A book of Mercy a warning of Judgement
“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....
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 1:1-4,14
First of all as stated above Jesus was with God in the beginning, Jesus is God he was there at the beginning of the world. The world was made by Him. Not only that but God became flesh and dwelt among us in the form of Jesus Christ. He did this for two reasons,
First to show His mercy to mankind.
The bible first of all is a book of mercy.
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 11:28-30
Jesus himself makes it clear that his primary job when on this earth was to save mankind, 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.”
John 3:16-17.
The second reason is to my mind to fully understand what it is to be man so as to more rightly judge us.
If Jesus had not come to this earth and experience all it was to be a man then we could potentially say to Him on judgement day you being all powerful do not know what it’s like to be tempted to under go trials, temptations and even loss of a loved one. Therefore you cannot judge us rightly.
Jesus in coming to this world however experienced all that it was to be a man up to and including dying for a crime he didn’t commit.
As a result he can judge us fairly for not only does he know what it is to be a man, because he lived as one. But also because he is God, He knows our very heart and why we do things.
God in creating mankind gave us all a freewill and offers us a choice Jesus saying,
“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 3:18.
If those words of Jesus are not true you have nothing to fear. If they are you have a lot to fear. For your eternal resting place depends on who you think Jesus is.
Please think about it.
Thursday, 9 July 2015
Tuesday, 7 July 2015
Your Choice
Your choice
“The Bible does not defend itself. It was written to people who accepted its message and therefore spends little time convincing its readers of its authenticity.”
Author unknown
I could write volumes is defence of the Bible’s authenticity. At the same time I could speak for hours giving proof of that God exists and Jesus is God incarnate but it would not convince some people.
Some people just want to believe what they want to believe. They believe there is no God so they view only the facts that say there is no God.
They will not accept the accuracy of the Bible and dismiss its truths as being bias.
As far as I’m concerned that is all well and good.
God when he created mankind gave him a freewill. That freewill gives each and every person the right to believe in God or not. God will not force anyone to believe in Him. It’s that simple.
God want’s our belief in Him to be an act of faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“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 writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the Son of God, and that the Son
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
Hebrews 1:3.
The Bible notes Jesus gave a choice when 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.
Therefore the choice is yours dear reader. Believe there is a God and Jesus is his one and only Son. The Saviour of the world or not.
There is no middle ground.
If I am wrong and there is no God. Then you have nothing to fear, but if I am right then you at the very least have a lot to consider.
Please think about it.
“The Bible does not defend itself. It was written to people who accepted its message and therefore spends little time convincing its readers of its authenticity.”
Author unknown
I could write volumes is defence of the Bible’s authenticity. At the same time I could speak for hours giving proof of that God exists and Jesus is God incarnate but it would not convince some people.
Some people just want to believe what they want to believe. They believe there is no God so they view only the facts that say there is no God.
They will not accept the accuracy of the Bible and dismiss its truths as being bias.
As far as I’m concerned that is all well and good.
God when he created mankind gave him a freewill. That freewill gives each and every person the right to believe in God or not. God will not force anyone to believe in Him. It’s that simple.
God want’s our belief in Him to be an act of faith. The writer of Hebrews stating,
“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 writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the Son of God, and that the Son
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
Hebrews 1:3.
The Bible notes Jesus gave a choice when 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.
Therefore the choice is yours dear reader. Believe there is a God and Jesus is his one and only Son. The Saviour of the world or not.
There is no middle ground.
If I am wrong and there is no God. Then you have nothing to fear, but if I am right then you at the very least have a lot to consider.
Please think about it.
God Exists
God exists
“It is incomprehensible that God should exist, and it is incomprehensible that he should not exist.”
Blaise Pascal
The Psalmist wrote,
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Psalm 14:1.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
Put simply God does things His way not the way man thinks he should do things. God asks all people everywhere to have faith in Him. 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.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“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
Being an Atheist is also an act of faith. To be an atheist you have to have postulated that for whatever reason there is no God. You have to have come to the conclusion that simply because you can’t see God he doesn’t exist.
