The Christian
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis
The uniqueness of Christianity is that it is God who is reaching down to us. Paul writing to the Romans said,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16,17
Paul writing to the Ephesians states,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9.
All of what I have quoted above is about God reaching down to man. By the Christian way of thinking we can never be good enough to deserve to be with God. Yet God made it possible.
John saying,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:12,13.
The decision dear reader is yours. Will you accept the salvation God offered through Jesus Christ or not.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 6 August 2014
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
Paul to the Athenians and you
Paul to the Athenians and you
Over the last while I have quoted many times from the Apostle Paul here I give to you the reader his speech to the Athenians.
I believe that it is as relevant today as it was when he spoke it. I ask you to decide what you think in the same way those gathered at the Areopagus did,
“A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
At that, Paul left the Council.
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others
Act 17:18-34
What do you think.
Think about it?
Over the last while I have quoted many times from the Apostle Paul here I give to you the reader his speech to the Athenians.
I believe that it is as relevant today as it was when he spoke it. I ask you to decide what you think in the same way those gathered at the Areopagus did,
“A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
At that, Paul left the Council.
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others
Act 17:18-34
What do you think.
Think about it?
Monday, 4 August 2014
Not a Comfortable Faith
Not a comfortable faith
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”
Matthew 16:24-27
C.S. Lewis wrote,
“I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.”
C.S. Lewis
Some people have told me my faith in Christ is a crutch. They are wrong. I came to the realization that Christ was real and that I needed him in my life when I was nineteen.
When I became a Christian I wanted all my friends to know. The majority rejected me. I was essentially left with those I’d met in church. Actually it didn’t really bother me.
If my old friends couldn’t accept my new way of life that was fine by me.
My experience in becoming a Christian is nothing compared to those in may parts of the world. They can face jail and or torture or even death without trial,
Kelly James Clark writing in the World Post said,
“In early November, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world." Although met with predictable criticism, Rupert Short's recent research report for Civitas UK confirms Merkel's claim -- we may not want to hear it, but Christianity is in peril, like no other religion. While this is a contest no one wants to win, Short shows that "Christians are targeted more than any other body of believers." Short is the author of the recently published Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack. He is concerned that "200 million Christians (10 percent of the global total) are socially disadvantaged, harassed or actively oppressed for their beliefs....”
So in light of what Kelly James Clark writes would I or anyone else become a Christian? Because we firmly believe Jesus is the Son of God. God incarnate and as Jesus himself put it,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
C.S. Lewis said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis
But if it is false why do governments and other groups persecute Christians so.
Think about it.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”
Matthew 16:24-27
C.S. Lewis wrote,
“I didn’t go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don’t recommend Christianity.”
C.S. Lewis
Some people have told me my faith in Christ is a crutch. They are wrong. I came to the realization that Christ was real and that I needed him in my life when I was nineteen.
When I became a Christian I wanted all my friends to know. The majority rejected me. I was essentially left with those I’d met in church. Actually it didn’t really bother me.
If my old friends couldn’t accept my new way of life that was fine by me.
My experience in becoming a Christian is nothing compared to those in may parts of the world. They can face jail and or torture or even death without trial,
Kelly James Clark writing in the World Post said,
“In early November, German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared that Christianity is "the most persecuted religion in the world." Although met with predictable criticism, Rupert Short's recent research report for Civitas UK confirms Merkel's claim -- we may not want to hear it, but Christianity is in peril, like no other religion. While this is a contest no one wants to win, Short shows that "Christians are targeted more than any other body of believers." Short is the author of the recently published Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack. He is concerned that "200 million Christians (10 percent of the global total) are socially disadvantaged, harassed or actively oppressed for their beliefs....”
So in light of what Kelly James Clark writes would I or anyone else become a Christian? Because we firmly believe Jesus is the Son of God. God incarnate and as Jesus himself put it,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
C.S. Lewis said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis
But if it is false why do governments and other groups persecute Christians so.
Think about it.
Sunday, 3 August 2014
To the Atheist
To the Atheist
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.”
C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain.
The Bible does not debate whether there is a God or not. It makes it clear there is a God. In the very first verse it states,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
It make it clear there is a God and He created the heavens and the earth.
In the New Testament the Apostle John states,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....”
John 1:1-4.
John even goes one step further saying that the individual can become children of God.
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:12,13.
Then he makes an even more incredible statement,
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14.
God came into His creation.
If you think about it from a purely natural way of thinking the above statements from the Bible are bazaar. Yet Christians believe them to be true.
