Category Archives: Reasons to Believe

Reasons to Believe

The Origin of Evil and Its End-Part 2

Leave a comment

“I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth, . . . and never shalt thou be any more.”

Ezekiel 28: 18-19

In part 1, we discovered Lucifer, before his fall, maintained a high position of the kingdom of God (heaven).  He is shown in Ezekiel 28:14 as the anointed cherub who covers...But discontent and pride mysteriously rose up in his heart.  He rebelled against God and there was a war unlike what we see on earth. Lucifer (light bearer in Hebrew) was cast as a fallen angel to earth and one-third of the angels joined in this rebellion of God which continues to this day.

Lucifer became Satan (adversary-one who withstands). This occurred before the creation of mankind.  Since that day of rebellion in heaven, there has been a Great Controversy between Christ and Satan.  It was Satan’s design to lie and lead man and woman to distrust God.  He is “the father of lies…and a murder.” Jesus said,

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
John 8:44
Through lies, he has spun a web to trap his victims into thinking God has his sinful qualities and blame God for all the evil things that occur on earth when it is Satan who promotes death and destruction.  This misrepresentation of God’s character will lead, Satan’s captures to join in his rebellion which will lead them down the broad path of ultimate destruction.
If it were not for the first coming of Jesus to set the record straight about the nature and purpose of God and to pay the price for our sins (death) we would have all been lost and continue in sin and our destructive habits.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Hebrews 2:14
__________________________________________________________

The same spirit that prompted rebellion in heaven still inspires rebellion on earth. Satan has continued with men the same policy which he pursued with the angels. His spirit now reigns in the children of disobedience. Like him they seek to break down the restraints of the law of God and promise men liberty through transgression of its precepts. Reproof of sin still arouses the spirit of hatred and resistance. When God’s messages of warning are brought home to the conscience, Satan leads men to justify themselves and to seek the sympathy of others in their course of sin. Instead of correcting their errors, they excite indignation against the reprover, as if he were the sole cause of difficulty. From the days of righteous Abel to our own time such is the spirit which has been displayed toward those who dare to condemn sin.

By the same misrepresentation of the character of God as he had practiced in heaven, causing Him to be regarded as severe and tyrannical, Satan induced man to sin. And having succeeded thus far, he declared that God’s unjust restrictions had led to man’s fall, as they had led to his own rebellion.

But the Eternal One Himself proclaims His character:

“The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.”

Exodus 34:6, 7.

In the banishment of Satan from heaven, God declared His justice and maintained the honor of His throne. But when man had sinned through yielding to the deceptions of this apostate spirit, God gave an evidence of His love by yielding up His only-begotten Son to die for the fallen race.

In the atonement the character of God is revealed. The mighty argument of the cross demonstrates to the whole universe that the course of sin which Lucifer had chosen was in no wise chargeable upon the government of God.

In the contest between Christ and Satan, during the Saviour’s earthly ministry, the character of the great deceiver was unmasked. Nothing could so effectually have uprooted Satan from the affections of the heavenly angels and the whole loyal universe as did his cruel warfare upon the world’s Redeemer. The daring blasphemy of his demand that Christ should pay him homage, his presumptuous boldness in bearing Him to the mountain summit and the pinnacle of the temple, the malicious intent betrayed in urging Him to cast Himself down from the dizzy height, the unsleeping malice that hunted Him from place to place, inspiring the hearts of priests and people to reject His love, and at the last to cry, “Crucify Him! crucify Him!”–all this excited the amazement and indignation of the universe.

It was Satan that prompted the world’s rejection of Christ. The prince of evil exerted all his power and cunning to destroy Jesus; for he saw that the Saviour’s mercy and love, His compassion and pitying tenderness, were representing to the world the character of God. Satan contested every claim put forth by the Son of God and employed men as his agents to fill the Saviour’s life with suffering and sorrow. The sophistry and falsehood by which he had sought to hinder the work of Jesus, the hatred manifested through the children of disobedience, his cruel accusations against Him whose life was one of unexampled goodness, all sprang from deep-seated revenge. The pent-up fires of envy and malice, hatred and revenge, burst forth on Calvary against the Son of God, while all heaven gazed upon the scene in silent horror.

When the great sacrifice had been consummated, Christ ascended on high, refusing the adoration of angels until He had presented the request:

“I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.”

John 17:24.

Then with inexpressible love and power came forth the answer from the Father’s throne:

“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”

Hebrews 1:6.

Not a stain rested upon Jesus. His humiliation ended, His sacrifice completed, there was given unto Him a name that is above every name.

Now the guilt of Satan stood forth without excuse. He had revealed his true character as a liar and a murderer. It was seen that the very same spirit with which he ruled the children of men, who were under his power, he would have manifested had he been permitted to control the inhabitants of heaven. He had claimed that the transgression of God’s law would bring liberty and exaltation; but it was seen to result in bondage and degradation.

Satan’s lying charges against the divine character and government appeared in their true light. He had accused God of seeking merely the exaltation of Himself in requiring submission and obedience from His creatures, and had declared that, while the Creator exacted self-denial from all others, He Himself practiced no self-denial and made no sacrifice. Now it was seen that for the salvation of a fallen and sinful race, the Ruler of the universe had made the greatest sacrifice which love could make; for

“God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.”

2 Corinthians 5:19.

It was seen, also, that while Lucifer had opened the door for the entrance of sin by his desire for honor and supremacy, Christ had, in order to destroy sin, humbled Himself and become obedient unto death.

God had manifested His abhorrence of the principles of rebellion. All heaven saw His justice revealed, both in the condemnation of Satan and in the redemption of man. Lucifer had declared that if the law of God was changeless, and its penalty could not be remitted, every transgressor must be forever debarred from the Creator’s favor. He had claimed that the sinful race were placed beyond redemption and were therefore his rightful prey. But the death of Christ was an argument in man’s behalf that could not be overthrown. The penalty of the law fell upon Him who was equal with God, and man was free to accept the righteousness of Christ and by a life of penitence and humiliation to triumph, as the Son of God had triumphed, over the power of Satan. Thus God is just and yet the justifier of all who believe in Jesus.

But it was not merely to accomplish the redemption of man that Christ came to the earth to suffer and to die. He came to

“magnify the law” and to “make it honorable.”

Isaiah 42:21

Not alone that the inhabitants of this world might regard the law as it should be regarded; but it was to demonstrate to all the worlds of the universe that God’s law is unchangeable. Could its claims have been set aside, then the Son of God need not have yielded up His life to atone for its transgression. The death of Christ proves it immutable. And the sacrifice to which infinite love impelled the Father and the Son, that sinners might be redeemed, demonstrates to all the universe–what nothing less than this plan of atonement could have sufficed to do–that justice and mercy are the foundation of the law and government of God.

In the final execution of the judgment, it will be seen that no cause for sin exists. When the Judge of all the earth shall demand of Satan, “Why hast thou rebelled against Me, and robbed Me of the subjects of My kingdom?” the originator of evil can render no excuse. Every mouth will be stopped, and all the hosts of rebellion will be speechless.

The cross of Calvary, while it declares the law immutable, proclaims to the universe that the wages of sin is death. In the Saviour’s expiring cry,

“It is finished,”

the death knell of Satan was rung. The great controversy which had been so long in progress was then decided, and the final eradication of evil was made certain. The Son of God passed through the portals of the tomb, that

“through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

Hebrews 2:14.

Lucifer’s desire for self-exaltation had led him to say:

“I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: . . . I will be like the Most High.” God declares: “I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth, . . . and never shalt thou be any more.”

Isaiah 14:13, 14; Ezekiel 28:18, 19.

When

“the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven;. . . .all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.”

Malachi 4:1.

The whole universe will have become witnesses to the nature and results of sin. And its utter extermination, which in the beginning would have brought fear to angels and dishonor to God, will now vindicate His love and establish His honor before the universe of beings who delight to do His will, and in whose heart is His law. Never will evil again be manifest. Says the word of God:

“Affliction shall not rise up the second time.” Nahum 1:9.

The law of God, which Satan has reproached as the yoke of bondage, will be honored as the law of liberty. A tested and proved creation will never again be turned from allegiance to Him whose character has been fully manifested before them as fathomless love and infinite wisdom.

Great Controversy, p. 500-504

Aplogetics, Reasons to Believe

Common Misconceptions About Christianity-BLIND FAITH

“Grow up!  It is silly to believe in the man-in-the-sky  stuff!”

“Your belief is based on myths, the human need for comfort, and blind faith.”

“There is no evidence for your faith.”

How many times have Christians heard this?  In this series, we are going to explore the misconceptions associated with Christianity and the reasons and evidence for belief in Jesus Christ.

I have learned over the 40 years, as a believer in Jesus, that people who make derogatory statements like the ones above are simply uninformed. But even if they are informed, it does not guarantee an acceptance of the truth about Jesus and the word of God.

Benjamin Warfield from Princeton University put it this way,

“We are not absurdly arguing that *Apologetics has in itself the power to make a man a Christian or to conquer the world to Christ. Only the Spirit of Life can communicate life to a dead soul….But we are arguing that faith is, in all its exercises alike, a form of conviction, and is, therefore, necessarily grounded in evidence.”

*Note: Apologetics (in the Greek language apología) is not about "aplogizing" in the modern sense of the word, but rather a reasoned defending the faith.

As Christians, we are directed by Peter (one who was an eyewitness to the life of Christ) to:

….always be ready to give a defense (apología) to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

1 Peter 3:15

We are also told by Paul, another eyewitness and major player in the growth of Christianity, that

 faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

__________________________________________________________

Unprepared for the world’s attack.

Herein is the problem with the great loss of faith by our young children who enter college and face mature men and women armed with questions and doubts determined to convert their minds into their own agnostic/atheist beliefs.

We raise our young children in almost sterile environments complete with band memberships, Christian socials, and fun things, which are OK.  At night we tell them nice Bible bedtime stories, also good,  but we don’t give them the evidence, substance,  nor the reasons for their faith in Jesus.  Many are ignorant of the Bible itself and its faith-giving prophecies.  Perhaps even more crippling is the absence of a personal experience with and dedication to Jesus.

Even us adults may find ourselves in a state of doubt and an anemic  Christian experience because our faith is not based on facts, but rather feelings and family tradition.

Faith is not blind, it has substance and evidence. I agree with those who say, “my heart cannot rejoice in what my mind rejects.” God invites us to think and use our minds, not just our heart (feelings)

Jesus quoted from the Old Testament when he said,

“…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 

Mark 12:30

The Christian experience includes the mind (reasoning) and not just the emotion.  God asks us to “reason together” with him (Isaiah 1:18). Reasoning involves communication and this communication is performed through prayer and the opening of the heart to what He has already revealed to us in scripture. But, it also involves having “facts” for faith in Jesus.

The order of the three “f’s” in Christianity must occur in this order: Facts, Faith, Feeling.  The facts about Jesus give you reasons for your faith (trust in Jesus), and all this give you the peace and all the feelings that come from the promises of God’s word.

An experience that starts and based only on feelings is destined to wither under the heat of life’s events.  Faith cannot be mustered up by mental exercises. The faith and feelings will come only by the facts.  This is what Paul stressed when he said,

 So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17

As one evangelist, I knew, said,

“Little time in God’s word equals little faith, but much time in God’s word equals much faith.”

____________________________________________________________

Not Blind Faith

When Jesus Christ and the apostles called upon a person to exercise faith, it was not a ‘blind faith” but rather an “intelligent faith.”  The apostle Paul said,

I know whom I have believed”

2 Timothy 1:12

Jesus said,

You shall know (not ignore) the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:32

For me personally and many like me, I could not exercise blind faith about Jesus, I needed substance and evidence. I found it in three sources:  1.)  The prophecies about Jesus, 2.) History, and 3.) Eyewitness accounts.

“*The Christian faith is an objective faith; therefore, it must have an object. The Christian concept of ‘saving’ faith is a faith that establishes one’s relationship with Jesus Christ (the object), and is diametrically opposed to the average ‘philosophical’ use of the term faith in the classroom today.”

“Faith in the Christian sense goes beyond reason but not against it” (Paul Little)

For the Christian, historical facts are critical.  Paul drives home this point when he described the historical fact of the resurrection:

“And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty…And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.”

