By the Numbers

Friday, March 7, 2014

What's The Abundant Christian Life?

                                          What's The Abundant Christian Life?
 #Christian-Life  #spiritual-fruit
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Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it abundantly" (John 10:10). But some say, I don't see where Christians are any better off than I am, or have anything I would want! They seem to have the same problems, difficulties, sicknesses, unhappiness, and are no more perfect than me, maybe even worse in some ways. How can I ever think being a Christian is any better? Thank you for sharing your honest truthful thinking. It deserves good honest answers which I hope to supply.
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Let me first say what being a Christian doesn't mean necessarily. It doesn't mean that everyone who goes to a Christian church, is a member in one, reads the Bible, prays, claims to believe in Jesus, or is even a preacher, is a Christian. Persons can do any of those things but still not trust in Jesus. They do these things to be socially accepted, join the church ball team, sing in the choir, have business connections, or for some other reason. So external things don't prove one is in right standing with God. I even know of preachers who were came to trust in Christ in their later ministry. For these reasons persons can take a negative attitude about the church and persons who aren't even Christians.
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It means Christians like everyone else have problems, difficulties, sicknesses, unhappiness, and aren't morally perfect. Yes, Christian have struggles with all these things too and maybe worse struggles as opposed to the evil world system, the devil, and their own sinful nature. God has not promised to exempt Christians from these things, but will see us through them in faith  (Matt. 28:20)
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It means Christians may not be more wealthy, successful, popular, wise, or talented than non Christians. Some may be, but others are not. Although true Christians should seek to be and do their best for the Lord. Moreover, Christians and non Christians may share the same external interests as sports, politics, school, work, and so on.
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It doesn't mean a Christian will know, understand, accept or live by all the Bible teaches though the Bible as God's Word should be his or her authority for faith and practice. Christians are at different levels of maturity and understanding. Persons from dysfunctional homes have special difficulties. Bible teachers and preachers don't teach or emphasize all the same doctrines. Some Bible passages can be misunderstood or interpreted differently. There is room for differences on non essentials.
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Let me explain how a person becomes a Christian and receives God's gift of eternal life. According to the Bible, to become a Christian we must first admit to a perfect God our wicked ways are unacceptable and they make us unfit for His perfect Heaven. Only then are we ready to trust in Jesus, God's holy Son and God's way to save us from our sending ourselves to a permanent jail, or rather Hell . We are warned repeatedly of separation from God and all His benefits (John 16:8-10; Rom. 2:14-16; 1 Cor. 6:7-10; Gal. 5:19-21; Rev. 21:27). The all-knowing God is love, and as such doesn't force but allows us our way to matter how selfish, stupid and destructive it may be.
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But God will save all who are willing--"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). Saving belief is trust in Jesus alone to cleanse us of sin and count us in right standing with Him (Rom. 5:18-21; 2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life (John 5:24 MacArthur Study Bible). Salvation is not just an intellectual admission Jesus is God and the Savior--even the demons believe that (James 2:19; Matt. 8:29). Real faith will make positive differences in our life (James 2:22).
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Consider the radical differences in persons showing the lusts of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit which is the abundant life Jesus and New Testament writers discuss (Gal. 5:22-23). The lusts of the flesh consist of adultery, fornication, uncleanness, idolatry, hatred, murders, drunkenness, gossip, theft, and others. We put such persons in jail to protect society. Can we blame God for putting their burning evil passions away (Rev. 21:8; 27) to protect His Heaven? But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. The fruit of the Spirit is the abundant life only achieved through true commitment. 
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But why don't we see more of these wonderful spiritual qualities in Christian's lives? Unlike instinctive animals, humans have choice either to follow our sinful desires which lead to eternal torment in God's jail--Hell. Or, we can  yield to God's Holy Spirit that brings abundant life (Gal. 5:16-18; John 15:5: 16:16-18). Victory comes when we positively focus on our relationship with God and His grace, not on keeping laws which no one can keep perfectly (Phil.4:8). It is God who works in us to will and do His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). Trusting prayer and serious Bible study gives us greater insight. Patient waiting shows our faith and love for the Lord is real--like Job (James 5:11).
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It's good to meditate and memorize passages that tell us how to have victory in Christ. But lots of factors go into how we behave, so that Christians are not always recognized. People can do the same things from purely selfish  motives and attitudes, or from a desire to please their Lord. While it's not always obvious, God is always working things our for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). Many Christians will testify they are not all they should be, but in Christ are far better than what they used to be. Thank God for His grace and glory.
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But what if  there's no God and we are just soulless dirt. Or, that everything is god and we will be recycled into the energy of the universe. Both mean the world is an accident of chance, we have no real dignity, no sure basis for  right and wrong, and no ultimate purpose to live beyond the thrill of the moment--we're only somehow a more highly evolved animal. Biblical Christian faith is the record of God's entrance into our world who performed miracles, fulfilled prophecies all the while saying he is our God so we are without excuse.  Trust Jesus now as your Savior, Lord and Guide of us sinners and be eternally blessed.
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Friday, February 21, 2014

