CurveLight
Rookie
- Oct 16, 2009
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- #681
John is a tricky gospel and much of it is allegory and employs metaphors as a way of sending the message. Jesus is the son of God as in a child of God as are all humans. Have you ever noticed how often Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man? That means "the human one." John 3:16 is not ascribing a special status to Jesus as eternally unique from all people. It is acknowledging that at that time Jesus had a unique existence in communicating between human existence and what lays beyond.
If someone follows Jesus' example of course they are saved. What crime did Jesus commit that prevented his salvation? If you answer "none" then someone who followed his example would not be guilty of a crime preventing salvation either. God does not want us to live as guilt laden creations wallowing in the sewers of our own tears drowning in the despair of never knowing the purpose of our existence and the value of our lives. That is the philosophy Jesus fought against.
How do you reconcile the claim forgiveness is found in "accepting Jesus" with Jesus teaching us forgiveness from God is found in our forgiveness of others?
You don't really answer my questions directly tho, so I'm still not sure what you really believe. It sounds like you do not believe him to be a divine being then. Do you consider him to be the only human to have lived completely without sin? If you believe what I bolded above, how does that make him any different or special from any other person then? What sets him apart that you would follow his example and not someone else's who also lived a selfless life?
And I'm curious as to where you come by your understanding of this? Just your own interpretation of what you've read or something more formal than that? I've never heard the concept that you've presented in quite the same way that you've described it before.
What qualities are necessary for a divine being?
How do you reconcile the claim forgiveness is found in "accepting Jesus" with Jesus teaching us forgiveness from God is found in our forgiveness of others?
These are my thoughts with various influences.