Christians, help me out on this one.?

Question

So Jesus is the only way to salvation, except that Jesus is the only one that can have salvation. We are all sinners after all, right? So how is it that any of us could be saved?

Shouldn't we be emulating Jesus's higher qualities, rather than putting him on an unreachable pedestal?

If Jesus is God, why don't we just worship God?

If Jesus is praiseworthy because of the fact that he attained divinity, isn't it possible that anyone could obtain divinity? Aren't we all sons and daughters of God?

As for prophecy, isn't creation and everything the inspiration of God?

Is Christianity prejudice? If I thought someone was bad before I met them, you'd say I was prejudice. But Christianity pre-judges everyone by saying they are a sinner. So isn't that prejudice? And isn't God the only one that can pre-judge?

If God could do anything, except for evil, then evil is nothing. So doesn't that mean that the devil doesn't exist?

If I'm good, but not a Christian, am I bad?

Esther, I think you're good because you answered my question honestly. Honesty is good, so anyone who is honest is in my opinion good. Although it is just an opinion, there is no judge but ourselves and God, and God forgives us no matter what.

Answer 1

we are saved by accepting the gift of salvation that Jesus offers us.

Jesus Himself is not unreachable... being LIKE him is what we need to strive for

Jesus is God the Son, and there being 3 in the trinity, He is just one.

Jesus did not 'attain' divinity, he was born Divine... we cannot attain anything close to divinity as our righteousness is as filthy rags compared to Christ

it is easy to 'pre-judge' because we are all sinners... i don't point a finger saying.... oh you horrible sinner. we are all sinners that fall short of the Glory of God, because he has pre'judged us, that is why Jesus came to earth to die

good by who's standard? good by world standard? good by God's standard? good by your parents' standard? good by your church's standard? you have to decide what the standard for 'goodness' is.... we cannot be good enough to attain heaven.... it is only ours by faith and salvation in jesus

Answer 2

Friend,

I don't have all the answers.

I will give you what I can.

To understand how any of us can be saved, we must understand what happened when Jesus died. To understand this, we must understand who Jesus is.

See John 1. Jesus is the Word, made flesh. In the beginning, the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Thus, Jesus did not "attain" divinity; He has never been anything less than divine. From the beginning, the Word has been God; this did not change when Jesus was born as a human and became not only the Son of God, but also the Son of Man.

Jesus is indeed the only way to salvation, as per His own words: No one comes to the Father except through Him. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

When Jesus died, He became our substitute. With His blood, He paid for our sins. His pain and death took the place of ours. By accepting this act of grace performed by God, we can be saved. We cannot earn salvation. We can merely acknowledge it as a gift by God's grace.

We are sinners. God does not overlook our sin. He can righteously forgive it because Jesus already paid for it. When God looks at a saved person, He does not see their sin. He sees Jesus, in His perfection.

We are to emulate Jesus; however, only by God's grace are we able to do so. I am not sure what you mean by "putting him on an unreachable pedestal."

Jesus is God. We do worship God (which is to say, the entirety of God, including the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit). Perhaps I misunderstand you here.

As I wrote earlier, Jesus is not "praiseworthy because of the fact that he attained divinity"; the Word has always been God. Thus, no, we cannot obtain divinity; we are nothing without God's grace. We are all sons and daughters of God, but we have been purchased with Christ's blood. He is the only Son of God.

I'm not sure what you are asking in regards to prophecy.

The Bible states that there is none righteous. It is not a prejudice based on a limited perspective. Rather, God knows that we are sinful. He tells us the truth to help us, not because He is prejudiced. We humans are the ones who hold prejudices; God is the only one who is able to forgive sin. He is the only one who can judge.

The devil does exist. God is able to do anything. Your reasoning leads to a faulty conclusion, and I am not qualified to answer more thoroughly, unfortunately.

There is none good but God. The only difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is Christ.

I apologize if any of this was not given in a spirit of love. I would like to help you. I wrote this when I was tired.

May God bless you.

Answer 3

You asked several questions in the guise of one.
That is a sin and you are going to... Disneyland.

