Who is Jesus Christ and what does it mean to be Christian?

1. 78

   DoubleScorpionposted 13 years ago

   Was Jesus truly the son of God? Or was he a Prophet of God? Or was he just a Man with a insightful view of faith that inspired many to follow and create what is know today as Christianity?

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      Ahmad Usmanposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Jesus was one of the mightiest messenger and prophet of God Almghty.
      He was born to virgin Mary.
      He performed many miracles by the power of God.
      He is the messiah, Christ who is going to come near the end times to kill the anti-Christ.

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      1. 78

         DoubleScorpionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         These are the answers that I hear from everyone I ask the question of "Who is Jesus". But what do you know of his life...Prior to his being born of the "Virgin Mary"...After his mortal birth...and After his death?? What are his teachings...And how can one call themselves "Christian or Christ-like" if they know nothing of Jesus?

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            Ruben Riveraposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            One of the teachings that I like the most is when he says Mathew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
            
            We tend to worry ten years down the line, I have started practicing mindfulness which is just the practice of living the now because tomorrow will take care of itself and believe me it is liberating and it clears the mind, there's no BS religion crap pure simple actions. 
            
            Some people may say but what about the future, retirement, kids, the future can change in an instant so I just worry or let me put it differently I just live the now or try to anyways.
            
            By the way I am not Christian

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               DoubleScorpionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I like your thought process...sounds like a good thing to do...Follow good teachings and think for yourself...and don't worry about things that might not even happen...

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                  Ruben Riveraposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Just like anything else take the good discard the bad.
                  
                  Did Jesus say to build mega churches, or cathedrals in luxury, or kill those who oppose you, so in my opinion somewhere down the road everything got really twisted.
                  
                  Jesus lived humbly and yet impacted the world, had nothing and yet had everything he needed.

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            2. 58

               Bruce_Leiterposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Hi, Ruben and DoubleScorpion!  You pose an interesting question about which much has been written.  Here are my thoughts: 
               
               Ruben, if you don't think about the future, what do you think will happen to you when you die? 
               
               Double, I believe, on the basis of the Bible, that on Christmas, which we celebrate shortly, Jesus Christ entered the human race, while remaining God; became the God-man in living a perfect life resisting all temptations so that his perfect life may be accepted by the first Person who sent him to earth in my place; suffered and died an extremely painful death to remove believers' guilt and death penalty as their substitute; rose miraculously from the grave, according to many eyewitnesses willing to die themselves to maintain their testimonies that they saw him alive; and re-entered heaven to rule all things and people with the first Person of God.
               
               Becoming a Christian has nothing to do with what we do, think, or say.  It means receiving Jesus as the way to God and the new birth, God's miracle to change unbelievers into believers.  From that point on, believers are transformed to want to follow Jesus, gather together in worship, love him above all and their neighbors as themselves, though imperfectly.  Christians are far from perfect until the next life but can make progress in God's strength through the divine power of the Holy Spirit, whom the first two Persons of God send into Christians' lives to enable them to become more like Jesus. 
               
               God, therefore, is three Persons in one God, who created us and executed his loving plan to deliver all believers--thus, beyond our puny minds' ability to understand completely.  But that biblical fact means that he inspired the Bible, because no human minds, including the prophets and apostles who wrote the Bible, could have concocted him!   He is supra-retional, that is, beyond human thought, but he has revealed enough so that we may believe in him and his rescue through Jesus.
               
               Those are my brief answers to your thought-provoking question, DoubleScorpion.

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            Ahmad Usmanposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Well the BASIC teachings of every prophet including Jesus Christ was to worship one God.
            
            The first commandment of the Jews is: "Thou shall not take any god except One God" [Deuteronomy 6:4].
            Jesus is reported to have said: The Lord God, the Lord is One" [Mark 12:29].
            Similarly, God says in the Quran "Your God is One God; there is no god but He, Most Gracious, Most Merciful" [Quran 2:163].

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            1. 78

               DoubleScorpionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Basic teachings of prophets from a monotheistic faith. I agree... and I am not Christian either

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            2. 61

               skipper112posted 13 years agoin reply to this

               sorry to say Ahmad Jesus was not a prophet, Jesus said 'I am' Jesus had nothing to do with the Quran.
               
               Jesus and the Quran,Mohammed and Allah have nothing in common. The Quran was written from mens memory 500 years after the Bible.
               
               Jesus peraches LOVE.
               Jesus is God.
               There is no other God except Jesus.
               I am Catholic.
               The Quran means nothing to me, it has not replaced the Bible, and never will.

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      2. 61

         skipper112posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Jesus was never a prophet, Allah never saved Jesus from the Cross (as stated by Islam) I belive in the Holy Bible, not a Quran that was written from memory 500 years after Jesus. After all even Mohammed could not be sure his words were correctly quoted as Mohammed could not read or write.

