Is God ,Jesus?

[huckster]

My 19 dd asked if Christians believe,are God and Jesus are the same being? and If so why does it say He sits at the right hand of the Father. We were Catholic and changed to non denomination Born again if you will . i said i think catolics beleive that they are all one. But when i pray i think of them as to seperate beings? hmm got me to wonder.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Jesus is God in human form. It is hard to explain and understand the trinity--but the answer to your question is yes.

 

[Fitswimmer]

Brilliant theologians have spent their entire lives trying to explain the Trinity, I'm certainly not one of them. I'll take a shot though.

Here's what I learned in theology class. God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Ghost are of the same substance, but are 3 distinct beings. In Catechism, I learned that God the Father created us, God the Son redeemed us and the Holy Ghost sanctifies us with Grace.

It's not something that I really try and understand the way I try and understand other things. I just take it on faith.

 

[sunlver]

Not to the Jews they are not the same person.God Is God

 

[MrsPete]

My 19 dd asked if Christians believe,are God and Jesus are the same being? and If so why does it say He sits at the right hand of the Father. We were Catholic and changed to non denomination Born again if you will . i said i think catolics beleive that they are all one. But when i pray i think of them as to seperate beings? hmm got me to wonder.

Here's something my preacher said not too long ago that made sense to me:

YOU are a two-part being. You have both a body and a soul. Your body is temporary and lives only on this Earth. Your soul is immortal and will exist forever (either in heaven or in hell). Right now -- on Earth -- your two parts act as one, and you are incapable of dividing them at will; however, someday they will split apart permanantly.

Similarly, God is a three-part being. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. His three parts can act as one, or a portion can act individually. He is all three. He is each one. The Bible tells us that both the Father and the Son existed during creation. Later it tells us that the Son left heaven and was separated from the Father when He came to Earth for 33 years. Then in the book of Acts -- after the Son had ascended again to heaven -- the Holy Spirit descended upon believers. So we have plenty of precedent for the three acting independently. Jesus once, when asked about the Father, told his disciples that anyone who knows the Son knows the Father. So we see that They can also be One.

How does this work? I don't know, but the more important question whether each of us has a relationship with God. If we have that, the details of His existance are unimportant -- even if we NEVER figure it out on Earth, we'll understand in heaven.

 

[Laura]

Jesus is the human incarnation of God on Earth. God can also work through the Holy Spirit to send "messages" or bestow grace (burning bush and Moses, dove at Jesus' baptism, tongues of flame above disciples' heads) to people on Earth. But Jesus and the Holy Spirit both come from God.

 

[bgirldeb]

I'm a Christian, and I believe they are completely separate beings.

eta: how ironic that this is my post # 666

 

[tkd lisa]

The answer to this is denomination specific. For example, I think that Jehovah's Witnesses believe that God the Father is the only true God.

My highly unscientific "feeling" is that the majority of what are termed "Christians" believe that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are three aspects of the same being. And that they can be "present" in all three forms at the same time. All part of being omnipotent (all powerful) since the "rules" don't apply to God.

Just for the record, the above paragraph is what I personally believe and what has been taught in every church I've been a member of.

Since most Jews don't believe Jesus was the Messiah, I assume it would follow that they don't think he is any aspect of God.

 

[cybrkitn]

I agree with what most have been saying. It's very difficult to try and explain the trinity. But I'll try my best.

DH just called me so I asked him. He had a very good analogy that might help explain it. Water is the only substance that can be in three different forms at the same time - liquid, gaseous (steam) and solid (ice). When you feel steam or ice, you can still feel the wet water. The trinity is pretty much the same thing - God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel of John also came to mind. John 1:1-3 says "1In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was already with God in the beginning. 3Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him."

A little further down in John 1:14, it says, "14The Word became human and lived among us. We saw his glory. It was the glory that the Father shares with his only Son, a glory full of kindness and truth."

So in the beginning (Genesis) there was the Word and it was with God. Then the Word became Flesh, aka Jesus. After Jesus ascended into Heaven, God the Holy Spirit was released to the disciples as was promised for them to bring (or preach) the Word of God to all nations.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Here's something my preacher said not too long ago that made sense to me:

YOU are a two-part being. You have both a body and a soul. Your body is temporary and lives only on this Earth. Your soul is immortal and will exist forever (either in heaven or in hell). Right now -- on Earth -- your two parts act as one, and you are incapable of dividing them at will; however, someday they will split apart permanantly.

Similarly, God is a three-part being. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. His three parts can act as one, or a portion can act individually. He is all three. He is each one. The Bible tells us that both the Father and the Son existed during creation. Later it tells us that the Son left heaven and was separated from the Father when He came to Earth for 33 years. Then in the book of Acts -- after the Son had ascended again to heaven -- the Holy Spirit descended upon believers. So we have plenty of precedent for the three acting independently. Jesus once, when asked about the Father, told his disciples that anyone who knows the Son knows the Father. So we see that They can also be One.

How does this work? I don't know, but the more important question whether each of us has a relationship with God. If we have that, the details of His existance are unimportant -- even if we NEVER figure it out on Earth, we'll understand in heaven.

Thanks for the great explanation. ITA

 

[goofygirl]

Christians believe God came to the earth in human form- in the form of Jesus. That is also called the incarnation.

 

[goofygirl]

Christain belief re: Jesus, God, Holy Spirit , one God, is also spelled out in the Nicene Creed. This is recited in the Episcopal church liturgy, and I know other denominations also say this and/or the Apostles' Creed:


We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

 

[laurie31]

As others have pointed it out, the concept of a triune God is difficult if not impossible to comprehend.

