but only the physical was healed. 

Does the Greek language have a definite article?

Because when Jesus said "I am (the/a) son of G-d", how do we know it means "a son of G-d" (like we all are, and what in Hebrew means a religious person) or "the son of G-d", a unique relationship only Jesus would have?

I believe that the Trinity concept is the biggest lie/misunderstanding of the Christian faith and was born out of a total misunderstanding of what was written, in an attempt to reconcile that misunderstanding with the first commandment. It's an invention of misunderstanding.

At no point did Jesus ever teach anyone to worship him. When he taught us to pray he taught us to pray God, the Father, not himself.

The bible tells us that he sits at the right hand of God. He can't very well sit at his own right hand.

The bible also tells us that he is the only begotten son of God. That's pretty clear as far as I am concerned. He was, and is, God's son, not God Himself. But as Christians chose to worship him as God they had to come up with the Trinity idea to validate it. Naturally as God's son he had characteristics of God just as any offspring has them from their parents, that's to be expected.

As for the Holy Spirit thing, that was a means of saying the power or influence of God, not a unique personality. Again, a misuderstanding.

I am a follower of the teaching of Jesus, but do not subscribe to what I see as the mistaken dogma of what has become modern Christianity.

Jesus did not sit in the garden and pray to himself, nor did he cry out to himself on the cross. It's just silly, or God is schizophrenic which I doubt.

If one studies all of the various religions, especially those related to or stemming from the Judao-Christian, one can't help but ask questions unless they're intellectually dishonest or just plain stupid. Your questions are very valid and worthy of thought.

Some people come to some conclusions and beliefs, and others to others. Such is the nature of religion. You have to study all of the available ideas and data and decide for yourself what, if anything, is true. God, and I do believe in such, gave us the ability to think and reason and expects us to use it.

MasonM,

As you so often do you posted a very clear and well-thought-out comment.

I totally agree with you that the Trinity is a misunderstanding. In fact I believe it was a way to reconcile belief in the one G-d of Israel with the polytheism popular among Greeks and Romans. G-d wouldn't have spend 1400 years telling the Israelites to repeat "G-d is one... G-d is one... G-d is one..." just then to reveal that it was all a joke and He is in fact not one but three.

That would be consistent with Jesus' Jewish religion.

In fact the spirit is mentioned several times in the Tanakh. But it never was a distinct personality.

You are a non-Trinitarian Christian. I respect that.

I believe Mason gave the best answer that makes most sense to me. I am Catholic but have never really made it my business to read the bible or understand every aspect of the Catholic religion. My understanding is very limited but what Mason said seems to go with what i believe in which I am sure my wife would agree.

Now the trick is to print this and have her give it to her friend to see what he thinks. It would be interesting to get him on here to blog, I'm sure he will have a ball with you guys/gals over religious articles.

Jesus also said "when you see me you see the Father."  Jesus and the Father are one.  They are both God and Jesus as well as the Apostles taught this clearly. 

Jesus NEVER demanded anyone to worship him.  True.   That's why I hate to see Altar calls.  He never pleaded or begged others to come to Him. That's where election comes in Mason but you and I are in disagreement over that.  But he did ACCEPT worship from others when angels and apostles flatly denied it. 

The deity of Christ is an essential, nonnegotiable tenet of the Christian faith.  Several lines of biblical evidence flow together to prove conclusively that He is God. 

1.  Paul wrote that Jesus existed in the form of God possessing absolute equality with God (Phil 2:6).  He also wrote "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form."  Peter calls Jesus "our God and Savior."  Even God the Father addressed the Son as God in Hebrews 1:8.  John referred to Jesus as "the true God"  1 John 5:20.

2.  Jesus receives titles in Scripture given to God.  He took for Himself the divine name "I am."  God and Jesus are both called Shepherd, Judge, Holy One, First and Last, Savior, Mighty God, Lord of Lords, Alpha and Omega and Redeemer among other names.

3.  Jesus possesses the attributes of God.  Scripture reveals Christ to be eternal, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, immutable, sovereign and glorious.

4.  Jesus does the works that only God can do.  He created all things (john 1:3, Col 1:16) sustains the creation (Col 1:17, Heb 1:3) raises the dead (John 5:21, 11:25-44), forgives sin (Mark 2:10) and His word stands forever (Matt 24:35, Isa 40:8).

5.  Jesus received worship (Matt 14:33, 28:9, John 9:38, Philip 2:10, Heb 1:6) even though he taught that only God is to be worshiped (Matt 4:10).  Scripture also records that both holy men and holy angels refused worship (Acts 10:25-26, Rev 22:8-9). 

6.  Finally Jesus Christ received prayer which is only to be addressed to God (John 14:13-14, Acts 7:59-60, 1 John 5:13-15). Before Stephen died he "called upon God saying 'Lord Jesus receive my spirit.'" 

Mason, you don't know your bible.  Jesus is God in the flesh.   Jesus said himself in John 14:

"Have I been so long with you and yet you have not know me Philip?  He that has seen me has seen the Father and how do you say then Show us the Father?  Believe you not that I am in the Father and the Father in me?  The words that I speak to you I speak not of myself but the Father that dwells in me, he does the works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works sake.  Verily, verily, I say to you, He that believes on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than thse shall he do because I go to my Father.  And whatsoever you shall ask in my name that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you shall ask any thing in my name I will do it." 

