Of God, Faith and Works
Peter J. Kreeft said,
“think about that. How is it possible that over ninety percent of all human beings who have ever lived usually in far more painful circumstances than we, could believe in God? The objective evidence, just looking at the balance of pleasure and suffering in the world, would not seem to justify believing in an absolutely good God. Yet this has been almost universally believed.”
Peter John Kreeft ph.d
He also states,
“The evidence is that God is all-powerful. The point to remember is that creating a world where there’s free will and no possibility of sin is self contradiction and opens the door to people choosing evil over God, with suffering being the result. The overwhelming majority of pain in the world is cause by our choices to kill, to slander, to be selfish, to stray sexually, to break our promises, to be reckless.”
Peter John Kreeft ph.d.
In short we bring pain on ourselves and quite often on innocent people because of our choices. War be it global or local conflicts is drastic evidence of this.
Politicians and radical extremists make war and innocent men, women and children pay the price. Over fifty six million in world war two alone. Millions more in so called “dirty wars” since.
Even as I write this there are thousands dying because of radicals who have no regard for life.
War aside we as individuals bring grief on ourselves by the choices we make. Be they anything from smoking cigarettes to engaging in dangerous behaviour.
Our politicians who have the power to effect change to end suffering for the most needy and vulnerable in the world choose not to effect change largely because of politics.
God gave us free will and depending on how we use that free will, will determine where we will spend eternity.
While salvation is a free gift offered to all people we must reach out and receive that free gift. We must also I believe do our best to help our fellow man be we Christian or not.
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. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18
He also said,
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:34-46.
James writes,
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.
If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.... "
James 2:14-18
God, I believe will one day judge both believers and non-believers.
When we stand before Him we will not be able to deny His existence. At that moment the words of Hebrews will ring true for that person.
The writer of Hebrews writing,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
Faith being defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
Do you believe in God?
Do you do what you can to help those in need?
Think about it.
Saturday, 6 December 2014
Friday, 5 December 2014
Of Christianity
Of Christianity
“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.
The first church I ever attended had a huge sign emblazoned above the alter saying, “What think ye of Christ.”
Throughout the ages there have always been men and women who have questioned the credentials of Jesus. Men and women who have chose to simply call him a good man.
Likewise there have been many who deny both the existence of God and Jesus, calling them a myth. That is there choice.
That’s the nice thing about God, he gave us a choice whether to believe in him or not.
The evidence is all around us not just in the scriptures but in the world as a whole.
The Psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
The bible is a book of faith but it does not ask us to accept what it says with blind faith. Quite the contrary it asks us to read it with an open mind and see the truths that are in it.
It challenges us to look around at the world, the universe, we live in and see just how perfect it is. So perfect that it could only have been created.
Once we have read the bible and looked around at the world, we are then asked to make that leap of informed faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
If the Bible is wrong it is then as C. S. Lewis states,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance,...” but if it is true then it is also true what Lewis said, it is “...if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
Think about it.
“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.
The first church I ever attended had a huge sign emblazoned above the alter saying, “What think ye of Christ.”
Throughout the ages there have always been men and women who have questioned the credentials of Jesus. Men and women who have chose to simply call him a good man.
Likewise there have been many who deny both the existence of God and Jesus, calling them a myth. That is there choice.
That’s the nice thing about God, he gave us a choice whether to believe in him or not.
The evidence is all around us not just in the scriptures but in the world as a whole.
The Psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
The bible is a book of faith but it does not ask us to accept what it says with blind faith. Quite the contrary it asks us to read it with an open mind and see the truths that are in it.
It challenges us to look around at the world, the universe, we live in and see just how perfect it is. So perfect that it could only have been created.
Once we have read the bible and looked around at the world, we are then asked to make that leap of informed faith. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6
If the Bible is wrong it is then as C. S. Lewis states,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance,...” but if it is true then it is also true what Lewis said, it is “...if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
Think about it.
