how you came to hold your beliefs. I cannot say that your study of scripture was guided by your own self-rightesouness or your honest pursuit of God's truth. I ask that you do the same for me. Let's just say that we agree to disagree on this matter. No matter how many scriptural quotes you offer to me to convince me of your beliefs will not change my beliefs. Similarily, I could quote passages supporting my position, but you would most likely remain steadfast in your beliefs. -Jeff Fields
gad@eclipse.its.rpi.edu (Garance A. Drosehn) (05/05/91)
In article <May.2.05.06.48.1991.2843@athos.rutgers.edu> tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) writes: > In article <Apr.28.18.24.12.1991.20227@athos.rutgers.edu> benning@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com writes: > > We have Nicodemus as an example. Here was a man who surly followed the Law > > as close as any man could. He was able to recognize that Jesus was a man > > sent from G-d, and came to talk to him one night. When Jesus and Nicodemus > > began to engage in conversation, Jesus didn't say "keep up the good deeds > > and you're a shoe in." But he did say to a man who was in tune with the > > the Spirit, that he needed a total rebirth of his soul and spirit. And > > Nicodemus obeyed. > > Did Jesus say to Nicodemus "And if you're ever gonna get into heaven > you'll have to start worshipping *me*"? He did talk about being born > again, but I don't remember anything about becoming a disciple or > anything like that. Consider just a few verses later. Jesus is still talking to Nicodemus in verses 18 and 19 of John chapter 3: "He that believeth on him [Jesus] is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemmed already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil." Abraham was saved by faith because he lived up to the information he was given. After the arrival of Jesus, the information given Jews and Gentiles changed dramatically. If you're presented with the claims of Christ and you reject him, then, well, you've rejected him. And if he is God (which is the position of the new testament, after all), then you've rejected God. What basis do we have from the Law & The Prophets which would lead us to believe that a decendent of Abraham will be always be saved, even if that person explicitly rejects the God of Abraham? The claim of the new testament is that Jesus is indeed the Messiah of Israel. That means he's the one annointed to be the King of Israel. If a Jewish person rejects their King, how can they be a part of the kingdom which that King is running? More to the point, perhaps, would be the following question. If Jewish people do not need Jesus to be saved, why on earth did he spend so much time talking to the Jews? It's very rare that we find him talking to anyone who wasn't Jewish. Why would he bother with the Jews if they don't need him in the first place? Why did the apostles start by bringing Jews to Christ? Stephen witnessed to the High Priest and the elders, saying they needed to consider the claims of Jesus. You aren't going to get a much more Jewish audience than that. Try to find one verse in the new testament where there was any controversy over witnessing to someone because that person was Jewish. Now see if you can find any passages where there was a controversy over accepting Gentiles into the church. The biggest question in the beginning of Acts was not "Is Jesus for the Jews?", it was "Is Jesus for the Gentiles in addition to the Jews?". - - - - - - - - Garance Alistair Drosehn = gad@rpi.edu (handles NeXT-type mail)
smith@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (James Roy Smith jr) (05/05/91)
In article <May.2.05.06.48.1991.2843@athos.rutgers.edu> tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) writes: >In article <Apr.28.18.24.12.1991.20227@athos.rutgers.edu> benning@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com writes: >> We have Nicodemus as an example. Here was a man who surly followed the Law >> as close as any man could. He was able to recognize that Jesus was a man >> sent from G-d, and came to talk to him one night. When Jesus and Nicodemus >> began to engage in conversation, Jesus didn't say "keep up the good deeds >> and you're a shoe in." But he did say to a man who was in tune with the >> Spirit, that he needed a total rebirth of his soul and spirit. And Nicodemus >> obeyed. > >Did Jesus say to Nicodemus "And if you're ever gonna get into heaven >you'll have to start worshipping *me*"? He did talk about being born >again, but I don't remember anything about becoming a disciple or >anything like that. But what is being born again? IMHO, that comes about when you accept Christ as your Saviour and Lord of your life. Your old self (the sinful nature) dies with Christ. All your sin is paid for and then you become a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come. In order to accept all this I would think that you would have to accept the Jesus was God and man and would then be worshipping him. Right? > > Tom Blake > SUNY-Binghamton EZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZ Jim Smith J R S jr Take it EZ? smith@casbah.acns.nwu.edu O Take it EZ. smith@nuacc Y Take it EZ! EZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZEZ
lm89@ecs.soton.ac.uk (McIlhoney L) (05/05/91)
In <May.2.05.06.48.1991.2843@athos.rutgers.edu> tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) writes: >Did Jesus say to Nicodemus "And if you're ever gonna get into heaven >you'll have to start worshipping *me*"? He did talk about being born No but He did say he was the Son of God and put up fairly substantial evidence to support this unique claim. And we should worship God, whom Jesus is part of. Therefore it is perfectly in accordance to worship Jesus. -- KRAKEN...............................alias.......................L McIlhoney Year 2, Dept. of Electronic Engineering E-mail LM89@UK.AC.SOTON.ECS University of Southampton ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Motto : He who trusts can never be betrayed - only mistaken. * ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
smithjh@argus.CS.ORST.EDU (Jeremy Smith) (05/08/91)
In article <May.2.05.06.48.1991.2843@athos.rutgers.edu> tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) writes: > >Did Jesus say to Nicodemus "And if you're ever gonna get into heaven >you'll have to start worshipping *me*"? He did talk about being born >again, but I don't remember anything about becoming a disciple or >anything like that. > "Jesus said to him(Thomas), I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me." Not even the Jews.
tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) (05/08/91)
In article <May.4.21.35.15.1991.21425@athos.rutgers.edu> gad@eclipse.its.rpi.edu (Garance A. Drosehn) writes: >...What basis do we >have from the Law & The Prophets which would lead us to believe that a >decendent of Abraham will be always be saved, even if that person explicitly >rejects the God of Abraham? Ezekiel 18:5-9 5 "Suppose there is a truly good man, righteous and honest. 6 He doesn't worship the idols of the Israelites or eat the sacrifices offered at forbidden shrines. 6 He doesn't seduce another man's wife or have intercourse with a woman during her period. 7 He doesn't cheat or rob anyone. He returns what a borrower gives him as security; he feeds the hungry and gives clothing to the naked. 8 He doesn't lend money for profit. He refuses to do evil and gives an honest decision in any dispute. 9 Such a man obeys my commands and carefully keeps my laws. He is righteous, and he will live," says the Sovereign Lord. (TEV) I find it interesting that The Lord never mentions how the righteous man treats him. The first thing is that he isn't worshipping any Idols, or mucking about with the food that was offered to idols. From that point on, the requirements are based on the man's treatment of others. Tom Blake SUNY-Binghamton
gad@eclipse.its.rpi.edu (Garance A. Drosehn) (05/11/91)
In article <May.8.04.18.37.1991.11307@athos.rutgers.edu> tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) writes: > In article <May.4.21.35.15.1991.21425@athos.rutgers.edu> gad@eclipse.its.rpi.edu (Garance A. Drosehn) writes: > >...What basis do we > >have from the Law & The Prophets which would lead us to believe that a > >decendent of Abraham will be always be saved, even if that person > >explicitly rejects the God of Abraham? > > Ezekiel 18:5-9 > > 5 "Suppose there is a truly good man, righteous and honest. 6 He > doesn't worship the idols of the Israelites or eat the sacrifices > offered at forbidden shrines. 6 He doesn't seduce another man's wife or > have intercourse with a woman during her period. 7 He doesn't cheat or > rob anyone. He returns what a borrower gives him as security; he feeds > the hungry and gives clothing to the naked. 8 He doesn't lend money for > profit. He refuses to do evil and gives an honest decision in any > dispute. 9 Such a man obeys my commands and carefully keeps my laws. > He is righteous, and he will live," says the Sovereign Lord. (TEV) > > I find it interesting that The Lord never mentions how the righteous man > treats him. The first thing is that he isn't worshipping any Idols, or > mucking about with the food that was offered to idols. From that point > on, the requirements are based on the man's treatment of others. I find it interesting that that passage is not talking about Jews who have explicitly rejected God. I asked if there was any evidence that a Jew could explicitly reject God and expect to remain saved. No where in that passage (or later in the chapter) does it say that a Jewish person can explicitly reject God and expect God to save the person doing the rejecting. The passage you quote is describing a person who is accepting and following all the information available to that person. The Lord says that person is just and shall surely live. That gives us no information on someone who rejects the message or the person of God. More importantly (IMHO), the chapter you're reading from is not trying to tell anyone how to be saved. It's trying to expose the absurdity of the idea that God would punish a good person because of the evil of their parents (see the first few verses of the chapter). The fact that it omits some details of the law does not prove that those details can be ignored or rejected. The chapter does not say anything about coveting, for instance, and yet "Thou shalt not covet..." is one of the ten commandments. Would you therefore claim that Jewish people can ignore that commandment, simply because this passage does not talk about it? - - - - - - - Garance Alistair Drosehn = gad@rpi.edu or gad@eclipse.its.rpi.edu
benning@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com (05/13/91)