1 Corinthians 15: 14, 17

The Stories of the  Bible Are Not Myths

“Critics sometimes charge, ‘Events such as the virgin birth, the resurrection and ascension, Jesus’ turning water into wine and walking on water didn’t really happen. They were inserted to elevate Jesus to the status of a divine figure, though, if he lived at all, he was no more than a mere mortal.” “A professor of a world literature class to which I spoke asked the question, ‘What do you think of Greek mythology?’ I answered with another question, ‘Do you mean, were the events of the life of Jesus, the resurrection, virgin birth, etc., just myth?’ He answered ‘Yes.’ I replied that there is an obvious difference between the events recorded about Christ in the Bible and the stories conveyed in Greek mythology that bear a vague similarity. The similar stories , such as resurrections, and others, of Greek mythology were not applied to real flesh-and-blood individuals, but instead to non-historical, fictional, mythological characters However, when it comes to Christianity, these events are attached to the historic Jesus of Nazareth who the New Testament writers knew personally, the professor replied, ‘Your’re right, I never realized that before.”

The Bible Contains Eyewitnesses Unlike Mythology or the Writings of Other Religious Works

Peter was an eyewitness who refutes the events as fables:

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

2 Peter 1:16

John saw and touched Jesus:

 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested (made known) to us—  that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 1: 1-3

Luke, an educated physician put together a narrative from a “perfect understanding” of the events.

Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled  among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,

Luke 1:1-3

Luke followed it up with “infallible proofs” as Jesus was seen by many for “forty days” after the cross.

The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,  until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

Acts 1: 1-3

Paul saw Jesus after 500 people saw him “at once” ( a congregation of people), then James and all the apostles saw Him.

After that, He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that, He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.  Then last of all, He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

1 Corinthians 15: 6-8

John was an eyewitness to Jesus’ miracles and signs, most were not even written down! 

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name….And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

John 20: 30-31, 21:25

Luke states they were all witnesses even His death, resurrection, and having meals with Him afterward.

And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they[ killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,  not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.

Acts 10: 39-42

Peter witness not only His sufferings but also looked forward to the second glorious return as taught by Jesus before he died!

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:

1 Peter 1:5

His followers listened and watched as Jesus ascended to heaven as promised.

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

Acts 1:9

Peter discloses to hecklers to the Pentecost that they also saw and know the actions and events of Jesus life

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—

Acts 2:22

After Festus called Paul mad, Paul discloses that all that Jesus did was in the open and King Agrippa must have known about it. Further, Paul appealed to King Agrippa’s knowledge of the prophets and the fulfillment of their words in Jesus.

Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

 But he said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.  For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention since this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”

Acts 26: 24-28

Conclusion

The Christian beliefs are not based on blind faith nor myths and fables. They are based on substance and evidence. Like all historical characters, there were eyewitnesses.  Faith is based on substance and evidence, but even the evidence is not enough to convert a person.  That person will only be convinced and converted if they yield to the encouraging the work of God’s Spirit which brings conviction about sin and its ultimate results.  Once the person goes “all-in” with Jesus, they will discover a life of peace, real joy, and hope in the coming events proclaimed by Jesus and God’s word.

Next time we will continue our study on misconceptions about Christianity.

*Much thanks to Josh McDowell and his book The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict. Volume I and II

Prophecies for Our Time, Reasons to Believe

Science, Sickness, and Death-Good Reasons to Doubt?

Leave a comment

Listen to my teaching, and you will be wise; do not ignore it.

Proverbs 8:33

A Brilliant Mind Falls Short

Albert Einstein was arguably one of the most brilliant minds of all times, yet he admitted his short-comings and “limited mind” on the topic of God.  He did not believe in a personal God. He considered himself an  agnostic or a “religious unbeliever.”

Einstein was not an atheist. He could see the work of a Creator in the order of the cosmos. He often complained about being put into the atheist camp:

“In view of such harmony in the cosmos which I, with my limited human mind, am able to recognize, there are yet people who say there is no God. But what really makes me angry is that they quote me for the support of such views.”5

“I’m not an atheist and I don’t think I can call myself a pantheist. We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many languages. The child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangements of the books but doesn’t know what it is. That, it seems to me, is the attitude of even the most intelligent human being toward God.”6

Einstein also expressed his skepticism regarding the existence of an anthropomorphic God, such as the God of Abrahamic religions, often describing this view as “naïve”[3] and “childlike”.[11] 

In a 1947 letter, he stated, “It seems to me that the idea of a personal God is an anthropological concept which I cannot take seriously.”[12] In a letter to Beatrice Frohlich on 17 December 1952, Einstein stated,

“The idea of a personal God is quite alien to me and seems even naïve.”[13]

He also said, in an interview with the Saturday Evening Post (1929):

“As a child, I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene.”

When asked,

“Do you accept the historical existence of Jesus?”, He replied emphatically,

“Unquestionably! No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life.”7

____________________________________________________

The Shortcoming of Scientific Intelligence-Lack of Knowledge

Here is the oxymoron of Einstein’s statements. It fits many who consider Jesus to be a wise teacher, but nothing more:

Albert had doubts about the existence of a personal God, but he found Jesus wise and appealing in many ways. That is personal. Despite all this, he would not follow God’s own instructions so that he could know him personally:

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

God, Himself, tells the reader of His word that it is possible to know and understand Him.

But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth.
For in these, I delight,” says the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:24

It is possible to have a personal relationship with One who delights in things.  Being delightful is a very human emotion. It is an emotion that God possesses. There are human beings (like God) who are loving, kind, and always does the right thing for others, often sacrificing their own desires and comforts.  They did not come to be this way by themselves.  God is the author of these qualities!  But, there is another author at work that has opposite qualities.

Here is the big hangup in the scientific mind.  They won’t accept the fact that evil had a beginning and the flames of its passion are whipped up by this entity in the minds and hearts of people every day.   He is the author of destruction and death.

The scientific mind can’t, or won’t, consider the Bible as a viable book to read and study; therefore they will not search for spiritual knowledge. And since they won’t search its inspired writers, their skepticism grows. The converted Paul said,

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

1 Corinthians 2:14

They can’t see the order of the cosmos and life as did Mr. Einstein. They would rather attribute it to chance and billions of years of blind luck. But, let’s be fair.  There are some very good reasons for people to doubt the existence of God or, at the least, a personal God.

________________________________________________________________________

Religion and Jesus-Two Different Things:

Real followers of Christ (not the religious) have found that the key to understanding God is Jesus. It is all about Him from Genesis to Revelation:

1 Corinthians 2:14

You search the Scriptures,…. these are they which testify of Me.-Jesus

John 5:39

At another time, Jesus revealed to his disciples an important truth about the God of the Old Testament and Himself.

 “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

Luke 24:  44, 45

So if the scriptures are about Jesus, we can’t just say he is a “good teacher” or a “good moral man”….who suddenly and without warning appeared on the scene.  He is the One who all the writers of the Old Testament wrote and sought over the millennia of time. But, when

the time was right, God sent his Son…..Galatians 4:4

So, why wouldn’t a scientific mind desire to have a knowledge of Jesus and scripture?  It is because it is not science and does not fit into the comfortable world of science and its operational sterile paradigms.  The Bible is not a book of science, but rather a book about the human experience and spiritual truths. If God is all that He claims to be, then He is the author of science and the scientists are merely the discoverers of His science.  For example, scientists did not create the laws of gravity…they discovered them.

___________________________________________________________

Religion is Its Own Worst Enemy

Another couple of reasons for the scientific mind to dismiss the book that provides insight into many of the human experiences not addressed by science is the radical religionists and suffering.

The religious people are their own worst enemy! The ones who are not real followers of Jesus, but people who are re”religious” portray the God of mercy and loving-kindness and his truth into undesirable rounds of ceremonies, does and don’ts, eternal torment, and guilt trips. Some even feel God desires them to terrorize people into belief…and I am not just talking about our friends in the middle east. How often is eternal burning hell used as a weapon to scare the uninformed into belief?

You can’t blame unbelievers.  For a long time, this was my main reasons for unbelief and disdain for churches.  There are no answers or peace in such a religious world. But, there is a path to truth in Jesus who invites people into a one-on-one experience with Him.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

_____________________________________________________________-

Unbelief in God Because of Death and Suffering

Often I receive comments from readers of this blog and some of my Facebook sites who say that Jesus is “an imaginary friend.” While others ask, “Where was God’ when my (fill in a family member relationship) died from cancer or was killed in a car wreck, etc.

Einstein had similar feelings about the incompatibility of a caring God and the daily horrors of planet earth:

How many have asked….

 “Why would God allow my family member to die of cancer?”

“Why has he allowed death and destruction to reign on this planet?”

“Where was God when...If there is a God, He is not in control.”

These questions pre-suppose that God should make our lives perfect and without sin, death, and destruction.  To the uninformed, belief is contingent upon our feelings of what God should be like.  But, this is not according to what is revealed in God’s word.  This author captures my next thoughts exactly:

God made man perfectly holy and happy; and the fair earth, as it came from the Creator’s hand, bore no blight of decay or shadow of the curse. It is transgression of God’s law–the law of love–that has brought woe and death. Yet even amid the suffering that results from sin, God’s love is revealed. It is written that God cursed the ground for man’s sake. Genesis 3:17. The thorn and the thistle–the difficulties and trials that make his life one of toil and care–were appointed for his good as a part of the training needful in God’s plan for his uplifting from the ruin and degradation that sin has wrought. 

God’s Love for Man. Page 9

When God made man as described in the opening chapters of Genesis, everything He made, He declared “good” or “very good.” There was not death, decaying, or the curse. But something went terribly wrong. Evil in the form of a rebellious angel called Lucifer began the journey of sin, death, and decay.  He is the author of the bad things in this life not God for it is written:

 Everything good comes from God. Every perfect gift is from him. These good gifts come down from the Father who made all the lights in the sky. But God never changes like the shadows from those lights. He is always the same.

James 1:17 (ERV)

So when we blame God for the evil in this world, we demonstrate we do so without a knowledge of God and what He has revealed to us through his word.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55: 8, 9

Einstein’s failure to understand the motives of God are the result of his incorrect assumption that God intended this universe as His ultimate perfect creation. Einstein could not get past the moral problems that are present in our universe. He assumed, as most atheists do, that a personal God would only create a universe which is both good morally and perfect physically. Where Einstein erred was in that thinking that there was a god who designed the universe, but designed it in such as way as to allow evil without a purpose

___________________________________________________________________

It would be too inconvenient or dangerous to the dedicated scientist and to their worldview to consider there might be more to existence than what can be explained through formulas, books, test tubes, and philosophies, or unbelieving professors that focus only on what can be seen and understood by “limited human minds.”  Therefore, many won’t listen or follow any of Jesus’ words even though all are invited to follow Him down a path of discovery. So His words are chosen by unbelievers and religionists like fruit from the tree of knowledge to fit their own likeness of God, while other less palatable instructions are left to rot on the altar of narcissism and selfishness.

…while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

John 5:39

Ultimately, we cannot project limited human thoughts, philosophies, or reasoning upon God and create Him in our own image. He is supreme.  We are not.  He is omnipotent, we are not.

 How can we intelligently base our decision to be an unbeliever based on cancer which is often the result of our own actions i.e. smoking cigarettes or runaway eating of anything and everything?

The order and intelligence of the design of the universe leave us will little excuse for unbelief.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

Romans 1:20

Yes, you can know God personally, but you must search and desire to understand and gain knowledge unlike what you will gain from the textbooks or even blog sites like this.  Being a scientist does not mean you can’t study and read the Bible.  If you do, at the least, you will find wisdom.  In fact, there are many scientists who are believers in Jesus and have faith in God’s word.

I have concluded that unbelievers are the uninformed! When I searched out Jesus through the Bible I found Him. He is there if you will just look.

Listen to my teaching, and you will be wise; do not ignore it.

Proverbs 8:33

If you want to begin your Jesus journey through the Bible, I invite you to click on the site below to begin a basic understanding of God’s word.  These studies will lead you to a deeper and deeper to an understanding of spiritual things and the God who made the universe.