Truth, God, and Life After Death

                      Truth, God, and Life After Death
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Some persons scream their faith is the only true religion about God and life after death. But equally sincere persons claim world religions are simply different ways to God or the Ultimate. Then, others dogmatically claim there's no God nor life after death. Who is right? Maybe some pointed questions will help us decide.
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1. Can the many conflicting religions all be right? For example, the wise politician, Confucius, gave us some ethical concepts he believed would make a better world. The atheist, Buddha, said to deny desire and follow his eightfold path would solve our problem of pain. Zoroaster believed in both a good God and a bad God and to follow the good one would make a better world. Hindus believe we need to know God is the spirit of the universe that takes many forms and many lives. Muslims claim Allah's angel spoke the Qur'an to Muhammad and everyone must believe it to go to heaven. Christians believe in one God as a Trinity and Jesus alone is the Savior. 
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Now in the interest of truth, there's no way opposite truth claims--no God, one God, two Gods, the universe is god--can all be right. We must base our beliefs on some kind of objective visible evidence. Otherwise they are just limited human guesses, mere claims without factual basis.  
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2. Can our sincerity be enough to set things right with God and give us assurance of Heaven. Maybe there are many ways to God and Heaven. Persons seem narrow minded, prejudiced, disrespectful, and condemning who say their religion is the only way. God may be known by different names. All religions teach the Golden Rule. If God is love and forgiveness, then surely He cares and accepts us imperfect people everywhere. It doesn't seem fair that God would make Himself known to just one group.
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The sincerity view seems so reasonable. But it has serious limitations that may be fatal to ignore. If sincerity is all that is needed, then it doesn't matter whether we believe in God or not, or whether we  save life or destroy it. Jesus said love your enemies; Muhammad said kill the unbelieving infidel. Cannibals say eat your enemies. All may be sincere believing they are right. Again, objective factual evidence is needed for honest thinking people to believe. If and when it's given, all the sincere arguments above are shown to be human guesses, and fall to the ground as null and void.
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3. What if there really is NO God? Then doesn't each person have to make up his or her mind what seems right for them? That being so, and all of us being imperfect and self-centered, we naturally choose what we want despite our fellow human beings. The evolutionist is right that things are always evolving and chance, so there is no absolute truth or morality. It's whoever can get the biggest stick or power to impose his way on the rest of us. And since we are all only animals that return to dirt, all that ultimately matters is what we can get for ourselves. Why be overly concerned about the other animals? A conscience and rules of morality can change with our situation--it's after all a world of temporary survival of the fittest, a world without ultimate purpose that ends in darkness and death.
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4. But what if there really is a God? Hasn't science given us good reasons to believe in a Creator of matter, life, mind? We now know the universe is running down, cooling off, there is no eternal regression of time, our dependent universe can cease to exist, so the material universe had a beginning. Its Creator (sustaining cause), then must be eternal, immaterial, unchangeable, all powerful and personal. As eternal, He is unchangeable as what changes goes out of existence. As immaterial,  He would be everywhere upholding everything but be unseen. He must be all powerful and personal as an infinite mind and will is necessary to create things of such variety and complexity  purposely working together--mindless energy simply can't accomplish that. We are more than star dust. Now here is an amazing fact: an eternal, powerful, spiritual, personal cause of the universe is what the Bible calls God as we intuitively know as a Higher Power (Gen. 1:1; Ex. 3:14; Rom. 1:18-20; Col. 1:16-17).
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Hence, things impossible for us would never be a problem for the Almighty, the universe's  Lord, Owner, Lawgiver, Life-giver, and Authority. But the crucial questions are: Does this God act upon our world in ways we can know Him?  We should be honest, objective, and open to that possibility? Wouldn't we have to know everything to deny it? I can't tell you what's going on even in the next room.
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5.  What kind of evidence is required to know God? We know the world operates with a system of natural laws of cause and effect. But when we know a Creator and Sustainer exists, then He would be in control of everything--He could direct His laws anytime anywhere to suit His purposes. So if someone could walk on water, multiply food, heal obvious diseases immediately, even raise a cold still smelly corpse, and all the while claims He is God come to us with a human nature in the form of a man, that should get our attention. That should give us good reason to believe He is what he claims to be--God.
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Further, if He shows He can read minds of persons He just met that too is good reason. Then, if He can dare hostile critics to find anything morally wrong with His life and they cannot, that too is good reason. Again, what if He can predict detailed future events impossible to explain away as coincidence or contrivance such as the circumstances of His betrayal, rejection, death, and resurrection three days later? And two hundred or more predictions about Israel's Messiah made centuries before Jesus, He alone can be said to fulfill. These include Bethlehem His birthplace, virgin birth, miracles, death for our sins, resurrection, and ascension. There is nothing in world religions even remotely like all this. 
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All that is what is meant by visible, objective evidence for faith, and not just a claim some impossible thing happened somewhere because some honored person said so. Knowing nature's laws both hostile critics, and Jesus' disciples with him more than three years, were astonished and forced to admit he did such things. And after 500 saw him resurrected, they were willing to be condemned, tortured, and murdered because they could not deny him as Lord and Savior of us sinners. See Acts 1:3; 2:22-23; 1 Cor. 15:3-8.
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 6. But you still have questions! We don't have to know everything about history to know some things, and even secular and hostile critics will admit miraculous things are said of Jesus and that He is said to be God. Like everyone else, Christians aren't perfect, but that won't excuse anyone at the judgment. Our moral sense, purpose in nature, Bible history, and God's Spirit, all tell us there is a God, and we may find Him if we are willing to go His way. When God has given evidence honest thinking persons can know, and the majority of persons choose to disagree, a truly loving God can't force them to love and obey Him. Nobody has all the answers, but Jesus being our Savior is the crucial solution to our rebellious sin problem. When we put thieves, rapists, murders in jail to protect human society, we can have no objection when God allows them their way to Hell to protect His perfect Heaven. Let's not deny what evidence says is true!
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Now this hour can be your decision for eternity with God, or the other uncomfortable place. Jesus forgives and cleanses us of all our sin, and credits us with His perfect purity making us fit for His Heaven. Won't U say, Lord, I trust You now and forever to be with me to live a life that honors You until I go to be with You in Heaven. Thank You Lord and use me as Your faithful and fruitful servant. I love You Lord.
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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Jesus' Cross, Plus Nothing!

