Enjoying Life on the Way to Heaven!

                       Enjoying Life on the Way to Heaven!

#Heaven  #Christian Life  #Hope  #Joyous living

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What's the Christian life to be according to the Bible? Do Christians live according to the Bible, or fall far short of it? Admittedly, some persons claimed to be Christian, don't give a favorable impression. But, when we don't know what the Bible teaches, then we don't know all that Christian life should be. We can have misconceptions about ideal Christian living. Is it joyous or serious, loving or condemning, wise or foolish, frivolous or responsible, or what? Can we also confuse personality with spiritually? Let me try to picture what this enjoying life on the way to Heaven is like.

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Jesus compares God's people with honest humble needy sheep trusting God their great shepherd (John 10:1-10 NLT). Sheep are kept in a sheepfold or enclosure to protect them from thieves, bad weather, and wild animals. The shepherd leads his sheep in and out to pasture to provide and protect them. They know his voice, trust his leading, and can only enter the sheepfold through him standing as the gate. Jesus warns that thief's come to steal, kill, and destroy the sheep.  But He, the Lord Jesus, came  to meet our life needs and lead us who trust Him to a rich and satisfying life.  See also John 14:6, Luke 19:10, Psalm 23. (Christians are not of a goat nature that tries to butt down anything pertaining to God.)

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Jesus pictures our relationship with God as a grapevine giving life and fruit to its branches (John 15:1-17). Jesus is the life giving vine and his Father God is the vinedresser. Fruitless branches are cut away and burned--persons claiming to be believers that don't bear fruit aren't true believers as they never received the gospel message that purified them and without Christ can do nothing spiritual. But the Father prunes the true branches to bear fruit--a father who doesn't correct his children for their good doesn't really love them (Heb.12: 5-6). So, true believers produce fruit, more fruit, and much fruit. Answered prayer, joy, and love are the particular fruits mentioned here.. 

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The godly Christian focuses on the fruit of the Spirit, not the works of the flesh.  "The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things" (Gal. 5:22-23). The desires of our sinful nature are listed as: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these--anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God . . . You have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters, But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love." (Gal. 5:19-21, 13). 
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Unlike programmed machines or instinctual animals, persons who freely seek God find Him. Critics who claim we have no free will, defeat their own arguments by asking us to believe them. The Bible repeatedly promises true seekers of God, will be real finders (Deut. 29:14; Jer. 29:13; 2 Chron. 6:37: Matt. 7:7; Acts 17:26-28, 30-31). Behavior scientists tests show we can program out minds to believe and behave in good ways if we daily meditate and repeat  good concepts. Now isn't this the very thing the Bible tells us to do so many times and ways?  
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Yes! Consider these Scriptures. "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right" (2 Tim. 3:16). I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you." Repeat and meditate on verses in Psalm 119.asking and trusting God to make it your mindset and lifestyle.
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But wouldn't I have to give up so many things I love,  to live the Christ life? Honestly, yes! You will need to give us things supremely important from this limited temporarily world's perspective.. But the loss is nothing to compare with the gain from God's all knowing eternal perspective.  Jesus answered the question this way--"anyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, or property for my sake will be paid a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then" (Matt.19:29-30).. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your hearts desires." (Ps. 37:4). That's because our desires then become His desires.
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Now think with me about this: Scientists tell us this material, space time universe came into being. If that's true, then what brought it into being would have to exist before the universe of matter, space, and time. It would have to be eternal, self-existing, and outside matter, space, and time. Further, we know life only comes from life. So, it's nonsense to claim undesigned mindless molecules arranged themselves into complex life forms in any amount of time. That would be like someone eternally throwing red, white, blue confetti from an airplane expecting it to form the American flag. Further, if we say murder and destruction is evil, that requires a moral standard which in turn requires a Moral Lawgiver who can know and enforce the moral law. In sum, all this requires an eternal, self-existent, all powerful, moral, life-giving Mind like what the Bible describes as God who acts in human history.
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Now this is the really hard thing. We're selfish, self-willed. We naturally want our way, and resent anyone telling us what to do, even when we know they're right and want the best for us. And according to the Bible, God will never force us to trust in Him. His love requires we make a free loving response.  As the Bible says, God works all things (both good & bad) for good to those who know and love Him (Rom. 8:28). But true relationship begins and continues with admitting our sin (wrong doing) and trusting Jesus dying on the cross to pay our sin debt. That's God's way.
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Now you are invited to admit your need of relationship with the one true God and trust Him now to same you from sin and Hell. If you don't want the one who died to save you, God will let you have your way. The alternative is self-inflicted torment forever alone in the darkness of Hell. Say, yes Jesus I trust YOU now as my Savior, Lord, and Guide. Thank you, Lord.
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Good News Messengers: God's A Cruel Tyrant and Killjoy!