To my mind it’s like saying you can’t see you brain therefore you don’t have one.
The psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
Think about it the universe from the most distant galaxy to the smallest sub atomic particle is in perfect balance.
I listened to a scientist not long ago that said everything in the universe no matter how minute effects life on this earth. From the light of distant stars to our sun to the smallest sub atomic particle. Everything is in balance. Adjust that balance ever so slightly and life as we know it on this earth would not exist.
For me creation proves there is a God who made it.
Ben Zion Boskser wrote,
“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.
Please think about it
“It is incomprehensible that God should exist, and it is incomprehensible that he should not exist.”
Blaise Pascal
The Psalmist wrote,
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Psalm 14:1.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“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.
Put simply God does things His way not the way man thinks he should do things. God asks all people everywhere to have faith in Him. 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.
C. S. Lewis wrote,
“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
Being an Atheist is also an act of faith. To be an atheist you have to have postulated that for whatever reason there is no God. You have to have come to the conclusion that simply because you can’t see God he doesn’t exist.
To my mind it’s like saying you can’t see you brain therefore you don’t have one.
The psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
Think about it the universe from the most distant galaxy to the smallest sub atomic particle is in perfect balance.
I listened to a scientist not long ago that said everything in the universe no matter how minute effects life on this earth. From the light of distant stars to our sun to the smallest sub atomic particle. Everything is in balance. Adjust that balance ever so slightly and life as we know it on this earth would not exist.
For me creation proves there is a God who made it.
Ben Zion Boskser wrote,
“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.
Please think about it
Monday, 6 July 2015
The Christian Message
The Christian message
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 11:28-30.
The Christian message in it’s simplest form is this. Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour 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...”
Matthew 5: 43-45
When asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
The Bible also makes it clear how we get to heaven. It come down to who you think Jesus is and what his purpose on this earth was for,
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.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23,24.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. Sin separates us from God.
Isaiah telling us,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Isaiah 64:6
John noting,
“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.”
1 John 1:9,10.
Paul make it clear salvation is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“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
Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“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 defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
What do you believe?
Think about it.
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 11:28-30.
The Christian message in it’s simplest form is this. Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour 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...”
Matthew 5: 43-45
When asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
The Bible also makes it clear how we get to heaven. It come down to who you think Jesus is and what his purpose on this earth was for,
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.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23,24.
Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. Sin separates us from God.
Isaiah telling us,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Isaiah 64:6
John noting,
“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.”
1 John 1:9,10.
Paul make it clear salvation is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating,
“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
Ultimately salvation is an act of faith, Hebrews stating,
“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 defined as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
What do you believe?
Think about it.
Sunday, 5 July 2015
You and Jesus
You and Jesus
“Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.
When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.
There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.”
John 12:44-48.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I recognize that Jesus is your one and only Son.
That he came to earth to die for my sins.
I confess I am a sinner and that I fall short of what you want for my life.
Please forgive me of my sins and come into my life.
That I may spend eternity with you
In Jesus name I pray
Amen.
Please think about it.
“Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.
You have made my days a mere hands breadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man’s life is but a breath.
Psalms 39:4,5“Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.
When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me.
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it.
There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.”
John 12:44-48.
Jesus said,
‘Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.
If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.’
Revelations 3:20
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—
Ephesians 2:8
The writer of Hebrews wrote,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see...
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 11:1,6
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father
except through me.”
John 14:6
Where will you spend eternity?
Will you accept Jesus Christ into your heart and life today?
Will you pray.Dear Heavenly Father,
I recognize that Jesus is your one and only Son.
That he came to earth to die for my sins.
I confess I am a sinner and that I fall short of what you want for my life.
Please forgive me of my sins and come into my life.
That I may spend eternity with you
In Jesus name I pray
Amen.
Please think about it.
Friday, 3 July 2015
Who is Jesus
Who is Jesus?
