Expert: Tom Smith - 4/17/2007

Question
I have been speaking about Jesus to my friend who is Hindu.  She does not understand why Jesus has to be the son of God and not just God (in her faith, God has come back many times through reincarnation).  Could you help me explain this to her? (I like Daniel 7, but I'm finding scriptural quotes ineffective as they don't explain, they just back up. She's not hostile to the idea, just confused.)

Answer
Here is the way that I would address it. It can be addressed by simply using logic (as I have shown below) and/or by including the fact that scripture validates this. If the person is unlikely to accept scripture, it may be of value to just go through it logically and then follow up once the facts have been established to show what scripture says. In any case, I have incorporated validating scripture.

First it is important to establish a common framework of understanding. Most everyone can understand the difference between key factors of sin, such as understanding that murder is wrong, stealing is wrong, adultery is wrong, etc..(Exodus 20). The 10 commandments are fairly universal, though when we get to some there may be disagreements on application (such as the worship of God because some such as Hindus follows "gods").

If you go down that list of the 10 commandments, most everyone is honest enough to acknowledge that they agree that most are sins and most will acknowledge that they are guilty of those sins.

the question is, why do they need to turn to any God to make things right? That is because we, being tainted by sins do not have the capability to do so (Rom 3:10-12). If I wanted a person to handle my finances, I would not hire an embezzler. If I wanted someone to protect my house, I would not hire a break and enter convict. If I need someone to find a way to pay the price for what I have done wrong, why go to someone who cannot do that themselves? We need someone free of sin.

Another way to consider it. if you need to wash your clothes,, will you use water from yesterday's dirty laundry, or will you look for water that is pure and clean, free from dirt. Only the latter can clean your clothes. Only someone who is free of sin can deal with cleansing us of sin.

We already established that everyone has sinned (Rom 3:23). I would challenge anyone to find someone who has not. We know from Romans 3:23 that it is not possible. That means that we have only one possible option, and that is God. But God is not flesh and blood that he could pay the price for our sins (Rom 6:23), so He had to come to earth, manifest in the flesh (1 Tim 3;16) to pay the price for our sins.

Since no man is perfect, it is only God who could pay that price. Now here is the rest of the story. Who is that Saviour who is God manifest in the flesh?

So how does one find a Saviour? Let's see who is qualified.

Isa 43:3
3 For I am the LORD your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
NKJV

God is our Saviour. He is sinless. Are there others?

Hos 13:4
4 "Yet I am the LORD your God
Ever since the land of Egypt,
And you shall know no God but Me;
For there is no Savior besides Me.
NKJV

No, there is no one else qualified. There is but one way to the father.

John 14:6
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
NKJV

Therefore if Jesus is the Saviour, he must be God in the flesh:

1 Tim 3:16
God was manifested in the flesh,
Justified in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Preached among the Gentiles,
Believed on in the world,
Received up in glory.
NKJV

But is there not another way?

John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
NKJV

No, you must be born again.

Because Jesus was born in the flesh to enter the world as a man, Jesus is called the Son of God. Why would God come to earth to die for rebellious mankind?

John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
NKJV

We also need to remember that as a man, He suffered all that we do and more, and it thus He knows our trials and tribulations. Further, He, as God, is merciful towards us because of His love and desired that none should perish.

Heb 2:17-18
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
NKJV

And what is the impact of receiving Jesus Christ as Saviour?

John 3:36
36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
NKJV

Rom 5:10-12
11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

And this opportunity is open to all.

Rom 10:10-13
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."
NKJV

And there is absolutely nothing that we as men can do to save ourselves:

Eph 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
NKJV

If you have not yet made the decision to receive Jesus as Saviour, please consider His invitation:

Rev 3:20-22
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
NKJV

Remember what I said early that if one Saviour had finished the job, the rest would not be necessary?

John 19:30
30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
NKJV

Thus, Jesus finished the job. But the story did not end.

1 Cor 15:3-8
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
NKJV

So Jesus was resurrected on the third day and is alive today and ready to receive those who call upon His name in truth and are ready to accept Him as Lord and Saviour.

John 3:16-19
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
NKJV

I hope that this helps.

Tom
http://discern.ca