How Do You Convince a Former Christian That Jesus Is God?
Nov 14, 2024
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Dive into the intriguing discussion on how to engage with former Christians who doubt Jesus' divinity. Explore common objections to the Trinity and the incarnation, using thoughtful analogies. Learn how to present compelling evidence for Jesus as God, linking His attributes to divine expectations. Discover the New Testament's role as a credible historical source supporting these beliefs. Lastly, unravel the complexities of Jesus' dual nature, clarifying the significance of terms like 'firstborn' in theological contexts.
A constructive dialogue about Jesus' divinity requires understanding the former believer's objections rather than solely focusing on convincing them.
Utilizing the acronym HANDS helps reinforce Jesus' divine characteristics, supporting arguments for his deity through historical context and expected divine qualities.
Deep dives
Understanding the Convincing Process
The discussion emphasizes that the responsibility to convince someone about Christian beliefs, particularly regarding the deity of Christ, should not rest solely on an individual. Instead, it's essential to approach the conversation with an open mind and a quest for information. Rather than focusing on convincing, individuals should seek to understand the objections or contradictions that the former believer has encountered, allowing them to express their thoughts. Engaging in this way fosters a more genuine dialogue, creating opportunities for exploration instead of pressure to convince.
Clarifying the Concept of the Trinity
The idea of the Trinity is often viewed as contradictory, particularly the notion of three persons in one God. This perspective can be addressed by asking questions about how individuals perceive contradictions, helping to clarify their understanding. One approach likens the Trinity to a family structure, demonstrating that multiple entities can coexist within a singular concept without contradiction. Such analogies highlight that as long as the distinctions between 'three' and 'one' are properly understood, accusations of contradiction can be dismantled.
Examining Evidence for Christ's Deity
Arguments for the deity of Christ can be bolstered by examining his characteristics and actions through a lens of expected divine qualities. Questions that posit what one would expect from a deity incarnate—such as love, compassion, and control over natural forces—serve to align Jesus’ actions with divine attributes. Moreover, the reliability of the New Testament plays a crucial role in supporting these assertions, as it provides a historical record of Jesus' life and ministry. The acronym HANDS serves as a mnemonic to remember key points about Jesus, affirming his divine honors, attributes, names, deeds, and position on God's throne.
Questions about how to convince a former Christian that Jesus is God, whether Jesus’ human nature was created, and what the Bible means when it says Jesus is the firstborn.
How do you convince a former Christian that Jesus is God?
Is it wrong to describe Jesus’ human nature as created, and how should I respond to a Jehovah’s Witness who says that a firstborn, if not the first to be born, must be a member of the group he is preeminent over?
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