I as a Christian believe I must present my beliefs to anyone who would listen but nowhere does Bible tell me to impose those beliefs on anyone or attempt to restrict the beliefs of others.
I believe simply that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died for the sins of each and every man and woman irrespective of who they are. That each person must make the choice for themselves as to who Jesus is. To accept Him as the Son of God or not.
At the height of the civil rights movement in the United States Kenneth Waters wrote this description of God
I have been a Christian since I was nineteen I’m now sixty-one, you do the math. Throughout that time I have strived to present the Good News of Jesus Christ is a pure a form as I can.
The more I read it the more I realize the importance of presenting the teachings of Christ to this world.
For me the apostle Paul when speaking at the Areopagus in Athens presented the message of Christ in the best way possible, the book of Acts records,
“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.
The choice as to who Jesus is, is the same today as it was in the time of Paul. Thus I ask you to think about it.
I as a Christian believe I must present my beliefs to anyone who would listen but nowhere does Bible tell me to impose those beliefs on anyone or attempt to restrict the beliefs of others.
I believe simply that Jesus is the Son of God, that he died for the sins of each and every man and woman irrespective of who they are. That each person must make the choice for themselves as to who Jesus is. To accept Him as the Son of God or not.
At the height of the civil rights movement in the United States Kenneth Waters wrote this description of God
So then, just talk about Spiritual colour and tell them:
Whatever colour love is, that’s the colour of God:
whatever colour justice is, that’s that colour of God:
whatever colour peace is, that’s the colour of God:
whatever colour freedom is, that’s the colour of God:
whatever colour joy is, that’s the colour of God:
whatever colour healing is, that’s the colour of God:
whatever colour salvation is, that’s the colour of God:
whatever colour power is, that’s the colour of God:
whatever colour truth is, that’s the colour of God:
So, then, regardless of who we are or where we come from,
regardless of our own skin colour or racial identity,
we should strive to be God’s (spiritual) colour.
Amen.
Kenneth WatersI have been a Christian since I was nineteen I’m now sixty-one, you do the math. Throughout that time I have strived to present the Good News of Jesus Christ is a pure a form as I can.
The more I read it the more I realize the importance of presenting the teachings of Christ to this world.
For me the apostle Paul when speaking at the Areopagus in Athens presented the message of Christ in the best way possible, the book of Acts records,
“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.
The choice as to who Jesus is, is the same today as it was in the time of Paul. Thus I ask you to think about it.
Freedom
Freedom
“It is imperative that freedom of judgement should be granted, so that men may live together in harmony, however diverse, or even openly contradictory their opinions maybe. In proportion as the power of free judgement is withheld, we depart from the natural condition of mankind.”
Baruch Spinoza
I am speaking here as a Christian appalled at the way Christian groups especially in the United States are reacting to the gay marriage and the gay, lesbian and transgendered community in general.
The United States and all western democracies are just that democracies. They are not “Christian democracies” they are “secular democracies”. There is no such thing as a Christian government on this earth at this time. Therefore like it or not the democratically elected government has the right to say what things are, even if Christians disagree.
Living in a secular democracy is something the apostles knew very well. They lived in the Roman empire an empire as ethnically diverse as any nation today. An empire that was filled with pagan practises that the average Christian or Jew at the time would have disliked immensely.
Yet nowhere in the New Testament do I see Jesus or his disciples speaking out against the civil secular authorities.
Jesus even when brought before Pilate never said anything against the civil authority of Rome. In fact to Pilate the Roman governor Jesus said,
“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”
John 19:11a
The apostle Paul while living under one of the worst Emperors, Nero said,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.”
Romans 13:1-3
Someone years ago once told me, when you restrict someone else’s freedom you ultimately restrict your own.
It is my feeling that provided the freedoms granted to any group does not infringe on my freedoms to believe as I wish as a Christian then they should have the right to believe and do as they wish.
I as a Christian hope I can extend the hand of friendship to the gay, lesbian and transgendered community. They are no different from anyone else in the world.
