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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Bible Errors or Critic's Errors?

Bible Errors or Critic’s Error?

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Atheist Lee Strobel was a journalist living for himself caring about professional success, not moral living. He liked to provoke Christians citing apparent Bible contradictions and difficulties. Not having answers Christians become flustered and embarrassed which made Lee feel smug and superior. He wondered how people could be so naive and dumb to believe the Bible with all its mistakes and absurdities. But when his wife became a Christian, he saw wonderful changes in her life. He began to think that maybe he was judgmental and should look more closely at the Bible. He too became a Christian and his attitude and life changed to godly interests.

Christian philosopher, logician, theologian, author and debater, Dr. Norman Geisler studied the Bible intensely for forty years and made a list of 800 alleged contradictions and errors. Yes, he knew there were difficulties and alleged contradictions. But he knew this as a logically valid syllogism.

God cannot err.

The Bible is God’s Word.

Therefore, the Bible cannot err.

The Bible says, “God is truth” (John 14:6). Jesus said to the Father, “Your Word Is truth” (John 17:17). The Psalmist exclaimed, “Your word is truth” (Ps.119:160). Inspiration is God’s breathing out his truth and God cannot lie (2 Tim. 3:16; Titus 1:2). Yes, men wrote it in their own styles, vocabulary and perspectives but God directed their wills and their pens to record the truth (2 Peter 1:20). So what the Bible says, God says. And yes, humans err, but Jesus was the all-knowing God-man. And that makes a huge difference.

Truth is what corresponds to reality. And Bible truth relates not only to spiritual and moral matters but to history and science as well--it’s simply impossible to separate the two. For example, Christ’s incarnation, virgin birth, not being sinful, miracles, death and resurrection are all vital spiritual teachings, yet inseparable from historical and scientific realities. Jesus said the Old Testament already written was God’s Word and the New Testament yet to be written would be too.

What Bible critics often deny, the archaeologists’ spade has repeatedly dug from the ground. Satan always seeks to instill doubt in the trustworthiness of what God said (Gen. 3:1) and to blind the minds of unbelievers (2 Cor. 4:4). When one finds an apparent error, acknowledge that it may be in the copies not the original manuscript, or may be a faulty translation, or a wrong interpretation. Dr. Geisler has come up with seventeen common sense principles of interpretation that the critics always seem to ignore. I’ll briefly discuss seven with examples, and suggest sources for resolving alleged errors.    

Critics assume the Unexplained is Unexplainable. Is it wise to assume this passage an impossible contradiction that can’t be explained? Are we certain we haven’t overlooked something? At one time scientists had no natural explanation for meteors, eclipses, tornadoes, and hurricanes. But they didn’t throw up their hands in despair and stop all research. Instead, it challenged and motivated them to further research and discovery. At one time critics said there was no writing in Moses’ day. But writing was discovered two thousand years predating Moses. Critics said the Hittite empire mentioned only in the Bible didn’t exist until the Hittite library was discovered in Turkey. That’s only two of a great many examples.

   

Critics presume the Bible Guilty Until Proven Innocent. Truth is told far more often than falsity. In all communications, we must assume information given is correct until found faulty. For example, with road signs, traffic signals, food labels, restroom signs, law suits. If these weren’t correct, then accidents, poisoned foods, embarrassment, and jail sentences would destroy us. Innocence isn’t some special privilege granted the Bible but the fair and intelligent approach true in all of life. By signaling out the Bible for negative destructive comment, could the critics be revealing an unfair and hostile prejudice?

 

Critics Confuse Our Fallible Interpretations with God’s Infallible Revelation. As limited human beings, we all make mistakes. Jesus, the God-man said, “Truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished” (Matt. 5:18; Luke 16:17). Scripture is final authority on all it discusses. But we finite humans can misinterpret both God’s Word and God’s world. So keep these two principles in mind: Certain scientific fact today can become changing scientific fantasy tomorrow. And while God’s Word is always right, its human interpreters might not be right. When all truth is in and properly understood, there should be no final conflict between science and Scripture.

