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ASSERTIONS AND CLAIMS

A First, Second, or Third Quest for the historical Jesus is ludicrous and should be dismissed and ignored because the Quests are predicated on suppositions that are inconsistent with orthodox Christology. The Quests claim that Jesus was ignorant in His knowledge and frustrated in the historical developments surrounding Him that were inconsistent with His expectations. It is obvious that such verbiage does not take the Text seriously, but uses the Text to justify personal viewpoints.

In opposition to the above imprudence are the assertions and claims of Christ in the New Testament, which are dogmatic and absolute; there is no possibility of misunderstanding them. Acceptance or rejection are the only options; there is no middle ground.

The following affirmations are attributed to Christ, affirmations about Himself. The comprehensiveness and finality of what He claimed justifies serious consideration. Anyone who speaks like this must either be careful evaluated or dismissed completely. These assertions and claims come from the book of John; by no means is this an exhaustive list:

You shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man (1:51);

Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up (2:19, 21-22);

No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven (3:13);

But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life (4:14);

I who speak to you am He (4:26; see v. 25);

My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work (4:34);

My Father has been working until now, and I have been working (5:17);

The Son gives life to whom He will (5:21);

The Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son (5:22);

I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me (5:30);

The Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me (5:39);

I have come in My Father’s name (5:43);

I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst (6:35);

I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me (6:38);

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him (6:43);

He who believes in Me has everlasting life (6:47);

The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life (6:63);

My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me (7:16);

But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me (7:29);

I am the light of the world (8:12; 9:5; 12:46);

If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also (8:19);

The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him (8:29);

Before Abraham was, I AM (8:58);

I am the door of the sheep (10:7);

I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep (1011);

I and My Father are one (10:30);

Believe that the Father is in Me and I in Him (10:38);

I am the resurrection and the life (11:25);

I did not come to judge the world but to save the world (12:47);

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am (13:14);

 am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me (14:6);

en the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me (15:26);

I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; again, I leave the world and go to the Father (16:28);

My kingdom is not of this world (18:36);

Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice (18:37).


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