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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Christian! Are You Ready for Test Day?

                    Christians! Are You Ready for Test Day?

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he promised his disciples, "When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am" (John 14:3). Paul later explained when Jesus comes for his church they would be caught up to meet him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Then great tribulation would occur on earth, (Dan. 9:26; Matt. 24:21).Christians will be taken up to be with Jesus to have their earthly works and service evaluated for it's quality of reward. Paul compares the life in Christ as a building with foundations. 
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"Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have--Jesus Christ.
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Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials--gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person's work has any value. If the work survives that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames" (1 Cor.  3:10-15 NLT).
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As believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, our every thought, word, and deed will be tested like gold, silver, jewels that to various degrees glorify God, or like wood, hay, straw that reveal we did it for selfish reasons/motives and we lose what could have been rewarded. Now let's see some review questions that may be asked us on the test when we stand before Jesus.
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Do you treat other believers who differ somewhat from you with respect and kindness? Heb. 6:10; Matt. 10:41-42. Our individual interests, teachers, experiences influence our beliefs and behavior. We don't believe every detail exactly alike and should be gracious. Gentle loving persuasion, not force or threats are in order.
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Do you use your talents and abilities to help others or just to promote yourself? Matt. 25:14:29; 1 Cor. 12:4; 1 Pet. 4:10. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. We make a better world to follow the Golden Rule.
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Do we you use your money to help others without blowing your trumpet?  Matt. 6:1-4; 1 Tim. 6:17-19. They we will be helped and we will please and be rewarded by God. We should care more about being God-pleasures than men-pleasures.
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Do you humbly accept mistreatment and injustice? Mark 10:29-30; Rom. 18:18. It shows true faith and follows the example of Jesus. The world that doesn't love Jesus won't love His followers either.
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Do we patiently accept sufferings and trials? James 1:12; Rev. 2:10. It shows strong faith and is the means to growth. They will come as Jesus warned but patiently endured prove our faith and bring us great reward.
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Do you use your time in positive, disciplined and holy activities? Psalm 90:9-12; Ephesians 5:16; Col. 4:5. Time is fleeting and shouldn't be wasted. We're to be disciplined like athletes keeping our mind on the goal.
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Do you control your fleshly appetites? 1 Cor. 9:25-27  Out of control desires lead to destruction, shame on our testimony for Christ.
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Do you speak up for principles of our faith and are not ashamed of Jesus? Prov. 11:30; Dan. 12:3; 1 Thess. 2:19-20. If we be ashamed of Jesus and things eternal, he will be ashamed of us when we see Him.
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Do you speak carefully and respectfully of other people? Matt.12:36; James 3:1-12 The tongue is a fire for evil or it can be a tool of encouragement.
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Do you study and mediate on God's Word or just read it quickly and soon forget its instructions? Acts 20:26-28; 2 Tim. 4:1-2; Heb. 13:17. God's Word is the means He uses to guide us in knowing how to live for Him and be shinning lights in this dark sinful world.
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Do you seek to win others to the Savior? Matt. 28:19-20: Acts 1:8. We are the King's ambassadors which is a high honor. Soul winners who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars in space. Modern technology enables us to do today what people before could only dream of doing. We can reach the world with the good news from any place on the globe. Pray for God's Holy Spirit to use you sending these computer articles WWW. That's the best thing we can do for people in life now and for their eternal life in Heaven. Lord, use my brother/sister in faithful and fruitful ministry.
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Questions Many Christians Can't Answer!

                   Questions Many Christians Can't Answer!

