By the Numbers

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Could Jesus Be God?

Could Jesus Be God?

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We live in an enlightened age. We’ve gone to the moon, and explored the planets. We’ve invented cars, planes, phones, radios, and the internet that enable us to travel and communicate around the world. We’ve discovered how to cure diseases; transplant organs, clone animals, and who knows what marvels await us. In this age of science and technology, can we seriously believe in gods and miracles of ancient superstitious peoples? Let’s ask some critical questions that shed light on this that may be the crucial issue of our lives.
Can We Say No God Exists Who Can Act in our World?

Isn’t exhaustive knowledge required to say that? We would have to turn over every stone, look behind every tree, and search the stars to know no such God exists. But just in case a Creator, Lifegiver, and Judge might exist, it may be wise to be on good terms with Him. Honest, open-minded science as well as human experience point to such a God. See my other articles. Isn’t it then a closed-minded, dogmatic, even arrogant attitude to claim a God who acts in our world is impossible? Still we need good evidence to believe it.

What Would Convince Us of God?
Persons who deny God may never ask what would convince them of Him—they just desire to deny Him. Mormons believe Adam became god, and that we too can become gods. I would like to see them convince me of that. We can shake our fist at heaven and tell God to show Himself and we’ll believe. But is there a rule the Almighty must obey our command? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?

