2023 #1
Twitter. There’s a part that’s good. There is a part that is bad, and there is a part that you wouldn’t believe. Twitter, along with other social media platforms can be used for good. But, there are a lot of things you can find on Twitter’s Christian circles that are not that good. Perhaps you have seen comments on social media that are contrary to the Christian worldview. I’d like to take a look at those statements and comments to see if we can give an answer
Why can’t we declare Yeshua an inspired sage that taught universal truths of love and grace to humanity (sic). Why do we have to add to it the myth of virgin birth & resurrection? The answer: some people need mythological superpowers to believe; rational teachings are not enough.
There are three separate statements in one tweet. Therefore, we should take them one at a time.
Why can’t we declare Yeshua an inspired sage that taught universal truths of love and grace to humanity (sic).
The first part of this paragraph implies that we can declare Jesus (Yeshua) something that He did not claim to be, that is an inspired sage on a par with other religious or philosophical figures. Jesus had a radical understanding of Himself to the point that He extended and deepened the fundamental Jewish laws of Moses based on nothing more than His own authority (Matt. 5:38-48).
Jesus certainly had a teaching mission and He taught God’s love and grace. But, the love and grace of which He spoke were connected to man’s deepest need, that is, reconciliation with God. In fact, Jesus taught that He was the demonstration of God’s love and grace toward mankind. The condition for receiving that love and grace was belief in Jesus as Savior (John 3:16). The claim was exclusive in nature. Jesus said that He was the only way that someone could come into a right relationship with God (John 14:6). He carried out His mission by dying on a cross as the sacrifice for the sins of mankind. No inspired sage or worldly philosopher could have done that.
To declare Jesus Christ “an inspired sage” would be to deny His own words and actions.
Mark Riser - Apologist 