Christianity and Judaism from which it came truly believe in a Creator God. A God who wants a relationship with His people.
A Jewish writer wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
Abba Hillel Silver
Every civilization since the dawn of creation has believed in an after life and a God. Many civilizations had a whole hosts of god’s. The Greeks going as far as erecting an alter to an unknown God.
Without God without God in my estimation life is meaningless.
I know there are many atheist out there that will never agree with me but I hope at the very least they will consider what I have written.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis
Think about it.
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.”
C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain.
The Bible does not debate whether there is a God or not. It makes it clear there is a God. In the very first verse it states,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
It make it clear there is a God and He created the heavens and the earth.
In the New Testament the Apostle John states,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....”
John 1:1-4.
John even goes one step further saying that the individual can become children of God.
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:12,13.
Then he makes an even more incredible statement,
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14.
God came into His creation.
If you think about it from a purely natural way of thinking the above statements from the Bible are bazaar. Yet Christians believe them to be true.
Christianity and Judaism from which it came truly believe in a Creator God. A God who wants a relationship with His people.
A Jewish writer wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
Abba Hillel Silver
Every civilization since the dawn of creation has believed in an after life and a God. Many civilizations had a whole hosts of god’s. The Greeks going as far as erecting an alter to an unknown God.
Without God without God in my estimation life is meaningless.
I know there are many atheist out there that will never agree with me but I hope at the very least they will consider what I have written.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis
Think about it.
To the Atheist
To the Atheist
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.”
C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain.
The Bible does not debate whether there is a God or not. It makes it clear there is a God. In the very first verse it states,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
It make it clear there is a God and He created the heavens and the earth.
In the New Testament the Apostle John states,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....”
John 1:1-4.
John even goes one step further saying that the individual can become children of God.
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:12,13.
Then he makes an even more incredible statement,
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14.
God came into His creation.
If you think about it from a purely natural way of thinking the above statements from the Bible are bazaar. Yet Christians believe them to be true.
Christianity and Judaism from which it came truly believe in a Creator God. A God who wants a relationship with His people.
A Jewish writer wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
Abba Hillel Silver
Every civilization since the dawn of creation has believed in an after life and a God. Many civilizations had a whole hosts of god’s. The Greeks going as far as erecting an alter to an unknown God.
Without God without God in my estimation life is meaningless.
I know there are many atheist out there that will never agree with me but I hope at the very least they will consider what I have written.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis
Think about it.
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.”
C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain.
The Bible does not debate whether there is a God or not. It makes it clear there is a God. In the very first verse it states,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
It make it clear there is a God and He created the heavens and the earth.
In the New Testament the Apostle John states,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....”
John 1:1-4.
John even goes one step further saying that the individual can become children of God.
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John 1:12,13.
Then he makes an even more incredible statement,
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:14.
God came into His creation.
If you think about it from a purely natural way of thinking the above statements from the Bible are bazaar. Yet Christians believe them to be true.
Christianity and Judaism from which it came truly believe in a Creator God. A God who wants a relationship with His people.
A Jewish writer wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
Abba Hillel Silver
Every civilization since the dawn of creation has believed in an after life and a God. Many civilizations had a whole hosts of god’s. The Greeks going as far as erecting an alter to an unknown God.
Without God without God in my estimation life is meaningless.
I know there are many atheist out there that will never agree with me but I hope at the very least they will consider what I have written.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis
Think about it.
Saturday, 2 August 2014
A point from Paul's Pen
A point from Paul's Pen
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:12-20.
In Corinth there were people who believed that there was no resurrection from the dead. Just as there are today.
Paul notes that if this is so then our faith as Christians is useless.
The bedrock on which Christianity is based is on the death, his physical resurrection and ascension of Christ into heaven.
Christ died for our sins. He rose conquering death and sin and he ascended to be at the right hand of the father where he will one day judge the world.
Our beliefs as Christians are a three legged stool remove one leg and our beliefs fall apart and all the Christians throughout the ages have believed for nothing.
The beliefs of Christianity are either completely true or they are potentially the biggest lie ever perpetuated on mankind.
Christianity presents to the world the facts that Jesus is the Son of God. That he is indeed God. That died for our sins. That he rose from the dead conquering death and that he ascended into heaven.
Christians asks people to believe that. Do you?
Think about it.
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:12-20.
In Corinth there were people who believed that there was no resurrection from the dead. Just as there are today.
Paul notes that if this is so then our faith as Christians is useless.
