Jesus said: "I and the Father are one" (Jn.10:30), therefore, is not
Jesus the same, or, "co-equal" in status with his Father?
Answer No.1
In Greek, `heis' means `one' numerically (masc.)
`hen' means `one' in unity or essence (neut.)
Here the word used by John is `hen' and not `heis'. The marginal notes
in New American Standard Bible (NASB) reads; one - (Lit.neuter) a
unity, or, one essence.
If one wishes to argue that the word `hen' supports their claim for
Jesus being "co-equal" in status with his Father, please invite his/
her attention to the following verse:
Jesus said: "And the glory which Thou hast given me, I have given
to them (disciples); that they may be one, just as we are one." (John
17:22).
If he/she was to consider/regard/believe the Father and Jesus Christ
to be "one" meaning "co-equal" in status on the basis of John 10:30,
then that person should also be prepared to consider/regard/believe
"them" - the disciples of Jesus, to be "co-equal" in status with the
Father and Jesus ("just as we are one") in John 17:22. I have yet to
find a person that would be prepared to make the disciples (students)
"co-equal" in status with the Father or Jesus.
The unity and accord was of the authorized divine message that
originated from the Father, received by Jesus and finally passed on to
the disciples. Jesus admitted having accomplished the work which the
Father had given him to do. (Jn.17:4)
Hot Tip (precise and pertinent)
Jesus said: "I go to the Father; for the Father is greater than
I." (Jn.14:28). This verse unequivocally refutes the claim by any one
for Jesus being "co-equal" in status with his Father.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question No.2
Jesus said: "I am the way, ...no one comes to the Father, but through
me." (Jn.14:6), therefore, is not the Salvation through Jesus, ALONE?
Answer No.2
Before Jesus spoke these words, he said; "In my Father's house are
many mansions (dwelling places); if it were not so, I would have told
you; for I go to prepare a mansion (a dwelling place) for you." (John
14:2). The above explicit statement confirms that Jesus was going to
prepare "a" mansion and not "all" the mansions in "my Father's house".
Obviously, the prophets that came before him and the one to come
after, were to prepare the other mansions for their respective
followers. The prophet that came after Jesus had evidently shown the
current "way" to a modern mansion in the kingdom of heaven.
Besides; the verse clearly states; Jesus was the "WAY" to a mansion.
It is a folly to believe that Jesus (or any prophet) was the
"DESTINATION".
Jesus said; "I am the door" to find the pasture. (Jn.10:9).
A sheep that walks through the "door" will find the pasture.
A sheep that circles around the "door" will never find the pasture.
One who crosses over the "way" will reach the mansion. Anyone that
stops on the "way" and believes the "way" to be the end of his/her
journey, will be out in the open without any shelter and a roof.
Hot Tip (precise and pertinent)
Jesus said; "Not every one that says to me; `Lord, Lord,' will enter
the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of my Father, who is
in heaven." (Mt.7:21).
On Feb 25, 5:50 pm, Mark Peaty <mpe....domain.name.hidden> wrote:
> 1. Could you, mhmdri....domain.name.hidden, please spell out what YOU
> understand by the meaning of the term 'scientific method'.
>
> 2.
>
> RE: 'The expression Manifest Book symbolizes the Destiny Actual, which is a
> title for Divine Will and God's creational and operational laws of the
> universe and the physical order displayed by living creatures. The
> Manifest Record means the Preserved Tablet which is the book of Divine
> Knowledge and symbolizes the Destiny Formal or Theoretical determining
> the immaterial order and the life of the universe.'
>
> MP: Could you please tell us just exactly where all these books and records are.
> The clause: 'The
> Manifest Record means the Preserved Tablet which is the book of Divine
> Knowledge'
> is very confusing; something /means/ something else but /is actually/ something else again.
>
> The second clause: ' and symbolizes the Destiny Formal or Theoretical determining the immaterial order and the life of the universe.' seems to tell me that in fact all this is metaphor.
>
> I have a saying: If something can't be put into plain English then it
> probably isn't true. I apply this standard to everything I read and
> hear, particularly when I am confronted with someone or something
> who/which is 'holding forth' and purporting to describe my world for me.
>
> The other thing I do is check to what extent a person's speech and
> writings support and affirm the four fundamental ingredients of
> civilisation:
> Compassion, democracy, ethics and scientific method. No civilisation can
> survive without all four of these.
>
> Regards
>
> Mark Peaty CDES
>
> mpe....domain.name.hidden
>
> http://www.arach.net.au/~mpeaty/
>
>
>
> mhmdri....domain.name.hidden wrote:
> > Believing in Divine Destiny is one of the pillars of faith, and, in
> > accordance with this belief, everything in the universe is determined
> > by God, the All-Mighty. While there are countless absolute evidences
> > of Destiny, it may be sufficient to make some introductory remarks to
> > demonstrate how important a place this pillar of faith has for the
> > whole of creation.
>
> > The Qur'an specifically explains that everything is predetermined, and
> > then recorded after its coming into existence, as indicated in many
> > verses like,
>
> > Nor anything green or withered except it is all in a Manifest Book.