So Jesus is the only way to salvation, except that Jesus is the only one that can have salvation. We are all sinners after all, right? So how is it that any of us could be saved?
((Jesus took the punishment for all our sins by letting people kill him on a cross...thereby saving us punishment for our sins))

Shouldn't we be emulating Jesus's higher qualities, rather than putting him on an unreachable pedestal?
((We do try to emulate Jesus qualities, the ones he showed us when he was human....but He is also God, so we worship Him))

If Jesus is God, why don't we just worship God?
((We do.))

If Jesus is praiseworthy because of the fact that he attained divinity, isn't it possible that anyone could obtain divinity? Aren't we all sons and daughters of God?
((That is a belief of the Mormons. Jesus is not praiseworthy because "he attained divinity". He was alway divine. "Sons and daughters of God" is not literal.))

As for prophecy, isn't creation and everything the inspiration of God?
((??))

Is Christianity prejudice? If I thought someone was bad before I met them, you'd say I was prejudice. But Christianity pre-judges everyone by saying they are a sinner. So isn't that prejudice? And isn't God the only one that can pre-judge?
((Christians are only repeating what God reveals in the Bible. They are not making a judgment on their own. If God says we all "fall short" of God's perfection, that's not just his opinion, it is just the truth. Christianity is not prejudiced at all. God wants us to share his good news to people of all tribes and tongues.))


If God could do anything, except for evil, then evil is nothing. So doesn't that mean that the devil doesn't exist?
((We all know that "evil" does exist. Just look at the news.))

If I'm good, but not a Christian, am I bad?
((It is all subjective isn't it. Say you are the best tennis player in 12 to 16 age range in all the USA. To all the players you have beaten, you are very "good", you are the BEST. But if you faced any of the professionally ranked tennis players, you could not beat any of them. You would seem "bad" to them. Definitely too "lousy" to join the "pro ranks". From God holy perfect eyes, we are all a little too "lousy" --excuse me -- way too "imperfect" -- to "play" with Him. It doesn't mean he hates us, but there is a spiritual chasm between us and Him. Apologies to those don't believe God is a "he"))

Answer 4

"So Jesus is the only way to salvation, except that Jesus is the only one that can have salvation. We are all sinners after all, right? So how is it that any of us could be saved?"

Where did you get that Jesus is the only one that can have salvation? That's wrong. He is the only one who has earned it, the rest of us have to follow him because we can't earn it.

"Shouldn't we be emulating Jesus's higher qualities, rather than putting him on an unreachable pedestal?"

We should do both.

"If Jesus is God, why don't we just worship God?"

We should.

"If Jesus is praiseworthy because of the fact that he attained divinity, isn't it possible that anyone could obtain divinity? Aren't we all sons and daughters of God?"

We are, but we are also the sons and daughters of men. Jesus was not.

"As for prophecy, isn't creation and everything the inspiration of God?"

Yes, I don't see where you're going with that.

"Is Christianity prejudice? If I thought someone was bad before I met them, you'd say I was prejudice. But Christianity pre-judges everyone by saying they are a sinner. So isn't that prejudice? And isn't God the only one that can pre-judge?"

Saying someone is a sinner is not pre-judging. It is stating fact.

"If God could do anything, except for evil, then evil is nothing. So doesn't that mean that the devil doesn't exist?"

How does God not being evil mean that evil is nothing and therefore the devil doesn't exist? I think you're just making things up.

"If I'm good, but not a Christian, am I bad?"

By what standards are you good? Your own standards? The ten commandments? How are you judging yourself? I would say you are probably not good. You are not good not because you are not a Christian, but because you are a sinner. Christians are not good, only forgiven.

Answer 5

anyone can have salvation through Jesus. In the old testament
an offering is the only way to ask for God's forgiveness. Imagine that Jesus is the sheep/lamb for the sacrifice, and that mankind is the one offering the sacrifice.

The Holy Trinity - there is:God - the Father
God - the Son and
God - the Holy Spirit
When we are worshiping God, we are not worshipping them individually, we are worshipping them all at once.

We are sons and daughters of God through Jesus

God is the one that said man was born a sinner, meaning that nobody is innocent. We are not Prejudicing, we are simply repeating what God said.

Evil is always around you, it exists in temptations. And temptations is the work of the Devil. And by the way temptations is a feeling of wanting to do something although you know it is wrong. So if the Devil doesn't exist, how do you explain being tempted.

You are not bad if you are not a christian.... you are not innocent either.