A pastor I know when confronted by a gay friend who said “I bet you think I’m the worst of sinners.” to which he replied, “Your sins as a gay man are no worse than my sins as a strait man.”
Besides the apostle Paul who was a trained Pharisee prior to his conversion said of himself,
“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
The job of the Christian was laid down by Christ himself when he 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
Christians are to preach the good news of salvation to the world not get involved in politics and attempt to restrict the rights and freedoms of others.
What Christians should be doing in my opinion is illustrated in the following.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24.
By all, Paul meant all. Sin is falling short of what God wants for our lives. We all sin and the Bible makes it clear Jesus can cleanse us from our sin.
The apostle John writing,
“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.
These words were written to every man and woman that has ever lived. Jesus did not play favourites.
He made the following very clear statements for all to accept or reject.
“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 who he was when he said,
Jesus answered, “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
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
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.
Please whoever you are think about it.
“It is imperative that freedom of judgement should be granted, so that men may live together in harmony, however diverse, or even openly contradictory their opinions maybe. In proportion as the power of free judgement is withheld, we depart from the natural condition of mankind.”
Baruch Spinoza
I am speaking here as a Christian appalled at the way Christian groups especially in the United States are reacting to the gay marriage and the gay, lesbian and transgendered community in general.
The United States and all western democracies are just that democracies. They are not “Christian democracies” they are “secular democracies”. There is no such thing as a Christian government on this earth at this time. Therefore like it or not the democratically elected government has the right to say what things are, even if Christians disagree.
Living in a secular democracy is something the apostles knew very well. They lived in the Roman empire an empire as ethnically diverse as any nation today. An empire that was filled with pagan practises that the average Christian or Jew at the time would have disliked immensely.
Yet nowhere in the New Testament do I see Jesus or his disciples speaking out against the civil secular authorities.
Jesus even when brought before Pilate never said anything against the civil authority of Rome. In fact to Pilate the Roman governor Jesus said,
“You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.”
John 19:11a
The apostle Paul while living under one of the worst Emperors, Nero said,
“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.”
Romans 13:1-3
Someone years ago once told me, when you restrict someone else’s freedom you ultimately restrict your own.
It is my feeling that provided the freedoms granted to any group does not infringe on my freedoms to believe as I wish as a Christian then they should have the right to believe and do as they wish.
I as a Christian hope I can extend the hand of friendship to the gay, lesbian and transgendered community. They are no different from anyone else in the world.
A pastor I know when confronted by a gay friend who said “I bet you think I’m the worst of sinners.” to which he replied, “Your sins as a gay man are no worse than my sins as a strait man.”
Besides the apostle Paul who was a trained Pharisee prior to his conversion said of himself,
“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
The job of the Christian was laid down by Christ himself when he 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
Christians are to preach the good news of salvation to the world not get involved in politics and attempt to restrict the rights and freedoms of others.
What Christians should be doing in my opinion is illustrated in the following.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24.
By all, Paul meant all. Sin is falling short of what God wants for our lives. We all sin and the Bible makes it clear Jesus can cleanse us from our sin.
The apostle John writing,
“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.
These words were written to every man and woman that has ever lived. Jesus did not play favourites.
He made the following very clear statements for all to accept or reject.
“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 who he was when he said,
Jesus answered, “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
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
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.
Please whoever you are think about it.
Thursday, 2 July 2015
On God
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
“Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.
“You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.”
Exodus 20:2-17.
The ten commandments a basic set of morals to live by, given by God to man.
Moral absolutes is one thing the atheist cannot explain. If there is no universal absolutes mankind would sink into anarchy.
Every man and woman that has ever been born is born with moral absolutes. We know instinctively what is right and wrong.
The book of Exodus puts down in writing what God would have us live by in the form of the ten commandments.
The first five outlines how God would have us act with respect to him. The last five outlines how we are to act toward our fellow man. It is because of this basic moral code that human society can function correctly.
