Help! What have I become?

[jmarkoa]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

...he was good with saying God was in Christ. Thats why we can say Jesus is God. I have a friend I have taught about the oneness of God several times. When I hear him teach Oneness he reduces it down to this. He was God because God was in him...

Yes, many in our church use this reasoning. I get it. That is kind of how my thinking transitioned. I had to keep asking myself "did I just misquote the word of God?" Jesus gives that amazing example while being tempted where He just simply quotes the word! Powerful stuff!

On a side note, I always said the phrase "God robed in flesh" to describe Jesus. That is until I tried to find it! I stopped using it after doing some research. Its a powerful example of how we can unintentionally incorporate other's ideas as Bible when they are not!

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

...To me that is a rather shallow way of teaching Jesus is God. It is perhaps a bit better than the doctrine that Jesus is only an anointed man. But then again if thats all that made him God then that would be all he was. An anointed man. Like Moses. Like Elijah. God was in them. And also God is in us. That alone doesnt make anyone God.

"...To me that is a rather shallow way of teaching Jesus is God..."

Which is why I no longer say "Jesus is God". I think it robs Jesus of what he accomplished. Yes, his virgin birth from God and Mary is very different than ours. His childhood must have also been quite different. He had learned so much knowledge by 12, Its just amazing! I think of all the OT examples of how God worked with all those men you listed. The visitations, the dreams, the miracles, the constant patience he even had with Moses at a much older age! So, just imagine how much walking, talking and instructing he must have done for his very own child! All that beauty of the story goes away when we dismiss all he did by saying, "he wasn't REALLY a man like us, he was GOD!"

Anyway, that's the point I got to. I had to reexamine everything I was saying.

"...Jesus is only an anointed man..."

I don't just say anointed, I've seen verses where Jesus says the Spirit is DWELLING in him. But really, I couldn't tell you the difference between anointed and indwelling anyway.

"...God was in them. And also God is in us. That alone doesnt make anyone God...."

Yes! That is my whole point! I know he was a man, I just can't find a place that says he is a God. I know you kind of wrote that tongue in cheek and do get your perspective.

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

...I see almost no difference in Unitarianism and the doctrine you seem to be believing. Its not Trinity. Its not Arian. Its not Apostolic Oneness. ...

Yes, back on topic, I agree. For some reason I just didn't click with that Biblical Unitarian guy on other Bible teaching, past what he had to say about God and Jesus. I'm going to devote some time to going back through all his videos.

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

...
If Jesus did not pre exist his earthly life how did he see satan fall like lighning from Heaven?

Luke 10:18

I don't know much about the fall of satan. I thought he was always to be the accuser of the brethren in heaven before God until being cast down to earth at the end times. Then he gets bound during the millennial reign. Then loosed for a little season. Then judged and into the lake of fire.

He may be talking about seeing a future event, having an understanding of some of those things to come. Or, he may be illustrating how satan operates.

That is another topic I need to do more study on. How do see that scripture working with other scriptures?