Expert: Kit Goins - 1/21/2009

Question
I have some questions that I am hoping you can help me with.

My brother lives in the midwest in a sparsely populated area and had been attending, or trying to find, a good Christian church. The selections were limited and, I don't quite know at what point this happened, but he hooked up with some people who practice Judaism. My brother told us that he was not converting, he just wanted to learn more about Judaism since that was the roots of Christianity and he wanted to know more about the culture and its practices. Before long I found out that my brother was observing ALL of the customs of Judaism which caused me concern and to wonder. He finally admitted that he had converted. He no longer believes that Jesus is the Messiah. Since then I have been working on occasionally engaging him with questions about what he believes and what he now thinks of Christianity and who Jesus was.

That is the problem and the point I am at now that I am seeking assistance with are the following points:

1. My brother believes that Jesus was a good and upstanding man and rabbi. He believes that he was just and lived a just life. However he was never more than that.

2. My brother believes that the apostles fabricated the parts of the Bible where he claimed he was the Messiah and God incarnate.

3. He believes that God is not 3 but only one and that Christians have made him into 3 Gods.

4. He believes that we do not need an interceder to make up to God for our sins, that we do that through our confessions and acts of repentance to God.

5. He also believes that sin is only, in his words, "missing the mark".

I have not yet responded to any of these things as I want to make sure I say the right things and give him so things to think about.

On point #1 I think that there is a lot of historical evidence that points to Jesus actually making the claims he did and I think the early Jews talked about it in the Talmud. This would include the Miracles that Jesus performed. Any help in this area you can offer me is greatly appreciated.

I am not sure how to address point #2 since it is really speculative and conjecture without basis on his part that the Apostles made up the parts about him being the Messiah and God in flesh. I do believe that the Gospels were written within the Apostles lifetimes from what I have read and there were plenty of people that could have and certainly would have disputed the claims being made as they would have been viewed as outrageous. They didn't because there was 1) a missing body, 3) all of the messianic prophecies that were fulfilled - none of which was disputable. Again, if you can assist me in this area I will appreciate it.

On point #3 I think that this is something that often comes up and is a misunderstanding, God is triune, 3 in 1, and it is a mystery that is beyond our comprehending. I heard it once said that "if God were small enough for our minds He would not be big enough for our problems". Again, if you have assistance ideas and suggestions I am very open.

On point #4, I understand what he is saying about making atonement for our sins but we sin every second, and if I am not mistaken it says in Leviticus 5:17 "Now if a person sins and does any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, still he is guilty and shall bear his punishment. So I think that arguably we may not be aware when we offend our brother or do something wrong and if we have not made atonement for these offenses then we are still condemned by them because they have not been forgiven. Am I thinking correctly on this and can you assist me in this? I also know that Jesus is the "new covenant" for sin and we no longer have to "make amens" as was done in the past through sacrifice or, where sacrifice is not possible, in other ways. I know that when I say that to my brother his response will likely be "who says we need a new covenant and what makes Jesus that covenant?". I am trying to prepare for his response and I know him pretty well. So if you can help me understand this better and flesh out what I know or help me in any way I surely appreciate it.

Also, on point #5 I don't agree with my brother that when we sin we are "just" "missing the mark". I believe that there are many sins that are overt and blatant. I think that when a serial killer kills a great number of people he didn't just "miss the mark" or a child molester, or bank robber, or a multitude of other such situations and sins. I also know that in the New Testament it says that if you have committed one sin you are guilty of them all but does the Old Testament make the same statement? I need to make sure I back things up with the Old Testament as well. And I know that Jesus said that if you have even felt these things in your heart then you are guilty of them.

Can you please assist me? It really pains me that my brother has been led astray and I know I cannot force him to believe but I want to plant as many seeds as I can to get him to start thinking and hopefully see the truth.


Also, if I can come back to you later should I have additional questions I would appreciate it.

Thank you for your time in this.  

Answer
Greetings, in the name of Jesus, the Christ...

These questions you ask are very involved and would require much study of God's word, by your brother, which we both know, he might not ever do...nor take part in.  The best all-around answer to give you, that would help in all cases..is to make sure you (yourself) in your daily events and goings on, to "SHOW" Jesus to him.  You do this by obeying Jesus, your Lord, in all that you do...daily.  In other words,
DO as Jesus commands, live like Jesus did, SINLESS, obeying all things God has commanded in His word (and there are many). In this way, your brother will observe the changes in your life, where with him, there are none, and as he SEES these daily Jesus-like living, and watching you  (and he will)...Jesus will become more real to him, and he will begin asking you questions. When he does, make sure you are prepared to answer him. And one other thing...PRAY daily for him.

As for SIN being missing the mark, he is correct, only to the point of its definition.  You must explain that by "missing the mark" it means also that in essence, you are missing out on all that Jesus has for you. Missing the mark is actually missing the mark (goals) of becoming holy, righteous, and pure, as Jesus is. Missing heaven and missing out on being a child of the most high and ONLY God. etc.

On question 2, yes the bible was written by apostles, but what he doesn't understand, is that it was "INSPIRED" by God's Holy Spirit, to the apostles, to then record into what we now know is the God's word to man. Being inspired, by God's Holy Spirit, is it not actually God's written word to mankind?

As for question 4, briefly, according to the book of Romans, we all fall short of the glory of God, it teaches that the wages of sin is "death" (both spiritually and physically) therefore the sins that we not only did ourselves , but also the penalty we received when adam and eve first sinned, is laid upon us at birth; meaning "WE" should of paid to God our own penalties of death...but God loved us so much (hates the sin we do) that He sent Jesus to us to die and become our redemption to God,so that we could again be a child of God and therefore saved from our sins...and allowed to go to heaven (where there is NO sin).  This is something that must be fully studied for understanding. and like I said your brother will not do this ...believing as he does now.

and that is what God asks us to do, HAVE FAITH (belief and trust)in Jesus's atoning blood that was shed for us all.  Your brother has no faith in God's word or Jesus at this point, so it will take time.
But do not give up. Continue to pray for him, and obey God's word, daily asks yourself this...what would Jesus do in regards to this or that thing. SHOW your brother what Jesus is like in all that you do.

When he actually sees that his way...is not helping him to change, to become more Jesus-like, being continually sinless as jesus is...then he'll begin asking questions, just make sure you are prepared for the questions.

I hope this helps.
In His Service, and love
Bro.  Kit