Why do persons become atheists? Some, like Sigmund Freud, ignorantly associate their cruel earthly father with God the Father, and then reject Him who sent his Son in love to save them from sin, Satan and self. Others like Madolyn Murry O'Harra deny God because of unanswered prayers and disappointments. Given their desire might have been an even worse fate. We do ask God for such foolish, childish, regretful things. Perhaps many like Aldous Huxley dislike the restraints a moral God places on them and seek reasons to reject Him. If this life is a mere drop in the eternal ocean, this is the height of foolishness. Difficult times actually draw more people to God than easy prosperous times.
If the exalted title “God” means anything, it means someone who can do things greater than what people do or what nature can do. What if someone could walk on water, multiply food, immediately heal all kinds of diseases, raise the dead, and he claimed to be God? Wouldn’t that get our attention and give us reason to think this person may be God? Well, that in fact is exactly what Jesus is said to have done and he claimed to be God! Read the Gospels.
Also, if someone did specific things predicted of a coming Messiah centuries earlier, wouldn’t that too give us good reason to believe this person is someone we had better investigate. The Jewish prophets predicted their Messiah would be God (Isa. 9:6), would be virgin born (Isa. 7:14), in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) would die for the sins of his people (Isa. 53:6), and would be raised (Ps. 16:10). Who has or who can fulfill these predictions but Jesus? There are more than two hundred of such prophecies about the coming Messiah but the Jews could only envision those of the reigning King to throw off the yoke of the Romans. Sometimes we have eyes to see but our will can limit what we look for.
Of course, if one’s mind is closed to evidence, then he or she won’t believe. Jesus said that if anyone didn’t believe the Scriptures, they wouldn’t believe even if someone should rise from the dead (Luck 16:31). Many in Jesus’ day saw his miracles and didn’t believe. Even his disciples for over three years were often rebuked for unbelief. We too can have vested interests, selfish attachments, and unholy pride that may be the real reason for our unbelief.
Why Was Jesus’ Disciples Always Astonished at His Miracles?
It’s often claimed that Jesus lived in an age of ignorance and superstition. His disciples were prescientific in their thinking and couldn’t understand things as we do today. Nothing could be further from the truth. An honest inspection of the Gospels shows Jesus’ disciples were always skeptical and having to be rebuked for unbelief. There had been no prophets for four hundred years. People were not going around performing miracles every day. They knew nature’s laws as we do today. Consider some examples.
Mary was astonished at the angelic announcement she was to have a child. She asked, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” Luke 1:34. Joseph too didn’t know what to make of it since they had not been together and he was a just man. He thought to put her away secretly until the angel explained Jesus’ birth was of God (Matt. 1:18-24).  
When the disciples were rowing across the Sea of Galilee in the moonlight, they saw a man walking on the water toward them and thought he was a ghost. How natural and honest is this record. The disciples would never forget Peter walking on the water to Jesus and sinking when his faith failed (Mark 6:45-52; John 6:15-23). And the word "ghost" would never have been mentioned unless true and  is too humanly natural to be faked.
Jesus took Peter, James and John upon a high mountain to be transfigured before them. His face and clothes shown and showed He was the God of light. Moses and Elijah appeared to them and they heard the Father’s voice saying He was well pleased with His Son. The disciples fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. This was such a natural yet supernatural event that Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone until the Son of Man is risen from the dead. They didn’t understand about Jesus’ resurrection. And like modern critics, the skeptical Jews would have laughed at the disciples and thought them somehow deceived. The disciples knowing it would be ridiculed never would have recorded it, unless it just happened to be true (Mark 9:2-23; Luke 9:28-36). Years later Peter affirmed it (2 Pet 1:16-18) and was crucified to testify to its truth. These were not stupid superstitious people who didn't know nature's patterns as critics like to claim.