Critics Fail to Understand the Context of the Passage. The Bible says, “There is no God” (Ps. 14:1). Wrenching Bible statements from their context can make the Bible seem contradictory and teach things it doesn’t teach. In context, the verse says, "The fool has said in his heart, there’s no God." The Bible interpreter should consider the immediate context, the historical context, and the whole Bible context in some passages. Jesus’ statement “Give unto him who asks you.” wouldn’t mean you’re to give nuclear weapons to a terrorist nation or a loaded pistol to a child. Disregarding context is perhaps the greatest interpreter’s fault.

Critics may Neglect to Interpret Difficult Passages by Clear Ones. Some passages aren’t clear and may appear to teach things opposed to other things clearly taught in the Bible. The classic one is Paul verses James in salvation teaching. James is teaching that salvation before men is seen in good works (James 2:14-26). Whereas Paul is teaching justification before God is by grace through faith taught clearly in many passages (Rom. 4:5; 11:6; Titus 3:5-7; Eph. 2:8-9). Another passage is Philippians 2:12-13. Here Paul is saying in reverence and awe toward God we are responsible to outwardly display the good deeds that God enables us to will and do for his good pleasure. 

Critics may Base a Teaching on an Obscure Passage. Important teachings of Scripture are clear and taught in many places. Things that are rare and obscure should not be regarded as important doctrines. For example, First Corinthians 15:29 mentions “baptized for the dead.” Just what that means we can’t be sure and should not base a doctrine upon it. One snake-handling group built their whole religion around Mark 16:18 “they will take up serpents . . . and it will not harm them.” Paul did this on the island of Malta but it’s not God’s command to the church (Acts 28:3-6).

Critics Presume the Bible Approves all it Records. It doesn’t. Critics point to Rahab’s lie, David’s adultery, Solomon’s polygamy, Moses’ murder and say the Bible’s a shameful immoral book. Inspiration insures a true and accurate record but not God’s approval of human sin. The Bible shows as no other book does how sinful even the best of us are and how desperately we all need God’s grace and forgiveness.

Now if we really don’t want answers to such problems as the critics above raise. Then, of course, we will ignore such answers as given above and feel justified being free to live our own life apart from God and fulfill our own sinful desires. But if we honestly seek to know the truth to alleged errors, I suggest just two sources. When Critics Ask, by Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe. And, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, by Gleason L. Archer.

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The Alternatives If There's No God

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When I speak of God, I don’t mean anybody’s idea of God. I don’t mean the pantheist god of universal energy or force. I don’t mean the intellectual’s irrelevant process god. I don’t mean god as our highest ideal. I don’t mean a deistic Creator of the world who then abandoned it. I don’t mean the imperfect god who allows us 51% good deeds to enter Heaven--maybe. I don’t mean a god who is exclusively love and excuses every wicked thing we might do. I don’t mean conflicting limited temporary gods derived from nature.

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I do mean the self-existent, infinite perfect personal ethical God of biblical Christianity. I mean the Creator God who gave abundant evidence he walked among us. Who in love died to save us from sin and its consequences, and who rose again. Only this God is God and worth our time, worship and service. But unbelief claims this God doesn’t exist. What then are the alternatives?

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The Universe Originated By Chance

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Chance or accident is our only explanation for the universe’s beginning. So before the universe popped into existence no physical forces existed and no matter, time or space. But science and good sense accepts as obvious fact that nothing can’t produce something. So everything that begins must have an adequate cause. The universe’s expansion, it’s running down, and that it’s impossible to backtrack eternally, all point to a time of beginning. So the universe must be the effect of a self-existing infinite unchangeable immaterial Intelligence we may rightfully call God. Chance origins don’t make scientific nor biblical sense. But in beginning, God created does.

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The Universe Will Die

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What popped into being by chance is not eternal and can pop out of being anytime. I’ve already mentioned the universe is dying a heat death—the stars are dying out, it's called the second law of thermodynamics. But further, the earth can be destroyed at anytime. I saw ten disasters on the science TV channel that could destroy the earth--a big asteroid, volcanic eruptions, solar flares, earthquakes, ice caps melting. Christians, however, believe God is in control and will destroy the universe by fire.

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“Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Pet. 3:12-13).   

