I thought I would spend this article responding to more arguments with have been raised, specifically one's that were raised in DACON9's room on the 4th of January 2015 and I hope to address the arguments here to the best of my ability by God's grace.
Rabbi Akiva and why Jesus died on the cross?
The question raised in the room asked why Jesus said what he said on the cross if he was God and pointed out there were Jews that went to their deaths singing or listening to music.
Jesus' death however was not just physical death, but possible spiritual death when he was on the cross. For a time, Christ bore the wrath of God on the cross when he took our sins. He was quoting from Psalm 22 when he said, "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?" Psalm 22 is addressed here: http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/examination-of-some-arguments-raised-by.html
This isn't to say that the Jews, Rabbi Akiva included, never went through a horrible experience, but physical death of ANYONE, pales in comparison to what Jesus had to suffer, namely the bearing of our sins on the cross and God the Father pouring out his wrath on him, The sinless Son of God dying in our place so we don't have to go to hell and pay for our sin there, Again, Jesus never went to hell just to make clear.
(The Word Faith preachers teach the evil heresy that Jesus went to hell, which didn't happen. Jesus went to Sheol, NOT to Hell.)
How could Jesus be God and Son of God when he was cut off?
When we say Jesus was God, we do NOT mean he is the Father in heaven. You have God the Son on the cross dying for our sins, appeasing the wrath of the Father.
Read the following paper "Classical Anti-Trinitarian Objections": http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/classical-trinitarian-objections.html
For more information on Jesus death and Deity, watch Sam Shamoun's teaching on this issue here: DoctorTauheed's Painful Exposure by Sam Shamoun part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWBgZ8BXRwg&list=PLF7qgivEmRdfrdM5Tmkk4rbfnOg_LvXQZ
Where was Jesus from the ages of 10-12 to 33.
Jews would of taken up the trade of their father in those days. Jesus himself would of spent most of his life as a carpenter up until the age of 30, when he was called for his ministry. He dies at the age of 33 and rises from the dead.
We don't need to know where he went considering most of his life focused on his carpentry and not his ministry.
Where did Jesus say he died for your sins?
Jesus in Mark 10:45 and Matthew 20:28 states that he came as a RANSOM for many. He indicated throughout his ministry that the Son of Man must suffer many things, die and be raised to life.
Jesus doesn't have explicitly say such, he just simply has to make the point clear.
Read the following on the "Pauline" Conspiracy:
http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/pauline-conspiracy-examining-claims-of.html
http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/pauline-conspiracy-examining-claims-of_30.html
http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/pauline-conspiracy-examining-claims-of_31.html
Read also Contra Blumenthal on the issue of Acts 21:
http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/contra-blumenthal-examination-of-contra.html
Does the NT tell us to seek a carnal lifestyle
The answer is a no.
"1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[d] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."
Pleasure is not the highest calling of the Christian life. While there may be debates about certain issues such as hobbies, sports, movies etc as to whether or not a Christian can do these things or not, Regardless of such, they are NOT the highest calling of Christian people. Any supposed "Romans" who tell the Jews to seek pleasure rather than spirituality and holiness, to put it mildly have no idea what they are talking about.
For that matter, THE WHOLE of life is to be sanctified to the LORD, Not just the religious part. For example. Any hobby you have, you may need to ask yourself if it pleases God and to make sure it doesn't violate your conscience.
Bottom line, HOLINESS IS VITAL to the Christian.
See the documentary called "Joel Osteen: Origins & Errors of His Teaching (a Film by Keith Thompson)": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_CRWZNUkrk
Who wrote the Gospels
The authors were who they said they were and may have dictated to others to write their gospels down. Can anyone be sure that the TANAKH itself was written by the prophets or dictated by them to others if we hold to TANAKH AND the NT to the same standard which we should?
I recommend all to read this article by Keith Thompson on this issue:
http://www.reformedapologeticsministries.com/2012/02/who-wrote-gospels-internal-and-external.html
Was Mary considered a prostitute? Gynecology report?
