Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 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.

Richard


Answer
Richard,

Thank you for your questions, and the opportunity to help. Please be assured that I will defiantly be in prayer with you for your brother. Don't loose faith Richard. God is able to bring him back to the faith.

Now to your questions. I will answer them one at a time and in the order in which you asked them. I will comment on your points to easch question. But because many of these answer could get rather lengthy, and to save time and space, I will give link to a site that has helped me.

1. You are correct that there historical evidence of Christ's miricals (see link below). The same question could be asked of Moses, and the miricals performed through hi. The real question is "Who is Jesus Christ?" Unlike the question, "Does God exist?", very few people have questioned whether Jesus Christ existed. It is generally accepted that Jesus was truly a man who walked on the earth in Israel almost 2000 years ago. The debate begins when the subject of Jesus' full identity is discussed. Almost every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet, or a good teacher, or a godly man. The problem is, the Bible tells us that Jesus was infinitely more than a prophet, a good teacher, or a godly man.

So, who did Jesus claim to be? Who does the Bible say He was? First, let's look at Jesus’ words in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” At first glance, this might not seem to be a claim to be God. However, look at the Jews’ reaction to His statement, “We are not stoning you for any of these, replied the Jews, but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God” (John 10:33). The Jews understood Jesus’ statement to be a claim to be God. In the following verses, Jesus never corrects the Jews by saying, “I did not claim to be God.” That indicates Jesus was truly saying He was God by declaring, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). John 8:58 is another example. Jesus proclaimed, “I tell you the truth, Jesus answered, before Abraham was born, I am!” Again, in response, the Jews take up stones in an attempt to stone Jesus (John 8:59). Jesus announcing His identity as “I am” is a direct application of the Old Testament name for God (Exodus 3:14). Why would the Jews again want to stone Jesus if He hadn’t said something they believed to be blasphemous, namely, a claim to be God?

http://www.gotquestions.org/questions_Jesus-Christ.html

http://www.christianorigins.com/miracles.html

2. Your points are good. The two links below may help...

http://www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=604

http://www.northave.org/MGManual/defense2/BibleNew.htm

3. The Bibles teaches us that there is one God, and that His nature is described as trinity. Though I believe that the word "triune" best describes the nature of God. You see, too many who believe in the trinity teach the plurality of God so strong that they are more tri-theists (the belief in 3 gods) than Trinitarians. While on the other side, those who emphases the unity of Gods nature so strong they fall into the false teaching of "modalism" (that God changed from Father, then to Son, then to Holy Spirit: ergo modes, or modalism).

The Bible teaches us that there is one God. The Word declares that He is the eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, sovereign, and immutable triune God; and it declares the unity of the Godhead where three personalities, equal in every divine perfection and attribute, execute distinct, harmonious offices, in the great work of redemption.

This does not mean that there are three "people" called God, but rather a way of saying God eternally exists in three personally distinct ways. Scriptures declare that there is only one God, Who is eternally (past, present, and future) manifested/revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

2 Cor. 13:14, John 1:1,2, Rev. 4:2-5 & 5:1-7

1 John 5:7
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

The Father - Co-existent, co-eternal, and co-equal with the Son and the Holy Spirit. He is the Creator and Giver of life. He is God revealed as Father in creation.
Scripture References: Isa. 43:10; 44:8, John 3:16, James 1:17, John 4:24

The Son - Co-existent, co-eternal, and co-equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was conceived by the Spirit and born of a virgin, to take upon Himself the form of man. By becoming obedient unto death, Jesus bore the curse of sin, sickness and sorrow redeeming us back to Himself. He arose the third day and ascended unto heaven, there He sits on the right hand of the Father, where He ever lives to make intercession for us. He is God revealed as Son in redemption.
Scripture References: John 1:1-3, Matt. 1:23 , 1 Tim. 2:5, Eph. 2:18 , Phil. 2:6-11

The Holy Spirit - Co-existent, co-eternal and co-equal with the Father and the Son. Sent by the Father, through the Son, He reproves the world of sin, prepares the church for Christ's return, and empowers the believer to follow the Lord. He is God revealed as Holy Ghost in regeneration.
Scripture References: John 14:26 ; 15:26 ; 16:8