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Human Life Is the Product of Chance Evolution

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In the first place, spontaneous generation of life from dead, mindless chemicals is impossible—something can’t give what it doesn’t have. Life forms are genetically fixed within limits from the start. There are no transitional links between animals—but those who won’t allow God can’t admit that. Further, without a heart, reproductive capacity, breathing system or some vital organ animals could never survive, so it’s obvious all must be present and functional from the start. These known scientific facts eliminate any possibility of evolution and point to God.

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Human Life Has No Ultimate Purpose

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Without God to sustain it, all life will cease to exist. What then is the meaning of life? Even supposing life came to earth for an outside source or that we may go to other planets our lives will end and soon be forgotten memories. Will we even have a tombstone with our name inscribed? The Grim Reaper may be knocking at our door even now. All our aspirations, hopes, achievements will cease to exist. That is unless Jesus is the God-man who told us God’s truth and can give us everlasting life. Some atheists such as Bertrand Russell admit this.

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Morality, Ethics, Right and Wrong Doesn’t Make Ultimate Sense

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Life is short and seems to fly by faster every year. Why not ‘live it up’ and do just what I want?Passions are strong. I’m often weak. Sexual tension drives me up the wall. No God means no judgment or Hell. Evolution proves we’re just animals anyway. So why not do what animals do? People get in my way. Why should I care about them? Yes laws and humane treatment work better and makes us feel saver and saner, but I want my way and I’m going to have it. Responsibility to others doesn’t make much sense to me. And if I’m clever, I can get by with lots of things. But . . .

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“They did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting . . . who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who do such things are deserving of death. You are inexcusable, O man (Rom. 3:28, 32; 2:1).”

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Human Dignity, Rights and Freedom Mean Little for Soulless Dirt

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We know that at death we return to the dirt we are--our skin even shows the same colors as white, black, brown, red, and yellow dirt. We’re soulless animals of no greater value than dirt. In a chaotic relativist world, whoever can make great promises and usurp government control can rule the world. We are moving closer to that every day. Communication and travel improvements bring us together as one world awaiting the AntiChrist destroyer.

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“And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:7-8).”

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There’s No Basis for Absolute Justice, Mercy, Love or Truth

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A godless world has no place for moral absolutes. Justice, mercy, love and truth is what you make of them or what will be forced upon you. There is no authoritative standard above limited, fickle, conflicting, biased human opinions and preferences. Tyrants rule and people are at their mercy. Conscience, guilt feelings, and shame are universal but make no sense without a Moral Lawgiver.

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“When Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel (Rom. 2:14-16).”
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Experimental Science Is Without Foundation

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Experimental science developed in medieval Christian Europe, which supplied the necessary conceptual framework. Apart from biblical Christianity, it’s unlikely we would have modern experimental science. Paganism thought nature scared and tampering with it disturbing its gods. Mystical pantheism regarded the world cyclic and unreal illusion. Plato and the philosophers gained knowledge through reason not experimental testing. Ancient civilizations believed interference of the gods make the world illogical and unpredictable. Even Islam’s Allah was arbitrary.

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 But Christians believed God created a real world that was good, orderly, intelligible, and made for exploration, study, dominion and development. The heavens declared the glory of God and the earth is his handiwork. It is no accident that the pioneers of science were committed Christians. These include Johannes Kepler, Blaise Pascal, Isaac Newton, Michael Faraday and a list to long to name. Science textbooks don’t mention their men’s religious beliefs and practices. For example, the great Isaac Newton wrote Bible commentaries. Naturalistic science borrowed its foundation from Christianity and disowned its forbearer.

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All Religions Can Be Classified Into Two Categories

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All human ideas of God can fit into two major categories: subjective or objective. Subjective ideas of God are based upon human imaginations, fears and speculations—persons make claims about them but furnish no real objective tangible evidence they exist. For example, god is universal energy—philosophical Hinduism and Buddhism. Many gods—popular Hinduism and Mormonism. God is what an angel told me—Islam and Mormonism. A good god and an evil god must exist to explain good and evil in the world--Zoroastrianism. No god exists because I haven’t seen anything that convinces me but I honor my beloved ancestors—Confucianism and Shinto.

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An objective religion would furnish evidence that honest open-minded thinking people can examine to see if God actually exists. Without apology, I claim that the Judao-Christian faith alone of all religions meets this test.

