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What is it: Christ is born in Bethlehem....or instead: Christ was born in Bethlehem? Christ is risen, or instead: Christ has risen? Let's keep our tenses straight, lest outsiders think we're nuts.

One of the cable-TV serials I occasionally surf into on Sunday evening is a program called Coming Home broadcast by the Catholic EWTN network, in which the moderator almost seems to gloat in competitive rivalry (his version of "contending for the faith"?) while hearing the confessions of infidel protestants who have regressed into ritualistic and extra-biblical-traditions catholicism.

It's worse than hearing dissension between Green Bay Packer versus Minnesota Viking fans, or those fervently in favor of the Detroit Lions against flag-wavers and foot-stompers for the Chicago Bears.

As I see it, it's more like the comparison between (Catholic-type) John the Baptist (fully vested in clergical collar and ornate robe, with M.Div. in hand from Dallas, Fuller, Notre Dame, or Princeton?) and his later-born (Protestant-type) cousin and former-12-year-old-synagogue-whiz-kid Jesus Christ.

Before I get into a discussion about on what grounds and not what grounds everyone will be judged on the Matthew-chapter-25/Revelation-chapter-20 Judgment Day, let's see what John said of Jesus, and conversely, what Jesus said of John.

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known.
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
20 He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" And he answered, "No."
22 They said to him then, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."
24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.
25 They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing [being neither United Baptist, Southern Baptist, American Baptist or Lutheran sprinklers], if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?"
26 John answered them, "I baptize with water; but among you stands One whom you do not know,
27 even He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Hey, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, for He was before me [even though cousin John was born of Elizabeth first].'
31 I myself did not know Him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that He might be revealed to Israel."
32 And John bore witness, "I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on Him [not the virgin Mary nor Augustine nor Jerome].
33 I myself did not know Him; but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'
34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples;
36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, "Hey, the Lamb of God!"
37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus [though not Mary nor Peter Pope nor Athenasius].

Now, after John had been arrested because of Herodias and was incarcerated in prison before being beheaded, (catholic-like) John the Baptist apparently had a faith relapse, and contradictorily was doubting or questioning his own previous assertion about his (protestant-like) cousin Jesus that Jesus was "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" and "this is the Son of God."

Matt 11:2 Now when John heard in prison about the works of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples
3 and said to Him, "Are you he who is to come ["to come?" - when and why and where?], or shall we look for another?"
4 And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see:
5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
6 And blessed is he who takes no offense at Me [and John sure was needlessly? offensive to Herodias the adulteress]."
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds regarding (not "concerning") John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to observe and ponder? A reed shaken by the wind?
8 Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment [or only immodestly wearing a speedo?]? Hey, those who wear soft raiment are in kings' houses.
9 Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet [fully vested in clergical collar and ornate robe, with M.Div. in hand from Dallas, Fuller, Notre Dame, or Princeton?].
10 This is he of whom it is written, 'Hey, I send my messenger before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You.'
11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
14 and if you are willing to accept it [and if not: tough!], he is Elijah who is to come ["to come?" - when and why and where?].
15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear [and people certainly would look funny without ears].

Luke 7:19 And John, calling to him two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?"
20 And when the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, 'Are you he who is to come(?), or shall we look for another?'"
21 In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many that were blind he bestowed sight.
22 And He answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.
23 And blessed is he who takes no offense at Me."
24 When the messengers of John had gone, he began to speak to the crowds regarding (not concerning) John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind?
25 What then did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Hey, those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.
26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
27 This is he of whom it is written, 'Hey, I send my messenger before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You.'
28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
29 When they heard this all the people and the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John;
30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

So "the law was given through Moses but grace and truth through Jesus Christ?"

Does that mean that "the law" (given through Moses) was neither graceful nor truthful? Seems to me there was a lot of gracious forgiveness bestowed by the LORD toward a number of truthful Old-Testament patriarchs according to historical Scriptural record, but John the Baptist was the last of them I guess, which is probably why Jesus said that "he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John" and suggested that John was an Elijah figure.