Good News Messengers: God's A Cruel Tyrant and Killjoy!: God‘s A Cruel Tyrant And Killjoy! . People have their own idea of God and I don’t know who’s right. But I don’t like the Bible’s God....

Joyful People Focus on Wise Solutions to Real Problems

        Joyful People Focus on Wise Solutions to Real Problems

 Consider this Bible passage. Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again--rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 NLT

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Honest people neither deny nor ignore their problems but seek wise solutions. Yes, we have no control over many circumstances of life. But dwelling on the problems and not doing anything constructive about them only makes things worse. Worry not only doesn't solve anything, but depending on the problem can make us feel angry, depressed, guilty, condemned, shameful, anxious, hostile, jealous, destructive, paranoid, suicidal. Our greatest problem is relationship with our Maker and Judge for all eternity.
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Focusing on positive solutions gives hope, encouragement, meaning, energy,  peace, and avoids all the negative things just mentioned. God's Spirit in us can help us be winners, victors, accomplishers in Him. Are you one of God's true people? God's people have promises persons outside of faith in Christ Jesus don't have. God must be trusted as knowing what's best and having our best interests at heart.
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God's true people have assurance of eternal solutions and the ideal world--Heaven does exist. Consider Philippians 4:4-7 above, with all it's assurances. 1. We're told to always rejoice. We have a free will to either rejoice or not rejoice. Isn't rejoicing much better than any other choice? 2. Remember the Lord is coming. That means true justice will be satisfied and our every thought, word, deed will be good or evil--He knows and will justly reward. 3. Believing prayer in God's will gets answers. God is Creator, Lifegiver, Judge and can know and answer any prayer in any language. 4. Telling God our needs. and believing it will be answered in His time and way shows true faith. When doing the above we experience God's peace, but we still may not understand our circumstances, ourselves, or what God is doing. But it's learning to live by faith.
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People become God's true people experiencing His benefits only when they obey God's requirement to trust in His Son. The Lord Jesus Christ died in our place taking the just punishment of our wrong doings/sins. God is perfect and demands we be perfect. But we cannot be perfect, which is why Christ died to take our punishment and our sins. Our best efforts won't make us perfect and  all our sins count against us. God knew this and made His plan of salvation to save us.
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Friends, the bottom line is this: Say and mean, Lord God Almighty, I am a sinful person who can't be perfect. That's why Jesus, who is perfect, took my punishment by his death for me on the Cross. Lord, I give myself to You trusting in your forgiveness to make me a born again believer in Jesus now and forever. Thank you my Lord and Savior. I will live under your guidance and will depend everyday for your forgiveness, guidance, and glory. Read God's Word, pray in faith, and share your new faith with friends. 
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Broad Road, Narrow Road--Which Do You Travel?

         Broad Road, Narrow Road--Which Do You Travel? 

"According to a recent Barna Research report, nearly two out of three adults contend that the choice of one religious faith over another is irrelevant because all religions teach the same lessons about life. They also believe that it doesn't matter which god you pray to because every deity is ultimately the same deity veiled in a different name." Christ Among Other gods by Erwin W. Lutzer

