Why is the Resurrection Important?

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QUESTION:

What changed with the resurrection of Jesus?

The resurrection confirmed Jesus' claims about himself, that he was the Son of God in the flesh, the fulfillment of God's dealings with humankind.  No longer would people have to follow a set of rules to find salvation. (see Colossians 2:20-23) The old covenant was replaced by the new covenant and the proof was in the resurrection. Because Jesus lives, he is the Messiah.  He is the one to trust.  He is the one whom we can have a personal relationship with. Another way to look at this question is to ask what would be different if Jesus had not risen from the dead.  If there had been no resurrection, Christianity as we know it would not exist.  At most, Christians would be following the teachings of just another popular rabbi. His words simply would have been the same as countless words of other religious writings. People would be left with no other option for salvation than to strive for absolute obedience.  But the resurrection changed everything.  People follow Christ's teachings, not to become saved, but because they are saved. We have discovered something far better than knowing words; we have found what it means to know Him. Because He was raised from the dead, we can be too. We can live -- really live -- both now and through all eternity.

RELEVANT SCRIPTURE:

In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen!  Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"  Luke 24:6-7

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What if the Truth is Rejected?

Лосенко Антон Павлович (?). Десять заповедей Моисея (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

QUESTION:

My son, a bright educated person, knows the truth of Jesus but rejects it. What is in store for him?

Scripture makes it clear that it is not enough simply to know the gospel. The gospel must be believed and obeyed. 2 Peter 2:20-22 is a warning to those who know the way of salvation and still reject it. The only hope for anyone is that they embrace God's commands and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It appears that there are degrees of punishment for the lost. (see Matthew 13:11-14) Those who reject the gospel are accountable for more than those who never knew and so never consciously rejected it. (see Matthew 25:16-28) Yet, those who never heard the gospel are judged because they don't live up to what little they know through nature and their own conscience. (see Romans 1:18-20 & 2:12-15) It appears that judgment will be less severe if a person rejects God out of ignorance than out of rebellion. In any event remember that God has a perfect plan and perfect timing. Don't give up on your son. Keep praying.

RELEVANT SCRIPTURE:

If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and they are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.

2 Peter 2:20-21

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Time for Some Swift Justice?

          I had to wait a couple of days after the Aurora Colorado theater massacre to write this, in order for some of the anger to wane. It seems that this is about as good as I will get, so here goes.

          We, the citizens of The United States of America, have abdicated our responsibility. We are called to uphold the constitution. We are not doing a very good job of that. In fact, we are doing a piss-poor job of it.  We have allowed the liberals to direct our actions, to the detriment of many, make that most, citizens. The 1^st amendment is being eroded daily, and it is clear the 2^nd amendment is under serious attack.

          It’s time for real Americans, the conservative Americans, to take action.  We need to unite against the socialist-leaning left before we lose everything.

          Did you notice that immediately after the theater massacre in Aurora the cries for more gun control began? Like guns are the problem… Give me a break!  I would like all of you liberals out there to get three or four handguns and place them on your kitchen table. OK, I understand you may need to borrow them as no respectable liberal would own a gun, but get your hands on some and put them on your kitchen table. Just to make this interesting, make sure they are loaded and the safety on each is off, so each gun is ready to fire. Now just wait. Wait until one or more of those guns begin killing people. Yes, you may have a very long wait.

          I think you get my point. It’s been said over and over, but for some reason you liberals don’t get it.  GUNS DON’T KILL PEOPLE, PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE!  Do you really believe that if every gun in America had been confiscated that the nut in Colorado could not have come up with a method of destruction and mass killings? If so then you are a lot dumber than I thought! Do you pay any attention to the rest of the world? How about bombs strapped to bodies, or car bombs? Do you remember 9/11? How about the Oklahoma City bombing? No guns used in either.

          The truth is that if there had been some armed theater goers in the audience in Aurora there would most likely have been fewer deaths, and one of them may well have been Mr. James Holmes. That would have been a blessing.

          That brings me to SWIFT JUSTICE.  There are times when we see these types of attacks where the perpetrator is captured and there is ABSOLUTLY NO DOUBT of his guilt. Fairly recent qualifying events include this most recent one in Aurora, the one at Fort Hood, and the one in Tucson, AZ, where Representative, Gabrielle Giffords was wounded. I am sure there are many more, but these are the ones that come to mind. In each of these incidents IT IS KNOW BEYOUND ANY DOUBT who committed the heinous acts of violence, yet, they are still breathing good air and sucking up valuable resources. How stupid can we be?  They did it and they deserve to pay the price for their actions. KILL THEM!!!

