Jesus exemplifies moral perfection by proclaiming and living by the Seremon on the Mount.
Even Mahatma Gandhi, the famous Hindu, was deeply impressed with the life of Jesus and particlarly his Sermon on the Mount. In it and elsewhere Jesus teaches many of the great moral principles known to humankind.
The Golden Rule
Jesus says, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you"(Matt.7:12). He views this as a summary of the Ten Commandments, which he also affirms, as he does the entire Old Testament (Matt.5:17). Even outside of Christianity, the Golden Rule is a widely recognized moral principle.
Do Not Judge Others
Jesus says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the same measure you use, it will be measured to you (Matt.7:1-2).
Although it is not always understood in it's original context, surveys show that this is now the most widely known verse in America. One thing is universal: few people want to be judged by others, particuly if the judgement is not fair. Jesus is not saying that we should never judge the beliefs and actions of others. Nor is he promoting the new tolerance that affirms that all ideas and beliefs are equally valid and true and no one should criticize another person's beliefs. Jesus does judge actions and beliefs of others (Matt.6:5,16; 11:20-24), but here he is saying that we should not judge falsely or hypocritically (Matt.7:3-5).
Love Your Enemies
Although Jesus traces this principle from the Old Testament, many Jews of his day (Matt.5:43-47), along with many Muslims and others, clearly are not practicing this valuable moral principle. In contrast, the Quran exhorts Muslims, "Take not Jews and Christians for friends. They are friends of one another. He among you who takes them for friends is (one) of them"(Sura 5:51). Indeed, the Quran urges Muslims to kill non-Muslims, declaring: "Those who believe do battle for the cause of Allah; and those who disbelieve do battle for the cause of idols. so fight the minions of the devil"(Sura 4:76).
Do Not Retaliate
In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declares, "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."(Matt. 5:38-39). Here is a exemplary moral principle that is widely admired but rarely practiced. Nonetheless, Jesus both teaches and practices it (Isa.50:6).
Don't be a Hypocrite
Jesus spends a lot of time rebuking them (Matt.23). He declares, You hypocrite, first take the plank in your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye (Matt.7:5). The fact is that virtually no one likes a hypocrite, and most people at least give lip service to this standard set forth by Jesus.
Don't Lust or Hate in your Heart
In this principle Jesus takes the generally understood moral principles to another level. Most persons have not murdered, but most have hated others in their heart. Not everyone has commited an act of adultery, but who is there who has not lusted? By elevating the understanding to include the intent behind even commonly understood moral laws (Matt.5:22,28), Jesus takes morality to a much higher level.
Be Merciful
All the Beatitudes are part of Jesus's ethic, but blessed are the merciful" (Matt.5:7) is a blessing on a group of people who meet a high and hard standard. As anyone who has tried knows, it is not easy to be merciful to an enemy or undeserving person. Indeed, popular atheist Ayn Rand teaches exactly the opposite: "To help a man who has no virtues, to help him on the ground of his suffering as such, to accept his fault, his need, as a claim-is to accept the mortgage of a zero on your values (Ayn Rand, For the New Intellectual,180).
To be continued...
Can religion save a sinner from his or her sin?
The answer is
No! A religion can't save anyone from anything. But the person of Jesus Christ, who is the sinless Son of God, who paid the penality for our sins, can save us, from our sins.
You don't have a personal relationship with God in Hinduism. You don't have a personal relationship with God in Buddhism. You don't have a personal relationship with God in Islam.
The
only way you could have a personal relationship with God is through Jesus Christ, who bridged the gap between sinful humanity, and a holy God, being God's Son paying the penality for our sin, offering salvation as a free gift, and giving us forgivness.
There is no true forgivness in any of those religions.
In Hinduism, there's no sin to forgive. There is only karma to begin with.
And Buddhism, there's no absolute moral laws ,so there's no sin to forgive.
And in Islam forgivness is a rather arbitrary thing, and no basis for it. Because, there is no one who paid the penalty for our sin, (a price to appease God on our behalf), so that salvation can be released when His justice is satisfied, and His mercy is released.
