Can Jesus be Just a Great Moral Teacher and Not God? – by Tor Constantino

Virtually, every major religion recognizes and admits that during his short physical life on this earth, Jesus rose to the level of one of the following categories: a great ethical teacher; a moral leader and/or a spiritual prophet.

Despite that observation and religious concession, none of the major faith traditions of the world (namely Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism or Sikhism), outside of Christianity, acknowledge His divinity.

Those aforementioned belief systems place Jesus on equal footing with the founding fathers of those faiths and prophets, which include: Siddhartha Gautama for Buddhism; Muhammad for Islam; Abraham and Moses for Judaism; as well as Guru Nanak Dev for Sikhism BUT they collectively reject the idea that Jesus was God incarnate.

It was this obvious, discrepancy among the faiths that Jesus was a good man but not a God-Man or divine was poignantly addressed by C.S. Lewis in his book, Mere Christianity where he wrote:

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.

He would either be a lunatic — on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.

You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

The point of Lewis’ argument is that Jesus claimed to be God’s son, equal to the creator of the universe – that was how Jesus defined and identified himself. At no point is Jesus recorded as ever backing away from that strong assertion. In fact, it was his diehard support of that assertion that ultimately led to his death by crucifixion.

So Lewis logically extends that point when he goes on to state that either Jesus was knowingly false and wrong, which would make him a liar, or Jesus was mentally imbalanced which contributed to his being unknowingly wrong in which case he would necessarily be a lunatic. In fact, the mental condition of a “savior complex” or “delusions of grandeur” are most often associated with people diluted thinking.

But if Jesus wasn’t a liar or lunatic (using Lewis’ words) than Jesus was the actual son of God.

Despite this logical progression of thought by Lewis, there are skeptics and athetists alike that discredit the underlying logic of the argument and who discount this quote from Lewis stating that it is an example of the debate-class problem of a “false dilemma” where only select options are offered in support of a given argument.

Among logicians and debators there are about 40 or so different types of fallacies that they use to poke holes in opposing arguments.

Using the “false dilemma” fallacy as a base, the skeptic would allege that there are more options that could describe Chrsit beyond liar, lunatic or lord. The skeptic maintains that Jesus could have lied or been a lunatic and STILL have been a good moral, ethical teacher. They would cite other good, Christian, moral leaders who had shortcomings including Saint Augustine or Martin Luther King Jr.

Personally, I don’t know how that particular follows exactly since lying seems to violate moral and ethical standards. Again, at no point is Jesus ever recorded as refuting or recanting his divine claim. I would propose that a key component of being good, is recognizing, repenting and not repeating a given sin. Last time I checked, lying was still one of the 10 Commandments and if Jesus knowingly misled his followers he never repented.

Even his last few words on the cross perpetuate his belief that he was the son of God when he cries out to heaven asking why his father had forsaken him.

Regardless, such skeptics may further state that Jesus’ words were not accurately recorded or that He Himself was mistaken about who He was.

The thing that the skeptic would fail to address is that they themselves are committing the logical fallacy of “negative evidence,” which simply means that something is false because it has not been proven to be true. That is a valid point against the skeptic, just because you can’t empirically prove the fact that Jesus was the son of God doesn’t mean he wasn’t.

The skeptic’s “negative evidence” fallacy is further undermined by the often-quoted observation that an absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.  In other words, just because you don’t have a murder weapon doesn’t necessarily mean a death wasn’t a homicide or just because you didn’t observe something  doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

So, to the skeptic’s mind, because the divinity of Jesus has not been proven by C.S. Lewis’ example (or anywhere else) – it must be false. However, the “negative evidence” of that very argument is self defeating, and the skeptic’s ranting isn’t going to push Jesus aside from the right hand of God.

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Tor Constantino has more than 20 years experience as a former journalist and current PR practitioner. Additionally, he’s a father, husband, marathoner, writer and believer. He just completed his first nonfiction book titled “A Question of Faith: a Simple Question Toward Ultimate Truth.” He blogs daily regarding faith, family, finance and fitness at torconsblog.blogspot.com/.