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 Before you accuse me of being an arrogant, narrow-minded, bigot, please here me out. First, many conflicting religions can’t all be right no matter what they claim—God can’t be all the different things mentioned above. I don’t mean this to put anyone down but just to be truthful. Second, if any one religion is true and of God, everyone is in his or her rights to ask for rational factual evidence. Now I’ve given good reason a personal ethical God exists. Is there any reason the universe’s Creator cannot become a man and walk among us? Could Jesus be the God-man?     

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Jesus is said to claim and do things that could only be true of God. First, he fulfilled detailed Messianic predictions made centuries before he lived on earth. Such predictions as Messiah would be God, born in Bethlehem, perform miracles, die for people’s sins and rise from the dead—only God could fulfill such prophecies. Second, Jesus did things only God’s power would enable anyone to do. He walked on water, healed all kinds of diseases immediately, caste out demons, ascended into the sky. Third, all the while Jesus said things only God would say: He came from Heaven, existed before creation, performed miracles, forgives sins, could give eternal life, is the only way to Heaven. Now if these things are true, wouldn’t the conclusion have to be: Jesus is God? And if good honest evidence supports it, wouldn’t we be fools to ignore it? And isn’t the burden of proof on us to prove it false?

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Yes, others are claimed to be God and perform miracles. But in writings centuries after their deaths by adoring disciples and not in primary documents or in teaching of the founders. That’s altogether different from eyewitness accounts within three decades of Jesus death and of disciples who endured torturous deaths to verify Jesus is the risen Lord. Moreover, Jesus’ disciples lived in the real world and were as astonished at his claims, fulfilled prophecies and miracles as we are today. In trusting Jesus to save us, our only loss is desire to sin and eternity in Hell. 
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 It’s your choice? Heaven’s love and fulfillment, or Hell’s darkness and torments? This is our life's most serious decision. Trust the Lord now. You may never have this chance again. I pray U will say, Lord forgive me the sinner, and be my Savior, Lord and Life Guide.

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NOTE: Good news articles show faces of some who have read the articles and the number of pageviews. On my computer also is shown what articles you sent and to what countries. So you are reaching people and doing great good sending out these articles. God bless you.
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God‘s A Cruel Tyrant And Killjoy!

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People have their own idea of God and I don’t know who’s right. But I don’t like the Bible’s God. I don’t mind a Creator who made the world to run on its own steam or natural laws and then abandoned us. He doesn’t bother me one bit since I can do my own thing and its okay. And the God who is all love and forgiveness lets me do anything I like so he’s okay too. But I don’t need Him unless I get into trouble or things don’t go right. I’ll pray for help when caught and maybe even go to church and say I’m sorry. But the Bible’s God of judgment I don’t like--He’s a killjoy, a tyrant. He wants to restrict my freedom, impose rules for me to obey, and spoil my fun. Well, I don’t trust that God and I want to live my own life. I’m just being honest.
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So I take a few drinks, gamble and use drugs sometimes. And yes I like sex partners but I’m just normal as others do the same things. I haven’t robbed a bank, rapped or killed anybody. I’m polite and respectful to people except when I’m drunk, and then I can’t help it. I’m a good person and it’s impossible to be perfect. If others go to Heaven, I ought to go too. So why does God have to make me feel guilty and spoil all my fun? He’s just a cruel tyrant and killjoy.
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Many people feel this way and don’t think they’re terrible sinners. I’m not condemning them; they condemn themselves. I just want them to think honestly about the God of the Bible they feel is a condemning judge and killjoy. If you should be such a person, will you let me ask you some important questions?

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Does forbidding us to destroy ourselves make God a cruel tyrant?
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Many people call tobacco, alcohol, and drug use fun and party and it makes them feel accepted with the crowd. Such things destroy our health; wreck our minds and bodies with diseases and misery, and cause highway accidents that would otherwise not occur. We pay a high price that enslaves us in a slow painful regretful death.
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Parents out of concern for their children’s well-being warn against their use knowing the harm and yet may teach its okay by their example. Advertisements present their use as sophisticated and fashionable and never picture the consequences of broken homes, lost jobs, ruined lives and their children following their footsteps. Of course, we can excuse this saying everybody does it, or a little indulgence won’t hurt, or it’s no worse than overeating, not exercising, or stressful work. Yes, but these things call for responsible living as well.
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The point here is that God designed our bodies, knows their proper function and warns us that they are His temple and we are responsible for their care. God is not a cruel killjoy or tyrant to warn us to be responsible for our own good--we know it. God is for us to have fun but enjoy wholesome activities that protect us and honor the bodies and minds He gave us. Our loving God has a higher standard for His people. 

