Christians help me out here?

From the Gospel of John 10:

15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father;

30"I and the Father are one."

And then in John 14:

believe in God, believe also in Me.

2“In My Father’s house...

6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11“Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me;

13“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14“If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.

In the above quotes, we see Jesus very clearly claiming to be God. "I and the Father and One."

But then we see in John 14:28

I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.

This is the passage that gets people up in arms. What scripture tells us is the Jesus was 100% fully human, and 100% fully divine. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." - John 1:1

and then

"The Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us." John 1:14

Jesus Christ IS God, but "Who, being in very nature God, did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, He emptied himself and took the form of a slave." - Philippians 2:6-7

Jesus Is God, but was fully human (which is not God) at the same time. Does this make sense?

why not start off with psalm 91 :11 and then to Hebrews 1:14 where the angels are allowed to minister to us .

Abraham interceded to the lord on behalf of the sodomites

moses interceded on behalf of those in the desert

mary intercedes for us as the mother of the king ."the almighty has done great things for me" .Luke 1:49

I think the confusion lies in the terms "mediator" and "intercessor." Here's a visual I like to use to help explain this difference:

A mediator stands between you and authority (God the Father, in this case). A mediator stands in front of you to act as a go-between.

An intercessor stands beside you to intercede for you to the mediator, as all Christians do for one another. The fact that they are in heaven already does not diminish this role; in fact, it helps because they are already in heaven, in the actual presence of the Father. God is the God of the living after all, and not the dead.

So the difference is the intercessors are all on your level (human) but the mediator is above your level (human and divine). It is also important to remember that Catholics do not have to ask Saints for intercession; it is optional. Saints have their particular areas of influence because since they were faithful in smaller things, they are now rewarded with greater things. Finally, tell doubters to look at Revelation 5, where the 24 elders in heaven bring bowls of incense, which are the prayers of believers, to the altar of God as incense. How did they get those prayers? Did God give the elders the prayers just to give back to Him, or did the prayers go to the elders first to be brought to God?

What we have, then, is Jesus, fully human and fully divine, who paid the price for sin (which is death), mediating our salvation and judgment, which He alone can do. God has given the intercessor-ship to the faithful already in heaven.

You are confused with the Trinity - the threefold manifestation of God

To understand scripture, you MUST consider BOTH Jesus the man AND Jesus the Son of God

Thats the only way

Thats why in scripture Jesus is identified BOTH as the Son of God AND the Son of man

JESUS THE MAN IS THE ONLY MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN - AND THATS BECAUSE JESUS OF THE FLESH WAS BOTH MAN AND GOD

THAT MAKES HIM THE PERFECT AND ONLY MEDIATOR

I want to help you understand. If you have other questions then please ask them. Thats what R&S is for.

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I now see another aspect of your question

Catholics believe that God will more likely hear and address their prayers IF they pray to or through Mary and the saints. But there is not a word of scripture that supports such a a belief. It is manmade doctrine - not the word of God which states that God hears only prayers made through his Son Jesus Christ. Mary and the saints CANNOT HEAR PRAYERS - MUCH LESS ANSWER THEM.

Jhn 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Jhn 14:14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Jhn 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Jhn 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

It is because you Never gave your heart to Jesus you have tried to be a Christian walking in your flesh. The flesh and the devil always agree.

If you had really given your heart to Jesus you would have sought after Jesus to be more like Him instead you post these insulting message and questions on the yahoo board to show your disgust.

remember this God is not mocked what you sow you will receive back and your destruction will come if you do not repent for coming against all that is holy.

You are Not God and your thoughts are not of God they are of the devil.

REPENT

Let me make this as simple as possible for you to understand. Jesus, His Church and the Bible teaches tht Jesus is the one mediator between God the Father and man. His greatest act of mediation was from the cross where He redeemed mankind before the Father. No one can be a mediator but Jesus who is the 2nd person of the Trinity of the one God. All Christians are intercessors in that we are called to love one another and we do this best by prayer for one another. We practice among the Church militant who are those of us on earth with hope for salvation, The Church suffering are bound for their heavenly hope of which we all share. The Church Triumphant are those who have received the gift of salvation and represent our hope as the Church Militant. Since the Church Triumphant are before the throne of God and are our heavenly saints they lift up our prayers to God and intercede for us instead of mediate for us which only Christ can or has done. The Bible says that the intercession of the saints are of great benefit to us. So, "mediation" are two different actions carried out by Jesus (Mediator) and saints (intercessors). God bless!

In Christ

Fr.Joseph

Family of God all called God. All are one working together

1. God the Creator or Father

2. Jesus Son of God (Fully man and fully God)

3. God the Holy Spirit (The working arm of God)

Jesus is called our Advocate, (mediator) which means lawyer. He is our defense lawyer before God between us and the accusations of satan in this world.