Thursday, 4 December 2014
Who is Jesus to You?
Who is Jesus to you?
“Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”
John 14:8-11.
Jesus couldn’t have made things more clear He and God are one. To say this at the time he said this would be to invoke the death penalty.
Jesus makes it very clear that his is indeed the Son of God. That he is God incarnate. C. S. Lewis said of Jesus,
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.
The New Testament makes it clear as to who Jesus is. It lays down the facts for all who wish to read them.
Be we Christians or not we must all decide who Jesus is. Is he the Son of God the Saviour of the World or is he a fraud who along with is disciples has perpetuated the greatest lie in human history.
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?
Think about it.
“Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”
John 14:8-11.
Jesus couldn’t have made things more clear He and God are one. To say this at the time he said this would be to invoke the death penalty.
Jesus makes it very clear that his is indeed the Son of God. That he is God incarnate. C. S. Lewis said of Jesus,
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.
The New Testament makes it clear as to who Jesus is. It lays down the facts for all who wish to read them.
Be we Christians or not we must all decide who Jesus is. Is he the Son of God the Saviour of the World or is he a fraud who along with is disciples has perpetuated the greatest lie in human history.
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God?
Think about it.
Tuesday, 2 December 2014
Will you be Happy
Will you be happy
“Plan for this world as if you expect to live forever; but plan for the hereafter as if you expect to die tomorrow.”
Solomon Ibn Gabirol
Where will you spend eternity? If you were to die today where would you end up.
If life is as the Atheist says nothing more than the present ending in oblivion. Then we have little to fear.
If on the other hand life is more than the here and now and travels on through eternity, as most people on the planet seem to agree with then we have everything to fear.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist wrote,
“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?”
Tony Campolo
So will you be happy?
As a Christian I am certain I will be happy. I know where I will spend eternity. You see Jesus took the uncertainty out of dying.
Jesus said,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John10:10.
He made it clear,
“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. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:16-18
He said,
...“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
The Apostle John stating,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) 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 Apostle Paul writing,
“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.
Salvation is a free gift from God to all who believe.
Ultimately however where you will spend eternity is up to you. You can believe what I have said and quoted from the Bible or you can choose to ignore it.
Think about it.
“Plan for this world as if you expect to live forever; but plan for the hereafter as if you expect to die tomorrow.”
Solomon Ibn Gabirol
Where will you spend eternity? If you were to die today where would you end up.
If life is as the Atheist says nothing more than the present ending in oblivion. Then we have little to fear.
If on the other hand life is more than the here and now and travels on through eternity, as most people on the planet seem to agree with then we have everything to fear.
Tony Campolo the American evangelist wrote,
“When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this - when you die, will you be happy when everybody else is crying?”
Tony Campolo
So will you be happy?
As a Christian I am certain I will be happy. I know where I will spend eternity. You see Jesus took the uncertainty out of dying.
Jesus said,
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
John10:10.
He made it clear,
“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. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:16-18
He said,
...“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
The Apostle John stating,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) 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 Apostle Paul writing,
“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.
Salvation is a free gift from God to all who believe.
Ultimately however where you will spend eternity is up to you. You can believe what I have said and quoted from the Bible or you can choose to ignore it.
Think about it.
Monday, 1 December 2014
Your Choice
Your choice
“You can’t force people to do what they don’t want to do, to feel what they don’t feel. If someone wills one thing, you cannot tell it to will another. It has to come from within.”
-Yeshayahu Leibowitz, Judaic scholar and professor of biochemistry, quoted in
“Of Thorns, Idols, and Prophecy,” Hadassah, May 1990
I agree with the professor. You cannot force people to do what they don’t want to do. I believe Jesus and his disciples believed it. Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
This to Christians is the great commission. To go into all the world and present the teachings of Christ to all who will listen.
At no time did Jesus or his disciples force their beliefs on anyone. We are called to present the teachings of Christ to the world. Nothing more.