That comes only through a relationship, not a religion. A relationship with Christ.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son to condemn the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:16-17).
Jesus said: I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6).
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).
God's love and blessing to everyone at CS! Serendipity
10. The New Testament Writers Abandoned Their Long-Held Sacred Beliefs And Practices,Adopted New Ones,And Did Not Deny Their Testimony Under Persecution Or Threat Of Death
The N.T. writers don't just say that Jesus performed miracles and rose from the dead-they actually back up that testimony with dramatic action. First,virtually overnight they abandon many of their long held sacred beliefs and practices. Among the 1,500-year-old-plus institutions they give up are the following:
* The animal sacrifice system-they replace it forever by the one perfect sacrifice of Christ.
* The binding supremacy of the Law of Moses-they say it's powerless because of the sinless life of Christ.
* Strict monotheism-they now worship Jesus,the God-man,despite the fact that 1) their most cherished belief has been,"Hear,O Israel: The Lord our God,the Lord is one"(Deut. 6:4); and 2) man-worship has always been considered blasphemy and punishable by death (Ex. 31:14).
* Belief in a conquering Messiah-Jesus is the opposite of a conquering Messiah. He's a sacrificial lamb (at his first visit!).
And it's not just the N.T. writers who do this-thousands of Jerusalem Jews,including Pharisee priests,convert to Christianity and join the N.T. writers in abandoning these treasured beliefs and practices. J.P. Moreland helps us understand the magnitude of these devout Jews giving up their established institutions virtually overnight:
(The Jewish people) believed that these institutions were entrusted to them by God. They believed that to abandon these institutions would be to risk their souls being damned to hell after death.
Now a rabbi named Jesus appears from a lower-class region. He teaches for 3 years, gathers a following of lower-and middle-class people,gets in trouble with the authorities,and gets crucified along with thirty thousand other Jewish men who are executed during this time period.
But 5 weeks after he's crucified, over ten thousand Jews are following him and claiming that he is the initiator of a new religion. And get this: they're willing to give up or alter all five of the social institutions that they have been taught since childhood have such importance both sociologically and theologically....Something very big was going on.
How do you explain these monumental shifts if the N.T writers were making up a story? How do you explain them if the Resurrection did not occur?
Secondly,not only do these new believers abandon their long-held beliefs and practices,they also adopt some new radical ones. these include:
* Sunday,a work day,as the new day of worship
* Baptism as a new sign that one was a partaker of the new covenant (as circumcision was a sign of the old covenant)
* Communion as an act of rememberance of Christ's sacrifice for their sins
Communion is especially inexplicable unless the Resurrection is true. Why would Jews make up a practice where they symbolically eat the body and drink the blood of Jesus?
Finally,in addition to abandoning long-held sacred institutions and adopting new ones,the N.T. writers suffered persecution and death when they could have saved themselves by recanting. If they had made up the Resurrection story,they certainly would have said so when they were about to be crucified (Peter),stoned (James),or beheaded (Paul). But no one recanted-eleven out of the twelve were martyred for their faith (the only survivor was John,who was exiled to the Greek island of Patmos). Why would they die for a known lie?
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia pointed out the absurdity of those who doubt the historicity of the New Testament. In a remark biting sarcasm against modern-day itellectuals,Scalia stated exactly what has been said regarding the motives of the N.T. writers.
Namely,since the N.T. writers had nothing to gain and everything to lose,we ought to believe what they say about the Resurrection.
To be continued...
9. New Testament Writers Describe Miracles Like Other Historical Events: With Simple,Unembellished Accounts
Embellished and extravagant details are strong signs that a historical account has legendary elements. For example,theres a legendary account of Christ's resurrection that was written more than 100 years after the actual event. It is from the apocryphal forgery known as the Gospel of Peter,and it goes like this:
Early in the morning,as the Sabbath dawned,there came a large crowd from Jerusalem and the surrounding areas to see the sealed tomb. But during the night before the Lord's day dawned,as the soldiers were keeping guard two by two in every watch,there came a great sound in the sky,and they saw the heavens opened and two men decended shining with great light,and they drew near to the tomb. The stone which had been set on the door rolled away by itself and moved to one side,and the tomb was opened and both of the young men went in.