When these basic laws are broken society starts to fall apart. Nazi Germany is a classic example. Millions of people died because a group of men and women did not fear God and broke His moral code. The Islamic State terrorist and for that matter all terrorist groups are also examples of men who have transcended God’s laws bringing about death and misery for hundreds of thousands.
Man needs moral absolutes. Man needs a God to respect.
Abba Hillel Silver 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
I for one believe those who say there is no God are fooling themselves. God and life after death add meaning to life,
Peter John Kreeft states,
“Atheism treats people cheaply. Also, it robs death of meaning, and if death has no meaning, how can life ultimately have meaning? Atheism cheapens everything it touches, look at the results of communism, the most powerful form of atheism on earth.
And in the end, when the atheist dies and encounters God instead of nothingness he had predicted he’ll recognize that atheism was a cheap answer because it refused the only thing that’s not cheap the God of infinite value”
Peter John Kreeft ph.d
Please think about it.
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
“Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.
“You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.”
Exodus 20:2-17.
The ten commandments a basic set of morals to live by, given by God to man.
Moral absolutes is one thing the atheist cannot explain. If there is no universal absolutes mankind would sink into anarchy.
Every man and woman that has ever been born is born with moral absolutes. We know instinctively what is right and wrong.
The book of Exodus puts down in writing what God would have us live by in the form of the ten commandments.
The first five outlines how God would have us act with respect to him. The last five outlines how we are to act toward our fellow man. It is because of this basic moral code that human society can function correctly.
When these basic laws are broken society starts to fall apart. Nazi Germany is a classic example. Millions of people died because a group of men and women did not fear God and broke His moral code. The Islamic State terrorist and for that matter all terrorist groups are also examples of men who have transcended God’s laws bringing about death and misery for hundreds of thousands.
Man needs moral absolutes. Man needs a God to respect.
Abba Hillel Silver 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
I for one believe those who say there is no God are fooling themselves. God and life after death add meaning to life,
Peter John Kreeft states,
“Atheism treats people cheaply. Also, it robs death of meaning, and if death has no meaning, how can life ultimately have meaning? Atheism cheapens everything it touches, look at the results of communism, the most powerful form of atheism on earth.
And in the end, when the atheist dies and encounters God instead of nothingness he had predicted he’ll recognize that atheism was a cheap answer because it refused the only thing that’s not cheap the God of infinite value”
Peter John Kreeft ph.d
Please think about it.
Wednesday, 1 July 2015
Jesus is Alive!!!
Jesus is alive!
"Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.
One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
“What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning
but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.
Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.
But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.”
Luke 24:13-24.
Above is the story of the men on the road to Emmaus who meet Jesus after his resurrection. It clearly states that people seen Jesus after he had died and rose from the dead. That he was in bodily form.
This is a claim that is unique to Christians. The Author and Finisher of our faith is the One and Only Son of God, Jesus.
We believe Jesus lived a perfect life, died for sins he didn’t commit was buried and rose from the grave victorious. That he ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. He did this for us. The apostle Paul writing,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
The message of the Christians want people to know is that God and Jesus are very much alive and loves them Jesus himself each and every person a choice when 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
The choice is yours. Paul speaking to his Jailor said,
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved....”
Acts 16:31a.
Please think about it
"Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.
One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
“What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning
but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.
Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.
But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.”
Luke 24:13-24.
Above is the story of the men on the road to Emmaus who meet Jesus after his resurrection. It clearly states that people seen Jesus after he had died and rose from the dead. That he was in bodily form.
This is a claim that is unique to Christians. The Author and Finisher of our faith is the One and Only Son of God, Jesus.
We believe Jesus lived a perfect life, died for sins he didn’t commit was buried and rose from the grave victorious. That he ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father. He did this for us. The apostle Paul writing,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
The message of the Christians want people to know is that God and Jesus are very much alive and loves them Jesus himself each and every person a choice when 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
The choice is yours. Paul speaking to his Jailor said,
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved....”