As a Christian I believe Jesus is the Son of God and the only way to heaven.
Jesus said,
“....“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
“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. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18
At the trial of Jesus the apostle John records this conversation between Jesus and Pilate,
“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
John 18:33-37
C.S. Lewis wrote,
“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
Where do you stand with respect to Christ.
Think about it.
“You can’t force people to do what they don’t want to do, to feel what they don’t feel. If someone wills one thing, you cannot tell it to will another. It has to come from within.”
-Yeshayahu Leibowitz, Judaic scholar and professor of biochemistry, quoted in
“Of Thorns, Idols, and Prophecy,” Hadassah, May 1990
I agree with the professor. You cannot force people to do what they don’t want to do. I believe Jesus and his disciples believed it. Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
This to Christians is the great commission. To go into all the world and present the teachings of Christ to all who will listen.
At no time did Jesus or his disciples force their beliefs on anyone. We are called to present the teachings of Christ to the world. Nothing more.
As a Christian I believe Jesus is the Son of God and the only way to heaven.
Jesus said,
“....“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
“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. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18
At the trial of Jesus the apostle John records this conversation between Jesus and Pilate,
“Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
John 18:33-37
C.S. Lewis wrote,
“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
Where do you stand with respect to Christ.
Think about it.
An Argument for Christ
An argument for Christ
Throughout history men have had gods. Almost universally these gods have had very human flaws. None have every changed history in the way Jesus did simply because the gods of the Romans, the Greeks, the Norse and others were made up by man.
Thor, and Zeus have no influence on modern man yet Jesus effects the lives of over 2,200,000,000 people today.
The teachings of Jesus have changed the world.
Jesus who is God incarnate came to earth to show God’s love to man. To reconcile sinful man to himself.
He realized man could never reach high enough to reach him so he came down to live among us and show us the way to heaven.
The apostle Paul speaking in Athens made this case for Christ,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
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.”
Acts 17:17-34.
Ultimately the question is do you believe what Paul and every other true Christian that has ever lived is saying?
Think about it.
Throughout history men have had gods. Almost universally these gods have had very human flaws. None have every changed history in the way Jesus did simply because the gods of the Romans, the Greeks, the Norse and others were made up by man.
Thor, and Zeus have no influence on modern man yet Jesus effects the lives of over 2,200,000,000 people today.
The teachings of Jesus have changed the world.
Jesus who is God incarnate came to earth to show God’s love to man. To reconcile sinful man to himself.
He realized man could never reach high enough to reach him so he came down to live among us and show us the way to heaven.
The apostle Paul speaking in Athens made this case for Christ,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
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.”
Acts 17:17-34.
Ultimately the question is do you believe what Paul and every other true Christian that has ever lived is saying?
Think about it.
Saturday, 29 November 2014
The Invisible Player
Invisible Player
“Human beings vegetables or cosmic dust. We all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible player.”
Albert Einstein
Einstein was right. We all dance to a mysterious tune intoned by an invisible player. That player however is closer than we realize.
The apostle Paul speaking in Athens said,
“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.’
Acts 17:24-38.
The evidence for there being a God is all around us. From the largest galaxy in the heavens to the smallest sub atomic particle everything is in balance. Everything works in harmony to sustain life as we know it.
It happens this way I believe because God created it that way.
The book of Genesis makes it clear,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1
Genesis does not debate the existence of God it simply states this is what God did end of story.
I could write pages on why I believe God exists but ultimately it is an act of informed faith.
I believe all one has to do is look around us to nature and see how it very much lines up with the Bible.
The choice to believe or not to believe there is a God is up to you. Do we as Einstein said,
"Human beings vegetables or cosmic dust. We all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible player."
Albert Einstein.
Is that player God?
The choice is yours. Think about it.
“Human beings vegetables or cosmic dust. We all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible player.”
