Just for the record, I truly respect your answer but, I didn't want the "book" version response. I was asking a simple question for your true "self" response. What do "YOU" think, in the here and now, not a past tense "book" thought. Try again. This time you answer. And if that was "your" answer, then thanks. Interesting...I think I'm beginning to like this site. Learn something new everyday.

The Bible teaches us that Jesus had a pre-human existence. He was directly created by Jehovah God. Then through Jesus all other things came into existence, as Jehovah gave him power to do so as His Master Worker. (Prov. 8:22-31)

So when the Bible tells us that Jesus is Jehovah's Son, he is just that, God's Son. He was the perfect image of his Father in that he imitated Him perfectly. Ever hear the saying 'like Father, like Son'? Well this is the ultimate example. So much so that Jesus said that if you have seen him then you have seen the Father.

This means that the miracles he performed in the Bible accounts are real! What wonderful news that is for us, because it is a preview of what is to come.

Jesus came to earth to die for us. He proved that it is possible to keep our integrity to God despite temptations from Satan. He gave his life on a torture stake to pay an equal ransom to the life Adam lost in Eden. And to all those who follow Christ's teachings will be blessed with the prospect of never dying!

Since we are in a discussion forum which discusses spiritual matters, you should expect to get Biblical answers to your questions. This is the only way to know what God feels about things.

If you choose to learn about God one thing that you will learn is that we are created to be in subjection to God. We are created to be guided by him.

"I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step" Jeremiah 10:23

This being said, a true Christian will never give a reply based on their own thoughts. Even Jesus taught what his Father asked him to. Our thoughts are not reliable enough (because of our inborn tendancy to sin, and the effect that the world around us has on our conscience) to get the right answer. But because Jehovah God is our Creator, he knows what is best for us.

"This is what Jehovah has said, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: "I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit [yourself], the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk. O if only you would actually pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea." Isaiah 48:17, 18.

Hey bs: I like the "portal" idea. I, too, have wrestled with the "Son of..." idea. To address the book-reviewers, scripture actually doesn't say Jesus is God, just that Jesus is "of God". So... I know that I go back and forth on a continuum of belief that has Jesus completely in sync with God in a way that few humans ever are and extend that concept to him being just a great teacher who shook things up enough that we still can't stop talking about him. A friend recently said to me (on this topic), "No matter who I think Jesus was, he is still my saviour. Without Jesus in my life, I would never have made the choices I've made... the choices that have made me healthy and sane and happy." This is not a born-again fundamentalist type of person either... just a faithful and questioning Christian. So I think that is what I can say as well... Jesus is important... so important the my life is changed because of all he represents...

Deacondawg,

Your thoughts are commedable. You are so right. The Bible doesn't teach that Jesus is God. His is God's Son. Not God the Son, either. He is just Jehovah God's Son.

He willingly left his heavenly position next to his Father to save us. He NEVER claimed equality with his Father and he ALWAYS did, not his will, but his Father's wll. Jesus even admitts that there are things that he doesn't know that the the Father (Jehovah) does!

Feel free to wondermail me if you care to know more.