John 17:20 Neither for these unparalleled do I pray [it is not for their alcohol only that I egest this quest], but also for all those who gift e’er proceed to judge in (cartel in, cleave to, rely on) Me finished their word and teaching… Jesus prayed for you and for me!

John 15:15 I do not birdsong you servants (slaves) any person, for the retainer does not fuck what his captain is doing (working out). But I hold titled you My friends, because I individual prefab famous to you everything that I hit heard from My Father. [I someone revealed to you everything that I mortal scholarly from Him.] HE TELLS HIS SECRETS TO HIS FRIENDS!

Relationship is formulated finished justly relating to someone, (locomotion in libber and eff and in conquering awe), time disbursal term with them. One tends to embellish equivalent those they pass instance with.

Hump you e’er detected how group that someone been wed to the assonant soul most of their lives vantage to lie equal apiece otherwise? They can actually at present destination each other’s sentences and pair what their spouse is thought and doing. So, by rightly relating to Prophet and outlay as untold time with Him as possible…we honourable may sign to examine like Him, experience what He’s thought and doing! What if the finish of this was rank holistic remedial in your disposition, feeling, and embody? You present reach this in the most relaxing sound.

Mary Magdalene was a christian of Jesus. At His vacant place she waited for any benign of mark as to where He might be. In John 20:15-17 Jesus said to her, Oriental, why are you howling [so]? For Whom are you sensing? Supposing that it was the horticulturist, she replied, Sir, if you carried Him forth from here, inform me where you hit put Him and I gift love Him absent. 16. Jesus said to her, Jewess! Movement around she said to Him in Hebrew, Rabboni!-which way Teacher or Key. 17. Jesus said to her, Do not meet to Me [do not book Me], for I tally not yet ascended to the Father.

In this awful convergence Mary, out of whom Jesus had remove 7 demons, when she realized it was Him, streptopelia for Him with no intention of ever letting go again. React that Jesus said don’t cling… HE INTERUPTED THE Ground Break Miracle TO Accost HIS Somebody MARY!

You think Stephen. A God fearing man glutted of institution and state, and one who believed Jesus to be the Messiah. Shaft he prefabricated the religious men mad! Acts 7:55-56 says; But he, overflowing of the Holy Spirit and obsessed by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the resplendence (the splendor and majesty) of God, and Redeemer stagnant at God’s appropriate assemblage; 56. And he said, Care! I see the heavens unsealed, and the Son of man upright at God’s ethical script!

Now we cognise that Deliverer is sitting at the reactionist side of the Father. When it was indication to recognize His someone Stephen He was Upright!

I don’t copulate virtually you, but I requirement to be a human of Jesus!

Finish Well,

Tom Davis

Nanette Geiger, Law of Attraction Relationship Expert , writes… …

So now you’re feeling expectant, experiencing goodness, and anticipating money coming in. Now you’re in the mindset to RECEIVE. As Jesus taught, ASK, believing and you will RECEIVE. That’s the receiving or allowance mindset. We also speak of this kind of expecting anticipation as being in alignment with your wants or being vibrational harmony.

Let us talk some more concerning how to hone your want. The moment I say “Ask for something you want in financial wealth”, I’m suggesting you jot down precisely what you want. You state what you want in a journal and begin imagining AS IF it’s already a reality. Clarifying what you desire begins by voicing your desire while not keeping the contradicting energy. Without adding any negative self-talk, worrying about your time-line, worrying about that which you don’t like about how it is NOW. If you need the support of a Law of Attraction Coach, by all means go get support! Using an unbiased listener to talk to can help you move away from old patterns much more quickly.

We live in a Universe that is made of energy – every one of us and everything in the Universe is made of this continuous energy. Stating a want and arriving at harmony with what you want as stated before, starts to signal the Universe that you’re a candidate to receive your want and it’ll start matching what you are transmitting. This is the way the Law of Attraction sends you what you desire. The essence of what is similar to itself is receptive or drawn together. You can manifest your own Law of Attraction Love today and increase your level of positive potential!