The bedrock on which Christianity is based is on the death, his physical resurrection and ascension of Christ into heaven.
Christ died for our sins. He rose conquering death and sin and he ascended to be at the right hand of the father where he will one day judge the world.
Our beliefs as Christians are a three legged stool remove one leg and our beliefs fall apart and all the Christians throughout the ages have believed for nothing.
The beliefs of Christianity are either completely true or they are potentially the biggest lie ever perpetuated on mankind.
Christianity presents to the world the facts that Jesus is the Son of God. That he is indeed God. That died for our sins. That he rose from the dead conquering death and that he ascended into heaven.
Christians asks people to believe that. Do you?
Think about it.
Friday, 1 August 2014
The Apostle Paul's Testimony
The Apostle Paul’s Testimony
“Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.”
1Corinthians 15:1-11.
Here is what Paul believed. Written above by the hand of the Apostle Paul is what he believed to be true.
He makes some very important points
1/ By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
If we are not saved by the grace of God through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then Christianity is of no effect what we believe is worthless.
2/ that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day...
Paul truly believed that Christ died for our sins. That he died, was buried and rose on the third day.
3/ he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
Paul also bears witness that the resurrected Jesus appeared to Peter and the twelve apostles. That he appeared to five hundred others, AND that at the time of his writing this most of those who’d seed the resurrected Christ were still alive.
4/ he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
Paul also notes that he appeared to James, all the apostles and him personally.
For Paul to lie about such a thing when writing this could have been potentially disastrous for the early church.
All it would take to disprove Paul and the early church’s credibility would be for one of those who had witnessed Christ’s resurrection to deny they did. And as far as we know no one did.
Many over the centuries, even up to the present day deny there even was a Jesus but the facts prove otherwise.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis
Think about it.
“Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.”
1Corinthians 15:1-11.
Here is what Paul believed. Written above by the hand of the Apostle Paul is what he believed to be true.
He makes some very important points
1/ By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
If we are not saved by the grace of God through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then Christianity is of no effect what we believe is worthless.
2/ that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day...
Paul truly believed that Christ died for our sins. That he died, was buried and rose on the third day.
3/ he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
Paul also bears witness that the resurrected Jesus appeared to Peter and the twelve apostles. That he appeared to five hundred others, AND that at the time of his writing this most of those who’d seed the resurrected Christ were still alive.
4/ he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
Paul also notes that he appeared to James, all the apostles and him personally.
For Paul to lie about such a thing when writing this could have been potentially disastrous for the early church.
All it would take to disprove Paul and the early church’s credibility would be for one of those who had witnessed Christ’s resurrection to deny they did. And as far as we know no one did.
Many over the centuries, even up to the present day deny there even was a Jesus but the facts prove otherwise.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis
Think about it.
Thursday, 31 July 2014
The Devil Can
The Devil can
“The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.”
William Shakespeare
When I talk to none Christians I quite often shock them with the fact I feel most church congregations especially here in Canada and the United States are filled with none Christians.
In the case of some church congregations the majority of the congregation may not even be Christian.
I would even go as far as saying the pastors of some churches are not Christian. That also goes for some evangelist and televangelist also.
Just because someone spouts scripture in what seems like a logical way doesn’t mean that they are Christian.
Even if the words they say are the truth with respect to Christ doesn’t mean to say they are Christians.
In Matthew 8:28-32 demons tell the truth about Jesus calling him the Son of God.
There are many ministers and evangelist out there that make scripture say what they want it to say.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
2Timothy 4:3,4.
This is happening today and it is becoming more prevalent in the media. Sadly especially in the evangelical world, those who claim to be fundamentalist are not standing up to false teachers.
There is a wide range of interpretations of the bible. That’s understandable and those interpretations can lead to some strong discussions.
The nice thing about being a true Christian is that we take the bible serious enough to want to discuss even argue over what we believe it says.
Such discussions are healthy for any faith.
The basics however are not up for debate.
Basics such as,
Jesus is the Son of God he is God incarnate and the only way to heaven
The apostle John writing,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God....
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
John 1:1-4, 12-14
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
That Salvation and Eternal life is a gift from God no one you can work for but one you must accept freely.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
John also tells us we must confess our sins directly to God,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1John 1:9-10
Also key to being a Christian is Love of our fellow man. Jesus saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Matthew 5:43-47
And the love Christians must show is unconditional Paul defining Love as,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
These things for me is what it is to be a true Christian.
Think about it.
C
“The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose.”