Do Persons Die For A Known Lie?
Acts 7 is the account of Stephen’s address to the Jews who stoned him. He boldly told how the Jews always resisted the Spirit of God, persecuted the prophets, rejected and murdered their Messiah. Stephen could have agreed with the Jews and been accepted. He had been a devout Jew and taught the Tanakh (O.T.) from birth. He had followed Moses and the law. But being filled with the Spirit and the truth chose instead to be stoned and be true to his new beliefs in Jesus his Lord. He saw Jesus in the sky at the right hand of the Father. Jesus gave him a standing ovation. Stephen died crying with a loud voice, as did his Lord, “Lord do not charge them with this sin” (Acts 7:60).
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Yes, others die for their beliefs, but not for a known lie. Millions of others who have come to know and love the Lord Jesus have willingly given their lives to Him and for Him who died to save them. Jesus is no lie. But supposing he is, it would be the one lie that by far has brought the most good to this world. No other religion gives objective historical evidence of spiritual truth. No other religion demonstrates God's love and forgiveness. No other religion has a risen Savior to assure us of eternal life.
Why Would Loyal Jews Change to Christianity?
The parents of the man born blind who Jesus gave sight too wouldn’t answer all the Jews questions for fear of being put out of the synagogue. This would mean damnation to Hell. But the man’s testimony of Jesus was clear—“Once I was blind, but now I see.” The Jews were blinded by their false traditions. But when Jesus asked the healed man “Do you believe in the Son of God?” “He asked who is He.” Jesus said, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you. Then he said, Lord I believe! And he worshipped Him” (John 9). Yes, we can be blinded by modern traditions and assumptions as well. But God’s Spirit can open willing eyes to see His truth and receive eternal life.
It was not easy for loyal Jews strongly steeped in their God and Moses’ law to change their beliefs to Jesus being God incarnate, God being a Trinity, worship on Sunday rather than the Sabbath, and risk rejection, ridicule, even death to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior. It’s not easy today either since true discipleship means self-denial, taking up the cross, and following Jesus. Jesus warned us these very same things can happen. But Jesus said it’s far better than to gain the whole world than lose your own soul (Matt. 16:26).
Isn’t This An Issue of Life and Death?
We can’t prove God in the same way we can prove 2 + 2 = 4. But nothing else in the world makes sense unless God exists and we know he cares and acts in our world. According to the Bible, Jesus is the God-man who walked among us, told us he is our God, and showed it in many astonishing ways. He died to pay for our sins, satisfy God’s justice, grant us forgiveness, and eternal life. He arose again to assure us it’s all true.
If you are a sincere seeker, this is what you need and what you’ve been seeking. Jesus alone is come that we may trust in God’s promises of forgiveness and live with Him  forever. Won’t you say, Lord I trust you now to save me from the penalty of sin, make me pure and be present with me as my Guide through live until I go to be with You in Heaven? Thank you, Lord.
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Now share this terrific news of hope, love, and eternal life with friends and loved ones. Link these articles to your computer and reach out to a desperate disparing world. God bless your crucial ministry. 
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Thursday, May 5, 2011

The Danger of Losing Human Rights!

The Danger of Losing Human Rights!


All over the world, we human beings feel we are born with certain rights. We have the right to life, the right to have a family, the right to own land, the right to earn a living at any trade or business we like, and the right to common respect and compassion. We further have the right to say what we believe is honest and true and the right to religious belief and worship in a manner that is productive of these rights. We feel within it's not right to tread us as slaves with no rights.