Free Online Bible School

________________________________________________________________________

References

  1. “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” (Albert Einstein, “Science, Philosophy and Religion: a Symposium”, 1941)
  2. “My position concerning God is that of an agnostic. I am convinced that a vivid consciousness of the primary importance of moral principles for the betterment and ennoblement of life does not need the idea of a law-giver, especially a law-giver who works on the basis of reward and punishment.” (Albert Einstein in a letter to M. Berkowitz, October 25, 1950; Einstein Archive 59–215; from Alice Calaprice, ed., The New Quotable Einstein, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2005, p. 206. )
  3. Helen Dukas and Banesh Hoffman (eds) (1981). Albert Einstein, The Human Side. Princeton University Press. p. 43.
  4. Cable reply to Rabbi Herbert S. Goldstein’s (Institutional Synagogue in New York) question to Einstein, “Do you believe in God?”.
  5. Prinz Hubertus zu Lowenstein, Towards the Further Shore: An Autobiography (Victor Gollancz, London, 1968), p. 156.
  6. G. S. Viereck, Glimpses of the Great (Macauley, New York, 1930), quoted by D. Brian, Einstein: A Life , p. 186.
  7. G. S. Viereck, “What Life Means to Einstein,” Saturday Evening Post, 26 October 1929; Schlagschatten, Sechsundzwanzig Schicksalsfragen an Grosse der Zeit (Vogt-Schild, Solothurn, 1930), p. 60; Glimpses of the Great (Macauley, New York, 1930), pp. 373-374.

 

 

 

Reasons to Believe

Will The Real God Please Stand-Up? Conclusion-Eternity

1 Comment

One day, the true God will stand up for His People:

And at that time shall Michael (Jesus) stand up…. and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Daniel 12:1

And …every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:11

 _____________________________________________

We have been discussing the differences between the two largest religions.  We have let the word of their holy books speak for themselves.  When compared, the truth becomes clear.  The comparison has been stark. One man named Muhammad  wrote the Quran over a 23 year period and The Bible written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by 39 men written over a period of 1,500 years.

We now turn to the last topic in this series.  The place of eternal life called, heaven, paradise, or “the Garden” (an Islamic designation for the place of pleasure for the ones who occupy it)

It does not take long when studying the Quran and the description of paradise to see the diminished role of a woman, even in paradise, as an object to satisfy the carnal desires of men. It seems to be all about sex for the believer of Allah. Following are just a few examples:

At-Tirmizi, vol. 2, states on page 138:

The Prophet Muhammad said “Every man who enters paradise shall be given 72 (seventy-two) houris (gazelle-eyed woman); no matter at what age he had died, when he is admitted into paradise, he will become a thirty-year-old, and shall not age any further. A man in paradise shall be given virility equal to that of one hundred men”.

“gardens and vineyards; and girls with swelling breasts of the same age as themselves, and a brimming cup;” S. 78:32-34 Palmer

Could we not say that the prophet Muhammad’s description of paradise appeals to men only  who will be given “virility equal to that of one hundred men.”  They are given women of the same age with “swelling breasts.”

Women in the Quran are described as  of less value than males and only objects of the males’ sexual desires.  This is demonstrated likewise in the Islamic culture to this day.

Virgins await those who enter paradise. 2:25

“Pure companions, and contentment from Allah”
Virgins await those who enter paradise. 3:15

But the single-minded slaves of Allah will enjoy a Garden filled with lovely-eyed virgins. 37:40-48

But, the Lord Jesus and the Holy Bible described the abode of the saved much differently.

________________________________________________

As mentioned in previous studies, the Quran was written by one man (Muhammad).  He appeals to the sex drive of fighting age men and promises unending sex as the reason to defend the faith. The Bible on the other hand offers to man and women a more fulfilling and happy life.

The Scripture says:

“No eye has seen,
    no ear has heard,
        and no mind has imagined
            the things that God has prepared
                for those who love him.”

1 Corinthians 2:9

While it is true we cannot begin to understand what heaven will be like, we are given enough descriptions from God’s word to know that it is for both male and female who are equal in the sight of God:

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:28

While the Quran is an appeal to the carnal nature of the male ,  the Bible tells us that we will be changed when Christ returns. When are we changed?  At death? or at the resurrection?

 Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed –  in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory

1 Corinthians 15:51

This mystery is made clear that when Jesus returns (last trumpet) and the dead in Christ have been raised, then we are changed from perishable to imperishable; from mortal to immortal THEN AND ONLY THEN can we say death has been eliminated through the victory Jesus provided us through his own resurrection as the “first fruits” of resurrection

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:20

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

1 Corinthians 15:23

Being with the Lord begins when Jesus returns, this is the hope of the Christian who dies in Christ:

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18

The Bible specifically tells us to “comfort one another with these words.”  The words are that Jesus will come again and raise us from the dead and change us!  The comfort does not come from thinking our loved ones are already in heaven and looking down on a sinful world.

The beauty of the truth is that all of us will meet the Lord at the same time.  What a reunion day that will be!

This reward of eternal life is with Jesus when He comes back.

And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

Revelations 22:12

But, the Bible reveals something many people look over when they talk about heaven.  It is the new heaven and the new earth.

Let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say about the abode of the saved beyond the second coming and throughout eternity.

___________________________________________________________________

How is do you visualize this place called heaven?  How would you describe it in your own words?  Is it a place of clouds and the redeemed floating on a cloud playing a harp?  Is it old uncle George smoking his favorite cigars and fishing with Peter?  Is it doing all those things you enjoyed while on earth? Are you a wispy spirit with not body? What does heaven look like? What is going on there?

We can find from scripture a mountain of information on this topic.  It is all tangible. Things we can see, touch, and feel!

_________________________________________________________

Jesus made a promise to His followers:

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

John 14:1-3

Heaven is where God dwells:

“Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive.”

1 Kings 8:30

Jesus said this is where Jesus was going to prepare a place for us:

You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, “I am going to the Father,”

John 14:28

Look closely at these verses in John 14. Jesus promised to “prepare a place” for us, but also notice that we won’t be there until Jesus returns.  Also, notice that Jesus is there already doing a work of “preparing a place.”

Is Jesus building a mansion for us? Is His work the work as a carpenter?

Hebrews tell us something that helps us visualize heaven and the city God occupies now.

For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:10

This passage tells us that Abraham was looking forward, by faith, to a time when he would not be living in tents, but rather a city with foundations built by God Himself as the architect and builder. We can know that this city and its  mansions have already been built, because Jesus spoke in present tense. “In my Father’s house, there ARE many mansions”

The work of  preparing a place for us appears to be described in Hebrews:

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through (ascended to) the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession…Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Hebrews 4: 14, 16

So Jesus role is not an architect, but as a priest.  We need no other priest upon earth, because we have Jesus as our High Priest now in heaven.

His work of preparing a place is a spiritual preparation of our hearts and minds to inhabit such a wonderful place.  Every day, we have the honor of approaching the throne of grace to find mercy when we need it and call up God’s grace (power) to keep us from giving up and turning back into the wilderness of sin.

Heaven a literal place that is not “wispy” and cloud-like that we have seen in pictures by well meaning artists.  It is a city!

'No! No more harps! I can't take it anymore.'

The book that reveals (Revelation) describes the city and its foundations.  John was allowed to see the city.  He described this city  as follows:

1.) It was bright with the Glory of God and appeared like a precious jewel:

It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

Revelation 21: 11

2.) It had high walls with 12 gates and names on the gates on each side:

 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Revelation 21: 12-14

3.) The City is huge!

And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.  Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

Revelation 21: 15-17 (NKJV)

A furlong is 5.268359 yards.  12,000 furlongs = 1,500 miles.  The city is 1,500 miles on each side.  It covers 2, 250,000 square miles or (3,621,024 Kilometers)!

There is no city on earth that comes close to the size of this city! Something this large is considered a country!

This is the dwelling place of God Himself:

4.) It is colorful

The 216 foot thick wall is made of all kinds of precious stones and metals.  The city itself is gold!

The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones

Revelations 21: 18-19

5.)  By faith, Abraham looked forward to this city whose architect and builder is God Himself!

for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrews 11:10

6.)  The city has a name! It is called, New Jerusalem

Then I, John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 21:2

7.) This city that God built and where He, Jesus, and the angels dwell will come to this earth one day!

 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Revelation 21: 2, 10

____________________________________________________________

We have seen in previous studies that after Jesus comes to redeem the people who are alive when he comes and those who have died in Him, He will take us to where he is.  He is now in that big city.  So we will be moved from this sinful world to the pure city into the presence of God.  But, we do not stay there forever as strange as that may sound, we come back to the earth!

This city is coming back to this earth! Zachariah describes this day to us:

And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west,Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.

Zachariah 14:4

But when does this happen?

From Revelation 20, we get a clear picture of this earth void of people being the abode of Satan for 1,000 years before he is loosed out of his prison of circumstance

All the redeemed have been taken to heaven (the city called New Jerusalem).  All the lost are in their graves.  Some killed at the brightness of his coming  and the others from centuries past remained dead.

 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them,,,they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Revelation 20: 4

There awaits the lost for their own resurrection.

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Revelation 20:5-6

The two resurrections are separated by 1,000 years.  At the end of that period, the New Jerusalem returns to the earth that Jesus promised to His followers:

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5

Before the meek inherit the earth, God must put a final end to rebellion and sin.  When the masses of the sinful history are resurrected, Satan convinces the multitude to attack the Holy City. Because, like in the garden of Eden, the tree of life is inside.  If they can get to it, they will live forever.  But they are stopped and death and the grave are cast into the lake of fire.

And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are…

 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20: 9-10, 15

Then God begins to make a new heaven and a new earth:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Revelation 21: 1-3

What will this new earth be like?

Death and all the mental and physical ailments will be gone!

 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21:4

Who will we see?

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 8:11

But equally important we will see the ones we loved and we will recognize each other.

 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

1 Corinthians 13:12

Who will we be like?   We will be like Jesus!

Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

1 John 3:2

In Jesus resurrected glorified immortal body, he was real, but had abilities to suddenly appear or travel at the speed of thought.

Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have

Luke 24:39

In this glorified body, he also had an appetite:

He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.

Luke 24: 41-43

What will be do in heaven?

Remember, we can not know everything, but God has revealed two important aspects of our lives today that will give us great joy to do.  It is work and worship:

They shall build houses and inhabit them;
They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
They shall not plant and another eat;
For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people,
And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

Isiah 65: 21-23

This new earth free from poisons and dangers will become our source of practical happiness.  We will work with our hands and enjoy it!  We will build vineyards and a beautiful home to our liking.

Then each week and each month, we will gather back in the city for a Sabbath worship service that will exceed any service we have ever attended, because God Himself will be there!

“For as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord,
“So shall your descendants and your name remain.
 And it shall come to pass
That from one New Moon to another,
And from one Sabbath to another,
All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord.

Isaiah 66: 22-23

The Sabbath is important because the redeemed will watch as God creates a new heaven and a new earth.  This verse indicated that, perhaps, the Lord gives us a eye-witness account of the creation week and (again) He will rest from His work of creation and redemption.  We will all worship and admire the works of His hands.

Our name and our decedents will remain.  Our remembrance of this old earth and our journey through rebellion and sin will forever keep us from choosing sin a second time.

Our differences created by divisions of nationality and race will be healed as we come to the city to worship and eat from the tree of life that perpetuates eternal life

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 21: 1-2

This earth will become the dwelling place of God and the redeemed. The true God has stood up for His people:

“The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love.”

Great Controversy, page 678

 

Reasons to Believe

Will the Real God Please Stand Up-Part 5-Jehovah or Allah

2 Comments

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect

1 Peter 3:15

___________________________________________________

Jehovah and Allah.  Are they the same?

The two largest religions in the world (Christianity and Islam) claim to serve the only true God.  However, some followers of the Christian faith often conclude that both religions serve the same God.  Is this right?

It is has been reported by the Barna Group (California-based research and polling firm) at least 40% of Christians believe Christians and Muslims worship the same God.

Further, a great number of Christians believe either Allah or Jehovah can be followed into eternal life: ” According to the Barna analysis, 43 percent of Americans in general agreed with the following statement:

“It doesn’t matter what religious faith you follow because they all teach the same lessons,”

Statistics like these reveal that a large percentage of “Christians” have a  lack of understanding and knowledge about the character and teaching of both Jehovah and Allah.

No doubt there are similarities between Jehovah and Allah.  The Bible and Quran  each claim to hold universal truth and are similar in some ways, but vastly different on the points that reveal the genuine. Here are a few similarities:

CHRISTIANITY ISLAM
God: Only one in all existence Affirm Affirm
God: Eternal, no beginning or end Affirm Affirm
God:  *Transcendent Affirm Affirm
God:  **Omniscient, ***Omnipresent, ****Omnipotent Affirm Affirm 
*refers to the aspect of a god's nature and power which is wholly independent of the material universe, beyond all physical laws.
**knowing everything. ***present everywhere at the same time.  ****having unlimited power; able to do anything.