Now when these soldiers saw that,they woke up the centurion and the elders (for they also were there keeping watched). While they were yet telling the things which they had seen,they saw three men come out of the tomb,two of them sustaning the other one,and a cross following after them. The heads of the two they saw had heads that reached up to heaven,but the head of him that was lead by them went beyond heaven. And they heard a voice out of the heavens saying, "Have you preached unto them that sleep?" The answer that was heard from the cross was, "Yes!"
Wow! Now that's how I would have writen it if I were making up or embellishing the resurrection story! We see large crowds,moving stones,heads of men stretching to heaven and beyond. And we even see a walking and talking cross. How exciting! How embellished.
The New Testament accounts contain nothing like this. The gospels give matter-of-fact,almost bland descriptions of the resurrection.
Mark describes what the women saw this way:
But when they looked up,they saw that the stone,which was very large,had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb,they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side,and they were alarmed.
"Don't be alarmed,"he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene,who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go,tell his disciples and Peter,'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him,just as he told you." Trembling and bewilderd,the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone,because they were afraid (Mark 6:8).
Luke's description is almost stark:
They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,but when they entered,they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this,suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lighting stood beside them. 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." Then they remembered his words (Luke 24:2-8).
John's Gospel briefly mentions Mary Magdalene discovering the empty tomb,adds the experiences of Peter and John,and then returns to Mary outside the tomb. Again,nothing appears embellished or extravagant in this account:
Early on the first day of the week,while it was still dark,Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simmon Peter and the other disciple,the one Jesus loved,and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,and we don't know where they have put him!" So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.
To be Continued...
8. The New Testament Writers Challenge Their Readers To Check Out Verifiable Facts,Even Facts About Miracles
We've already seen some of the claims of accuracy the New Testament writers made to the recipients of their documents. These include Luke's overt assertion of accuracy to Theophilus (Luke 1:1-4); Peter's claim that they did not follow cleverly devised tales but were eyewitnesses to Christ majesty (2 Pet.1:16); Paul's bold declaration to Festus and King Agrippa about the resurrected Christ (Acts 26); and Paul's restatement of an early creed that identified more than 500 eyewitnesses of the risen Christ (1 Cor.15).
In addition,Paul makes another claim to the Corinthians that he wouldn't have made unless he was telling the truth. In his second letter to the Corinthians,Paul declares that he previously performed miracles for them. Speaking of his own qualifications as an apostle-someone who speaks for God-Paul reminds the Corinthians,"The things that mark an apostle-signs,wonders and miracles-were done among you with great perseverance"(2 Cor.12:12).
Now why would Paul write this to the Corinthains unless he really had done miracles for them? He would have destroyed his credibility completely by asking them to remember miracles that he never did for them! The only plausible conclusion is that...
1) Paul really was an apostle of God, 2) he therefore really had the ability to confirm his apostleship by performing miracles,and 3) he had displayed this ability openly to the Corinthians.
God's love and blessing to all at CS! Serendipity
I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be An Atheist by Norman Gesiler
6. The New Testament Writers Include More Than Thirty Historically Confirmed People In Their Writings
This is a critical point that bears repeating. The New Testament documents cannot have been invented because they contain too many historically confirmed characters. The N.T. writers would have blown their credibility with their contemporary audiences by implicating real people in a fictional story,especially people of great notority and power. There is no way the N.T. writers could have gotten away with writing outright lies about Pilate,Caiaphas,Fetus,Felix,and the entire Herodian bloodline. Somebody would have exposed them for falsely implicating these people in events that never occured. The N.T. writers knew this,and would not have included so many prominate real people in a fictional story that was intended to deceive. Again,the best explanation is that the N.T writers accurately recorded what they saw.
7. The New Testament Writers Include Divergent Details
Critics are quick to cite the apparently contradictory Gospel accounts as evidence that the Gospels can't be trusted for accurate information. For example,Matthew says there was one angel at the tomb of Jesus while John mentions two. Isn't this a contradiction that blows the credibility of these accounts? No, exactly the opposite is true: divergent details actually strengthen the case that these are eyewitness accounts. How so?
