I never do get a plausible answer. I'm not expecting an answer from you or the others in your entrenched position. I Would like to think maybe some open minded person might study the questions for themselves. And we have no idea who might be reading with interest and not commenting. Jesus himself did not claim to be God, he often prayed to God, and he spoke of God as his Father and certainly a separate being.
Have you ever considered the possibility that your position is just as “entrenched” and close-minded as what you accuse others’ positions of being…? Nearly every single member on this forum who has responded to these specific question of yours ‘have’ studied these particular questions for themselves, and they have overwhelmingly come up with answers that don’t don’t align with your already-formed opinions on the matter.
God the Son became a human in Jesus. God the Son (Jesus) was born as a human baby and He lived in a human body, experiencing all that we experience…including praying to God the Father. Jesus had a human nature, in addition to His divinity.
Jesus clearly used the very words that God the Father clearly used to reveal Himself to Moses from the burning bush. To the Old Covenant, Mosaic Law following Jews who were there, this was the very epitome of blasphemy, and they clearly had no doubt that Jesus was clearly claiming to be God. So much so that they attempted to stone Him on the spot for it.
Another time Jesus clearly told the Jews that He and His Father are one. And the Old Covenant, Mosaic Law following Jews who were there had no doubt that Jesus was clearly claiming to be God. So much so that they again attempted to stone Him on the spot for it. They even clearly said they were stoning Him because He “claimed to be God.”
It’s crystal clear that “The Word” in John 1 is clearly a reference to Jesus Himself, as evidenced in other verses later in the same chapter: “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” (for example).
So it’s “In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus WAS God”.
These things have been clearly pointed out to you many times, by ‘many’ people here, every single time that you’ve stated here your disbelief that Jesus was and is God; and these things have been clearly pointed out to you many times, by ‘many’ people here, every single time that you’ve asked the question “Did Jesus Himself claim to be God”…?
Oh well.
Patriotism (and religion) is the last refuge of a scoundrel.