William Shakespeare
When I talk to none Christians I quite often shock them with the fact I feel most church congregations especially here in Canada and the United States are filled with none Christians.
In the case of some church congregations the majority of the congregation may not even be Christian.
I would even go as far as saying the pastors of some churches are not Christian. That also goes for some evangelist and televangelist also.
Just because someone spouts scripture in what seems like a logical way doesn’t mean that they are Christian.
Even if the words they say are the truth with respect to Christ doesn’t mean to say they are Christians.
In Matthew 8:28-32 demons tell the truth about Jesus calling him the Son of God.
There are many ministers and evangelist out there that make scripture say what they want it to say.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
2Timothy 4:3,4.
This is happening today and it is becoming more prevalent in the media. Sadly especially in the evangelical world, those who claim to be fundamentalist are not standing up to false teachers.
There is a wide range of interpretations of the bible. That’s understandable and those interpretations can lead to some strong discussions.
The nice thing about being a true Christian is that we take the bible serious enough to want to discuss even argue over what we believe it says.
Such discussions are healthy for any faith.
The basics however are not up for debate.
Basics such as,
Jesus is the Son of God he is God incarnate and the only way to heaven
The apostle John writing,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God....
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
John 1:1-4, 12-14
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
That Salvation and Eternal life is a gift from God no one you can work for but one you must accept freely.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9
John also tells us we must confess our sins directly to God,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
1John 1:9-10
Also key to being a Christian is Love of our fellow man. Jesus saying,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Matthew 5:43-47
And the love Christians must show is unconditional Paul defining Love as,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
These things for me is what it is to be a true Christian.
Think about it.
C
Wednesday, 30 July 2014
A thought from Gandhi
A thought from Gandhi
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi I believe from his perspective was right. He undoubtedly had seen the worst of the British empire. He had like many in the world today seen people who passed for Christians but were not.
When I think of Gandhi’s statement I think of the Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Gay, and Trangendered community of today.
Can you imagine how someone from the LGBT community feels when they see high profile Christians in the media trying to restrict their rights. Condemning them calling them sinners and not only that inferring that they have a “special” sin.
Those calling themselves Christians in some African nations are supporting laws that imprison homosexuals.
Such actions don’t reflect the ideals of Jesus. Jesus was all inclusive. He was accused of sitting with sinners and tax collectors by the religious leaders of his day.
Jesus was all inclusive. To Jesus the individual was important not whether they’d sinned or not. We all sin, tax collectors, religious leaders and Christians. Jesus knew this that’s why Jesus reached out to all people.
Matthew records,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:10-13
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
1Timothy 1:15,16
Jesus came to save the sinners. Paul writes,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Romans 3:23.
By all Paul meant all. Every man and woman on the face of the earth, Christians included. We are all guilty of falling short of God’s ideals for our life.
Sadly there are far too many in the world today claiming to be Christians that are not. They have fallen away from the faith and developed a self-righteousness of their own.
To these people I believe Jesus will say,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 7:22,23.
Christians have no right to judge others Jesus states,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
True Christians will not judge,
James writing to believers states,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”
James 2:12,13.
Christians are obligated to show mercy and love to all people.
The Apostle Paul states,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Sadly Christians do not always speak out, at least publicly especially against those high profile evangelist and ministers who are judging others. Thus such people still drag the name of Jesus through the mud.
The soul job of a Christian is to tell the world about the saving grace of Jesus.
I for one am willing to speak anywhere at any time to anyone about the Love of Jesus.
Something I believe all Christians should be willing to do.
Think about it.
“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi I believe from his perspective was right. He undoubtedly had seen the worst of the British empire. He had like many in the world today seen people who passed for Christians but were not.
When I think of Gandhi’s statement I think of the Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Gay, and Trangendered community of today.
Can you imagine how someone from the LGBT community feels when they see high profile Christians in the media trying to restrict their rights. Condemning them calling them sinners and not only that inferring that they have a “special” sin.
Those calling themselves Christians in some African nations are supporting laws that imprison homosexuals.
Such actions don’t reflect the ideals of Jesus. Jesus was all inclusive. He was accused of sitting with sinners and tax collectors by the religious leaders of his day.
Jesus was all inclusive. To Jesus the individual was important not whether they’d sinned or not. We all sin, tax collectors, religious leaders and Christians. Jesus knew this that’s why Jesus reached out to all people.
Matthew records,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:10-13
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
1Timothy 1:15,16
Jesus came to save the sinners. Paul writes,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Romans 3:23.