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If that's true, then does it even matter what anyone believes, or how anyone behaves? No!! Not at all. Only gross ignorance, or fear of confrontation, or rebuke would cause persons to say or think that way. Any honest person studying world religions knows radical contradictions exist about God, man, life, and the afterlife.
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Jesus said, "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate.The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide, for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Matthew 7:12-14. In this article, please let me explain the differences between the Christian biblical worldview and non Christian viewpoints.
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About God. People have varying conceptions of god. Atheists say, I see no God, so he doesn't exist. But if God is a Personal Spirit present everywhere we wouldn't see him. Don't we believe in many things we don't see directly, but experience their effects? People's claims to talk with God or an angle mean nothing--Mohammad, Joseph Smith Jr. and crazy men have claimed that. But evidence of God requires acts known impossible for man or nature to accomplish. If  Jesus walked on water, raised cold stiff corpses, predicted future detailed events impossible to guess, then we should rightfully say these are acts of God. His astonished skeptical Jewish disciples wrote that He did hundreds such things--and endured ridicule, persecution, and torturous deaths in evidence of its truth. Read my articles for further details and confirmation. 
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The Christian biblical God is a self-existent Creator who sustains the universe. He made us, loves us, wants an intimate and eternal relationship with us. He in unlimited in his power, knowledge, truth, justice and love. He has made himself known in our world in history and in human lives. He is a non contradictory Trinity of three persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in one essence. See Gen. 1:2, Psalm 2:7-12; 110:1; Matt. 28::19 and my article on the mystery of God. Our peanut minds shouldn't assume we can know everything about the infinite God, but be should be open to his revelation.
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About Persons. We see all kinds of people's in the world of different colors, sizes, shapes, races, appearances, nationalities. They have different skills, intelligence levels, kinds of employment, interests, philosophies. But more important we are all part of a common human family. Our differences are not crucial, but being human beings with the same needs, desires, goals, hopes, and common ancestry So we should all be treated with respect and concern. In all honestly, we think of our self and our well-being above other persons--we're naturally self-centered. The way we act toward people, however is generally the way they react to us. But the Bible teaches we make a better world to show concern and help them no matter their behavior. Put downs destroy relationships and promote war. Look for the positive features in others. But even this requires a new nature and way of thinking, an enabling power greater than us..
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About Life. From birth to death, life's full of challenges--growing pains, learning skills, how to present ourselves, work, marriage, health, family, friends. Making mistakes and change is part of learning and growing.
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The Christian faith offers a greater fullness of life. Jesus said, "The thief's purpose (speaking of the devil) is to steal and kill and destroy (Gen. 3; John. 8:44). My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."(John 10:10). Is Jesus saying we can have everything we want? No!! God, is like wiser loving parents who forbids some things we don't understand, but for our good. The policeman's son ignored his father's warning not to play with his pistol and shot himself.
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God, our Maker knows the right time, way, and our best interests. The principle is: "Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you your heart's desires" (Psalm 37:4). When we delight in Him, our desires become like His good desires for us--we win every time and it saves us and others lots of unnecessary pains and sorrows. But we must trust in Him and His better way.
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About Right and Wrong. If we people are not created by God in his image, then we are evolving animals and soulless dirt that perishes. We have no great dignity and destiny. So we're responsible only to our own opinions and preference. Then there's no great wrong in lying, deceiving, abusing people, even abortion, robbery, rape, murder when they get in our way. It's just survival of the fittest in our animal world and since only the strong temporarily survive. We feel superior and prideful.
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But created in God's image, people are valued by God, responsible to him to care about each other, and will be judged, rewarded for good,or punished for bad behavior. We have God's law, and an ethical conscience that we will be judged. God's higher authority and true justice is the only basis for ethics. It trumps limited conflicting human opinions that lead to frustration, confusion, and warfare.
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God and Suffering. My loved one died. A natural disaster destroyed my home. A man raped and murdered my beautiful young daughter.The Bible teaches an eternal torturous hell. So how can there be a good and loving God to allow such things?
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Can we be logical and honest? Should we expect God to suspend His laws of nature every time a natural disaster threatens, or just in our case? Should God program our every thought and act making us robots, or is He wise and glorious to give us dignity, free will, and the possibility of loving  and eternal relationship with Him? Hell is our choice, self-inflicted, and in accord our earthly behavior . If there should be no punishment for human abuse, then aren't we wrong to have courts and jails? Shouldn't we let human abusers just do their thing? With no Hell and no punishment, how could there be a Heaven, or any kind of secure happy world? We hate these adversities of life, but stupid emotional arguments don't solve anything. An infinitely wise God knows how things have to be. We can see His love and goodness when we think honestly about it and not play God.  
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About Life's Purpose. If there no personal God who created us in His image, cares about us and acts in our world to help us, then we are no more than perishing animals and evolving dirt. Life is short, may end at any time, so practical sense seems to be to get all I can for myself while I can. Animal ethics and limited conflicting personal preferences is all we have--then lights out.
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Being born into God's kingdom its quite different. Jesus our Savior assures us His divine presence would be with us always with all power (Matthew 2:19) and He has sent the Holy Spirit to comfort, guide and give us the enabling power and incentive to live holy lives pleasing to God (John 16: Acts 2).  When we trust Christ as paying for our sin, we receive His divine life in us with a new outlook and desire to do His will. It's like being born anew or becoming a new creation (John 3:3: 2 Cor. 5:17-28). We progress in doing God's will as He works within us (Phil. 2:13).
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About Life After Death. Non Christians have no real assurance of life after death. Reincarnations claim there is the universal spirit that takes many different temporary material forms until we're absorbed. But human defects, revived life in the spring, world injustices, and dreams don't prove we have multiple lives after death. The only real evidence of it is the resurrection of a stiff lifeless corpse returning to life. Jesus arose from the dead as he said he would. 500 people saw the resurrected Lord (1 Cor. 15). It's changed hearts and lives to make a better world ever since.
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Which Road Will You Travel? The broad road is popular but leads to a dark hopeless eternal Hell. The narrow road is unpopular and difficult in ways, but is meaningful, fulfilling, and leads to Heaven. IT'S YOUR CHOICE. It will be what we all justly deserve before a perfectly loving, but just God. Won't you decide right now: Lord Jesus, I am a wrong doer, but I trust you died to take all MY SIN AWAY, and I ask You to be my Savior, Lord, and Guide the rest of my life. I further ask you to give me the courage to share this new faith in you with others. Thank you, Lord.
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Earth's Seven Year Coming Destruction!

