Where does it say in the bible that you aren't Christian if you don't believe that Jesus is God?

The key to the answer to this question, in my opinion, hinges on the proper interpretation of Jesus Christ's words in John 8:24. In that verse, Jesus says, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins" (KJV).

What does "I am he" mean?

If it means that "I am GOD", then unless you believe this truth, you will "die in your sins." I don't think that anyone to whom this would happen could rightfully be called a Christian. However, if the phrase means "I am the SON of God" then, I think, the verse takes on a different meaning.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son; therefore, according to the second interpretation above, they would not have to believe that Jesus is God in order to be Christians. I do not want to dogmatically say that Jehovah's Witnesses are not true Christians because they deny that Jesus Christ is God.

According to the Bible, in order to be a Christian, you have to:

> Repent of your sins,

> Place your complete trust in the death of Christ ALONE to atone for your sins, and

> Believe in the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

At the danger of being branded a heretic, I am NOT going to state that you have to believe that Jesus is God in order to be saved. I think the proper interpretation of John 8:24 is the deciding factor concerning this question. According to the creeds which have been developed within Christianity since the inception of the New Testament, an orthodox Christian MUST believe that Jesus Christ is God. But does a person have to believe a creedal statement in order to be saved? I don't think so.

For the record, I am not a Jehovah's Witness. I am a Trinitarian. I believe without hesitation that Jesus Christ is God based primarily on John 1:1, 14. Here the Bible states that "the Word was God" (check out EVERY reputable version of the Bible) and became "flesh" (Jesus Christ) and dwelt among us.

If I am wrong on this issue, may the Lord have mercy on my soul!

Kidd!

The Religion Christianity has existed for 2000 years. In about the third century there was a Heresy called the Arian Heresy that did not accept Jesus as God and therefore did not accept the Whole Trinity concept, that heresy was successfully put down until the JW's came around about a hundred years ago(?). Don't know the figures on your founding.

There is a lot of historical documentation that The early church believed that Jesus was God and that this belief has continued in an unbroken chain til today.

I will post the link for the historical evidence which you can confirm for yourself from a secular source if you desire, they are easily confirmed in any Library except maybe a JW one.

http://www.catholic.com/library/Trinity.asp

notice that these historical witnesses are common names and one is even mentioned in the books of Luke and Acts. Theophilus. Notice the dates of the documents start with the earliest church, documents known and most of these on this page are from the period before the Bible was completed and assembled. In other words Jerome and Agatha(the two major players in writing down and compiling the Bible, had these writings available to them to help them confirm scripture and decide which books belonged in the New Testament.

Oh and by the way, just don't call yourself Christians if Jesus is not your God. Call yourself Jehovah's Witnesses that is more accurate. Do you need to call yourself Christians?(just curious--no offense intended).

You can't really insist on Biblical evidence if you are using an unscholarly paraphrase of the Bible edited by those who are trying to manipulate your beliefs. Sorry to tell you that but you are being manipulated and only exposed to material that is slanted toward your church. Read Bibles that are TRANSLATED from the original languages, or go to E-sword.com they have the Hebrew and Greek originals. Also, look up the difference between a PARAPHRASE and a TRANSLATION from the original.

If you are truly an intelligent truth seeker and not someone who is being manipulated by your church you will be allowed to look into their claims on your own.

Praying that your eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit.

I am glad that you are allowed to come in here and talk with others. Keep asking and answering, you will find the truth.

Sparks

Calmly I am going to attempt to speak respectfully to you about my opinions. I hope you in turn will give me respect. In addition to being a great teacher and knowing a great teaching opportunity when he saw one (read the Fig tree in CONTEXT and then you tell ME what he was trying to say. It's obvious.), part of my personal beliefs are that Jesus WAS God, but God in a limited form. So while accepting the limitations of humanity that ALLOWED him to die for our sins, he also had to accept the limitations that allowed him to be tempted-he was fully human, so that when he made his sacrifice it would MEAN something. It's like a bird.....a bird is a bird because it flies. But if it chooses to limit itself by walking as they do from time to time, it is not less of a bird. So my beliefs are that in order to make a real sacrifice of himself, he had to FULLY accept being human, with every limitation. Because he was God in spirit he was able to rise above an commit no sin, but because his body and brain were human, he was still able to be tempted. IMO, that also answers the other things-he had accepted human limitations and therefor his human mind could not grasp Godly information. This is also why he said only the Father knew certain things. However the Bible is clear that while they were one spirit ("Any man who has seen me has seen the father" and others) that Christ was limited due to voluntary human state, and did have distinctive qualities that were a direct result of human limitation. My faith is not silent, nor is it fragile. I have answered sincerely what I hope were sincere questions. These are just my beliefs. And you are quite demanding and rude. I certainly don't demand that you justify your beliefs to me and then belittle your faith or lack therof when your answers do not satisfy me. Why so angry?