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“Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual   immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy  Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a  price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1Cor. 6:18-20
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“Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31
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Does allowing us free choice make God a cruel tyrant?
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It’s strange, but true. We tend to blame God for all the evils in the world—the abuses, robberies, rapes, muggings, murders, wars. Why does He allow it? But the fact is we commit these evils or sins ourselves, not God. In fact, God warns and pleads with us not to do such things. It’s the old story of Adam and Eve all over again. Both disobeyed God when they ate the forbidden fruit. Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. We’ve been at it ever since. We’re prone to ask, why doesn’t God put a stop to all these terrible evils? Think about it; is that what we really want? Where would we draw the line of how much evil can be allowed? We’re all guilty of different sins and to various degrees. To get rid of evil God would have to wipe us all off the map.

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Further, we’re in God’s spiritual image immortal, free and with responsibility. It’s what distinguishes us from mere animal with instinct. To take away our freedom would make us puppets on a string. That would destroy our humanity and dignity. It would deny God His glory in His creatures. That’s not a good solution since force makes God a tyrant while freedom makes Him a friend to love and trust. 
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Does offering us Heaven make God a cruel tyrant?
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How could it? God makes the rules but allows us sinners our own way. Persons who suppress the witness of creation and the witness of conscience won’t accept the witness of Christ. We can ignore, deny, rebel against and reject God to the very end, and God lets us have our own way—eternal existence without Him is Hell. What most persons never stop to realize is that with God go all His blessings that they enjoyed and took for granted during life. Our own choice makes us forever alone in darkness to know God’s wrath toward all our life’s unholy attitudes and acts.  
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 “And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than  light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the   light lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 319-21
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Does paying for our crimes in a cruel death make God a cruel tyrant?

Jesus came to seek and save the lost from God. He took tremendous sacrifice to leave Heaven’s glories, enter a cruel sinful world, be beaten and hung naked on a torturous cross as a condemned criminal. Prophets predicted it centuries before (Isa. 53; Ps. 22; Acts 2:23). Because Jesus was both God and sinless man, He could both feel our pain and pay the price of our sin. He showed humanity unspeakable love and is our only hope of redemption. Before Jesus, people couldn’t imagine a God who loved them. Jesus’ death was the very opposite of a tyrant.
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“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, (unique God-man) that whoever believes in his has everlasting life (John 3:16).
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Does putting away all evil and persons who could harm us make God a cruel tyrant?
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Civilized governments don’t allow known robbers, rapists, killers to run loose on their streets terrorizing their people. They jail the guilty according to their degree of crime to secure society’s safety and sanity. The all-knowing Lord will achieve the justice seldom achieved in human courts. Heaven will be an eternally safe haven for all who trust in the Savior who is humanities salvation and hope. In no way is God a cruel tyrant and killjoy.
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 “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.” Revelation 21:27
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Today is your opportunity. Today can be a new start. Today you can be a repentant sinner trusting Christ to receive eternal life and to follow Him the rest of the way. He has promised to never leave or forsake us. Say, Lord, you’re love, not a tyrant. Forgive me a rebellious, uncaring, self-willed person, a sinner. Thank you, Lord.

Honest Doubts About Atheism!

Atheists deny the existence of any kind of God. Atheism is an impossible position for the following reasons.

1. Atheists must know everything in space and time to say no God exists. Draw a large circle and black out what represents your knowledge. It would be only a small dot for any of us. Some kind of god may exist behind a star or beyond reach of our telescopes. Or, maybe over the next hill, around a corner, in the next room and we wouldn’t know it. Therefore, atheism is an empty dogmatic claim.