Skeptics often claim Christians are emotional narrow minded persons who can't give good answers to honest sensible questions about their faith. They fail to understand the situation and may act no different themselves if questioned about their beliefs. Pastors don't conduct Sunday services the same way skeptical college professors conduct their classes. Skeptics usually have a secular background, are ignorant of Bible teaching, have heard only a secular viewpoint, are hostile toward persons of different beliefs, and pride themselves on being intellectually superior. I ask only that you try honestly to be open and fair-minded to a Christian biblical answer to these following questions. Thank you. 
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Why do Christians try to impose their beliefs on others? Some malign Christians as biased, arrogant, intolerant, narrow-minded even dangerous in their beliefs about God and morality. But lets be honest: the politically correct crowd seeks to stifle free speech. Atheists preach science destroys belief in God. Muslims try to impose their law on the world.  National socialists (Nazis) try to force everybody to have all things in common. ISIS beheads everyone who disagrees with them, especially Christians. All these groups think they are right and fight to control or eliminate the others. It reduces our world to a jungle and us to mere animals in a power struggle for evolutionary survival of the fittest. Instead of working for the common good, it seems people today care only for their special interests. Isn't this making our world increasingly insane, dangerous, and diabolically evil?
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Christians believe that we are created in God's image with dignity, and equality, thus entitled to respect, freedom, peaceful discussion and negotiation. That's what made America great! Only Christians have historical eyewitness evidences how a real God has acted in our real world that provides the basis we need for a rational world, absolute truth, authority, justice, peace, love, empirical science, and hope for life after death. Could the Bible be right that those who hate God love death (Proverbs 8:36). I believe honest, open minded persons willing to look at the evidence will see it far superior to any alternative.
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 How Then Can a Loving God Send Good People to Hell? This question is loaded with many unfair assumptions like the question: Have you beat your wife lately? What is a loving God? What do you mean by good people? Is it really God that sends people to Hell, or could it be their choice?
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 God as Creator is the only being who is good and loving. His standard is absolute perfection (Psalm 25:8; Matt. 5:48; 19:17).  We are evil doers who can't attain His perfect standard (Rom. 3:10, 23). PLEASE BE HONEST AND THINK THIS THROUGH. Love seeks the good of people; evil is the defect that destroys good as a broken arm, blindness, hate instead of love. UNDERSTAND; First, if evil were allowed into heaven, it would spread and contaminate everything, like a disease it would destroy Heaven. Second, if there's no Hell and we rebellious sinners are allowed into Heaven, then morality is meaningless---no matter what we believe or do results are the same. Third, we have a conscience to discern right and wrong and God gives us the choice to trust Him and His way, or go our own way living apart from Him. This gives us dignity, and freedom--we're neither animals nor robots. Finally, knowing we can't live perfect lives, God provided a way to know Him giving His sinless Son Jesus to bear our just punishment--what greater display of love can there be? We can be forgiven, cleansed, and made fit for Heaven in right relationship with Him. THAT'S GOD'S WAY--But it's the choice each of us must make--Jesus and Heaven, Or our selfish rebellious way and Hell. Read the Gospel of John carefully and you'll see it's taught a hundred times!
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But Why Are Christians Such Hypocrites? Can we view this issue with some openness of mind? Does anybody live consistently with what they believe or claim to believe? Can our different beliefs make us hyper critical of others who don't believe as we do? Are we prejudiced for some reason, and don't we put others down to make us feel good/prideful? Do we know for sure they even are Christians? Anyone can go to a church, carry a Bible, even serve in a church office and not be a real believer. Nobody is perfect according to the Bible, so that's why we all need Jesus to save us. If we search our own heart and pray for the hypocrites instead of condemning them, we might help them, and be more humane ourselves.
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Must a Person Be A Church Member To Go To Heaven? Let's be realistic about this. Some persons are simply unable to walk and can't go to a local church. In many areas there is no gospel church nor Christian believers to fellowship with. In some areas, persons dare not attend a Christian church for fear of persecution and death. Some hear the news of the Savior and trust him in their dying moments. Some churches have forsaken the faith and don't even preach Jesus is Savior. But we should join with other true believers when possible to be informed, encouraged and strengthen in faith. We can learn and/or share with other believers by radio, television, email, home Bible studies. The thief on the cross next to Jesus acknowledged his sin and received the Lord's promise of Heaven while dying on the cross. What's most important is that we look to the Lamb of God who alone can take away our sin (John 1:29)
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Consider these words of God's apostle (sent one) Peter. "There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 "He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and love what is right." First Peter 2:24 "Christ suffered for our sins for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. First Peter 3:18. Just having our name on some church register doesn't change our sinful hearts to love Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We could join a church and be a hypocrite who cares nothing at all that Jesus died to pay for the sins we committed or God's way to make us clean and acceptable to Him.
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Are Some Persons Predestined to Heaven and Others to Hell? Yes, in one sense from God's perspective. The Bible says, "I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things that are not yet done (Isaiah 46:10).  Our Creator of the space-time universe existed before time and exists outside of time. But He everywhere sustains the universe so He knows all that takes place. For him everything is fixed, determined, certain. This means He knows our every thought, word, and deed in advance and if we will become believers. God doesn't force His way on us, but lovingly invites us to Him. So it's our choice to receive Jesus and Heaven, or reject Him and spend eternity in the self-inflicted torment and darkness of Hell. See John 3:16-20, 36. Won't you say, Lord Jesus as an unfit sinner, I trust you now to save me and be your child from now on. 
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Are We The Terminal Generation?  We don't know the exact year, month, date, or hour when Jesus will return to take His true believers to be with Him forever (Mark 13:32; John 14:1-3). But He will rapture His church (1 Thess. 4:16-18, 1 Cor. 15:51-52). Then, God will judge this rebellious rejecting world like never before. If this tribulation were not cut short, nobody would survive (Matt.24:21-22). After that Jesus will return to earth to reign as King of kings over the world in Jerusalem as the Tanakh or O.T. prophets foretold (Daniel 7:27; Rom. 11:26-27; Rev. 20:1-4). Then, the final great white judgment and the New Heaven and Earth. Praise God!
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How Can Christians Believe Such Things?