 We shouldn’t have to live in fear of a secret police taking us away to be killed or never seen again because we exercise our rights. And it shouldn’t matter what gender, color, race, or religion we happen to be--just being a human being gives us these rights. Yet, it seems certain philosophies, religions, or worldviews deny or destroy our human rights. The United States seems to respect human rights more than any other nation, and people risk their lives to go there. But now that seems to be changing. What could it be that is the basis of human rights?   
Is there a Basis for Human Rights in Evolutionary Atheism? Atheists also called humanists, secularists, materialists, anti-theists and naturalists believe there is no God, human soul or anything supernatural. They believe we somehow evolved from the dirt we return to at death and that is the end of us.  Life is cheap and almost worthless when people are regarded no more than soulless dirt. Some places you can sell or buy a  human being for a couple of animals. The only meaning to life then is what you can make of it in the present since there is no future life. There is no ultimate standard of right and wrong, only what you, as an individual prefer to believe.  Without objective universal moral standards, anything harmful can exit and does.
It seems impossible to see any basis for human rights in this view of life. On this basis, how can anyone say robbery, rape, murder, genocide or anything imaginable is really right or wrong or that any human rights exist? Each person then becomes their own god to do as they please or what they can get by with—which often is anything in a meaningless amoral world. In honesty, the atheist, Jean-Paul Sartre said that suicide was the only serious question. Sanity and security disappear as chaos and rebellion appear. So atheists believe in enforcing strong government in which they control and decide what freedoms they will allow and what opposition they must eliminate. The opposition is those ignorant religious people who believe in a higher moral standard and power—a personal ethical God.  
Is there a Basis for our Rights in Islam? Islam means submission. Islam is an upside down pyramid based upon belief in Muhammad’s claim that the angel Gabriel revealed the Qur’an to him. No one but Muhammad was present when this occurred to verify Muhammad’s claim. Even he doubted it at first until convinced by his favorite wife. And since he came after the Jewish prophets and Christian apostles, this made him the seal of the prophets. Anything previously said that different from what he now says is incorrect. Ironically, Joseph Smith Jr. said the angel Moroni spoke to him. And, since he came after Muhammad, wouldn’t Muhammad’s reasoning make Smith the final prophet?
Muhammad was a caravan trader between Egypt and Syria who met Jews and Christians who no doubt told him Bible teachings and stories. He sought to win Jews to his new beliefs but they rejected him as a false prophet because his teaching about the Jewish Tanakh (O.T.) was incorrect. One example is his claim that Abraham would have sacrificed Ishmael instead of Isaac. Muhammad then had his followers bow toward Mecca instead of Jerusalem. Christians also rejected Muhammad as a false prophet because he said Jesus didn’t die on the cross and was not the Son of God. God does not have companions which is blasphemy (shirk). But not only the Bible, but also church fathers and three Christian creeds teach the Trinity centuries before Muhammad.
Muhammad won converts by use of the sword while Jesus said put up the sword and love your neighbor as yourself. The Qur’an says to slay unbelievers who won’t submit to Allah, don’t trust unbelievers as your protectors, and break treaties if it advances Islam. Muslims forbid proselytizing and even slay relatives who convert to other faiths. Moreover, Muslim nations are ruled by secular and religious dictators who allow them limited freedom. They treat their women as low class citizens denying them education, can beat them and deny them sex. Where is the basis for human rights in demanding submission to Islam?
Is there a Basis for our Rights in Pantheism? Pantheists or monists believe everything is spiritual energy that takes different forms and they call it god. Spiritual energy can take the form of a dog in one life and a person in another and in the end is simply united into universal energy. With variations, this is the basis of world religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Christian Science, Unity, and New Age. In India and places where this is believed people suffer great sickness, starvation, and poverty. Compassion is not shown for its believed this would interfere with their karma that would only prolong their suffering. Hospitals and human welfare institutions are found only among Christians. Where is any basis for human rights and concern in pantheism?
Is there a Basis for our Rights in our Common Humanity? People universally have basic moral beliefs. We unavoidably have to make moral judgments. We must have an idea of justice in order to know injustice. Without a standard of moral rightness we cannot say whether we progress or regress. We make excuses when breaking the moral law. We suffer guild to break the moral law. We cannot invent but only discover the moral law. We act contrary to our natural and strongest instinct to survive when we risk our life to save other lives. We find some actions seem wrong such as lying robbery, rape, and murder. We object to such things done to us. Other actions seem right such as human respect, kindness, and compassion. If a behavior is right or wrong for one person, isn’t it for all persons since we are a common humanity? Genetics has now established all persons have descended from one woman and one man located in the same region.
Yet, in spite of all this, we have a dark evil side, want our way above all else, and can find reasons to justify any behavior. So, why not have our flings since it’s an ultimately meaningless world and our lives end in extinction?
Is there a Basis for our Rights in Biblical Christianity? I don’t mean the so-called Christianity of liberalism, but the Christianity of the Bible. True science points directly to the God of Genesis 1:1. That God revealed Himself in our history in many unmistakable supernatural ways. Only a willful prejudice can deny that it’s true. The Bible is plain that God made man directly in His mental, moral, immortal image that gives us great value. We are not just dirt evolved up from the slime. Even apart from the Bible, our perfect Creator has given us universal objective moral standards discussed immediately above in our common humanity. That in itself is a basis for human laws that provides for and respects human dignity and freedom. Yet, God knew this is still not enough. We know it too when we’re honest.
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Knowing our dark sinful propensity, God also gave us His Word to help us further know His perfect will. The Almighty has a great plan; He is carrying it out in our world. We have opportunity to take part in that plan with eternal reward. That’s what makes life meaningful--our every thought, word, and deed counts. Yet, more wonderful, God actually came into our world adding to Himself the nature and body of a man and walked among us. He fulfilled ancient prophecies that foretold what he would be like and do. He did things normally impossible for neither men nor nature. He walked on water, raised the dead, transformed Himself into light, and ascended into Heaven. Best of all, to satisfy God’s justice and demonstrate God’s love, Jesus took our place on the cross paying the price of our sin and opening the door to Heaven for all who believe. And, Jesus arose from the dead proving He is the God-man and that all He said is God’s truth. Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). That’s the only basis of human rights since it's God's truth that makes us accountable to God at the judgment.

