The Great Mysteries of the Christian Faith

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#Mysteries
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There are three great mysteries of the Christian faith. By mystery, I mean a Bible teaching difficult to understand completely. People often question whether the Bible teaches these mysteries and whether they are contradictions. These mysteries are the Trinity, the Incarnation of Christ, and predestination and free will. Now before I discuss these three great mysteries of the faith let me make two points that can aid our understanding.

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First, we need some understanding of logic and non-contradiction. What is a contradiction? A contradiction means something can’t be both itself and not itself at the same time and in the same way. For example, either the world exists or it doesn’t. But it can’t exist and not exist in the same way at the same time. That is the basic law of thought called non-contradiction. We can’t think or talk rationally without affirming it. Even to deny it assumes it true in the denial.  True statements must be either\or, not both\and, whether in Indian, America, or on the moon. The opposite of any true statement is false. So, all theology or talk about God and the world must be logically consistent to be true.

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Second, we need some understanding about our use of the word ‘God.’ I think we’re safe to say when people use the word ‘God’ they mean something more than the word ‘man.’ People wouldn’t say man equals God or that they’re the same thing. Even humanists wouldn’t call man God, although they say man is his own God.  Further,  men can't  change themselves into gods or give themselves a nature they don't have. Contrary to Christians, Mormons are polytheists. They believe men can become gods and have wives and their own planets. 

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The Bible's God  is greater than our limited human understanding and His ways not fully comprehensible (Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 11:33). We have no real concern for a God who cannot or does not act in our real world. But a personal ethical God who will judge our actions should be our utmost concern and we best make sure which God it is. The  statements of so-called theologians who claim there's no such God make unprovable assumptions without authority--they can't say in advance what God can and can't do.  The Bible's Creator God is most reasonable is light of our dependent universe  immensely more complex than  limited human minds can comprehend.

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The Trinity—Three Persons in One Essence.

Jehovah’s Witnesses and others claim the word ‘Trinity’ is not in the Bible, so the teaching is not in the Bible. But absence of the word doesn’t have to mean absence of the teaching. The term ‘Trinity’ is Latin and means ‘three in the unity of one.’ We will show it certainly is a Bible teaching. Besides, Jehovah Witnesses literature teaches a ‘theocratic kingdom,’ a phrase not mentioned in the Bible. Does that mean it’s not a Bible teaching?

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The Christian biblical belief of the Trinity affirms three distinct Persons in one divine essence. We don’t mean three gods, three modes, or three parts, but one God in essence and in three Persons. This is not a contradiction since person and essence are used in different senses. All three persons are called God, but all have the same essence or set of personal characteristics—all power, knowledge, justice, love, etc. And the one essence cannot be parts as things comprised of parts can be divided, but God is One.

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The mystery is in understanding how there can be three personal distinctions within God so they can address each other as Father, Son, and Spirit (1 Tim. 3:16). The answer is simply to humbly accept what God has told us about Himself in his Word and let it go at that. Conservative systematic theology texts give numerous pages of biblical evidence of the Trinity that cannot honestly be ignored nor distorted. Any different teaching is human speculation which undermines all God has taught us in Scripture. As mentioned above, a God who can create such a complex, rational and harmonious universe would certainly be greater than our limited and often biased understanding.

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No analogy in nature completely compares with God but some illustrations may help. One triangle has three corners. We can take one to the third power (1x1x1=1). A better analogy is God is love (1 John 4:16). Love includes the three elements: A lover, a beloved, and a spirit of love. As God walked with Adam in the Garden, unlike distant punishing Allah of Islam, the persons of the Godhead are in a relationship of love and want to extend that love-trust relationship to us. While the Godhead is of the same essence, the persons have subordinate functions. The Father planned, the Son accomplished, and the Holy Spirit applies salvation to believers.

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The Trinity is implied in the Old Testament or Jewish Tanakh . It teaches one God (Ex. 20:3; Deuteronomy. 6:4: Isaiah. 45:18), yet that one God is three persons (Psalm. 2; 45:6-8; 110:1). In  Isiah 63:7-10 the Lord, Savior, and Holy Spirit are mentioned together. And Zech. 1:12-13 compared with Judges 6:12-16 shows the Angel of the Lord is the Lord Himsle. Even the Hebrew word for God (echad Deut. 6:4) implies a plurality with unity the same as Adam and Eve are one flesh (Genesis. 2:24).

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In the New Testament, Jesus taught one God (Mark 12:29). He further taught that God is three persons (John 10:30, 14:8-10, 15:23, 16:7-11). Notice it at the baptism of Jesus (Matt. 3:16-17, in the baptismal formula (Matt. 28:19), and in the apostolic benediction (2 Cor. 13:14). Further, the Jews understood Jesus' claim to be God quite clearly. "The  Jews answered Him saying, For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You being a Man make Yourself God" (John 10:33). 

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The Incarnation of the God-man in our History.