There were Gossip mongerers recorded in the NT that claimed Mary was a prostitute or a woman of not so noble stock because of the pregnancy. However, no evidence exists to demonstrate that she was a whore.
Let's look at the context of Matthew 1 and Luke 1:
"18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But 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. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[g] (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."
Joseph was fully aware of Mary's immaculate conception but others around them may not be so understanding and thus he intended to seek a quiet divorce rather than needlessly shame and embarrass Mary. The angel came to him and told him not to worry and marry her.
"Luke 1:26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[b] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her."
Mary was approached by the angel and comforted despite what had transpired. Here we see Mary herself was not guilty of the very charge of prostitution here. The angel's words to here are not "I know you are not a virgin, don't lie, this child was conceived because of your prostitution but God will use him for a purpose", he instead says that she will give birth to a son, WITH NO SEXUAL CONTACT WHATSOEVER. Just read verse 35-37 to see how the angel responded.
Some may claim Mary was lying, But for what reason would she lie? Also, How would one assert ONLY Mary saw it, Joseph witnessed it as well. But certainly I am happy to set up a page where many people can talk this issue out. There are two options, Either the angel who came to her was telling the truth, or he set up a satanic deception. I am inclined to think it was the former.
As for providing a gynecology report, that is nothing more than a facetious comment, a case of throwing sand in the air and to be honest is a red herring.
500 people together
A supposed claim was made that Jews could not meet together in groups higher than five in the days of the Romans or something of that nature. What document says this? and even if this was the case, Jesus appeared over the course of 6 weeks, spotted 12 times by 500, not spotted by 500 at the same time. This argument against the resurrection really has no weight.
Now before anyone claims the resurrection doesn't validate Jesus' claims and that he stands condemned by Deuteronomy 13, read the following papers on this topic:
http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/deuteronomy-13-question-of-vindication.html
http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/deuteronomy-13-question-of-vindication-2.html
http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/spiritual-experiences-what-can-they.html
Keith Thompson in response to Muslim Apologist Ibn Anwar, makes a strong case regarding the 500 that Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 15:6:
http://www.reformedapologeticsministries.com/2012/09/the-historicity-of-appearance-to-500-in.html
What is Satan
One of beliefs found in Rabbinic Judaism about Satan and other angels is the fact they do not possess free will. Satan himself in Rabbinic Judaism is not considered to be an enemy, but as a matter of fact is actually considered a helper, by that I mean he actually helps others not to sin and not only this, the concept of a fallen angel is a foreign concept. Whether this is a widespread Rabbinic belief I would need to check and you would need to check also.
First, God gives free will not only to the human race, but also to the angels themselves. An angel turning against God doesn't make God weak or anything like that. The angels that fell had a choice and to put it a certain way. They chose.... poorly, as did Adam and Eve, with the main difference being humans are given a chance to repent, whereas salvation is not available to the fallen angels, who were perfectly aware of the glory of God and spurned it anyway. There is no salvation for demons.
Satan did have the job of reporting sins in the book of Job, hence why he appeared before God but by the time that Job occured, Satan had become so cynical that he cannot believe man would love God for his own sake.
If Satan was going to be kicked out of heaven, he would drag humanity down with him and he appeared as a serpent in the garden, tempting Eve.
Read the following for more information:
http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/gods-sovereignty-and-mans-free-will-do.html
http://answering-judaism.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/adam-eve-and-fall-response-to-sophiee.html
I hope these objections have been addressed adequately, thanks for reading.
Answering Judaism.
Ps, Edit 8th of January 2015: I meant to say that the "This isn't to say the Jews never went through a horrible experience" but forgot to add the never.
The error has been corrected.
Edit 15th of April 2015. I thought Immanuel Schochet was arguing the same as DACON9, but after listening to the recording, He wasn't. My apologies I misheard and my apologies to anyone who was mislead.
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