                              Jesus' Cross, Plus Nothing!

#Jesus  #theCross
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The grace of God is hard to believe and accept. We've been taught all our lives that to get anything, or get anywhere in this world, you have to work for it, earn it. So God's grace seems too simple, too easy, even incredible. Yet we freely walk on the Creators' ground, breath his air, enjoy the beauties of his creation without earning it, or even saying thank You. Still we wonder, how can God offer us a beautiful wonderful trouble free Heaven and we not do something--not even a little thing--to earn it? Consider answers to the two following questions. And thank you for your thoughtful consideration.
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Why Can't We Add Our Good Deeds to Christ's Cross? 
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1. Jesus said, "It is finished" ( John 19:30). The Lord's work in His death completely paid for all our sins past, present, and future. The Greek word translated finished was used when anyone finished paying off a dept and meant "paid in full". Jesus died before we were born to pay for all our sins. He further confirmed this when he said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believed Him who sent Me has eternal life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life" (John. 5:24). Jesus assured every believer they have eternal life at the moment of belief (not at death), and they can't be condemned no matter what happens. This leaves no possible room for doubt that faith is the only requirement. Salvation is sole faith, sole grace.
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2. Jesus told the thief on the cross next to him, "Today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:42-43). This thief admitted he was a sinner and looking to Jesus in faith was given assurance of Paradise. There is no way he could do anything more than believe. He could not get baptized, or do some good deed of any kind. Those who object that it was the dispensation of law and not the church age that came at Pentecost miss the point. Faith as revealed in the one true God saves in every age from righteous Able until today (Hebrews 11). 
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3. The Bible says salvation is God's gift freely received through faith. "By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast"  (Ephesians 2:8-9). We must receive salvation as a gift. It is not of our doing, not our good deeds. If we had even the slightest part in it we could brag that God couldn't do it without me doing my part. So as a gift, all credit goes to the giver. The receiver can only reach out his hand in acceptance. Again we read in Titus 3:5, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us".  Further, Romans 4:4-5 says good works are wages not a gift. It's trusting God that justifies the wicked and is counted as righteousness. Romans 6:23 assures us "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." And Romans 11:6 declares that works would cancel grace and no longer be by faith. If righteousness comes through the law (keeping rules), then Christ died in vain (Gal.2:21). Could anything be clearer? Faith in Christ alone saves. But once saved, good works do follow and are rewarded on earth and in Heaven.
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Initial faith in the Savior is what saves us, or makes us right with God. Then we can gain God's perspective and power to perform deeds acceptable to the Lord. Don't be misled by passages that speak of our being rewarded for good deeds--they are fruits of the Christian life, but the foundation is our original faith in Christ (1 Cor. 3:9-14). Further, we must continue to submit to God in faith and patience for the Holy Spirit to direct us to do His good works and not fall away into the error of legalism. We can make up a set of rules but can't live by them--who can even keep New Years resolutions? The Galatians did this and were condemned at the Jerusalem council (Gal. 3:2-5; Acts 15:22-29). If our good deeds were the final say, Jesus could never be our Savior. And, we could never know if we did enough, or did the right things to earn Heaven.
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4. God's apostle Paul declares the gospel by which we are saved, "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:3-4). If doing something for God other than believing in Christ was necessary, he surely misled everyone not mentioning it.

5. The Bible repeatedly says everyone who believes in Jesus is justified."Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" (Acts  16:31). Faith and justification occur at the same moment neither prior to the other. Otherwise, someone could have saving faith but not be saved, or be saved without having saving faith. So many Bible passages say whoever believes will be saved (John 1:12; 3:16; 18; 36; 5:24, 40; Acts 13:39; Romans 1:17; 3:22; 36; 4:3, 5; 5:1. Faith is turning to God in Christ while repentance is acknowledging sin is what keeps us from God. If our doing good works is ultimately what saves us, then surely it would never have been omitted in so many passages.
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6.  Peter, like Paul and John, taught faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus alone was what saves sinners.  Peter said Jesus "bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness"  (1 Pet. 2:24). He said, "Christ also suffered once for sins the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit (1 Pet. 3:18). "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). If salvation ultimately depends upon our good deeds, shouldn't it have been explained to those wanting to be saved? 
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And yes, God has elected all believers. If you have any doubts whether you are elect, just get down on your knees and say: Lord, I'm an unacceptable sinner before You a perfect God, and unfit for Your perfect Heaven. You promised me that if I believe in the Savior as a sinner that I will be saved. Lord, I now trust You to save me, count me righteous in Christ, and guide me through the rest of my life. Thank You, Lord. Woo pie!
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7. Bible gives examples of persons who were saved by faith in Christ alone. To the Ethiopian, Phillip preached Jesus, and when he asked to be baptized, he was told he could if he believed with all his heart in Jesus  (Acts 8:35-37). When the Philippine jailer asked what he must do to be saved, Paul said, "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved"(Acts 16:25-34). He believed and later was baptized. The Lord opened Lydia's heart when Paul preached the gospel before she was baptized (Acts 16:14-15). Cornelius was saved receiving the Holy Spirit when he believed, then afterward was baptized (Acts 10:43-47).
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What Good Deeds Do People Want to Add to Jesus' Cross?
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You must live a moral life. Yes, we should live a perfect life, but nobody can or has but Jesus. We loose God's joy, peace, security, heavenly rewards, and are subject to our Father's discipline when we don't. Thank God we don't have to depend on our goodness, but on Christ's righteousness credited to our account. Rather than keeping rules, we need to focus on our love-trust relationship with Him. We're not robots and a God of love won't force us to do what's right. Our sinful tendency, shows us we constantly need to turn to Him who still loves us.
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You must obey God's commandments in the Bible. Yes, but again we can't, and most of us scarcely know what they are. The golden rule of love God and man with all our being will guide us in most cases. It's the love-trust relationship and humble repentance that keeps us in focus with God's will, not keeping rules we imperfect humans can't keep very long.
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You must join a Christian church. Yes, that's important too. We need encouragement from other like believers and they need our support as well. But some places and conditions we can't be with others of like faith to worship together. And some congregations don't believe and teach God's Word. We must be sure that our name is written in God's Lamb Book of Life (Revelation 20:11-15).
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You must be baptized. Yes, but as we've shown above salvation can't be what we do that saves us. Admittedly, there are some passages which have been taken to teach this. But the Bible isn't  contradictory when we understand it correctly. Paul thanked God he baptized only a few as God sent him not to baptize, but to preach the gospel (Cor. 1:17). The church's greatest missionary could hardly say this if baptism was so essential.  Peter taught a good conscience toward God comes only through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:21). Water baptism can't achieve that at any age, and can  be best explained as an outward symbol, confession, or testimony of God's inner work of grace similar to the wedding ring on a person's hand.
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Everyone and anyone who trusts Jesus to save them  a sinner will immediately be forgiven, cleansed, adopted as a child of God, and be admitted into God's kingdom, with the righteousness of Christ. The Christian life is to be a positive love-trust relationship with the Lord that results in loving obedience and God's glory. It is not keeping a set of rules in the hope we have done enough to be accepted with God. Christian growth is a process, a step at a time in faith and love. God prosper you in growth. Share this, the opportunity for life everlasting, with others.
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Thursday, January 16, 2014

