1)Pride 2) Envy 3) Greed 4) Sloth 5) Gluttony 6) Anger 7) Lust:
While atheists claim that these characteristics are absent from their lives, these and the numerous other sins that arise from them are destroying our relationships, our communities, our countries and our planet. The entertainment industry actually promotes the message that living these seven deadly sins are the path to obtaining the American Dream. Those lacking in wisdom believe this message.
Now, it seems to me that any right thinking people, if they could, would want to eliminate these sins from their lives. God agrees. In fact He says that He is going to bring that about.
Because God is all good, He WILL put an end to evil
Because God is all powerful, He CAN put an end to evil
For a little while, evil will be used by God to separate those who are for Him from those who are against Him
In a little while God can and will put an end to evil, and all those on the side of evil will be put out of His kingdom for ever.
Change scene now:
If I was stranded on an island and had only one book, I would want the Biblical book of Romans
If I was stranded on an island and had only one chapter, I would want chapter eight.
If I was stranded on an island and had only one verse, I would want verse twenty-eight
“In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”Romans 8:28
This is God’s plan for defeating evil, one person at a time.
. The counter balance to the seven deadly sins is the Fruit of the Spirit of the living God.
. The Fruit of the Spirit describes the character of Jesus.
. The character of Jesus is described as, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.
THAT is the “good” that God refers to in Romans 8:29 “For those God foreknew He also predestined TO BE CONFORMED to the likeness of His Son . . . And those He predestined, He also called; those He called He also justified; those He justified He also glorified.” Being conformed to the likeness and character of Jesus is the good that God will bring about, not “apart from” but IN all things; in our suffering, in our pain, in our tragedies. THAT is what God is doing with the evil that is currently saturating the earth. In sadness, in tragedy, in suffering, in pain, in loss, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.”
God is using the evil that we choose to be part of our reality in two primary ways:
. To separate us into For God and Against God groups, and
. To change the character of those who are destined for heaven.
I stated earlier that atheists claim that sin and evil are absent from their lives. Sadly, atheists cannot admit to these sins because a major atheist creed states,
“I don’t need God to be a good person.”
And if they truly believe that, then atheists must of course see themselves AS good people. They must see their lives as being free of sin. If they admit to sin then it’s obvious that they CANNOT be good without God.
“I’m a really nice person. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that I’m nice.”
Apart from cementing their path to destruction by causing them to reject God, as far as I can see, suffering and tragedy for atheists are a complete waste of time. Pain and loss for atheists are simply things with which they must cope until God rids the world of evil and separates from His kingdom all those on the side of evil.
Because God is all good, He WILL put an end to evil
Because God is all powerful, He CAN put an end to evil
For a little while (it's only been two days since Jesus lived) evil will be used by God to separate those who are for Him from those who are against Him
In a little while God can and will put an end to evil, and all those on the side of evil will be put out of His kingdom for ever and ever.
As was the case with the thief on the cross, until your last heartbeat, the invitation to come one side with God remains open.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Atheists and Christians? We’re a lot alike!
An atheist was aghast that I would “shamelessly indoctrinate” my children regarding Jesus the Christ and the religion that bears His name. It’s very tempting to look at others who think differently than we and then assume or feel that they are part of another species. It’s easier to denigrate and demonize that way. Truly, Christians and atheists are similar in many areas.
. Both think the other is unbelievably stupid
. Both think the other is living out wishful thinking
. Both are obsessed with the concept of a Creator God
. Both think the other lacks reason and intellectual honesty
. Both think the quality of their lives is enhanced by their beliefs
. Both accept and believe things that they simply don’t understand
. Both think the other is making the world a worse place in which to live
. Both formulate “logical” reasons why they don’t believe what the other one believes
. Both sides rarely admit to the fact that they indoctrinate their children with their beliefs
. Both beliefs require faith.
- Atheists’ faith is in their powers of intellect, science and pride
- Christian faith is in the person of Jesus the Christ.
. Both are born in rebellion to the idea that a God exists to whom they will someday be accountable.