I read this the other morning: If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.(Gal 5:15) I don't want to do that. I do want to state that Jesus died for the sins of the whole world (I John 2:2, John 3:16...) and this DOES include our Jewish brothers and sisters. Jeff said to Bruce: >With all due respect, Bruce, your opinion on how I derive my beliefs regarding >the salvation of the Jews, is only an opinion. It is quite obvious that >we both interpret scripture differently on this topic. I believe that the >Jews are saved by their original convenant with God, and you do not. >Let's just say that we agree to disagree on this matter. No matter how many >scriptural quotes you offer to me to convince me of your beliefs will not >change my beliefs. Similarily, I could quote passages supporting my >position, but you would most likely remain steadfast in your beliefs. >-Jeff Fields Basic Christian doctrine states that we all are sinners, and that it is only through Messiahs blood that we are fully atoned for in G-ds sight. We are saved through Grace and not works. No exceptions!! As far as Christian doctrine goes, Jesus was the only person to fulfill the law. Everyone else has failed. We are not able to live up to the law. But the law reveals to us that we are sinners in need of a saviour. My statement was not intended to state "you" were self-righteous, but that the view,-"they are able to be right before a Holy G-d without His help, through being a good person, and following Gods Laws", is one of being righteous by ones self. The "I can do it on my own through good works" Theology. Or even the "I'm Jewish so I'm saved..." line. Even John the Baptist said "Do not think you can say to yourselves "we have Abraham as our father." I tell you out of these stones, God can raise up children for Abraham." (Matt 3:9) ******************* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ******************* The following is some background on why I believe ALL people, including Jewish men and women, need Messiah Jesus. There is much more but I have little time. This may offend some readers, so you may wish to exit this article. All Scripture reference are from the NIV. ******************* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ******************* John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." In Galatians 3:29 we are told if a law could have been given that could impart life, then righteousness would have come by the law. But Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, held prisoner by the law(3:23). The law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith(3:24). Hebrews 8:6 says "But the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, and is founded on better promises.7For if there had been nothing wrong with the first covenant, no place would have been sought for another." Look at the NEW COVENANT and see who it was proclaimed to. Jeremiah 31:31 says "The time is coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant," This isn't a new concept. Look in the book of HEBREWS and it explains this much better than I ever could. And the book of HEBREWS was written to the Hebrew Christians of the day. We read in Galatians 2:16, "a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ...and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." Also in Gal 2:21, "for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" In ACTS 2:14 Peter addresses the crowd by saying "Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem" and in verse 22, "men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus...was a man accredited by God to you by miracles..." and again in verse 36, "Therfore let all Israel be assured of this:God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Finally he said to his Jewish listeners in verse 38 "repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." And in Acts 4:12 Peter says about Jesus "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." So far it sounds like a Jewish message. It is basic knowledge that the "Church" was closed to Gentiles for the first seven years. In Acts 10 the Jewish believers are shown that God has allowed salvation to come the Gentiles (Acts 11:18). And that really caused a stir among the Jewish believers. In Galatians 2:8, Paul explains that his ministry to the Gentiles had the same blessing as did Peter and John, whos ministry was to the Jews. In verse 9 they agree that Paul and Barnabas (Jewish believers) should go to the Gentiles and James, Peter, and John (more Jewish believers) to the Jews. I would hope that since there was a ministry to the Jewish people in the early days, the ministry would remain even today. In Romans 9-12, we read that for now Israel is in unbelief, but a time is coming when Israel will believe, and be saved. Not by obeying the law but through faith in Messiah Jesus. It is clear that since the message of the Gospel has Jewish roots, it would be for the Jewish people.(Isaiah 53) And I would like to repeat that the worst form of anti-semitism is to keep the message of Messiah Jesus from our Jewish friends, family, and others. **** Romans 3:20 - no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the Law; Galatians 2:16 - Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. John 6:28-29 - Then they asked him [Jesus], What must we do to do the works God requires? Jesus answered "The work of God is this: To believe in the one he has sent." 2 Timothy 3:15 - the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. --->Bruce Benning __________ benning@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com -------------Religion may inform and reform------------- ----------but only Messiah Jesus can Transform---------- "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of G-d for the salvation of everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then for the Gentile." [Romans 1:16]
tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) (05/17/91)
(A number of people have quoted from the Gospels suggesting that only through faith in Jesus can people be saved.) Luke 10:25-28 25 A teacher of the Law came up and tried to trap Jesus. "Teacher", he asked, "what must I do to receive eternal life?" 26 Jesus answered him, "What do the Scriptures say? How do you interpret them?" 27 The man answered, "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind'; and `Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'" 28 "You are right," Jesus replied; "do this and you will live." (TEV) The teacher of the Law then asks who his neighbor is, and Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan. So, in the first place, Jesus tells the man that he can receive eternal life by following the Law. And then, he tells a story to explain what following the law means. As it turns out, two highly placed Jews do not follow the law, but a Samaritan does. Tom Blake SUNY-Binghamton
tas@pegasus.com (Len Howard) (05/22/91)
In article <May.17.02.21.25.1991.27516@athos.rutgers.edu> tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) writes: >(A number of people have quoted from the Gospels suggesting that only >through faith in Jesus can people be saved.) The parable of the rich young ruler has always seemed to me not so much a question of following the Law, as the ruler said he did, but following the Spirit of the Law, which was what the ruler could not do when asked to give all his money to the poor and follow Jesus. The next important part of that passage is that in answer to the disciple's question Jesus' answer is "With God, all things are possible."
smithjh@argus.CS.ORST.EDU (Jeremy Smith) (05/24/91)
[In the disucsion of whether faith in Jesus is necessary for salvation, Thomas Blake quoted Lk 10:25-28: > 27 The man answered, "`Love the Lord your God with all your heart, >with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind'; and >`Love your neighbor as you love yourself.'" > 28 "You are right," Jesus replied; "do this and you will live." --clh] Since Jesus Christ *is* God, and Jesus Crist is Lord, this passage suggests that one should love Jesus Christ with all his strength etc... Peace and Grace, Jeremy Smith.
tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) (05/24/91)
In article <May.22.00.35.32.1991.1030@athos.rutgers.edu> tas@pegasus.com (Len Howard) writes: >In article <May.17.02.21.25.1991.27516@athos.rutgers.edu> tblake@bingvaxu.cc.binghamton.edu (Thomas Blake) writes: >>(A number of people have quoted from the Gospels suggesting that only >>through faith in Jesus can people be saved.) > >The parable of the rich young ruler has always seemed to me not so >much a question of following the Law, as the ruler said he did, but >following the Spirit of the Law, which was what the ruler could not do >when asked to give all his money to the poor and follow Jesus. The >next important part of that passage is that in answer to the >disciple's question Jesus' answer is "With God, all things are >possible." I was not citing the "parable" of the rich young ruler. My citation was from Luke 10:25-28, (which leads into the parable of the "Good Samaritan"). I am not certain if your mention of the rich young ruler is a mis-understanding, or if you are offering another view of the matter from the Gospels. In any case I would kind of agree with you. Except, although the Rich Young Man claims to have kept the commandments listed by Jesus, (including loving his neighbor as himself), he is unable to bring himself to sell all that he has and give the money to the poor. (It appears he loves himself more than his neighbor.) So, the Rich Young Man we find does not follow the law. Tom Blake SUNY-Binghamton
tblake@bingsuns.cc.binghamton.edu (Tom Blake) (05/26/91)
[Thomas Blake cited Lk 10:25-28, in which Jesus endorsed "Love the Lord your God..." as the basis for salvation. Jeremy Smith responded >Since Jesus Christ *is* God, and Jesus Crist is Lord, this passage >suggests that one should love Jesus Christ with all his strength etc... --clh] Yes, I understand that *you* believe that Jesus Christ is/was God. So, for you it logically follows that you must love Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. The teacher of the Law however I would assume did not. Jesus does not add parenthetically, ("And since I am God, that means you have to love me as God"). Tom Blake SUNY-Binghamton