KMG, if this doesn't fit the scope of the thread, let me know and I will delete it.
Good News From God!
Lesson 4
Who Is Jesus Christ?
1. How did Jesus’ life begin?
Unlike any other human, Jesus lived in heaven as a spirit person before he was born on earth. (John 8:23) He was God’s first creation, and he helped in the creation of all other things. He is the only one created directly by Jehovah and is therefore appropriately called God’s “only-begotten” Son. (John 1:14) Jesus served as God’s Spokesman, so he is also called “the Word.”—Read Proverbs 8:22, 23,30;Colossians 1:15, 16.
(
Reasoning from the Scripture page 218) Reasonably, then, the
archangel Michael is Jesus Christ... So the evidence indicates that the Son of God was
known as Michael before he came to earth and is
known also by that name since his return to heaven where he resides as the glorified spirit Son of God.
This is an example of how the JW's false teachings go. If this isn't a complete contradiction in teaching, I don't know what is.
How did Jesus' life begin? They teach that "
JESUS" lived in heaven before He was born on earth. They teach that "
JESUS" is God's first creation and He helped create all other things. They teach that "
JESUS" is the only one created directly by God. And through Jesus everything else was created. (This teaching is on their website under GOOD NEWS FROM GOD.)
In their book, Reasoning from the Scriptures on page 218 sub heading, "Is Jesus Christ the same person as Michael the Archangel?" we find this teaching, "
Archangel Michael is Jesus Christ." "
Evidence indicates that the Son of God was known as Michael "
BEFORE"
He came to earth and is known also by that name "SINCE HIS RETURN" to heaven." If Jesus was known as Michael "
BEFORE" He came to earth, and known as Michael now, since His "
RETURN" to heaven, then the "EVIDENCE" indicates that Michael was God's first creation, not Jesus. God created everything else through Michael, not Jesus. And "EVIDENCE" indicates that it will be Michael coming back, not Jesus. Unless Jesus is playing two different roles. While He's in heaven He's Michael, but when He leaves heaven He's Jesus. But that can't be, because the Bible clearly says, Hebrew 13:8 (ESVST) 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
If I'm not interpreting the two contradicting teachings, please show me where I have missed it.
Let me give you the reply I posted on the other thread......since you obviously didn't "like" what I said.
"What you fail to understand is that Jesus can carry more than one title or name at a time. Names were not labels, but identified a spiritual aspect of the nature of the one bearing it. Jesus has several roles. The Father does not.
Michael: (Miʹcha·el) means "Who Is Like God?"
Logos: (meaning “Word”) is a title given to Jesus Christ.
Any message from the Creator, such as one uttered through a prophet, is also “the word of God.”
Jesus: (
Ye·shuʹaʽ or
Yehoh·shuʹaʽ) means “Jehovah Is Salvation”
Messiah: From the Hebrew root verb
ma·shachʹ, meaning “smear,” and so “anoint.” (
Ex 29:2, 7) Messiah (
ma·shiʹach) means “anointed” or “anointed one.” The Greek equivalent is
Khri·stosʹ, or Christ.—
Mt 2:4, ftn.
Lord: The Greek and Hebrew words rendered “lord” (or such related terms as “sir,” “owner,” “master”) are used with reference to Jehovah God (
Eze 3:11), Jesus Christ (
Mt 7:21), one of the elders seen by John in vision (
Re 7:13, 14), angels (
Ge 19:1, 2; Da 12:8), men (
1Sa 25:24; Ac 16:16, 19, 30), and false deities (
1Co 8:5). Often the designation “lord” denotes one who has ownership or authority and power over persons or things. (
Ge 24:9; 42:30; 45:8, 9; 1Ki 16:24; Lu 19:33;Ac 25:26; Eph 6:5) This title was applied by Sarah to her husband (
Ge 18:12), by children to their fathers (
Ge 31:35; Mt 21:28, 29), and by a younger brother to his older brother (
Ge 32:5, 6). It appears as a title of respect addressed to prominent persons, public officials, prophets, and kings. (
Ge 23:6; 42:10; Nu 11:28; 2Sa 1:10; 2Ki 8:10-12; Mt 27:63) When used in addressing strangers, “lord,” or “sir,” served as a title of courtesy.—
Joh 12:21; 20:15; Ac 16:30.
Whatever role Jesus is found in, the name (or title) he bears is a reflection of that role. It isn't like we in the English speaking world having only one name for all of our lives. Most of the time the meaning of our names is of little consequence.....it isn't like that in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Yahweh is the only one in the scriptures who has a name that never changes. (Ex 3:15) He has various titles, like his son, but he never changes his name."
Jesus has several names and his roles can overlap. As the Logos, he can still be Michael. He is rightly addressed as "Lord" and "Savior" whilst still bearing the name Jesus the Christ. As Jesus Christ he was still the Logos (God's spokesman)
The scripture that you quoted from "Hebrew 13:8 (ESVST) 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" cannot mean what you are saying because before his human birth, Jesus Christ did not exist. Since he was only given that name at the time of his human birth, his role in heaven before coming to earth determined his name. We believe he was Micheal. It is a belief though, not a doctrine. It is not categorically stated in the scriptures and nothing would change in our overall belief system if Michael proved not to be Jesus Christ. All we know for certain is that Jesus is NOT Almighy God.
Can you show us one scripture where either God or his Christ ever made a direct statement to that effect? For such an important doctrine, wouldn't you think there would be at least one categorical, non negotiable statement that there was a three in one godhead where all three shared in an equal triune existence? Wouldn't you think that the Jews would have known to expect God to become a human and offer his life in sacrifice for them? Surely their scriptures would have told them about such an exciting event? But this is not the case.