. Atheists maintain that position throughout their lives by adhering to evidence that supports their position and discarding evidence that doesn’t.
. Christians have come to free their thinking and change their minds through spiritual and intellectual exploration. Christians come to their position by admitting and accepting evidence that cannot be successfully challenged or refuted.
. Both think the other is unbelievably stupid
. Both think the other is living out wishful thinking
. Both are obsessed with the concept of a Creator God
. Both think the other lacks reason and intellectual honesty
. Both think the quality of their lives is enhanced by their beliefs
. Both accept and believe things that they simply don’t understand
. Both think the other is making the world a worse place in which to live
. Both formulate “logical” reasons why they don’t believe what the other one believes
. Both sides rarely admit to the fact that they indoctrinate their children with their beliefs
. Both beliefs require faith.
- Atheists’ faith is in their powers of intellect, science and pride
- Christian faith is in the person of Jesus the Christ.
. Both are born in rebellion to the idea that a God exists to whom they will someday be accountable.
. Atheists maintain that position throughout their lives by adhering to evidence that supports their position and discarding evidence that doesn’t.
. Christians have come to free their thinking and change their minds through spiritual and intellectual exploration. Christians come to their position by admitting and accepting evidence that cannot be successfully challenged or refuted.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
What were you thinking?
I’m always taken aback when I read about someone who gave up on Jesus because something difficult happened to them. I mean, what were you thinking? Did you believe that:
If I become a Christian then nothing bad will happen to me.
If I become a Christian no one in my family will die,
If I become a Christian I’ll never get laid off,
If I become a Christian my spouse will never betray me or leave me
If I become a Christian my friends will never die from cancer or car accident
If I become a Christian every day will be sunny and warm.
Not only does Jesus not promise ease of living if we become His followers, I think that if you look carefully, you’ll find that He promises just the opposite.
“If they hated Me, they will hate you also.”
Peter was a contemporary of Jesus. He experienced tremendous change in character because of his relationship with Jesus. Early on in his relationship with Jesus, Peter ran from danger. Later in life he tells us to be ready for suffering 17 times just in his first letter. Peter warns that if we follow Jesus:
We’ll be mocked by our neighbours
We’ll be tempted to follow false teachers
We’ll be harassed and tempted by satan to a degree we never dreamed possible
We’ll actually be punished for following Jesus (I know this one personally)
We’ll live like refugees, strangers on earth.
We’ll suffer grief in all kinds of trials
We’ll be rejected by family and friends
We’ll be blamed for the problems of the world
We’ll be mocked for doing good
This should not surprise us. Jesus said that before we become Christians we’d better give it some serious thought because “Anyone who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit to be called my disciple.”
No, God doesn’t promise some kind of supernatural protection from tragedy. What He does offer however is a supernatural ability to use tragedy for good. With eyes wide open and our chest bared to the blast Jesus makes us the kind of people who take hold of His hand and step boldly into the storms of life. When we do exactly that we come out the other side victorious and unbowed. Because of a healed and intimate relationship with Jesus, suffering increases our faith, frees us from sin, elevates our hope and holiness and brings about a character of goodness, and perseverance.
How is it then that some turn away from God in the face of tragedy while others are drawn closer to Him? It all depends on the goal for which you’re aiming. If your goal was pleasure or security, or ease of life and safety, and then God allows difficulties to enter your life. We’ll of course you’ll turn away. On the other hand, if your goal is heaven. If your goal is an ever increasing close relationship with Jesus. If you know that God is waiting for you on the other side, then there isn’t anything that this life can throw at you that will make you turn back. In fact you’ll know that in preparing you for heaven, God will refine and strengthen you here on earth.
So, what exactly were you thinking when you became a Christian? Following Jesus is not for the faint of heart. Following Jesus is a journey filled with hardship and challenge, but the rewards. O the rewards are so worth it. Just as Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him, so too can we run the race with our eyes on the prize knowing that in the end our trials will seem small in comparison to the rewards we receive.
If I become a Christian then nothing bad will happen to me.
