Has any trinitarian these days ever come across an argument for proof of the deity of Christ that goes like this:
score:4
I have never heard any Trinitarian put forward such a simplistic argument. The first hurdle to clear is to define “God”. The second hurdle is to define what is meant by “Jesus saves”. Let me attempt to answer your question by turning it round.
The God of Christianity is the eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, creator and sustainer of time, space, matter and life.
If Jesus is not God incarnate, just a created human (or a created angel) then he could not be God.
If only God can save then He alone is the author of salvation.
What does the Bible say? Jesus created and sustains the universe (John 1:2; Colossians 1:16-17). This becomes clear when one considers YHWH said He was alone during creation (Isaiah 44:24). Christ possesses attributes that only deity can have: eternality (John 8:58), omnipresence (Matthew 18:20, 28:20), omniscience (Matthew 16:21), and omnipotence (John 11:38-44).
If only God can save, then why does the Bible say Jesus has the right to forgive sins – something only God can do – as it is God who is offended by sin (Acts 5:31; Colossians 3:13; Psalm 130:4; Jeremiah 31:34).
The Old Testament title “redeemer” (Psalm 130:7; Hosea 13:14) is used of Jesus in the New Testament (Titus 2:13; Revelation 5:9).
In Zechariah 12:10, it is YHWH who says, “They will look on me, the one they have pierced.” The New Testament applies this to Jesus’ crucifixion (John 19:37; Revelation 1:7). If it is YHWH who is pierced and looked upon, and Jesus was the one pierced and looked upon, then Jesus is YHWH.
Examples of Scriptures that teach the deity of Christ are many (see Revelation 1:17, 2:8, 22:13; 1 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Peter 2:6-8; Psalm 18:2, 95:1; 1 Peter 5:4; Hebrews 13:20.)
Trinitarians understand that Jesus saves, he is our redeemer and is the eternal, uncreated Son of God who was made incarnate and shares the same names, titles and attributes as God the Father. Yes, Jesus saves because Jesus is God.
Upvote:2
An argument could also be made similarly.
- The only entity that can save anyone (defined as ensuring eternal life with God because sins are paid for) is God.
- Jesus saves.
- Therefore, Jesus is God.
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Source: stackoverflow.com
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