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The Christian biblical or orthodox belief of the Incarnation is that the second person of the Godhead added humanity. The infinite Son of God took upon himself a human body and nature and walked among us. The infinite creator of everything would have no problem doing that. Of course, it’s impossible for the infinite God to become a finite baby. But that’s not biblical Christian teaching. It’s that Jesus added His real divine nature to a real human nature and body that made him the one person the God-man. When speaking as God, Jesus knew everything. But when speaking as man, he did not know everything. Further, his human nature was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit precluding the transmitted sin of Adam. Again, this is a great mystery but not a contradiction. See John 1:1-3; Luke 1:35; Hebrews 1:1-3; Phil. 2:1-6; Col. 2:9.

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God’s Predestination and Our Free Will.

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 Scripture repeatedly teaches both God’s sovereignty and human free will even together in a number of passages (Gen. 20:50; John. 1:12-13; 6:37; Acts 2:23). It says God declares the end from the beginning (Ephesians 1:11; Isa. 46:10), and hundreds of detailed fulfilled Bible promises and prophecies prove it true. What God says will happen, will happen. God choose believers before creation (Eph. 1:4), but all who believe within time receive His gift of salvation (John 3:16; Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9, Matt. 23:37; 2 Pet. 3:9). This didn’t seem to be a problem for the Scripture writers. So, God can allow human freedom within His sovereignty. And if it's not true, then God's promises and our petitions are a pointless sham. So, how do we solve this mystery?

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 Scripture teaches our Creator foresees (better momentarily knows) and sustains everything (Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:15-20)--good and evil, disease and devastation, salvation and suffering, Heaven and Hell which includes the elect's free will response to His gracious invitation to faith. We don't understand the details, but predestination and free will are compatible and God works them together ultimately for His glory and the good of all who trust Him (Romans 8:28-30). God wisely allows and directs events so the ultimate outcome is the best of all possible worlds. Yet, as secondary agents we make our own decisions in libertarian free will influenced but unforced, and thus we're held accountable by a holy God who doesn't commit sin.

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Physical and moral evils are allowed within God's plan to bring about greater long term good. Without earth's core pushing up lands, the world would be flooded. Without Satan prompting Judas to betray Christ, there would be no atonement and resurrection hope as predicted. Could our problem be a shortsighted prideful unwillingness that won't seek the Lord who invites us into a love-trust relationship and eternal life? See Jer. 29:13; Matt. 7:7-8; John 3:36; Heb. 11:6.

The Almighty acts usually as an Unseen Hand influencing human thinking, decisions and events (Genesis 50:20; Book of Easter, Matt. 16:16-17; Luke 2:25-35; Eph. 2:10; Phil. 2:12; John 16:8-11).  Faith recognizes it as circumstantial probability--not luck or accident. At other times God acts miraculously and visibly by altering nature’s forces (Daniel 4:35; Acts 26:8). For example, in Egypt’s ten plagues coming at Moses command, Israel’s crossing between two walls of water within the Sea, Lazarus’ stinking corpse  resuscitated. The miracle that established biblical Christianity is  that Jesus' mother and disciple John  observed Jesus crucified.  His executers laid his cold stiff  body in the sealed and guarded tomb. Then after  three days he was raised from the dead as he predicted and seen by five hundred persons (Matt. 20:18-19; Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

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 Biblical miracles are no problem once we understand God is Lord of His creation who acts supernaturally when, where and how it suits His purpose.  Persons don't risk persecution, torture and death to claim things they know to be  lies. As historical events,  biblical miracles  must be confirmed by reasonable testimony. Secular historians, especially hostile ones, who mention biblical places, persons, events, and dates as authentic imply claims to miracles are as well.  Being outside the domain of observable experimental science, miracles cannot be pronounced impossible. One must assume absolute knowledge to say they can't happen. Moreover, if even the slightest chance they occurred, we would be wise to give them an honest unbiased appraisal.

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We know in part what’s happening now and in the past but can only guess about the future. But God, outside of time, is like someone standing on a mountain who can simultaneously see everything going around its base. From our perspective we have free will, but from God's all is predestined. What the universe's Creator knows from eternity can’t be wrong. It’s like our watching the replay of a ballgame. When the game occurred, players made their moves freely. When we watch the replay, all is certain.  With God, everything is certain before the players made their own decisions.

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So, God made us in His image with a mind  that transcends matter and nature's forces that insures our freedom and responsibility--thus we can understand causes and their consequences and make contrary choices. We see dark clouds, winds stirring up, and say, “It’s going to rain, I had better go in doors or I’ll get wet.” We're not robots nor animals of instinct--God in love procures our rationally, freedom,  dignity, and responsibility. He tests us under various sets of circumstances and will justly give us our rightful due. His wise rule insures this is the best of all possible worlds.