If I become a Christian no one in my family will die,
If I become a Christian I’ll never get laid off,
If I become a Christian my spouse will never betray me or leave me
If I become a Christian my friends will never die from cancer or car accident
If I become a Christian every day will be sunny and warm.
Not only does Jesus not promise ease of living if we become His followers, I think that if you look carefully, you’ll find that He promises just the opposite.
“If they hated Me, they will hate you also.”
Peter was a contemporary of Jesus. He experienced tremendous change in character because of his relationship with Jesus. Early on in his relationship with Jesus, Peter ran from danger. Later in life he tells us to be ready for suffering 17 times just in his first letter. Peter warns that if we follow Jesus:
We’ll be mocked by our neighbours
We’ll be tempted to follow false teachers
We’ll be harassed and tempted by satan to a degree we never dreamed possible
We’ll actually be punished for following Jesus (I know this one personally)
We’ll live like refugees, strangers on earth.
We’ll suffer grief in all kinds of trials
We’ll be rejected by family and friends
We’ll be blamed for the problems of the world
We’ll be mocked for doing good
This should not surprise us. Jesus said that before we become Christians we’d better give it some serious thought because “Anyone who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit to be called my disciple.”
No, God doesn’t promise some kind of supernatural protection from tragedy. What He does offer however is a supernatural ability to use tragedy for good. With eyes wide open and our chest bared to the blast Jesus makes us the kind of people who take hold of His hand and step boldly into the storms of life. When we do exactly that we come out the other side victorious and unbowed. Because of a healed and intimate relationship with Jesus, suffering increases our faith, frees us from sin, elevates our hope and holiness and brings about a character of goodness, and perseverance.
How is it then that some turn away from God in the face of tragedy while others are drawn closer to Him? It all depends on the goal for which you’re aiming. If your goal was pleasure or security, or ease of life and safety, and then God allows difficulties to enter your life. We’ll of course you’ll turn away. On the other hand, if your goal is heaven. If your goal is an ever increasing close relationship with Jesus. If you know that God is waiting for you on the other side, then there isn’t anything that this life can throw at you that will make you turn back. In fact you’ll know that in preparing you for heaven, God will refine and strengthen you here on earth.
So, what exactly were you thinking when you became a Christian? Following Jesus is not for the faint of heart. Following Jesus is a journey filled with hardship and challenge, but the rewards. O the rewards are so worth it. Just as Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him, so too can we run the race with our eyes on the prize knowing that in the end our trials will seem small in comparison to the rewards we receive.
Why I Go To Church
I’d like to say that I go to Church so that I can worship God. In fact, after 28 years of trying to follow Jesus, on Sunday morning as I back out of my driveway, worshipping God is still one of my main objectives. It seldom happens. Two eight-year-olds, two seven-year-olds, and one four year old are a big part of that. Fighting like badgers all the way to church is another. We don’t always fight but often enough.
So why do I go?
I go to Church because the Sanctuary for me truly is a Sanctuary. I’m able to leave the outside, outside.
I go to learn; about the Bible, about my Saviour, about life.
I go to be with others who share what’s most important in my life
I go because I’ve grown to love imperfect people. I love people who have the courage and humility to ask for help. I love being with those who know and admit to their hypocrisy and bigotry, their lies and their lusts. People who are brave enough to admit their imperfections and their need for forgiveness have become VERY attractive to me. I crave to be with honesty and being with other Christians gives me that.
I go to Church because it puts me in contact with those in need. I’m amongst the grieving and the sorrowful. I amongst the hurting and with those who hurt others. Going to Church puts me in contact with those who, because of their struggles, are sitting in the presence of Jesus.
I go to Church because I want my children to know about Creator God.
I go to Church because I want my neighbours to know that it’s important to me without telling them so in words.
I go to Church because I want to show to God, in a tangible manner that I can stop making money and stop playing in order to focus on Him.
I go to Church because it makes me want to be a better dad, a better husband, a better neighbour. I also get this desire to be a better person from reading the Bible and praying but being in Church rejuvenates and refreshes me.