Albert Einstein
Einstein was right. We all dance to a mysterious tune intoned by an invisible player. That player however is closer than we realize.
The apostle Paul speaking in Athens said,
“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.’
Acts 17:24-38.
The evidence for there being a God is all around us. From the largest galaxy in the heavens to the smallest sub atomic particle everything is in balance. Everything works in harmony to sustain life as we know it.
It happens this way I believe because God created it that way.
The book of Genesis makes it clear,
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1
Genesis does not debate the existence of God it simply states this is what God did end of story.
I could write pages on why I believe God exists but ultimately it is an act of informed faith.
I believe all one has to do is look around us to nature and see how it very much lines up with the Bible.
The choice to believe or not to believe there is a God is up to you. Do we as Einstein said,
"Human beings vegetables or cosmic dust. We all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible player."
Albert Einstein.
Is that player God?
The choice is yours. Think about it.
God Knows
God Knows
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139: 1-16.
Here is why God can Judge us and men cannot. The Psalmist makes it clear that God knows our very being. He knows what makes us tick. He knows why we are like we are.
No man has any true idea what is on the inside of another man. We cannot read a persons thoughts or truly understand a persons motives for doing what he does.
I know people from all walks of life. People who’s lifestyle is quite different to mine and I accept them. Sadly many, particularly Christians, do not.
Jesus said,
“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.
A true Christian will obey this command of Jesus because they recognize that only God knows a mans hart.
A true Christian will present the offer of Jesus to those around him who said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
Jesus made it clear saying,
“...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
The Apostle Paul wrote,
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.
Salvation and the eternal life it gives is free have you accepted it.
Do you know Christ as your Lord and Saviour?
Jesus does not discriminate. He loves and cares for you irrespective of your way of life or your lifestyle and he offers to you a peace for your soul that passes all understanding.
Will you consider accepting him as your Lord and saviour today.
Think about it.
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Psalm 139: 1-16.
Here is why God can Judge us and men cannot. The Psalmist makes it clear that God knows our very being. He knows what makes us tick. He knows why we are like we are.
No man has any true idea what is on the inside of another man. We cannot read a persons thoughts or truly understand a persons motives for doing what he does.
I know people from all walks of life. People who’s lifestyle is quite different to mine and I accept them. Sadly many, particularly Christians, do not.
Jesus said,
“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.
A true Christian will obey this command of Jesus because they recognize that only God knows a mans hart.
A true Christian will present the offer of Jesus to those around him who said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
Jesus made it clear saying,
“...I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
The Apostle Paul wrote,
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.
Salvation and the eternal life it gives is free have you accepted it.
Do you know Christ as your Lord and Saviour?
Jesus does not discriminate. He loves and cares for you irrespective of your way of life or your lifestyle and he offers to you a peace for your soul that passes all understanding.
Will you consider accepting him as your Lord and saviour today.
Think about it.
Friday, 28 November 2014
Hope for today
Hope for today
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
Over the years I have seen many people loose hope. Some sadly have ended their life by their own hand. In fact one statistic I read said that there is a suicide every seven minutes in North America.
People commit suicide for a variety of reasons. As someone who knows a great number of mentally ill people and as someone who lives with mental illness I can relate to why people want to end it all.
They look at the mental and physical anguish and just can’t take it any more. But there is hope. That hope is in Christ Jesus.
I know it sounds trite to say Jesus love you and cares for you, but it’s true. I have found in my darkest hours Jesus has been there for me.
I have found that no matter where I am or what my condition I can turn to Christ and He gives me peace and reassurance.
To quote a friend “life sucks at times.” he’s right.
I watched my mother and mother-in-law die of cancer both in their mid fifties. Both were in some pain thankfully it was controlled to a degree.
Still both left this world to their eternal rest with their faith in God intact.
Sadly far to many people can only believe in what they see, hear and touch. Faith demands more. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
The most important reward for those who accept Christ into their lives is of course Eternal life.
There is however more, there is rest for your troubled soul in this life.
