That was not my point. Jesus said that he and the Father are One, which is something I don't claim for myself.
Perhaps you should consider yourself one with God. I know that according to man's wisdom it is heretical to say such a thing, but you can't ignore the scriptures.
John 17:21,
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
But does it really mean two things are literally one and the same thing?
The scriptures should be taken literally wherever and whenever possible. They simply mean what they say and say what they mean. However if a particular verse doesn't make sense when taken literally it is time to look towards figures of speech which are legitimate grammatical constructs used to emphasize something. I could say, "the ground is dry" and you would understand I mean to say there has been no rain for a while. Saying the ground is dry is true to fact. However, if I were to say, "the ground is thirsty" it would make you take note and consider more deeply what I'm saying. I would be saying that to mean it has not rained for a really long long time. Of course the ground never actually gets thirsty, but I would say that to emphasize just how dry the ground really is. This particular figure of speech is called "personification" which is giving a non-living thing (the ground) a human characteristic.
1Cor 3:6-8,
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth (Paul) and he that watereth (Apollos) are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
These verses are just like Jesus saying he was one with God. Was Paul and Apollos actually one and the same person? Of course not. God is simply telling us that Paul and Apollos were united in their purpose and goals. They worked together as if they were one, but they are not literally one person. Saying one or more people are "one" is a very common expression used in our everyday language.
Now Jesus saying he was one with God is the epitome of two entities acting as one. Jesus followed his father's will to the letter. Never once did Jesus do or say anything that was not what God wanted him to do or say. Jesus could have disobeyed at any point in his life, but he didn't. Had he done so, we'd still be waiting for redemption. But because the man Christ Jesus loved us poor sinners so much, he subjugated his will to that of God's will in all points. I think the epitome of that is to be found in Luke, just before Jesus, because of his love for us, was about to be crucified.
Luke 22:42,
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Jesus obviously wasn't thrilled about his upcoming horrible torture and death. Who would? He asked God if there was some other way to redeem us. Of course, there wasn't so Jesus just said, "OK God. I don't want to do this, but It doesn't matter what I want. The important thing is what you want so I'll do this." What other man that ever lived would have done that? Not me, that's for sure! I can't imagine the love Jesus had for millions of people, sinners, such that he was willing to go through with God's plan. Jesus, like the rest of us, had free will, but he followed God's will instead of his own.
Jesus could have taken the devil up on his offer of giving him all the kingdoms of this world when he tempted him in the desert. Like I said, he had free will. It must have been tempting. What would you have said to such an offer? I know myself well enough to admit I may have accepted the offer. That, among other reasons, is why I wasn't your savior.
I'm often told I disrespect Jesus by saying he was a man, and not a god or god-man. Making Jesus God actually cheapens and demeans his life as far as I'm concerned. What's the big deal for God to obey himself? What's the big deal for God to believe Himself that He would raise Himself from the dead? Just consider those questions for one minute. But if Jesus was a man, tempted in all points as you and I (btw, God can't be tempted), then his obedience and belief go through the stratosphere. Far from disrespecting Jesus, I believe I see him in a far greater light than simply saying he was God.
Jesus, like Adam, was born with innocent blood because of the virgin birth. Like the first Adam, Jesus too could have disobeyed at any time. Obviously, and thankfully, he didn't follow in the footsteps of that first man. Had he done so, his blood would have been polluted and he would no longer have been the lamb without blemish which our redemption needed. He was a man, but a man beyond any man that has ever lived! He loved us with the same love God loves us. He is the only man that has ever done that. The rest of us fall short in that regard. We may try, but we inherited Adam's polluted blood, so we are doomed from birth. That's why we needed Jesus.
I know I didn't respond to all your well made points, but hopefully this will be at least a start.