I can show you in Scripture (KJV) where Jesus is God and you are wrong about your belief.

Revelation 21:5-7

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" then he said, 'Write this down, for these words are trusworthy and true." he said to me: "it is done.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and will be his God and he will be my son."

Is the Alpha and Omega Jehovah God?

Revelation 22:13

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."

Is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End Jehovah God?

Revelation 1:17

"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last"

Is Jehovah God the First and the Last?

Next verse Revelation 1:18

"I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades."

When did Jehovah die? When did God die?

I believe these Scriptures answer your question. Jesus is God. Even Jesus said, "I and the Father are One." "If you've seen me, you've seen the Father." Jesus died on the cross for you and me. Jesus is God.

I hope you get this before you pick best answerer.

1 Peter 1:21

John 6:29

John 9:35

John 10:38

John 14:1,11

John 17:21

John 20:31

These are just a few scriptures that show Jesus is God, and that God sent him. Can't have one without the other.

mandatory requirement for a christian: believe in Jesus, True God n True Man, begotten, Not Made. 2nd person of the divine Trinity.

It says in Acts 4:12 if we don't have a revelation of who Jesus really is we won't be saved.Matt.1:21,Acts10:43,Zech.14:9,Luke 24:47 these verses also show this as well.

Are you familiar with acts 11:26 ? the disciples hence learning of Christs ways which would consist of learning that He is the SON OF GOD who died for our sins is God. Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch for a year and taught and the disciples were there called christians ok well based on what Paul writes in Colossians 1:15-16 And He is the image of the invisible God,the first born of all creation.

For by Him all things were created,both in the heavens and on earth,visible and invisible,wether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created by Him and for Him. As well in John it says In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.And yet again Jesus said he who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father as well ....I am not sure how one can claim to be christian and not acknowledge these verses let alone that He also told Philip Have I been with you so long and yet you have not come to know Me Philip ?He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say show us the Father?

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me?The words I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative,but the Father abiding in Me does His works. What you refute is as blind as saying well yeah sure it says do not commit adultery and if you so much as look at a woman with lust in your heart you are guilty of adultery but I still have not found where it says not to masturbate it kind of goes with the territory bud.

For many deceivers have gone out into the world WHO DO NOT CONFESS JESUS CHRIST AS COMING IN THE FLESH. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 2 Jn. 7

You believe this.

Jesus was only a perfect man, NOT GOD IN FLESH, Reasoning from the Scriptures,

1985, pp. 306.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:

GOD WAS MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH(JESUS),

Justified in the Spirit,

Seen by angels,

Preached among the Gentiles,

Believed on in the world,

Received up in glory. 1 Tim. 3:16

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

And the WORD(JESUS) BECAME FLESH and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. JN. 1:14

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Col. 2:9

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Ex. 3:14

Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Jn. 8:58

God (Jesus) can't lie. Titus 1:2

If you don't have the Biblical Christ, then you are following the christ (created angel) of the watchtower and in turn are preaching another gospel and masquerading as an angel of light.

Jesus was Michael the archangel who became a man, The Watchtower, May 15,

1963, p. 307; The New World, 284.

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. Gal. 1:6-9

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 2 Cor. 11:13-15

Christian: followers of the Christ. The name Christian implies that those who call themselves Christian believe that Jesus is God. Surely, Christians worship Jesus as God.

No Bible passages are needed to figure this one out. Some things are self-explanatory.

Whether or not JW's want to call themselves Christians is up to them. Whether or not they believe themselves to be Christian is up to them also. If they believe that Jesus was not God in the flesh, that is up to them. But that change from the Christian point of view is not acceptable and so JW's can not call themselves Christians.

Personally they can be whatever they want to be. And call themselves whatever they want to. Likewise I can view their beliefs as not being Christian. Either way it doesn't matter much.