How does Masonry view Jesus?

How does Masonry view Jesus?

Morals and Dogma, pg. 525
"It (Masonry) reverences all the great reformers. It sees Moses, the Law-giver of the Jews, in Confucius and Zoroaster, in Jesus
of Nazareth, and in the Arabian Iconoclast, Great teachers of Morality, and Eminent Reformers, if no more: and allows every
brother of the Order to assign to each such higher and even Divine Character as his creed and Truth require."

The problem of putting Jesus in the same list of "Great teachers of Morality, and Eminent Reformers" is that Jesus himself
claimed to be much more. He claimed to be the only way to heaven. None of the others mentioned are, God in the flesh or the
Redeemer of mankind. John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but
through Me." (see also Jn.1:1&14, Jn.3:16)

On what basis are we saved according to Masonry?

Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, Revised Edition, Vol.1 pg. 269
"The lecture of the Third Degree begins by declaring that the recipient was induced to seek that sublime degree "that he might
perfect himself in Masonry, so as to travel into foreign countries, and work and receive wages as a Master Mason."
Thousands have often heard this ritualistic expression at the opening and closing of a Master's Lodge, without dreaming for a
moment of its hidden and spiritual meaning, or, if they think of any meaning at all, they content themselves by interpreting it as
referring to the actual travels of the Masons, after the completion of the Temple, into the surrounding countries in search of
employment, whose wages were to be the gold and silver which they could earn by the exercise of their skill in the operative art.
But the true symbolic meaning of the foreign country into which the Master Mason travels in search of wages is far different.
The symbolism of this life terminates with the Master Degree. The completion of that degree is the lesson of death and the
resurrection to a future life, where the TRUE WORD, or Divine Truth, not given in this, is to be received as the reward of a life
worthily spent in its search. in the reception of that TRUTH can be imparted only in that better land. "Heaven, the future life, the
higher state of existence after death, is the foreign country in which the Master Mason is to enter, and there he is to receive his
wages in the reception of the TRUTH which can be imparted only in that better land."

The following is what can be gleaned from this statement.
1. The Mason is to work to perfect himself in Masonry so as to receive a reward in heaven.
2. The reward given is Divine Truth.
3. He receives this Divine Truth because of his life worthily spent in search of it.

Encyclopedia of Freemasonry, Revised Edition, Vol.2 pg. 805
" The higher idea of truth which pervades the whole Masonic system, and which is symbolized by the Word, is that which is
properly expressed to a knowledge of God.
There was an Egyptian goddess named, Thm, or Thme, integritas, Justice and Truth. This one of the three great Masonic
principles is represented among the Egyptians by an ostrich feather; and the judicial officer was also thus represented,
"because that bird, unlike others, has all its feathers equal." Horapollo. The Hebrew word, ion, signifies an ostrich, as also a
council; and the word, Rnne, is interpreted, poetically, an ostrich, and also a song of joy, or of praise; hence, "the happy souls
thus ornamented, under the inspection of the lords of the heart's joy, gathered fruits from celestial trees." In the judgment in
Amenti, the soul advances toward the goddess Thme, who wears on her head the ostrich feather. In the scale, Anubis and
Horus weigh the actions of the deceased. On one side is the ostrich feather, and on the other the vase containing the heart.
Should the weight of the heart be greater than the feather, the soul is entitled to be received into the celestial courts. The
forty-two judges, with heads ornamented with ostrich feathers, sit aloft to pronounce judgment. (See Book of the Dead.)"

The following can be gleaned from this statement:
1. The actions or deeds of the deceased are measured.
2. These actions determine the weight of the heart.
3. Ultimately these actions determine if the soul of the deceased is entitled to enter into the celestial courts.

Also the Board of General Activities, Grand Lodge,F.&A.M. New York, 1928 copyrighted a Bible with Masonic helps of
which I have a copy. On page 5 under the title "The Masonic Belief" The 4th statement of faith reads, "Character determines
destiny."

Out of these three statements by the Masons we can conclude the following. The Mason must work to perfect himself. If by his
actions he is found worthy he is entitled to enter heaven to receive his reward of divine truth. Or as summed up by the Masons
his character determines his destiny.

The previous statements are untrue Jesus said we can receive the truth now (Jn.8:32) we don't wait until judgment day. The
real problem is all of our good deeds put together are like a filthy rag to the Lord (Is.64:6) If you keep the whole law and
stumble one time you are guilty of all (James 2:10 & Gal.3:10) This one mistake is enough to send you to hell (Mtt.5:22). You
see no one goes to heaven because of good deeds. The only way anyone goes to heaven is by faith in Jesus Christ
(JN.3:16) To try to go to heaven based on good deeds is to try to earn your way to heaven.

Eph 2:8-9 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, that no one should boast.

(You cannot earn a gift. If you earned it then it would no longer be a gift!)

Rom 3:20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the
knowledge of sin.

Gal 3:3 "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?"

(Even our good deeds after coming to Jesus have nothing to do with our salvation. We do good deeds because we love him
Jn.14:15)

Gal 2:21 "I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

1 Cor 15:17 "and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins."

John 6:28-29 "They said therefore to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said
to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."
(This is the only work that you can do for your salvation)

Obviously the Masonic religion is not compatible with Christianity taking a Biblical standpoint. But it does not end there, from a
Masons view you cannot truly obey Masonic law and believe Christianity is true. The problem being that Christianity claims that
Jesus is the only way of salvation for mankind, Acts 4:12. Compare this to Albert Pikes statement.

Morals and Dogma, pg.167
"No man truly obeys the Masonic law who merely tolerates those whose religious opinions are opposed to his own.Every man's
opinions are his own private property, and the rights of all men to maintain each his own are perfectly equal. Merely to tolerate,
to bear with an opposing opinion, is to assume it to be heretical: and assert the right to persecute, if we would; and claim our
toleration of it as a merit."

The Christian is told to contend for the faith Jude 1:3. Contend means to strive in debate or argue. This is however to be done
with gentleness and reverence 1 Pet 3:15.

I would like to end this topic by reminding you that there are many good people even Christians who are Masons. As you may
know the Masons are known for many good deeds that are admirable. Keep in mind a large percentage of Masons probably
have no idea of the actual teachings of the Masonic belief. They do not know because they have not checked into it and the
beginning levels are purposely designed to be deceptive. If you are a Christian and a Mason I encourage you to check further
into this for yourself. Consider carefully Masonry in the light of the quotes from Masonic authorities and scripture provided in
this study. The question you must answer for yourself is, "should a Christian be a Mason?"