I go to Church because I want to be a visible part of the team that is going to win
I go to Church because I love my Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ. I want to be where He is. I want to be near Him. And where His followers are, there He is also.
“I was glad when they said unto me, “Let’s go to the house of the Lord.””
I love Church today as much or more than I hated Church in my pre Christian days.
I love Christians today as much or more than I hated Christians in my pre Christian days.
I love Jesus today far, far, far more than I’ve ever loved Him before. Thank you Lord Jesus for Your mercy, Your kindness, Your patience and most of all for Your salvation.
So why do I go?
I go to Church because the Sanctuary for me truly is a Sanctuary. I’m able to leave the outside, outside.
I go to learn; about the Bible, about my Saviour, about life.
I go to be with others who share what’s most important in my life
I go because I’ve grown to love imperfect people. I love people who have the courage and humility to ask for help. I love being with those who know and admit to their hypocrisy and bigotry, their lies and their lusts. People who are brave enough to admit their imperfections and their need for forgiveness have become VERY attractive to me. I crave to be with honesty and being with other Christians gives me that.
I go to Church because it puts me in contact with those in need. I’m amongst the grieving and the sorrowful. I amongst the hurting and with those who hurt others. Going to Church puts me in contact with those who, because of their struggles, are sitting in the presence of Jesus.
I go to Church because I want my children to know about Creator God.
I go to Church because I want my neighbours to know that it’s important to me without telling them so in words.
I go to Church because I want to show to God, in a tangible manner that I can stop making money and stop playing in order to focus on Him.
I go to Church because it makes me want to be a better dad, a better husband, a better neighbour. I also get this desire to be a better person from reading the Bible and praying but being in Church rejuvenates and refreshes me.
I go to Church because I want to be a visible part of the team that is going to win
I go to Church because I love my Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ. I want to be where He is. I want to be near Him. And where His followers are, there He is also.
“I was glad when they said unto me, “Let’s go to the house of the Lord.””
I love Church today as much or more than I hated Church in my pre Christian days.
I love Christians today as much or more than I hated Christians in my pre Christian days.
I love Jesus today far, far, far more than I’ve ever loved Him before. Thank you Lord Jesus for Your mercy, Your kindness, Your patience and most of all for Your salvation.
Friday, July 10, 2009
"Some" Atheists
Pretty good huh? The way I used the word “some.” I’ve been taken to task lately about glomping all atheists together. I believe the term is generalising.
Anyhoo, some atheists have been perplexed by my seeming dislike of atheists in general. “How can you not like someone as nice as me?”
First of all, I don’t dislike atheists as people. On the other hand, do I enjoy and admire atheist beliefs and the fallout of those beliefs? Mmm, not so much. My blogger only allows comments up to 4,000 words so I’ll make this brief. You know how teenagers can hardly wait to get out into the world and try out their brand new bodies with each other? Of course you do. Most of us did. However, I actually find it embarrassing remember those days. Atheists, to me, SOME atheists, to me, seem to do the same thing regarding their minds. They are just so thrilled at their intellectual abilities that they can't resist flashing them to everyone who will look. Or, more accurately, flashing their intellect to ensure that people pay attention to them. Maybe that's what I don't like. It reminds me of my own teenage insecurities.
Now, don’t get me wrong here. I’m as impressed by the human mind as the next guy. It’s just that atheists seem to be, whoops, I mean SOME atheists seem to be like teens who are first discovering what the mind can do. It’s usually at its worst in first year college. Remember those days? When you’d sit around expounding on this and that in an effort to impress, not so much others, as yourself with how clever you were? Well, THAT’S the impression that I get when talking to some atheist bloggers. It's like they're caught in a time-warp, showing off to anyone who will listen just how clever they are. It makes me gag. I feel embarrassed - for them! To actually judge another person’s value and worth by that person's level of intelligence or intellectual abilities creates within me a level of disgust that is disturbing even to me. Maybe it’s because six of our seven children are learning disabled. I feel VERY protective of them. Even if they weren’t that way, I find that kind of shallowness or superficiality really, really unattractive. So I’m going to go and get an orange.
