1 Timothy 6:13-16

Hi WS2,
God is Spirit. He did not beget another being called the Spirit of God but His spirit has always infused His creation and done all His work on earth through His chosen vessels.

Hi,
God cannot die.
Jesus died.
Jesus is not God.

Please allow me to post an article by a friend of mine. —

Can An Immortal God Die?

In this section we will investigate current and common ways in which Jesus is portrayed. As I go thru some of these quotes I would hope you would see the lack of reason or logic contained in their statements.

On one of the web sites I researched I found this content, it states that Jesus is The true and living God and I quote,

“Standing near the pagan temples of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples “Who do you say that I am”? Peter boldly replied, “You are the Son of the living God.”

“The disciples were probably stirred by the contrast between Jesus, THE TRUE AND LIVING GOD, and the false hopes of the pagans who trusted in “dead” gods….. “ (1)

These types of statements are common among many believers. Many would see nothing wrong with this statement. But if you look closer at the quote you will see some dishonesty with scripture. It is important to note in the quote that Jesus, in this context, does not claim to be the true and living God but rather accepts Peter’s proclamation that He is the SON OF THE LIVING GOD. The difference may seem subtle but it has profound implications. The writers of this statement actually misquote the scripture in an attempt to support their concepts.

The previous example could be considered a minor issue in light of some of the blatant falsehoods said about God, but it does point to a tendency to read our doctrine into scripture rather then read our doctrines out of scripture. Whether one believes as they do or not in not the point. The point is honesty with scripture When a person studies with a preconceived idea of doctrine they can often (sometimes innocently) twist scripture to fit their ideas of truth. It is only a small step from there to making outrageous statements about God with no scriptural evidence at all. This can be seen in some of the following quotes from the same web site.

“Christians today have good news for such a spiritually needy world: God isn’t a far off power waiting for us to mess up so that he can punish us. He’s the God who walked the bloodpath for us, a God who keeps his promises, EVEN WHEN IT COST HIS LIFE“…… (2)

Again many would read this phrase and think nothing is wrong with this belief. This statement very clearly states that God kept His promises even at the cost of His own life. I do not understand how anyone can say God gave up his life and died. How can anything cost God His life? Again let me quote this web site:

…..“Jesus' life was over at that moment. But more importantly,the need for sacrifices was over. The people no longer needed to remind God of his promise: He had fulfilled the covenant and paid the bloodpath price with his own life.”….. (3)

The small step of misquoting scripture compounds itself to the point of having to state that God died. The most tragic aspect of this example is the fact that the writer proclaims it must be true even though it leads to the conclusion of a dead God. In other words, reason, logic and common sense are thrown out the window in order to maintain traditional doctrine.

Here are some other examples;

Do you know that God died for you on the cross? You can sum up in one sentence the reason why: God loves you so much that He took your punishment on the cross. (4)

Jesus Christ's physical body was 100-percent human, not just part human. Our bodies can die, and so could his. When we die, our physical body dies, but our soul and spirit remain. They are eternal; they never die. The same is true of Jesus Christ. His physical body died, but his inner self is eternal and did not die. (5)
[in one paragraph the writer of this site compares Christ to man and in the next says he is God]
Jesus Christ is most definitely God. He created Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, in his image. He is the Creator of the universe.

It is important not be confused. God did not create Jesus. Jesus is God, and he has always existed. (6)

Immortality means someone can’t die. But in some great mystery that is beyond our comprehension, the second person of the Trinity died. God died. (7)

One of the primary attributes of God is his immortality. God simply cannot die. Despite this truth there is a prominent belief that God had to die on the cross to forgive our sins. A belief that only the death of a God could forgive our sins. First it is presumption that God needs to die in order to forgive our sins. He created us and can forgive us without any payment at all. That is the point of God’s being sovereign.
The myth of God’s death is contrary to the attributes of God. It denies God’s immortality. It is also contrary to clear scripture.

Scripture is very clear that it was the death of the human Jesus Christ that was the sin sacrifice.

Romans 5:12 thru 20

12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

1 Corinthians 15: 20 thru 22

20But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.

21For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.

22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

Scripture clearly states that it was thru the death of a man (Christ) that humanity was saved.

As you can see the concept that God must die on the cross is a complete falsehood. It is directly opposite very clear scripture. Where do these myths come from? Why are people so prone to just accept them without question? Read on!!!

Bibliography

(1) Follow the Rabbi
http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=2067

(2) Follow the Rabbi
http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1792

(3) Follow The Rabbi
http://www.followtherabbi.com/Brix?pageID=1791

(4) http://www.precious-testimonies.com/Exhortations/a-e/WhyTheCross.htm

(5) http://www.christiananswers.net/kids/ednk-jesusalive.html

(6) http://www.christiananswers.net/kids/ednk-jesusgodorman.html

(7)http://martinmonty.wordpress.com/2006/10/25/the-cross/

It is important not be confused. God did not create Jesus. Jesus is God, and he has always existed.
Hi M,
You quoted as an example of falsehood
“Jesus proved that he is God by doing many things that only God could do. These are called miracles. He made dead people alive. He walked across a great lake. He made blind eyes see perfectly again. He healed deadly diseases with a word.”

Of course these and all the miracles done by Christ were not done through his own power but that of God within his vessel.

Hi Tim2:

My understanding is that the scripture does not mean that Jesus has seen God in the sense that you see something with the eye.  God is invisible and is no one can see Him in that sense.  But Jesus has seen him that is he has seen his character.

And so by the following scripture we understand this:

1:18
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, HE HATH DECLARED HIM.

According to the dictionary the word “declared” means:

1. to make known or state clearly, esp. in explicit or formal terms

God Bless

Actually it says Jesus has seen the Father. John 6:46. It doesn't limit this to seeing the Father's character. It says He has seen the Father, and no limitation is given. Jesus is also the only one who knows the Father. Matthew 11:27.

Tim

94

This is what people do rather than take scripture for what it says. Just like John 1:1. Why?

Hi Not3,
Son OF man.
Son OF God.

Quote (WorshippingJesus @ June 04 2007,18:35)

Quote (Not3in1 @ June 04 2007,18:24) I keep a dictionary with my Bible.  Little words have big meanings sometimes!  It really helps to understand what a verse is saying if you look up the meanings to basic words we pass by every day, like:  to, also, and, one, of, with, make, born, best and a host of other little words that we think we know the meanings of……and then you continue to define them out until you can't go any further.  It brings a depth to scriptures that I have really enjoyed.  Try it   not3 See if your dictionary helps change the meaning of this… Jn 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, *he hath seen the Father*. When did this Jesus see the Father? Couldnt have been when he was in the flesh!

True WJ, but an even more incredible statement is this:

Matthew 11:27
All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

There are angelic beings constantly beholding the face of the Father (Matthew 18:10), and yet not one “knows” the Father like the Son does….It's verses like this that, I think, make it untenable to believe that Yeshua is an exalted creature who didn't preexist His incarnation.

…and yet YHWH has been seen by men…..