The Uniqueness of Jesus Christ - Part 5

References: (1) Christianity teaches He is unique in every way. From His complete deity to His perfect humanity; from His miraculous conception to His ascension; from His sinless character to His incomparable teaching; from His death to His resurrection — Jesus stands above all other religious or moral teachers. (2) Mormons (or Latter-day Saints) profess that Jesus progressed by obedience and devotion to the truth in the spirit world until He BECAME God rather than Him LAYING ASIDE some of His divine privileges to become a human being according to Phil. 2:5-11. That probably is why Mormons believe that humans can become God by their own effort. (3) The ultimate goal of Mormonism is godhood. Brigham Young said that “the Lord created you and me for the purpose of becoming gods like Himself.” Human exaltation to godhood is what Mormons mean as attaining “eternal life.” (4) The sacred books of Mormonism, include the Bible, the book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. These are considered to be scriptures with all having EQUAL WEIGHT and the AUTHORITY  as historical witness to God’s promise of salvation fulfilled in the atonement of Jesus Christ as the only begotten of the Father.   (5) Moreover, they view the Bible as “the word of God INSOFAR as it is TRANSLATED CORRECTLY.” Mormons misinterpret certain Bible verses as teaching the plurality of gods and that humans can become gods. Allow me to consider just one example, John 10:34 where Jesus said, “Has it not been written in your law, “You are gods”? Jesus is quoting Ps. 82:6 which is a Psalm about human judges that judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked. (v. 2). Mormons believe this verse proves their belief that humans can become gods. (6) Second, Jesus’ statement must be interpreted in terms of a condemnation of human judges. If God called human judges ‘gods’ (with a small ‘g’) not because they were an actual deity but because they pronounced life and death judgments over people, then how much more appropriate that we call Jesus the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Son of David, the Savior of the world, the Mediator between God and man, or ythe heavenly High Priest? (7) Hindus think of Jesus as one of many great gurus. (8) Buddhists often acknowledge Jesus as a significant figure, sometimes even viewing Him as an enlightened being. However core Christian doctrines view Jesus as God and the only way to salvation are not compatible with Buddhist beliefs. (9) Christian Liberalism REINTERPRETS traditional Christian doctrines, viewing Jesus as only a human figure who exemplifies moral and ethical principles, rather than a divine being who performed miraculous acts. Miracles are often seen in Christian Liberalism as symbolic narratives rather than literal, supernatural occurrences. For example, the resurrection is seen in Christian Liberalism as a METAPHOR for the triumph of good over evil. (10) Christian Science, founded by Mary Baker Eddy, distinguishes between Jesus, the man, and Christ, the divine IDEA or PRINCIPLE. While Christian Scientists believe in the divinity of Christ, but Christian Science rejects the concept of Jesus being God Himself, but rather sees him as the Son of God, demonstrating the divine principle POTENTIAL within all humanity. In that sense this sounds like pantheism or New Age. Christian Scientists believe that the healings and spiritual works performed by Jesus demonstrates the divinity of Christ. (11) Christianity is unique among world religions, and Jesus Christ’s uniqueness is the CENTERPIECE of Christianity. Jesus is unique because of His resurrection. His RESURRECTION from the grave was the crowning event  of Jesus’ earthly mission. It was not only predicted in Psalms 2 and 26, but also Jesus affirmed it from the very beginning of His ministry. Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days”  (John 2:19). The temple Jesus was speaking about  was His own body,(John 2:21; Matt. 12:40-42; 17:9). Jesus offered the resurrection as a proof of His deity. Jesus said to those seeking a ‘sign,’ “Yet NO SIGN will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man will be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt. 12:38-40). This is episode 232.