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   2. 60

      Beelzedadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Most likely, he was a myth.

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         Ruben Riveraposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I like this myth.

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      2. 78

         DoubleScorpionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I have no doubts that he was a real person...But was everything he was accredited with doing real or was some of it real and other portions embellished.

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            pennyofheavenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Writers tend to embellish.

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      3. 59

         hanging outposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         so you doubt?!!!!

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   3. 61

      kessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Jesus Christ is the founder of the false religion called christianity.
      
      Christ, the Truth is the author of Life the only true religion

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         Christian Craigposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         what's the difference between Jesus christ and Christ?

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            paarsurreyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I don't think there is any difference.

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   4. 49

      paarsurreyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      1.    Jesus was neither literally son of the Creator-God nor god literally.
      2.    He was son of man as he himself told in very clear terms though he had mother only; yet he proclaimed that he was son of man; to clear his status.
      3.    Jesus was a Jew and follower of Moses; he did not cancel Law of Moses. Jesus was not a Christian; he never proclaimed as such.
      4.    Paul was the inventor of Christianity; he invented it in opposition of Jesus; Jesus was at that time heading towards India.

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      1. 61

         skipper112posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Parr,
         There you go again talking, about something you know nothing about
         Go back to your 'BANNED' Islamic sect, no one else wants to listen to your PURE RUBISH.
         
         skipper.

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      2. 60

         libby101aposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."
         1 John 5:10-12

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            libby101aposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            "And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him,
            and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God."|
            Mark 3:11

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   5. 61

      Christian Craigposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Jesus was all that you have asked. I would not ask people these questions because people are always gonna try to sway you to their truth. If you wanna know the answer. do the research yourself and pray and see if he answers you in anyway. Don't listen to everyone on here. Find out for yourself...I encourage you to do the research and then ask him in prayer. If he answers you, you have your answer. But you have to wait for the answer...you have to seek out the truth. I pray that truth will find you and you embrace it with all your heart.

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   6. 52

      ddlg1958posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God and he was God. That is the nature of Christ. We can speculate all we want, but if someone wants to learn anything on a particular subject there's probably a book they can go to.

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   7. 61

      Aisha Maragaretteposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Jesus Christ is a redeemer of all mankind not only for the Christian.

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      just_curiousposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I guess I'll reitterate what other Christians believe. Jesus was God in the flesh. I like something the pope of the eastern orthodox church said. (not sure if he was the first.) The Love of God sent the Reason of God to us. I always found that amazing that God would consider us reasonable. I would have thought only the Love could stand to be around us.

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         paarsurreyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Wel Jesus had flesh and bones. Didn't he?
         
         Like a human being; Jesus was not god or son of god.

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            just_curiousposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Having put the whole thing in some perspective for my mind, I can honestly say I believe the primary point of Jesus was to share the message that we are all connected. He contained a piece of the divine, as do we all. Past that? Who honestly knows. I don't consider it a point to argue. It isn't the important part of the message to me.

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   9. 61

      ketchup101posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Jesus Christ is our Savior!

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2. 52

   nomorerackposted 13 years ago

   for me it doesn't matter if he is the son, prophet of god or a very insightful person who inspired others about Christianity, what matters for me is his teachings that give us reason to do good and to inspire other people to do the same... just my thought

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      pennyofheavenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Nice thoughts!

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3. 61

   Ruben Riveraposted 13 years ago

   I don't think your questions will ever be answered with actual facts.  Many of course will give their opinions and reference the bible but of course the bible is interpreted in so many ways with so many religions.
   
   In my opinion Jesus was an individual with a greater understanding of the human life who tried to share and instill knowledge to those around him in the way they could understand.
   
   son of god, not son of god, hey what if I say I am part of God, am I right or wrong?

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      DoubleScorpionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I would say that you are right...

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   kimberlyslyricsposted 13 years ago

   

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5. 67

   aka-djposted 13 years ago

   Whoever compiled the narratives of His life either had a unique tallent, or Jesus IS God.
   You only need to read what manner of person He was, what He taught, and how He lived.
   
   More than a mere man, prophet or good man.
   
   But, that's what your salvation depends on. DO you believe it or NOT?
   
   I happen to "choose to believe".
   Many choose NOT to believe!
   
   We all have to live (and die) with our own choices.

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      Woman Of Courageposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed

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   pisean282311posted 13 years ago

   according to me jesus christ was real human being..legends get added once a popular being gets deceased...that is human nature...

