There are some people saying, "Jesus is only a man" like the INC of Manalo and others saying that "Jesus is not a man" like Eli Soriano's group, "Members of the Church of God International" or commonly known as "Ang Dating Daan". Here's his statement:
“May mga puntong puwede nating pagkasunduan pagdating sa paniniwalang panrelihiyon. Subalit may mga punto rin maaaring pagkasunduan. Gaya ng paniniwala ng Iglesia ni Cristo na si Kristo’y tao. Kami ay naniniwalang si Kristo ay hindi tao.”
"There are so many points that that can be considered and points that may be considered like the belief of the Iglesia ni Cristo, they believe Christ is a man, but we don't believe that Christ is a man"
Both of the INC of Manalo and the MCGI/ADD fall short of Christ's Nature. Let us see why Jesus is True God and True Man:
1. Christ from the very beginning is equal with the Father
Jesus always emphasized this statement that He was One in Being with the Father, He didn't say directly, "I am God", but there are some of His Words that proved Him such. Like for example, what He said in John 8:58, "Before Abraham was born, I Am". NOTE: The "I Am" is a Name attributed to God alone in Exodus 3:13-14, "But Moses replied, 'When I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you'', they will ask me, 'What is His Name?'', what shall I tell them?' God said, 'I Am Who I Am. You must tell them, the one who is called I AM has sent me to you'". But Jesus used this Name to prove that He is God and One in Being with the Father even before Abraham existed. The Jews knew what He meant when He said John 8:58, so what did they do? John 8:59, "Then they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple". Why then did the Jews attempted many times to kill Him? Not because He claimed to be an angel or a prophet, but He claimed to be God Himself, God in human form. He even said something which angered the Jews once more, "The Father and I are One" (John 10:30), the Jews once again grew angry at this why? "We do not want to stone You because of any good deeds, but because of Your blasphemy! You are only a Man yet You're trying to make Yourself God!" (John 10:33). See? The Jews attempted to kill Him because He is trying to make Himself God.
2. Jesus has the attributes of God
Jesus was often accused of forgiving sins which only God can do. Like in the case of healing the paralytic, He said, "My child, your sins are forgiven" (Mark 2:5). How did the Pharisees react to this? They said in Mark 2:7, "Who is this Man who dares say such things? God is the Only One who can forgive sins!", actually that's true, only God can forgive sins, but Jesus as God in the flesh said, "I will prove to you then that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" (Mark 2:10). How come Jesus forgive sins by His Own Power which only God can do? Jesus is God and He can forgive sins.
3. God must be human in order to do away with sin
Ever since our first parents, Adam and Eve sinned, they were separated from God. But God made a plan to set things right, to rescue man from Satan's tyranny and that through faith in Him, they could be forgiven and live with Him forever. The Old Testament prophecies are saying that the Messiah is God Himself as in Isaiah 7:14, "Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and give birth to a Son, and His Name will be called, 'Emmanuel'" Emmanuel (who is Jesus), what will become of Him then? Isaiah 9:6, "A Child is born to us! A Son is given to us! And He will be our ruler, and His Name shall be called, 'Wonderful', 'Counselor', 'Mighty God', 'Everlasting Father', 'Prince of Peace'". Who is the One who will be called "Mighty God"? The Child who is born named Emmanuel. And if Jesus was not a Man, how come the apostle John, who walked with Him for 3 years say, "The Word became a human being and full of grace and truth, lived among us, we saw His Glory, the Glory which He received as the Father's Only Son"? Was John telling a make up story of an imaginary Jesus? Further, if Jesus was Only a Man, how come the apostle Peter say, "Not to all people but to the witnesses whom God has chosen, that is us, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead"? Was the apostle Peter eating and drinking with a ghost? (Acts 10:41) Now going back to my topic, according to Romans 8:3, "What the Law could not do because human nature is weak, God did. He condemned sin in human nature by sending His Own Son, who came with a nature like our sinful nature to do away with sin". Why did Jesus Christ have a nature like ours? "to do away with sin" Why? Romans 3:20 will answer that, "For by the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be justified in His sight for what the Law does is to make man acknowledge his sinfulness". The Commandments given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai exposes our sinfulness and our need for a Savior. That is why Jesus lived a holy and victorious life, "Tempted in every way, yet did not sin" (Hebrews 4:15) that is why His death on the Cross is sufficient to pay for our sins. Who but God alone has this unconditional love? Who but God alone, who even though being treated harshly like a lamb to the slaughter still forgave the very people killing Him? Praise our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ for showing such love and mercy to us!!!!! Thank you Jesus!!!!
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