by Mike Edwards
Most likely know Christ wasn’t Jesus’ last name. Jesus the Christ was referring to Jesus as the Messiah (anointed one). But many think or hear Christ referred to as our “Savior” (aka a ticket from Hell to Heaven). Or dying on the Cross to appease God’s wrath. I would suggest the Bible actually portrays Jesus the Christ differently.
Jesus can’t save us from an non-existent Hell
There is no word in Hebrew or Greek for “hell.” Gehenna, the Greek word translated as Hell in the New Testament, was the name of a real valley near Jerusalem with a history of terrible, ending slaughter. Gehenna is best translated Gehenna just as Mount Everest is best translated Mount Everest. Jesus used Gehenna to illustrate that spiritual death is as tragic as physical death. The idea that a loving God lights you on fire and doesn’t let the fire go out in the afterlife because of beliefs while here on earth for a short time makes no moral sense. Hell isn’t biblical. See 12 Reasons To Believe Hell Is A Myth!
Jesus didn’t die for God’s sake
So, Jesus didn’t die to save you from Hell. The Cross is God’s attempt to save us from ourselves, not from God’s wrath. The Cross was an attempt to change our mind, not God’s. How is killing one child for other children justice? God requiring violence opposes God’s non-violent nature. God didn’t kill Jesus; we did. God seeks to empower us to be the unselfish people we deep down desire to be. Maybe Jesus thought dying unjustly, rather than miraculously jumping off the Cross, revealed evil and God’s willingness to suffer with us and help. Who kills someone for simply claiming to be God? Many of us need to feel forgiven for the behaviors we have committed. God is dying to forgive you of wrong doing in hopes to inspire you to change for your interests and the interests of others. God seeks to earn our love so to encourage us to pursue heavenly than worldly ways here on earth. See Jesus Didn’t Die To Save You From Hell – Why Then?
What kind of God sees how the world has turned out and doesn’t just say the Hell with it, but enters a world to experience underserved suffering via the Cross to inspire and relate?
Biblical Proof Jesus came to save us from ourselves not God
A rich person asked how to have eternal life. Jesus said sell everything and follow me. (Mark 10: 17-31) Surely Jesus’ point was to love people more than possessions. What does following Jesus mean? When asked what was the greatest commandments, Jesus only said to love God and your neighbors (Mark 12:30-31). What! Not drop to your knees and ask for forgiveness! Loving God leads to loving others. Jesus’ main message was living a life worth living.
What is Christlike behavior?
Jesus obviously sought to influence us how to love and influence in our relationships. Jesus didn’t mandate but invited belief to receive such help. Christlike love can be complicated at times. How do we love an addict? Do we constantly force they get help or do we let them go to hit bottom. Many proclaim the main love behavior is to forgive. I believe there is a time to forgive or not. The Bible may actually support this. See here. Think of our relationship with Christ not as saving us from hell but challenging us to consider being the person we deep down desire to be toward others, and the way we want others to treat us.
Mike Edwards was added as a writer and has been a great addition to the site. Mike provides many interesting views and various ways of looking at things. He is not afraid to ask questions and he keeps an open mind as to teachings of the institutional church. Mike also has his own site where he writes at What God May Really Be Like
Done with Religion 