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7. 78

   DoubleScorpionposted 13 years ago

   So far i see lots of interesting thoughts on Jesus...but nothing really on what it means to be christian...For Christians what does it mean to you to be christians...for those who aren't... what traits do you look for in a person that allows you to believe they are of a christ-like faith?

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      Errol Kaneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I truly Hope you Read each and every scripture
      
      The Bible’s Viewpoint
      
      What Does It Mean to Be a Christian?
      
      A man name Kingsley, from one African country, once said that “In
      his country to be a Christian means to go to church once a week,”
      
      Another man, from the Middle East, explained: “In our community Christians are viewed as a group who follow Western customs and traditions in their dress, celebrations, and treatment of women.”
      
      But does being a Christian simply mean that one attends a church service once a week and follows certain social customs and traditions? Logically, should not the word “Christian” refer to a way of life that reflects the attitudes, values, and conduct that Christ preached and exemplified? How was Christianity practiced at its inception?
      
      Early Christianity was a way of life.
      
      Jesus said to his followers: “You are my friends if you do what I am commanding you.” (John 15:14) Since Jesus’ teachings affected all aspects of their lives, Christ’s disciples initially referred to their religion as “The Way.” (Acts 9:2) Soon thereafter, “[they] were by divine providence called Christians.” (Acts 11:26) This new name they bore meant that they believed that Jesus was the Son of God, who had transmitted to mankind the will of his heavenly Father. This belief led them to follow a way of life that differed from that of the world around them.
      
      Christ’s teachings moved his followers to follow Bible teachings, which meant avoiding “fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, idolatry, practice of spiritism, enmities, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, . . . drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these.” (Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 4:17-24) The apostle Paul reminded Corinthian Christians that some of them had once practiced these very things. Then he added: “But you have been washed clean, but you have been sanctified, but you have been declared righteous in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
      
      E. W. Barnes relates in his book The Rise of Christianity: “In its early authoritative documents the Christian movement is represented as essentially moral and law-abiding. Its members desired to be good citizens and loyal subjects. They shunned the failings and vices of paganism. In private life they sought to be peaceful neighbours and trustworthy friends. They were taught to be sober, industrious and clean-living. Amid prevailing corruption and licentiousness they were, if loyal to their principles, honest and truthful. Their sexual standards were high: the marriage tie was respected and family life was pure.” Such were aspects of being a Christian in the early days.
      
      And such is the same for true christians today.
      
      Another distinctive sign of early Christianity was its zealous evangelizing work. Christ commanded his followers: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations.” (Matthew 28:19, 20) Jean Bernardi, a professor at the Sorbonne University in Paris, France, noted: “[Christians] were to go out and speak everywhere and to everyone. On the highways and in the cities, on the public squares and in the homes. Welcome or unwelcome. To the poor, and to the rich encumbered by their possessions. . . . They had to take to the road, board ships, and go to the ends of the earth.”
      
      True Christians today should stand out for their distinctive way of life, just as they did in the first century. Accordingly, Jehovah’s Witnesses strive to adhere strictly to the precepts established by the first Christians. Their efforts to pattern their lives after the teachings of the Bible are noticed by others.
      
      For instance, the New Catholic Encyclopedia acknowledges that Jehovah’s Witnesses are known as “one of the best-behaved groups in the world.” The Deseret News of Salt Lake City, Utah, observed that Jehovah’s Witnesses “promote strong family ties and develop productive and honest citizens.” The newspaper added: “Members believe in a strong moral code. They believe smoking, overdrinking, drug misuse, gambling, sexual promiscuity and homosexuality are spiritually damaging practices. They teach honesty and good work habits.”
      
      The Witnesses also take to heart their responsibility to be zealous evangelizers. Commenting on this the New Catholic Encyclopedia says: “The fundamental obligation of each member . . . is to give witness to Jehovah by announcing His approaching Kingdom. . . . To be a true Witness one must preach effectively in one way or another.”
      
      Clearly, true Christianity is much more than membership in one of the many religions of Christendom, which true Christians, are no part of. Jesus himself foretold the rise of counterfeit Christians. (Matthew 7:22, 23) Jehovah’s Witnesses invite you to learn what Jesus taught and put it into practice. That is what it means to be a Christian. Jesus said: “If you know these things, happy you are if you do them.” John 13:17.
      
      <snipped - do not promote your Hubs in the Forums>

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         DoubleScorpionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I have read the bible quite a few times.And i cross reference between the difference versions as well. I am currently studying different religions and focusing on christian style religions at this time. i am interested in what people feel makes a person a Christian.

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            Errol Kaneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            You may have read sir but do you meditate on the scriptures? if you read, then surley you remembered what Jesua said about his Fathers word in John 17:17. 'Your word is Truth. It'maters not what people feels makes a christians, the Bible is the authority. As Jesus said in Matthew 4: 4,
            “It is written, ‘Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through Jehovah’s mouth.’”
            The words Jesus spoke came from his Father.
            What you read and I suppose didn't ascertain was the fact that,
            Jesus set the pattern as to what a Christian is. You said you read the Bible many times.
            