Acts 16:31a.
Please think about it
Tuesday, 30 June 2015
Thou has conquered O Galilean
Thou has conquered O Galilean
Julian the Apostate who was Roman Emperor from 361-363 A.D. a vehement adversary of Christianity wrote in his works against Christianity,
“Jesus...has now been celebrated about three hundred years having done nothing in his lifetime worthy of fame, unless anyone thinks it is a very great work to heal the lame and blind people and exorcise demoniacs in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany”
At the end of his life he said, “Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”
Julian also confirmed to authenticity of the four gospels.
No one be they a Non-Christian of another faith or Atheist can deny the effect Jesus had on history.
Napoleon Bonaparte said of Jesus,
"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 Bonaparte,
People for centuries have spoken out against Jesus and Christianity its enemies have said it will die out from the moment it started but it hasn’t.
The book of Acts record what happened when two of Jesus disciples were brought before the religious authorities for preaching in the name of Jesus it records
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!
The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men
rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Acts 5:28-39.
Gamaliel was right to fight against Christianity is futile because it is of God.
God started his redemptive work with Abraham, Moses and the Jewish nation. God however loves the entire world thus he sent his one and only Son through the line of David that all the world may be blessed and have the opportunity to come to know him.
Those today be they the terrorist of this world. Be they Atheist or others who would deny Christ and come against Him are I firmly believe fighting against God.
I firmly believe those who do not believe in Christ will one day be shocked to find themselves standing before Jesus.
Jesus himself when asked who he was said,
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one.”
John 10:24-30
I think C.S. Lewis summed up Jesus and Christianity best when he 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
Jesus made one thing clear. God loves us and He gave us a choice when 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.
Please think about it.
Julian the Apostate who was Roman Emperor from 361-363 A.D. a vehement adversary of Christianity wrote in his works against Christianity,
“Jesus...has now been celebrated about three hundred years having done nothing in his lifetime worthy of fame, unless anyone thinks it is a very great work to heal the lame and blind people and exorcise demoniacs in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany”
At the end of his life he said, “Thou has conquered, O Galilean!”
Julian also confirmed to authenticity of the four gospels.
No one be they a Non-Christian of another faith or Atheist can deny the effect Jesus had on history.
Napoleon Bonaparte said of Jesus,
"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 Bonaparte,
People for centuries have spoken out against Jesus and Christianity its enemies have said it will die out from the moment it started but it hasn’t.
The book of Acts record what happened when two of Jesus disciples were brought before the religious authorities for preaching in the name of Jesus it records
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!
The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men
rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Acts 5:28-39.
Gamaliel was right to fight against Christianity is futile because it is of God.
God started his redemptive work with Abraham, Moses and the Jewish nation. God however loves the entire world thus he sent his one and only Son through the line of David that all the world may be blessed and have the opportunity to come to know him.
Those today be they the terrorist of this world. Be they Atheist or others who would deny Christ and come against Him are I firmly believe fighting against God.
I firmly believe those who do not believe in Christ will one day be shocked to find themselves standing before Jesus.
Jesus himself when asked who he was said,
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one.”
John 10:24-30
I think C.S. Lewis summed up Jesus and Christianity best when he 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
Jesus made one thing clear. God loves us and He gave us a choice when 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.
Please think about it.
Monday, 29 June 2015
A Question for the Ages
A question for the ages
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25,26
A question for the ages. Do you believe Jesus is the resurrection and the life. The writer of Hebrews did he wrote,
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” ?
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ?
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
Hebrews 1:3-6.
I believe the most important question anyone anywhere in the world must ask themselves is, Who is Jesus?”
Jesus said of himself,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
John’s gospel records this incident,
The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one.”
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
John 10:24-32.
The crowd didn’t stone Jesus the scriptures says he escaped their grasp.
The reason the crown wanted to stone Jesus is that he claimed to be equal to God. A crime of blasphemy punishable by death.