Yes, in the Lord Jesus Christ alone we can have dignity, rights, freedom, justice, love, truth, and assurance of life after death. But it’s our choice how we live and where we go—Heaven or Hell. The God of love allows us to have our sinful ways and doesn’t perform a miracle to save us every time we do something stupid. But he pleads with us in love to come to him to be saved. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10). None of the views above can provide such rights and give such hope.

This may be your opportunity of a lifetime to say YES to the Savior of sinners and become a child of God with all its rights and prospects. Jesus, the God-man died for you and me. I’ve trusted Him to save me. How about YOU? The Lord and Savior pleads with you to come to Him now. Won't you say yes Lord Jesus, I trust in You now and forever as my Lord, Savior, and Guide? If you have now trusted the only Savior of us sinners, won't you link this blog and share it with others? God bless you in your new life and ministry of love, faith and hope.
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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

How Do You See Life and the World?

                      How Do You See Life and the World? 

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Philosophically, we may live in a twostory house and can move a few minor upstairs furnishings, but have trouble making any major changes. We may never have thought deeply about the foundational supports downstairs.  But we feel strongly about our beliefs. All our life experiences, teachers, and circumstances have lead us to believe this way. We never questioned it. Unless brought into context with a different way of thinking we may never realize we could we wrong. Or. that there may be a better and truer way to think, feel, and believe. Let's honestly and courageously consider the three mayor ways people see life and the world. They are called worldviews.
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I’m an atheist.
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I believe I somehow evolved from dirt and return to dirt. There is no God of any kind nor angels, miracles, human souls, or divine revelations. We're on our own and can believe freely as we like. Persons call us materialists, naturalists, humanists, Marxists, Socialists, Communists, secularists, antisupernaturalists, and physicalist's. Death is the end of life--lights out.
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My belief is justified. Nothing over time produced everything. Unconsciousness assumed conscientiousness. Non life sprang into life spontaneously. Chaos acquired ordered information. Mindlessness became reason. Molecules arranged themselves into men over time and by chance. My belief alone is scientific fact and reasonable. I'm free to think as I like  since the universe is always evolving or in change nothing  can be absolute. 
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I’m a pantheist or monist.
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I believe I’m recycled energy and have many lives (reincarnations). The universe is energy that takes many forms like waves of the sea. But they are all illusion since none of them has permanent existence. Persons call us Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, Scientologists, New Agers,  followers of Unity School of Christianity, Transcendental Meditation, and Christian Science.  Though these religions differ somewhat, they all believe in many life cycles and eventual reabsorption into universal energy.
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My belief is justified. It’s shown in yearly seasons of life dying and returning—never mind about the earths tilts circling the sun. It’s justice is shown by abnormalities in animals and persons—never mind natural genetic defects. It’s shown by past life recall—it just seems I’ve been here and done this before or maybe I dreamed it. I was a big potato in my last life. How do I know I’m right? I’m god and I’m enlightened. If you meditate long enough, you will become enlightened too.
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I’m a Christian.
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 I have a love-trust relationship with Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior of sinners. Some persons call me Catholic or Protestant. Others call me bigoted, intolerant, narrow-minded, arrogant, mean spirited, absolutist, even unchristian and other names I won’t mention. Following the Bible I alone have a basis for absolute truth, human dignity, rights, freedom, ethical responsibility, and the choice of an eternal existence with or without God. My faith in practice avoids tyranny, slavery, dispair,  manipulation, Hell.
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My belief is justified. The atheist’s claims are his unscientific unproven naturalistic assumptions. Nothing can’t produce everything because it’s non-being--it doesn’t exist. Mindless, unconscious molecules can’t arrange themselves in any amount of time into intelligent men. Things can’t give what they don’t have to give. The pantheist’s claims are not enlightenment but his unenlightened imagination. The universe is rational and purposeful being the effect of a self-existent, immutable, infinite Mind. Science points to creation. Conscience shows we're more than animals. Biblical Christianity alone centered in the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ, can explain everything in terms of Creation, the Fall, Redemption, and Restoration.
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I alone have ultimate authority in my Maker, Redeemer, and Judge. I'm assured of eternal life, dignity, and freedom  through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who in love paid for my sins in His death upon the cross. and who arose again to assure me of its truth. If you believe the Christian biblical explanation makes more sense and explains all life better, Trust in the Lord, Savior, and Guide of us sinners. Pray, Lord I ask You to forgive me of wrong deeds or sin. I trust You now forever. See my articles about the death of Jesus and his resurrection.
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Now you can make a better world by sending God’s messages of truth, love and salvation to a needy world. Just link with file, favorites or the star in the upper right corner of your computer, or file and send in the upper left corner.  You can also translate them into friend's languages. It's the best thing we can do for others. God bless or benefit you in faithful and fruitful ministry.
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How Can Jesus Christ Help Me?

How Can Jesus Christ Help Me?


