What are your thoughts on Jesus?

[Moose]

Ok, here's my take on this. Jesus IS a man and IS the son of God. ( Notice the key word here is IS ). Most of you have been talking in the past tense when you talk about Jesus. He did come to earth in human form to put the old laws to death and to provide a sinfull world passage to His Father. He died to pay for our sins, rose again, and now sits at the right hand of God speaking on believer's behalf when we enter the kingdom. There's not much I can do to make others believe the way I do or how little lamb does, simply, the truth reveals itself to people in it's own way. It was revealed to me when I was just 4 years old. I went to Sunday School mainly because my parents wanted a break on Sunday mornings so they let me go. After going for a while and listening to the teachers it felt like it was just a histroy class, and to me, history is extremely boring!!!!

 

But, after I got to thinking about how man could communicate, create things, ponder things, pretty much accomplish just about anything.......how could this be and no other animals could? People argue that it was evolution, scientists claim that the eco-system was an accident brought on by elements from an asteriod from space......some even venture to say that we were created by a race of aliens. How could all these perfect set of cicumstances fall into place so convenietly? ( I didn't list all of the circumstances, but you get my drift ).

 

I asked the Lord into my heart on Easter Sunday on the 4rth year of my life in a little make shift room make of sheets hanging from a rack with one of the Sunday School teachers. When I prayed along with her, I could literally feel my heart just pound and the feelings are undiscribable!!! Undoubtably it was Love, forgiveness, relief, like a huge weight being tossed off my back......I remember missing out on the big Easter egg hunt, and for a 4 year old, that's a terrible disappointment, but I remember walking outside, and smiling......the other kids sitting on the ground with their plastic eggs broke open and all munching on candy.....It didn't bother me at all!

 

Since then, nothing ever seemed the same to me. That was 32 years ago. I've had an up and down spiritual life since....but I still remember that day as if it were yesterday, every detail, every face, every color and smell. Something happened to me that day, something that I will never forget.......

 

I can understand how others can believe that none of this is real, but like I said, it has to be revealed to them in their own way. I have always wished that the world would believe as I do. But the harsh reality is that we can't be saved unless there are the unsaved. Yes, God, Jesus, Heaven, Hell, Satan, Sin, all exists......I say this with conviction, and noone can change my mind about it. It has been revealed to me as true and as for me and my house, we will forever serve the Lord.

[RockandStone]

I agree with a lot of Hokey's views.

 

Religion has evolved along with man and society. There have been many religions to come and gone since man needed to explain things that couldn't be understood (death, lightning, thunder, things that go bump in the night, etc). Things that were frightening had to be explained in some way or another.

 

The earliest religions were probably idol worshipping ones. Animal totems dominating society's interests. As society changed and became more complex, so did religion.

 

As for Jesus, he was a man, and I do not deny that he lived. He must have been very intelligent, and certainly extremely charismatic. He managed to form a cult of followers. Many of which were probably in desperate need of someone to show interest in them, and give them hope. Those followers then began to spread his message and stories to others, and it grew from there. Of course he was a great leader, his stories would have died with him if he wasn't.

 

As for the son of God, I dunno about that. When people remember a hero, and retell their stories, some things can be blown out of proportion. Certain positive characteristics magnified, while any flaws are removed. Unless of course the flaw allows the listener a way to relate. By saying he was the son of God, it gave him a certain authority. Who would question the son of a God. Being the son of a God wouldn't be all that preposterous. There are many stories in ancient Roman and Greek mythology of gods having children with mortals.

[TreeHugger]

Jesus?

 

A historical figure that approximately 10% of the world has placed their bets on in hopes to live an eternal life of peace after they leave this world.

 

A name associated with a history book that has been an excuse for the killing of millions of innocent people...for dogmatic reasons. The number one reason for war over the ages, ahhh...religion!

 

Jesus...synonymous with the genocide of Pagans.

 

Respectfully, of course...

[Phelly]

all I know about Jesus is that he makes Mel Gibson a lot of money and that he looks like Jim Caviezel

[LatsyrcSC]

I only have one thing to say in response to a couple of posts backs.....mark my word...every knee will bow and every tongue confess. You may not believe it now, but you will at some point. But I'm afraid it'll be too late for some.

 

Jesus Christ is the son of the living God. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, rose on the third day, and is now at the right hand of the Father. Anyone who believes in him, has eternal life.

 

Rom 10:9-10

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

 

Rom 6:23

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Rom 5:8

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

[lnichols]

I think that throughout the ages, up until modern times, people have and will continue to do stupid things in the name of religion. And yes, Christians have done a lot of stupid things in the name of Jesus. They continue to do so today! But at the heart of Jesus' teachings is that we should love one another. Its that simple. We all would do better to remember this simple lesson that He preached throughout the Gospels.

[HokeyReligions]

The world did not exist in chaos and brutality before the Christian gods were created. There were civilizations long before Christianity. People with the same emotions that we have: love, respect, honor, sadness, joy, questioning, etc. There were familial ties and society and community. Yes, there was barbarism too--but that has also existed since the Christian God/Jesus were created/lived.

 

There are other societies in the world today who live very moral lives -- even by Christian definition -- and who are not Christian based.

 

As a species we are not sufficiently evolved, nor socially progressed enough to have the answers or to even fully understand some of our discoveries and conclusions.