I don’t deny that I go through some very deep despondent times in my life. The illness I have can push me into a deep pit of despair from time to time. But the hope I have in Christ. My hope in God, has never wavered.
In fact if anything the deeper my despair the closer I have drawn to God.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Calls Jesus.
It is a call for all mankind, no matter where you live in the world, no matter what your lifestyle is, what you have done in life or who you are.
He offers you rest for you soul all you must do is ask him into your life.
Are you willing to ask Christ into you life?
Think about it.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30.
Over the years I have seen many people loose hope. Some sadly have ended their life by their own hand. In fact one statistic I read said that there is a suicide every seven minutes in North America.
People commit suicide for a variety of reasons. As someone who knows a great number of mentally ill people and as someone who lives with mental illness I can relate to why people want to end it all.
They look at the mental and physical anguish and just can’t take it any more. But there is hope. That hope is in Christ Jesus.
I know it sounds trite to say Jesus love you and cares for you, but it’s true. I have found in my darkest hours Jesus has been there for me.
I have found that no matter where I am or what my condition I can turn to Christ and He gives me peace and reassurance.
To quote a friend “life sucks at times.” he’s right.
I watched my mother and mother-in-law die of cancer both in their mid fifties. Both were in some pain thankfully it was controlled to a degree.
Still both left this world to their eternal rest with their faith in God intact.
Sadly far to many people can only believe in what they see, hear and touch. Faith demands more. The writer of Hebrews saying,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1.
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
The most important reward for those who accept Christ into their lives is of course Eternal life.
There is however more, there is rest for your troubled soul in this life.
I don’t deny that I go through some very deep despondent times in my life. The illness I have can push me into a deep pit of despair from time to time. But the hope I have in Christ. My hope in God, has never wavered.
In fact if anything the deeper my despair the closer I have drawn to God.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Calls Jesus.
It is a call for all mankind, no matter where you live in the world, no matter what your lifestyle is, what you have done in life or who you are.
He offers you rest for you soul all you must do is ask him into your life.
Are you willing to ask Christ into you life?
Think about it.
Thursday, 27 November 2014
Foolishness
Foolishness?
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
The Apostle Paul here make it clear that the message of salvation offered up by Christians is foolishness to none believers.
That God’s way is not the way man would consider doing it.
I’ve often heard many people say why doesn’t God just show himself why does he allow such evil in the world.
God first of all has shown himself. Firstly through the scriptures but also through the universe as a whole.
Take a look around you. All of the universe from the largest galaxy to the smallest sub atomic particle are in balance. All serve a purpose and that to sustain life as we know it.
Just a slight variation in the overall equation that makes up our world and indeed the universe in general would prevent life from existing as we know it.
The Bible makes it clear that God created the universe. That he also made man and gave him the ability to choose.
In doing so he essentially said to man you can choose my way that leads to eternal life or you can turn against me. Either way there are consequences.
Sadly over the centuries man has chosen the wrong way. He has brought pain and suffering on himself and his fellow man.
But God did not forsake man. The apostle Paul writing,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.
Romans 5:6-8.
God truly wants to have a personal relationship with each and every person on the planet.
That’s why he sent Jesus to this earth. That is why the Bible was written.
It may not be the way man would have done things but it is the way God does things and we must follow those rules.
Jesus said, ...“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
In the New Testament God makes it clear that he loves us. But in order to get to heaven we must believe in Him. Jesus saying,
“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.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18.
We must put our faith in God the writer of Hebrews saying,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
Think about it.
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
The Apostle Paul here make it clear that the message of salvation offered up by Christians is foolishness to none believers.
That God’s way is not the way man would consider doing it.
I’ve often heard many people say why doesn’t God just show himself why does he allow such evil in the world.
God first of all has shown himself. Firstly through the scriptures but also through the universe as a whole.