Anyhoo, some atheists have been perplexed by my seeming dislike of atheists in general. “How can you not like someone as nice as me?”
First of all, I don’t dislike atheists as people. On the other hand, do I enjoy and admire atheist beliefs and the fallout of those beliefs? Mmm, not so much. My blogger only allows comments up to 4,000 words so I’ll make this brief. You know how teenagers can hardly wait to get out into the world and try out their brand new bodies with each other? Of course you do. Most of us did. However, I actually find it embarrassing remember those days. Atheists, to me, SOME atheists, to me, seem to do the same thing regarding their minds. They are just so thrilled at their intellectual abilities that they can't resist flashing them to everyone who will look. Or, more accurately, flashing their intellect to ensure that people pay attention to them. Maybe that's what I don't like. It reminds me of my own teenage insecurities.
Now, don’t get me wrong here. I’m as impressed by the human mind as the next guy. It’s just that atheists seem to be, whoops, I mean SOME atheists seem to be like teens who are first discovering what the mind can do. It’s usually at its worst in first year college. Remember those days? When you’d sit around expounding on this and that in an effort to impress, not so much others, as yourself with how clever you were? Well, THAT’S the impression that I get when talking to some atheist bloggers. It's like they're caught in a time-warp, showing off to anyone who will listen just how clever they are. It makes me gag. I feel embarrassed - for them! To actually judge another person’s value and worth by that person's level of intelligence or intellectual abilities creates within me a level of disgust that is disturbing even to me. Maybe it’s because six of our seven children are learning disabled. I feel VERY protective of them. Even if they weren’t that way, I find that kind of shallowness or superficiality really, really unattractive. So I’m going to go and get an orange.
Is God Insane?
There's been some discussion about why God has done things the way He has. Why not make evidence of Himself clear to every one? Why not save everyone? Of course I don't have a definitive answer. I'm just this goof blogger. I have however given it a fair bit of thought and here's what I've come up with.
Why Has God Created Billions of People
Who Are Destined
for Eternal Separation From Him?
1. I Am God. Genesis 1:1
2. I Am before anything else. Genesis 21:33
3. I Am above and beyond anything else. Genesis 1:31; Exodus 20:3
4. I Am perfectly Pure, Holy and Righteous. There is nothing imperfect or "wrong" in Me. Psalm 19:7-9
5. Anything that is in rebellion to My perfect Purity, Holiness and Righteousness can never come into My presence. John 3:18,36
6. I Am completely and utterly Just. Psalm 7:11
7. I Am slow to anger; filled with great patience. I Am merciful and filled with grace. Psalm 5:7; 9:9,10
8. I Am Love. Psalm 25:8,9
9. Just as there cannot be the perception of up without a down, in without an out, hot without cold and light without darkness, there cannot be Love without evil. This is a spiritual reality or law.
10. Because I Am Love, there is evil rebellion against My love.
11. This evil has been allowed to exist first in the presence of rebellious angels. 1st Timothy 5:21
12. I Am One and I Am plural with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
13. In My Spirit, I love My Son. Mark 1:11
14. Love is the greatest entity to ever exist. 1st Corinthians 13:1
15. As a gift and a blessing, I want something special for My Son to love and I want that special something to love My Son.
16. That something, like the angels, must be created by Me. Genesis 1:26
17. It is My right to declare and uphold the terms and conditions of My creation. Job 41:11; Exodus 4:11; 11,12; 33:19; 1st Samuel 2:30
18. The special part of My creation will be human beings. They will be made in My image, possessing portions and degrees of My attributes and My characteristics. Genesis 1:27
19. I will make My justice and mercy known in and through human beings.
20. I want humans to love (Obey) My Son because in doing so, humans will enjoy their highest state of being. Joshua 1:8; 1st Kings 11:38;
2nd Chronicles 15:2, 15:9; Psalm 1:1-3, 4:8
21. I want to reward that love with eternity in paradise, ie. eternity in My presence. John 3:16; Psalm 18:25-27
22. For their love to be real, I know that humans must have the choice to not love My Son. Genesis 2:16
23. For their love to be real, I must allow humans to rebel against My love. Romans 11:32
24. If the first humans that I create love and obey Me, that love will be passed on to their offspring. That love will be inherited. It will not be a choice. ‘love’ will be robotic.
