Why should we care about whether or not he fullfilled the prophecy? Whether he did or not doesn't change the fundamental truths within his message does it?
2006-08-18 05:41:52 · 36 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If he were a mortal man His teachings still would ring true for me. I could not follow someone if I did not accept his teachings based on what they taught.But I do believe He was and is the Son of God.
2006-08-18 05:47:26 · answer #1 · answered by Debra M. Wishing Peace To All 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
The problem is this. If he was not the son of God, then he was simply a great teacher, and the crucifixion and resurrection meant nothing.
The importance of Jesus is not his teachings, even though they are amazing.
The importance of Jesus is that he was the Son of God. That, in the Jewish tradition of making a sacrifice for sins, Jesus became our sacrifice. He took our sins upon him in much the same fashion that is/ was done on Yom Kippur.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_Kippur
In that holiday, the rabbi asks God to cast the sins of the people onto the animal that is sacrificed, thereby absolving the people of their sins, and restoring their relationship with God.
This is the meaning of the passage from the Gospel of Matthew during the passion of Christ. (Chapter 27)
24When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
25Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Remember that Matthew was Jewish. He said this not to condemn the Jews, but to express that they (all who have turned to him) have been redeemed by His blood.
So the short answer to your question is that no it would not change his teaching. It would change our redemption though.
God Bless,
Vic
2006-08-18 06:01:42 · answer #2 · answered by Vic 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it makes his teachings "less right." It makes his teachings blasphemy.
He said that the only way to God the Father was through him. If he was lying, then he was insane...a wicked, egomaniacal madman. Thereby discounting anything else he might have said, in my opinion.
Jesus didn't come to teach. He came to save. And what he said before he fulfilled the prophecy and saved the world through his crucifixion was "instruction" on how to work out your salvation on earth.
If you don't believe that he was the begotten son of God, how do you deal with his claims that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Light? How can this be reconciled?
As for "fundamental truths" in his message.... Jesus said that he IS the truth. That is his message. Any other "truth" apart from this one cannot be taken out of context. Jesus didn't say, "Well, this other stuff I'm telling you is true in and of itself." He is saying that he is Truth itself.
2006-08-18 05:54:09 · answer #3 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The most important thing about Jesus is that He IS the literal Son of the One True and Living God and that He came to earth in human form to die for our sins, thus paving the way for us to go to heaven when we die. If His death did not accomplish that, then His message would mean nothing. He is the fulfillment of many prophecies. And because He is that showed His disciples that He is, in fact, God. You have to accept the whole package. You can't have one without the other.
2006-08-18 06:00:31 · answer #4 · answered by celticwoman777 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is the son of God, His teachings are right. He did fullfill all of the prophesies that were about Him in the Old Testament. I do not understand why people fail to understand this truth and reality.
2006-08-18 05:50:46 · answer #5 · answered by Geoff C 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Finally we have a question that has a lot of common sense to it, and yes you are so right it would not change the fundamental truths within his message, he was intelligent and vary knowledgeable and he had compassion and respect for all, I do not believe he was the son of God, but as a man he gave us one hell of a message, I do believe the writers of the new testament and religious leaders have distorted it for their benefit, so I stay away from religious institutions, but as an individual I benefit from his message on my terms and not on a religious perspective.
2006-08-18 06:18:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
If Jesus was not God manifested in the flesh then there would be no salvation and we would still be in our sins. If He was not who He said He was then He died in vain and He is still in the grave as a man. He died for our sins, He was buried and took our sins away and He rose again the third day for our justification. I serve a risen Lord one that is alive today not like all the other so called gods. 1 Corinthians 15: 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 1 Corinthians 15: 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: Romans 4: 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
2006-08-18 06:07:05 · answer #7 · answered by Ray W 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Knowing that he fulfilled prophecy, means he was not just a man. He was God in the flesh
He was not just a great man with a good message. He was GOD!
and yes, it changes everything. He died on the cross for your sins, thats's a fundamendal thruth. He said he was GOD. He was either right or a crazy. He back up everything he said, so I take it he's not crazy, but GOD!
2006-08-18 05:51:21 · answer #8 · answered by Casey M 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
If Jesus was not the literal son of God, then He was a liar. How would you trust Him or anything He said? That He is the Son of God is the cornerstone of His teaching and validates those teachings.
P.S. It is interesting that while you may be "cynical" the way you spelled it is telling; we are all "sinners" which is why He came.
2006-08-18 05:59:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Jesus taught that we are all Gods and manifestations of the Divine, specifically saying "I tell ye that ye are Gods". Unfortunately, the Church needed a way to control people, so they created a dogma that said the only way to God was through Christ, and the only way to Christ was through the Church. It worked, they became powerful and wealthy.
Jesus is the literal son of God, and so are you, me, and all living beings. His teachings were exactly correct. You don't need the church to find God, you need only to seek within, for I tell ye that ye are Gods.
2006-08-18 06:00:40 · answer #10 · answered by Elmer R 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