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Within God’s plan  the universe was marred by Satan’s rebellion; and a good earth cursed by Adam’s sin. But evil as well as good further glorify God in display of His otherwise unknown attributes of sovereignty, holiness, justice, love, truth, forgiveness, and grace. He works all things out for His glory and the good of those who love Him who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 2:8-10). Praise God! Our part is to trust in the good Lord and obey His Word.

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If you have found this article helpful, why not file, save and share these articles with friends and loved ones. God encourage you in love to share this good news with a needy humanity.

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Let me recommend my favorite theologian, Dr. Norman Geisler in his Systematic Theology and his Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics..

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The Ultimate Proof of God's Love

THE ULTIMATE PROOF OF GOD’S LOVE

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#God's-love   #Free-will   #Love&justice
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“You Bible-thumping Christians must be crazy! You say Hell proves God’s love. It proves just the opposite. Love doesn’t sent people to an eternal torture chamber. Love forgives. Love reforms. Love restores. People are good. They just need a little guidance and opportunity. Besides, evolution has disproved God and all that Bible nonsense.”

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Many people think this way today: they claim there’s no God, no absolute truth. So we are free to live any way we like. In our chaotic, insecure, violent, sex-sated world, nothing makes sense. But if we put our unproved skeptical assumptions aside, we can see how the biblical teaching that Hell makes better sense. Consider these points.

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Hell Assures Us of Free Choice and Immortality.

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When Adam, our first father, ignored the tree of life and chose the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he chose a world of good and evil. His descendents acquired his sinful nature preferring self to God. We are free then to reject God’s loving invitations and warnings, shake our fist at Heaven; insist upon our way until death. Our own decision decides our destiny. God doesn’t send us to Hell; we chose it ourselves and God lets us have our way. God can’t force us to love and obey him—that’s rape. Unless we’re robots, neither environment nor heredity annuls our ability to make contrary choices even to reject God and Heaven. And God loves us enough to tell us the truth.

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Many persons misunderstand what Hell is all about: Hell glorifies our Creator. For it proves God’s ultimate control, His truth, His justice, His love, and His moral rightness. True justice means ungrateful, unresponsive rebellious sinners lose all things held dear in life. They trade cool breezes, loved ones, beautiful scenes and happy times for unending darkness, fiery wrath, weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth—that’s a painfully ugly picture of eternal torment. All the while, the righteous shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Mt. 8:12; 13:43).

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Hell Shows God Cares About Injustice and Human Abuse.

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God knows our hearts, feels our pains, hears our cries, and sees our tears. God’s deeply concerned about our plight. God’s patient, not desiring any should perish, but that all come to repentance. Abused wives, raped children, aged persons robbed of their income, murdered persons, all suffer in this life. But God will correct all such injustices. Unlike finite, biased, fickle, bribable human judges, God alone knows our every thought, word and deed. He alone is just or absolutely fair.

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Interactive intelligent design in living things testifies to the infinite knowledge of our Creator. Guilt of conscience in every person points to ethical law and a Lawgiver. But we often ignore and suppress them. The all-knowing, biblical, ethical God revealed in history alone is the foundation for truth, justice and humane treatment. Godless freedom’s consequences compel chaos, corruption, and contempt for life. See it in abortion, suicide, homosexuality, euthanasia. The Bible proverb is indisputable “All those who hate me (God) love death (Prov. 8:36).   

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Hell Gives Life Ultimate Meaning.

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Our choices have consequences to hurt or help our fellow man and us. Believing that God will justly decide our eternal reward or punishment makes all of life purposeful. Our every act takes on meaning, daily and eternally. The world is no meaningless repetitive cycles, but from beginning to end is fulfilling God’s great plan. And the outcome will vary in degree with each person since we’re all different and behave differently. God’s Word tells us what He approves and disapproves. It lights our path, makes us accountable, and gives us the sense of fulfillment, of hope.     

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But atheistic materialism denies everything spiritual—human souls, God, angels, revelations. It gives no authoritative guide, only conflicting, finite, fallible, fickle feelings. We’re responsible to no one but ourselves, to nothing but our desires. We can plead expediency—that is treating others good with hope they will us. But when life frustrates us, our future seems hopeless; fear and guilt paralyze us, then we think why not lie? Why not steal? Why not murder? We’re unlikely to be caught. Besides, the only law among us animals is survival of the fittest. Where’s love now? A nonexistent Hell encourages moral depravity, lawlessness and excludes love; but Hell’s reality makes ethical choices, love, joy, fulfillment and Heaven possible.

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Hell Makes Heaven Possible.

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 God’s holiness excludes sin. “There shall by no means enter it (Heaven) anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of life (Rev. 21:8; 1 Cor. 6:9-10). Unrepentant sinners who hate God and despise righteousness would quickly corrupt Heaven. Like Judas, the wicked have their kind of place quarantined from the righteous. Hell’s not the external torture chamber skeptic’s claim; its inner torment caused by each sinner’s degree of guilt, loss and shame (Mt. 10:15; 11:22-24: Heb. 10:29). And God rewards all who come to love Him and His way (Rev. 21:4-7).