Another way of understanding this definition of the nature of God, is to understand His attributes. By attributes I mean His omniscience (He knows all things), His omnipotence (He is all powerful), and His omnipresence’s (He is everywhere at the same time, and at all times). His omnipresence’s allows us to (in a very simplistic way) to see how He can be Father, Son, and Holy Spirit at the same time. Being omnipresent He is not only everywhere at the same time, He is everywhere at every time. God is here, now, at this present time. But He is also in the future. He is already there because He is not limited by time. He is also in the past. You see, time is linier. Time had a starting point (Gen. 1:1) and it will come to an end (Rev. 10:6). But God is eternal. He has no beginning, and He will have no end. Therefore time itself existents within God, God is not limited within time. Therefore the One God is the Father, Son, and Spirit eternally (in the past, in the present, and in the future). I know this is deep, but it does help understand how the One true and Living God is eternally manifested as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

4. In the ancient world (Old and New Testament), intercession was recognized as an essential spiritual act. High priests were common in most religions. Their basic role was similar--intercessors. Animal sacrifices were common acts of worship. A component of animal sacrifice was intercessory. The smoke of the sacrifice could appease God. Just as Aaron was the first high priest would offer up sacrifices for the forgivness of the people sin's, Jesus is our eternal High Priest before the Heavenly Father.

The resurrected Jesus intercedes for humans before God. Paul declared in Romans 8:34 that Jesus' function as our intercessor should be a sustaining, stabilizing force in our faith when difficult times and situations come. Evil is powerless to condemn those who are in Jesus Christ. Because such people are sinlessly perfect? No! Because such people have nothing in their lives worthy of condemnation? No! Because evil cannot tempt people who are in Christ? No!

Then why is Satan powerless to condemn people who are in Christ? Paul gave three reasons. (1) Jesus' death. (2) Jesus' resurrection. (3) Jesus' intercession. One of the reasons for Jesus Christ sitting at God's right hand is to intercede for us. Because of Jesus' death, God justifies those who are in Christ. Since God justifies those who are in Christ, Satan cannot bring a charge against them! Because Jesus is our intercessor, God will not hear Satan's accusations against the Christian as He did against Job in Job 1:8-10 and Job 2:4,5. Why? The God who justifies listens to Jesus, our intercessor!

5. Sin is described in the Bible as transgression of the law of God (1 John 3:4) and rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 9:7; Joshua 1:18). Sin had its beginning with Lucifer, the “morning star, son of the dawn,” the most beautiful and powerful of the angels. Not content to be all this, he desired to be the most high God and that was his downfall and the beginning of sin (Isaiah 14:12-15). Renamed Satan, he brought sin to the human race in the Garden of Eden, where he tempted Adam and Eve with the same enticement, “you shall be like God.” Genesis 3 describes their rebellion against God and against His commandments. Since that time, sin has been passed down through all the generations of mankind and we, Adam’s descendants, have inherited sin from him. Romans 5:12 tells us that through Adam, sin entered the world and so death was passed on to all men because “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Another type of sin is known as imputed sin. Used in both financial and legal settings, the Greek word translated “imputed” means to take something that belongs to someone and credit it to another’s account. Before the Law of Moses was given, sin was not imputed to man, although men were still sinners because of inherited sin. After the Law was given, sins committed in violation of the Law were imputed (accounted) to them (Romans 5:13). Even before transgressions of the law were imputed to men, the ultimate penalty for sin (death) continued to reign (Romans 5:14). All humans, from Adam to Moses, were subject to death, not because of their sinful acts against the Mosaic Law (which they did not have), but because of their own inherited sinful nature. After Moses, humans were subject to death both because of inherited sin from Adam and imputed sin from violating the laws of God.

A third type is personal sin, that which is committed every day by every human being. Because we have inherited a sin nature from Adam, we commit individual, personal sins, everything from seemingly innocent fibs to murder. Those who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ must pay the penalty for these personal sins, as well as inherited and imputed sin. However, believers have been freed from the eternal penalty of sin—hell and spiritual death—but now we also have the power to resist sinning. Now we can choose whether or not to commit personal sins because we have the power to resist sin through the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, sanctifying and convicting us of our sins when we do commit them (Romans 8:9-11). Once we confess our personal sins to God and ask forgiveness for them, we are restored to perfect fellowship and communion with Him. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Inherited sin, imputed sin, and personal sin, all have been crucified on the cross of Jesus, and now “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). (http://www.gotquestions.org/definition-sin.html)

Finally, here is a good link with info on Judaism, and how to share the Gospel with them...

http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4217691/k.D106/Judaism.htm

Richard, please let me know if this helps. And of couse you are welcome to ask any further question you would like.

God bless.

Elder Greg Madden