Is there something that can give us an entirely different outlook on life? You become the esteemed leader of the world, die, and discover it really meant nothing. You proudly lead your nation to defeat all its enemies, save your people from utter destruction, die, and forever weep in sorrow. You are regarded the enlightened person of the East, die, and discover it was only darkness. You gain world acclaim as an athlete piling up goal metals in the Olympics, die and feel it was all an utter waste. Why? How could I have missed life's essential?
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Could such things be possible? Is there some vital piece of news we don’t know that can completely revolutionize our lives? I’ve found that there is, and I want to share it with you. And it doesn’t mean we have to be the world’s greatest. It’s in a man who walked among us long ago, who said and did things no other man could. His name is Jesus Christ. 
Jesus Christ alone assures human beings of life after death. Is there life after death? Some persons believe that when you die, you’re dead, lights out, that’s it. Others claim we are reincarnated into many lives. But what proof is there for that? We’re born with no memory of past lives. Babies can’t understand anything but to cry for warmth, food or release. And if they were a frog in their last life or will be in their next life as monists claim, how is that any proof? The only objective evidence of life after death is for some well-known person to die and come back from the dead.
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This is exactly what Jesus is claimed to do and with good evidence for it. Among these evidences are Jesus’ predictions of it, his sealed and guarded tomb, his grave-clothes left, angels, soldiers’ testimony, disciple’s initial unbelief, Jesus many appearances, and the impossibility of skeptics disproving it. See my articles: Did Jesus Arise from the Tomb? Is There Life After Death?      
Jesus Christ alone assures us of absolute truth. If the universe is only a matter of chance and always in flux as atheists claim, then there is no absolute truth, or at least spiritual or metaphysical truth. Everything can be explained by evolution and we don’t need a Creator and Sustainer God. But the universe is not eternal according to modern scientific discoveries, that means it had a beginning.
 Now we know something can’t come from nothing-- it doesn’t exist. Something that doesn’t exist can’t bring itself into existence. So a beginning universe requires a Beginner or self-existing Cause sufficient to account for the power and design everywhere present in the universe. In other words, a Self-existent, eternal, Almighty, Person or God exists. That God showed himself in Jesus Christ, the God-man who walked on water, healed all manner of diseases immediately, and arose from the dead. As God-man everything Jesus said and approved, is absolute truth.
Jesus Christ alone assures us we have value. If atheism is true, we are soulless dirt that can be manipulated and murdered without dignity, rights, ethics, justice, or hope. If pantheism is true, we are recycled energy eventually to be reabsorbed into spiritual energy of the universe. Jesus Christ, the God-man said we are made in God’s image which gives us great dignity, rights, justice, love,  and those who would harm us will one day answer to God (Gen. 1:27; Psalm 8:5-6).
Jesus Christ alone assures us we have rights. The one God of all creation gave us humans rights. Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not bear false witnesses. Honor your father and your mother” (Luck 18:19-20; 2 Thess. 1:7-9). God’s commandments impose obligations on us to respect the rights of others, as we would want them to respect our rights. Rights always entail responsibilities. And God will punish those who deny us our God-given rights (2 Thess. 1:7-9). There can be no ultimate authority, truth, human dignity, rights, and ethics apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. The God-man is our only Lord and Savior.
Jesus Christ alone assures us we can be forgiven and counted clean. For He (God) made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). “ (Jesus) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we might live for righteousness” (1 Pet. 2:24). God’s sent Paul to turn Jews and Gentiles “from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18).
Jesus Christ alone assures us we can be rewarded at the judgment. The Lord Jesus who in love died to pay for our sins and appease the Father’s wrath against sin will judge both believers and unbelievers. Believers will be given rewards for deeds of service done in the body. ”Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If any one’s work, which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward” (1 Cor. 3:13-14). Unbelievers throughout all the ages will be judged by their works and anyone’s name not found in the Book of Life will be caste into Hell (Rev. 20:11-15).
I love this passage in Revelation 21:3-4. “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and 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.”
This is the most serious matter of life. God is completely just and knows our secrets and everything about us—whether we’ve entered a love-trust relationship with Him or not. Each of us will be rewarded or punished forever according to our degree of service or rejection—it’s Heaven or Hell forever. What is your choice? Pray Lord Jesus, I have done wrong many times and deserve eternal Hell. But I trust You now to save me from all my sins, to be my Savior and Guide throughout life, and to join you in the new Heaven one day. Thank you, the only Lord God.
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U may want to translate these articles and send them to friends to know of the Lord and Savior. We may be busy with a thousand things important to us, but can they be more important than telling others of the Savior when we stand before him at the judgment?
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The Great Mysteries of the Christian Faith

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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Saturday, April 16, 2011