                  How Can Christians Believe Such Things?

Don't people have the right to question Christian beliefs? I'm suspicious of any religion that forbids or threatens harm for asking questions. How else are we to learn the truth? Such religions it seems must have a bad background and false and dangerous teachings they want to hide. It's true hostile deceived people can harm honest questioners. But Bible Christianity invites honest thinking people to question it freely without fear because it gives evidence of being God's truth. Let me briefly address two Bible issues many people understand little or nothing about, or may have heard lies.. See my other articles for other questions and fuller discussion. God bless.

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1. Isn't being good the way to a good God and a good Heaven? That seems so logical and true, but it assumes a host of false notions people never consider. It assume God's goodness means he approves things we think good, and disapproves things we think bad. It assumes our selfish prideful desires are normal and not displeasing to God. It assumes Christianity is just a bunch of unnecessary rules that spoil our fun. It assumes our teachers, and parental examples were right. Now please consider God's teachings and reasons. "We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6).

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This is the relationship God wants to have with us now and forever. "But 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). Now why is there no law against these things? Could it be that people know this would be the ideal world with a God who loves us? It's God's desire we have a kind of Heaven on earth in relationship with Him.
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I hope this is not the way our Creator and Owner may see you in the day of judgment. "When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sensual 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. Let me tell you . . .that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God" (Galatians  5:19-21). Many people call these lifestyles fun. They don't realize they're rejecting the standard of God who loves them. Their choice of rejecting His offer of love is an eternity of torment in darkness, loneliness, guilt and shame--it's called Hell.  God loves us enough to tell us the truth!

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2. How can a loving God send anyone to Hell?  Could there be some false assumptions here too? Does love mean it's alright to do anything we desire without reprimand or punishment? Should everybody be allowed to run the streets robbing, rapeing, killing people they don't like, or for fun? Is it a mistake to put such people in jail? How do you know there is life after death? Should such people be allowed to do their thing in Heaven? What is the meaning of justice and does it have anything to do with love? Is it better to allow one person's feelings rule over the good and safety of all others? Isn't hell God's torture chamber? Is there a way to avoid hell? Can you put your feelings aside for a moment and be courageously honest and open to Bible teaching?

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(1) Nothing we think, believe, or do ultimately matters if death means we cease to exist.  That's a meaningless insane world going nowhere. We have no dignity, freedom, purpose, or hope. We're just  born, struggle to exist, reproduce, and die, lights out. But if there's a Heaven we can gain and a Hell we can avoid, then human dignity, freedom, ethics, and everything else comes together, makes sense, and shows an ultimate purpose.