                             Earth's Seven Year Coming Destruction! 

#great tribulation
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Persons of moral discernment see the world becoming more violent, corrupt, and evil like in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:5,11). Skeptics, secularists, socialists can party, laugh, and mock the Bible's promise of Jesus' return, not acknowledging God's love and  patience for their repentance (2 Peter 3:3-4, 15). These rebels, however, will be terrified when they see Jesus coming in the eastern sky knowing their judgment is sure (Rev. 6:15-17). We who know Him rejoice in His return and will reign with Him on earth a thousand years. Let me briefly survey the events of this time of tribulation (See Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24; Rev. 6-19). 

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This period begins when the Lord Jesus takes away His church (John 14:1-4; 1 Thess. 4:15-17), and there is a great falling away from the faith. A world leader, an Antichrist, will arise to make a seven year treaty with the Jews allowing them to rebuild the temple and offer sacrifices (Dan. 9:27). There will be great increase in wars, famines, natural disasters, and believers martyred. This is only the beginning of sorrows  (Matt. 24:5-15). It's the time of the Gentiles and of God's judgment of the earth (Luke 21:24).

Beginning the last half of this seven year period, this world leader or Antichrist will break his treaty with the Jews, deceive the world with deceptive signs, sit in the Jews temple, claim to be God, even demand worship as God (2 Thess. 2:2-4). He will demand everyone take his mark in their right hand or on the forehead. His number is 666 and he will be a highly esteemed government official promising peace. Thus, he will gain control of the world's shaky economic system (Rev. 13:16-18). Believers who won't take his mark will be martyred. He may be in the world even now. 
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During this time there will be a Satanic Trinity that will develop a global political system, a global economic system, and a global religious system. The world will make war against the Lamb. God's wrath will destroy ships at sea, cause world cities to fall into rubble, islands to disappear, mountains to be leveled, seventy-five pound hailstones to fall on the wicked and half of humanity will be slain. They will cry out in anguish and pain, but not turn from sin to God.
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Seeing the bickering and deception among political candidates today shows their desire for wealth, power, and position is greater than their concern for the well-being and safety of the people they swear to serve. Don't we see our world becoming more violent, corrupt and rebellious than ever?
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God will protect a remnant of Jewish believers making a way for them to escape into the wilderness the last half of the tribulation. Like Noah's family, they escape judgment to reproduce children in the 1,000 millennial kingdom of Christ's reign with us on earth. They are the sheep mentioned in Matthew 25:32-33.
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Near the end of this time of Jacob's trouble, two hundred million soldiers will come from the east along with other nations (Matt. 24:9; Rev. 9:13-21; 16:12-14). They will capture Jerusalem, but God will then intervene miraculously to save Israel from utter destruction, and restore the house of David as He promised (Zech. 12:1-8). Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives to deliver His people (Zech. 14:4).
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At last, the Jews will look on Him whom they pierced and accept their true Messiah (Romans 11:32-33). God's covenants with them will be fulfilled and the King of kings will reign over the world on David's thrown. Don't delay! don't get caught in this time of world devastation without hope!
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Friends, God's promises are always fulfilled, but in God's time, according to God's plan, which is always the best for everyone. Won't U too trust that the Lord has a wonderful plan for your life. It starts with you admitting your sin and trusting in the Lord Jesus to save you, guide you throughout life, and take you to be with Him. Just say, Lord, I'm an unworthy sinner who now trusts YOU to save me. Share this article with others who may be saved.
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Atheist Arguments to Devastate Bible Christianity Backfire!