No Clear Understanding of Hell

No Clear Understanding of Hell

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 Most believers and unbelievers have no clear understanding of Hell. They’re hung-up on God casting all persons together into a literal lake of fire forever. The fire is all they have ever heard about Hell. Picturing burning flesh horrifies them. “If that’s what Jesus said and what the Bible teaches, its heartless cruelty, it’s unjust. I can’t believe a loving God would do that,” they say. Let’s look at what the Bible actually teaches about Hell.
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The Biblical Hell is Separation from God.
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Sin is unacceptable to a holy or perfect God and a pure or perfect Heaven. Being infinite and perfect none other is like God or can come into his presence in self-centered rebellion. “Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” (Rev. 4:8). “Your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you” (Isa. 59:2). “No fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Eph. 5:5). God must separate the wheat from the tares less it choke out the wheat.
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The Biblical Hell is Mental Torments, Not Physical Torture.
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“They will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev. 20:10). The Bible uses many metaphors or pictures to communicate the nature of Hell. Yes, a fiery furnace, lake of fire even flames are mentioned (Matt. 13:42; Lk. 16:24; Rev. 21:8). But fire is only one of many pictures. Fire as we know it consumes human flesh. But the worm is not consumed since persons in Hell have imperishable bodies (Mk. 9:44; Jn.5:28; Rev. 20:13-15). The fire then must be non-literal representing God’s all-present wrath and judgment which abides on evil doers forever (Jn. 3:36; Deut. 4:24; Ps. 18:8; 2 Thess. 1:7-9). The Bible teaches degrees of punishment—that’s impossible if all were thrown together in a lake of fire. Bible teachings are literally true, but not necessarily true literally. Like other languages, the Bible uses symbols and figures of speech. For example, are we canabals actually eating Christ's body and drinking his blood or is it meant as symbol and memorial (Matt. 26:26-28).
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We cannot dismiss all the other pictures that give a fuller description of the nature of Hell. Jude 12-13 gives several pictures of Hell as clouds without water, trees without fruit twice dead, raging waves of the sea, wandering stars reserved in blackness forever. Outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth are other pictures (Matt. 8:12; Acts 7:54). Hell is worse than loss of eyes or limbs (Matt. 5:29-30). All these pictures seem to represent torments such as the sense of guilt, loss, shame, emptiness, deadness, corruption, aloneness, anger, despair of everlasting destruction.  
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 The Biblical Hell is Punishment According to Knowledge and Degrees of Sin.
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If all sinners are thrown together into a lake of fire, it seems all get the same punishment without distinction. No human judge would give the same sentence to both a man who stole food to feed his starving family and a serial killer. That would be most unjust. Would the all-knowing and completely just God do any less? Even the picture of being beaten with many stripes or with few is a metaphor of degree (Luke 12:47-48). The torments of Hell are self-inflicted. Sinners in Hell reap only what each sowed throughout life (Gal. 6:7-8). They didn’t want truth, God, and righteousness, so God let’s them have their way (Rom. 1:18-32). Scriptures phrases show degrees of punishment in accord with each person’s sins—more tolerable (Matt. 11:22-24), according to his deeds (Rom. 2:6), worse punishment (Heb. 10:29).
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The Biblical Hell is the Undying Worm in Outer Darkness.
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 Worm in the Bible is a term of contempt to those thought vile and despicable. “The son of man who is a worm (Job 25:6). “ But I am a worm and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me” (Ps. 22:6-7). This was prophesied of Jesus bearing our sins dying in our place on the cross (Matt. 27:39-44).
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Darkness in the Bible stands for deception, Satan and sin that are unlike God who is truth and righteousness. Persons jest that they will party in Hell with their friends, but that’s not biblical teaching. Outer darkness is away from the city of God’s light and glory. Black darkness is being confined to a self-made prison alone forever. There will be no more beautiful sunsets and landscapes, no more warm sunshine or cool breezes, no more good times with loving family and friends, no more exciting sports or fulfilling activities. Persons who didn’t thank, appreciate and praise God for his goodness to them in life will find it all taken away. There’s no goodness and love in Hell—only God’s wrath and self-inflicted torments.
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The Biblical Hell is God’s Eternal Wrath.
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Hell is day and night meaning forever or no respite or relief. The Bible doesn’t teach annihilation, a second chance, or reincarnation into many lives as some like to claim. Our choice to accept or reject God is fixed or sealed at death (Rev. 22:11).The Bible is clear that Hell is eternal punishment. “These will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life (Matt. 25:46).
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Weeping and gnashing of teeth means Hell is eternal conscious punishment, not annihilation. Hell lasts as long as God and Heaven last. Life’s sins receiving eternal judgment is not overkill since sinful human nature in Hell is unrepentant, unchanged. And yes, God is a hundred percent for reformation—it’s called life--the Holy Spirit speaks to sinners about it throughout their lives (Jn. 16:8-11). Sinners in Hell still despise their Lifegiver as much as they ever did if not more. There is no second chance. “As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment (Heb. 9:27; Rev. 22:11). Moreover, reincarnation into multiple lives is absurd. Can we seriously believe a frog knows about its karma in past lives or a person will know their karma if they become a frog? And what is karma but an abstract impersonal principle that knows nothing and can judge nothing?  
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Can saints be happy knowing a loved one may be in Hell? Can they enjoy a meal knowing many people in the world are starving? Without sin and Satan we will see things completely God’s way. Our theology is to be based upon what God has told us in his Word or we’re shut up to human guesses without authority. Scripture is plain that the future Heaven promised to God’s people is a place on the new earth of beauty, service, worship, security and fulfillment without death, sorrow or pain for there will be no sin in Heaven (Jn.14:1-4;, 2 Pet. 3:12-13; Rev. 21; 22). But we can’t help being sinners! That’s the reason we need a Savior (1 Jn. 1:8-10). And God gives us abundant warnings and invitations through plagues, sicknesses, judgments, preachers, the Bible, the Holy Spirit, abundant facts, logic, conscience, nature, dreams, visions, even this article. So mankind is without excuse. God didn’t create people to go to Hell and even though He knows who will.
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Hell proves God is holy, just, and Lord over evil. His promises of Heaven and warnings of Hell are true. Persons created in his image have dignity, rights, freedom, responsibility, and ethical mandates. Everything we think and do has ultimate consequences and meaning. God is fulfilling his great plan that is wise, powerful and good beyond our understanding.   
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Dear friend, if I may call you that. In trusting Christ as Lord and Savior, we’re not going to be perfect. I can’t guarantee you things will go your way or work out better for you in this life. But based upon the authority of God’s Word, I can guarantee you can enter a love-trust relationship with our Life-giver, Judge, and King of the universe and that we can fellowship together one day in the new Heaven and new earth. It will be more wonderful than we can ever dream.
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Won’t you now say, “Lord, I’m the sinner deserving Hell? But I trust in the Lord Jesus dying for me bearing my sin and I take him as my Savior and Guide from now on. Thank you, Lord. Now live for Him and share Him with others. You may want to send these articles to others who may trust our Lord for forgiveness of sins, and everlasting life. God bless your ministry of faith, love and hope. 
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Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Find Out About Us

