ST6329@SIUCVMB (Andrew Clemens) (02/07/90)
> Why does it seem so antithetical to Christianity (among Christians), > to at least examine the hypothesis that the expression, "Jesus Christ" > may say something a little different from what meets the eye. Well, it isn't antithetical to examine that hypothesis, and it has been examined many times. Could Jesus be "of the Christ" and consequently allow more than one religion to be the truth? First one must define what the Christ is. The Christ is the "Anointed One", the Messiah, the one the Jews expected to come and be their king. Now, who was Jesus of Nazareth? Jesus is the Only begotten Son of God. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" John 14:6 The life of Jesus and his fullfillment of the law was prophecyed for hundreds of years before his life, death, and resurrection. Jesus was the perfect teacher, one with no errors in his ways. Jesus is the One who brings God and man together, as the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself to redeem all men. Jesus was conceived by God, not man and woman. Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead three days later. He ascended into heaven. Buddha could not have had anything with with God because he didn't teach the same things that Jesus did, and God is forever unchanging. The God that created the world is the same God now. His word stands forever. Jesus is the word of God as refered to in John 1. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (NIV John 1:1-5) As far as what will happen to the unbelievers, such as Buddhists, Moslems, Jews (not all Jews are unbelievers), Hindus, and others- "The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books" (REV 20:12) Many if not all of these people will unfortunatly be very guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, which is not a good thing to be guilty of-i.e. "But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin" (MARK 3:29) If the Christ was simply something that was in Jesus, and was in other people also it would nullify the meaning of Messiah, and the prophecys such. True salvation does come from the Jews, and is not a salvation by works, it is simply a salvation by the grace of Christ Jesus, Lord and Savior. Salvation will not come to a Buddhist, Moslem, Hindu, etc. because they are such nice and friendly people, for even they, along with me have sinned and fall short of the glory of god, thus needing the grace of Christ Jesus, for by no other way will they, I, or anyone else get to heaven. In conclusion Jesus and Christ are one and the same, there will be, nor has there ever been a Messiah other than Jesus. I would prefer to see everyone in heaven, but that won't happen. All the Glory be to Jesus, the Lord and Savior. Comments invited, Rebukes gladly accepted. Andrew Clemens (ST6329@SIUCVMB) AGAPE ATTACK SHEEP||||||||||||