First,let's point out that the angel accounts are not contradictory. Matthew does not say there was "only" one angel at the tomb. The critic has to add a word to Matthew's account to make it contradict John's. But why did Matthew mention one angel if two angels were really there?
For the same reason two different newspaper reporters covering the same event choose to include different details in their stories. Two independent eyewitnesses rarely see all the same details and will never describe an event in exactly the same words. They'll record the same major event (i.e.,Jesus rose from the dead),but may differ on the details(i.e.,how many angels were at his tomb). In fact,when a judge hears two eyewitnesses giving exactly the same word-for-word testimony,what does that judge rightly assume? Collusion-the witnesses got together beforehand to make their stories agree.
So it's perfectly reasonable that Matthew and John differ-they are both recording eyewitness testimony. Maybe Matthew mentioned only the angel that spoke(Matt.28:5)while John described how many angels Mary saw(John 20:12). Or maybe one angel was more prominate than the other. We don't know for sure. We just know that such differences are common among eyewitnesses.
In light of the numerous divergent details in the New Testament,it's clear that the N.T. writers didn't get together to smooth out their testimonies. This means they certainly were not trying to pass off a lie as the truth. For if they were making up the New Testament story,they would have gotten together to make sure they were consistent in every detail. Such harmonization clearly didn't happen,and this confirms the genuine eyewitness nature of the New Testament and the independence of each writer.
Simon Greenleaf,the Harvard law professor who wrote the standard study on what constitutes legal evidence,credited his own conversion to Christianity as having come from his careful examination of the Gospel witnesses. If anyone knew the characteristics of genuine eyewitness testimony,it was Greenleaf. He concluded that the four Gospels "would have been received in evidence in any court of justice,without the slightest hesitation"(Simon Greenleaf, Testimony of the Evangelists 9-10).
The bottomline is: agreement on the major points and divergence on the minor details is the nature of eyewitness testimony,and this is the very nature of the New Testament documents.
I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Norman Gesiler
God's love and blessing to everyone at CS! Serendipity
5. The New Testament Writers Included Events Related to The Resurrection That They Would Have Not Invented
In addition to the inclusion of embarrassing details regarding themselves and Jesus,the N.T writers record events related to the Resurrection that they would not have inserted if they had invented the story. These include:
The Burial of Jesus
The N.T. writers record that Jesus was buried by Joseph of Arimathea,a member of the Sanhedrin,which was the Jewish ruling council that had sentenced Jesus to die for blasphey. This is not an event they would have made up. Considering the bitterness some Christians harbored against the Jewish authorities,why would they put a member of the Sanhedrin in such a favorable light? And why would they put Jesus in the tomb of a Jewish authority? For if Joseph didn't really bury Jesus,the story would have been easily exposed as fraudulent by the Jewish enemies of Christianity. But the Jews never denied the story,and no alternative burial story has ever been found.
The First Witnessess
All four Gospels say women were the first witnessess of the empty tomb and the first to learn of the Resurrection. One of those women was Mary Magdalene,who Luke admits had been demon-possessed(Luke 8:2). This would never be inserted in a made-up story. Not only would a once-demon-possessed person make a questionable witness,but women in general were not considered reliable witnessess in that first century culture. In fact, a woman's testimony carried no weight in a court of law. So if you were making up a Resurrection story in the first century,you would avoid women witnessess and make yourselves-the brave men-the first ones to discover the empty tomb and the risen Jesus. Citing the testimony of women-especially demon-possessed women-would only hurt your attempt to pass off a lie as the truth.
The Conversion of Priests
"Why didn't the risen Jesus appear to the Pharisees?" is a popular question asked by skeptics. The answer might be that it wasn't necessary. This is often overlooked,but many priests in Jerusalem became believers. Luke writes, "The number of priests in Jerusalem increased rapidly,and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith"(Acts 6:7). These priests eventually initiated a controversy that took place later in the Jerusalem church. During a council meeting between Peter,Paul,James,and other elders,"some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharasees stood up and said,'The Gentles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses"(Acts 15:5).
