Some help?

[XR0391]

It seems like everytime I want to find answers, I end up only finding more questions. I want to do what is pleasing to God, but I cannot find the correct path. Denominational arguements, theology, differing interpetations of the bible, all of this religious arguement has smoked my path considerably, and I'm afraid to move in any direction at the time being. I wish I could just ask God what to do, but He hasn't answered, at least to my current understanding.

First of all, the Trinity really confuses me. I've read the arguements of both sides, and it does seem aparent that while Jesus did say he was God's son, and that God was inside of him, it never indicated that he was God. Is it not also said that within God we move and have our being, and that God gives us the gift of the holy spirit? But we wouldn't dare call ourselves God. I just don't understand where the equality is. I understand that Jesus is the way, but aren't we only suppose to worship God?

The arguements over doctrines and teachings are really hurting my faith. I feel like I'm on the verge of becoming a seeker at the moment. All I want right now is the truth, and I'm getting various angles of truths, yet something cannot be both conflicting arguements and be the truth?

I know that what's in the bible is the instruction, but it's difficult to learn when you're getting different messages.

Please help?

Edit:

Why can't people just be truthful? If it's a lie, kill it. Like Santa Clause, just because it appears to be a good thing doesn't mean it is, as it nothing more than deception, and what deception can be really good? I wish people would have just let the truth be truth and everything else matters nothing, maybe I wouldn't be such in a gnostistic fog.

Sorry, had to rant. :(

[sistakrista]

I think, starting @ the very beginning helps:

(Matthew 1:18-22 emphases are mine)
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

[snoochface]

john 10:30

[XR0391]

Yeah, but stuff like this bothers me:

Luke 18:19 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone."

Is this a literal meaning, or just Jesus acting as a Rabbi?

I'm sorry to keep bothering you guys with these questions, but my new job means I only get to see my spiritual mentor once a week - and I have too much time to think on these things during my job. :(

[snoochface]

I see that verse in context and I think the whole discussion was intended to show the apostles that Jesus was, in fact, God. Look at that whole section:

18A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.



Stopping here for a moment, I think this was his first indication, his way of saying, "Think about this for a minute. You're asking me, a man among you in the world, what you need to do to inherit eternal life. Why do you think I know the answer? You're calling me 'good', but who is good besides God? Connect the dots - if you think I know the answer, and you think I'm good, and no one is good besides God, then I must be...."


Going on:



20You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"
21"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Again, he's saying to follow him - not follow God - because it's already implied: I am God, do these things and follow me, and you will have treasure in heaven! It's because he made these claims that the Pharisees saw him as a blasphemer, because he was claiming to be God. But it was also because he made these claims that so many people chose to follow and support him, because they recognized him as being God, as being the one who had the answers that would lead to their eternal life.

23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
26Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?"
27Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."
28Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!"
29"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."

This is the end of that particular section, and I think it summarizes once again Jesus' assertion that he is God. He's come out and said:

1) It's extremely hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.
2) You, rich person, come follow me and you'll enter the kingdom of God.
3) In response to "Who then can be saved?" he says, "God can handle it.," and repeats his instruction that they should leave their possessions behind and follow him to receive their treasure in heaven.

It all logically follows that the great implication here is that Jesus was in fact claiming himself as God in this story.

[JTLauder]

Is Jesus, the Son of God, also God himself?

Read all of John 1. I pull out some specific verses...

John 1:1--In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1: 14--The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

"The Word" is obviously Jesus.

As for figuring out the differences between all the denominations, don't worry too much about it. What matters is your relationship to God.