You're going to bet your entire soul on the fact that your Creator is not deadly serious about sin? That there are not consequences for our actions, and an equally serious sacrifice must be made to atone for those sins? I would not suggest doing this. Who is Christ to you, then?
Christ, to me, is exactly who he said he was. He is a son of God, just as we are all children of God. The question then becomes how you define and come to understand God.
I believe all of the teachings of Christ. I do not believe the entire narrative of the Bible, as I have come to understand that its present day iteration has had much removed that should not have been, and a great deal added that has been used to misconstrue and obfuscate Christ's teachings.
I have come to believe that we are the creators of our own hell. Those who consume the blood of the innocent condemn their souls to a half life; a cursed life that will lead them into an eternity of suffering of their own design. The law of equal and opposite reaction extends to the energy of the soul. Negative energy only begets negative reaction. Those who commit sin of the highest order will see that sin rebounded upon themselves.
He didn't just say he's "a" son of God, he said he's "The" son of God. The 2nd person of the trinity. This is affirmed throughout scripture. And if you believe the teachings of Christ, then you would believe the narrative of the Bible because he affirmed that as well. I would highly suggest you listen to teaching on these subjects, and discern for yourself. Don't take my word for it, investigate the message.
I wish you luck and wisdom on your search, God bless you!
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’[d]? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
There's a difference between an adopted son, and an incarnate one. Furthermore there is a difference between created and uncreated.
Jesus claimed far more than being a son of God as we are all children of God. This is fleshed out (pun intended!) in the Gospel of John, and hinted at in the other Gospels, as well. If He had simply been a son as we all are, and only claimed that much, the Pharisees (and Sadducees) would not have attempted to kill him for blasphemy numerous times.
God appears before all beings, across all times, as all manifestations. Gurus, Buddhas, Jesus, any other form of great teacher or great teaching. Through all forms of literature, all mediums of expression. In all phenomena, appearance, forms etc as what you think of as Christ. Yes, even in you and me.
If that were not the case, God indeed would be lacking the power, wisdom, compassion etc to do so.
God is not lacking.
If your faith is not yet strong enough to accept this possibility, indeed, take refuge in whatever form has been manifested that grants you a feeling of connection with god.
what about the countless beings that lived before, during and after that have never heard the words of Jesus, let alone read a bible because they are physically unable,
and what of all the countless beings across the infinite cosmos?
Did Jesus appear to them, did scribes somehow divinely transcribe his teachings?
If you truly, truly want to know the answer, read the lotus sutra, chapter 16
Jesus's teaching is useful for these people, as it is indeed the only way they may be 'saved'
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
You are not wrong but no matter how hard you bang your head against the wall, it is very unlikely that you will break through to them.
Leave them be, and have compassion for them, they are not 'wrong', they just have a limited perception. Whether that perception evolves in the coming period of time, perhaps. I believe it may.
Jesus indeed recognised this very fact and through his embodiment of the 'Christ' principle, gave them a simple teaching so that they may see, however dimly it may be. That is actually the great love behind his teaching.
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”
You're going to bet your entire soul on the fact that your Creator is not deadly serious about sin? That there are not consequences for our actions, and an equally serious sacrifice must be made to atone for those sins? I would not suggest doing this. Who is Christ to you, then?
Christ, to me, is exactly who he said he was. He is a son of God, just as we are all children of God. The question then becomes how you define and come to understand God.
I believe all of the teachings of Christ. I do not believe the entire narrative of the Bible, as I have come to understand that its present day iteration has had much removed that should not have been, and a great deal added that has been used to misconstrue and obfuscate Christ's teachings.
I have come to believe that we are the creators of our own hell. Those who consume the blood of the innocent condemn their souls to a half life; a cursed life that will lead them into an eternity of suffering of their own design. The law of equal and opposite reaction extends to the energy of the soul. Negative energy only begets negative reaction. Those who commit sin of the highest order will see that sin rebounded upon themselves.
He didn't just say he's "a" son of God, he said he's "The" son of God. The 2nd person of the trinity. This is affirmed throughout scripture. And if you believe the teachings of Christ, then you would believe the narrative of the Bible because he affirmed that as well. I would highly suggest you listen to teaching on these subjects, and discern for yourself. Don't take my word for it, investigate the message.
I wish you luck and wisdom on your search, God bless you!
33 “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are “gods”’[d]? 35 If he called them ‘gods,’ to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be set aside— 36 what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37 Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. 38 But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” 39 Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
This was said sarcastically, and needs to be taken in it's full context, which includes the full passage. - And it speaks of them dying as mere men!
There's a difference between an adopted son, and an incarnate one. Furthermore there is a difference between created and uncreated.
Jesus claimed far more than being a son of God as we are all children of God. This is fleshed out (pun intended!) in the Gospel of John, and hinted at in the other Gospels, as well. If He had simply been a son as we all are, and only claimed that much, the Pharisees (and Sadducees) would not have attempted to kill him for blasphemy numerous times.
God appears before all beings, across all times, as all manifestations. Gurus, Buddhas, Jesus, any other form of great teacher or great teaching. Through all forms of literature, all mediums of expression. In all phenomena, appearance, forms etc as what you think of as Christ. Yes, even in you and me.
If that were not the case, God indeed would be lacking the power, wisdom, compassion etc to do so.
God is not lacking.
If your faith is not yet strong enough to accept this possibility, indeed, take refuge in whatever form has been manifested that grants you a feeling of connection with god.
riddle me this, batman
if Jesus was the one and only son of god,
what about the countless beings that lived before, during and after that have never heard the words of Jesus, let alone read a bible because they are physically unable, and what of all the countless beings across the infinite cosmos? Did Jesus appear to them, did scribes somehow divinely transcribe his teachings?
If you truly, truly want to know the answer, read the lotus sutra, chapter 16
https://www.bdk.or.jp/document/dgtl-dl/dBET_T0262_LotusSutra_2007.pdf
brother, you are talking to a 'sheep'.
Jesus's teaching is useful for these people, as it is indeed the only way they may be 'saved'
Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
You are not wrong but no matter how hard you bang your head against the wall, it is very unlikely that you will break through to them.
Leave them be, and have compassion for them, they are not 'wrong', they just have a limited perception. Whether that perception evolves in the coming period of time, perhaps. I believe it may.
Jesus indeed recognised this very fact and through his embodiment of the 'Christ' principle, gave them a simple teaching so that they may see, however dimly it may be. That is actually the great love behind his teaching.
19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”