The council resolved the issue,but the main point is that Luke would not have included these details if they were fiction. Why not? Because everyone would have known Luke was a fraud if there were not significant converts from the ranks of the Pharasees. Theophilus and other first-century readers would have known-or could have easily found-out if such converts existed. Obviously, the Pharasees would have known too. Why would Luke give them an easy way of exposing his lies? after all,if your trying to pass off a lie as the truth,you don't make it easy for your enemies to expose your story. Pharasees conversion and Joseph of Arimathea were two unnecessary details that-if untrue-would have completely blown Lukes cover. And the Joseph story would have blown the cover not only of Luke but of every other Gospel writer as well because they include the same burial story.
To be continued...
3. The New Testament Writers Left In Demanding Sayings Of Jesus
If the New Testament writers were making up a story,they certainly didn't make up a story that made life easier for them. This Jesus had some very demanding standards. The Sermon on the Mount,for instance,does not appear to be a human invention:
. "I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already commited adultery with her in his heart"(Matt. 5:28).
. "I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife,except for marital unfaithfulness,causes her to become an adulteress,and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery"(Matt. 5:32).
. "I tell you,Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek,turn to him the other also(Matt. 5:39).
. "I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,that you may be sons of your Father in heaven"(Matt. 5:44-45).
. "Be perfect...as your heavenly Father is perfect"(Matt.5:48).
."Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,where moth and rust destroy,and where thieves brake in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,where moth and rust do not destroy,and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your,treasure is,there your heart will be also(Matt. 6:19-21).
. "Do not judge,or you too will be judged,and with the same measure you use,it will be measured to you"(Matt. 7:1-2).
All these commands are difficult or impossible for human beings to keep and seem to go against the natural best interest of the men who wrote them down. They certainly are contray to the desires of many today who want a religion of spirituality that has no moral demands. Consider the extremity and undesirable implications of these commands:
. If thinking about a sin is sinful,then everyone-including the New Testament writers-is guilty.
. To set such stringent standards for divorce and remarriage does not appear to be in the earthly best interests of the men who recorded this saying.
. To not resist the insults of an evil person is to resist our basic human instints;it also sets up an inconvenient standard of behavior for the apostles,who were undergoing persecution when this saying was written down.
. To pray for our enemies goes well beyond any ethic ever uttered and commands kindness where enmity is natural.
. To accumulate financial wealth contradicts our deepest desires for temporal security.
. To be perfect is an unattainable request for fallible human beings.
. To not judge unless our own lives are in order counters our natural tendency to point out our faults in others.
These commands clearly are not the commands that people would impose on themselves. Who can live up to such standards? Only the perfect person. Perhaps that's exactly the point.
4. The New Testament Writers Carefully Distinqished Jesus' Words From Their Own
Even quotations marks did not exist in first-century Greek,the N.T. writers distinquished Jesus' words very clearly. Most red letter editions of the Bibles are identical,illustrating how easy the N.T. writers made it to see what Jesus said and what he didn't say.
Why is this cited as evidence of their trustworthyness? Because it would be very easy for the N.T. writers to solve first century theological disputes by putting words into Jesus mouth. After all,if you were making up the story "Christian story" and trying to pass it off as the truth,wouldn't you simply make up more quotes from Jesus to convince stubborn people to see things your way? Think of how convenient it would have been for them to end all debate on contraversal issues such as circumcision,obeying the law of Moses,speaking in tongues,women in the church,and so forth by merely making up quotes from Jesus!
To be continued...
From an empty tomb, we now move on to the appearances of Christ.
Peter,Paul and the rest of the apostles claimed that Christ appeared to hundreds of people who were still alive and available for cross examination. For example,Paul claims that Christ"appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time,most of whom are still living,though some have fallen asleep(died)"(1 Corinthians 15:6).
It would be one thing to attribute these supernatural experiences to people who had already died. It's quite another to attribute them to multitudes who were still alive.
