C.S. Lewis brought forth the idea. It's called the Trilemma. Some people love it, and others despise it. Either way, I think it provides a great topic. Jesus didn't just walk around and do some great things. He also claimed some even greater things. Things that were considered blasphemous and outright crazy. Son of God? Forgiver of sins? Eat his flesh? Drink his blood?
When you read the story for yourself, you'll notice quickly that Jesus said many things that make it clear: He wants you to choose. At some point, you have to make a stance on Christ because he said more than just nice and thoughtful parables. He said things that had enormous meaning and implications. It would be like reading the Declaration of Independence and thinking it had some great ideas on how to run a goverment, and completely ignoring the part about seperating from Britian. You just can't ignore that part. Neither can you ignore Jesus' own claim that he was the Messiah, Lord, I AM.
So here are the premises of the Trilemma:
(P): Jesus claimed to be God.
(Q): One of the following must be true.
- Lunatic: Jesus was not God, but believed that he was.
- Liar: Jesus did not believe he was God, but spoke as if he did.
- Lord: Jesus is God.
So which is it? Lunatic, Liar, or Lord?
Greetings Mark Kimbrough
ReplyDeleteThe Trilemma fails simply because proposition (P) is false to begin with!
That is, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
never ever claimed to be Almighty GOD!
Rather he claimed to be
the Son of GOD
e.g. John 10.36!
And Jesus is Lord because ...
The ONE GOD, the Father
[1 Cor 8.4,6; John 17.3]
had made him, Lord.
In fulfillment of Psalm 110.1
See Acts 2.33ff:
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself,
The LORD [YAHWEH] said unto my Lord,
Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly,
that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified,
both Lord and Christ.
The man Christ Jesus has been made Lord to the glory of the ONE GOD, the Father.
[Phil 2.11]
Therefore, Mark Kimbrough,
for more info on the subject of who Jesus really is,
I recommend this video:
The Human Jesus
Take a couple of hours to watch it; and prayerfully it will aid you in your quest for truth.
Yours In Messiah
Adam Pastor