          In every case where there is no doubt who the guilty party is we should give them a trial (one day maximum) within three days of their killings, then shoot them in the public square within a day of the jury’s decision. I understand this might take some new legislation but that ought to be doable. It is time to take back our nation, and start cleaning the gene pool.  If you find fault with, and/or take issue with this, you should take a hard look at yourself. You may well be part of the problem. This is NOT a partisan issue. It does not matter if you are a Democrat or a Republican (they are about the same now anyway). No doubt this will be more palatable to conservatives than liberals, but every real American ought to embrace it. As I said, it’s time to take back our country, and I say let’s take no prisoners!

          This type of behavior will not stop until the criminals, with thoughts of such actions, know beyond a doubt that they will die for their actions. As it is now they know they will go through years of appeals and have the hope some liberal attorney will come up with a way to get them off. We are stupid to bear the cost of keeping these scum-balls in jail or prison.  Just KILL THEM! And yes, in case you are wondering, I would volunteer to be the executioner. 

          As far as gun control… I am in favor of gun control.  That is I am in favor of each of us controlling our guns. I want more guns that I control, not less. We cannot have freedom if we are unable or unwilling to defend it. If you live in The United States of America and don’t own at least one protective firearm, you are living recklessly.

May God bless America!

PS: Your comments are welcome. Just click on the link below.

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The Wives of Solomon

QUESTION:

Why did Solomon have so many wives?

History reveals that Solomon was very aggressive in his foreign policy.  In his time, it was customary for a lesser king to give his daughter in marriage to a greater king. Every time a new treaty was made, Solomon ended up with another wife. These marriages were primarily political in nature. It may be that Solomon was not even personally acquainted with some of these "wives." Unfortunately, taking these wives made him disobedient to the Lord. It seems he was so obsessed with power and wealth that it overshadowed his spiritual life, and he was unfaithful. He ended up worshipping some of the false gods of the women he married. In taking these wives Solomon sinned in two ways; First, he disobeyed God's revealed will regarding monogamy. (see Genesis 1:27; 2:21-24) Second, the influence of pagan wives caused him to worship false gods.

RELEVANT SCRIPTURE:

(King Solomon) He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray.  1 Kings 11:3

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Why did God command Abraham to sacrifice his son?

QUESTION:

Why did God command Abraham to sacrifice his son as a burnt offering?

God's command to Abraham to sacrifice his son was a test, and it seems to me the Scripture makes it clear that God never intended for His command to be carried out. God stopped Abraham just in the nick of time. (see Genesis 22:12) God testing us is a very interesting concept. God knows our hearts and everything about us, so what are these "tests" for? Well, tests of faith are not to enlighten God, he already knows it all, so they must be for us. Tests strengthen our character and develop perseverance. (see James 1:2-4) Tests help uncover our real motives, clarify our deep loyalties, eliminate deceit and nurture genuine faith. (see 1 Peter 1:6-7) In Abraham's case, testing showed that he loved God and his relationship with God, more than his own son.

RELEVANT SCRIPTURE:

Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.  Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."  Genesis 22:2

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How Can I Help a Friend Understand Christianity?

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QUESTION:

I have a friend who says he is a Christian, but is very liberal and doesn't seem to really "get it."  How can I help him understand true Christianity?

The first thing you need to do is to pray for him. Then you can have a loving talk with him, and you should be sure that you emphasize that Christianity is a relationship, not a religion. Christianity is not just a set of rules or laws we must follow; it is a personal relationship with the living Lord of the universe. This is the most important truth you will want to leave him with, as this is a key ingredient of Christianity. Point out how a personal relationship with Jesus provides all the strength needed to deal with life's harsh realities. Inform him that if he really wants to experience the love of God, the place to begin is a close and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. One of the best ways to make this a strong point is to tell him about your relationship with Jesus. Good luck, but do remember it is God who will ready his heart to receive the truth, and it will be in His perfect timing.

Relevant SCRIPTURE:

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."  John 14:6,7






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Punishment in Hell

God of Heavenly Punishment (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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QUESTION:

Are there degrees of punishment in hell?

Yes. The degree of punishment will be commensurate with one's sin against the light (knowledge & understanding) which he or she has received. (see Revelation 20:12,13;22:12) In other words, the more we know and understand, the less we should sin. This applies to those of us who are saved as well as the lost.  We will be judged for our actions while in the body of Christ. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10  So, even those of us fortunate enough to have been chosen by God will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and will face degrees of punishment also. But, at least we will be in heaven.

RELEVANT SCRIPTURE:

That servant who knows his master's will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.  From everyone who has been given much; much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. 

Luke 12:47,48

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