I will try to answer your questions. I see where you are coming from when you say that my understanding of what the Bible says is not the same as your understanding. That is very true, and I will try to tell you what my understanding is.
(I asked him what his worldview was and he didn't know what the term meant...)
Let me explain what the term "worldview" means. The term refers to how you see the world and the events in it. For example, homosexuality...in my worldview, I see it as sin. This is because I see it through the lens of the Bible. We all have a particular worldview, whether it be religious, Biblical or humanistic or from the point of view that there are no moral absolutes...these paradigms will color how we think whether we are aware of it or not.
I think before I get into going over my understanding of who Jesus is, I should define terms. Here are some common terms that you may or may not define the same way I do:
GODHEAD: God is not a man. (Num. 23:19) He has always been God. (Psa. 90:2; Mal. 3:6; Hab. 1:12; Rom. 1:22-25) Only one God. (Isa. 43:10-11; 44:6; 45:21-22) Father is Spirit and invisible. (John 4:24; 1 Tim. 1:17)
JESUS CHRIST: Fully God, not a subordinate deity, or another god among many. Eternal. (Isa. 9:6; John 8:58; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 13:8; John 1:1-4, 14; Col. 1:16-17) He was voluntarily subordinate to God the Father yet maintained equality with Him. (Philippians 2:5-8)
PREMORTAL LIFE: Only Christ existed before mortality, not man. (John 8:58; Col. 1:17) Our existence started on earth. (Zec. 12:1; 1 Cor. 15:46)
THE FALL: God intended obedience. Gen. 1:28. God tempts no one. (James 1:13-14). Man is sinful. (Rom. 5:12; 8:5-8; 1 Cor. 2:14)
VIRGIN BIRTH: Mary was "with child of the Holy Ghost." (Matt. 1:18; Luke 1:30-35)
SIN: We are in spiritual rebellion until conversion. (Eph. 2:3; Rom. 5:6) We do not just commit sins; we are basically sinful, it is in our nature. (Matt. 1:21; Jer. 17:9; Luke 5:32)
FORGIVENESS: Complete forgiveness granted the moment we turn to Christ. (Mark 2:5; Col. 2:13-14; Eph. 1:6-7)
SALVATION BY GRACE: Salvation is a gift of God only to those who believe. (Rom. 1:16; Heb. 9:28; Eph. 2:8-9) God’s grace is completely sufficient for salvation without my works added to it. Some have said that salvation by grace is like climbing a ladder. We have to climb as high as we can and when we get to a point where we can’t go any higher, then Jesus reaches down with His grace and pulls us up the rest of the way. This is not grace, but works salvation because one must work to make it to a certain point before "grace" kicks in. My understanding of grace is that it is unmerited favor. I did not have to work to make it to a certain point before grace was given. Grace that must be earned is not grace at all.
REDEEMED: Redeemed from more than mortal death; redeemed from spiritual death & given Eternal Life. (Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1; Gal. 4:4-5)
GOSPEL :Good news of Christ’s death and resurrection as atonement for our sins. (1 Cor. 15:1-4; Gal. 1:6-8)
BORN AGAIN We are spiritually dead until our spiritual birth. (1 Pet. 1:23; 2 Cor. 5:17; John 3:7, 14, 15)
TRUE CHURCH Not an organization; as born-again Christians we are part of God's Church. It’s not the local congregation, but the whole body of believers world-wide.(1 Cor. 12:12-14; Matt. 16:18; 18:19-20)
AUTHORITY - PRIESTHOOD :Christ brought an end to the Aaronic priesthood and is the only High Priest after the manner of Melchizedek. (Heb. 5:9-10; 7:11-17; 7:24-27; 2 Tim. 2:2)
BAPTISM The emphasis is on Believers. One must be a believer on Jesus Christ prior to baptism. It is believer’s baptism. It is the identification of a believer with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. Who actually does the dunking isn’t important. (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:37-41; 16:30-34)
SONS OF GOD: Spiritually adopted at conversion. (John 1:12; Gal. 3:26)
ETERNAL LIFE: Given to all true believers. (1 John 5:12-13; Luke 20:35-36)
IMMORTALITY: There is no distinction between immortality and eternal life. (2 Tim. 1:10; John 3:15-16)
HELL No mention of people getting out of Hell. (Rev. 21:8; Matt. 13:24-43, 47-50; Luke 16:26) I already gave you some stuff on Hell and what that is like in my first email.