2. The Christian biblical God is an unseen Spirit. If God isn’t a giant somewhere in space or on earth, but rather is a spiritual or immaterial being or Mind as the Bible claims (Exodus 3:14; John 1:1-3; 4:22-24), then God could be everywhere and our human senses unable to detect His presence. Again, atheism is impossible to prove.

3. Atheism requires that the universe be eternal and self-sustaining, but it isn’t. The physical law called entropy is in operation that means the universe like a wound up clock is running down. Therefore, the universe had a beginning and will have an end. Something can’t come from nothing--like an empty box, nothing is in it to produce anything. The physical law of cause and effect demands everything begun must have a beginner or first cause. It must be outside the matter, space, and time it brought into being. Thus, it is self-existent, eternal, immaterial, unchangeable, and infinite to account for everything including life, mind, thought, will, logic, truth.

4. The world began with time, not in time. If we could backtrack eternally, then we would not be here today, but here we are.  Everything we know is not eternal but dependent on something else which must be eternal and can't change or go out of existence. That is what was told Moses in seeing the bush burning but not consumed--the Great Eternal "I Am." 

 5. Most scientists believe the universe began in an explosion they call the Big Bang. But everything we know works on a cause and effect principle. Nonexistence can’t bring existence into being—nothing can’t create something. Some persons believe in a singularity, or that the entire universe was compressed matter smaller than a pin head that just exploded.  Now that's incredible faith.  But isn't this singularity just imagination to avoid admitting the Creator?

6. Close-minded atheist faith based upon chance plus time makes everything irrational. If the universe occurred by chance, then anything can happen anytime. Thus, we can’t know the universe is rational, our minds rational, science factual, and life may suddenly become extinct, or whatever? Moreover, while atheism can’t explain origins, it relies on chance process assuming evolution by an unconscious, mindless nature.  Computer calculations shows chance impossible even if infinite time.

But opposed to unconscious mindless nature everything we see suggests intelligence, design and planning by an infinite Mind. Things left alone become disorderly never orderly. Every physical law works together in harmony, every cell in every living thing has an astronomically complex DNA program that it follows far exceeding the human mind. And all living things must be alive and functional at the start. For example, animals can’t exist with a partly developed digestive system, reproductive system, respiratory system or organs such as heart, eyes, ears, limbs. It all had to be present from the start.

7. Astronomer Hugh Ross pointed out 122 constant factors that any slight change would have made human life on earth impossible (anthropic principle). He mentions such things as just right atmosphere, water, gravity, magnetism, size and distances of earth, moon, sun, etc. The chance of all these factors coming together accidentally is astronomical. Human life on earth then is a God thing. 

Christians believe in human dignity, freedom, rights, ethics, love, justice, logic, truth, and feelings. An infinite, eternal, personal, ethical Source or Creator is required for things to make sense. Dead matter can’t create life it doesn’t have. Mind must precede mater, and mind is required to explain matter, since matter can’t explain itself. Atheism has no basis for any of this.

9. Communist and socialist nations—humanist philosophies that deny God--are ruled by tyrants who seek to destroy their citizen’s freedom. They enslave, imprison, restrict and kill their people. They deceive their people by false promises, overtax then, enact oppressive laws, and confiscate their possessions making them bankrupt economically, morally and spiritually. They become a fearful police state such as in Hitler’s Germany, Mao’s China, and Castro's Cuba. That’s why people risk their lives to leave such godless states for havens of freedom and opportunity.

10. Atheists have no basis to say God doesn’t exist, cannot be a personal, loving, ethical being, and cannot come into our world in the form of a man. Certainly if God created the universe, then taking on a human body and nature is a minor thing. And unlike other religions Christ claimed to be God. His claim to fulfill ancient prophecies of a coming Messiah—over 200 hundred—His living a perfect sinless life, His performing perhaps hundreds of miracles before astonished disciples and hostile critics, His dying on the cross to save sinners, and His resurrection from the dead are all visible demonstrated evidence in our world. Until atheists can disprove all these things, they have no basis for their atheism.
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Philosophers and religion founders give only their speculations about God, life, and afterlife. Jesus Christ demonstrated in our world he was the God-man walking among us and said all who trust in him as their Savior from sin would know God, and the purity, peace and love He gives to be with Him forever. You can come to know His purity, peace, and love, by honest commitment to Him as your Savior, Lord and Guide. Pray Lord, forgive me the sinner and come into my life now and forever.
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Which God Is Really God?