    Atheist Arguments to Devastate Bible Christianity Backfire!
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This much is clear and certain: There either is a personal creator God or there isn't; there's an objective ethical standard or there isn't, there's life after death or there isn't, life has a purpose or it doesn't; and we have a rational universe or nothing makes sense. Such contradictory statements can't both be true! And what we believe true makes a world of difference for our lives!
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Atheist materialism and Biblical Christianity are opposed to each other so that only one or the other is true. Can we dare to take an honest look at what a Bible Christian has to say about it? The objections atheists claim devastate Biblical Christianity are the reasons that prove it true and devastate atheism.

(1) Atheists claim Biblical Christianity is false, arrogant, insulting, even dangerous.
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This claim can of course be made against anyone with a religion or worldview that differs from their own. We can have vested interests and want to believe something so much that we refuse to consider anything that suggests it might not be true. But sometimes we may have a misunderstanding of an other's view that has been misrepresented to us by parents, friends, teachers. So will you please give Bible Christianity a fair honest appraisal.
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Surely we can agree these factors would help us get closer to a true understanding. (1) Conflicting religions//worldviews can't all be right or nothing makes any sense. There can't be one God, many gods, no God, the universe God, a personal Creator God, or god be an impersonal force. If any one is true, the rest are false.  (2) Suppose the dignity of some highly esteemed person whether Plato, Muhammad, Joseph Smith Jr., a Hindu holy man, etc.  said, "I talked with God, an angel,  or had a vision of God and can tell you everything that you should accept as true." Should that be accepted as binding truth on all humanity? I think not! Don't crazy men sometimes say the same things? And can't people lie to get a following. Even sincere people can be deceived. And drugs can alter one's imagination to believe anything. (3) If there is a true God, wouldn't he be the God who cares for all people alike since persons are basically the same? So limited local tribal gods that exist only in human imagination would be discredited also. (4) Now wouldn't a God limited in power, knowledge, and location be discredited as well?  A god who isn't everywhere, doesn't know everything, may be ignorant of us, powerless to help us, and not even care. That's not the Bible's God, and that god is not worthy of our worship and service.
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Now Christians would agree with atheists who deny belief in any of these above ideas about God because none of them come close to the infinite eternal, self-existent, immaterial, all powerful, all wise, perfect Creator God who upholds the universe and acts within it to accomplish His good will. Moreover, an Almighty creative Mind could never be caught in a microscope, telescope, or science experiment but would be present and active all the while.   
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The crucial question is how could we know the Bible's God acts in our world on our behalf? Wouldn't God have to do things neither nature nor man are known to do in order to get our attention and be recognized as Lord? (1) Miracles. The God of Bible prophets destroyed armies, cities, brought devastating plagues, sent food down from the sky, healed diseases instantly, all which showed his power greater than man or nature. (2) Fulfilled prophecies. God's spokesmen predicted details, and the rise and fall of  individuals and nations impossible to guess, contrive, or explain away. 
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(3) Jesus' death and resurrection. Skeptics can't explain away the evidences. Five hundred eyewitnesses saw him alive, the empty tomb and left grave clothes, N.T., church, Bible history, secular confirmations. No skeptic has refuted it and many honest ones who tried became Christians. These things were not everyday occurrences, but grouped around individuals and crises circumstances while related to persons, places, events and a time line known in secular history as well as in the Bible. God's people were often mocked, persecuted, tortured, murdered for their faith. Only a deeply entrenched prejudice would dismiss this as impossible.
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(2) Atheists claim the evils of the world show the infinitely good and powerful God of the Bible doesn't exist.
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We call human behaviors like theft, lies, cheating, murder, human abuse and injustice of any kind moral evils. But what if doing those things benefit us, make us feel superior, satisfy our desires, help us control others to our advantage? If we're only evolving animals, then doesn't might make right? When there's no higher standard than human preferences and opinions, then whoever gains the upper hand imposes his will on the rest of us. Our world become a vicious jungle and we are only animals fighting to survive the best we know. It's evolution of the most fit. If love, ethics, respect, fair play doesn't advance us, why bother. The winner then forces his will on the rest of us, even to say who lives and who dies. An insecure, insane, destructive world is the logical and practical outcome of atheism 
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But the Bible God is love and goodness whose good nature and will has set standards for our good. The Bible clearly teaches God created man in His image, a rational, moral person far above the animals. Unlike either animal instinct or programmed robots, we have a conscience, free will, and are held accountable for our actions. God's will is for us to respond to Him in a love--trust relationship that issues in our obedience, His glory, and human good. As a loving Father, He cannot force us to obey Him. He offers forgiveness even giving His Son to pay for our sins and enter eternal relationship and Heaven. But we can reject God's peace,  joy, and love in Christ which is our own choice. We can reject God, and live in self-imposed darkness and torment forever. There will be no evils in Heaven as incorrigible sinners are imprisoned in Hell. This is a fallen sinful world, but God invites us to relationship and His perfect Heavenly world.
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(3) Atheists claim an eternal torturous hell makes the Christian God a terrifying inhumane monster. 
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Let's get personal and honest. Would you want thieves, rapists, child abusers, homosexuals, terrorists, living next door to you and your family wondering all over your neighborhood? Of course, if you are elitist and live in a rich gated community, or house, and kids go to a secure school it may not concern you. Why be concerned about others anyway?
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Rational civilized countries isolate or imprison rebellious lawless citizens to protect the law-abiding from them. Now when we use good sense to do that, how can we object when a loving God does it to protect and provide for His people? Doesn't that make good sense? Isn't the atheists who mock hell claiming we're only perishing animals without hope the real monsters? Jesus, however, gives all who trust in Him dignity and a destiny of eternal abundant life.
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Critics misrepresent hell in various ways. (1) They claim it's a torture chamber when the Bible shows it's their chosen self-inflicted torment of guilt, shame, anger, pride, selfishness, rebellion, emptiness in rejecting God. (2) They claim it's unfair to punish liars the same as serial killers in a lake of fire. The fire is a metaphor since it doesn't consume demons, the worm, cannot be quenched, and people experience punishment in accord with their degree of sin. (3) People aren't given enough evidence to believe. God's usual signs are design in nature showing a Divine Designer, conscience showing a Moral Lawgiver, His Spirit convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, preachers, the Church, miracles, dreams. Even one sin cannot be allowed to corrupt God's perfect heaven. Hell is the proof of a sovereign and holy God and of His love for all who trust in His forgiveness and incorruptible Heaven.
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(4) Atheists claim the naturalistic method of science discredits unscientific Christian beliefs.