So when you pray to the Father, you are also praying to Jesus.  They are one.  They are both God.  One God revealed in three persons. 

Mason just got done saying he does not believe in the Trinity.  The RCC does believe not only in the Trinity but that Jesus is God.  I totally agree with the RCC here and know that's  exactly what the bible teaches.  So now you have to take Mason's word for it or you need to read the bible for yourself.  Jesus said "who do you say that I am?"  That's the million dollar question. 

The simplist answer would be the resurrection.  His resurrection proved he wasn't any ordinary man like we were not to mention all the other things he did.  While anyone can claim to do a miracle not too many resurrect themselves. 

Since Jesus, as all men, was created in G-d's image, that is no big surprise.

My father told me that the resurrection was a metapher for people beginning to talk about Jesus again, after having been silenced for a while by the execution.

I don't see any evidence for a literal ressurection of a single person ever.

Then read the Jewish Historian Josephus's account of the first century.  "Antiquities of the Jews."   That's a good thing about the evidence.  Because all that Rome had to do was come up with the body.  They could not.  That's the whole point.  King David's tomb was known, Joseph, and all the Patriachs were also known but Jesus was the only one that was no longer in his tomb.  It was empty because he had risen. 

One thing is clear the resurrection was not a metaphor.  Many men within just a few short years after the resurrection put their lives on the line by defending this resurrection.  Like I've said before, while men may live for a lie, they are not going to die for one.  Especially not that many. 

To see the lives of the first martyrs before the resurrection and how drastically they changed after spoke volumes. 

First off Jesus was NEVER created.  He always was.  He's all thru the OT.  He's there if you open your eyes you'll see him. 

Second, that's not what Jesus meant.  God is spirit.  We can not see God because He is spirit.  That's the whole point.  Jesus was saying he was God in the flesh.  We are created in God's image because we are spiritual people as well.  He put his spirit into us when he breathed not only on Adam right there in the Garden but also when Jesus breathed on his Apostles before he left. 

If he didn't come, we would have no concept of God.  Our finite minds just cannot comprehend such a mighty God.  He came and dwelt among men to show us not only how to live for him today but also how to live for him for eternity. 

Don't you think it's funny that the whole thing started in a Garden and was also finished in a garden?  Jesus was buried and resurrected in a Garden Tomb. 

Not a coincidence. 

Jesus Himself answered your quiery when He said, "I and the Father are One." That too is in complete agreement with Deut.6:4, "Hear O Isreal, the Lord our God is One God." God is not a God of contradiction.

Jesus wasn't created.

Jesus is God Incarnate sent to the world by taking the form of a human.  Jesus even while He was on earth as a man, was always a Divine Person.

leauki posts: 19

Re: the highlighted, It's you who is harboring misunderstanding. God revealed that He is ONe, not three Gods.

I think the Trinity remains an obstacle to Jewish understanding, partly becasue belief in the Trinity carries with it belief in Jesus as  the Messias. It's the implication embodied in belief in the Trinity that Jesus is the Second Person Who had come and fulfilled the Divine Mission of Old Testament Judaism that prompts denial of this.

We Catholics and non-Catholics who believe in the Trinity are monotheists, not polytheists. We believe in but ONe God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; but that He functions as Three distinct Persons, ----Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Pickin' and choosin' which teachings of Jesus to follow ain't what Christianity is about. Go back in history and check out Arianism...on this particular topic, you are more a follower of the heretical Arius' teachings than of Christ's.

leauki posts:

Non-Trinitarian Christian is an oxymoron...a complete contradiction in terms.

Christians are only those who follow Christ and His teachings, all of them.

Lula, I have to say, I'm in complete agreement with you on this one!  That's good because this is a very big essential.  The truth of Christ's deity and full equality with the Father is a nonnegotiable element of the Christian faith.  John warned a pretty somber warning as did Paul about such things.   

"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess NOT that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.  This is a deceiver and an antichrist.... Whoever trangresses (GK "proagon" means runs ahead; leads) and abides not in the doctrine of Christ HAS NOT GOD.  He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has BOTH the Father and the Son (links both).  if anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house and do not give him a greeting."   2 John 7-10

Paul said:

"Now I beseech you brethren mark them (watch) which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned and avoid them.  For they are such,  serve not our Lord Jesus Christ but their own appetites and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."  Galatians

Another thought:

Jesus did not correct Thomas when he address Him as "my Lord and My God!"  In fact, He praised him for his faith (John 20:29).  Jesus' reaction is inexplicable if He were NOT God. 

And MasonM believes in one G-d and not a Trinity. Why is that so difficult for you to understand?

I think it is you you haven't understood Unity.

This is CharlesCS posting:

When you see me, you see my father because I look, walk, talk and act like my father. That does not mean I am my father. This can be interpreted different ways KFC.

Exactly.

I am a bit tired of this way of thinking that whenever someone fails to believe the same (unproven and unprovable) things as (those) Christians they "haven't understood". Scientology coudl use the same arguments, that doesn't make anyone more right.

Here's the thing: I believe that Moses was a prophet but I don't care if anybody else believes it. (And neither am I convinced that they haven't understood" if they don't.) Some people were simply not there when Moses talked to G-d. For them, all of it is hear-say.