            Hmmmm... 1 Peter 2: 21, In fact, to this [course] YOU were called, because even Christ suffered for YOU, leaving YOU a MODEL  for YOU to follow his steps closely.

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               DoubleScorpionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I read and understand the bible completely...I know what it means to be christian... I am curious as to others thoughts on the subject...

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      kessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Any man who sought after Truth Is Christ Like, but not merely christ Like, But is Christ.

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8. 71

   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   Who is Jesus Christ and what does it mean to be Christian?
   
   First off, let's try to get one thing out of the way- Jesus Christ is a figment/illusion of Religion.
   
   Jesus(no Christ-this was added by religious rulers) was a simple, but genius human being. His grasp on Life is not as such as portrayed via religious scripture.
   
   To be like Jesus- one only needs to understand a few key things- (a) be consciously active in one's own life, via thoughts and actions, while being honest and responsible for said thoughts and actions, (b) to value Life, oneself and others, so as to not harm either, and (c) to protect Life, through knowledge gained and wisdom obtained.
   
   No religious person on the planet can be "Christ" like, because it requires 100% perfection, according to doctrines and scripture.
   
   That's my take on your question. I was Catholic for a great many years, however, today I am of no religious ties whatsoever.

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      Errol Kaneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      There are those that say the Holocaust didn't happen. Your argument would not stand up. Jesus was a real Historical Figure. Now, let's examine that.
      
      You can as well,  if you feel like doing the research but I caution you, don't speak to much around those who are reasonable, commone sense people with thinking abilities. They may try to insult your intelligence or possibly you theirs. Agnostics at least.
      
      The Bible itself is the principal evidence that Jesus Christ is a historical person. The record in the Gospels is not a vague narrative of events at some unspecified time and in an unnamed location. It clearly states time and place in great detail. For an example, see Luke 3:1, 2, 21-23.
      
      The first-century Jewish historian Josephus referred to the stoning of “James, the brother of Jesus who was called the Christ.” (The Jewish Antiquities, Josephus, Book XX, sec. 200) A direct and very favorable reference to Jesus, found in Book XVIII, sections 63, 64, has been challenged by some who claim that it must have been either added later or embellished by Christians; but it is acknowledged that the vocabulary and the style are basically those of Josephus, and the passage is found in all available manuscripts.
      
      Did the Roman Empire ever existed? Are you familiar with seculiar history?
      
      Tacitus, a Roman historian who lived during the latter part of the first century C.E., wrote: “Christus [Latin for “Christ”], from whom the name [Christian] had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus.”—The Complete Works of Tacitus (New York, 1942), “The Annals,” Book 15, par. 44.
      
      With reference to early non-Christian historical references to Jesus, The New Encyclopædia Britannica states: “These independent accounts prove that in ancient times even the opponents of Christianity never doubted the historicity of Jesus, which was disputed for the first time and on inadequate grounds by several authors at the end of the 18th, during the 19th, and at the beginning of the 20th centuries.”—(1976), Macropedia, Vol. 10, p. 145.
      
      Yet, strangely, some say that Jesus never lived—that he is, in effect, a creation of some first-century men. Well, answering such skeptics, the respected historian Will Durant argued: “That a few simple men should in one generation have invented so powerful and appealing a personality, so lofty an ethic and so inspiring a vision of human brotherhood, would be a miracle far more incredible than any recorded in the Gospels.”
      
      Ask yourself: Could a person who never lived have affected human history so remarkably?
      The reference work The Historians’ History of the World observed: “The historical result of [Jesus’] activities was more momentous, even from a strictly secular standpoint, than the deeds of any other character of history. A new era, recognised by the chief civilisations of the world, dates from his birth.”
      
      Yes, think about it. Even calendars today are based on the year that Jesus was thought to have been born. “Dates before that year are listed as B.C., or before Christ,” explains The World Book Encyclopedia. “Dates after that year are listed as A.D., or anno Domini (in the year of our Lord).”
      
      Critics, nevertheless, point out that all that we really know about Jesus is found in the Bible. No other contemporary records concerning him exist, they say. Even H. G. Wells wrote: “The old Roman historians ignored Jesus entirely; he left no impress on the historical records of his time.” But is this true?
      
      Although references to Jesus Christ by early secular historians are meager, such references do exist.
      
      Cornelius Tacitus, a respected first-century Roman historian, wrote: “The name [Christian] is derived from Christ, whom the procurator Pontius Pilate had executed in the reign of Tiberius.” Suetonius and Pliny the Younger, other Roman writers of the time, also referred to Christ.
      