To further confuse the matter, leaders and preachers in the Christian faith proclaim from the pulpit and example this great error.  For example, the pope in his great desire to be the leader of the world’s religion has gone about to appease the followers of Islam, by bowing in the direction of Mecca and showing homage to Allah and his leaders.

Pope and Turkish

Pope and Turkey

 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

Exodus 20: 3

In a 2007 interview with Al Arabiya TV, President George W. Bush said this in response to the charge that the Arab world sees the president as anti-Islam:

“Well, first of all, I believe in an almighty God, and I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God. That’s what I believe.”

___________________________________________________________

Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me,

Isaiah 46:9

God (Jehovah) has made it clear in many such verses that there is no other (All others are false) and those who claim to be God are not “like (Him).”

In this study, we will look at several things about Allah that are “not like” Jehovah.

One who  has studied the Bible and had a personal relationship with the true God will understand the vast differences between Jehovah and Allah.

The intimacy factor is  a good place to start to demonstrate the differences.

________________________________________

Difference #1-Jehovah is personal. Allah is not

Allah is not truly personal, knowable, or approachable. The Quran depicts him more judgmental than gracious. He exists as a singular entity who has no “partners.” In fact, to call Jesus the Son of God is to commit the unpardonable sin, or shirk according to Islam.

Of the 99 names for God in the Quran, Father is not one of them. In Islam, it is considered blasphemous to “presume” that one can know God or claim any sort of close, personal fellowship with Allah. He reveals his will, not himself.

“The end result of the knowledge of the `arifin [- a term denoting “the knowers”] is their inability to know Him, and their knowledge is, in truth, that they do not know Him and that it is absolutely impossible for them to know Him.” 

F. Shehadi, Ghazali’s Unique Unknowable God, p. 37

Yahweh (Jehovah), the God of the Bible, also is depicted as is the transcendent Creator. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and everywhere present. He knows us; but more than that, He is knowable and approachable. He invites us to know Him. He created us in His image – with personality, thought, and will – for the purpose of enjoying an everlasting, unbreakable, intimate relationship with Him. He exists as a Trinity in eternal relationship as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In fact, God, desires us to know him so much that He came in the flesh as Jesus or Emanuel  (God With Us)

I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord. They will be My people, and I will be their God because they will return to Me with all their heart.

Jeremiah 24:7

No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying: Know the Lord, for they will all know Me, from the least to the greatest of them”-the Lord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their wrongdoing and never again remember their sin.”

Jeremiah 31:34

And each person will not teach his fellow citizen,and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least to the greatest of them.

Hebrews 8:11

Then they asked Him, “Where is Your Father?” “You know neither Me nor My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would also know My Father.”

John 8:19

This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent-Jesus Christ.

John 17:3

As seen in John 17:3 above, eternal life is for those who “know the only true God and the one He sent-Jesus.”  If a “Christian” doesn’t know Him, it is possible they will be lost even though they look like a Christian by their works:

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 in your name perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you.”

Matthew 7:22, 23

As we have seen in previous studies in this series, Jesus is God and part of the eternal Trinity.  Long before we existed, God knew that freedom of choice would give way to the slavery of sin and avarice.  Sin would blur the picture of the true God.  So, when the time was right or “full” (the time that was prophesied by Daniel), Jesus came on the scene.  It was through His life, that the picture of God was focused so all mankind could see through the sin and error because of the life, death, resurrection, and current mediator position of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary.

Jesus proclaimed:

He who has seen Me has seen the Father;

John 14:9

This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.

John 6:39

God the Father sent Jesus to demonstrate both the character of the true God and how we should relate to Him.  Notice too, that the hope of the Christian is the resurrection, both Jesus’ rising and our own  in the “last day.”  As we have seen in previous studies, it is the resurrected Christ that provides hope for us. Muhammad was not resurrected.  He died June 8th 632 AD from a high-fever. He died in the arms of his wife, Aisha.

For more information on the importance of the resurrection, click here:

How Important is the Resurrection?

________________________________________________________

Difference #2-The Origin of the Bible and the Quran

The Muslim believe Muhammad wrote the Quran through dictation from the angel Gabriel (Jibril) over a 23 year period.  The Holy Bible was written over a 1,500 year period by 39 men who wrote 66 books….all inspired by spirit of God and verifiable by history and historians.  All were eyewitnesses of what they wrote and heard along with others who were not writers of the canon of Scripture, but confirmed the events of the Bible.

“for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

2 Peter 1:21

 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty

2 Peter 1:16

How many witnesses are reliable?  1 or 66+?

________________________________________________________________

Difference #3-Fulfilled Prophecy

God (Jehovah) provided  hundreds of prophecies in the Bible.  It is a study of these prophecies that convinced me that God’s word is true.  Many prophecies have been fulfilled and there are many yet to be fulfilled. This is a verifiable testimony to the omnipotence of God (Jehovah)

Allah has made no direct verifiable clear  fulfilled prophecy in the Quran, therefore there is no testimony to his omnipotence….only Muhammad’s word alone.  The followers of the Quran will often cite something  vague and interpret it to mean something today.  Here is an example of where followers force an interpretation on unclear language:

Muslims claim *Allah foresaw Generic engineering and plastic surgery in this passage from the Quran:

“They will alter Allah’s creation.” (4:120)

Another strange interpretation comes from the following statement: *…”centuries before the invention of dynamite, the holy Quran prophesied the blowing up and moving of the mountains.” Their source is from this passage:

“And when the mountains are made to move.” (81:4)

According to the Muslims “Air Traffic Systems were “prophesied.”  It is said, “*While prophesying about modern transport systems, Quran also foretold the air-traffic system which is an essential part of aviation.  A person living in desert 1400 years ago cannot talk about such advance technologies unless revealed to him by God Almighty.” Where is the prophecy for this?  Here it is:

“And by the heaven full of tracks (51:8)

There were other so-called “prophecies” by Allah about technology such as fingerprints, pollution, etc. (See reference and link below).  Just like the followers of Nostradamus, the passages are vague and the interpretations are forced out of very short passages

*Fulfilled Prophecies of the Quran-Ansar Raza, Canada

But, the true God Jehovah stated,

I am God, and there is none like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,

Isaiah 46: 9,10

“When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

Ezekiel 33:33

The Lord challenged the false gods to:

“Present your case,” says the Lord.
“Bring forth your strong reasons,…“Let them bring forth and show us what will happen;
Let them show the former things, what they were,
That we may consider them,
And know the latter end of them;
Or declare to us things to come.
 Show the things that are to come hereafter,
That we may know that you are gods;

Isaiah 41: 21-23

Allah and the Quran fail miserably on their claim of omnipotence as demonstrated through clear verifiable fulfilled prophecies, while Jehovah had hundreds of accurate prophecies interpreted within the Holy Scripture itself.

…knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,

2 Peter 1:20

One of the most simple proofs of God’s ability to predict the rise and fall of kingdoms is the Daniel 2 prophecy.  This is a very basic prophecy we studied before.  Click below to see how God has predicted both the rise and fall of nations (confirmed by history and archaeology) and the 2nd coming of Jesus.

God Reveals the Future

The accurate and clear predictions of Jehovah are so numerous, one does not know where to start.  For continued reading on this topic, read:

Prophecies for our Time

 The Lord through holy men inspired by the Holy Spirit showed us the future long before it happened on topics that matter and not such things as air traffic controllers.  He laid out the details and time lines for the birth and life of Christ.  In fact, most of the Old Testament writers wrote about Jesus.
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Luke 24:27 
Our God has promised that he would do nothing until he has revealed it through His Prophets
Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7
________________________________________________
Difference #4-Jehovah’s love for sinners.  Allah’s hatred for sinners
The Bible is clear, that the Lord loves the sinner, but hates the sin.  Allah hates (does not love) the sinner:
“Allah loves not those that do wrong,” says the Quran (Surah 3:140)

 

Other types of people Allah hates or does not love:

Transgressors (2:190).

Ungrateful and wicked creatures (2:276).

Those who reject faith (3:32; 30:45).

Those who do wrong (3:57, 140; 42:40).

The arrogant, the vainglorious (4:36; 16:23; 31:18; 57:23).

Those given to excess (5:87).

Wasters (6:141; 7:31).

Treacherous (8:58).

The most powerful evidence of Jehovah’s love for all mankind is:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Allah never demonstrated His love for mankind like this!
God not only saves a person from eternal death, but saves them from their sins; unlike Allah who bribes believers by a promise of indulgence in carnal activities in paradise (aka Garden)
Notice in the following verse.  God describes those who were once controlled by all types of sin.  Because of these sins, they would not inherit the kingdom of God, but they were given a new heart that gave them victory over their sins.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11
This verse tells us what some of the people “were,” but they had been washed, sanctified, justified by Jesus and the Spirit.  Here are the things they were as found in verse 9 and 10
fornicators
idolaters
adulterers
homosexuals
 sodomites
thieves
covetous
drunkards
revilers
extortioners
Allah does not transform people like Jehovah does through His Spirit and Jesus.  The born again experience is foreign to the teaching of Allah.  In fact, in Paradise (according to the Quran) some of the carnal pleasures of this life are transferred into  the “Garden”

“In them will be (Maidens), chaste, restrah aining their glances, whom no man or Jinn before them has touched.” (55/Al-Rahman,56)

And large breasted [companions] of equal age. (78:33)

All types of flesh will be consumed in paradise according to the Quran, “And the flesh of fowl such as they desire.”  while the Lord says, there will no more death nor dying including animals:
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea…The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,” Says the Lord.
Isaiah 11:9, 65:25
Difference #5-The Names

In the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

The two primary names of God in the Tanakh (The Old Testament) are ‘elohiym and Yĕhovah These names or some descriptive variation of these names were used most by the people of God in the Old Testament long before Muhammad and the appearance of Allah.

 The name used for God in the very first verse in the Bible is ‘elohiym.  For those of us who are English speaking, it is pronounced:  el·ō·hēm’

‘elohiym is used 2,606 times.  This name for God is in every book of the Old Testament except for Song of Solomon. .

 But, Yĕhovah, pronounced yeh·hō·vä‘  is used 6,519 times.  It means, “The Existing One.”  Yĕhovah or Jehovah is the Jewish national name for God. The name is so sacred that they felt they should not say his name using the vowels. So it became YHWH. Later vowels were added and it became the name many are familiar with today: Yah·weh

‘elahh (Aramaic). Pronounced el·ä’   Syrian dialect eventually  became the language of the Jews and then it (Aramic) was replaced by Arabic in the 7th century AD   Aramic shows up first in Ezra 4:24 Aramic is the language Jesus spoke while on earth as a man.

Jesus referred to Jehovah as His Father and taught his followers to refer him as such, thereby demonstrating the close relationship of redeemed man with His Creator.

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Matthew 6:9

But there was another name that God preferred.  It was an important name demonstrating his omnipotence.

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’

Exodus 3: 14-15

I am the Lord (Jehovah), that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another,

Isaiah 42:8

______________________________________________

Allah was the god of the local Quraish, Muhammad’s tribe, before Islam was invented to lead his people out of their polytheism..  Muhammad smashed the idols but kept the black stone which is still kissed today by Muslims.  He kept, too, the name Allah for the god of Islam (its sign was the crescent moon) in order to appeal to his own tribe..

According to the Encyclopedia of Religion,  Allah corresponded to the Babylonian god Baal that the followers of the true God were instructed to avoid, and Arabs knew of him long before Mohammed worshiped him as the supreme God. Before Islam the Arabs recognized many gods and goddesses, each tribe had their own deity. There were also nature deities.

Allah was then known as the Moon God, who had 3 daughters who were viewed as intercessors for the people into Allah. Their names were Al-at, Al-uzza, and Al-Manat, which were three goddesses; the first two daughters of Allah had names which were feminine forms of Allah. Hubal was the chief God of the Kaaba among the other 360 deities. Hubal was a statue likeness of a man whose body was made of red precious stones whose arms were made of gold. (Reference Islam George Braswell Jr.)

“Historians like Vaqqidi have said Allah was actually the chief of the 360 gods being worshiped in Arabia at the time Mohammed rose to prominence. Ibn Al-Kalbi gave 27 names of pre-Islamic deities…Interestingly, not many Muslims want to accept that Allah was already being worshiped at the Ka’ba in Mecca by Arab pagans before Mohammed came. Some Muslims become angry when they are confronted with this fact. But history is not on their side. Pre-Islamic literature has proved this.” (G. J. O. Moshay, Who Is This Allah? (Dorchester House, Bucks, UK, 1994), pg. 138).