Can God Be Both Loving and Just?

                        Can God Be Both Loving and Just?
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Persons might say God is both loving and just. But when it applies to judgment of the human race some become doubtful and squeamish. They say a God of love means there can be no Hell of punishment. Others say a God of love absolutely demands there be Hell. Which is it? Can we be open minded to honestly think through the issues in light of the Bible's teaching? First, consider some prerequisites to the question. Then, consider some ways and reasons how God is both loving and just. 

Consider Three Prerequisites. 

Who or what is the biblical God?  The Bible says God is Creator and Sustainer of everything--matter, space, time, life--so without Him everything would cease to exist. God then is self-existent, eternal, and depends upon nothing while everything else depends upon Him (Genesis 1:1; Ex. 3:14; Col. 1:17; Rev. 1:8, 17). God made us in His rational, moral, immortal image for relationship (Genesis 1:27). God loves us, knows what's best for us, and wisely works to bring it about. God then is our Life Giver, Owner, Moral Lawgiver, Judge, and Redeemer if we want Him. "In Him we live, and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). His infinite nature and will then is the moral standard for our lives and for which we will one day give account to the resurrected Lord Jesus (Acts 17:30-31).
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Now suppose that there's no Hell and everyone goes to Heaven. Then--does it make any difference what we believe whether we be atheists, idolaters, or anything else? Does it make any difference how we behave--be Mother Teresa's or Hitlers, ministers or murders? Does life have any ultimate meaning if everything is reduced to the same level? Indeed, if we're not the plan of a loving God, and no more than an accident of nature as evolutionists claim, does anything really matter? These are immensely serious issues that influence our lives and should not be ignored or overlooked.
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Does God's Word have authority in a cafeteria style religion? Most persons like eating in a cafeteria because they can select the foods they like and ignore the others. Now if we can accept what we agree with in God's Word and ignore the rest, then what authority does it have? None! But what authority do limited conflicting human opinions and guesses have? None! They only lead to lawless  anarchy, or to a dictator to keep the peace by eliminating those who disagree with him. Wouldn't this in fact make the whole idea of the biblical ethical God irrelevant and the world a terrorist state?
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Yes, God is loving to save sinners and just to send unrepentant rebels to Hell.
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1. Nations, communities, peoples everywhere jail thieves, rapists, murders, and the like to save society. God must do the same to prevent such persons from destroying Heaven (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Rev. 21:27). Sentimentalists who object to Hell make God less just than sensible judges. They encourage crime and human suffering. And they don't want such criminals living next to them which means they are hypocrites. Justice is really love shown society and even to uncorrectable  criminals who often harm each other in prison and must be kept in solitary confinement.
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2. Only a perfect God is worthy of our trust, love, and worship. Tribal gods, an evolving process god, a universal force, or any finite god cannot be a loving Creator. Such a god may not know our condition, can't be everywhere, have wisdom of what's best, have power to help, or even care. The biblical God is not just infinite in love, but also in knowledge, wisdom, power, goodness, and is everywhere present to help. But we must be in a love-trust relationship with Him that issues in our obedience and in His glory. He is God, not any other, His say is ultimate and final.
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3. God's love is shown in great patience, blessings, and warnings. Everything good we have and enjoy is given us as He made a good world (Genesis 1). Our selfish desires is what brings sin and corruption into the world. God's nature is very patient to forgive all who turn to Him not wanting any to perish (Matt. 23:37; 2 Pet. 3:9). But, God drowned the wicked world that Noah warned for 120 years building the ark. God miraculously fed, clothed, and protected Israel's journey in the desert 40 years that faithful obedience could have been only 11 days. They continuously grumbled in unbelief.  He destroyed 23,000 complaining rebels of Israel who would be forgiven if they would only look at a snake on a pole. Like any good parent, God's warnings are expressions of His love to prevent our harm (Hebrews 12:7-11). We are to trust Him to work all things for our good and His purpose, but in His time and way (Romans 8:28).