      In addition, Flavius Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, wrote of James, whom he identified as “the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ.”

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         Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         You posted that, to my post?
         
         Dude, you do need to do the research. And, as for using the Bible, as a tool of fact or truth, you might consider reading it with a conscious mind.
         
         Only an unconscious individual, or barely conscious, would follow it, after doing even a little bit of research on the topic.
         
         The fact- Jesus was a person? Many will dispute it. However, HE was not "Christ" or anything else. He didn't even teach religion and that my friend is fact.
         
         He opposed religion. Go read!

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            Errol Kaneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Obviously, you read what you wanted to. I suppose you didn't see those other sources that you could check? No, I guess you didn't. Let the blind lead the blind. I can see quite well.
            You have a nice night and I'm sincere when I say...
            
            Good Night!

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               Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               That's too funny!

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         Beelzedadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Aesops Fables is the principal evidence that animals can talk.
         
         
         
         Nazareth never existed at the time of the alleged Christ.
         
         
         
         That is correct. It was added later by Christians.
         
         
         
         There are no records from the Roman Empire about a Christ.
         
         
         
         In other words, he was never there. 
         
         
         
         Not really, far more interesting things have come from the minds of men. It is also contradictory to claim a handful of men couldn't imagine such a person, yet such a person could exist.
         
         
         
         Why not ask Santa Claus that question?
         
         
         
         Yes, please try and think about that if you will and find out why that is.
         
         
         
         So what? There are many records of Pilate's executions, none of which however align with the execution of a Christ.
         
         To sum up, your references are typical of most Christians who look for evidence of their imaginary friend only to find the sources to be specious, at best.

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            hanging outposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            "There are many records of Pilate's executions, none of which however align with the execution of a Christ".
            
            so pilate was just having mass executions of ..... druids?
            
            maybe the vatican has your documents of christ sealed away forever.
            maybe you just refute everything but have no actual data to support anything you say...
            maybe i should ask santa if you exist.
            
            funny stuff indeed.
            maybe you should ask yourself why you bother to post at all
            

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               Beelzedadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Were not public executions like crucifixions common place events in the Roman Empire? I don't think they were 'mass executions' but they were ongoing events.
               
               Were there people being executed for their ideals, especially if those ideals were a threat to the Romans? Were there records kept of these executions? Sure.
               
               Was there ever an execution that aligns with the story of the Christ, in all it's pomp and glory as told by the bible? Not in Roman records, there isn't.
               
               
               
               Do they really? Or, did you just make the up? LOL!
               
               
               
               Like all the data available that supports the existence of the Christ?
               
               

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                  hanging outposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  No i guess christians were killed because there was nothing threatening about it.. it probably didn't exist and since christians were so peaceful they were easy to throw into the lions arena.. and christians who were numerous were probably none of those that followed christ or actually saw his miracles (for they were many) and so they were just people who thought dying by lion teeth would be cool.
                  
                  Give it up already..

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                     Beelzedadposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     You are talking about something completely different.

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   prairieprincessposted 13 years ago

   To be a Christian is to be a believer in Christ. Through his Spirit, he will produce the fruits of the Spirit in you (some of us faster than others). The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace ...

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      fits3x100posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Well put, prairieprincess. It is interesting to note: "The demons believe and tremble".  It's way more than a claim. The book of Acts is the model. Far cry from Church. But, for me, that describes, " What it means to be a Christian."

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      Woman Of Courageposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      praireprincess, I love your response.

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    Woman Of Courageposted 13 years ago

    To be a christian is to be a believer in Christ and to be led by his holy spirit. It means to follow in the footsteps of Christ as close as we can. A christian is someone who has accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and savior and show the fruits of love, joy, and peace.

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       Home Girlposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       So the rest of us cannot show love, joy and peace...

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    Bruce_Leiterposted 13 years ago

    Thanks for your question, DoubleScorpion, at the beginning.  I will answer it by sharing my personal experiences and beliefs.  For the first 16 years of my life, I would describe myself as an "ignorostic," ignoring God and certainly not believing in jesus as God or the Bible as God's Word.  The church to which my mother dragged me taught none of those beliefs, just a "do-gooder" religion instead. 
    
    I was in the junior choir until my voice changed, my excuse to quit.  I longed to stay home with my unbelieving, humanistic father, but mother's iron will as a Christian believer made me attend church, daily vacation Bible school, and summer Bible camp, where I resisted Christian beliefs successfully.
    
    When I became 16, Mom left that church (even though her ancestor had helped found it), and we attended a Baptist church that preached that God is three Persons (Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit) in one God; Jesus was the God-man, died to take away my death penalty if I would believe in him, he rose from the dead; and that the Bible is God's Word. 
    