The name Allah is not found in the language of the people of God in the Bible.  Allah is the name of the god of the Quran.  Many people, including Christians, assume Jehovah and Allah are the same God. But, this is both incorrect and misleading.

___________________________________________________________

Difference #6 -The Trinity

The Bible teaches that God is one, and yet there are three persons in the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son, who came down to earth as Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit. The three are described in both the old and new testaments. This is  topic in itself.  Here are a few verses that point to the trinity:

“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness”

Genesis 1:26

Notice the application of the plural. Let’s re-read the verse above with Genesis 1 and use the Hebrew words for God.

“In the Beginning, Elohim (plural) created (singular) the heavens and the earth…And Elohim (plural) said, Let us (plural) make (plural) man in our image (singular),

Genesis 1;1 and Genesis 1:26

The Trinity occurs in the very first chapter of the Bible, which was written by Moses shortly after creation and long before the advent of Islam!

Later in the New Testament, we find that Jesus is identified as the Creator.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1: 1-4, 14

Notice the names given to Jesus:

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

The writers of the Bible had no problem accepting the trinity of God.

T he Quran teaches against the Biblical teaching of the trinity.  It states that Allah is “above having a son.”

“O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, “Three”; desist – it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.”

Surah 4:171

A fair conclusion is Jehovah logically can be love as the Bible claims in 1 John 4:8, but Allah cannot. Love is a transitive verb. Allah had no one to love in eternity past (and he was not troubled by his lack of company), and therefore, love cannot be his fundamental attribute.

So we can see there is a distinct difference in the teaching of the Bible and the teaching of the the Qran on the trinity.

_________________________________________________

 Difference #7 Heaven or Paradise

Next time, we will talk about the vast difference between what the Christians call Heaven and the Muslims call Paradise or the Garden.  As we will see, the Garden appeals to the carnal nature and seems to be a bribe for men e.g. virgins, wine, servants, and all the meat they can eat.

This has been a difficult post to write.  As stated in the opening verse, I am instructed by the Lord to give the hope that is within me, but to do it with gentleness and respect.  As I read the Quran, I thought of the many gentle Muslims who are faithful to their religion.  But, faithfulness to something that was conjured up is not as important as seeking truth regardless of where our heritage might have landed us.

I also thought of the beauty of the opening chapter of the Bible with the creation of the world and the introduction of a God that loves His creation.  The opening chapters of the Quran is all about threats and judgments to the unbeliever.

The great stories of Moses, Jacob, David, Samuel and the journey of the people of God is missing in the Quran.  It is mostly a book about religion while the Bible is about the character of God and His great desire to save his people from the tragedy of sin.

Blessings my friends until next time.

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

2 Peter 1:16

Reasons to Believe

Will The Real God Please Stand UP-Part 4 (Who do you think He is?)

1 Comment

Jesus is God…….

“ Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?”“

Mark 8:27

The disciples had just witnessed the healing of a blind man and had seen many other miracles of Jesus.  They would see more. They heard him teach.  They would hear more. The disciples had seen how loving and gentle he was with people.   His words were wise and penetrating.  They came with power and in a way that no other man had ever spoken.

“So they answered, ‘John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”

Mark 8:28

Of course these perceptions did not come from anything other than speculation and faulty human reasoning by those who were not with Him everyday as were His disciples.

“But who do you say that I am?”

Mark 8:29

Peter spoke fast and first,

“You are the Christ.”

Mark 8: 29

The Christ is the One whom the nation of Israel had long-awaited.   Many Jews today still look for the Messiah.  Most have given up and now subscribe to the nationalistic view of their existence.  Their religion has been reduced to holidays and traditions.

Being the “anointed one” (Christ) was only the beginning of Jesus’s identity.  He was much more!

They would find out that He had the power over life and death:

“I am the Resurrection”

John 11:25

He had all knowledge

I am the Truth;

John 14;26

He could forgive sin and grant pardons:

When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

Luke 5:20

Ultimately, after his death and resurrection, they would discover that He was God, as Thomas proclaimed:

And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

John 20:28

Which of these can Muhammad or any other person claim?

_____________________________________________________________________

There is another reason Jesus is far superior than Muhammad and confirms that Jesus is God:  Jesus preexisted before coming to this earth.  Muhammad did not make this claim.

What does this pre-existence mean?  Why is that so important in knowing that Jesus is everything He claimed and everything the writers of the Bible described He would be?

__________________________________________________

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”

Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” 

Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

John 8: 56-59

In this passage, the religious leaders took up stones to stone Jesus because not only was He claiming to have existed before Abraham, but Jesus was claiming to be God by taking the name “I AM.”

 Erroneously, they thought Jesus was blaspheming the name of God.   Because they did not believe Jesus, they could easily  justify stoning Him to death.  According to scripture anyone who blasphemed God’s name was to be put to death immediately:

“Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: … And whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death.

Leviticus 24: 15-16

But, Jesus was telling the truth.  Surprisingly, many Christians do not know that it was Jesus who instructed Moses to deliver the children of Israel.  Not only did Jesus pre-exist, but He took the claim of being God.

Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?”

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Exodus 3:14

I AM means to exist, to be present.  God did not come into being, He simply exists and has always be present.  The concept of no beginning and no ending is practically impossible for the finite brain of man to comprehend.

_______________________________________________________

The disciples later proclaimed Jesus as God, but at first their view was that Jesus was the Messiah only.  Although partly correct, they would discover the ultimate identification of Jesus:

John, the beloved disciple, who wrote both the gospel and Revelations, as well as 1st, 2nd, 3rd John confirmed Jesus’ claim of divinity and Creator by writing the following under the guidance of the Spirit of God:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1: 1-5

In this passage, John identifies a being he refers to as “the Word.”  He goes on to describe “the Word” as being with God in the beginning and he says that “the Word” was God!

Further, “the Word”  made everything and there is not anything you can describe that was not made by Him.  In Him was the light of men (the truth).

Notice that “the Word” is described with a personal pronoun (Him).  This is not some comic concept or fancy philosophy.  This is the true and personal God who made everything and is truth.

In a few verses later, John makes it clear that “the Word” is none other than Jesus Himself..

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’”

John 1:14-15

Knowing this, we can replace “the Word” (object) and Him (personal pronoun) with Jesus so there is no mistaken identity for Jesus:

In the beginning was JESUS, and JESUS was with God, and JESUS was God.  JESUS was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through JESUS, and without JESUS nothing was made that was made.  In JESUS was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1: 1-5

Who else but Jesus can fit this description?  Jesus came, as predicted by the prophets hundreds of years before His birth.  He was proclaimed as Immanuel (God with us).  The prophet John identified him and proclaimed Him to the people who gathered to watch John baptize Jesus.  This was the beginning of Jesus’ 3 1/2 years of proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God or Heaven.

___________________________________________________________

Thomas

For eight days after the Resurrection of Jesus, the doubts of Thomas persisted.  He did not understand the need for Jesus to die and was not only surprised, but perhaps quite disappointed at how Jesus died.

It is comforting and interesting that Jesus gave the disciples lengthy Bible Studies on one topic:  Himself!  He showed from scripture that He was the fulfillment of all the prophets hopes for the coming Messiah.  But, he showed why he had to die and be raised again.

These Bible studies and their effects on the disciples are explained in two previous blogs:

Now I Understand-He’s Alive

and

A Substitute for The Resurrection?

When Thomas was able to see Jesus, touch His side and feel His hands, Thomas proclaimed this:

“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”

John 20:28

____________________________________________________________________

This is difficult for many to accept and confusing even in Christian churches.  It is much easier to believe that Jesus was either a great prophet or the Messiah.

But Jesus is God and there is something more!  He is our God who will one day judge us.

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

John 5:22

Claim #1-Jesus is God.  He made everything.  All Judgment is given unto him.

_________________________________________________________________________

Before someone can believe Jesus is God, they must first understand He is the Messiah as predicted from the Old Testament.

Below are just 44 of the hundreds of prophecies concerning Jesus as the Messiah.  Some have demonstrated that there are at least 352 prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  The possibility of one person fulfilling only 8 of these prophecies is 10 to the 17th power.  That is 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000.  Now add 348 more prophecies and the number becomes astronomical!

The point is this:  Jesus is all that he and the prophets claimed.  No other can make this claim.

“…there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved!”

Acts 4:12

Check out this chart and meet me on the other side of it.  One last point before we end this study.

44 Prophecies Jesus Christ Fulfilled
Prophecies About Jesus Old Testament
Scripture		 New Testament
Fulfillment
1 Messiah would be born of a woman. Genesis 3:15 Matthew 1:20
Galatians 4:4
2 Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:1
Luke 2:4-6
3 Messiah would be born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:22-23
Luke 1:26-31
4 Messiah would come from the line of Abraham. Genesis 12:3
Genesis 22:18		 Matthew 1:1
Romans 9:5
5 Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac. Genesis 17:19
Genesis 21:12		 Luke 3:34
6 Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob. Numbers 24:17 Matthew 1:2
7 Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah. Genesis 49:10 Luke 3:33
Hebrews 7:14
8 Messiah would be heir to King David‘s throne. 2 Samuel 7:12-13
Isaiah 9:7		 Luke 1:32-33
Romans 1:3
9 Messiah’s throne will be anointed and eternal. Psalm 45:6-7
Daniel 2:44		 Luke 1:33
Hebrews 1:8-12
10 Messiah would be called Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:23
11 Messiah would spend a season in Egypt. Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:14-15
12 A massacre of children would happen at Messiah’s birthplace. Jeremiah 31:15 Matthew 2:16-18
13 A messenger would prepare the way for Messiah Isaiah 40:3-5 Luke 3:3-6
14 Messiah would be rejected by his own people. Psalm 69:8
Isaiah 53:3		 John 1:11
John 7:5
15 Messiah would be a prophet. Deuteronomy 18:15 Acts 3:20-22
16 Messiah would be preceded by Elijah. Malachi 4:5-6 Matthew 11:13-14
17 Messiah would be declared the Son of God. Psalm 2:7 Matthew 3:16-17
18 Messiah would be called a Nazarene. Isaiah 11:1 Matthew 2:23
19 Messiah would bring light to Galilee. Isaiah 9:1-2 Matthew 4:13-16
20 Messiah would speak in parables. Psalm 78:2-4
Isaiah 6:9-10		 Matthew 13:10-15,34-35
21 Messiah would be sent to heal the brokenhearted. Isaiah 61:1-2 Luke 4:18-19
22 Messiah would be a priest after the order ofMelchizedek. Psalm 110:4 Hebrews 5:5-6
23 Messiah would be called King. Psalm 2:6
Zechariah 9:9		 Matthew 27:37
Mark 11:7-11
24 Messiah would be praised by little children. Psalm 8:2 Matthew 21:16
25 Messiah would be betrayed. Psalm 41:9
Zechariah 11:12-13		 Luke 22:47-48
Matthew 26:14-16
26 Messiah’s price money would be used to buy a potter’s field. Zechariah 11:12-13 Matthew 27:9-10
27 Messiah would be falsely accused. Psalm 35:11 Mark 14:57-58
28 Messiah would be silent before his accusers. Isaiah 53:7 Mark 15:4-5
29 Messiah would be spat upon and struck. Isaiah 50:6 Matthew 26:67
30 Messiah would be hated without cause. Psalm 35:19
Psalm 69:4		 John 15:24-25
31 Messiah would be crucified with criminals. Isaiah 53:12 Matthew 27:38
Mark 15:27-28
32 Messiah would be given vinegar to drink. Psalm 69:21 Matthew 27:34
John 19:28-30
33 Messiah’s hands and feet would be pierced. Psalm 22:16
Zechariah 12:10		 John 20:25-27
34 Messiah would be mocked and ridiculed. Psalm 22:7-8 Luke 23:35
35 Soldiers would gamble for Messiah’s garments. Psalm 22:18 Luke 23:34
Matthew 27:35-36
36 Messiah’s bones would not be broken. Exodus 12:46
Psalm 34:20		 John 19:33-36
37 Messiah would be forsaken by God. Psalm 22:1 Matthew 27:46
38 Messiah would pray for his enemies. Psalm 109:4 Luke 23:34
39 Soldiers would pierce Messiah’s side. Zechariah 12:10 John 19:34
40 Messiah would be buried with the rich. Isaiah 53:9 Matthew 27:57-60
41 Messiah would resurrect from the dead. Psalm 16:10
Psalm 49:15		 Matthew 28:2-7
Acts 2:22-32
42 Messiah would ascend to heaven. Psalm 24:7-10 Mark 16:19
Luke 24:51
43 Messiah would be seated at God’s right hand. Psalm 68:18
Psalm 110:1		 Mark 16:19
Matthew 22:44
44 Messiah would be a sacrifice for sin. Isaiah 53:5-12 Romans 5:6-8

 

Jesus in the Bible

To further solidify the fact that Jesus was all He claimed to be is this fact:

The prophets knew when the Messiah would appear!  We get hints of this in passages like this:

But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

Galatians 4:4

Notice the expression “fullness of time”  Jesus ministry, it’s length, and the crucifixion came on a schedule set by God.  The Message Bible seems to understand this and expresses the phrase “fullness of the time” as this:

when the time arrived that was set by God the Father

Galatians 4:4 (MSG)

In the Book of Daniel, we find the exact time Jesus was to appear on the scene.  It was 483 years after the commandment for restoration of Jerusalem as found in the Book of Ezra.

