NO ONE IS GOOD EXCEPT GOD. DID JESUS DENY BEING GOD

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The story of Jesus and the rich young ruler can be found in Mark chapter 10, Matthew chapter 19 and Luke chapter 18. In the story, a rich man approached Jesus and said to him, “Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” In His response Jesus asked, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one-God.”?

(Luke 18:18-19 WEB) A certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus asked him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one-God. 

Critics of Jesus’ claims to divinity often use the above statements of Jesus as their evidence that Jesus is not God. They say that Jesus denied being God here by refusing the title ‘good’ as it is something reserved solely for God. 

The Unbelievers should notice that Jesus never said, “Don’t call me good,” or anything to that effect. Rather, He asked the young man a question, "Why do you call me good?" He was simply trying to get the man to think about what he called Him, that is, Good Teacher. Then He reminded the rich young ruler that only God is truly good. Jesus wanted the rich young ruler to consider if he truly meant to call Jesus “Good” because if so, he was really calling Jesus God. Jesus did not accept from him the title of goodness without the title of Godhead. He wanted to lead this young man, through the question, to a true knowledge of Himself, which will result in the young man believing in Jesus and inheriting eternal life which he sorts.

Also notice that Jesus’ statement alone, that only God is good, does not tell us whether He was affirming or denying being God. Likewise His statement below, by itself, does not affirm or deny being Lord:

(Luke 6:46 KJV) And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

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