Of course, the analogy between (catholic) John contrasted with (protestant) Jesus has its limitations. Catholic are renowned for having wealth of all types, unlike John in the desert, and having more than one comfortable place "to lay their heads" in contrast to the Son of man.

What is interesting is the proof of authenticity that (protestant) Jesus related to the Elijah-like credentials of (catholic) John, which was a not-by-faith-alone definition based on good works (again, NOT faith alone) of: healing blind, lame, lepers, deaf, raising dead, and giving hope (if not more) to the poor.

That is not to say that Protestants (including half-breed-protestant Anglicans and Episcopalians, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodist, Lutherans, etc.) don't have their missionary outreach organizations of philanthropic charity but only Catholics have such.

Admittedly, both human faith (as unreliable as it is) and human works (sometimes good, sometimes atrocious) are a gift from the changeless Father of lights:

James 1:17 Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

But notice on what basis God will judge the nations on the Last Day (and in this case it is NOT by "a relationship with Jesus Christ" nor "accepting Jesus as their Savior and Lord" (although more about that will be said later):

Luke 6:46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?

Rom 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
Rom 3:20 For no human being will be justified in his sight by works of the law, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Rom 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

Gal 2:16 yet who know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified.
Gal 3:2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?
Gal 3:5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works,
24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot [nice to mention exchange-massage and escort whores at this point?!] justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done.
Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and all were judged by what they had done.

Rev 22:14 RSV (and wrong here) Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.
Rev 22:14 KJ21 (and correct here) Blessed are they [who] do His commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Rev 22:15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood.

Do Protestants (or merely Catholics) have James 2:24 ("...justified by works...") in their renditions and editions of their "Holy Bible?"

The basis on which the Lord will judge on Judgment Day obviously is on what they have done, which includes both their good and evil works, and whether or not they called and believed that Jesus was and is "Lord."

Judges 16:28 Then Samson called to the LORD and said, "Oh Lord GOD, remember me, I pray You, and strengthen me, I pray You, only this once, Oh God, that I may be avenged upon the Philistines for one of my two eyes."

Neh 13:14 Remember me, "Oh my God" [and he's not expletively swearing], concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.

Job 14:13 Oh that You would hide me in Sheol, that You would conceal me until Your wrath be past, that You would appoint me a set time, and remember me!

Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at last He will stand upon the earth;
Job 19:26 and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then from my flesh I shall see God...

Psalm 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, or my transgressions; according to Your steadfast love remember me, for Your goodness sake, Oh LORD!
Psalm106:4 Remember me, Oh LORD, when You show favor to Your people; help me when You deliver them;

Proverbs 30:4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name? [It sure ain't the once-virgin Mary, Martin Luther (and forget the King part), nor Billy Graham!] Surely you know!

Jer 15:15 Oh LORD, You know; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. In Your forbearance take me not away; know that for Your sake I bear reproach.

And, as far as one of those who possibly was "least in the kingdom of heaven" and did not make it into the never-never land of second-chance-heresy "purgatory," we remember The Dying Thief On His Cross (an anomaly who apparently never ingested eucharist and was never baptized with water while hanging thereon):

Is ingesting eucharist more important than obeying non-ceremonial laws through both Testaments of The Holy Bible?

Luke 23:42 (RSV) And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
43 And he replied to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Luke 23:42 (KJ21) And he said unto Jesus, "Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy Kingdom."
43 And Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with Me in Paradise."

Luke 23:42 (MKJV) And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.
43 And Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you, Today you shall be with Me in Paradise.

