If Christians just went by the words in red?

Question

If Christians just went by Jesus' own words, how would the religion be different?
Paul added quite a bit.

Jesus, for instance, never said anything about homosexuals. So Christians wouldn't have a reason to say they were immoral/ an abomination.

What else would be different?

Please use quotes from Jesus to substantiate your claims.

Tebone- Jesus never said he was God, so that's not applicable to the question.

Teran, what about the rest of the new testament then? What you're saying only substantiates use of the Old Testament, which does make sense since he was a Jew.

arderian, why should we trust Paul any more than anyone else who tries to explain Jesus' word to us? After all, he didn't even know Jesus personally.

Aderian, no that's how people choose to interperate it. It could easily mean that he joined with God- it's called the Christ conciousness.

Answer 1

Jesus spoke about immorality and He did say that He was God. Also It should be noted that the Apostles wrote through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and, therefore their writings are also authoritative.

Answer 2

Christianity is NOT just what God had people record (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) of the sayings of Christ. It is based on the centerpoint of all HIStory. What is recorded of what He said is predicated on the whole of the Old Testament. It is about God's story. The creation of the world, the fall of man, the Flood, the coming of the Messiah foretold at the time of the Fall, Jesus's substitutionary crucifiction, death, and after 3 days His resurrection, and the good news that This is the plan that can reconcile God and man. This is the only way and NO other.

If God chose that only Christ's words would be our total source, He would have provided ALL that He said, instead of only snapshots. His coming makes no sense without the Old Testament. Jesus was fully God and fully man. As a man, He was a Jew. He grew up on the teachings of Jews and for the most part, preached to Jews.

As to homosexuality:
Matthew 19:4And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that He which made them at the beginning made them male and female,5And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

The Jews were not overcome with this sin, as were other cultures at this time. This was not their pet sin. Their biggest sin at that time was probably arrogance, and lack of being willing to admit they needed a Savior. Jesus preached where his audience needed it the most, and Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John recorded the words God wanted their audiences to hear.

But there were others, who would needed more instruction, or different instruction based on what had already been (or mostly, not been) revealed to them. Paul was part of God's plan of providing His salvation to the whole world. The people he preached to had different presuppositions and different pet sins. He had to address them where they were. God loved these people and could save them from their sins and the wrath to come, just like he could the Jews. It would do no good to preach to them about the sins of the Jews, just as it would be no good to preach to a teetotaler the sin of inebriation, the philanthropist on the sin of greed, and the broken person on the sin of pride. And, to refuse to address the sin of the society Paul was in, would have been tantamount to heresy.

Today Christian address: murder of the helpless, fornication, homosexuality, etc. , because these are the sins of our people. We do not address these sins out of hated for the people entangled in them. We do so for love of them. We know the One who is the key to unlock them from their sin and set them free. If we hated the people caught in sin and those who will be caught because of them, we would do nothing. We would turn up our noses and look the other direction as they pranced or pined their own way and miss the One Way. Jesus said "I am the resurrection and the life, no man cometh to the Father but by me." Do not go your own way. "There is a way that seems right unto man but the end thereof is destruction." Choose God's way. Read The whole Bible. Believe it, and apply it to your life. "He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Opus, I do not see that the New Testament says it is a sin to be a Jew. Where do you read that?

Answer 3

In several passages Jesus reminds us that marriage between a man and woman is the way that God created and intended it.

Personally, I don't think Christianity would be too much different because 1. Paul was an apostle of Jesus, so his message does not conflict with Christ's teachings and 2. his aim wasn't to reinvent Christianity but merely show Christians how the teachings of Jesus actually play out in real life.

The letters of Paul are about loving the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and loving your neighbour as yourself. (there are several references to this throughout his letters, grab a concordance) Christian conduct, how to love unbelievers, how to love believers, giving, church structure etc. covers everything.

If only we would spend more time reading the Word!

Answer 4

You can probably find a cult somewhere to agree with you. "Let's just use the words we like, and we'll call it 'Just as good as Christianity''."

Jesus, in the red words did confirm the Old Testament. He specifically said that He did not come to do away with the law, but to complete it. If we DO what it says in the red words, then we must do what Jesus said and accept all the other words too.

Answer 5

Jesus never said anything about homosexuality, however he did mention sexual immorality, and homosexuality was put under that label many times throughout the old testament(ever hear of sodom?).

Answering your question, the religion would not be different, Paul's writings were to mostly to explain in letters to other followers to make understanding Jesus' teaching easier for them and to show them where they were lacking in their walk with Christ.

Edit: Jesus did say that He was God when He said "before Abraham was, I AM.

He is referencing scripture in the old testament where when moses asked by whom he would say he was sent God said "tell them I AM sent you".

so yes Jesus was essentially said that He was God

/ownage

Answer 6

People as a whole can not multiply if they are busy licking carpet or surfing the hershey highway. This is as obvious as the nose on anyones face. Homosexuality defies God's creation by not perpetuating it.

You can certainly disagree, but if all anyone ever did was surf the hershey highway and lick carpet, then people wouldn't be here for very long.

I don't mind if you have the OPINION that homosexuality is ok, but by all means, don't try and make me consider it normal. It is a sin against God and His creation.

Keep it simple. Many previous laws established by God were rescinded, correct (pork, etc)? I don't recall Jesus saying "And the sin of sodom is removed from man. Go forth, lick carpet and pack fudge"

Answer 7

The red letter edition was published so Christians have less to read... I agree with your statements, too... Christians have done worse than preach against homosexuals even when they know that Sodom is seen is better light than the Jews. In the New Testament there is no greater sin than to be a Jew! The Christians wouldn't dare to preach against the Jews now, but it took 2000 years to change... so be patient!

Answer 8

Well for starters Christians would be Jews. Jesus taught NOTHING that went against Judaic theology of the time. All Jews saw themselves as sons/daughters of God.

Answer 9

Jesus did talk about sexual immorality, such as fornication. Homosexuals were not legally wed even in the days of Christ, which would make them fornicators. But then again they are not alone, we live in a society that feels entitled to have sex when and with whom they please, believing there are no consequences to such living.

Matthew 15:18-20 (New King James Version)

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

In the following scripture Jesus clearly means to imply he is God.

John 14:8-9

8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?

"Aderian, no that's how people choose to interperate it. It could easily mean that he joined with God- it's called the Christ consciousness."

Jesus claimed to have actually met Abraham, that is more then just consciousness. He is claiming to have been physically present with Abraham.

John 8:52-59

52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’ 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your[m] God. 55 Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple,[n] going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Answer 10

Being Jesus is God, His words are also in black. Jesus spoke of adultery and marriage. The acts of homosexuality falls under adultery, which is considered a sin