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(2) A loving God doesn't send anyone to Hell-- we sinners send ourselves by rejecting God's loving offer of salvation. True love invites; it doesn't force itself upon us. People go to Hell by their own choice of preferring their way to God's way and rejecting the Savior. "Anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life, but remains under God's angry judgment" (John 3:36). God is very patient with us inviting us to trust in Him to save us from our sins. "He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent" (2 Peter 3:9 NLT).
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(3) The afterlife in Hell is not torturous fire, but fiery torments. It's  memories like described above in Gal. 5:19-21). It's aloneness, darkness, hate, guilt, shame, regret, lost opportunities, God's wrath, and a hopeless forever.  Hell was created for the devil and his angels which are evil spirits. So, Hell's undying worms aren't consumed in physical fire, but tormented with burning evil passions. Hell's lake of fire is degrees of torment-- serial killers tormented worse than liars. Sins in life decides degrees of torments in Hell (Luke 12:48; Rom.2:6). Love applied socially is God's truth and justice: "Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant" (Gal. 6:7) 
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(4) Unrepentant God rejecting people can't be allowed to corrupt God's perfect Heaven. Believers in Christ aren't perfect, but shouldn't their sincere faithful efforts be rewarded? Bible says they will be given crowns and wear white robes of purity. Not their righteousness, but Christ's who they trusted in to save them. Now the worm is not consumed, so the Bible doesn't teach annihilation of the unrepentant wicked. Considering that God rejectors despised His ways on earth and mocked His worship, blessings, and praise, so why would they be any different in Heaven? They would enjoy turning Heaven into their kind of Hell! So wouldn't it be most unloving of God to allow them to destroy Heaven?
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(5) Jesus, the world's only perfect man suffered for nothing on the cross if we sinners would go to Heaven anyway.  "For the wages of sin is death (spiritual & eternal), but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends" (John 15:13). Jesus did this for us as his enemies leading shameful lives. "If keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die" (Gal. 2:21). The whole Bible from Genesis 2:15 until Revelation 22:21 in many ways teaches Jesus blood and righteousness is humanities only means a loving God provided for us sinners to come into relationship with God and be made fit to dwell in His perfect Heaven. Do you know Him?

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Have you ever felt empty longings that there must be something greater than you've known in life? We need water, water exists. Do you seek inner peace and ultimate purpose? Have you sensed  Someone calling you to relationship with Him? Could trusting your soul into Jesus care be what you need? Pray, Lord, I'm an unworthy sinner, but I trust You now and forever to be my Savior, Lord, and Guide until You come for me, or death takes me to You. Now use me Lord to do those things that really count for now and for eternity.
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The Ultimate Cause of Human Sufferings!

                 The Ultimate Cause of Human Sufferings!

The Ultimate Cause of Human Sufferings is our Human Free Will Rejection of God. Even those who claim science shows we are programmed expect you to freely believe their arguments against free will-- Say, isn't this being a bit hypocritical? Free will means our mind can weigh alternatives and make rational choices. No free will makes us either instinctual animals or programmed machines without dignity, freedom, purpose, destiny, or hope. We struggle to survive, reproduce, and then our lights go out. 
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Our acts then can't be either praised or blamed, and all sense of responsibility degenerates into lawless anarchy and warfare until some strong man and group usurp control and dictates who lives or dies by their rules. That seems to be the way we're headed.

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We reject the God made known to us in creation, conscience, and Christ. Most scientists today admit that, like a wound-up clock, the universe is running down. That means it's not permanent, but had a beginning and will have an end. Nothing (no non existent thing), can create itself, and any beginning thing must have a cause.

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What then is required of the sourse or cause of the universe's origion? It must exist prior to and independently of the space, time, and matter it created. It would be outside time, eternal, and unchanging, thus self-existent. An immense universe of energy too, would require its sourse be a power that exists throughout the universe. And the source would be an infinite mind and will to account for things showin undeniable specific complex design of means adapted to ends. No mindless force, nor random process, can be the source of our universe.  Just as red, white, and blue, confetti thrown from an airplane billions of times for billions years is unlikely to form the American flag.