[ NOTE: May the reader understand why I, as a Spirit-directed Christian, refer to the King James-type Bibles for greater New-Testament semantic accuracy rather than relying solely on the Revised Standard Version, the New American Standard Version, and so on. Clearly, the word 'Lord' is left out of the RSV, NASV, and many other modern versions in Luke 23:42, which is a hideous error, based not on the Greek Texts of Catholic scholar Erasmus nor Stephens nor Elzevir nor Beza and finally the inerrant Trinitarian one of F.H.A. Scrivener....but instead on faulty and significantly-corrupt Greek-text manuscripts such as the Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, Westcott-Hort, Nestle, and so on, which spurious Greek manuscripts are lauded by heretics Aland, Metzger, and their ilk].

Jesus Himself (and his New-Testament Scripture authors) also gave another basis for on what grounds people will be judged on Judgment Day:

Matt 3:17 and wow, a Voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
Matt 17:5 He was still speaking, when wow, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a Voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him [not Mary nor Josephus nor church fathers nor cumbersome cultic-catholic relic/icon traditions nor 500-A.D. Mohammed nor Popes Pius nor John nor Benedict]."
Mark 1:11 and a Voice came from heaven, "You are My Beloved Son; with You I am well pleased."
Mark 9:7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a Voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to Him [not Mary nor Josephus nor church fathers nor cumbersome cultic-catholic relic/icon traditions nor 500-A.D. Mohammed nor Popes Pius nor John nor Benedict]."
Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Luke 3:22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him [NOT Mary nor Paul nor Peter nor John] in bodily form, as a dove, and a voice came from heaven, "YOU are My beloved Son; with You I am well pleased."

John 3:18 He who believes in Him [not Mary nor early church fathers and their commentary traditions] is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am He."

1John 5:10 He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne to His Son.

If islamic muslims have trouble believing that God Almighty has a Son, they should re-read the above Scripture passages verifying Christ's Sonship.

Cultic catholics can be asked some questions concerning which is the correct religion: Catholicism, or Protestantism, or both?

The basic answer is: neither -- it is rather the Christian religion:

Acts 11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church, and taught a large company of people; and in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians [not "Catholics," - so mouth THAT in the Creeds!].

A more detailed answer is: whichever overall denominations of either one (if any) declares the canonical Holy Bible to consist of only 66 books, not more nor less.

An additional answer would include: whichever of the overall denominations of either (if any) assert the total contents of the Sacred-66-books Holy Bible (which obviously excludes the pseudo-Hebrew and plagiaristic and non-Messianic and questionable-history Apocrypha) of greater authority in every way....than any pope, cardinal, priest, vicar, magisterium, pastor, professor, etc.

It is not exclusively ecclesiastical clergy who know what words should be included in the Bible, how to interpret them, in what contexts they should be applied or not applicable:

Hosea 13:4 I am the LORD your God from the land of Egypt; you know no God but me, and besides me there is no Savior.

Mark 10:19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'"

Luke 12:12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."

Luke 18:20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'

John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Gal 1:11 For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel.

1Thes 4:2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

1Pet 2:9 But you [not merely popes, cardinals, priests, Greek-Text scholars, pastors, magisterium, etc.) are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

2Pet 1:12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.

First John 2:13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.
14 I write to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God resides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and know that no lie is of the truth.
27 but the anointing which you received from Him resides in you, and you have no need that any one should teach you; as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie, just as it has taught you, stay in Him.

If Mary was and is "the Mother of God," or "the Daughter of God," who then is "the Father of God" or "the Son of God?" Does what Mommy says have equal importance to what Daddy says? Is not Daddy the head of the home, according to First Corinthians 11:1-16 (KJV, MKJV, Wesley, and KJ21)?

Did "the Mother of God" and/or "Daughter of God" always pre-exist as did "the Father of God" and/or "the Son of God?"

Who created who, or did both always exist in Trinitarian unity?

Because Mary was selected to participate in Christ's incarnation, does that make her "a Second Eve" of equal perfection with truly-sinless Jesus as "the second Adam?"