This prophecy along with an easy to read chart is found in the blog called:

Part 3-Second Coming Predictions (7 years of tribulations?)

_________________________________________________________________

My friends, there is so much to learn about Jesus.  I hope you will continue with me on this “Jesus Journey.”  As we continue to get our answers from scripture your faith in Him will increase and you will find peace for your soul.

Next time, we will talk about the difference between Allah and Jehovah.  Many Christians think they are the same.  We will see there a big difference between the true and the false.  Finally, we will end with the real God standing up as we have asked in this series.  Until then, let us be comforted by the words of the Lord Himself:

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

Reasons to Believe

Will The Real God Please Stand UP-Part 3 (Jesus or Muhammad)

3 Comments

“How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. “

1 Kings 18: 21

The two largest religions in the world today are Christianity and Islam.  There is some similarity, but without a doubt there is a vast difference between the theology, teaching, and example of its two leaders:  Jesus and Muhammad.

__________________________________________

In the time of Elijah, there came a point when the real God “stood up” in a demonstration of power, Jehovah made it clear that He was the One and only true God and that the false gods were the creation of man’s mind and hands.

In the days of Elijah, the false gods  of Baals and Asherah were very popular and growing.  The true God, Jehovah, was sadly declining.  To acknowledge the true God of  Elijah was often met with ridicule and even death.

During this dangerous time for the true believers, the true God (Jehovah) sends Elijah to the wicked king Ahab.  This story is interesting because the differences between the popular gods of Ahab and the God of Elijah were not only very stark, but there is a subtle story behind the drama that helps us understand the true and the false.

__________________________________________________________

The meeting of Elijah and the false prophets (850 of them) on a mountain top demonstrate the power of the true and only God and it has a message for us today.  As we see the works of the false gods in our world.  It is true, that

“You will know them by their fruits.”

Matthew 7:16

Just as a tree can be recognized by its leaves and the fruit it produces,  the character of a teaching of a god or philosophy can tell us whether it is true or false.   There are other ways to tell the truth from the lies.  This will be our topic in the coming blogs.

We will see in the story of the false prophets of Baal and Asherah more than one way to tell who is the true God and which is the true philosophy.  It is not just about the powerful way the prayer of Elijah is answered or the dramatic way the soggy sacrifice is licked up by the fire sent by God himself, but there is something more.  It is  often missed in this story..

Let’s take a moment and review the event found in 1 Kings 18.  But, before we get there, let’s set up the story from previous chapters 16 and 17.

________________________________________________________

Ahab the Israelite king, the son of Omri  was an evil king.

” (He) did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.

1 Kings 16:30

Omri his father was also evil and  the same is said about him as his son Ahab:

Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and did worse  than all who were before him”

1 Kings 16:25

Both of these kings were kings of Israel (God’s chosen people), but they sinned greatly by…

“(setting) up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a wooden image.”

1 Kings 16: 32, 33

Like Father like son.   They both provoked the true God of heaven to anger. Then there came a day God sent Elijah, the true prophet of God,  to Ahab and proclaimed,

“…there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”

1 Kings 17:1

Then Elijah disappeared from the wicked king’s presence.

A drought, as predicted overtook the land.  During this terrible period, God feeds Elijah and provides water for him.  Later, Elijah is cared for by a widow and her son.  Her son falls ill and dies, but Elijah prays earnestly for him to be brought back to life. Despite no answer after two prayers, Elijah continues to plead with God to bring back the young boy.

On the third prayer, the life comes back to the young boy and the mothers admits this,

 “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is the truth.”

1 Kings 17:24

She was convinced by the power of the true God to bring back to life her dead son.  Another example of the importance of resurrection.  In the long run, it is resurrection that separates the true from the false.

Anyone can claim to be a prophet or a god, but their actions and their fruit must demonstrate that they are true.

______________________________________________________________

Now we come to chapter 18 of 1 Kings.  Elijah is being hidden from Ahab, but God tells him to go present himself before Ahab. Elijah obeys and begins the journey to Ahab’s palace.

At the same time, Obadiah (a righteous believer in the true God) and Ahab leave the city and split up looking for grass to feed their mules and horses.  During this search, Obadiah comes upon Elijah and is surprised to see him and falls down to pay him homage.

Elijah instructs Obadiah to go and tell Ahab that

“Elijah is here.”

1 Kings 18: 8

Elijah like Jesus has returned after disappearing.  During this absence, things got worse and worse; dryer and dryer until the vegetation and water was gone.

Obadiah is reluctant to tell Ahab  Elijah was back, fearing Elijah will disappear again and the king will be angry.  But, Elijah gives him his word and Obadiah demonstrates faith and sets up a meeting with them both.

The first words from Ahab’s mouth to Elijah is accusatory:

“Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”

1 Kings 18: 17

Elijah responds quickly and boldly,

“I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals.”

1 Kings 18:18

This time of trouble was over the leadership forsaking the law of God.  God’s law is not be ignored, changed, or explained away.

Elijah makes it clear that the trouble brought upon Israel was because Ahab was disobedient to the law of God and followed after false gods.  Elijah then instructs the King to:

“….send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.””

1 Kings 18:29

The king not only calls for the false prophets of Baal and Asherah, but also the children of Israel.  He is so convinced that his 850 prophets will be shown to be true and powerful.  It will be a big defeat for Elijah and his God.

Ahab is depending on the majority numbers of his prophets, the vast number of believers, and his own intense belief in something that is false.

After everyone is gathered, a simple test is proposed by Elijah.  There are to be two alters built and a sacrifice placed upon both.  One sacrifice is for the false gods and on for the true God.

Whichever prayer is heard and that god sends fire to consume the sacrifice  will be proclaimed the true God.

The people, the prophets, and Ahab were agreeable and up for this test.  They went into it confident their god would do as they prayed.  But they had been deceived.  So much so that they didn’t know it.  This gave them a false sense of faith in their god.

The 450 prophets of Baal went first.

From morning to noon, they prayed,

“O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.” 

I Kings 18:26

But there was no response.  All was quiet

Elijah gave them all the time they needed.  He also could not resist having a little fun with them.  So he said,

“Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”

1 Kings 18:27

They became desperate and began to cut themselves so that blood gushed out.  They leapt into the air around the altar so Baal would pay attention to them.  Their sincerity of blood and leaping produced no response.

Being sincere is not evidence of truth.

Even though they were getting no attention from Baal, they prophesied or preached until the evening.  Their false words were all they could produce.  It is highly likely that their preaching were filled with excuses for their false god.  They may have used Elijah’s own sarcasm as an excuse.  Baal is busy with something more important perhaps.

Excuses and rationalization will never justify lies.

“But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.”

1 Kings 18:29

__________________________________________________

Then it was Elijah’s turn.  He called the people to come close so they could see there was no trickery, but also to see and feel the silent story  he was telling by slowly and deliberately rebuilding the altar.

 Elijah’s actions of carefully rebuilding the altar was meant to soften the hard hearts of those who had been tricked by false prophets.  The people of God were to be reminded of their heritage and God’s love for them.  They would find in the true God mercy, forgiveness, and power to be obedient.

Elijah chose 12 stones, that represented the 12 tribes of the sons of Jacob, to restore the altar.  This act was to remind them that Jehovah is the same today, tomorrow, and forever.  He was also the God of the Fathers.  They had a Godly tradition rooted in the word of God.

Godly tradition rooted in truth is the only acceptable type of tradition.

Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

2 Thessalonians 2:15

Jesus went as far to say that traditions and teachings of men was vain worship.

And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men

Mark 7:7

_______________________________________________________

Once the altar was built, Elijah made a trench to hold water.  The sacrifice was laid upon it, and Elijah called for water to be poured upon both the sacrifice and the altar.  The wood would become soaked.  This was repeated three times so that there was so much water that it began to pour out over the trench.  Try lighting a match to that!

Then Elijah prayed a short and simple prayer for God’s people Israel:

““Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.””

1 Kings 18: 36, 37

This prayer reminded them that he was praying to the God of their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.  They same God who had delivered them many times and was gracious towards them.

It was a prayer to demonstrate that this same God is real.  It also demonstrated a great contrast between the false god who required cutting of the flesh and desperate dancing. This did nothing, but make the prophets look foolish and liars.  When their god did not answer them, they thought their lying prophecies would continue to deceive the children of Israel.

Then God came down in great power.

“Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench”

1 Kings 18: 38

Everything was consumed by the breath of God!  Nothing was left! The people’s response was a one might expect:

Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”

1 Kings 18: 39

One might be tempted to say, why doesn’t a prophet like Elijah show up and have the same test between Jesus and Muhammad.  Between Jehovah and Allah

To be honest, I don’t know.   Such a demonstration might be very effective to convince people of the true God. But, this I do know.  There are plenty of “tests” in this story that go unrecognized.  It is not just the dramatic fire falling from heaven.  It it is the contrast between the real God and the false gods and their prophets.  It is the fruits of each religion and the prophets’ demonstration of who is the true God.

It is a gracious God compared to a figment of the false teachers mind.  It is the written history of how God has dealt with His people over time.  This information written in God’s word produces the touch stone for determining truth from error…truth from false.   His  word is

“…the same yesterday and today and forever.”  

Hebrews  13:8

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Isaiah 40:8

Today, we have the same touchstone preserved for thousands of years.  If false prophets speak today, we can know the truth by comparing it to His word.

The people were lured away from the true God and led by the false teachers to break God’s law, especially the two about building and worshiping idols.

They should have known and embraced Isiah’s council:

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”

Isaiah 8:20

Today, many people do not know God’s word.  Because of this, confusion grips the land.  Because of this ignorance of God’s word, they are fed and accept the word of their teachers and ignore plain teachings from God’s word.  There is no basis for them to know the truth except through a show of force.

One day, the true God will stand up and everyone else will go down on their knees:

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2: 9-11

Until that day, there are many ways to know that Jesus is all He claimed to be.  Next blog we will begin to explore the many ways we can know that Jesus is true and all else is a lie.

________________________________________

Below is a chart  produced by Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry and its founder Matt Slick.  It shows the difference between Muhammad and Jesus.

As you look at this, consider the character of each.  By their fruits you shall know them….

Jesus Muhammad
Death Jesus died and rose from the dead. Muhammad died and stayed dead.
Fighting Jesus never fought. Muhammad fought many many times.
Hearing from God When Jesus heard from God, he went to the desert to be tempted and began his ministry with boldness. (Mark 1:14-15). When Muhammad heard from God (supposedly through an angel), he cowered, was uncertain, and wanted to commit suicide. (Quran 74:1-5)
Identity Jesus claimed to be God (John 8:24;8:58) as well as a man.
Jesus claimed to be the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6).		 Muhammad claimed to be a man.
Instructions Received From God the Father (John 5:19) Allegedly from an angel
Killing Jesus never killed anyone. Muhammad killed many.
Life Jesus had the power to take life but never did. He restored it. Muhammad had the power to take it, but he never restored it.
No one ever died in Jesus’ presence. Many people died in Muhammad’s presence–he killed them.
Marriage Jesus never married. Muhammad had over 20 wives and even married a nine-year-old girl.
Ministry Jesus received his calling from God directly. (Matt. 3:17).Jesus received his commission in the daylight. Muhammad allegedly received it from an angel (Gabriel).Muhammad received his words in the darkness of a cave.
Ministry Length Jesus taught for 3 1/2 years. Muhammad taught for more than 20 years.
Miracles Jesus performed many miracles including healing people, calming a storm with a command, and raising people from the dead. Muhammad’s only alleged miracle was the Quran.
Prophecy Jesus fulfilled biblical prophecy about being the Messiah. Muhammad did not fulfill any biblical prophecy except the ones about false teachers (Matt. 24:24).
Sacrifice Jesus voluntarily laid his life down for others. Muhammad saved his own life many times and had others killed.
Sin Jesus never sinned. (1 Pet. 2:22) Muhammad was a sinner. (Quran 40:55; 48:1-2)
Slaves Jesus owned no slaves. Muhammad owned slaves.
Virgin Birth Jesus was virgin born. Muhammad was not virgin born.
Voice of God Jesus received and heard the direct voice of God. (Mark 1:10-11) Muhammad did not receive or hear the direct voice of God. It was an angel instead.
Women Jesus spoke well of women. Muhammad said women were 1/2 as smart as men (Hadith 3:826; 2:541), that the majority in hell will be women (Had. 1:28,301; 2:161; 7:124), and that women could be mortgaged.