    Well, I began to investigate those "outrageous" claims by studyimg the Bible itself, not the claims that people with their own agendas made about it.  The prophecies of the Old Testament, fulfilled by Jesus' life, death, and resurrection and made at least 400 years before he came, were pretty impressive. 
    
    He also made some "off-the-wall" claims:  to be God (read the Gospel of John with the seven "I am" statements that directly identified Jesus with the I AM who appeared to Moses in Exodus 3 and 4.  The choice I had, then, was either Jesus is who he claimed to be or that he belonged in a mental institution.  I couldn't believe that he was a good prophet or teacher and take his claims to be divine seriously.
    
    Jesus' miracles were also impressive and perhaps pointed to the idea that he was God, but my final question was, "Did Jesus really rise from the dead after dying a framed criminal's death?"  Just about everyone besides the Muslims believes that Jesus actually died; crucifixion was the cruelest torture instrument for the Romans' punishment of criminals.  The eyewitnesses like the Apostle John saw him die and the Roman soldier stab him to make sure he was dead.  Out of the wound came water and blood, a sure sign that he was dead. 
    
    Now, I discovered that Jesus' followers were not different from the other Jews of that time in believing that their coming Messiah was going to be an earthly ruler who would eject the Roman occupiers of their land.  The disciples hoped that they would then become his advisers in his government. 
    
    However, the religious and political leaders put Jesus to death so that his followers' hopes were dashed.  They were discouraged and depressed by that reversal, understandably.  But parts of three days later, they emerged from the upper room proclaiming that they had seen Jesus alive from the dead.  Now, the test of a witness of history is whether their story stays consistent inspite of circumstances.  Peter and John testified to the Sanhedrin, the same leaders who had Jesus crucified, that Jesus arose and that he healed a lifelong cripple through Peter (Acts 4).  Here was a fisherman courageously claiming that Jesus was alive and active in helping people through him in the face of the possibility of death at the hands of the ones who killed Jesus.  That's a believable witness!
    
    Also, in Acts Saul, who became Paul, testified before kings who had power over his life and death that he met the risen Jesus in a bright light on the way to Damascus.  Almost immediately, in the face of all kinds of opposition, Paul, who had persecuted Jesus and his followers, preached that the same Jesus died to take away believers' guilt and rose from the dead to give them new life, the new birth, and to change their lives to believe and follow him.
    
    Finally, the Apostle John, who wrote his eyewitness accounts about Jesus' miracles to demonstrate that Jesus is a Person together with the Father and the Holy Spirit in the one God, a mysterious truth clearly presented in his gospel (read the whole book), went into exile for his faith to the prison Isle of Patmos, where God gave him the amazing visions of the Book of Revelation.  He, along with Peter and Paul, was a very credible witness by being willing to be punished for his testimony.
    
    My final reasoning was that such witnesses have to be telling the truth, because if I had made up such a tale, I would have renounced it the moment persecution and the threat of death came my way.  Therefore, Jesus must have risen from the dead, and the Bible's pages reveal the truth about his life and death too.  The Old Testament looked forward to his first coming and provided background, and the rest of the New Testament explained the meaning of his first coming and prepared us for his second coming.  Those beliefs are essential to being a Christian along with a God-changed life.  When God changed me, I wanted to help Mom in the garden and attend church to find out more about God, both activities which I had previously hated. 
    
    As a result, true Christians not only believe in the 3-in-1 God of the Bible, but their lives have been changed by God and continue to be changed to be more and more like Jesus.  They recognize that God through Jesus by the Spirit's power did it all for them and that they are completely unworthy of his love.

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12. 49

    paarsurreyposted 13 years ago

    Who is Jesus Christ and what does it mean to be Christian?
    
    Jesus son of Mary and a cousin of John son of Zeccahriah and Elizabeth sister of May; was a Son of Man as he himself claimend very clearly since he might of known that people might confuse and take him as a son of god or god; so he thought proper to clarify in this connection.
    
    
    Messiah or Christ was his title; this must not be confused with "Christian" which is a misnomer adopted by Paul just to confuse the sheep; it has nothing to do with Jesus. Paul invented a new Religion at Rome and named its followers as Christians; now divided in 32000+ denominations. Christianity is against Jesus, in my opinion.
    
    One should not doubt historicity of the above named man called Jesus; the Atheists only deny historicity of the Christian mythical son of god or god, not the man Jesus as described by me above, in my opinion.
    
    I love Jesus and Mary as mentioned in Quran.
    
    I am an Ahmadi peaceful Muslim

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       skipper112posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Parr ,
       
       , you are a disbeliving wrongly informed spokes person of the
       ahmadi Muslims, BANNED by mainstream Islam led by a Indian Anti-christ who 'claims' to be a Messiah, just a sad silly Indian who belives he is great, so sad because he is such a lier.
       