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Creation's source, then seems to exhibit these characteristics. The source of the universe's origion is self-existent, eternal, immutable, immaterial, outside time, everywhere present, and an infinitely powerful, everpresent, intelligent mind and will. Now, if we consult the Bible with an honest, open mind, isn't this exactly the sort of things its describes about God as creation's Source. Genesis 1:1; Exodus 3:14; Col. 1:15-17; John 1:1-4, and multitudes of others?

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Can non living mindless chemicals organize themselves into all the specified complex life forms we see on our planet? Didn't Louis Pasture and others demonstrate long ago that life only comes from life? Isn't there incredible genetic steps mindless molecules by random process must overcome? Isn't what we actually know, biologically, that mutations are usually destructive, are weeded out, and would require a multiple simultaneous changes to occur at once to make real permanent change? Isn't the supposed genetic tree an unproved "evolutionary gaps argument?" Do extinct dinosaur bones prove anything more than that some animals died out as some are becoming extinct today? What do artist drawings of a monkey becoming an erect man prove other than a lack of real evidence to support a dogmatic theory?  We see every day that animals reproducee after their own kind as dogs birth verities of dogs, but never horses? We know life forms are genetically programmed to have limits. 

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And what does our human conscience showing compassion, guilt, and shame mean? Yes, we can harden our hearts to the point of indifference, yet conscience seems to be a natural, rational, objective trait in everyone. Everywhere people show moral beliefs saying some acts are not fair, shouldn't happen, etc. We unavoidably make moral judgments. Such moral judgments point to an ultimate standard to judge our behavior as right or wrong. It is a moral law, we feel constrained to make excuses when we break it. We feel guilt and shame when we do. It's not like mathematics, but discovered, not invented. We may risk our own lives in a sense of duty to save others. Acts of genocide and rape are regarded as evil in all cultures. And we condemn others who would cheat, steal, kill and betray us.
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 Christians say this moral standard or law doesn't make sense unless there is a higher Moral Standard we're all responsible to. The forces of nature or nothing in the natural world can know our actions or motives. Atheists admit evils abound but nothing can we absolutely right or wrong if limited, conflicting human opinion of dying persons are all we have as a basis. Science can only describe what is, not tell us how things ought to be. Monist religions that claim everything is God have no basis to say anything is really good or evil. The only thing that makes sense is that the infinite Creator God exists as our Moral Standard and Righteous Lawgiver. He would know all our acts and motives, and could hold us accountable. Yes! a Righteous Judge is scary! And still leaves crucial questions unanswered.
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A Creator God can explain the universe as rational, understandable, accounts for specified complex life forms,  for our human conscience, and does make sense of so much of our world. But even supposing this God exists, the big unanswered questions are: Does he love us? Can he make himself know to us in personal relationship? Is there hope we human beings don't just reproduce and die, lights out?
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Only Biblical Christianity can answer all those questions affirmatively in the person of Jesus Christ. "God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son (the sinless God-man), so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes (surrenders themselves in truth). But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact. God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants (John 3:16-21). "For the Son of man came to seek and save those who are lost (Luke 19:10)." Only Jesus arose from the dead, we who trust ourselves to Him will arise too and live with him forever. I love you Lord, praise you, and thank you Lord.
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Dear reader friend, from our first parents unto today the ultimate cause of suffering is our choice to reject God. He offers us dignity & destiny, not of compulsion, but of love. Eternal fulfillment are offered you in relationship with God in Christ now and forever in Heaven. But if you prefer your way, the Bible calls it darkness, torment, and Hell.  God  loves you. Jesus died to save you. Trust in God's love and light. Won't you say, "I trust you now Lord Jesus to forgive my sins, save me, and guide me as your child." Now get a Bible to learn God's will for you. Get with God's people for encouragment and ministry. God bless.
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Is Any Human Act Really & Ultimately Right or Wrong?

       Is Any Human Act Really & Ultimately Right or Wrong?