As the famed New Testament scholar of Cambridge University C.H. Dodd points out,"There can hardly be any purpose in mentioning the fact that most of the five hundred are still alive,unless Paul is saying, in effect,"The witnesses are there to be questioned."
Paul could have never said this if the event had never occured;he could have never have challenged people to ask the witnesses if the event had not taken place and there were no witnesses. But evidently there were witnesses to this event,and Paul knew that some had died in the meantime. Therefore, the event must have taken place.
Furthermore,nothing can account for the utter transformation of Paul on the road to Damascus other than the appearance of Christ. While he was yet"breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples,"Christ appeared to him. "Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him,Saul,Saul,why do you persecute me?"(Acts 9:1; 3-4).
In that instant Paul was transformed from a persecutor of Christians to a proselytizer for Christ. He approvingly watched as Stephen was brutally murdered;now he was willing to be murdered for the same Christian testimony. Only the appearance of Christ can account for that.
It should be noted that Christ appearances to Paul and the five hundred are not isolated incidences. Paul provides a list of Christ's appearances in 1 Corinthians 15. Among his appearance to Peter-which vouched for by Peter himself(2 Peter 1:16). Dr. Luke adds confirmation to this appearance,"saying,"It is true!" The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon"(Peter)(Luke 24:34). The appearances of Christ to the disciples are provided by both Luke and John,who recount Christ eating with the twelve and showing them his wounds(Luke 24:36-42; John 20:19-20). Jesus not only demonstrated"that he was the same Jesus who had been crucified,"but provided proof for the physicality of his resurrection body."
No doubt the most amazing appearance listed by Paul is Christ's appearance to his half brother,James. Before his appearance,James was embarrassed by Jesus. Afterward,James was willing to die for Jesus. As Jewish historian Josephus reports,"James was stoned to death illegally by the Sanhedrin(The Jewish Ruling Council) sometime after A.D. 60 for his faith in Christ." Inevitably,you have to ask yourself the question,What would it take for a person to die willingly for the belief that one of his family members is God? In the case of James,the only reasonable explanation is that Jesus appeared to him alive from the dead.
Even the skeptical New Testament critic Hans Grass admits that the conversion of James is one of the surest proofs of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In my next blog I will continue share the radical transformation that took place as a result of Christ resurrection. For as Christian philosopher J.P. Moreland points out,within weeks of the resurrection,not one but an entire community of at least ten thousand Jews were willing to give up the very sociological and theological traditions that had given them their national identity.
Until then,have a blessed day!
Resurrection by Hank Hanegraaff
How do we know the authors did not exaggerate or embellish what they say they saw? Here are some reasons...
1. The New Testament Writers Included Embarassing Details About Themselves
One of the ways historians can tell whether an author is telling the truth is to test what he says by "the principle of embarassment." this principle assumes that any details embarassing to the author are probably true. Why? Because the tendency of most authors is to leave out anything that makes them look bad.
How does the New Testament measure up to the principle of embarassment? Let's put it this way: If you and your friends were concocting a story that you wanted to pass off as truth,would you make yourself look like dim-witted,uncaring,
rebuked,doubting cowards? Of course not. But that's exactly what we find in the New Testament.
. They are dim-witted-numerous times they fail to understand what Jesus is saying(Mark 9:32; Luke 18:34; John 12:16).
. They were uncaring-they fall asleep on Jesus twice when he asks them to pray(Mark 14:32-41). The N.T. writers later believe Jesus is the God-man,yet they admit they twice fell asleep on him in his hour of greatest need! Moreover,they make no effort to give their friend a proper burial,but record that Jesus was buried by Joseph of Arimatha,a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin-the very court that had Jesus sentenced to die.
. They are rebuked-Peter is called "Satan" by Jesus (Mark 8:33),and Paul rebukes Peter for being wrong about a theological issue(Gal.2:11). Now keep in mind that Peter is one of the pillars of the early church,and here's Paul including Scripture that he is wrong.
.They are cowards-all the disciples but one hide when Jesus goes to the cross. Peter even denies him three times after explicitly promising, "I will never disown you" (Matt. 26:33-35). Meanwhile,
as the men are hiding for fear of the Jews,the brave women stand by Jesus and are the first to discover the empty tomb.