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Prideful desire for prestige and authority can blind us to realities we don't want to admit to be true--we like to play God having the final say. And when science is so revered today having been used in so many fields to produce so many useful benefits and amazing discoveries people just assume anything scientists say must be true even when common sense says otherwise. Now some scientists claim, science can explain everything, so that we don't need any God to fill in the gaps of our knowledge. Could it be. not science, but that materialistic atheism is the real opponent of Christian beliefs even limiting progress within science itself? Atheists ignore or contradict crucial factors necessary to science.
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Rather than being the enemy of science and modern experimental method, rational Christianity established them. Atheists like Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss who claim God doesn't exist are like a car mechanic saying Henry Ford, never existed.
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Modern science and experimental method didn't arise under-- Muslim fatalism, Greek intellectualism, superstitious animism, Hindu and Buddhist illusionism, but under  the influence of Christians and Bible creationists who said we have a rational moral universe we can understand because God created it to work through secondary natural and moral laws. And God has made himself known through His son He sent to save us, the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ. The calendar and time became measured as before Christ and after his death. Apart from Bible Christianity, it's unlikely science would have risen, or could arise today under atheist materialism.
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Let me mention a few on this full page of Bible believing creationist pioneers and their branch of science. Astronomer Johanness Kepler (1571-1630) coined the phrase "Thinking God's thoughts after Him." Scientist mathematician Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) was a devoted Christian inventor and apologist. The great Isaac Newton (1642-1727) wrote more on theology than on science. Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626). He invented the scientific method of repeated empirical testing. This is not mentioned in science textbooks, or that many noble prize winners were Christians. And it's often implied that Christians and creationists can't be good scientists. Atheist's deceptions!
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Science is based upon philosophy, not experiment. What atheist materialists don't want you to know is that before an experiment is performed the scientist must make a basket full of assumptions. Truth exists and is knowable. Nature's laws are orderly and consistent. Effects have causes. Our senses give accurate information. Immaterial laws of logic and math apply to our world. We have free will to conduct experiments. Honesty is required if science is verifiable. Now scientists do falsify their data and conclusions to get grants for their departments and projects. We must check to see if their science is fact, because what some scientists say may not be. And what is called scientific fact today, may be discredited science fiction tomorrow.
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The real war is not between science and Christianity but between science and materialism. Unless the universe created itself, everything is an effect pointing to and dependent upon God, its Creator. Despite what popular atheist Laurence Krauss says, all science is based upon a universe that is the effect of a great cause. That cause would be the self-existent, eternal, immaterial, immutable, omniscience, omnipotent morally perfect God who revealed Himself by acts with us in the history of the Bible and works in lives today giving love, peace, hope, help to believers .
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Can's we use the "H word" for atheists who don't behave like they claim to believe?  They say causality is a valid science principle except in creation which would disprove atheism. Only matter exists, but ask you to believe their immaterial arguments, theories, reasons, evidences that prove atheism. They deny objective morality but complain about injustices all the time. They deny consciousness, sense experience, logic, faith, truth, free will, then ask you to accept their conclusions. They say Christianity is dangerous, but never mention all the atheists wars that slaughtered millions. They mock God, right to take life, but affirm  their right to abort babies.
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Only fools say in their hearts, "There is no God," They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race, he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away, all have become corrupt. Psalm 14:1-3
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The most important issue now and for eternity is to abandon atheist foolishness, swallow our arrogant pride, tell our Creator we trust in Him who gave His son to pay for our sin, free us from slavery, the world's temptations, Satan's lies, and our self-centered rebellion. Then we experience God's forgiveness, love, peace, eternal life.  Say without hesitation: Lord Jesus, I trust and commit myself to you now and forever. Thank you now as my Savior, Lord, Guide, and I will serve you from now own and share my new faith WWW and with others.
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Are OT Yahweh and NT Jesus Different Gods?