By all Paul meant all. Every man and woman on the face of the earth, Christians included. We are all guilty of falling short of God’s ideals for our life.
Sadly there are far too many in the world today claiming to be Christians that are not. They have fallen away from the faith and developed a self-righteousness of their own.
To these people I believe Jesus will say,
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 7:22,23.
Christians have no right to judge others Jesus states,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1,2.
True Christians will not judge,
James writing to believers states,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”
James 2:12,13.
Christians are obligated to show mercy and love to all people.
The Apostle Paul states,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Sadly Christians do not always speak out, at least publicly especially against those high profile evangelist and ministers who are judging others. Thus such people still drag the name of Jesus through the mud.
The soul job of a Christian is to tell the world about the saving grace of Jesus.
I for one am willing to speak anywhere at any time to anyone about the Love of Jesus.
Something I believe all Christians should be willing to do.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 29 July 2014
God Exists
God Exists
“I have not seen the robin but I know he is there because I heard him singing through my window from the tree-top outside.
I have not seen God. But I have looked at my child’s eyes, and have been overwhelmed by the miracle of unfolding life.
I have watched the trees bedeck themselves with new garbs of green in the spring, and have been stirred by the miracle of continual rebirth.
I have looked at the stars, and have been overcome by the miracle of the grandeur and majesty of the universe.
I know that God exists, because I have heard the song of His presence from all the tree-tops of creation.”
Ben Zion Bokser
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1
I enjoy going on the Hubble heritage sight and seeing the images taken by the hubble space telescope. They are incredible there is a magnificent beauty about them.
The things photographed and studied prove just how fantastic the universe is. Astronomers I’ve spoken to tell me they can use precise mathematical models to study the movements of the galaxies, planets, and stars.
This to me does not just happen by chance. There must be a creator God behind it.
People say well you can’t see or feel or touch God therefore he cannot exist.
I knew there was a robin nesting in the trees in my back yard long before I seen it.
I heard it’s call, I seen evidence of it in the fact it had built a nest in the tree. It was most certainly there but it was weeks before I seen it.
I know God exists because I look into the heavens and see all that he has made. I look at the trees and flowers in my yard and marvel at their complexity.
I see all of life hear on earth balanced so perfectly that we might exist. That’s how I know God exists.
If I’m wrong I have nothing to fear if I’m right those who think I’m wrong have a lot to worry about.
Think about it.
“I have not seen the robin but I know he is there because I heard him singing through my window from the tree-top outside.
I have not seen God. But I have looked at my child’s eyes, and have been overwhelmed by the miracle of unfolding life.
I have watched the trees bedeck themselves with new garbs of green in the spring, and have been stirred by the miracle of continual rebirth.
I have looked at the stars, and have been overcome by the miracle of the grandeur and majesty of the universe.
I know that God exists, because I have heard the song of His presence from all the tree-tops of creation.”
Ben Zion Bokser
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1
I enjoy going on the Hubble heritage sight and seeing the images taken by the hubble space telescope. They are incredible there is a magnificent beauty about them.
The things photographed and studied prove just how fantastic the universe is. Astronomers I’ve spoken to tell me they can use precise mathematical models to study the movements of the galaxies, planets, and stars.
This to me does not just happen by chance. There must be a creator God behind it.
People say well you can’t see or feel or touch God therefore he cannot exist.
I knew there was a robin nesting in the trees in my back yard long before I seen it.
I heard it’s call, I seen evidence of it in the fact it had built a nest in the tree. It was most certainly there but it was weeks before I seen it.
I know God exists because I look into the heavens and see all that he has made. I look at the trees and flowers in my yard and marvel at their complexity.
I see all of life hear on earth balanced so perfectly that we might exist. That’s how I know God exists.
If I’m wrong I have nothing to fear if I’m right those who think I’m wrong have a lot to worry about.
Think about it.
Monday, 28 July 2014
I Could
I could
I could quote the Bible from now to the day I die and I know I will not convince some people that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
There are those out there that claim he never existed. Those who would debunk the experts and historians who verify that Jesus did in fact live.
To those who say Jesus never existed. That he was a fictitious figure. I would ask am I and all other Christians both living dead guilty of following a delusion?
If so we are among the most gullible people in the world and there are around two billion of us in the world.
Are we guilty of following a myth even to the point of death. If so how sad, because if Jesus is a myth or a lie it would be the greatest lie ever perpetuated on mankind. And millions would have gone to their deaths for nothing.
No credible historian today doubts that Jesus was a real person.