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As long as God and Heaven exist, Hell exists—there’s no annihilation of the wicked (Mt. 24:46; Rev. 21:10). No maggots exist in Hell. Undying worms in the unquenched fire are persons useless to God, destructive of His kingdom, forever subject to His wrath (Jn. 3:36). Worms are used as a term of contempt (Job 25:6; Ps. 22:6; Isa. 66:24). God doesn’t create us free to annihilate us for bad choices. That would be destroying God’s image in us. And existence is better than nonexistence or nothing. God regretfully lets God haters have their own way separate from Him. 

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Hell Is Avoidable through Faith in the Sinner’s Savior.

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Complexity and design in all living things point to a God of infinite intelligence. Our guilty consciences point to an ethical God. In Jesus Christ, God took on a human body and nature. He lived among us a sinless life, demonstrated His deity by fulfilled prophecies and miracles, died in our place to pay for our sin and arose from the dead. Jesus said that if we don’t believe his claim to be God we will die in our sins; that’s conscious unending torment in Hell (John 8:24). Jesus is living visible proof of God’s promise of eternal life and the warning of torment in outer darkness.

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Let’s not be deceived about the existence and nature of Hell, or about our sin before a perfect God and our rejection of the Savior that can save us from its darkness and torments (I Cor. 6:9-10). It’s your choice: the pleasures of ungodly sin for a season, or the joys and fulfillment with a loving Lord forever. Say YES to Jesus and become a good news messenger doing your best to serve your Maker, Redeemer, Owner, and Judge. Link my blog to your computer and share it with friends. Thank U. God bless you and your ministry.

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Twenty-five Question Bible Literacy Test

Twenty-five  Question Bible Literacy Test

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General knowledge, even Bible knowledge, is a mark of an educated person. Sorry to say so few persons today know much about the Bible even though it's always been the best seller. I invite you to take this general test and hone your knowledge. Answers are at the bottom of this page. Go for it!

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1.      How many books are in the Protestant New Testament?

27 -  29 - 39 - 14 - 66

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2.      Which book never mentions God?

Psalms – Acts – Luke – Easter- Ruth

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3.      Who asked that if a man dies, would he live again?

Lazarus – Martha – Job – Jesus – Pilate

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4.      Which book is an account of the life of Jesus?

Jude – Galatians – Mark – Philemon – Revelation

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5.      Which is NOT true of the Holy Spirit?

God –Indwells believers – A Force – Convicts of sin –In the O.T.

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6.      Which is NOT one of the twelve tribes of Israel?

Judah – Joseph – Dan – Levi – Benjamin  

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7.      Which book gives the Ten Commandments?

Numbers – Exodus – Judges – Leviticus – 1 Chronicles

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8.      Who was the first Christian martyr?

James – Matthias – Peter – Paul – Stephen

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9.      Which is the resurrection chapter?

1 Cor. 13 – Hebrews 11 – Isaiah 53 – 1 Cor. 15 – John 11

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10.  Who wrote five New Testament books?

Peter – Moses – Luke – Thomas – John

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11.  Which book describes Paul’s conversion three times?

Romans – Acts – Matthew – Galatians – Ezra

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12.  Which book states that God helps those who help themselves?

Mark – Titus – None – Nehemiah – Easter

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13.  Which book says that God will destroy the universe by fire?

None – Genesis – Lamentations – 2 Peter – Judges

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14.  Which person was not a judge in Israel?

Deborah – Gideon – Sisera – Samuel - Samson

15.  Which book says the new Heaven will be on the new earth?

Revelation – 1 Peter – Titus – 1 Thessalonians – Ezekiel

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16.  Which Bible passage says we earn our way to Heaven by good deeds?

Titus 3:5 –  None  -  Ephesians 2:8-9  – Romans 6:23 – Romans 11: 6

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17.  Which Bible text specifically says that Jesus is God?

Romans 9:5  – All  –  Hebrews 1:8  --  John 20:28  – Titus 2:13

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18.  Which action shows Jesus Christ is God?

Accepted worship – Forgave sins – Raised the dead – All – Came from Heaven

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19.  Which Old Testament text describes the Jew’s Messiah as being God?

Isaiah 7:14 – All – Micah 5:2 - Isaiah 9:6 - Psalm 2:7

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20.  Which Bible text says Jesus died in the place of sinners?

John 1:29;  10:11 –  Rom. 5:8-9  -  1 Peter 1:18-19; 2:24; 3:18  – 2 Cor. 5:18, 21  –  All

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21.  Which Bible text says Jesus alone is the way to Heaven?

All  -  Acts 4:12  –  John 14:6  –  John 10:7-9  -  1 Timothy 2:5

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22.  What Bible text says no sin or evil will be allowed in Heaven?

Revelation 22:15  –  Rev. 21:8, 27  –  1 Cor. 6:9-10; 15:50   --  All  -  Galatians 5:21

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23.  What Bible text shows there is only one God?

