Man Claims to Be Christ Options

[fameONE]

A Manhattan man's holiday spirits soared to celestial heights on Friday when a judge gave him permission to change his name to Jesus Christ.

Jose Luis Espinal (42) said he was "happy" and "grateful" that the judge approved the change, effective immediately. Espinal said he was moved to seek the name change about a year ago when it dawned on him, "I am the person that is that name."

Espinal, who acted as his own lawyer, got the change approved by Manhattan Civil Court Judge Diane Lebedeff, who said she was "satisfied that this application is neither novel, nor would granting it pose practical problems".

The judge said name-change applications usually are not denied just because the change might cause practical difficulties or be thought unwise, as long as a person with the same name does not object to the proposed change.

She cited a 2001 Utah case in which a man legally changed his name to "Santa Claus" and a Washington, DC, case earlier this year in which a name-change applicant obtained a driver's licence and Social Security card in the name of "Jesus Christ".

The judge compared those cases with that of actor Peter Lorre's widow, who objected to a man who said he was the actor's relative changing his name to "Peter Lorie".

Though laws differ by jurisdiction, the judge said, there seems to be a nationwide consensus that a name cannot be changed to a number. She cited a South Dakota court ruling against a change to "1069" and a California court rejecting "III" as name.

The judge said she held a hearing in which Espinal, who also uses the last name Tejeda, testified. She said he was aware of the "common-law right to assume another name without legal proceedings so long as the change is not made to deceive or perpetrate a fraud or to avoid an obligation", but wanted to go the formal route anyway.

The judge said Espinal's "reasons were primarily those applicable to his own private religious beliefs and he stated no desire to use his proposed name to secure publicity, to proselytise, to fund-raise or advise others that he had been cloaked by the courts or government with a religious authority".

Espinal, who is unemployed and unmarried and has no children, said: "This was not done for any reason other than I am that person. You're dealing with the real deal."

Discuss. How do we know he's telling the truth? How do we know he's another religious zealot?

[*kryogenix*]

^ no, i was trying to show how that would sound if someone said it in the modern day

because jesus is supposed to have a second coming. and i'm trying to say that if he does have one, no one will believe him unless he shows some miracles, which is apparently against the way god works, as he works on faith alone, so won't prove himself.

I'm assuming your understanding of the Christian faith comes mostly from Protestants, as you state that God works on faith alone (sola fide). The problem with that belief occurs here:

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Both faith AND works are required.

If you want to discuss this issue, please see my Questions for Protestants thread.

[sadolakced acid]

hmmm.

but even without the whole faith only thing, would not even christians have doubts that this was actually jesus reincarnated?

[IceCream4U]

Well, I honestly don't care!

If he wants to be called Jesus Christ, so be it.

Haha, but my dad always says, "JESUS CHRIST DO YOU EVER GET OFF OF THE COMPUTER?!" Haha.

[NoSex]

Both faith AND works are required.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

[*kryogenix*]

Ephesians 2:8-9

So? Men cannot save themselves by doing works alone. Faith is required as well. But faith alone cannot save either. Faith and works are required for salvation.

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

-James 2:24

[xosteffanator]

There's a guy at my school called Jesus.
I don't know......some people just have an odd sense of humor

[*kryogenix*]

There's a guy at my school called Jesus.
I don't know......some people just have an odd sense of humor

Jesus (pronounced Hey-Zeus) is a fairly common hispanic name.

In fact, there was this nurse or doctor named Jesus, and it caused some trouble for a hospital. Why? Because the attendant had to tell the patients "Jesus will be with you shortly."

[NoSex]

So? Men cannot save themselves by doing works alone. Faith is required as well. But faith alone cannot save either. Faith and works are required for salvation.

Read it again. It seems to say that we can not be saved by works at all. Faith saves us, not works.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

[*kryogenix*]

Read it again. It seems to say that we can not be saved by works at all. Faith saves us, not works.

You read it again. And in context.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

-Ephesians 2:8-10

God gives us His grace which is an offer through salvation, we cannot brag about it. Being faithful means you accept that grace. For example, if I gave you a present for no reason at all, you cannot brag that you deserved the present because you did something good.

[*kryogenix*]

By the way, you have impeccable timing. Today's second reading had the passage of Ephesians you brought up! I was smiling so much when I heard it. And to top it all off, today's Gospel contained the verse in my sig, John 3:16!

[*SuzieRawkSoxx*]

Maybe he was drunk and then he thought to himself sh*t im jesus christ. lol thats some funny ish LMAO im telling my grandmother so she'll have a ♥ attack. She'll probably yell at me for what that man did haha.

[*Kathleen*]

To quote Shakespeare,

What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;

Names aren't tangible. The result of miracles are.

[sweetangel2128]

Changing your name to Jesus and claiming to be God is a sin against God and that person will be punished for eternity for it. In the Bible it talks of false messiahs.

[*mishyerr*]

I thought when Jesus comes, a lotta shit happens. Big shit.

[jennyt13]

saying h e is jesus proves nothing. his is obviously a aging man's desparate attempt at notoriety after a life that hasn't had him reap any benefis.
sad.

i agree 100%. he's just desperate for attention that's it. If he really want some attention maybe he shuld crap in his pants in public and after that. go around screaming he craped in his pants. all he wants is attention and nothin more thatn that. you cant be jesus christ by changing your name to his.

1. you didnt die for us
2. u weren't crucified
3. you probally nearly done anything close to what he has done for us.
4. u probally never done any miracles in your whole entire life of living or your life afterwards.

so dont even bother!!!

[sweetangel2128]

I thought when Jesus comes, a lotta shit happens. Big shit.

Yes, in the Bible it states that when it comes close to Jesus's second coming that there will be floods/disasters and chaos which we sorta already have if you look around :-/ People believe he will be returning VERY soon and everyone will know about it. I think it's been like 2 or 3,000 years since his last arrival.

[*mishyerr*]

...and everyone will know about it.

So, if everyone is gonna know about it, isn't it obvious that this man isn't Jesus? I don't understand how people can actually believe that some random man is "Jesus."

[sweetangel2128]

So, if everyone is gonna know about it, isn't it obvious that this man isn't Jesus? I don't understand how people can actually believe that some random man is "Jesus."

I don't know, people are gullible lol. In the Bible it says that people will follow false messiahs but to not be tricked because it is a sin to follow another person or God that isn't actually "God". It's called worshipping an idol.