Find Out About Us

                              Make A Crucial Difference.
                    Send Good News Messages Worldwide.
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Hi. Thank you for your time and interest. We send messages of love, hope, peace and encouragement around the world. We’re Good News Messengers. We make a real difference.
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If there’s no personal loving God, we’re either soulless dirt in a meaningless world waiting extinction (atheist materialism), or we’re recycled energy in an illusionary world waiting absorption into nothingness (monist pantheism). In either case, the world’s ready for a tyrant to appear whose utopian scheme and deceptive promises will control our lives, faith, finances, families, freedom and future to our destruction and death. We’re becoming one world awaiting the Anti-Christ. History confirms that power corrupts and world power leads to demonic tyranny.
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The universe’s expansion, its running down, its fine tuning, the impossibility of eternal backtracking, and  its present dependence, all point to its being the effect of a self-existing, eternal, infinite, unchanging intelligence rightly called a Creator God who alone explains everything. And since such a God exists, it’s a small thing for the Creator to take on a human nature and body and walk among us.
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 Honest thinking people try to be open-minded and base their beliefs upon good evidence. The opposite of true is false and of right is wrong. We cannot even argue against absolute truth without assuming it, or say something is wrong without assuming a right--and all point to an ethical Creator God to whom we're accountable.
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The biblical Christian worldview gives good evidence Jesus Christ is God’s Son and the Savior and Lord of all who humbly acknowledge their sin (self-centered rebellion) and trust in him for eternal life. We influence millions of people just like us by passing on these articles of God’s truth, ways, faith and love even translating them into other languages. Yes, Christianity has answers based upon good evidence!
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Jesus’ bodily resurrection visibly proved we live beyond the grave, that Jesus is the Son of God (unique sinless God-man), and thus all he taught is true. So we know that the universe is real, rational and moving to an ultimate climax, that there’s absolute truth, that experimental science and all creative endeavors are possible. We know God made us rational, moral, persons with an eternal destiny that gives us dignity, rights, freedom, and ethical accountability. We have ultimate purpose, justice, love, and opportunity for eternal life--Heaven. This is the biblical Christian worldview—none other is like it. And this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact for good both now and forever.
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Join us. Send these messages to loved ones, friends, preachers, professors, students, politicians, judges, business men, scientists, everyone who can make significant changes for truth and Godliness. Articles are arranged in convenient categories. You may link, print and email, and use them to teach classes. The Lord can use us to bring about wonderful changes in our world and for eternity. Prayerfully and selectively send them everywhere.  Please understand, I research crucial issues, answer ultimate questions, present the gospel, and pray God will use us all to make a more Godly world.
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Your prayers and ministry as good news messengers are a most vital part of that. I spend time seeking to win persons to Christ almost every time I leave the house. Won't you help this crucial ministry with prayer and telling others about these blog articles.  Thank you and God bless.
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I don't like to talk about myself. But so you won't think I'm a phony: I have a B.S. degree in social science and two theology degrees from biblical evangelical theological schools. I’ve taught evangelism, apologetics, Bible and theology, and been a missionary and pastor of three churches. I have hundreds of books on these subjects but it's about Him not me. My concern is to glorify God, win people to Christ, and present the Christian worldview. Human civilization and lives depend upon it. I pray God will richly bless your global ministry and you will one day hear the Lord Jesus say, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
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