                Are OT Yahweh and NT Jesus Different Gods?

Yahweh appears a judging punishing God, while Jesus is a loving forgiving God. Yahweh is one God, but Jesus has a Father and sends the Holy Spirit who are said to be God. These seem to be strange contradictory concepts.  Are there good answers we fair-minded people can understand.

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           The Prerequisites to understanding the Christian faith.

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1. The Bible God is creator of time, space, matter, and life including man in His image. "In the beginning (time) God created the heavens (space) and the earth (matter). God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them, male and female. Then God looked down over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good." Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 31 NLT.  All the rest of the Bible is based upon this. Now, if God be creator, then lessor things as miracles are no problem.

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The Bible plainly says God created the universe. However, other world religions taught the universe is eternal. So, they can't be right! Medieval philosophers knew that if there were an infinite number of days before today, that today could never arrive. Scientists in recent decades claim the universe exploded with a big bang. It's expansion suggests a central beginning point. Heat depletion too shows it had a beginning. Now both science and logic say that from nothing, nothing comes because nothing has no power, force, mind, or will--it's nonexistence. Every beginning thing must have a cause--it can't create itself. So what is the nature of  this source or cause of the universe?
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First, we have a universe, not a multi-verse as shown by its vast unity, complexity, design, and order. Further, all this being natural effects, it necessarily requires a supernatural cause meaning an immaterial, eternal, unchangeable, infinitely powerful Self-existent Mind and Will.  Friends, this supernatural Source is very much like the Bible describes  its perfect God. 

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Now consider the old question: Which came first the chicken or the egg? (1) Hen and rooster are compatibly designed to produce chicks. (2) Hens have a protein called overleiden 17 in their body essential for egg shells to form. (3) Hens must lay on eggs 21 days to keep them warm to hatch fully formed chicks. (4) Hens must turn their eggs over 3 or more times a day to maintain warmth. (5) The chicks must peck their way out of the shell to gain strength. (6) The hen protects her chicks under her wings and shows them how to get food and water. (7) Chicken DNA designs chickens, not some other kind of bird or animal. (8) And chickens are bred by human intelligence, not by accident. All this shows life forms are created to reproduce after their own kind. But man is in God's rational, moral, immortal image. This demolishes macro evolution. It's only a speculative theory--blind mindless material molecules can't arrange themselves into men.