Deuteronomy 6:4  --  All  --  Mark 12:29  --  John 17:3  -  1 Corinthians 8:4, 6

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24.  What Bible text shows there are NOT three persons within the one God?

Matthew 28:19  --  None  –  2 Corinthians 13:4  --  Matt. 3:16-17  --  Isaiah 63:7-10

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25.  Which term DOESN’T describe what God calls evil or disapproves?

            Lawlessness – Rebellion - Selfishness – Apostasy – Kindness

ANSWERS:  1.  27.   2.  Easter.   3.  Job.  4. Mark.  5.  A Force.  6.  Joseph.  7.  Exodus.   8. Matthias.

                      9.  1 Cor. 15.  10.  Luke.  11.  Acts.  12.  None.  13.  2 Peter.  14.  Sisera.  15. Revelation.

                      16.  None.   17.  All.  18.  All.  19.  All.  20.  All.  21.  All.  22.  All.   23.  All.  24. None.

                      25.  Kindness.

Intelligent Minds Question the Reality of Hell

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If there’s a good God and good Heaven, then it seems our good deeds would gain God’s favor and earn our way into Heaven. But it seems unreasonable for a good or loving God to send anyone to an eternal torture chamber called Hell. That sadistic God appalls and repels me. Most people aren’t bad and anybody punished in a lake of fire forever is really cruel and extreme. Wouldn’t a little bit of light punishment bring them to their senses? They would repent of their wrongdoing and be ready for Heaven.

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I believe I’m a reasonable thinking person. But I’ll admit that I don’t know everything, and that I could have overlooked something essential. So in fairness, can you as a Bible believing Christian tell me where I may be wrong? And give me some biblical evidence? I have three perplexing questions.

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Why Must Hell Be Eternal?

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All Sin Makes Us Unacceptable to God and Unfit for Heaven.” Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-10).

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We humans don’t have God’s perfect knowledge and don’t see sin as God’s does. If we’re not murders or rapists, we think we’re not bad persons. We can perform a good act with an evil self-centered motive. And we excuse our wrongdoing saying circumstances forced me to do it. But God’s law, written on our hearts with our conscience bearing witness, nullifies all excuses (Rom. 2:14-15). Romans 1:18-2:1 gives a long list of sins we continually commit and suppress which shows we reject God, rebel against his law, and are without excuse.

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Hell must be eternal because God’s holy nature accepts only perfect people. Jesus said, “You shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). “Your iniquities have separated you from your God” (Isa. 59:2).

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Sin is unacceptable to a morally perfect God. And how can we trust an imperfect God? He might overlook us, forget us, not love us, ignore us, even hate us. Among world religions, only the eternal, infinite God of the Judao-Christian Bible is perfect and thus trustworthy. So 51% goodness is unacceptable to God and defiling of Heaven. Besides, it’s not our faulty idea of goodness but God’s perfect standard in accord with His perfect nature.

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Hell must be eternal because Heaven is perfect. Heaven is not just good—it’s God’s house and it’s perfect. “But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Rev. 21:27).

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One hundred percent perfection is required to enter Heaven. Our good deeds can’t outweigh our bad deeds; all bad deeds must be forgiven and cleansed. Persons with 51% goodness are still sinners and like a cancer corrupt Heaven turning it into Hell. The Lamb’s Book of life is not the church roll. The only names written in it are humble sinners who trusted in their Savior. Jesus is the Light that alone repels all the darkness and torments of Hell.

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God gives one life and after this the judgment. “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment (Heb. 9:27). There’s no multiple lives based upon the cycles of nature as in pantheistic religions. A holy God doesn’t give people multiple lives to wallow in sin. It’s our Creator’s right to say how long we live and that our every breath should glorify Him.

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What Is the Nature of Hell?

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Hell is torment of mind, not torture of body. “Come to this place of torment” (Luke 16:28; Rev. 14:10-11; 20:10). The Bible represents God as loving sinners and not wanting them to perish (Jn. 3:16; 2 Pet. 3:9). God’s not a sadistic devil who enjoys torturing persons in fire. The fiery lake and furnace represent a confined place of torment because its fire doesn’t consume the worm, as does the fire we know. And the  worm is a condescending term used of persons (Job 25:6; Ps. 22:6; Isa. 41:14; Mk. 9:44). Outer darkness is distance from God who is Light. Weeping and gnashing teeth is not bodily torture, but self-inflicted agonies as feelings of guilt, unrest, emptiness, regret, rebellion, uselessness, anger, hate, loneliness, fear, loss, despair (Job 16:9; Ps. 35:16; Acts 7:54; Jude 13; Gal. 5:19-21).