. They are doubters-dispite being taught several times that Jesus would rise from the dead (John 2:18-22; 3:14-18; Matt. 12:39-41; 17:9, 22-23), the disciples are doubtful when they hear of his resurrection. Some are even doubtful after they see him risen(Matt. 28:17)!
Now think about this: If you were a N.T. writer,would you include these embarassing details if you were making up a story? Would you write that one of the primary leaders was called "Satan" by Jesus,denied the Lord three times,hid during the crucifixion,and was later corrected on a theological issue? Would you depict yourself as uncaring,bumbling cowards,and the women-whose testimony was not even admissible in court-as the brave ones who stood by Jesus and later discovered the empty tomb? Would you admit that some of you (the eleven remaining disciples) doubted the very Son of God after he had proven himself risen to all of you? Of course not.
The best explanation is that they were really telling the truth-warts and all.
2. The New Testament Writers Included Embarassing Details .
The N.T. Writers are also honest about Jesus. Not only do they record self-incriminating details about themselves,they also record embarassing details about their leader,Jesus,that seem to place him in a bad light. Jesus:
. is concidered "out of his mind" by his mother and brothers (his own family), who come to seize him in order to take him home(Mark 3:21,31).
. is not believed by his own brothers(John 7:5)
. is thought to be a deceiver(John 7:12)
. is deserted by many of his followers(John 6:66)
. turns off "Jews who had beleved him"(John 8:30-31) to the point that they want to stone him(v.59)
. is called demon-possessed"(Mark 3:22)
. is called a "madman"(John 10:20)
. is crucified by the Jews and Romans,despite the fact that "anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse"(Deut. 21:23; Gal. 3:13).
To be continued...
Love is an unequivocal command for the Christian,but love most be exercised on two different levels: love for God and love for people. It is important to understand that these two loves are not the same. Jesus differentiated between them in response to the question,"What is the greatest commandment?" He replied,
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments"(Matt. 22:37-40).
Our entire moral duty is summarized in these interwoven,two-directional commandments. Vertically,we are to love God with our whole lives. Horizontally,we are to love others as we love ourselves.
The Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 are organized into two directions of love. It is common to affirm that the first four commandments express the boundaries of our vertical love for God:
You shall have no other gods before me.
You shall not worship idols.
You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Accordingly,the next six commandments express the boundaries of our horizonal love for others:
Honor your father and mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not steal.
You shall not give false testimony.
You shall not covet.
The Ten Commandments spell out in greater detail what the two great commandments of Jesus summerize. Love for God implies obedience to the first four commandments. Love for people implies obedience to the last six commandments.
Notice that the first of the two great commandments of Christ has priority over the second. We are to love God with all our heart,soul,and mind-everything we are. We are to love others as we love ourselves. Do you see a difference? We are not to love people the way we love God. That would be blasphemous. Nor are we to love God the way we love people. God is to be loved "supremely"; people are to loved finitely.
God is absolute,ulitimate,and infinite,and as such He demands ultimate love. People are only finite creatures made in the image of the infinite God,so our love for people is limited. This is not to say that our love should not be complete or of a high quality (John 13:34) but that it is limited. In heaven our need for health,happiness,and growth will be completely filled in Christ's presence. We won't need the protection and provision of others,because Christ will be everything we need. But we will still enjoy the love and fellowship of one another.
So the Christian's love imperative is clearly segmented. We have two objects of love,and each is to be loved in a different way. To love God-to will His good-means to acknowledge His ultimate and supreme worth in all we think,say,and do. This is why Scripture calls us to worship God (worship was originally termed worthship). But no person should be the object of our worship as God is. That's idolatry. To love people-to will their good-means to recognize their value as persons created in God's image and treat them accordingly. The two levels of love are distinct and different.
How then are we to relate to the world God created for our use? God gave us animals,plants,and minerals to sustain life and to use in serving Him and others. God spoke the universe into existence and pronounced it "good"(Gen. 1:31). God's world is to be admired,enjoyed,cherished,protected,and utilized for our pleasure and His glory.