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2. The Bible God has made Himself known to receptive hearts through the ages in many ways. Our first parents in Paradise were innocent until they sinned in choosing self over God. Human conscience and government proved ineffective guides. God through Moses gave Israel a system of laws and sacrifices but Israel's pride prevented their witness to the world. God sent judges, prophets, priests, apostles, and evangelists inviting the unbelieving world to trust Him. God blessed believers fulfilling promises, and covenants and warned rebels through disasters, plagues, wars. But self-centered people drift away following their own desires. 
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Throughout the ages, God tested human faith in unusual ways: Job's sufferings, Abraham's faith, Joseph's dreams, Samson's strength, David's victories, Solomon's wisdom, Jonah's fish. God sent angels, showed miracles. Finally, God's infinite love sent His sinless Son Jesus who died to pay for our sins and arose for our assurance. But! despite all God's pleadings, efforts, and warnings, cities, tribes, nation, schools, drift into hopeless corruption. Regretfully, God had to destroy them like a cancer to save the others. Just as God destroyed the violent evil people of Noah's day, He will again  in great tribulation  (Gen. 6:11-12; Matt. 24:21-22;37-39; Rev.6-19). Wake up friends! God pleads with us to open our hearts and minds to receive His love, peace, joy, purpose, salvation and Heaven. It's your choice.  God longs for relationship with us. Won't you trust Him for it?
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3. Our Denial of the Bible God ignores the facts, makes our world evil, and us bitter instead of better. Hardened unbelief shakes its fist in God's face "shouting--I'm handicapped. My loved one died. I've been victim of abuse, robbery, rape, murder; such evils abound--there can't be a good God or He would take out all the bad guys who abuse me."  Really!! If the Bible God of truth, love, justice, and authority doesn't exist, then where does that leave us? Think about it!
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Wouldn't it leave us with mere limited, conflicting, arrogant, human, self-centered opinions? Wouldn't it rob us of dignity and ethics, make our world a dangerous jungle, make us animals fighting each other for temporary survival? Doesn't that make us all self-centered rebels? --WE are the bad guys! And doesn't denial of Bible beliefs destroy all basis for justice, love, peace, truth, and hope! Life after death depends on the Savior who bore our sins on the cross and arose from the dead?  
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4. Yes, there is only one God throughout the Bible. A universe rather than a multi-verse is the effect of a single Mind. "In the beginning God" (not gods Gen.1:1). Israel's creed called the shema is, "Hear O Israel; the Lord our God, the Lord is one (Deut. 6:4). "I am the first and the last; apart from me there is no God (Isaiah 44:6).  Jesus repeats and reaffirms Israel's creed in the N.T. (Mark 12:29). Paul agrees only one God (I Cor. 8:4; Eph. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:5). Logically,there can be only one Almighty, infinite, pure, perfect God. More than one God would require different kinds of beings. Paul explains other so-called Gods are merely idols or demons (1 Cor. 10:20). 
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But the One Bible God is a Trinity of divine persons. Space limits explanation. While the word Trinity is never mentioned, its clearly taught in many ways. First, each member is described as a person having a mind, emotions, and will; God is never represented as some kind of impersonal mindless force. Second, each person is shown to be God. Each has the names of God and called God,Yahweh, Lord, Savior. Each has offices of God--Creator, Redeemer, Judge. Each as God is worshiped, forgives sin, is praised and thanked. God the Father is seen through out the Bible. Jesus is the Angel of the Lord and the predicted Messiah. The Spirit appears is in Genesis 1:2 and numerous other times. So the Bible teaches only one God as the three persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Some say it's a contradiction!
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But three persons in one essence is not a contradiction. It would be if it were three natures in one nature or three persons in one person. We rightfully expect the Creator of the universe to be greater that our limited understanding. We mustn't assume things we can't know in advance and accept what God has told us about Himself in His Word. God is like a lover (Father) a loved one (Son), and the Spirit of love. Or, a triangle with one body and three sides. 1 John 4:16.
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5. The Bible God  invites us into an eternal love-trust relationship with Him. This relationship is entered into if we will humbly admit we just care about fulfilling our selfish desires rather than trusting God's way to meet our needs on His terms in His time and way. Yes, it requires humility and trust that God's way is best after all. It's a decision for all this life and eternity. The wrong choice means eternal separation from God in darkness, loneliness, and self-chosen torments of Hell. God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Friend, won't you say, Lord I trust you now as my own Savior, Lord, and Guide. 

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