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How would you respond to someone who says that Jesus Christ was a wonderful teacher but nothing more?
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Let’s look at what the Bible says about Jesus and what He says about Himself.
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I would tell the person that I disagree with them. Yes, Jesus is a wonderful teacher, but he is so much more and just a wonderful teacher. I would point them back to scripture, especially the one where he died on the cross for our sins. Galatians 1:4. I would also share many of the miracles that he performed. He is definitely more than a wonderful teacher.
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Christ made claims about Himself that are so incredible that if not true, then He must be considered delusional or deceptive. CS Lewis put it, that either He is a lunatic, a liar, or, if truthful, Lord. We cannot receive His loving and powerful teachings, His miraculous works for the suffering, His claims of perfection and deity, and downgrade Him to just a good teacher among other good teachers. He doesn’t give us that option. Either we believe Him and all His claims or we reject Him. But don’t patronize Him and call yourself sincere.
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If Christ was just a wonderful teacher, our faith is in vain. Because He rose from the grave, because He is GOD the Son, is why I am able to confidently teach my students He was fully God and fully man. He lived on earth to die for our sins and rise again to give us eternal life. No other “wonderful teacher” has been able to accomplish that!
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I would go to Jesus’ claim of being the Son of God. For Him to be a wonderful teacher, He would not be making a claim that He knows to be untrue. There is no middle ground on Jesus’ identity.