No man in his right mind would make such a claim if it were not true. C. S. Lewis put it this way in his book mere Christianity. He 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
So the choice is yours Is Jesus all he said he is or a lunatic?
Please think about it.
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25,26
A question for the ages. Do you believe Jesus is the resurrection and the life. The writer of Hebrews did he wrote,
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’” ?
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ?
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
Hebrews 1:3-6.
I believe the most important question anyone anywhere in the world must ask themselves is, Who is Jesus?”
Jesus said of himself,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
John’s gospel records this incident,
The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one.”
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
John 10:24-32.
The crowd didn’t stone Jesus the scriptures says he escaped their grasp.
The reason the crown wanted to stone Jesus is that he claimed to be equal to God. A crime of blasphemy punishable by death.
No man in his right mind would make such a claim if it were not true. C. S. Lewis put it this way in his book mere Christianity. He 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
So the choice is yours Is Jesus all he said he is or a lunatic?
Please think about it.
Sunday, 28 June 2015
Christians and christians
Christians and christians
“Going to church makes you no more of a Christian than standing in a fire station makes you a fire truck.”
I’ve heard many non-Christians over the years say I know people who go to such and such a church. I know what they do during the week and I am much better than they are. Why should I go to church?
My answer is simple not everyone who goes to church each Sunday is a Christian. Many people go all there lives to church yet are not Christians.
Many pastors, Christian teachers, and evangelist are not Christians.
What defines a Christian is simple.
A Christian is someone who believes Jesus is the Son of God, the saviour of mankind. They have admitted they are a sinner. That they have fallen short of the glory of God. They have confessed that sin to God and accepted Christ into their heart and lives.
When that happens their lives start to change.
Still Christians upon accepting Christ do not automatically become perfect, they are only progressing some at slower rates than others.
The key however is they made a decision to follow Christ and are doing their best to do what they feel He wants them to do.
I as Christian know there are many claiming to be Christian teacher, preachers and evangelist as well as many sitting in the pews of any given church on any given Sunday that are not Christians. They are teaching and practising things that are not Christian.
The apostle Paul knew this. He wrote to Timothy saying,
“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.
Jesus even said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
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 7:21-23.
The key I believe for the non-Christian is to visit a Church at least once in a while. Try different Churches. Listen to what the pastor or teacher has to say and judge for yourself what God has for you.
Many people do criticize the church and much of the criticism the church get is deserved.
The basic facts still however remain. Jesus love you and offers you a choice. 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.
Please think about it.
“Going to church makes you no more of a Christian than standing in a fire station makes you a fire truck.”
I’ve heard many non-Christians over the years say I know people who go to such and such a church. I know what they do during the week and I am much better than they are. Why should I go to church?
My answer is simple not everyone who goes to church each Sunday is a Christian. Many people go all there lives to church yet are not Christians.
Many pastors, Christian teachers, and evangelist are not Christians.
What defines a Christian is simple.
A Christian is someone who believes Jesus is the Son of God, the saviour of mankind. They have admitted they are a sinner. That they have fallen short of the glory of God. They have confessed that sin to God and accepted Christ into their heart and lives.
When that happens their lives start to change.
Still Christians upon accepting Christ do not automatically become perfect, they are only progressing some at slower rates than others.
The key however is they made a decision to follow Christ and are doing their best to do what they feel He wants them to do.
I as Christian know there are many claiming to be Christian teacher, preachers and evangelist as well as many sitting in the pews of any given church on any given Sunday that are not Christians. They are teaching and practising things that are not Christian.
The apostle Paul knew this. He wrote to Timothy saying,
“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.
Jesus even said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
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 7:21-23.
The key I believe for the non-Christian is to visit a Church at least once in a while. Try different Churches. Listen to what the pastor or teacher has to say and judge for yourself what God has for you.
Many people do criticize the church and much of the criticism the church get is deserved.
The basic facts still however remain. Jesus love you and offers you a choice. 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.
Please think about it.
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