       Your leader is such a lier, and yet you follow ;his lies' .
       
       Jesus and Mary were never in the Quran, a scribe tricked Mohammed, and said he ( the scribe ) was only writeing down Mohammeds own words, as Mohammed could not read he belived the scribe, and was fooled.
       
       Your leader is nly a lieing Anti- Christ, and his followers are poor lost souls, like you are Parr. Why should you be belived Parr you only spew untruths from your mouth, you follow a " Indian self  proclaimed  Messiah" who is not belived by TRUE ISLAM, so Parr nouthing you can say , could ever be BELIVED. And Parr I  belive every TRUE CHRISTIAN JEW OR MUSLIM just laughs at your ' SELF PROCLAIMED MESSIAH" after all in his picture your Messiah looks like he NEEDS A DRUG TEST. So Parr now you know why you are LAUGHED at, and you are so 'BRAINWASHED' you even fail to see that.
       Poor Parr you are indeed a lost soul.
       Parr as you really know NOTHING about Paul, I can only take your comments about Paul, as " PURE AHMADI LIES' you are so full og HATE you cannot think straight, I think you will be better off if you go on the drug your Messiah is on, then you do not have to worry, or get SCARED about the Christian religion, you must be so scared all you do is try to destroy the Christian religion and God stop's you POORPARR.
       
       
       Skiper,
       may your God walk with you.
       
       Skipper

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13. 76

    schoolgirlforrealposted 13 years ago

    At this point in my spiritual religious path,
    
    all I want to say is
    
    It's a choice to believe in God or not.
    
    I respect people that do and don't.
    
    It can affect one's thinking if they do
    but there are many including me who are open minded, it's a choice, a choice.
    
    As to your question I don't have an anwer right now, I'm tired. But I wanted to m ake that point

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14. 60

    michael's sonposted 13 years ago

    To be a true christian is to actually follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. People who go to church every week and judge every person they see because of what they are wearing and then believe they are going to heaven simply because they go to church are not true Christians. To be honest, the church as it stands today may proclaim to be a christian church when it is not truly following the teachings of Jesus Christ.
    
    And no one can truly say who Jesus was other than that he was a very wise man unless they had the ability to go back in time and observe it for themselves. Yes many people believe he is the son of god but just because someone believes something does not necessarily make it true. for all we know Jesus Christ could have been completely made up and used like a tool by the church. For that matter if he does exist (i believe he exists) he could be frowning upon the christian church because of what it has become.

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15. 68

    Flightkeeperposted 13 years ago

    To be Christian means:
    you believe in God
    you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born of the Holy Ghost and of the Virgin Mary, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, died, and was resurrected, ascended into heaven, sat at the right of the Father and will come to judge the quick and the dead
    you believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Church, and the resurrection of the flesh.
    
    in a nutshell.
    
    Who is Jesus Christ? You read the gospels of Mark, Luke, Matthew and John for your own insight.
    
    Those are my answers.

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    1. 60

       Druid Dudeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       He is among you, has been all along, and what it means to be Christian is to be last in line AND LIKE IT!

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16. 60

    Jeramiposted 13 years ago

    Beelzedad wrote ..
       Were there people being executed for their ideals, especially if those ideals were a threat to the Romans?
    Were there records kept of these executions? Sure.
    
    - - -  -  -  -  ---
    
      That is very interesting.
       Could you provide any sources?
      I would be very interested to see just how many crucifixions were actually recorded.

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17. 78

    DoubleScorpionposted 13 years ago

    Christian mean to be "Christ-like" so i guess the real question is...Can you truly be christian if you have no idea who Christ even is...Christ = Messiah = Annointed One...We attached the title to Jesus...but would it not also be considered for prophets like say Daniel, Isaiah, Elijah, Moses... they were annointed by god as well....Lets just use Jesus for this question though...Exactly what do you know of him as a God prior to his becoming human...what do you know of his life while as a human...what do you know of his spiritual life while as a human...what do you know of his life after his "death". And I know that lots of people are going to quote Saul/Paul...the person who started this whole mess we call christianity today...I want to know what you know, think or feel about Jesus only...He Words...His Teachings...His Life...His Example...I am not concerned with the interpretations of The Apostles or of Saul/Paul...He had to explain his teachings to them all the time as well... Lets see where this takes us...

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18. 67

    exchangeproposted 13 years ago

    Everyone has the right to believe what they want to believe. However, that doesn't change the truth. He will make Himself known when it is time. If we are really Christians we shouldn't be posing this type of question, unless it's for the teaching of the lost, and converting them. With respect, I just see it as this: either we believe the Bible 100% or we don't believe it. We can't take what we want out of God's Word, and reject the rest.
    