Answer 6

although i like the other answers...

"So Jesus is the only way to salvation, except that Jesus is the only one that can have salvation. We are all sinners after all, right? So how is it that any of us could be saved?"

we can all be saved because god sent jesus to die for our sins.

"Shouldn't we be emulating Jesus's higher qualities, rather than putting him on an unreachable pedestal?"

as a christian i am not sure what you are talking about. unreachable? jesus is on my level, he is my homeboy. i talk to him like i talk to anyone else.

"If Jesus is God, why don't we just worship God?"

im christian catholic and i believe in the holy trinity, so jesus and god is the same person to me. and i do worship god.

"If Jesus is praiseworthy because of the fact that he attained divinity, isn't it possible that anyone could obtain divinity? Aren't we all sons and daughters of God?"

think about how jesus was and then think about your question.

"As for prophecy, isn't creation and everything the inspiration of God?"

what? yes. god created everything and some of the people whom he created wrote scriptures, scriptures written before the time of jesus. when jesus came, the scriptures served as prophecies (prediction of future events). what is your question again?

"Is Christianity prejudice? If I thought someone was bad before I met them, you'd say I was prejudice. But Christianity pre-judges everyone by saying they are a sinner. So isn't that prejudice? And isn't God the only one that can pre-judge?"

whattt!!!!!!!?!!! do you really think people shouldn't be pre-judged as sinners?!!! i mean im a devout christian and nowhere in my mind do i even think that im not ever sinning. might as well put it out there, "everyone is a sinner" instead of letting it linger around. take it in. sleep on it. being a sinner is not simply killing somoene, or lying, it also encompasses not helping someone when the person is in need of help, having bad thoughts, etc. etc. it's not prejudging in a bad way, its like COMMON KNOWLEDGE--WE ARE SINNERS! like the gravitational constant is 9.8! so whatt!! its what it is! just work on it. thats all im sayin.

"If God could do anything, except for evil, then evil is nothing. So doesn't that mean that the devil doesn't exist?"

god chooses not to be evil. i'm sure if he could he would be but then that wouldnt make him god would it? evil is something, and the devil does exist. but were not gonna get into that, cause that would be giving satan too much credit. just sayin homie.

"If I'm good, but not a Christian, am I bad?"

no you are not bad and yes god still loves you. amazing isnt it!!!

PEEEAACE!

Answer 7

We all can have salvation through Jesus correct. Correct we are ALL sinners except Jesus. Through Jesus we are saved. We do worship God and yes Jesus is God. Jesus is Praiseworthy because he died as a perfect sacrifice for you and me. No none of us can be perfect because we are all sinners not perfect. yes we become sons and daughters of God when we accept Jesus into our heart and become Christians. Christianity is not prejudice because ALL have sinned because we have sinned as well! God is the judge and those are his words that say that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. No the devil does exist. God made the devil perfect but he chose to turn away from God and he became evil. Therefore all evil comes from the devil not God. You say you are a good but not a christian but let me ask you something, "if you died today would you go to heaven or hell if God judged you by the ten commandments?" Have you ever told a lie? even a little white lie? If so what would you call yourself? A liar. have you ever stolen anything? even something small? if so you are a thief. Have you ever looked at a woman with lust? the bible says to look at a woman with lust you have already commited adultery with her in your heart. if so what does that make you? an adulterer at heart. So where would you go if God judged you by these three commandments (thats only three of them by the way) So now do you consider youself *good*?

Answer 8

First and foremost, you must accept the Bible as the inerrant word of God. If you cannot accept the Bible as infallible, then none of your questions can be answered with satisfaction or in truth. God's word is truth and the only truth. Anything else is the truth of men, which is fading away---it a lie.

Salvation is of God. We are all born out of original sin, that is through sexual activity, and this is the curse upon Adam and Eve, which each person has inherited since the birth of Cain. We cannot save ourselves because of our sin nature and we cannot be saved by any other human because of his/her sin nature. Jesus was/is the God-man, 100% God as well as being 100% man. He is God because he is the incarnation of the Son of God in the flesh of a man by the power of the Holy Spirit; therefore, he has never been separate from the Trinity nor shall he ever be separated; therefore he is God because he is always in agreement with the Father and the Holy Spirit which. including Himself, make up the Trinity, which is God.