Reasons to Believe

Will The Real God Please Stand UP-Part 2 (Creation and Resurrection)

Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;  for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:

TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you:  “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.  Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.

Acts 17: 22-25

When Paul visited Athens, he was moved by the many idols and the gods they represented.  The council of elders (Areopagus) having itching ears and desiring to hear some new philosophy invited Paul to speak at Mars Hill.  It is here that Paul attempts to reveal to the these men the true creator God from among the many false ones.  His “sermon” was effective until he begins to talk to  about the resurrection.

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.” So Paul departed from among them. However, some men joined him and believed, among them Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Acts 17:32-34

Isn’t it interesting that the topic of the resurrection divided the people into three groups:  Unbeliever (mockers),  Apathetic (Will hear later), and Believers (they joined him and believed)

Click here to read the blog from Answer From Scripture called “Resurrection-How Important is it?”

The reality of the resurrection of Jesus is what separates Jesus from all the other religions,  gods, and philosophies.   Yet it is easy to understand why these Greek  elders would not believe in the concept of resurrection.   It is something that is difficult to understand.  But, without the resurrection, Christianity is like any other faith.

As we look at the multitude of other gods, religions, and philosophies let’s watch for the other unique and powerful characteristics of Jesus.

________________________________________________

Below is a summary of the 21 different religions and their gods.  Also included is a quick snapshot of their philosophy or teaching.

As I reviewed I noticed some common things  among them and many things unique about Jesus.

Take a moment to look over this information and I will meet you on the other side of the table.  🙂

Religion God Philosophy/Teaching (Snap Shot)
Christianity Jesus Jesus became a human and died to pay for the sins of the world started by the rebellion of Satan.  Jesus died on a cross and arose on the third day. He is mediating for the ongoing sin of man until he returns.  Jesus will come again and put an end to all sin and give those who trust Him eternal life. Salvation is offered as a free gift to those who will, by faith, accept it and follow Jesus.  He will create a new heaven and a new earth for the redeemed.  The new earth will become the home of the redeemed and the place where God will reside with His creation through eternity.
Islam Allah.  His prophet is Mohammed There are six articles of faith in Islam. These are the basic beliefs that one must have in order to be considered a true Muslim. They are belief in: A) the One God. B) all of the true prophets of God. C) the original scriptures revealed to Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad. D) the angels. E) the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter. F) destiny.These practices must be undertaken with the best of effort in order to be considered a true Muslim:A) Declaration of faith in One God and that Muhammad is a prophet of God.B) Formal prayer five times a day. C) Poor-due “tax” – 2.5% of one’s excess wealth given to the needy once a year.D) Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, if physically and financially able.E) Fasting during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan.
Hinduism Brahman (Various forms)  The concept of the transcendent and immanent ultimate reality of the One Godhead or Supreme Cosmic Spirit in Hinduism; the concept is central to Hindu philosophy
Chinese traditional religion Various religious philosophical traditions:4 Main traditions:1.) Chinese folk religion,2.) Confucianism,3.) Taoism, and4.) Buddhism Traditionally Taoism and Confucianism provided ethical guides to the proper behavior of individuals and officials. Taoism sought to promote the inner peace of individuals and harmony with their surroundings. Confucianism, based on the teachings and writings of the philosopher Confucius, is an ethical system that sought to teach the proper way for all people to behave in society. Each relationship–husband-wife, parents-children, ruler-subjects–involved a set of obligations which, if upheld, would lead to a just and harmonious society. Following his teachings would also promote a stable, lasting government.
Buddhism Buddha.  Takes refuge in Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha Elaboration and explanation of the delivered teachings of the Buddha as found in the Tripitaka and Agama.  Its main concern is with explicating the dhamas constituting reality. A recurrent theme is the reification of concepts, and the subsequent return to the Buddhist middle way.  Do not believe that this world is created and ruled by a God.
African Traditional & Diasporic Believe in a supreme being, as well as in spirits and other divinities, veneration of ancestors. The indigenous religious beliefs and practices of African peoples include various traditional religions. While generalizations of these religions are difficult, due to the diversity of African cultures, they do have some characteristics in common. Generally, they are oral rather than scriptural, include belief in a supreme being, belief in spirits and other divinities, veneration of ancestors, use of magic, and traditional medicine. The role of humanity is generally seen as one of harmonizing nature with the supernatural.
Sikhism The concept of God in Sikhism is uncompromisingly monotheistic, as symbolized by “Ik Onkar”(one Creator), a central tenet of Sikh philosophy. The philosophy of Sikhism is covered in great detail in the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy text. Detailed guidance is given to followers on how to conduct their lives so that peace and salvation can be obtained in this life, rather than the afterlife. The holy text outlines the positive actions that one must take to make progress in the evolution of the person. One must remember the Creator at all times – it reminds the follower that the “soul is on loan from God, who is ever merciful”, and that the follower must dedicate their life to all good causes – to help make this life more worthwhile.
Juche Kim Il-sung, North Korea’s first dictator who died in 1994  Juche Idea into a set of principles that the government uses to justify its policy decisions. Among these are a strong military posture and reliance on Korean national resources. Juche has been accused of being a form of political religion despite North Korea’s formal commitment to state atheism.
Spiritism Recognizes all prophets Spiritualism is a religion that is not based on a relationship with a particular savior. Any attempt to personalize the idea of God only limits the totality of that Intelligence, which is the reason that Spiritualists sometimes refer to that idea of God as “Infinite Intelligence” or “Infinite Spirit.”
Judaism YHVA. The common pronunciation is “Jehovah.” More accurate pronunciation is “Yahweh” Jewish tradition teaches that the true aspect of God is incomprehensible and unknowable, and that it is only God’s revealed aspect that brought the universe into existence, and interacts with mankind and the world. In Judaism, the one God of Israel is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who is the guide of the world, delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, and gave them the 613 Mitzvot at Mount Sinai as described in the Torah.
Baha’i God (Supreme Being) The Bahá’í belief in one God means that the universe and all creatures and forces within it have been created by a single supernatural Being. This Being, Whom we call God, has absolute control over His creation (omnipotence) as well as perfect and complete knowledge of it (omniscience). Although we may have different concepts of God’s nature, although we may pray to Him in different languages and call Him by different names–Allah or Yahweh, God or Brahma–nevertheless, we are speaking about the same unique Being.
Jainism None  Jainism rejects the idea of a creator deity that could be responsible for the manifestation, creation, or maintenance of this universe. According to Jain doctrine, the universe and its constituents (soul, matter, space, time, and principles of motion) have always existed. All the constituents and actions are governed by universal natural laws and an immaterial entity like God cannot create a material entity like the universe. Jainism offers an elaborate cosmology, including heavenly beings (devas), but these beings are not viewed as creators; they are subject to suffering and change like all other living beings, and must eventually die.
Shinto Indefinitely large number of deities Shinto today is a term that applies to the religion of public shrines devoted to the worship of a multitude of gods (kami) suited to various purposes such as war memorials and harvest festivals, and applies as well to various sectarian organizations. Practitioners express their diverse beliefs through a standard language and practice, adopting a similar style in dress and ritual, dating from around the time of the Nara and Heian periods.In modern scholarship, the term is often used with reference to kami worship and related theologies, rituals and practices. In these contexts, “Shinto” takes on the meaning of “Japan’s traditional religion”, as opposed to foreign religions such as Christianity, Buddhism, Islam and so forth.
Cao Dai Cao Caodaists accept the idea of âm (yin) and dương (yang) duality constituting the harmonious balance of the universe. Before the creation of the universe there was the Tao, the infinite, nameless, formless, unchanging, eternal source. The negative and positive principles of the universe are the components of the eternal nature.
Zoroastrianism Ahura Mazda Basic three principals:  good reflection, good word, and good deed
Tenrikyo God, known by several names including Tenri-O-no-Mikoto Followers of Tenrikyo believe that God, known by several names including Tenri-O-no-Mikoto, expressed the divine will through Nakayama’s role as the Shrine of God, and to a lesser extent the roles of the Honseki Izo Iburi and other leaders. Tenrikyo’s worldly aim is to teach and promote the Joyous Life, which is cultivated through acts of charity and mindfulness called hinokishin.
Atheists None Do not believe in God. Atheism can be narrow or wide in scope.  The narrow atheist does not believe in the existence of God (an omni- being).  A wide atheist does not believe that any gods exist, including but not limited to the traditional omni-God.  The wide positive atheist denies that God exists, and also denies that Zeus, Gefjun, Thor, Sobek, Bakunawa and others exist.  The narrow atheist does not believe that God exists, but need not take a stronger view about the existence or non-existence of other supernatural beings.  One could be a narrow atheist about God, but still believe in the existence of some other supernatural entities.  (This is one of the reasons that it is a mistake to identify atheism with materialism or naturalism.)
Neo-Paganism Some believe in a supreme being. Many believe there are countless spirit beings, gods and goddesses Contemporary pagan religious movements are diverse, sharing no single set of beliefs, deities, creed, ritual practices, or texts; nor do any claim to be absolutely authoritative. However, there is a great deal of overlap amongst pagan movements and there are a number of beliefs commonly shared by many pagans, including pluralism, pantheism, polytheism, and a general belief that divinity is found in mind and nature.
Unitarian-Universalism Some are Atheist and others use the term “God” to convey different ideas. The theology of individual Unitarian Universalists ranges widely, including Humanism, Atheism, Agnosticism, Pantheism, Deism, Christianity, Judaism, Neopaganism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and many more.
Rastafarianism Haile Selassie  At the core of their belief is the re-interpretation of the Hebrew Bible with a focus on Blacks as God’s chosen race, and the belief that the true Messiah comes to us as Emperor Haile Selassie I  (Ras Tafari) of Ethiopia.   Through extensive spoken discourse, the Rastafarians aim to clarify the Western misinterpretation of the Bible, so as to spread the true word and fight against the unjust hierarchy of Western culture (collectively called Babylon).  In the meantime, Rastafarians await a time of repatriation of Blacks and a return to Ethiopia, qua Africa, of its rightful ruling status.
Scientology A concept of God with no set dogma. Believer reaches a relationship to the Supreme Being at the Eighth Dynamic (infinity) Scientology teaches that people are immortal beings who have forgotten their true nature.Its method of spiritual rehabilitation is a type of counselling known as auditing, in which practitioners aim to consciously re-experience painful or traumatic events in their past in order to free themselves of their limiting effects

 

Here are are a few of my observations:

1.) Some have many different gods and/or philosophies.

2.) Almost all are nationalistic.  The religions have their origin and purpose for primarily their culture only.

3.) Most appear to be created by individuals in a relatively recent time. The newest religions are the last three on the list.

4.) Most religions focus on the “worshiper” and not on others.

5.) Many have no absolute truths.  The believer is able to believe as their mind choose.

Here is a quick list of things I saw unique to Jesus:

1.)  He claims to be God and the creator (We will look at this in depth when we talk about the 10 things every Christian should know about Jesus and the Trinity)

2.) Grace and sacrifice of God

3.) The Resurrection

4.) A literal return to create a new heaven and a new earth

5.)  While Christianity has its roots in Judaism, its mission is for everyone.

6.) The Old Testament contains hundreds of prophecies about the 1st and 2nd coming of Jesus.  This study is the one that convinced me that Jesus was all that He claimed to be.