25. If the first humans that I create, rebel against My love by disobeying Me, then that spirit of rebellion will be passed on to their offspring.
26. In order for any humans to find fulfilment in truly loving Me, I must accept that all humans must first refuse to love Me. Genesis 3:7
27. No one will be able to love My Son without the help of My grace and mercy. John 6:44
28. I will provide those of my choosing with an opportunity to love Me and to obey Me. Romans 8:30, 9:16, 11:32
29. Through this plan I will demonstrate that I Am Love AND that I Am Just.
30. Because of who I Am, I cannot create in humans a spirit of Love and then draw them to evil to create real choice. I can only allow rebellion / evil to enter the human race in order to create real choice, and then save those who wish to be delivered from evil.
31. I will draw back my hand of protection and allow this course of history to unfold. Genesis 3:23; Deuteronomy 28:20-67
32. It is My right to declare and uphold the terms and conditions of My creation.
33. Love causes growth. Evil and rebellion cause death and destruction. Exodus 19:5; Leviticus 26:3-6, 16-24; Deuteronomy 6:6, 30:15-20
34. Because I love humans, I hate the rebellion that causes their destruction. Psalm 5:4
35. Those who continue in a spirit of rebellion will be objects of My anger. Genesis 7:4; Psalm 14:3
36. Objects of My anger cannot and will not be tolerated in My presence. Psalm 5:4
37. For the very survival of the gift to My Son, My justice, mercy, grace, love and patience, MUST be clearly displayed to humans (a) So they will know that they should repent of their rebellion and (b) To show them that they have a place to turn to for rescue from their rebellion.
- Humans will know My Justice because they know in their hearts that rebellion against Me is wrong. Those who continue in their rebellion will die spiritually and eternally.
- Because all will be born into a state of rebellion, it is only My Grace that will ensure that some humans get what they don’t deserve (life in eternal paradise) while My Mercy will ensure that those same humans don’t get what they do deserve (eternal separation from Me).
- They will know My Patience because I will persist in blessing those who continue in evil, until all those who are going to receive My merciful salvation have turned from their rebellion. Romans 9:22,23
- They will know My Love in that I, in the form of My Son, will forgive evil by taking my own punishment and suffering my own wrath for the horrible act of continued rebellion against a Creator God who is perfectly pure, holy, righteous, just, merciful, slow to anger, filled with great patience, filled with grace and abounding in Love.
38. I will rescue those who are not looking for Me, love those who hate Me, and make peace with those who are My enemies. 2nd Samuel 7:18; Isaiah 65:1; Romans 10:20
39. The rebellious cannot complain because they are in fact guilty of rebellion. Genesis 3:22; Psalm 14:3
40. The saved cannot boast because they have done nothing to deserve salvation.Romans 3:27,28
41. It is My right to declare and uphold the terms and conditions of My creation.
The real question then is not, "Why did God create billions of people who are destined to be eternally separated from Him?" The real question to be asked is:
Why Did God Create and Then Save For Eternity in Paradise, Billions of People Who Should Have Been Eternally Separated From Him.
Why Has God Created Billions of People
Who Are Destined
for Eternal Separation From Him?
1. I Am God. Genesis 1:1
2. I Am before anything else. Genesis 21:33
3. I Am above and beyond anything else. Genesis 1:31; Exodus 20:3
4. I Am perfectly Pure, Holy and Righteous. There is nothing imperfect or "wrong" in Me. Psalm 19:7-9
5. Anything that is in rebellion to My perfect Purity, Holiness and Righteousness can never come into My presence. John 3:18,36
6. I Am completely and utterly Just. Psalm 7:11
7. I Am slow to anger; filled with great patience. I Am merciful and filled with grace. Psalm 5:7; 9:9,10
8. I Am Love. Psalm 25:8,9
9. Just as there cannot be the perception of up without a down, in without an out, hot without cold and light without darkness, there cannot be Love without evil. This is a spiritual reality or law.