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Hell is punishment equal to degrees of sins committed. “More tolerable” and “greater sin” and other phrases show degrees. No persons receive the same reward or punishment. The Bible teaches our deeds decide our degree of reward in Heaven for servicing God (1 Cor. 3:11-15; Gal. 5:22; Rev. 22:12), or degree of punishment in Hell for sins (Matt. 11:22-24; Rom. 2:5-6; Heb. 10:29). Its pure justice as only can be true of an all-knowing and utterly just God (Gal. 6:7-8; Gen. 18:25).

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Hell is not annihilation. “These will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matt. 25:46). Hell confirms human dignity and freedom in God’s image; being annihilated like animals destroys it (Gen. 1:26-7; Ps. 8:5-9). Destroy, perish, and second death mean a changed state or condition like a wrecked car, not ceasing to exist. The Bible is clear that sinners in Hell are consciously tormented, eternally punished, by degrees and exist away from the Lord (2 Thess. 1:9; Dan. 12:2; Jn. 5:25; Rom. 2:6-8)..

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How Can A Loving God and Eternal Hell Be Compatible?

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A loving God gives everyone opportunity to be saved from an eternal Hell. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13). According to the Bible, the only reason people don’t find God is that they don’t want Him. When people are willing to turn from their sins and turn to God’s way of living, God will make Himself known to them. Many Bible passages say so (Deut. 4:29; Heb. 11:6; Isa. 55:6-7; Rom. 12:1-2). We have examples of seeking finders—the wise men (Matt. 2:1-12), Simeon (Luke. 2:25-32), Anna (Lk.2:36-38), Ethiopian (Acts 8), Cornelius (Acts 10). Missionaries tell stories of persons today who travel long distances and face great hardships to find Jesus. God witnesses through nature (Rom. 1:20), conscience (Rom. 2:14), the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:8-11), the Bible (Heb. 4:12) and his church (Acts 1:8). God commands all men everywhere to repent, has set a day to judge the world, and given proof by raising Jesus from the dead (Acts 17:27-31; 4:12; Rom. 10:9-10).    

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A loving God can’t save unrepentant persons from eternal Hell. “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (Rom. 2:5). You can’t force someone to love you. Force is rape—love uses persuasion. A loving God must allow people to reject him and hate his right ways even to their death. Further, if Hell could reform sinners, God would not have sent Jesus to bear our sin on the cross. Hell is final, fixed, the end of a one-way street. It demonstrates God is Lord over evil. See also Luke 16:26; Jn. 3:36).

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A loving God has promised his faithful saints a sin free eternal home. “They shall be his people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4).

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This wonderful promise has encouraged and motivated God’s people to live for him who died for them and arose again. We will have new perfect bodies and no more sinful nature, nor Satan and demons, nor evil world philosophy to tempt us. When we see Jesus, we will be holy like him and enjoy serving him eternally. But the wicked that ignored and rejected God, and hated his ways on earth will live in outer darkness and torments by their own choice. Hell glorifies God by display of his truth, justice, righteousness, patience, love, power and triumph over evil. Do you look forward to that blessed hope of living with Jesus? You can. Tell God you’re a sinner wanting your way rather than His and that you trust Him now to forgive you by paying for your sins on the cross.

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Did Jesus Arise from the Dead?

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#Resurrection

Men of world renown have built or destroyed empires, altered the course of history and changed millions of lives for good or evil such as Buddha, Confucius, Caesar, Muhammad, Marx and Hitler. But, they had no power to defeat death. Only Jesus showed this kind of power.

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If Jesus arose bodily from the dead, it visibly demonstrated life exists beyond the grave, God exists and acts in our world, Jesus is God, all he said is true, our world has meaning, our lives purpose, and we have opportunity for eternal life and fulfillment in him. This answers our most crucial questions, meets our greatest needs. But if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, then we are  perishing animals that return to dirt without dignity, rights, freedom, absolute truth and ethics.

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Attempts to discredit Jesus’ bodily resurrection are leaky buckets. Unless we know everything, we can’t know there’s no God who can take on human form, die for our sins and rise again. Alternative explanations are improbable and no disproof. Jesus’ miracles always astonished his skeptical disciples since they knew nature’s laws. Eyewitness testimony established Christ’s resurrection. Dying and rising Savior-Gods based on nature’s vegetation cycles were just fertility myths. Some claim history unknowable yet claim to know dead unconscious chemicals have aligned themselves into men. Let’s be real!

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Intellectual integrity requires fair open-minded evaluation of this mountain of evidence. Study the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ death and resurrection--they’re natural, unpretentious, unembellished fact, not myths or made up stories—Matt. 27:35-28:20; Mark 15:15-16:18; Luke 23:26-24:43; John 19:17-21:23. If Jesus arose, it assures all humanity he alone is the truth and our only hope of salvation. How would you answer the following test questions?

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Were Jesus’ Deity, Death and Resurrection Predicted?