1 John 2:1 KJV My G3450 little children, G5040 these things G5023 write I G1125 unto you, G5213 that G3363 G0 ye sin G264 not. G3363 And G2532 if G1437 any man G5100 sin, G264 we have G2192 an advocate G3875 with G4314 the Father, G3962 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 the righteous: G1342

advocate = word # G3875 in The Greek Dictionary of The Strong's Concordance http://www.blbclassic.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm...

1.summoned, called to one's side, esp. called to one's aid

1.one who pleads another's cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate

2.one who pleads another's cause with one, an intercessor

1.of Christ in his exaltation at God's right hand, pleading with God the Father for the pardon of our sins

3.in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant

1.of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom

God gave us instructions on how to live well while we are here in this flesh. No one, except for Jesus Christ, has lived without falling short of those instructions. When we fall short and we feel the accuser, satan, accusing us, Jesus Christ made it possible to sincerely repent to God in prayer directly. Once God has forgiven us of a sin, if we bring it up again to Him, then we are doubting His ability to keep His promises, we are lacking faith in Him to make us new and give us a new start. We remember our own sins so hopefully we remember why that is not a good way to go.

Hebrews 2:14 KJV Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 4:11 KJV Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 12:2 KJV Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are all God. The Word of God became a man on this earth by the miracle conception involving The Holy Spirit and through a normal birth, involving the woman Mary. Jesus came to the earth to die in our place for our sins to show us how much He loves us.

The scriptures bear abundant testimony that Jesus Christ is God. I believe the Bible 100%. It is the word of God. If we don't believe it, Jesus is of no effect to us and we are still in our sins."

-

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And THE WORD WAS MADE 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."

--John 1:1-4, 14

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD was manifest in the FLESH, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, BELIEVED ON in the world, RECEIVED UP into glory."

--1 Timothy 3:16

"But unto the SON he saith, 'Thy throne, O GOD, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom'...And, 'Thou, LORD, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands."

-- Hebrews 1:8, 10

"I and my Father are ONE."

--Jesus Christ, John 10:30

"...CHRIST JESUS...being in the FORM OF GOD, thought it not robbery to be EQUAL WITH GOD: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

--Philippians 2:5-8

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the FATHER, THE WORD, AND THE HOLY GHOST: and THESE THREE ARE ONE."

--1 John 5:7

"... feed the church of GOD, which he hath purchased with his OWN BLOOD."

--Acts 20:28

"Hereby perceive we the love of GOD, because he LAID DOWN HIS LIFE for us...

--1 John 3:16

"And they stoned Stephen, calling upon GOD, and saying, LORD JESUS, receive my spirit."

--Acts 7:59

"And Thomas answered and said unto him [JESUS], My Lord and MY GOD."

--John 20:28

"For unto us A CHILD IS BORN, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, The Prince of Peace."

--Isaiah 9:6

"Philip saith unto him, 'Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.' Jesus saith unto him, 'Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me Philip? HE THAT HATH SEEN ME HATH SEEN THE FATHER; and how sayest thou then, 'Shew us the Father?''"

-- John 14:8-9

...CHRIST, who is the IMAGE OF GOD..."

--II Corinthians 4:4

"...glory of GOD in the FACE OF JESUS CHRIST."

--II Corinthians 4:6

"GOD...hath in these last days spoken unto us by his SON...who being the brightness of his glory, and the EXPRESS IMAGE OF HIS PERSON..."

--Hebrews 1:1-3

THESE PEOPLE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS WAS GOD AND THOUGHT HE BLASPHEMED WHEN HE TOLD THE TRUTH.

"The Jews answered [Jesus], saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."

-- John 10:33

When the Word of God became a man on the earth, He made Himself to be God's servant and under His Father's authority.

He is a mediator because he his half man, half god. God is very removed from man. This was his way to bridge the divide. Sort of like having a translator communicate for people who speak different languages from each other. In general, God doesn't speak directly to man. He uses angles or bushes, etc. Jesus was supposed to 'mediate' so both sides could meaningfully converse through him. Also, he will be the one to judge us at the end of the world (so he will mediate then as well).

Because he is half god, he is above a saint. A saint is full human who rises to a very small level of divinity (which is still a whole lot more than human) through their actions.

Jesus being God is a bit more complex. God has three forms (Father, Son, Holy Ghost). It is kind of like manifestations. Like all are water, but the Father is ice, the son is liquid, and the Holy Ghost is steam. The Father is an entity, the son is divinity in man, and the holy Ghost is God's force that exists in all things he creates. It's just one God in the sense of it is all water, and it takes on differences in how it manifests in our world.