10. Because I Am Love, there is evil rebellion against My love.
11. This evil has been allowed to exist first in the presence of rebellious angels. 1st Timothy 5:21
12. I Am One and I Am plural with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
13. In My Spirit, I love My Son. Mark 1:11
14. Love is the greatest entity to ever exist. 1st Corinthians 13:1
15. As a gift and a blessing, I want something special for My Son to love and I want that special something to love My Son.
16. That something, like the angels, must be created by Me. Genesis 1:26
17. It is My right to declare and uphold the terms and conditions of My creation. Job 41:11; Exodus 4:11; 11,12; 33:19; 1st Samuel 2:30
18. The special part of My creation will be human beings. They will be made in My image, possessing portions and degrees of My attributes and My characteristics. Genesis 1:27
19. I will make My justice and mercy known in and through human beings.
20. I want humans to love (Obey) My Son because in doing so, humans will enjoy their highest state of being. Joshua 1:8; 1st Kings 11:38;
2nd Chronicles 15:2, 15:9; Psalm 1:1-3, 4:8
21. I want to reward that love with eternity in paradise, ie. eternity in My presence. John 3:16; Psalm 18:25-27
22. For their love to be real, I know that humans must have the choice to not love My Son. Genesis 2:16
23. For their love to be real, I must allow humans to rebel against My love. Romans 11:32
24. If the first humans that I create love and obey Me, that love will be passed on to their offspring. That love will be inherited. It will not be a choice. ‘love’ will be robotic.
25. If the first humans that I create, rebel against My love by disobeying Me, then that spirit of rebellion will be passed on to their offspring.
26. In order for any humans to find fulfilment in truly loving Me, I must accept that all humans must first refuse to love Me. Genesis 3:7
27. No one will be able to love My Son without the help of My grace and mercy. John 6:44
28. I will provide those of my choosing with an opportunity to love Me and to obey Me. Romans 8:30, 9:16, 11:32
29. Through this plan I will demonstrate that I Am Love AND that I Am Just.
30. Because of who I Am, I cannot create in humans a spirit of Love and then draw them to evil to create real choice. I can only allow rebellion / evil to enter the human race in order to create real choice, and then save those who wish to be delivered from evil.
31. I will draw back my hand of protection and allow this course of history to unfold. Genesis 3:23; Deuteronomy 28:20-67
32. It is My right to declare and uphold the terms and conditions of My creation.
33. Love causes growth. Evil and rebellion cause death and destruction. Exodus 19:5; Leviticus 26:3-6, 16-24; Deuteronomy 6:6, 30:15-20
34. Because I love humans, I hate the rebellion that causes their destruction. Psalm 5:4
35. Those who continue in a spirit of rebellion will be objects of My anger. Genesis 7:4; Psalm 14:3
36. Objects of My anger cannot and will not be tolerated in My presence. Psalm 5:4
37. For the very survival of the gift to My Son, My justice, mercy, grace, love and patience, MUST be clearly displayed to humans (a) So they will know that they should repent of their rebellion and (b) To show them that they have a place to turn to for rescue from their rebellion.
- Humans will know My Justice because they know in their hearts that rebellion against Me is wrong. Those who continue in their rebellion will die spiritually and eternally.
- Because all will be born into a state of rebellion, it is only My Grace that will ensure that some humans get what they don’t deserve (life in eternal paradise) while My Mercy will ensure that those same humans don’t get what they do deserve (eternal separation from Me).
- They will know My Patience because I will persist in blessing those who continue in evil, until all those who are going to receive My merciful salvation have turned from their rebellion. Romans 9:22,23
- They will know My Love in that I, in the form of My Son, will forgive evil by taking my own punishment and suffering my own wrath for the horrible act of continued rebellion against a Creator God who is perfectly pure, holy, righteous, just, merciful, slow to anger, filled with great patience, filled with grace and abounding in Love.