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Hundreds of years before Jesus, Jewish prophets predicted their Messiah would be God, virgin born, in Bethlehem, have a forerunner, live without sin, perform miracles, die for his people’s sins without a bone broken, and rise from the dead (Isa 7:14; 9:6; 40:3-5; 53; Ps. 22; 16:10; Mi. 5:2). Who alone could fulfill them but Jesus who said he had come to fulfill all the prophets said of him? Moreover, the odds against all these centuries earlier detailed specific predictions being fulfilled must be in the trillions.   

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Because of their unbelief, Jesus’ disciples couldn’t understand his predictions. Jesus predicted Judas’ betrayal, the disciples forsaking him and Peter’s denials when the roaster crowed thrice. Jesus said the chief priests and elders would condemn him and turn him over to the Romans for trial. They would beat, mock, and crucified him, but in three days, he would rise from the dead. How could any mere person predict such things?
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                                                     Was Christ’s Death Certain?

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Without food or sleep during his five long trials, a big whip with bits of metal lacerating his back, and his head pierced by the crown of thorns, Jesus lost much blood and became too weak to carry his cross. Spikes driven through his hands and feet brought excruciating pain and loss of blood. His work finished, he committed his spirit to the Father. When the soldier’s spear thrust his side, blood and water gushed out. These experienced executioners knew they didn’t need to break his leg to hasten death. Jesus’ disciple. Moreover, a cold stiff body makes it certain. John, his mother and two other women disciples watched him die on the cross.

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Pilate allowed Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus to take down Jesus’ body and bury him in Joseph’s private tomb as the women followed and watched. From his garden arrest until his sealed entombment, soldiers guarded Jesus. No substitution was possible—indeed, who could be identified or pose as a tortured crucified substitute?
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                                                    Was Jesus’ Tomb Secured?

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Having heard the rumor Jesus would rise the third day, Pilate ordered soldiers to guard the tomb under penalty of death. Joseph’s tomb was cut from solid rock. Inside it, the disciples bound Jesus’ body in cloth and spices. The watching soldiers sealed its entrance with a large heavy stone and placed upon it the Roman seal. Grave robbers dare not go against mighty Rome.

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.                               How Can We Explain His Empty Tomb at Jerusalem?



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Jerusalem was the place Jesus was crucified, buried and claimed to have arisen from the dead. Anybody could confirm whether Jesus was still in the tomb by a short trip outside the city. On the first day of the week, an earthquake occurred at the tomb and an angel rolled the stone from its entrance. The terrified soldiers fell down like dead men. Seeing the guarded tomb empty, they went into town and told the chief priests who never doubted what happened. The priests bribed the soldiers to say the disciples stole Jesus’ body and that if it gets to the governor’s ears, they would make it right. Neither friend nor foe had a motive to steal the body even supposing they could. The priests’ explanation that Jesus’ disciples stole the body is the first of a dozen or more failed attempts to explain away the resurrection.

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About sunrise, the four women brought spices to anoint Jesus’ body. They were surprised to find the stone roll away and Jesus’ body missing. An angel told them Jesus was not here but arisen as he told them he would. Mary Magdalene ran to tell the disciples they had taken the Lord from the tomb. Since Jewish law discount a Jewish woman’s testimony, this is an unmentionable event unless it occurred. 

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Peter and John ran to investigate. When John entered the tomb, he saw the grave clothes wrapped around as before but deflated with the headpiece folded and set aside—and he believed. No hasty grave robbers would leave these.  

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                                How Can We Explain Christ’s Many Appearances?

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Even though Jesus raised three persons from the dead, and claimed on many occasions he would die and arise from the dead his disciples didn’t believe. They didn’t know their Scriptures and Jesus wasn’t the Messiah they expected. What could have changed their incredibly skeptical minds?

During forty days, Jesus appeared a dozen times unexpectedly at different places under various conditions to both individuals and groups. As before, he drank and ate with them, explained the Scriptures. Scientifically minded Thomas said he wouldn’t believe unless he saw the nail prints

 and touched his spear pierced side. Jesus invited him to do exactly that and Mary clinged to his feet. No theory of ghost or hallucination or imposter is possible. Jesus appeared to Stephen, skeptical James and persecuting Saul. Do you think Christ’s followers would willingly endure painful tortures and die for what they knew to be a lie?
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                            How Account for Lives Transformed by the Gospel?

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At first terrified cowards who deserted Jesus, denied him and locked themselves behind closed doors, they later boldly proclaimed him a risen Savior. These early Christians were Jews—many were priests and defenders of Judaism--proudly worshipping the God of Israel who learned their One God is three personal distinctions. They forsook the sacrificial system for the true Lamb of God it symbolized, and the many prophecies he fulfilled. The Lord’s Supper replaced Passover, baptism supplanted circumcision, Sunday worship the Sabbath, and Christ service superseded Moses’ laws. To change ones religion for a Jew meant condemnation to Hell--this was a serious commitment. They risked family rejection, ridicule, threats, imprisonment and torturous death.

