kristyd's Blog

OK sorry this is a long post…

Really the only one who can say whether someone is saved is G_d alone, and He knows those who are His.

But in a doctrinal sense the Bible says “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is L_rd and believe in your heart that G_d raised him from the dead, you will be saved”. (Romans 10:9)
and
“He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have G_d’s Son does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12).

I understand that it can be difficult for people to understand a triune G_d.

The idea of plurality within the G_dhead is usually rejected by those of Jewish faith and they usually cite the Shema as evidence of this. “Hear, O Israel! The L_rd is our G_d, the L_rd is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4).

However there are several interesting points and passages in the Jewish Bible (aka Old Testament) that defend a belief in the trinity.

Firstly, the Hebrew words for G_d - El_h_m and Ad_n_ _ are always used in the Scriptures as plural nouns, never singular.

Also note the following passages:

Genesis 1:26a “Then G_d said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves”

Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the L_rd asking, “ Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us? I said, “Here I am. Send me”

Proverbs 30:4b Who has created the whole world? What is his name – and his son’s name? Tell me if you know!

Psalm 2:7b - The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father.

Proverbs 8:27-30a “I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans. I was there when he set he clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth. I was there when he set the limit of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. When he marked off the earth’s foundations. I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.”

The New Testament confirms this last passage:

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible G_d. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him G_d created everything. (Colossians 1:15-16a)

“Through the Son he created the universe” (Hebrews 1:2)

There are several passages in the Psalms (65:7a, 89:9, 93:4, 107:29) that say that the G_d is the only one who is able to calm the sea. When Jesus calmed the sea (Matthew 8:23-27) he demonstrated that he is G_d.
Jesus accepted praise and worship from others and claimed to be G_d.

His claims included:
I am sent by G_d – John 4:34
I teach the ideas of G_d who sent me – John 7:16
I have come to call sinners to repentance – Luke 5:32
I am the son of G_d – Luke 22:70
I am the one that the scriptures wrote about – John 5:39
I am the one Moses wrote about – John 5:46
My words will remain forever – Mark 13:31
My words will set you free – John 8:32
I am the resurrection and the life – John 11:25
I am the way, the truth and the life – John 14:6
I have overcome the world – John 16:33
I am the light of the world – John 8:12a
I give eternal life – John 10:27-28
Everyone who believes in me has eternal life – John 3:15
I and the Father are one – John 10:33
Before Abraham was, I AM – John 8:58. Note Exodus 3:14. Those that heard Jesus proclaim these words understood exactly what he was saying as they immediately tried to stone him because he claimed to be G_d (verse 33).

Not sure from your post whether your crew believe he is the promised Messiah
Jesus fulfilled many prophecies about the Messiah that are contained in the Jewish Bible.

Below I have listed some of the most important prophecies and how they were fulfilled by Jesus, as recorded in the New Testament. (note that the numbering sometimes differs by a few verses from that listed below, in a Jewish Bible).

Born of a virgin – Isaiah 7:14 with Matthew 1:20-22
A descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah and David – Genesis 22:18a, Genesis 26:4b, Genesis 28:14, Genesis 49:10, Numbers 24:17a, Isaiah 9:7a with Matthew 1:1-6
Born in Bethlehem – Micah 5:2 with Luke 2:11
The child will be called Mighty G_d – Isaiah 9:6-7a with Luke 1:31-32
He will be called out of Egypt – Hosea 11:1b with Matthew 2:13-15a
There will be a slaughter of the innocents – Jeremiah 31:15 with Matthew 2:16b-17
A messenger will prepare the way before him – Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1 with Luke 3:2-4 and John 1:29-31
He will judge with fairness – Isaiah 11:1+3 with John 5:30
He will be a prophet like Moses – Deuteronomy 18:18 with John 6:14 and Luke 24:19b, John 3:14-16, John 5:46, John 12:50b
He will speak to G_d face to face, as Moses did – Exodus 33:11a with John 12:50b
He will be a light to the Gentiles – Isaiah 49:6b and Isaiah 11:10a with Luke 2:25-26 + 30-33
He will be a healer – Isaiah 53:4a, Psalm 146:8, Isaiah 42:1b + 7a with Matthew 8:16-17, Luke 13:11b-13, Matthew 11:4-5
He will enter Jerusalem on a donkey – Zechariah 9:9 with Matthew 21:6-7
He will be a King – Numbers 24:17, Genesis 49:10a, Psalm 108:8b and Psalm 2:12a with John 1:49, John 12:12b-13, John 19:14, Matthew 27:37
He will be rejected by his people – Isaiah 53:3-4 with John 1:11, John 12:37
He will be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver – Psalm 41:9, Zechariah 11:12-13 with Mark 14:18, John 13:21, Matthew 26:14-15, Matthew 27:5+7a
He will be deserted by his followers – Zechariah 13:7b with Matthew 26:31 and Mark 14:50
He would be silent before his accusers – Isaiah 53:7-9 with Luke 23:9 and 1 Peter 2:23-25.
He would be accused even though innocent – Psalm 109:3 with Luke 23:4, Luke 23:14
He would be beaten and whipped – Isaiah 53:5b-6, Isaiah 50:6 with Matthew 26:67-68 and Matthew 27:29-30
He would be numbered with the transgressors – Isaiah 53:12b with Matthew 27:38
He would pray for his accusers – Psalm 109:4 with Luke 23:34a
It would be the L_rd’s plan to crush him – Isaiah 53:10-11 with Luke 18:31-33, Matthew 26:24a, Galations 1:4a
He would be abandoned by G_d – Psalm 22:1a with Matthew 27:46
He would be mocked by the crowd – Psalm 22:7-8 with Luke 23:35
He would thirst and be given gall – Psalm 22:15a with Matthew 27:34
He would be pierced, for our sin – Psalm 22:16, Zechariah 12:10b, Isaiah 53:5a with Mark 15:24a, John 19:33-34, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24, Romans 5:8
His clothes would be gambled – Psalm 22:18 with Mark 15:24b
As a perfect Passover lamb, not one of his bones will be broken – Isaiah 53:7, Exodus 12:46, Psalm 22:17 with John 1:29, Matthew 26:8, John 19:31-36
He would save from sin – Zechariah 13:1 with John 4:42b
He would rise from the dead – Psalm 16:10 with Luke 24:6-7
He would ascend to heaven – Psalm 68:18 with Acts 1:9-11

After his resurrection Jesus confirmed he was the Messiah – Luke 24:44

Jesus said to the Jewish people “you search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life, but the scriptures point to me! (John 5:39)

Hope some of this is helpful for discussions.