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Some say the OT God was wrathful while the Jesus God of the NT is loving--they don't know their Bible. They need to read the plagues God sends in Revelation 6-18 which almost wipes out the human race (Matt. 24:21-22). For example, those who reject God will one day call on the mountains and rocks to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb (Rev. 6:16). Some persons simply love evil, despise God and will not have Him reign over them though given many chances (Luke 19:14). But Jesus will reign on the earth with an iron scepter for a thousand years as is promised (Rev. 19:15; 20).  God's love or God's wrath--it's reality our choice.
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4. Not God, but we ourselves decide our destiny. God loves us sinners, but love doesn't force obedience--it's a contradiction that robs our freedom and destroys our dignity in God's image. A loving God patiently allows us our own way and many opportunities to turn to Him. We have a conscience, laws, and we know what hurts us as a human being hurts other human beings just like us. Not doing what we know to be right, or neglecting to do it increases our guilt and shame.
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We all sin or do wrong in different ways to different degrees no matter how hard we try to be and do what we believe to be right. Moreover, how much good is good enough? We can never know, nor erase our sins that separate us from God and Heaven (Isa.59:2). Further still, persons who hate God and His right ways would still despise them if forced into Heaven. The sufferings of sinners in Hell is actually self-induced by their choices or lifestyle on earth. Only those who love God can sing His praises.
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Now here is something seldom preached and many sincere Bible believers fail to understand. Whether we go to Heaven or to Hell, in a real sense we reap what we sow--it's simply the principle of justice (Galatians 6:7). So while all the redeemed go to the same Heaven, they enjoy it to different degrees even as some of God's people now love and enjoy Him more than others. Life long servants of God will be greater rewarded than someone who trusted Jesus on their death bed. Also, those punished in Hell too suffer to different degrees of guilt, shame, contempt, despair, etc. Liars won't feel as bad as serial killers. Check it all out so you can be sure. See evil self punishments (Matt. 10:15; 11:22-24; Luke 12:47-48; Heb. 10:29). Good service rewards (Matt. 5:12, 29-30; 29-30; & crowns Rev. 2:10; 1 Cor. 9:25; 2 Tim. 4:8; 1 Pet. 5:4). Words used as "greater reward or punishment." plainly show different degrees. No one will be able to accuse God of being unjust or unloving.
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5. Clear headed persons admit they're imperfect. I've talked with persons who said they deserved Heaven, and who told me a list of their good deeds, and the bad things they didn't do including some things they think church people shouldn't do. But if asked, they usually will admit they aren't perfect. Now if they know what imperfection is, then don't they have an idea what perfection is? Of course they don't realize what God's Word says and they make up their own ethic. But only God and His Heaven are perfect. Good, even very good, isn't good enough! Even one bad thought makes us imperfect before God and unfit for His perfect Heaven. No, we can't remove the sinful stains on our soul--only Jesus the Savior and Lord can remove them.
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6. We can't earn Heaven, and must come to God and His Heaven on His terms. Heaven cannot be earned by our good deeds--as rebellious sinners we have none (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Bible makes it crystal clear that Jesus' death on the cross in our place to pay for our sins is our only or exclusive way to be saved (John. 3:18; 8;24; 10:1, 9; 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 John. 5:11-12). God makes Himself known gradually to persons everywhere willing to heed His invitations. He invites us through His Holy Spirit, creation, conscience, His Word, prophets, and gives us assurance by Christ' resurrection (Acts 17:30-31). Before Christ's cross persons were saved by believing in the one true God as stated in Hebrews 11:6 and shown by the list of persons in that chapter. So the unwilling are without excuse (Romans 1; 2; John 3:19-21; 7:17).
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7. God's infinite justice and love met at the cross. A God perfectly holy and just cannot excuse our sinful ways. But a God perfect in love provided a way for all who are willing to be saved. The greatest evil was Jesus' crucifixion and the greatest love was His voluntarily bearing the physically pain, but more so His spiritual separation from His Father bearing our sin. God saves us only by trusting in Jesus our Savior. God made Him who knew no sin to become sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21).
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Jesus hung naked before the jeering crowds, dying as a cursed criminal, beaten, bloody, swollen almost beyond recognition. It was humanities worst evil, but God's greatest display of love. He died voluntary for sinners, you and me. You are invited now to trust Jesus as your Savior, Lord, and Guide forever? Will U say, I trust You Lord Jesus to cleanse me and make me Your child?  U will understand it all  better once U submit to the Lord and Savior.
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Monday, December 16, 2013

Earth's Heavenly Visitor!