Jesus died for our sins on the cross and was raised from the dead on the third day. Belief in his atoning death at the cross is sufficient for salvation and covers the believer in his blood, which covers sin.

Christianity is anything but prejudice because it is open to all. It is salvation by faith, not works. Christianity is not about being good or bad, it is about faith in Jesus Christ.

The fact that evil DOES exist in the world is proof enough that the devil is real, because there is no sin in God. God is not the author of sin, but the devil. For those who say that there is no free will, the devil is proof that there is. Eve was deceived in the garden, but she had the free will to make a mistake. Adam willful disobeyed God, which is without a doubt free will in action.

We worship Jesus because he is God---He cannot be separated from the Trinity which is God. For the same reason we pray to Jesus.

Congratulation---you have just finished four years of Bible College and probably know more than most Bible college graduates.

Answer 9

Jesus didn't need salvation. He was and is perfect. He was God incarnate and is still and always will be God. Anyone can be saved by trust in Jesus's finished work on the cross. He died for all mankind for this reason.

We should be emulating Jesus (as for higher qualities, I would like to know what these are, after all Jesus was perfect and always will be) and no one, as far as I know has put Him on some unreachable pedestal. In fact, He removed himself from heaven to reach down and become a man to make salvation possible for all.

When you say Jesus you are speaking of God when He came to earth in the form of a man.

Jesus did not attain divinity, he was always devine, always perfect, always God. He just gave up some of what He had in heaven to do what was required to save man while He was here on earth.

Your prophecy question does not make sense, please clarify. Prophecy is either telling the future or forthtelling the truth. What are you referring to?

Christians can say that man is bad because that's what the word of God teaches so really if you want to call this a pre-judgement of God then that's fine. All humans are bad because no one is perfect. Perfection is what is required to see God. Since no one is perfect, God came to earth himself to provide perfection for everyone if they would only repent and accept the free gift.

God can do anything and He allows evil for a time to show man reality. If you can't see that you are bad then at least look around at everyone else and see that they are bad and need a savior. Maybe that will be enough to wake you up and convince you that your are not good either.

There is no way that you are good. You are bad, face it. If you are not saved in the way the Bible prescribes then you are destined for hell at this point in your life. If at sometime you realize your sin and repent and turn to God, trusting in his finished work on the cross then you will be saved and will some day be 'good' (after death, of course) but not because you did anything wonderful, only because you were smart enough to trust God and believe his promises.

Answer 10

Accepting the blood of Jesus is the only way to salvation.

Jesus was God before coming to Earth, He did not attain divinity, He was and is that divinity.

No you can not attain divinity, you are human. Jesus just took on the form of man, He was still God.

Well, prophecy is given to man by God so what's your point?

Man was made perfect. He was made as a creature of free will, meaning he had to choose, God would never force him. He choose evil. From then on, all men are evil because of the choice of one man.

That is not prejudice, that was a free choice of man.

Jesus said, judge not lest you be judged. That refers to judging someones relationship with God, nothing else.

Evil exists because Lucifer decided that he was stronger than God so was dispatched from Heaven. Adam and Eve chose evil. Evil exists even though God is not evil.

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Jesus said there is none good, no not one so yes you are "bad".

Every one, including Christians, are bad. The difference is the Christian has accepted the blood of Jesus as a covering for their sins.

Answer 11

Esther is right. Jesus is the only way to salvation. Jesus does not need salvation because he is not a sinner. He made salvation available for us.
the bible says we have all sinned and come short of the Glory of God. No amount of emulating will get us into heaven. We can only get there by trusting in Jesus' payment for our sins.
Jesus did not attain divinity. He was already divine before he came to earth. We cannot ever be divine. We are only called sons and daughters of God when we ask Jesus into our hearts. it is an adoption process.
Christianity is not prejudice because God did pre judge us. He says our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Therefore only having Jesus as our mediator (defense Lawyer) before God can we face him.
If you are the best person in the world but not saved, you are bad and will not enter heaven. Your question is quite valid and is the crux of the issue.
When the judgment comes who will speak for you? If you stand on your own before a Holy and righteous God, you can never measure up. But if you have Jesus as your mediator, all God sees is Jesus' payment in full for all the sins you have committed. As for me, Jesus stands as my savior. Hope this helps.