Little Bobby playing in the school sandbox made a beautiful sandcastle. He was so happy and proud of his achievement, he wanted to show it to his friends. Billy made a sandcastle on the other end of the sandbox, but Billy's sandcastle fell in and was ruined. Angrily, Billy stomped over and stepped on Bobby's sandcastle. Bobby was so angry and disappointed, almost to tears. He screamed, "Billy, you're mean. You don't play fair, and I'm gonna tell the teacher." Was Billy wrong to destroy Bobby's sandcastle? Upon what basis would any act of man be ultimately right or wrong?

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What if there's no kind of God? C.S. Lewis points out that people say things like: "How'd you like it if anyone did the same to you?" --"That's my seat, I was there first"-- Leave him alone, he isn't doing you any harm"--"Why should you shove in first?"--"Give me a bit of your orange, I gave you a bit of mine"--"Come on, you promised." People everywhere say such things every day whether young, old, educated, uneducated.  uoo
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Lewis isn't saying people don't mean just that other persons don't please them; they mean there is a standard of behavior they expect others to know and to follow. If others do deny the standard, they are constrained to give some special reason to excuse their bad behavior. So both parties had in mind some kind of law, ethical rule, sense of fair play, or standard of acceptable behavior. But if no kind of God exists, nature is everything, then something within nature must serve as every body's ethical standard.
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Now if man within all of nature is the highest being (no God we know really exists), then whatever moral standard there is must rest on human ideals. It seems the Golden Rule of treat others the way you want them to treat you, would be our ideal guide. But our selfish nature's want to dominate and control things our way. So we fight and destroy each other until some group or strong man gets control. The victors must enslave and kill all who oppose them to keep the peace and maintain their standard. Essentially, it seems we're no different than the perishing animals. This ultimate conclusion of  no God is the atheist humanist ethic and its what we see throughout history.
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What if the universe is God? Eastern religions as Hindus, Buddhists, Taoists, and others as "Christian Science", New Age claim the universe is God (pantheism), and God is the universe (monism). Like different ingredients cooked together in a cake, everything ultimately is the same and the differences are (Maya) illusion. We have multiple lives that take different forms (reincarnations). It's like the crops that come up each spring from the seeds they leave behind (deeds, karma). We are all a part of God and must not help suffering people as that only prolongs their suffering in other lives. But the mindless forces of nature don't know us, guide us, give us dignity, nor moral incentive. Monists may follow some esteemed wise man, worship ancestors, spirits, or do as they please. There is no moral standard, no ethical incentive. Absorption is the escape from the wheel of many lives of misery.

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What if there's only a limited God or gods? Ancient peoples as the Greeks, Romans, Babylonians, believed in many gods and goddesses that evolved out of nature. Their gods are selfish, fight each other, and are limited to their particular people or domain. They really are no better than their human worshippers. There's no assurance their gods care about them or even exist. Persons may show respect for their own tribe or people but not care about others--maybe even be head hunters. So, again, people in themselves have no dignity, ultimate purpose, and death may be relief. It boils down to might makes right--whatever group can get the upper hand  enslaves or kills those below them. 