                                   Earth's Heavenly Visitor!
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#Earth'sVisitor  #Jesus
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Don't be deceived by science fiction travel through a wormhole! Space travel  would require a spaceship like the Enterprise of the Star Trek TV series. It must be huge with many decks, have hundreds of personnel of various skills and duties, and travel at warp speed. Besides unknown dangers, it must avoid multiple known ones  such as comets, asteroids, wondering planets, gamma rays, gravity, solar flairs, black holes, magnetic forces, and space junk as even a speeding pebble can penetrate and destroy the ship.  But unknown to much of the world's population, our earth has been visited by One greater than any possible alien we can imagine. Let's investigate this matter.
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Who is this visitor? Jesus, speaking of himself to Nicodemus said, "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is the Son of Man who is in heaven (John 3:13)." There can be no  doubt Jesus was a real man who once lived in Israel. While three contemporary accounts are accepted as historical fact, the  four Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles are six independent historical accounts of Jesus' life. Non-Christian critics mention details of his life contained in the Gospel accounts. More is said of Jesus than of Tiberius Caesar his contemporary. Even calendar dating of the Western World verify his existence from B.C. to A.D. 
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Yes, Jesus was the Son of Man,  but more than that, he gave clear evidence of being the Son of God who came down from heaven even while still in heaven. How can this be? The Bible gives us the answer. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). See also Jn. 1:1-3; Col. 1:16-17).
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Scientists today generally admit that everything we know depends for its existence on something prior, and that we can't trace existence back eternally. So the material universe had a beginning and its  cause must be immaterial, eternal, unchanging, and of immense power. Such a cause is not so different from what the Bible describes as the Great Eternal I Am who spoke to Moses out of the burning  bush and that Jesus claimed many times and ways to be.  See John 6:35; 8:12, 58; 11:25.
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Does anyone know enough to show the cause of the universe cannot be the personal ethical, loving triune God of the Bible who made us in His image? Or, that the Almighty could not take on a human body and nature? And wouldn't the cause of  all intelligent life forms have to be an intelligent person?
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The Apostle Peter said, "Men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know--Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it (Acts 2:22-23).
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Thousands of persons close at hand, including skeptical disciples and hostile critics for over three years, witnessed Jesus do things only God's power could do. All the while he claimed to be God and asked  others to believe in him. Jesus walked on water, stilled a storm, changed water to wine, immediately healed blindness, lameness, skin diseases, and even raised the dead. Now that's good honest evidence he's God for persons with an open mind willing to look at the evidence. Who would preach to Israel what Peter preached, unless it be true and the hearers knew it?
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Of course we have a problem understanding how Jesus could be God and man in the same person. That is by no means easy and it took the church centuries to figure it out. It required a careful and logical appraisal of all the Bible said about him even then not pretending to understand it all. There's no contradiction since person, essence or nature are used in different senses. In being man, Jesus for our sake laid aside his glory with the Father becoming a servant and our example. I can't cite a lot of evidence trying to keep my articles simple and limited to 3 pages.
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The Bible teaches only one God in essence as three Persons known as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In the Incarnation the eternal God did not become a man--that's impossible. But as the second Person of the Trinity, he added a human body and nature to his divine Person. Jesus' human nature has limitations of knowledge, power, and presence while his divine nature has no such limitations. Sometimes the Person Jesus Christ speaks from his limited human nature and at other times through his divine nature without such limitations. Theologians call Jesus the theanthropic Person or God-man, and the two natures together in the one Person as the hypostatic union.  
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Consider these amazing things about Jesus. While lying as helpless baby in an animal feed trough, he yet was the Almighty upholding the universe. As real man he was tempted at all points as we are who can identify with us, but as God could not be tempted and can be the Savior of sinners. While limited to a human body and nature, as God he is with us always and is even in Heaven. Being man he didn't know the time of his return, but as God He knows all things even our thoughts.
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Isaac Watts wrote these precious words:

Joy to the world! the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing.
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Can the joyless troubled world be because it's not willing to receive the Lord as its King? Heaven and earth doesn't sing about Santa Clause. Jesus came unto his own and his own rejected him. Are we any different today? Xmas is not Christmas. Do we teach our children the myth of Santa Clause and ignore or lie about the Lord who walked among us. I'm not saying we can't have a Christmas tree or give gifts. I am saying telling others about the Savior is the greatest thing we can do for loved ones and friends. It's what will count when we see Jesus and will be rewarded in eternity when other things will not. Jesus' death and resurrection is the proof He's our God and all He taught is God's truth and the world's only hope. No other religion can give us such assurance. Do U know Him? Won't U trust Him and tell loved ones and friends about Him?
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Please link to articles & share others on right side or scrole down to those below. God bless.
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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Are Bible Teachings Incredible, Or Just Not Understood?

