Article by: Kenneth J. Ester
Jesus
Jesus was born of a virgin mother. He was God in the flesh and He is the Son of God. The only way to eternal life is through Jesus. He is the only mediator between us and God the Father.
If your church teaches anything different than this, it is wrong. Find another church!
Now churches that teach different than this will argue they are right, of course, but I would also bet there is a high chance they also have their own version of the Bible that no other religion uses. Ask yourself, why would they interpret their Bible differently than hundreds of scholars? There is a reason so many churches use the Holy Bible. Because countless scholars from all different beliefs have poured over the translations and agree with it. When the only ones, who believe a certain translation is right, are all from the same religion, that is a good sign they are supporting their religion rather than the truth.
If your church does use the Holy Bible, I will then go on to show the verses why I am right about Jesus.
Jesus was born of a virgin mother.
Matthew 1:18-25
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Some have tried to say that Matthew had misunderstood Isaiah, who was actually saying a "young woman" and not a "virgin". This is wrong and it's easy to see that by reading the story. Matthew mentions how Joseph was going to send her away because he found she was with child and an angel told him in a dream that the child is of the Holy Spirit. Joseph would not have had any reason to send her away if it was his child. The fact that after Joseph awoke, he immediately married Mary supports this. Luke also tells of an angel saying to Mary that she will be with child and she asks him how she could be since she has not been with a man before.
Jesus is the Son of God
Twice in Matthew, God claims Jesus is His son. Once immediately after Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist.
Matthew 3:16
16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
Then a second time when Jesus is transfigured on the mountain.
Matthew 17:4-5
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”
Jesus is God
The Jews tell Jesus to tell them plainly if he is the Christ. His reply....
John 10:25-30
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 26 But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
Jesus is the only mediator between us and the Father.
1 Timothy 2:5
5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Now I have read an article where someone tried to claim that the Bible supports more mediators, but his reasoning was flawed. He tried to point out that Jesus didn't carry us in His womb so there was a mediator for us being born. He went on to make a few other ridiculous parallels as well.
We are not speaking of physical birth. We are talking about between us and God specifically. His article was trying to support Mary as a mediator. I have two things to say about that.
1) 1 Timothy 2:5 says straight out that there is only one mediator between God and men and that is Christ jesus. There is no twisting of words or interpretation of off the wall verses. It is clearly stated. All of his arguments were twists of verses and interpretations and theories. Verses saying something clearly hold far more authority than any twisting of a hundred verses.
2) Mary is not omnipresent! God and Jesus are. When I pray in the name of Jesus, Jesus hears my prayers. He can intercede with God for me. When a Catholic prays to Mary to intercede for them, Mary never even hears their prayers! She is not omnipresent! She cannot hear millions of people asking her to help them at the same time!
Jesus is the Only way to Salvation
John 14:6
6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
This is yet another verse that needs no interpretation. It states its truth clearly. The only way to the Father is through Jesus. Whether you are praying or talking about salvation. When praying, we are to pray in Jesus Name! The only way to heaven is through our Faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
The Summary!
Jesus is everything to us. He is our God, our Lord and Savior. Jesus is our mediator between us and God the Father. Jesus is our only path to Salvation. There is a reason we are called "Christians" and not "Maryians".
If your church teaches anything different than this, it is wrong. Find another church!
Now churches that teach different than this will argue they are right, of course, but I would also bet there is a high chance they also have their own version of the Bible that no other religion uses. Ask yourself, why would they interpret their Bible differently than hundreds of scholars? There is a reason so many churches use the Holy Bible. Because countless scholars from all different beliefs have poured over the translations and agree with it. When the only ones, who believe a certain translation is right, are all from the same religion, that is a good sign they are supporting their religion rather than the truth.
If your church does use the Holy Bible, I will then go on to show the verses why I am right about Jesus.
Jesus was born of a virgin mother.
Matthew 1:18-25
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Some have tried to say that Matthew had misunderstood Isaiah, who was actually saying a "young woman" and not a "virgin". This is wrong and it's easy to see that by reading the story. Matthew mentions how Joseph was going to send her away because he found she was with child and an angel told him in a dream that the child is of the Holy Spirit. Joseph would not have had any reason to send her away if it was his child. The fact that after Joseph awoke, he immediately married Mary supports this. Luke also tells of an angel saying to Mary that she will be with child and she asks him how she could be since she has not been with a man before.
Jesus is the Son of God
Twice in Matthew, God claims Jesus is His son. Once immediately after Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist.
Matthew 3:16
16 After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, 17 and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
Then a second time when Jesus is transfigured on the mountain.
Matthew 17:4-5
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”
Jesus is God
The Jews tell Jesus to tell them plainly if he is the Christ. His reply....
John 10:25-30
25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. 26 But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
Jesus is the only mediator between us and the Father.
1 Timothy 2:5
5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Now I have read an article where someone tried to claim that the Bible supports more mediators, but his reasoning was flawed. He tried to point out that Jesus didn't carry us in His womb so there was a mediator for us being born. He went on to make a few other ridiculous parallels as well.
We are not speaking of physical birth. We are talking about between us and God specifically. His article was trying to support Mary as a mediator. I have two things to say about that.
1) 1 Timothy 2:5 says straight out that there is only one mediator between God and men and that is Christ jesus. There is no twisting of words or interpretation of off the wall verses. It is clearly stated. All of his arguments were twists of verses and interpretations and theories. Verses saying something clearly hold far more authority than any twisting of a hundred verses.
2) Mary is not omnipresent! God and Jesus are. When I pray in the name of Jesus, Jesus hears my prayers. He can intercede with God for me. When a Catholic prays to Mary to intercede for them, Mary never even hears their prayers! She is not omnipresent! She cannot hear millions of people asking her to help them at the same time!
Jesus is the Only way to Salvation
John 14:6
6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
This is yet another verse that needs no interpretation. It states its truth clearly. The only way to the Father is through Jesus. Whether you are praying or talking about salvation. When praying, we are to pray in Jesus Name! The only way to heaven is through our Faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
The Summary!
Jesus is everything to us. He is our God, our Lord and Savior. Jesus is our mediator between us and God the Father. Jesus is our only path to Salvation. There is a reason we are called "Christians" and not "Maryians".