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What if there's a God who created the universe, then abandoned it? It's called deism and there are good reasons to believe in a Creator God (Read my articles). But does he love us, hear our prayers, guide us, and act in our world to help us. No! Deists claim natures laws tie his hands, so miracles are impossible, which makes such a God irrelevant and belief in him amounts to practical atheism.
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 None of the views above give us a standard of behavior to say Billy mistreated Bobby. Nor do they prove what C.S. Lewis explained, that people everywhere have a common moral understanding of a real right and wrong. Now there is what is called "the natural law ethic." It is that all human beings are born free with dignity, equality, rights to life, liberty, happiness, land ownership, and have ethical incentives. It is supposed to be self-evident and inscribed upon the heart of every human being. The American constitution appeals to this as its basis of government. But if there is no God, no ultimate purpose to life, we are just animals waiting for the extinction of death, how, or on what basis is there to say there is any natural law giving all men dignity, equality, rights and ethical incentives?
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We must get beyond a deist God! If we live, reproduce, and die,--lights out! Life doesn't seem to mean much--we're without dignity, value, and ethical incentive. What we do doesn't really matter. We feel human compassion, guilt, and shame. But they don't make sense, if there's no more to life than just reproduction.  Now we need food, water, and sex, and what we need really exists. We too feel the need for a relationship that can give us forgiveness, acceptance, inner peace, fulness of life, hope,-- this is exactly what converts to faith in Christ say they experience.
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Now there are three great world religions that claim there is an afterlife of rewards or punishments. That adds a new dimension to the mix. These three world religions are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
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Judaism (2,000 B.C. to today), is presented in the Tanakh (O.T.). It records events of God's actions from creation until the Jews return to the land of Israel. It never reads like a fairy tale once upon a time, in some far off land. It discusses events we all experience in real life including our victories and failures. It mentions people, places, events known to history. A timeline can be established to events that correlate with histories in other nations. Miracles and prophecies are discussed that are established by eyewitness testimony and by martyrs. Things critics say never existed, archaeologists have uncovered with their spade. It describes people in rebellion against God and our need of a Messiah/Savior who is to come. But Israel never recognized such a Savior; its temple was destroyed and people again scattered among the nations in unbelief (A.D. 70).
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Christianity (First century until today), picks up where Judaism left off as recorded in the New Testament. Christians claim Jesus was the Messiah/Savior and King that Israel rejected. Jesus was actually the God-man who walked among us claiming and showing he was God by fulfilling  prophecies and by miracles. Yet, the people rejected him, and crucified him. Ancient prophets foretold of his life both as suffering for people's sins and as reigning as Israel's King. The final proof was that Jesus arose from the dead as he said he would. His disciples went out to establish the church and tell the world to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to receive eternal life. Jesus promised to return to judge humanity and set up the kingdom promised throughout the O.T. One day all evil will be defeated and true believers in Jesus will dwell with him forever while those who want their way, and not Jesus, have their wish in a place separate from Heaven called Hell. The infinite God is one essence in three persons: the  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God makes himself known to persons who really want Him and is both loving and just, justice being love shown in society as preventing evil.
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Islam (A.D. 622 until today). It teaches there's only one God, Allah, and there are 124,000 prophets, but Muhammad is the seal or final one. All claims to other Gods is blasphemy (shirk). Islam is based upon Muhammad's claim that the Angel Gabriel revealed the holy book, the Qu'ran only to him alone in a cave. The Qu'ran reveals Islam's laws which can be abrogated  or superseded by later laws. Like Christians, Muslims believe in angels, Heaven, and Hell. People are basically good and salvation is by doing more good deeds that bad ones, fighting for Islam, and if Allah wills. Muhammad lived centuries after the Bible, partially understood some of its teaching which didn't seem reasonable to him and claimed its teachings had been corrupted. Ethics is doing what Muhammad did and anything that promotes submission to Islam.  

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How Then Can We Know Human Acts To Be Either Right Or Wrong? Feelings of human compassion, guilt, and shame require the Golden Rule ethic, which can be understood universally. The natural law ethic is not self-evident to millions of people of no Christian belief.  If life is only to be born, a fight to survive, and we cease to exist in death, it isn't worth much, and ALL our desires then seem reasonable.The American constitution was written by men educated in Christian schools of that time, who were active Christians in churches, and understood the love of God in Christ and the freedom, hope, and dignity it gives to humanity. Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin were deists, but still influenced by Christianity. So its a lie to represent the American constitution as the product of deists. Biblical Christians say there is a moral standard only because a moral rational God and Legislator has made himself known to us in our conscience, in the Bible, in history, and especially in Christ. Then, everything we do counts, and we will receive our just reward when we stand before our Judge, the Lord Jesus.
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This world is not perfect and we're all sinners. The Lord Jesus will save all who trust in Him. He offers us forgiveness of sin, His love and guidance, and will reward our service and he may return anytime. We will still face human weakness and problems, but He is with us. Won't you say, "Lord Jesus, I trust you now to save me and to live in your love until I meet you when you come." So be it.  Now share your new Christian faith with others.

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