HEAVEN: There are only two conditions—everlasting punishment or eternal life. (Matt. 25:31-46; 2 Thess. 1:7-10)
KINGDOM OF GOD All redeemed will be in God's presence. (Rev. 21:1-3) All believers are part of Kingdom. (Matt. 13:41-43)
Hopefully, defining these terms will help you to understand the "language" I speak if from your view you have a different understanding.
(I had listed some things about Jesus, but mistakenly said I had Bible references for all of them...he questioned that and this is my anwer...)
You questioned my statement that Jesus was not married. I shouldn’t have stated I had references for everything on the list, because you are correct in saying that there is not a scripture in the Bible that says either way. But when reading through the New Testament, there are certain things that can be assumed. The eye-witnesses to Jesus’ life never once mention a wife and kids. Jesus was sent to earth to do the will of God the Father. If He had been married His allegiance would have been divided. His wife and children would have necessarily been neglected due to His life-style and the demands on His time. This would not have been a good example for us. When Jesus was dying on the cross He asked for his disciple to take care of his mother, but not once mentioned for anyone to look after a wife and children. In the Epistles where the marriage relationship is talked about, you would think that if Jesus had been married and had children that the Apostle would have used Jesus’ marriage relationship and children as examples. But no mention is made of this. Instead Jesus’ relationship to the body of believers (the church) is used. Believers are called the Bride of Christ. This is why I believe that Jesus was not married.
(referring to things I have said about Jesus in previous emails, he asks...)
These are things about him, or that he does, but it is obscure as to who he is. Do you believe that he is God's Son? Yes, He is God’s only begotten Son . That he is Jehovah, the Great I AM? Yes. How is his relationship to us? See below what I have written. How would you describe him? Again, see below….
I believe the only way one can really learn who Jesus is, is to read the New Testament over and over again, setting aside any preconceived notions that one has gotten elsewhere.
However, you can read about a person and you can have someone tell you about a person, but until you actually have a personal encounter with that person you can not really know or understand who they are. Trying to explain to you who Jesus is, is difficult because it is like trying to tell you all about Him without you ever having had a personal encounter with Him. But I will try.
He paid the price for my salvation that I could not pay…a perfect sacrifice…so that I can have a right relationship to God the Father.
He sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost is another name) to teach me, lead me and convict me of sin.
Jesus intercedes for me to God the Father. I don’t need a priest on earth to go between me and God the Father. Jesus is my go-between. He is my mediator.
It is because of the shed blood of Jesus that God the Father sees me as righteous. I am righteous in Christ.
It is because of Jesus Christ that I live and move and have my being.
It is because of the all-sufficiency of Christ Jesus that my sins are forgiven and I have a right standing with God the Father.
It is because of Christ Jesus that I don’t have to worry about tomorrow, come what may, He is there to help in time of need. Although in my sinful humanness, I do worry…I don’t have too.
It is because of Christ Jesus that I have God’s strength available to me in my weakness.
Jesus is my Savior, redeemer, intercessor, mediator, prophet, priest, king, He is my peace, and so much more.
Again, you are going to say these are things he does or things about him…who is he? How can I tell you who He is so you can understand unless you come to know Him personally? All I can really do is point you to the Bible. The Gospel of John is the best place to start. Only God can remove the blinds from your eyes so you can really see who Jesus is. Until that happens, who Jesus is will always be obscure to you. I really don’t know what else to say.
Marsha
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