Kenneth Scott Latourette, former President of American Historic Society in A History of Christianity wrote,
“It is evidence of His importance, of the effect that He has had upon history and presumably, of the baffling mystery of His being that no other life ever lived on this planet has evoked so huge a volume of literature among so many people and languages, and that, far from ebbing, the flood continues to mount.”
As the centuries pass by, the evidence is accumulating that measured by its effect on history, Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet. The influence appears to be mounting.”
“No other life lived on this planet has so widely and deeply affected mankind.”
I believe Jesus is the Son of God. I believe him when he said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
If I am wrong and Jesus is not who he claims to be or if there is no God at all I have nothing to fear.
But if I and the two billion people who believe as I do are correct others have a lot to fear.
Think about it.
I could quote the Bible from now to the day I die and I know I will not convince some people that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
There are those out there that claim he never existed. Those who would debunk the experts and historians who verify that Jesus did in fact live.
To those who say Jesus never existed. That he was a fictitious figure. I would ask am I and all other Christians both living dead guilty of following a delusion?
If so we are among the most gullible people in the world and there are around two billion of us in the world.
Are we guilty of following a myth even to the point of death. If so how sad, because if Jesus is a myth or a lie it would be the greatest lie ever perpetuated on mankind. And millions would have gone to their deaths for nothing.
No credible historian today doubts that Jesus was a real person.
Kenneth Scott Latourette, former President of American Historic Society in A History of Christianity wrote,
“It is evidence of His importance, of the effect that He has had upon history and presumably, of the baffling mystery of His being that no other life ever lived on this planet has evoked so huge a volume of literature among so many people and languages, and that, far from ebbing, the flood continues to mount.”
As the centuries pass by, the evidence is accumulating that measured by its effect on history, Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet. The influence appears to be mounting.”
“No other life lived on this planet has so widely and deeply affected mankind.”
I believe Jesus is the Son of God. I believe him when he said,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
If I am wrong and Jesus is not who he claims to be or if there is no God at all I have nothing to fear.
But if I and the two billion people who believe as I do are correct others have a lot to fear.
Think about it.
Sunday, 27 July 2014
True greatness
What is true greatness?
"For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting."
Gen. George C. Patton
I remember watching a documentary film clip from the early 1960's less than twenty years after world war two. They were asking United States collage and university students who Winston Churchill, Britains war time leader was.
A full eighty percent couldn’t say. It was sad but understandable. Man’s glory is fleeting.
At the same time those who didn’t know who Churchill was, knew who Jesus was even if they only called him a good man.
Napoleon said,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Napoleon French Emperor
Ernest Renan, French historian, religious scholar and linguist said,
“All history is incomprehensible without Christ.”
H. G. Wells, British writer, 1866-1946 When asked which person left the most permanent impression on history, he replied,
"that judging a person’s greatness by historical standards:“By this test, Jesus stands first.”
“I am a historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very centre of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.”
“Christ is the most unique person of history. No man can write a history of the human race without giving first and foremost place to the penniless teacher of Nazareth.”
Finally C. S. Lewis writes,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
What do you think of Jesus?
"For over a thousand years Roman conquerors returning from the wars enjoyed the honor of triumph, a tumultuous parade. In the procession came trumpeteers, musicians and strange animals from conquered territories, together with carts laden with treasure and captured armaments. The conquerors rode in a triumphal chariot, the dazed prisoners walking in chains before him. Sometimes his children robed in white stood with him in the chariot or rode the trace horses. A slave stood behind the conqueror holding a golden crown and whispering in his ear a warning: that all glory is fleeting."
Gen. George C. Patton
I remember watching a documentary film clip from the early 1960's less than twenty years after world war two. They were asking United States collage and university students who Winston Churchill, Britains war time leader was.
A full eighty percent couldn’t say. It was sad but understandable. Man’s glory is fleeting.
At the same time those who didn’t know who Churchill was, knew who Jesus was even if they only called him a good man.
Napoleon said,
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
Napoleon French Emperor
Ernest Renan, French historian, religious scholar and linguist said,
“All history is incomprehensible without Christ.”
H. G. Wells, British writer, 1866-1946 When asked which person left the most permanent impression on history, he replied,
"that judging a person’s greatness by historical standards:“By this test, Jesus stands first.”
“I am a historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very centre of history. Jesus Christ is easily the most dominant figure in all history.”
“Christ is the most unique person of history. No man can write a history of the human race without giving first and foremost place to the penniless teacher of Nazareth.”
Finally C. S. Lewis writes,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
What do you think of Jesus?
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