Take a look around you. All of the universe from the largest galaxy to the smallest sub atomic particle are in balance. All serve a purpose and that to sustain life as we know it.
Just a slight variation in the overall equation that makes up our world and indeed the universe in general would prevent life from existing as we know it.
The Bible makes it clear that God created the universe. That he also made man and gave him the ability to choose.
In doing so he essentially said to man you can choose my way that leads to eternal life or you can turn against me. Either way there are consequences.
Sadly over the centuries man has chosen the wrong way. He has brought pain and suffering on himself and his fellow man.
But God did not forsake man. The apostle Paul writing,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”.
Romans 5:6-8.
God truly wants to have a personal relationship with each and every person on the planet.
That’s why he sent Jesus to this earth. That is why the Bible was written.
It may not be the way man would have done things but it is the way God does things and we must follow those rules.
Jesus said, ...“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6.
In the New Testament God makes it clear that he loves us. But in order to get to heaven we must believe in Him. Jesus saying,
“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.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18.
We must put our faith in God the writer of Hebrews saying,
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 26 November 2014
Life
Life
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”
Ecclesiastes 1:9
“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Ecclesiastes 1:14
I know what it’s like to be depressed. I know what it’s like to feel like life has no meaning.
I live with Bipolar affective disorder and when I’m very depressed life can seem like it has no meaning.
I look at the words of Ecclesiastes above and can relate at times. But that is only when I’m depressed and not thinking strait.
Sadly many I know who have committed suicide because they see life as one endless meaningless journey of emotional and physical pain.
This is not so. Life has meaning. There is always hope.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.
I believe those words. Through the darkest days of my life, and believe me there have been extremely dark days in my life when it is only my faith in Jesus, in God that has got me through.
The writer of Ecclesiastes after examining his world dose come to the right conclusion. He states,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
God gives meaning to life. He showed me that there is more. That pain and suffering is temporary. That there is alway light at the end of every dark tunnel.
I came to know the Lord long before I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. I undoubtedly was suffering from it because I was having times of deep depression an manic highs. But it would be over twenty years after my accepting Christ that I would be formally diagnosed.
During that time prior to my diagnosis I knew little of what was happing to me I knew only that I’d become despondent and depressed. The highs I put off to a burst of energy that lasted days at a time.
When I was down however I had learned to turn to God. To lean on him for comfort. I do believe it was God who showed me the good in life, and in my wife and family.
Suicide did cross my mind occasionally. But my love of God and his laws prevented it.
When I finally did have my big emotional collapse on the side of a major highway on the way home from work. I believe God was there for me.
I firmly believe the right people were set up to help me. I was able to get in with a good psychiatrist who offered me hope. When he unfortunately passed away I was able to get in with a second good Psychiatrist and when he retired with my current one. All of this in a area that was short of Psychiatrist.
I was able to get into group therapy sessions and after a lot of trial and error the right medications that have helped stabilize my mood swings.
Today I live with my Bipolar disorder there is no cure only medication to help you cope.
I have adjusted my life and lifestyle to help me live with it.
I have what I call my pillars that I rest on. My doctors both family and psychiatrist, the medications I take, my family (my wife and children) and my faith in God who is there for me no matter what.
Jesus said,
I believe this. Having Jesus in my life has given me meaning and I have rest knowing that even in my darkest hour I can turn to him.
It is the same hope he offers all people even you dear reader. Will you consider letting Jesus into you life.
Please think about it.
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”
Ecclesiastes 1:9
“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Ecclesiastes 1:14
I know what it’s like to be depressed. I know what it’s like to feel like life has no meaning.
I live with Bipolar affective disorder and when I’m very depressed life can seem like it has no meaning.
I look at the words of Ecclesiastes above and can relate at times. But that is only when I’m depressed and not thinking strait.
Sadly many I know who have committed suicide because they see life as one endless meaningless journey of emotional and physical pain.
This is not so. Life has meaning. There is always hope.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.