I have explained it to children using the example of an egg. The shell, the yolk and the white are three distinct parts. They can be separated and they have different functions. Yet they are all the egg. This also works with an apple - the peel, the fruit and the seeds - all separate yet all one.

Of course, it's much harder to comprehend when you consider God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit as being separate yet one, but that's why the the Bible says faith is the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)

 

[njcarita]

Christain belief re: Jesus, God, Holy Spirit , one God, is also spelled out in the Nicene Creed. This is recited in the Episcopal church liturgy, and I know other denominations also say this and/or the Apostles' Creed:


We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

also during the Roman Catholic Mass.

 

[Deb in IA]

I think the Trinitarian view (God in three parts - Father, Son and Holy Ghost) is the common belief in most Christian denominations.

An exception is the Unitarians, who I think believe only God as a single entity.

 

[CinRell]

I'm christian and I Believe they are 2 seperate things as well.. Jesus is God's son... and his messenger.

 

[jimmiej]

Here's what we believe & teach our new members (Southern Baptist). Scripture is listed to back up these beliefs. We use the three forms of water explanation to make it easier to understand.

We believe in the Trinity.

We believe in the only true God, the Creator, who is eternal, loving, just, merciful, holy, and unchanging. We believe that God exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal in every divine attribute and executing distinct but complimentary offices in the work of redemption.
John 3:16 • Colossians 2:9 • Matthew 28:19 • Matthew 3:14-17

We believe in God, the Father.

God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.

Genesis 1:1; 2:7 • Psalm 19:1-3 • Matthew 6:9; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19 • Romans 8:14-15 • Ephesians 1:5-6,11; 4:6 • 1 Timothy 1:17 • Hebrews 11:6; 12:9 • 1 Peter 1:17 • 1 John 5:7

We believe that Jesus Christ is God's Only Begotten Son... that He preexisted with God the Father before His birth in Bethlehem... that He was supernaturally conceived by the Holy Spirit in the body of the Virgin Mary... that He lived a totally sinless and perfect life ... that He died on the cross for the sins of the whole world ... that He was buried and supernaturally raised out of the grave and declared the victorious Son of God over sin, death, and hell ... that He is presently seated at the right hand of God in the place of authority in heaven ... that He is coming back to the earth soon to bodily resurrect the dead in Christ and to rapture every living believer to be carried to heaven with Him.
Colossians 1:17 • Isaiah 7:14 • Luke 2:26-38 • I Peter 2:22,24 • Romans 1:1-4
Hebrews 7:25 • I Thess. 4:13-18

We believe in the Holy Spirit.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a divine person, equal with God the Father and God the Son. We believe the Holy Spirit convicts the sinner, regenerates the sinner, indwells and seals the believer at the point of initial salvation. We believe He fills and empowers the believer in order that He may live a holy and fruitful life. We believe every Christian should live his life under the control of the Holy Spirit of God. We believe that the evidence of the fullness or control of the Holy Spirit is in living a Godly, holy, fruitful, and witnessing life. We do not accept the teaching that any of the sign gifts are to be sought as evidence of the Holy Spirit's fullness. We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience that takes place at the time of salvation and is not separate from salvation.
John 14:16,26 • John 15:26-27 • John 16:7-11 • Romans 8:1-14 • I Cor. 12:13
Ephesians 5:18

http://www.oakwoodbaptist.org/pages/WhatWeBelieve.html

 

[User Name]

I'm christian and I Believe they are 2 seperate things as well.. Jesus is God's son... and his messenger.

I'm no theologian, but I believe that most of the larger Christian religions (Catholic, Episcopalian, Baptist, etc.) belive that Jesus is God.

Conversely, most of the "born again" Christian sects belive that Jesus is God's son and messenger.

I am of the belief that God is God and Jesus is His son and messenger (and my savior).

No offense, but the Nicene Creed was created by committee. At Nicea, they also decided, by committee, on what books should/should not be included in the "Bible." IMHO, some important books were dismissed because of "committee" think. Furthermore, Jesus was a Jew and followed the Torah. The Nicene Creed states some things that things that Jesus himself probably would not have followed or believed.

 

[minnieandme]

Here's something my preacher said not too long ago that made sense to me:

YOU are a two-part being. You have both a body and a soul. Your body is temporary and lives only on this Earth. Your soul is immortal and will exist forever (either in heaven or in hell). Right now -- on Earth -- your two parts act as one, and you are incapable of dividing them at will; however, someday they will split apart permanantly.

Similarly, God is a three-part being. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. His three parts can act as one, or a portion can act individually. He is all three. He is each one. The Bible tells us that both the Father and the Son existed during creation. Later it tells us that the Son left heaven and was separated from the Father when He came to Earth for 33 years. Then in the book of Acts -- after the Son had ascended again to heaven -- the Holy Spirit descended upon believers. So we have plenty of precedent for the three acting independently. Jesus once, when asked about the Father, told his disciples that anyone who knows the Son knows the Father. So we see that They can also be One.

How does this work? I don't know, but the more important question whether each of us has a relationship with God. If we have that, the details of His existance are unimportant -- even if we NEVER figure it out on Earth, we'll understand in heaven.

Very well said. I couldn't have explained it better myself.

 

[holycow]

3 distinct beings. One purpose. That is why Jesus sits to the right of the Father.


HC