>
> > This Quranic statement is confirmed by the universe, this macro-Qur'an
> > of the Divine Power, through its creational and operational signs like
> > order, harmony, balance, forming and shaping, adornment and
> > distinguishing. All seeds, fruit stones, measured proportions and
> > forms demonstrate that everything is pre-determined before its earthly
> > existence. Each seed or fruit stone has a protective case formed in
> > the factory of Kaf Nun[*], into which the Divine Destiny has in-built
> > the life-story of a tree or plant. The Divine Power employs the
> > particles according to the measure established by Divine Destiny so as
> > to cause the particular stone to grow miraculously into the particular
> > tree. This means that the future life-history of that tree is as
> > though written in its seed.
>
> > While there is variety between individuals and between species, the
> > basic materials from which these plants and animals are formed are
> > identical. The plants and animals that grow from the same constituent
> > basic elements display, amid abundant diversity, such harmony and
> > proportion that man cannot help but conclude that each of them has
> > been individually given its particular form and measure. It is the
> > Divine Power which gives to each its particular form according to the
> > measure established for it by Divine Destiny. For example, consider
> > how vast and innumerable a mass of inanimate particles shift, cohere,
> > separate so that this seed grows into this tree or that drop of semen
> > grows into that animal.
>
> > Since there are the manifestations of Divine Destiny to this extent in
> > visible material things, for certain, the forms with which things are
> > clothed with the passing of time and the states they acquire through
> > their motions are also dependent on the ordering of Divine Destiny.
> > Indeed, a single seed displays Destiny in two ways, one by
> > demonstrating the Manifest Book (Kitabun Mubin) which is but another
> > title for Divine Will and God's creational and operational laws of the
> > universe; the other is by displaying the Manifest Record (Imamun
> > Mubin), another title for Divine Knowledge and Command. If we regard
> > these two as different manifestations of Divine Destiny, the former
> > can be understood and referred to as 'Destiny Actual' and the latter
> > as 'Destiny For-mal or Theoretical'. The future full-grown form of the
> > tree can be understood as its Destiny Actual, whilst Destiny Formal
> > refers to all the stages together through which the tree has to pass
> > in its life, and comprehends the entire history of its life. Such
> > manifestations of the Divine Destiny, so easily observed in a life
> > such as that of a tree, are illustrative of how everything has been
> > pre-determined in a Record before its worldly existence. On the other
> > hand, all the fruits and seeds which are signs of the Manifest Book
> > (Kitabun Mubin) and the Manifest Record (Imamun Mubin), together with
> > all human memories which indicate the Preserved Tablet (Lawhun
> > Mahfuz), prove that, as everything has been pre-recorded, its life-
> > history is also recorded. The life-history of every tree, for example,
> > is recorded in each of its fruits, which is the outcome of its entire
> > life. The life-history of man including events occurring in the
> > external world is likewise recorded in his memory. Thus, the Divine
> > Power registers a man's deeds with the Pen of Destiny by lodging it in
> > his memory so that he will be able to remember them on the Day of
> > Reckoning.
>
> > Man should also be assured that in this world of transience and
> > upheavals there are numerous 'mirrors' pertaining to eternity in which
> > the All-Powerful and Wise One depicts and makes permanent the
> > identities of mortals. There are also many tablets upon which the All-
> > Knowing Preserver writes down the meanings of transient beings.
>
> > In short: While plants, which are the simplest and lowest level of
> > life, are completely de-pendent upon Divine Destiny, it is also
> > evident that the life of man, which is the highest level, has also
> > been minutely determined by that Destiny. Just as drops of rain are
> > indicative of a cloud, and trickles of water disclose a spring, and
> > receipts and vouchers suggest the existence of a ledger, so fruits,
> > sperms, seeds, and forms are indicators of the Manifest Book and the
> > Manifest Record.
>
> > The expression Manifest Book symbolizes the Destiny Actual, which is a
> > title for Divine Will and God's creational and operational laws of the
> > universe and the physical order displayed by living creatures. The
> > Manifest Record means the Preserved Tablet which is the book of Divine
> > Knowledge and symbolizes the Destiny Formal or Theoretical determining
> > the immaterial order and the life of the universe.
>
> > To conclude: We witness that particles are in continuous movement
> > during the formation of a living creature and travel to their
> > destinations by complicated routes and remain there. Their movement
> > results in many benefits, uses, and instances of wisdom. Evidently, an
> > apparent measure is appointed for each thing by Divine Destiny. If
> > this is so, it is also observable that even the immaterial states of
> > living beings result in certain fruits. Thus, Divine Power is the
> > agent, and Divine Destiny is the pattern. Divine Power writes the book
> > of the meanings on that pattern. We see that every movement a creature
> > makes in the course of its existence, and all the stages through which
> > it passes, are pre-determined by Divine Destiny and its whole life
> > forms a harmonious unity.
>
> > Since we understand that a destination and a certain purposeful result
> > has been appointed for everything by Divine Destiny, and accordingly
> > all the stages it will undergo during its life-time have also been pre-
> > determined by the same Destiny, surely, the life-history of man, the
> > most perfect fruit of the tree of creation, God's vicegerent on earth,
> > and the bearer of His greatest trust, is more than anything subject to
> > the law of Divine Destiny.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
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Received on Mon Feb 26 2007 - 14:30:06 PST