If so, is Mary co-Redemptress with Christ, and co-Atoner equal with the Lord who (not Mary) died on a cross and rose to life (with no record of Mary doing so)? Why then did Mary infer her own sinfulness needing a Redeemer "Savior" with her Magnificat utterance:

Luke 1:46 And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
Luke 1:47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

If Mary was so great as co-Mediator, why did she not magnify herself also as she magnified the Lord or state that she in her presumed absolute sinlessness needed a Savior (not simply from Roman-empire rule)?

Nowhere in the RSV is Mary EVER called "the second Eve."

1Cor 15:45 Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

And about mediators, and the alleged need to confess to a cultic-catholic priest:

1Sam 2:25 If a man sins against a man, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father; for it was the will of the LORD to slay them.

Isa 53:12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He poured out His soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.
27 And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
34 who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us?

1Tim 2:5 For there is ONE God, and there is ONE Mediator between God and men: the human [Gr. anthr(o)pos of non-specified gender] Christ Jesus,

Heb 7:25 Consequently He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Heb 9:15 Therefore He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred which redeems them from the transgressions under the first covenant.
Heb 12:24 and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, and to The Sprinkled Blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel.

So much for occultic necromancy of praying to dead humans (saints or not) -- off on a wayward-tangent like the first cultic-catholic-eyewitness woman who bellered out:

Luke 11:27 As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" .....only to be rebuked by Jesus.

Enter the apostle-worshipping catholic Cornelius, who did another faux pas genuflect "curtsey" of sorts:

Acts 10:25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
Acts 10:26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am a man."

followed by Saint John himself repeating the sin....twice!:

Rev 19:10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Rev 22:8 I John am he who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me;
Rev 22:9 but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

And sorry -- all you maryolatrous and female-goddess, matriarchal sexist feminists presuming and pretending that women are on the same pedestal and level as men. Need Isaiah 3:12, Nahum 3:13, and I Timothy 2:12-14 be quoted to you? Plus pity the male patsies who wimpishly go along with their deceived, deceptive, arrogantly-insubordinate chauvenistic delusion.

Does human-action ingesting eucharistic bread and wine or juice atone for and absolve sins....or instead only God's-action atonement of and by Jesus justify and sanctify?

When Christ told His twelve disciples that "the cup" (not mentioning at that point what was in the cup) was "the New Covenant in his blood" and "the blood of the New Covenant," was He literally referring to the literal porcelin or alabaster cup itself? Was "the fruit of the vine" literally and actually DNA-chromosomed human blood, and is it meant to be an FDA-inspected-and-approved health drink available in grocery stores nationwide? Why not bat blood or pig blood instead? That might be as tasty, or even tastier. Yuck.

Let's not be stupid about this, because the local neighbors, police, sheriffs, marshalls, and strong men in white coats at the State Hospitals for the Insane are just waiting for opportunities to force dangerous religious kooks into the public safety of prolonged psychiatric confinement.

When Jesus commanded His disciples....

John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is My flesh."
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you;
54 he who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.
56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood resides in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me will live because of Me.
58 This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever."
60 Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?"
61 But Jesus, knowing in Himself that His disciples murmured at it, said to them, "Do you take offense at this?
63 It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are SPIRIT [spirit!] and life [figurative, and not literal].

...did He intend for them to actually chomp into parts of His body (be that His big toe, penis, leg, foot, or neck)? And, how "often" must we nowadays do that (according to the anti-drunken/anti-glutton church-suppers/picnics Paul was referring to in First Corinthians chapter 11), now that He is no longer actually around in person who we can scientifically according to civil-government and laboratory standards actually touch, actually measure, actually see, and actually audibly hear?

Anyone ever hear of allegory, symbolism, figurative metaphor?

Let's not be stupid about this, because the local neighbors, police, sheriffs, marshalls, and strong men in white coats at the State Hospitals for the Insane are just waiting for opportunities to force dangerous religious kooks into the public safety of prolonged psychiatric confinement.