In our next study, we will continue our comparison and look closely at the similarities  and differences of the two biggest religions: Christianity and Islam.  We will also attempt to  answer the question of why their is so much confusion.

“for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

Click here for a worship song my Robin Mark.  Have a great weekend!

Reasons to Believe

Science Helps Confirm The Creator

2 Comments

Thanks to my forever-friend, Charles Hays who posted this on Face Book this week.

Over 30 years ago, Charlie encouraged me to participate with him in a radio program he wanted to produce called, Answers From Scripture.  It was a wonderful journey of bringing Jesus and the Bible to the Middle Tennessee area.  We would talk on different Biblical topics, take phone calls, and interview great workers for God.  That experience blessed me in so many ways.

 This website is dedicated to keeping alive Charlie’s vision of finding answers to life’s toughest questions through Scripture and life God has created. Then sharing it with a world who are seeking.

Thank you Charlie.   I love you brother.

_________________________________________________

The Wall Street Journal
HOUSES OF WORSHIP

Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God
By ERIC METAXA

___________________________________

The odds of life existing on another planet grow ever longer. Intelligent design, anyone?

In 1966 Time magazine ran a cover story asking: Is God Dead? Many have accepted the cultural narrative that he’s obsolete—that as science progresses, there is less need for a “God” to explain the universe. Yet it turns out that the rumors of God’s death were premature. More amazing is that the relatively recent case for his existence comes from a surprising place—science itself.

Here’s the story: The same year Time featured the now-famous headline, the astronomer Carl Sagan announced that there were two important criteria for a planet to support life: The right kind of star, and a planet the right distance from that star. Given the roughly octillion—1 followed by 27 zeros—planets in the universe, there should have been about septillion—1 followed by 24 zeros—planets capable of supporting life.

With such spectacular odds, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, a large, expensive collection of private and publicly funded projects launched in the 1960s, was sure to turn up something soon. Scientists listened with a vast radio telescopic network for signals that resembled coded intelligence and were not merely random. But as years passed, the silence from the rest of the universe was deafening. Congress defunded SETI in 1993, but the search continues with private funds. As of 2014, researchers have discovered precisely bubkis—0 followed by nothing.

What happened? As our knowledge of the universe increased, it became clear that there were far more factors necessary for life than Sagan supposed. His two parameters grew to 10 and then 20 and then 50, and so the number of potentially life-supporting planets decreased accordingly. The number dropped to a few thousand planets and kept on plummeting.

Even SETI proponents acknowledged the problem. Peter Schenkel wrote in a 2006 piece for Skeptical Inquirer magazine: “In light of new findings and insights, it seems appropriate to put excessive euphoria to rest . . . . We should quietly admit that the early estimates . . . may no longer be tenable.”

As factors continued to be discovered, the number of possible planets hit zero, and kept going. In other words, the odds turned against any planet in the universe supporting life, including this one. Probability said that even we shouldn’t be here.

Today there are more than 200 known parameters necessary for a planet to support life—every single one of which must be perfectly met, or the whole thing falls apart. Without a massive planet like Jupiter nearby, whose gravity will draw away asteroids, a thousand times as many would hit Earth’s surface. The odds against life in the universe are simply astonishing.

Yet here we are, not only existing, but talking about existing. What can account for it? Can every one of those many parameters have been perfect by accident? At what point is it fair to admit that science suggests that we cannot be the result of random forces? Doesn’t assuming that an intelligence created these perfect conditions require far less faith than believing that a life-sustaining Earth just happened to beat the inconceivable odds to come into being?

There’s more. The fine-tuning necessary for life to exist on a planet is nothing compared with the fine-tuning required for the universe to exist at all. For example, astrophysicists now know that the values of the four fundamental forces—gravity, the electromagnetic force, and the “strong” and “weak” nuclear forces—were determined less than one millionth of a second after the big bang. Alter any one value and the universe could not exist. For instance, if the ratio between the nuclear strong force and the electromagnetic force had been off by the tiniest fraction of the tiniest fraction—by even one part in 100,000,000,000,000,000—then no stars could have ever formed at all. Feel free to gulp.

Multiply that single parameter by all the other necessary conditions, and the odds against the universe existing are so heart-stoppingly astronomical that the notion that it all “just happened” defies common sense. It would be like tossing a coin and having it come up heads 10 quintillion times in a row. Really?

Fred Hoyle, the astronomer who coined the term “big bang,” said that his atheism was “greatly shaken” at these developments. He later wrote that “a common-sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super-intellect has monkeyed with the physics, as well as with chemistry and biology . . . . The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question.”

Theoretical physicist Paul Davies has said that “the appearance of design is overwhelming” and Oxford professor Dr. John Lennox has said “the more we get to know about our universe, the more the hypothesis that there is a Creator . . . gains in credibility as the best explanation of why we are here.”

The greatest miracle of all time, without any close seconds, is the universe. It is the miracle of all miracles, one that ineluctably points with the combined brightness of every star to something—or Someone—beyond itself.

Mr. Metaxas is the author, most recently, of “Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life” (Dutton Adult, 2014).

Correction

An earlier version understated the number of zeroes in an octillion and a septillion.

Reasons to Believe

The Day Jesus Gave a Bible Study

2 Comments

A Jesus Journey

If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. John 5:46

He gave sermons, taught parables, and read passages in the synagogue, but there is only one time recorded where Jesus gave a Bible study to prove who He is; why He must die on a cross; and that He would be resurrected the third day.  Because of the amount of  scripture He covered, we have no way of knowing what else  he discussed, but this we know for sure, it was all about Him!  What a powerful study that must have been!

At first, the study was given to only two disciples, but later that day, Jesus repeated it to all His disciples except Thomas.  Thomas would meet the live Jesus  8 days later.

This story is found in Luke 24: 13-45 and  is the basis for the following first person account.

________________________________________________

It was early afternoon, the sun was high in the sky as I walked the dusty road speaking in low tones with my friend Cleopas about the things that had transpired over the last few days.  So many things!  All very bad!

It started with the arrest of Jesus in the Garden east of the city.   During the night and into the early morning of the Preparation Day (Friday) the soldiers and mob began to move Him between the governor and religious leadership. Then they beat Him to a pulp and eventually crucified Him on a Roman cross on the hill outside of Jerusalem later in the afternoon of the Preparation Day.  I watched from afar as He hung His head and took his last breath.  He said something at the end, but I was unable to hear because I was trying to stay far enough away so that no one would try to connect me with Him .  I would certainly be labeled as a fanatic believer in this prophet who the clergy labeled as a blasphemer.  I think I saw Peter off in the distance.  He appeared to be on his knees with his face in his hands.  His disappointment must be very great!

There had been an earthquake and the sun refused to shine.  Darkness took over the land like a thick smothering blanket.  Everything seemed out of place…frightening.  The large curtain in the temple had been ripped from top to bottom by some unseen hand. There were even reports of  people, considered saints,  coming out of their graves and appearing to many in the city! (See Matthew 27: 51-53)

My personal disappointment was great, because I believed everything He said and was amazed at His great miracles and works of kindness. His followers thought Him to be the Messiah prophesied by many of the prophets hundreds of years ago.  He was going to set up His kingdom and deliver our people from the iron rule of Rome.

He was the coming king upon which I hung all our hopes.   But, it seemed like He did not want to be king.  I had left everything to follow Him and learn His teachings, but all this seemed to come to nothing on that Friday afternoon when He died.  Now only doubt, sadness, and disappointment hung on Cleopas and me like a heavy smelly cloak belonging to someone else.  I  want explanation, but the reality of deception was creeping into my thoughts and it made me feel sick and foolish.

On top of everything else, the body of Jesus is missing!  The women said He was alive, confirmed by a couple of other disciples, but I know better.  It is just wishful thinking on their part. No one could have survived the beating, the nails, the loss of blood, and finally the sharp sword in the side.  I saw it and refuse to believe anything but what my eyes can confirm. There was no mistaking… the vision of so much blood and the pale appearance of death was real.

We are on our way to Emmaus to start over;  a walk of about 7 miles. It will take me the usual 2 1/2 hours or so to walk…maybe longer today because of our conversation and heavy heart. This will give us plenty of time to try and put all the pieces together….to try to understand and make sense of everything and to decide what to do with the rest of our lives.

All of a sudden and unexpected, a stranger walks up from behind and joins us.  He asks,

“Why are you so sad and what are you discussing?”

I find these two questions odd in the light of the excitement and well-known events of the weekend. Slightly agitated and amazed Cleopas speaks before I can open my mouth and he answers the question with a question.  He throws in some sarcasm  for good measure.

“Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem that does not know the things which happened there this last few days?”

 I am even more amazed when the stranger asks,

“What things?”

In disbelief, we began to explain to the stranger the events of the weekend.  Reviewing everything does not help my disappointment and we rush through them as a courtesy to the stranger.

About Jesus of Nazareth,” we replied in unison! “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 they did not see Jesus.”

Then the stranger calls Cleopas and me “foolish ones” and that we are “slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken”  This is certainly not so! I have always believed the prophets.  I have come from a family who believes in the Tanakh (Old Testament) and I have read it often.  The prophets said, that the Messiah would come and deliver Israel from its enemies.  But the stranger began to recite the writings of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy) and all the Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Micah, Malachi, etc)  of the Tanakh and explain things I had missed before.

The stranger clearly points out passages that were references to Jesus.  For the next 3 hours, I am amazed at the knowledge and clarity of the stranger’s words.  As I listened to the stranger recite our ancient books, I begin to see that it was necessary for Jesus to die for the sins of the world, but that He would be raised up the third day!  How had I missed that?  Why had we not believed Jesus when He said it was necessary for Him to die and that he would rise again?  It was like I had been reading the scripture the way I wanted it to read instead of letting it talk to me!  Indeed, we felt foolish, but encouraged by the words of the stranger.  My heart burned within me!  I wanted to hear more!  This was all exciting and new to me!

As we get near the village where we are going it is almost dark. I don’t want the stranger to go and I look for excuses for Him to stay the night so we can hear more. Thankfully, He agrees to have supper with us.  As He breaks the bread, I recognize those hands and the manner in which He breaks the bread!  I finally look across the table into his eyes about the same time as Cleopas.  It is Jesus!  As soon as we recognize him, He disappears!  We had been talking to Jesus the whole time and we didn’t recognize Him!

With intense excitement and joy, Cleopas and I jump up and run the 7 miles back to Jerusalem in the dusk that eventually turns our path to darkness!   We must tell the 11 and the others who were behind closed doors when we left them. They, too, share our confusion and disappointment.

When we arrive,  we find them excited and questioning  Simon Peter about his encounter with! There is a strange mixture of doubt and hope in the room.  We then  begin to tell them what had happened over the last several hours.  Still some doubt, but hope is getting brighter by the moment.  As we are talking with them and answering their questions, Jesus appears in the room!

Everyone jumps back.  They think they are seeing a spirit, but Jesus tells them it is Him and that He is not a spirit. To prove it, He invites them to touch Him and He asks for something to eat.  We give Him some  fish and some honeycomb.  My heart beats fast!

After everyone settles down and the scales of their eyes begin to fall away as it did with Cleopas and me, Jesus repeats  the same type of study we heard on the road to Emmaus.  This time, He uses the entire Tanakh including the Psalms to explain how He is found all through scripture. All the disciples begin to understand that He had to die, but that He would rise on the third day.  How could we have missed this?  It was right there!

Then He said to us,

“These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you.  that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.  And He opened our understanding that we might comprehend the Scriptures.”

Now our hearts are filled with joy and conviction!  We spend the next hour or so talking with Jesus.  Then He tells us that the Father will send us the gift of the Holy Spirit, but we must wait for it and stay in the city.  Our message will go to the world in power.  It will be a message of repentance and forgiveness of sins!

He is risen!

_________________________________________________

Do we need  Jesus to open our understanding of Scriptures?  Have we missed Jesus as we have read the Old Testament?  What detail did Jesus teach these disciples when He explained passages from all the books of the Old Testament?  Is the Old Testament not relevant to New Testament Christians?  Have we missed something in our understanding of Jesus?  Thomas was the only one not there in that room when Jesus appeared and taught them from the scripture about himself.

 Next, we will take a look at Jesus through the eyes of a well-known doubter,  Thomas.  We will attempt to understand why the resurrection of Jesus is an absolute cornerstone of the Christian faith. In fact, without it, Paul says we are most pitiful of all men. But, after we see through the eyes of Thomas we will exclaim as he did:

“My Lord and My God.”  John 20:28