We’ve all been trained to follow an objective path, to face facts, to apply meaning to what is out there in our day to day life. We’re taught to utilize all of this information as a course of navigating through our daily lives. However, looking at what is not functioning well and trying to manifest from the mindset of lack is an extremely inhibiting platform for creation. Simply look at what is not working as a way of clarifying your want. Using the Law of Attraction is hugely powerful for Relationships Attraction, and is not hard to understand.

Attempt to manifest another way. Challenge your intellect to hone your want and then engage your imagination to draw it to you.

Many Christians refer to Hebrew 6:4-6 to support their case that a someone can lose their salvation. Keep in mind that we sometimes read into the word or twist it to make it mean what we want it to say. The danger of this is the risk of coming away with the wrong meaning, leading to error or misled faith. Mitchell was misled and thought he was no longer saved because of a sin he committed. His works became his foundation in the security of his salvation. My friends, you can’t do anything to save yourselves, and you can’t do anything to keep yourselves saved. Securing your salvation is a task for the Holy Spirit. Look at this:

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to regenerate them again unto repentance.”

It says it is “impossible” to renew a person that has fallen away from Christ to repentance. The phrase “tasted of the heavenly gift” is talking about a person who hears the word and accepts Jesus as their Lord. If an individual accepts Christ, has truly been granted salvation, and falls away from the faith and rejects Christ, it is impossible to renew him or her, or bring that person back to salvation. In a situation such as this, Christ would have to be crucified all over again. What are you saying, Pastor? I’m saying that if a person lost his or her salvation, it would be impossible to renew it because Jesus would have to be crucified all over again. Jesus died once for the sins of the world; he will not be crucified again. Notice the word “if” in this verse. The key is found in the word “if.” If a person fell away from the faith or lost their salvation, it would be impossible to renew, but then Paul says:

“But beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.” – Heb. 6:9

In the previous verse, Paul is speaking hypothetically, not literally. He doesn’t believe it is possible for a Christian to fall away from or lose their salvation. But if it were possible for a true believer to fall away, Paul gives a result of such actions. The Bible speaks literally and figuratively. The Bible also speaks in parables, and here Paul speaks hypothetically. In rightly dividing the word of truth, we have to understand the mind-set of the writer. Let’s observe the verse intimately:

“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.” – Hebrew 6:9

Or to paraphrase it, “Even though I say these things, I genuinely don’t believe this can, or will happen to those who are saved.”

We, as Christians, are sealed and kept by the Holy Spirit until the day of Christ’s return. Our salvation is signed and sealed as we wait for the day of redemption. God wants us to know without a doubt that we are saved and secured. “Put ye on the helmet of salvation.” That helmet protects you from doubt and fear of losing your salvation. My friends, we are saved by grace! It is a gift of God.

Do we remain in sin because we are saved by grace? God forbid! To prove our love for God, we must endeavor to keep his commandments.

It’s by Grace, by Grace

“For by grace are you saved through faith, and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not by works, lest any man should boast.” – Eph 2:8-9

There are parts of Eph. 2:8-9 that many people don’t understand. To allow God to open our intellect of this verse, let’s break down each section. “For by grace are we saved through faith.” The verse clearly reads that we are saved by grace through faith. Grace is God’s unmerited favor. We did zero, can do nothing, and will do nothing to earn it. It’s a gift from God. It comes from his agape (unconditional) love for us. When we confess our belief, and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God grants us salvation in conformity with his grace.

“It is not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”

This tells us that our salvation is not of ourselves; it’s nothing we have done. Not by our own efforts. We could never be good enough to achieve salvation. We all have fallen short of his glory. We can’t work for salvation. Our works aren’t good enough. You can’t buy it; there’s not enough money in this world, and there’s no other method to acquire it. God knew the dilemma we were in, so out of his love, he placed us under the dispensation of his grace. Salvation is a gift from God! It is a precious gift—the ultimate gift. Whosoever calls upon the Lord shall be saved. You called on him, and God saved you. God did it, and you can’t undo it.

Author: Doug Ross – Pastor of God Chasers International Church. a church in Richmond Virginia.