                         Are Bible Teachings Incredible, Or Just Not Understood?
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Jim learned his new friend John was a Bible believing Christian. Surprised, he asked John how he could believe a book teaching such absurd things. "What absurd things?" John inquired. Jim said, "I've heard the Bible says that the earth is flat with four corners, that a guy named Jonah swallowed a whale, that an Ark of the Covenant landed on Mt. Judi, and that Bible characters lived immoral lives. Ha! Ha! If that's what I thought the Bible said, I wouldn't believe it either, Jim.
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Unfortunately, people today who know little if anything about the Bible hear biased misinformation about what it really says. Only if they seriously study it for themselves with an open mind in its historical, grammatical, cultural context can they get a true understanding and find that its teaching is most reasonable. Let me clarify a few people's misunderstandings.
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That the Bible opposes science and modern thought. Persons in Bible times didn't give scientific explanations for natural phenomena but spoke in language of appearances--we still do today. The  Bible does say God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1), but doesn't say the earth is the center of the universe. The four corners of the earth  (Rev. 7:1) doesn't mean the world is flat and we can fall off.--it means the four directions of the compass. Isaiah even  called the earth a circle and said God spread out the heavens centuries before we found these things out (Isa. 40:22). The sun rises and sets  and was still for a whole day (Joshua 10:12-14). We know the earth rotates on its axes and goes around the sun but that's not the way it appears to the naked eye. Joshua's long day could be a tremendous display of God's creative power, but more likely was some kind of aerial condition God caused as perhaps reflected sunlight to insure the Israelites victory.
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God is not required to give us a scientific explanation of everything that may even be beyond our understanding anyway. The universe seems designed for human habitation (anthropic principle). Even as the unique position of earth in the arms of our galaxy that allows for cosmic exploration. The universe's origin shows the glory of God's eternal creative power. Remember, Bible interpreters can make mistakes and today's assured scientific facts may be tomorrow's science fiction. When all the facts are in and correctly understood God's Word and God's world will agree. 
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That God was evil to command destruction of the Amalekites, men, women, children, everything (1 Samuel 15:3). Many people today say this makes the Bible God guilty of genocide, a moral monster, and totally unbelievable. Let's consider this in its biblical framework. If there is no personal moral sovereign God, what ethical standard is there but each persons own personal opinion? And if conflicting human opinions are all we have, anything is permitted and whoever gets the biggest stick controls and beats us into submission to their opinion--throughout history this has destroyed human dignity, equality, freedom and many lives and property.
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Only our Creator, Life-giver, and Judge can serve as humanity's standard of ethical behavior. No impersonal force, limited tribal god, or atheism can serve as a basis of human dignity, morality, love, and hope.  Critics who accuse Christian faith of intolerance must borrow from the Bible ethic even to have an ethic, and show hypocrisy themselves in being intolerant of biblical Christianity.
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Now the Amalekites were terrorists who sought to destroy Israel. Their behaviors were everything God told Israel not to do or allow--idolatry, adultery, nakedness, homosexuality, sex with animals, sexuality transmitted diseases, child sacrifice, filthy surroundings (Lev 18). A merciful forgiving God told Abram they had 400 years (rounded number) to turn from their evil ways, but knew they would only grow worse (Gen. 15:13-16). Because they were not totally destroyed they were always a thorn in Israel's side. They sought to prevent God's covenant plan with Abraham to be the means of bringing about human redemption through the Messiah (Gen. 12:1-3; Gal. 4:4-5). A moral God knows our beliefs and behaviors whether good or evil and had to take out a moral cancer that would infect everyone's life and hope. He will one day destroy the devil and his forces (Rev. 20:7-10). He allows them now to test our faith, love, and obedience to His truth, goodness, and will. If He destroyed every sinner, none of us would be left. Who we obey is our choice and has serious consequences.
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As for innocent children, we are all born in sin  and deserve death (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12). Our Maker is our Owner who gives us our every breath and has the right to take life anytime, and once did to the whole evil world (Gen. 6:5; 7:23). Children who die before the age of belief or accountability go to be with God (Deut. 1:39; Isa. 7:15; Mk.10:14; John. 9:41).
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That Adam and Eve are just myths.  Modern scholarship, assuming evolutionary naturalism,  considers the Adam and Eve account as myth, not history (Gen.1:27; 2-3). It's true the Bible tells their events in story form for all peoples to understand. But the Bible everywhere represents them as real persons in real history. Events of their lives are mentioned, they get married, have children, family problems, and are referred to throughout the Bible as our first parents. God's plan of redemption is based upon their being real people who brought sin into the world for which the prophets spoke of a one day coming Messiah and Savior. 
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And yes, the Bible does record miraculous acts of God. But not that the prophet Jonah swallowed a whale, but that God prepared a great fish that swallowed Jonah and carried him to the destination in God's plan that his preaching could result in people in the city of Nineveh turning to God.
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Miracles seem incredible only if one assumes a naturalistic philosophy supposedly supported by science. But does science show that no existence can explode into everything, that mindless molecules can arrange themselves into all our present life forms? Wouldn't plants and animals have to be complete and functional from the start? Can things exist with only partially developed systems and organs? Are there missing links, or a whole missing chain?  What scientific experiment can demonstrate biological evolution? What seems incredible to me is that some persons would rather assume connected universes exist in order to deny a Creator who loves them, offers them a life of purpose and rewards them with Heaven.
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That Bible characters are immoral examples of bad lives. Jesus is the only One without sin with power to be a Savior of us sinners. No other Bible character and no person is said to be without sin or morally perfect. Yes, bad actions along with good ones are openly discussed in the Bible even of God's prophets and apostles. But everything recorded in the Bible is not approved as Abraham's lie, David's sin with Bathsheba, Solomon's polygamy.  The Bible gives us both good and bad behavior's as examples to learn what God approves and disapproves (2 Tim. 3:16). As God gives us the human dignity of free will, anything becomes possible. The alternative is that we be robots dishonoring to God and without dignity ourselves. Justice is not always achieved in this life, but an all-knowing God assures us it will be one day.  We have the choice to believe that an omnipotent, omniscient, holy and loving Triune God knows what's best for us, or to reject God which is fatal.  
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That James contradicts Paul about how to be right with God. There is no contradiction as both are true at different times before different persons. Faith before God is the root and good works before man is the fruit. Paul says we are justified or made right before God  by faith alone (Romans 4:5-6; Titus 3:5). James says true faith is made known to men only by our good works, otherwise its seen as dead or not real faith (James 2:18-23). When Abraham believed God it was counted to him for righteousness, but it was shown real to men when he offered Isaac in sacrifice. "For by grace (God's undeserved favor) you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10).
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We can trust God for the fuller life of truth, purpose, love, and hope and grow in knowing His life in us. His goodness and love can't force Himself on us---what is your decision? This may be God's call to you. Won't U say, Lord Jesus I trust You as paying for my sin on your cross and with your help I'll live for You and share my new faith with my friends.
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See my note about the Ark below. Couldn't fit it into the article.


Thursday, November 21, 2013

Jesus asked, Who Do You Say that I Am?

                      Jesus asked, Who Do You Say that I Am?