We say we love the sight of a snowcapped mountain,a radiant sunset,a soaring hawk,a majestic cathedral,a playful kitten. But the material universe is not to be loved in the same way that we love God or people.
To be continued...
The person and work of the blessed third person of the Trinity is found throughout the Bible and in different places of Scripture.
The Deity of the Holy Spirit
That the Holy Spirit is God,equal in power,attributes,and glory with the Father and the Son, is clear from many verses of Scripture.
The deity of the Holy Spirit is indicated by His (1) possessing the names of God,(2) having the attributes of God,(3) performing the acts of God,and (4) association with God in the benedictions and baptismal formulas.
The Holy Spirit Is Given Names of Deity
The Holy Spirit is refered to as "God" or "Lord" (Acts 5:3-4),"God's Spirit"(1 Cor. 3:16),"Lord" (1 Cor. 12:4-6), and "eternal Spirit"(Heb. 9:14).
The Holy Spirit Possesses the Atributes of Deity
The Holy Spirit has attributes of God such as life (Rom. 8:2), truth (John 16:13), love (Rom. 15:30), holiness (Eph. 4:30), eternality (Heb.9:14), omnipresence (Ps. 139:7), and omniscience (1 Cor.2:11).
The Holy Spirit Performs Acts of Deity
The divine works of the Holy Spirit include the act of Creation (Gen. 1:2; Job 33:4; Ps. 104:30), the acts of redemption (Isa. 63:10-11; Eph. 4:30; 1 Cor. 12:13), the performance of miracles (Gal. 3:2-5; Heb. 2:4), and the bestowal of supernatural gifts (Acts 2:4; 1 Cor. 12:11).
The Holy Spirit Is Associated With God in Prayers and Benedictions
Jude 1:20 exhorts readers to "build yourself up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit." The benediction of 2 Corinthians 13:14 contains all three members of the Trinity: "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,and the love of God (the Father) , and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."
The baptismal formula of Matthew 28:19 also contains the Holy Spirit,along with the other members of the Trinity,all under one "name" (essence).
The Personhood Of The Holy Spirit
All elements of personhood are attributed to the Holy Spirit in Scripture: He has a mind (John 14:26; 1 Cor. 2:11), He has will (1 Cor. 12:11), and He has feeling (Eph.4:30). Furthermore,personal pronouns ("He" and "His") are attributed to the Holy Spirit: "But when he,the Spirit of truth,comes,he will guide you into all truth. He will speak on his own;he will speak only what he hears,and he will tell you what is yet to come"(John 16:13; 14:26). The Holy Spirit does things that only a person can do,such as teach,command (Acts 16:6), know and search the mind (1 Cor. 2:11), and pray (Rom. 8:26).
The Work Of The Holy Spirit
His Work In Creation
Like the Son (John 1:3; Col. 1:16),the Holy Spirit was active in creating the world. In the very first verses of the Bible,"the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters'(Gen.1:2). Likewise Job declared: "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life"(Job 33:4). The Psalmist added,"When you send your Spirit,they are created,and you renew the face of the earth"(Ps. 104:30).
His Work in Redemption
The Holy Spirit has an active role in redemption. He convicts unbelievers of sin (Gen.6:3; John 16:8); He regenerates those dead in trespasses and sin (Eph. 2:1); seals believers to the day of redemption (Eph 4:30); He baptizes all believers into the spiritual body of Christ at the moment of salvation (1 Cor. 12:13), assuring us of salvation (Rom. 8:16); He performed miracles to confirm the truth of Christianity (Gal. 3:2-5; Heb 2:4); He bestowed spiritual gifts on believers (Acts 2:4; 1 Cor. 12:11). He reveals (1 Cor. 2:10) and teaches (Luke 12:12). He inspired the Scriptures (2 Tim.3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21), and He is enlightening believers to God's truth (Eph. 1:17-18) and witnessing to God's Word (1 John 5:9-10). He anoints believers for service (1 John 2:20) and fills those who yield to Him (Eph. 5:18). Of course, the Holy Spirit indwells all believers forever (John 14:16-17).
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