Who is Jesus?
(Part 2 of a 3-part series)
Part 1 of 3 "Who is Jesus"
Part 3 of 3 "Who is Jesus"

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:13-16, KJV, emphasis mine)

The question Jesus asked of his disciples is as relevant and significant today as it was when first posed.  This is no small matter of preference or trivial distinction … the answer provided establishes the foundation for addressing a related fundamental question – “Who is my brother?”  Who is to be regarded as a “brother” – a fellow believer in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?

In our country, the push towards pluralism in “religious” matters creates a bias in favor of ignoring a basic and inviolable truth concerning eternal union with God.  I will address this fundamental truth in the final installment of this series, but for the moment I’d like to visit the opinions of other groups in the religious marketplace to view what they have to say about Jesus Christ.  Whom do men say that Jesus, the Son of Man is? 

Jehovah’s Witnesses

The JW teach that Jesus is NOT God.  Before he lived on earth, he was Michael, the archangel.  Jehovah made the universe through him.  On earth he was a man who lived a perfect life.  After dying on a “stake” (not a cross), he was resurrected as a spirit; his body was destroyed.  Jesus is not coming again; he “returned” invisibly in 1914 in spirit.  Very soon, he and the angels will destroy all non-Jehovah’s Witnesses.  Jehovah’s Witnesses profess a one-person God “Jehovah” and they do not believe in a triune godhead (The Trinity).  Jesus was the first thing Jehovah created.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
(The Mormons)

The LDS teach that Jesus is a separate god from the Father (Elohim). He was created as a spirit child by the Father and Mother in heaven, and he is the “elder brother” of all men and spirit beings.  His body was created by or through the sexual union between Elohim and Mary.  Jesus was married.  His death on the cross does not provide full atonement for all sin, but does provide everyone with resurrection.  The LDS believe God the Father was once a man, but became God.  He has a physical body, as does his wife – the Heavenly Mother.  They do not hold a belief in the Trinity, but do maintain that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate gods.  Worthy men may one day become gods.

Unification Church
(The Moonies)

Jesus was a perfect man, not God.  He is the son of Zechariah, not born of a virgin.  His mission was to unite the Jews behind him, find a perfect bride, and begin a perfect family.  The mission failed.  Jesus did not resurrect physically.  The “second coming of Christ” is fulfilled in Sun Myung Moon, who is superior to Jesus and will finish Jesus’ mission.  According to their belief, God is both positive and negative.  God created the universe out of himself; therefore the universe is “god’s body.”  God does NOT know the future.  God NEEDS man (Sun Myung Moon) to make him happy.  They do not believe in the Trinity either.

Islam
(Not the Nation of Islam)

Jesus is one of 124,000 prophets sent by God to various cultures.  Abraham, Moses, and Muhammad are others.  Jesus was born of a virgin, but is not the Son of God.  He was sinless, but not divine or God himself.  He was not crucified, but rather is held to have ascended to heaven without benefit of dying.  He is referred to as messiah and ayatollah (“ayat allah”: meaning ‘sign of God’).  Jesus will return in the future to live and die.

Hinduism

Jesus Christ is a teacher, a guru, or an avatar (an incarnation of the god Vishnu).  He is a son of God as are others.  His death does not atone for sings and he did not rise from the dead.  According to Hindu belief, God is “The Absolute,” a universal spirit.  Everyone is a part of God like drops of water in the sea.  People worship manifestations of Brahman (god and goddesses).  People ARE God, but are unaware of it.

These are but a very small sample of the views in the religious marketplace concerning Jesus Christ, but they serve our purposes of illustrating that just because some speaks of “God” or “Jesus Christ” in their liturgy, it remains a legitimate point of inquiry to ask “who” do they believe Jesus to be? 

In the final installment of this series, I would like to refer back to the things mainstream Christians believe concerning Jesus in contrast to some of these beliefs concerning our Lord and Savior.

Part 1 of 3 "Who is Jesus"

Until the next time . . .

Pastor Mike

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Prayer:
Father in heaven, we claim the promise and assurances in your word to us that, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16,KJV) Help us by the power of your Holy Spirit to cling to and obey your divine instructions that help us to rightly know and serve you.  Help us Oh Holy Father to remember that we are not our own, and we have been bought with a price.  In the precious name of Jesus our Lord, we pray.  Amen

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