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Everybody has some idea of some kind of god or something ultimate that takes the place of a god. But we may not be conscious or able to communicate just how we think and feel. And we naturally subscribe to what we’ve been taught or exposed to. We may feel critical, suspicious, or insecure of any new concept.

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At any rate, understanding how different people see things is an important part of education and helps us understand and relate to others. We don’t have to hate people just like us because they disagree with us--they might be right about things we’ve never considered. And since the opposite of true is false, it’s impossible opposing views can all be right or correct. The eight worldviews below is generally what people believe but may differ in details.

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No God, Only Man Himself

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Persons who say there’s no kind of God, divine revelation, or miracles can be known as atheists, humanists, socialists, naturalists, materialists, nihilists and antitheists. They believe only the material universal is eternal, that everything evolved by chance over time and that they alone are truly reasonable and scientific. They say religious belief in a personal ethical God is only a figment of human imagination.  

I have four serious problems with atheism. First, it destroys human dignity making us only evolving animals made from soulless dirt that return to dirt without dignity, rights, or accountability. If survival of the fittest is the only ultimate law, human conscience, absolute laws and guilt feelings don’t make sense. Fulfilling self-desires alone makes sense.

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Next, atheism destroys any absolute standard of morality and incentive to live what persons generally call a moral life. Theft, rape and murder can be fulfilling, can make us prosperous, and can eliminate persons we dislike or disagree with. There can be no higher ethical standard than our individual finite, fickle, conflicting desires and preferences. This leads to chaos and anarchy. The consequence is might makes right, state control and some strongman with deceptive promises and plans usurping power and deciding who lives and dies according to his arbitrary will. It results in a terrorist world.

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Third, atheists are unwarranted to deny the existence of God. Unless we have exhaustive knowledge of all space and time we simply can’t say, there’s no God. And if God were an immaterial Spirit, He cannot be seen under a microscope or viewed through a telescope. Nor can atheists logically show that existence of both God and evils are contradictory, so that if evils exist, God doesn’t. God may have reasons for allowing evils such as human freedom and dignity.

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Finally, science and reason doesn’t support atheism and in fact strongly affirms God’s existence. The law of cause and effect is that every effect must have and adequate cause and that something can’t come from nothing. So the universe must be the effect of a self-existing infinite powerful unchanging intelligence we may rightly call God. The universe’s expansion, its running down, its fine tuning, and the fact that we can’t backtrack eternally are  facts that point to a beginning and a Beginner who is a self-existent, immaterial, unchanging, infinite intelligence we may rightfully call God. 

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Pantheist God

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 Pantheists believe that the whole universe of energy is god. And this energy takes recurring cycles and every form such as galaxies, stars, gods, planets, plants, animals and man. It’s like the waves of the sea that forever rise and return and any separate thing is really illusion--all is one mass of energy. Man’s ignorance is that he doesn’t realize he is god or a part of universal energy. Thus, ultimately, sense experience, logic, life, death, pain, good, evil are all illusion. History has no meaning, and life and the world no great purpose. The pantheist’s hope is to be set free from the recurring cycles and be finally absorbed into the impersonal energy of the universe where all such illusion ceases. This is the general worldview of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, New Age, Transcendental Medication, Christian Science, Unity and some philosophers in the West.

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Many difficulties confront pantheists. They claim reason cannot give us information about god but use reason to deny characteristics of god. They claim the world is illusion, but can’t explain how the illusion originated. And if it’s illusion, they don’t even exist to make the claim. Their claim they are god doesn’t make them any different, better, or more powerful than anyone else. They can’t avoid acting as though the world is real—they take baths, wear clothes, and look in the mirror and before crossing streets. They experience pain, sickness and death like everyone else. Ultimately, human life is absorbed into the energy of the universe making human dignity, compassion, ethics, and achievements mean nothing.

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Polytheist Gods

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Ancient kingdoms such as the Babylonians, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Norse, Hindus and modern Mormons believe in many finite gods. These gods usually have their own domain and fight among themselves to gain power and territory. They are not ultimate but derived from nature somehow. Polytheists are persons of divided loyalties and urges who may project their desires upon things of nature. They reject control of an all-embracing Creator to devise their own truth and morality. Gods and goddesses are popular in pantheistic religions among persons who want a more personal god and not just an abstract principle.