    David

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       pennyofheavenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I think it is a very valid question.
       
       If one does not know Jesus then how does one know how to be Christ-like? Perhaps then, the people who Christ has not revealed himself to are not Christian but Biblicans.

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          DoubleScorpionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Biblicans...I really like that...I would like to borrow that if you wouldn't mind...

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          1. 81

             pennyofheavenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             Haha Don't mind at all! You are very welcome to it.

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                Druid Dudeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                The proximity of the Spirit isn't felt the same by everyone. Those who question, obviously, are still seeking. If they find the answer here, what's the hassle? We are opened up according to our understanding. Some, who clearly walk in darkness are seeking still, to their credit, some will not see until all that remains within them is darkness. The parable of the seeds is a good one for this hub.

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                1. 81

                   pennyofheavenposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                   No hassle more power to them! Agree spirit isn't felt the same by everyone, nothing wrong with that.

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19. 53

    Elisah1957posted 13 years ago

    Skipper 112,
    
    I want to clarify some information, the words written are not to bring forth anger nor confusion. The Israelites and the Muslims are cousins. The line of  Esau and Jacob (brothers). From Jacob came the Israelites and Esau by marrying into the descendants of Abraham son Ishmael (the son of Hagar the African, Egyptian slave girl) the nation of Muslims. Genesis 17: 18-20 says, ( And Abraham said to G-d, Yes, do bless Ishmael! No G-d replied, that is not what I said. Sara shall bear you a son; and you are to name him Isaac (Laughter) and I will sign my covenant with him forever, and with his descendants. As for Ishmael, all right, I will bless him also, just as you have asked me to. I will cause him to multiply and become a great nation. Twelve princes shall be amoung his posterity).
        Now To Clarify The Start Of Christianity
    After the death of Our L-rd Yeshua; His disciples continued in their journey to convert many Gentiles to salvation and trained others to follow after their departure.The task was great for many worshiped false God's and gave their pledge to ruling authorities. The Roman Empire would torture and execute all to follow the teachings of Yeshua for fear of the fall of their power. It is very frightening to the spirit of one with no faith in G-d, when to witness another laying fearlessly down his life for G-d. This frightened the Roman Empire. “The loyalty of the Israelites”. The converted Gentiles began to populate throughout time, generating mass multitudes. During the fall of the Roman Empire, the Romans decided to use religion in order to continue and maintain as a powerful empire. The artistic achievements of both the Romans and their Greek contributions, the Romans being acclaimed to having most of the educated and elite citizens gave to them an affordable opportunity; using religion as their new found power, missionaries were sent throughout the provinces as disciples but using G-d word not for salvation but through twisted treachery to fuel power for themselves. Many could not read so therefore relied on the priests to answer any question before G-d on their behalf, those able to read, the King James Bible was written and scriptures omitted, the terminology inscripted for to confuse information so not to completely understand, so that one would not gain to much faith over the empire but still rely upon the rulers that be.
    
    Michelangelo, Picasso and da Vinci were the few of many artist that contributed to the works of the Roman Empire during the beginning of the Pre-Christian Rome ( The Catholic Church). The artist were threatened by pain of death if not to participate in the sculpture and paintings of biblical material. The ancient biblical paintings done of Michelangelo, the holy men of the bible were done by models from men drinking in Pubs “Taverns”. These artist did not want to do this work for the Roman Empire but feared the consequences.
    
    The confusion from the blotted word of G-d was done by way of the adversary (satan) to confuse the Gentiles “The returning children of G-d” to foster destruction. Those of Jews, he (satan) used the faith and trust they have in G-d (that is the) holding firm to the Law giving to Moses to abstain their salvation. This is why G-d says to those responsible for such confusion, sourced in (Hosea 4:6...) My people are destroyed because they don't know me.
    
    The greatest weapon of satan is using fear and racism to obscure the truth!
    
    Ethiopian Messiah Jew

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    johnnypennposted 13 years ago

    Jesus,
    there is so much to say about Jesus.
    He is the Lover of my Soul, He guides me and comforts me though I may walk through the Valley of Death. He is always by my side no matter what. He protects me. He looks out for my best interest and if he wants me to know something, he'll tell me.
    
    The only place you can learn more about Jesus is the Bible.

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    paarsurreyposted 13 years ago

    Our Christian friends play these words too often that Jesus was god in flesh; it is very clear that the Creator-God does not have any physical body; so if Jesus was flesh then he was Son of Man only as he himself claimed.
    
    Jesus had flesh , bones and other body fluids as would a human being  have.
    
    Bible mentions that when he was delivered from the Cross; bones of the thiefs were broken but his bones were not broken.

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