#Jesus  #Questions  #Prophecy

From his day to ours, people have called Jesus various things: prophet, teacher, good man, lunatic, deceiver, legend, Son of God, Lord. According to our assumptions, knowledge, belief system, we think different things. Who would you say Jesus is? The answers to these four questions below may help you decide.
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Can Centuries Earlier (700-400 B.C.) Biblical Predictions apply to Anyone but Jesus? He was born of a virgin, Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:18, 21. In Bethlehem of Judea, Mic. 5:2; Matt. 2:1. Forerunner announced, Mal. 3:1; Luck. 1:17. God's Son, Psalm 2:7; Heb. 1:5-6. Work miracles, Isa. 35:5-6; Matt. 11:4-6. Betrayed by a friend, Psalm 41:9; John 13:18-21. Disciples forsake him, Zech. 13; Matt.26:56. Sold for 30 pieces of silver, Zech. 11:12; Matt. 26:15. Nailed to a cross, Psalm 22:16, John. 19:18, 20:25. Given gall & vinegar to drink, Psalm 69:21, Matt. 27:34. Suffered for peoples sins, Isa. 53:4-6, Matt.20:28. Garments parted & lots cast for his vesturee34:20;  John. 19:33, 36. Pierced, Zech. 12:10, Jn. 19:34, 37. Buried with the rich, Isa. 53:9, Matt. 27:57-60. Raised from the dead, Ps. 16:10, Lk. 24:6, 31-34.
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These 17 predictions are such detailed events impossible to guess, artificially fulfill, or be accidental, and Jesus is the only known person in history to whom they could apply. Nothing like this is known in other world religion founders. Nothing like this can be said of Buddha, Muhammad, Zoroaster, Mahavira, Nanak, Confucius, or any other. This is God knowing the future and acting in our world. Its denial seems to require a closed and bias mind and a dogmatic claim to have all or absolute knowledge no such God exist..
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Can Anyone Make Such Claims together with Such Actions Other than God? Conservative systematic theology texts list several pages with references showing who Jesus is. I can briefly mention only a few things the Bible says about him. Jesus is called by names of deity--God, Son of God, Lord, and the Word. He claimed to have the attributes of God--all knowledge, power, be everywhere, be unchangeable, and eternal. He claimed to be from Heaven, be one with the Father, be the Creator and Upholder of the universe. He showed power over demons, disease, death, and nature. He was without sin, forgave sins, raised the dead, accepted worship, died for sinners, commanded angels and demons, and would judge men at the last day. All this could only be true of God. He asked people to believe in him and recognize his miracles as proofs of his claims.
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The Jews recognized his claims to deity and called them blasphemy. His disciples knowing nature's natural patterns where constantly astonished and rebuked for not believing his miracles and who he was, until after his resurrection. Such things are said of no other persons in history. His followers endured torture and death to testify to its truth. What we believe about who Jesus is may be the crucial belief of our life! 
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Can We Trust the New Testament Statements about Jesus to be True? Only if we assume there's no personal ethical God and refuse to view the evidence  can we say N.T. documents are incredible, unhistorical, or lies. Five hundred people saw the resurrected Jesus, many who were still alive, plus the 12 disciples, plus skeptics Paul and James (1 Cor. 15:1-8) which is the confirming proof Jesus is Lord and all he taught is true. Scholars say Paul received this from very early sources along with other hymns and creeds possibly even before A.D. 40. Jesus died A.D. 33. Non Christian, even hostile sources, mention Jesus and many of the events of his life. His name is mentioned more than Tiberius Caesar who lived  at the same time. Gospels mention embarrassing things about him as he was born of fornication and didn't know the time of his return. It's far more reasonable to believe a multitude of eyewitnesses who risked persecution, torture, death, and eternal damnation who gave up the beliefs of their people for 2,000 years, than believer a skeptic far removed from the scene. See The Historical Jesus, by Gary Habermas. Also, my article, Modern Opinions about Jesus Christ.
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What Benefits Did Jesus Bring Humanity? No one but the God-man can give people abundant and eternal life, dignity, equality, real moral standards and moral victory, freedom, justice, love, absolute truth, a rational world, experimental science. No God, a limited god, evolving god, tribal god, speculative god/s can't provide such benefits and hope. No one and nothing can stand beside the Lord Jesus Christ. Few people realize the darkness, sufferings, and despair that would engulf us if Jesus had not come. See What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? by D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe. What Has Christianity Ever Done For Us? by Jonathan Hill. The Victory of Reason: How Christianity Led to Freedom, Capitalism, and Western Success, by Rodney Stark. 
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This is why Christians have shown such great compassion to humanity and making a better world. Jesus said, "I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me . . . Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. (Matt. 25: 35-36, 40).  
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Christians have set the example to support orphans, widows, the sick, prisoners, the disabled and others. They built countless schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers.They promoted child labor laws, Christian relief organizations such as YMCA, The Salvation Army, Food for the Hungry, World Vision, Medical Teams International, Samaritan's Purse, and others. They have fought against killing babies, abandoning children, female abuse, sexual slavery. They have fought for political reforms, just laws, and human freedoms, and rights. Christians are usually the first to relieve human suffering wherever found. They are not perfect, but they sure enter the fight to relieve suffering and build a better world. Jesus give us the reason to do so.
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Who Do You Say Jesus Is? The evidence above points to his being the Son of God who walked among us to save us both in this life and one to follow. What other people think or say won't count when we stand before Jesus at the Judgment. Forsaking sin and trusting Jesus will give purity and purpose to life and the assurance of one day living with him in his beautiful world. Will you say what millions of others say? Jesus is Lord and from now on,  Jesus is my Lord.
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We can do a thousand things important to us, but only the things we do out of love and obedience to Jesus will have eternal value--like telling others Jesus died to save us from sin and be our Lord and Guide. Be a true follower of Jesus who said, "follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" Matthew 4:19.
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