how do we know Jesus was the son of god and not a cult leader?

Question

im being asked this question and im blue in the face of answering these questions , someone has asked me how do we know jesus is really the son of god and not a cult leader , im so sick of answering these questions , so i thought i would post this questions to get help on how to answer it , obviously im not getting through to this person ...

devoted atheiest you need to follow your own advice and shut the f&^$ up...you were also not there so go find another person to be cynicall towards ..I live in America , and honey over here , freedom of speech is the 1st amendment..

Answer 1

We don't even know for sure that he existed

Answer 2

No Cult Leader has/ had the Power to Raise the Dead, let alone Make the cripple walk, or restore the Sight to the Blind.
Jesus did that and more. If There was a Cult Leader today or In the Past that could do even ONE of those Things you will not hear the end of the " well there was another person " who did exactly was Jesus did. No Jesus was Unique. Many a Cult Leader has Died, But NONE have returned from the Grave.

Answer 3

Jesus was put to death in front of witnesses. Jesus rose to Heaven in front of witnesses. These are just two examples of things that man can't do. Plus He healed the sick, turned water into wind, walked on water,...pretty good for someone that isn't God. Jesus life, death, and resurrection were prophesied a very long time before He was even born. I doubt that this would be done for a cult leader. How would those making the prophesy know about some, yet unborn, cult leader? And, like many others have stated--it's by faith.

Answer 4

That's a tuff question and I sympathize with your frustration. To echo an earlier comment, it will be the Holy Spirit that convicts the person's heart. This takes a bit of pressure off of you, other than being diligent to be prepared to be used by the Holy Spirit.

An acronym I learned awhile back might help with a bit more research: MAPS
- Manuscript Evidence: More original writings have been found that are consistent with scripture. Many were written closer to the time that the event happened. Unlike other historical documents that were written many years after an event - we don't question them, so why are we so quick to call the Bible into question.
- Archeological Evidence - There has never been an archeological find that "disproves" scripture. In fact when the evidence is examined it is consistent with what we find the Bible.
- Prophecy - Biblical prophecies have from the Old Testament have historical evidence of having occurred. This in not only recorded in the Bible, but in other historical documents.
- Scripture - Proves itself to be true. This is a neat study on how we got our Bible today and how we know it can be trusted!

This will probably take a bit of research, but hopefully this gave you some food for thought. A book that might help is the "Case for Christ". I pray God will soften this person’s heart for the answers He will prepare in you!

Answer 5

+PAX

Most cult leaders do not have God Almighty's voice coming down from the sky saying, "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased."

Also, most cult leaders do not have the Holy Spirit descend upon them at baptism in the Jordan in the form of a Dove.

I don't recall any cult leaders dying and rising again after three days.

I don't remember any miracles such a lepers being cured or paralytics walking being performed by cult leaders.

In His Love,
j

Answer 6

If you think about what the temptation of Eve by the serpent was really all about, you too might wonder if there really IS a "Jesus' Way " around The Holy Father: God, to get into Heaven. Think about it. God said He would never change but the trinity changes Him. The One true God is always mentioned absolutely singularly in the OT. There, He wanted to call us, His children. Still does, but Jesus says we need to be "saved" for some reason. I have to ask you, when did God Our Father stop loveing me? Or you, for that matter? Jesus gathered the insecure and gave them something to believe in, while he entertained the prostitutes and tax collectors who had made his followers insecure in the first place. Food for thought, eh?

Answer 7

Fact: We don't know if he was the son of god
Fact: We don't know if he was a cult leader
Fact: We don't know if he existed
Fact: Christians have dedicated there lives to a man we don't even know existed
Fact: There's much doubt that Jesus existed and even more doubt that Jesus was the son of god.

FACT: Jesus may have existed and may have been a cult leader or the son of god, maybe neither, maybe both?

Answer 8

Couldn't he be both? But seriously, here's a "top ten" list of traditional reasons:

1. Miracles
2. OT prophecies fulfilled
3. From time to time he appears to people and tells them himself
4. No reason--just accept it on faith
5. Testimony of the church
6. Reason (but you have to read a bunch of Aquinas)
7. The still small voice (conscience / intuition)
8. His great ethical example
9. Peer pressure? Okay, I'm running out of traditional reasons. How's that?

Answer 9

Jesus didn't shake people down for money. He didn't require his follower to bow to him. In fact, he condemned the love of money and discouraged displays of honor. He apparently walked everywhere he went (at least on land). He had a habit of going off to deserted places to pray. He seems to have had no permanent residence or possessions. These are not the behaviors of a cult leader.

Son of God? That's a little tougher.

Answer 10

Understand what you are being asked!

What is a cult really?

–noun
1. a particular system of religious worship, esp. with reference to its rites and ceremonies.
2. an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult.
3. the object of such devotion.
4. a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc.
5. Sociology. a group having a sacred ideology and a set of rites centering around their sacred symbols.
6. a religion or sect considered to be false, unorthodox, or extremist, with members often living outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader.
7. the members of such a religion or sect.
8. any system for treating human sickness that originated by a person usually claiming to have sole insight into the nature of disease, and that employs methods regarded as unorthodox or unscientific.
–adjective
9. of or pertaining to a cult.
10. of, for, or attracting a small group of devotees: a cult movie.

Stop trying to defend the word 'cult' and preach the Gospel.

Answer 11

We don't "know." That's why it's called "faith." We may be wrong. I doubt we are, but it's a possiblity.

Without some faith, we could question everything. How do we know the government isn't being run by aliens from outer space? It's possible. How do I know my wife isn't cheating on me with the mailman? It's possible. And how do I know Jesus wasn't some crazy cult leader? It's possible.

But I don't believe everything that's "possible." I believe what's probable. And to me... The government is just stupid and that has nothing to do with aliens. My wife isn't cheating on me with the mailman. And Jesus Christ is the son of God. I don't "know," but dang it I'm sure. And if someone else chooses to believe any of the other possiblities... that's their right that even God gives them.