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You say martyrdom proves nothing. Muslims in holy war blow themselves and others up for Allah believing they will go to a sensual paradise and have 71 virgins. Yes, kamikaze pilots, suicidal cultists and Jihadist Muslims die for a cause they sincerely believe is true. But, would they die for what they know is a lie?

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Crucial differences exist between Muhammad and Christ. Muhammad said he was just a man (Sura 17:93) while Christ claimed to be God (John 5:18; 10:33; Matt. 26:63-65). Eyewitness saw Christ perform miracles; Muhammad denied miracles when asked to perform them to prove he was a true prophet (Sura 3:181-184; 6:8-9). Proof establishes truth--mere claims mean nothing. Islam spread by force and fear of the sword; Christianity by faith and love in the risen Savior. Muslims condemn Christians for the crusades when they were only taking back lands Muslims took from them. 

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Peter and the other apostles boldly proclaimed—

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“We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree . . . And we are his witnesses.” Acts 5:29-32.

“We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 2 Peter 1:16.

“I delivered to you first of all that which I received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also as by one born out of due time.” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8.

This above statement of Paul is one of possibly 40 early church creeds (3-8 years after Christ) memorized,  passed on and later incorporated into the epistles as most persons of that day were illiterate and depended on oral communication. Some others are Rom. 1:3-4; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Phil. 2:6-11; Col. 1:15-18; 1 Tim. 3:16; 2 Tim. 2:8; 1 Pet. 3:18-22.

Saul, the worst persecutor of Christians, became Paul the greatest preacher of Christ. While the men traveling with Saul to Damascus saw the light and heard the voice, only Saul saw Jesus’ body and understood his instructions. Ananias confirmed this when he opened Saul’s blinded eyes (Acts 9). All Paul’s credentials he counted loss to gain Christ (Phil. 3:5-8). What can explain Paul’s transformation except that its fact he met Christ on the Damascus Road?

Are the Gospel Accounts Fiction or Fact?

 Do these accounts of Jesus’ life read like a once upon a time story in some far off land of one-eyed giants, snake-headed Medusas, golden fleeces, genies, flying carpets and moving statues?

Consider the Gnostic Gospel of Peter dated 100 years after the resurrection. It speaks of a large crowd going to Christ’s tomb, the entrance stone moving aside, two shining men entering and carrying out a third with heads that reached up to heaven with a walking talking cross following them. That’s the character of myth and magic, not history.

Matthew, Mark and Luke cite countless names, titles, places, circumstances, customs and events verified by historical research and archaeological discovery. This is real history published within 30 years or less while eyewitnesses still lived to testify to the facts. Believing the Bible the Word of God scribes meticulously copied manuscripts. Unlike other ancient documents, thousands more manuscripts and hundreds of years closer to the events make the New Testament documents the most accurate preserved documents of antiquity--99.5%. Copious writings of the early church fathers can confirm all but eleven verses. Besides, ancient secular writers mention Jesus such as Josephus, Pliny the Younger, Tacitus, Suetonius, Hadrian, Lucian and others giving details of his life.

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If you wanted persons to believe in Jesus, would you dare mention that persons called him a deceiver (Jn. 7:12), a blasphemer they almost stoned (Jn. 8:30-59), a drunkard (Matt. 11:19), demon possessed (Mk. 3:22, Jn. 10:20), “out of his mind” by his own family (Mk. 3:21, 31), who’s followers deserted him (Jn.6:66). Only persons deeply committed to honest reporting would dare mention such damaging incidents and misunderstandings.

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Do Jesus’ teachings seem like a human invention or the true God’s ethical standard? Don’t lust. Don’t swear. Don’t hate. Blessed are the pure in heart. Turn the other cheek. Love your enemies. Go the second mile. Be perfect. Store up treasures in heaven. Glorify God. Matthew 5-7.

Critics like to claim the New Testament is only one biased religious account. Then why do the Gospels record conflicting details and supplementary information? What did the superscription on the cross really say? Were two angels at the tomb or only one? Did the women come to anoint Jesus’ body in the darkness or early morning daylight? Such seeming discrepancies show four independent trustworthy accounts. Legal experts know independent accounts exist and truth is told when witnesses generally agree but differ somewhat in details that can be reconciled. Answers to such minor difficulties are found in Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe’s book, When Critics Ask. 

Secular historians consider one source can establish many facts as history, three agreed sources unimpeachable. The Gospels are four independent sources of Christ’s life. When we add the early sermons in Acts and many early creeds in Paul’s letters (3-8 years after Christ), we have six early-agreed sources. Furthermore, while hostile witnesses would quickly expose any inaccurate testimony about Jesus, his disciples openly reminded opponents they know it’s true. Could the real bias be with the critics? One superb book that should put doubts to rest is I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek.  

Could the only reason anyone would reject the risen Lord Jesus Christ is that he or she don’t want God in his or her life? That’s life’s most serious decision. And delay could prove fatal.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore. Amen.” If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” John. 14:6; 8:24; Revelation 1:18
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