I believe those words. Through the darkest days of my life, and believe me there have been extremely dark days in my life when it is only my faith in Jesus, in God that has got me through.
The writer of Ecclesiastes after examining his world dose come to the right conclusion. He states,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes12:13,14.
God gives meaning to life. He showed me that there is more. That pain and suffering is temporary. That there is alway light at the end of every dark tunnel.
I came to know the Lord long before I was diagnosed with Bipolar disorder. I undoubtedly was suffering from it because I was having times of deep depression an manic highs. But it would be over twenty years after my accepting Christ that I would be formally diagnosed.
During that time prior to my diagnosis I knew little of what was happing to me I knew only that I’d become despondent and depressed. The highs I put off to a burst of energy that lasted days at a time.
When I was down however I had learned to turn to God. To lean on him for comfort. I do believe it was God who showed me the good in life, and in my wife and family.
Suicide did cross my mind occasionally. But my love of God and his laws prevented it.
When I finally did have my big emotional collapse on the side of a major highway on the way home from work. I believe God was there for me.
I firmly believe the right people were set up to help me. I was able to get in with a good psychiatrist who offered me hope. When he unfortunately passed away I was able to get in with a second good Psychiatrist and when he retired with my current one. All of this in a area that was short of Psychiatrist.
I was able to get into group therapy sessions and after a lot of trial and error the right medications that have helped stabilize my mood swings.
Today I live with my Bipolar disorder there is no cure only medication to help you cope.
I have adjusted my life and lifestyle to help me live with it.
I have what I call my pillars that I rest on. My doctors both family and psychiatrist, the medications I take, my family (my wife and children) and my faith in God who is there for me no matter what.
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30I believe this. Having Jesus in my life has given me meaning and I have rest knowing that even in my darkest hour I can turn to him.
It is the same hope he offers all people even you dear reader. Will you consider letting Jesus into you life.
Please think about it.
Tuesday, 25 November 2014
A Choice
A Choice
“No, The evidence is that God is all-powerful. The point to remember is that creating a world where there’s free will and no possibility of sin is self contradiction and opens the door to people choosing evil over God, with suffering being the result. The overwhelming majority of pain in the world is cause by our choices to kill, to slander, to be selfish, to stray sexually, to break our promises, to be reckless.”
Peter John Kreeft PH.D.
As quoted in the case for faith by Lee Strobel
Put simply God gave us a choice. Him or sin.
God did not create sin but he did create the possibility for us to sin, by giving us a free will.
Sin being turning away from God’s rules by breaking his laws. Choosing to kill, slander, be selfish, to stray sexually, break promises to be reckless. The list of God’s rules we break goes on and on.
The result of breaking those laws is separation from God. But God has not forsaken us.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Jesus gives us a choice, he said,
God through Jesus is calling all men to himself. Offering a free gift of eternal life, to all who would believe in him.
Are you willing to believe in Christ?
Think about it.
“No, The evidence is that God is all-powerful. The point to remember is that creating a world where there’s free will and no possibility of sin is self contradiction and opens the door to people choosing evil over God, with suffering being the result. The overwhelming majority of pain in the world is cause by our choices to kill, to slander, to be selfish, to stray sexually, to break our promises, to be reckless.”
Peter John Kreeft PH.D.
As quoted in the case for faith by Lee Strobel
Put simply God gave us a choice. Him or sin.
God did not create sin but he did create the possibility for us to sin, by giving us a free will.
Sin being turning away from God’s rules by breaking his laws. Choosing to kill, slander, be selfish, to stray sexually, break promises to be reckless. The list of God’s rules we break goes on and on.
The result of breaking those laws is separation from God. But God has not forsaken us.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Jesus gives us a choice, he 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.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned,
but whoever does not believe stands condemned already
because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
John 3:16-18.God through Jesus is calling all men to himself. Offering a free gift of eternal life, to all who would believe in him.
Are you willing to believe in Christ?
Think about it.
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