38. I will rescue those who are not looking for Me, love those who hate Me, and make peace with those who are My enemies. 2nd Samuel 7:18; Isaiah 65:1; Romans 10:20
39. The rebellious cannot complain because they are in fact guilty of rebellion. Genesis 3:22; Psalm 14:3
40. The saved cannot boast because they have done nothing to deserve salvation.Romans 3:27,28
41. It is My right to declare and uphold the terms and conditions of My creation.
The real question then is not, "Why did God create billions of people who are destined to be eternally separated from Him?" The real question to be asked is:
Why Did God Create and Then Save For Eternity in Paradise, Billions of People Who Should Have Been Eternally Separated From Him.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
One Way or - um - nothin
I’ve posted on this before.
It’s Jesus or nothing.
It’s faith or nothing.
A lot of people find fault with that but really, we should quit complaining. The fact that there is ANY way to repair the damage we’ve done to our relationship with our Creator is amazing enough. The fact that ALL we have to do is accept what Jesus did is incredible. Yet, as simple as it is, it’s too difficult for atheists. They’ll whine about it.
They’ll ridicule it.
They say how unfair it is.
In fact, if you challenge their faith-system, atheists will even tell you that you aren’t a real Christian. However, if you suggest to an atheist that s/he consider asking for forgiveness, that person will, you know, "I don’t believe in any of that stuff."
Of course faith in what Jesus has done is the only logical way to attain peace with God. Just as bad Karma reproduces faster than good Karma and sets us up on the wheel of rebirth and suffering (according to one Hindu mathematician for 3.6 million reincarnations before attaining release), so too do our wrong thoughts and deeds accrue faster than our good thoughts and deeds. Reality is,
. If there is any OTHER way than faith in Jesus, we’re done for.
. If there are some sort of scales weighing out our good and bad deeds, we done for.
For most of us, we’ve accumulated decades of harm before we even find out that we’re going to be held accountable for our actions.
Thank God and His Son Jesus that our actions, both good and bad do not even enter into the equation regarding salvation.
Faith in the work of Jesus, from top to bottom.
Faith in the work of Jesus , from first to last.
There is nothing that we can do or not do to merit salvation. Our bad actions will not cancel out our faith and our good actions will not add a single point to our faith. Our salvation is by God’s grace and that alone. All you have to do is accept it. It requires too much honesty and humility for an atheist, but it might not be too hard for you.
It’s Jesus or nothing.
It’s faith or nothing.
A lot of people find fault with that but really, we should quit complaining. The fact that there is ANY way to repair the damage we’ve done to our relationship with our Creator is amazing enough. The fact that ALL we have to do is accept what Jesus did is incredible. Yet, as simple as it is, it’s too difficult for atheists. They’ll whine about it.
They’ll ridicule it.
They say how unfair it is.
In fact, if you challenge their faith-system, atheists will even tell you that you aren’t a real Christian. However, if you suggest to an atheist that s/he consider asking for forgiveness, that person will, you know, "I don’t believe in any of that stuff."
Of course faith in what Jesus has done is the only logical way to attain peace with God. Just as bad Karma reproduces faster than good Karma and sets us up on the wheel of rebirth and suffering (according to one Hindu mathematician for 3.6 million reincarnations before attaining release), so too do our wrong thoughts and deeds accrue faster than our good thoughts and deeds. Reality is,
. If there is any OTHER way than faith in Jesus, we’re done for.
. If there are some sort of scales weighing out our good and bad deeds, we done for.
For most of us, we’ve accumulated decades of harm before we even find out that we’re going to be held accountable for our actions.
Thank God and His Son Jesus that our actions, both good and bad do not even enter into the equation regarding salvation.
Faith in the work of Jesus, from top to bottom.
Faith in the work of Jesus , from first to last.
There is nothing that we can do or not do to merit salvation. Our bad actions will not cancel out our faith and our good actions will not add a single point to our faith. Our salvation is by God’s grace and that alone. All you have to do is accept it. It requires too much honesty and humility for an atheist, but it might not be too hard for you.
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