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I have several problems with polytheism. There is good evidence for one Creator and Sustainer. Logically there can be only one absolute. Nothing in nature is absolute and worthy of our worshipful devotion since nature had a beginning and will end. It’s not wise to focus on present desires and ignore future realities and death’s possibility. The Ebla Tablets found in Syria show people originally believed in one personal Creator.  

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Finite God

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A finite God is limited in some way such as in power, knowledge, wisdom, goodness or love. Persons feel that if the infinite God of biblical faith existed, he would have never allowed the evils in the world. They overlook the possibility that God may have good reasons unknown to us for allowing evils. If God is infinite, it seems he would eliminate them in his way in his time. Besides, wouldn’t eliminating human evils destroy our freedom or destroy imperfect us?

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Panentheism is a new religious philosophy that follows the philosophy of Plato and Alfred North Whitehead. They’re enamored with evolution and want a more tolerant God to accommodate contemporary opinions. They assume a position between pantheism and Christianity. They imagine God has two poles with one being real and the other potential. God is the cosmic spirit that indwells the universe like a soul exists in the body. So both the world changes God and God changes the world. It’s contradictory and a changing God leaves us with no sure knowledge of God, ethics, or hope for life after death. Unfortunately, so-called open theism theologians are influenced by it.

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Deist God

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Deists believe God created the world with its natural laws and left it to work on its own. Some believe in an afterlife, others don’t. They deny miracles and divine intervention, which seems strange when creation is the greatest miracle of all. Further, if God made man a rational, moral being in his image, it seems he would want human relationship.

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Muslim God

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Islam means submission and a Muslim is one who submits to Allah (God). Like Christians, Muslims believe in an infinite, ethical, sovereign, Creator God and in angels, demons, Heaven and Hell. Islam is based upon the Quran that Muhammad said the angel Gabriel revealed to him while alone in a cave and the Hadith that is traditions about the life of the prophet. Muslims divide the world into Muslim and non-Muslim with the goal to convert the world to Islam even if by force. Muslims claim that Muhammad is the final seal or authority having come after Jesus. They believe the Christian Trinity is blasphemy and that Jews and Christians corrupted God’s Word that Muhammad corrected. Amazingly, Muhammad said that Jesus was a prophet, virgin born as Adam, the Word of God, the Jewish Messiah, without sin, performed miracles and will come again. But Jesus did not die for sinners on a cross and was not God.

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While Christians respect Muslim’s right to their beliefs, it’s difficult to see any sure basis for their beliefs. Muhammad first thought the angel a demon until his wife convinced him he was God’s final authoritative prophet. Without witnesses, can’t anyone say an angle revealed God’s Word to them? Joseph Smith Jr. in fact did later than Muhammad did. Admitting Jesus was without sin and performed miracles, Muhammad confessed he needed forgiveness and when challenged to prove himself a prophet by performing a miracle he could not. Both Jews and Christians rejected Muhammad as a prophet because he wasn’t accurate in his Bible teachings. Numerous discrepancies exist between the Bible and the Quran though Jews and Christians were extremely carefully copping their scriptures hundreds of years before Muhammad’s birth. Present translations agree with ancient copies over 90% of the time. And the Trinity of one God in three personal distinctions is mentioned in the writings of the church fathers and in three famous Christian creeds before Muhammad’s birth. Numerous evidences prove Jesus died on the cross and arose from the dead. Islam simply is without foundation.   

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The Judeo-Christian God

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There’s no good reason why a universe’s Creator cannot take on a human nature and body if he has reason to do so. Jesus is a real person of history who fulfilled a multitude of ancient Jewish prophecies with odds astronomically against it, unless he was God as he claimed. Furthermore, he showed he was Lord over sin, nature, disease, demons and death. Jesus promised to save anyone who will humbly acknowledge his or her sin and trust him for everlasting life. No other world religion or philosophy can offer forgiveness, cleansing, purity and his forever-abiding presence. Won’t you say, “Jesus I trust you as my Savior and Lord today” and mean every word?

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