Monthly Archives: January 2016

Logic: A-theism Validates Theism

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Theism:
The belief in the existence of God as the Creator of the universe, intervening in it and sustaining a personal relation to his creatures

Atheism:
Disbelief or lack of belief in the existence of God

I woke up this morning and thought to myself that I certainly do not believe that there is a green and black monster with horns who dwells under my bed

In fact, I am so absolutely certain that a green and black monster with horns does not exist at all that I decided I should make a poster that says just that and hold it up high in the air for everyone to see.

I would stop bystanders at the bus stop and tell them about the fact that green and black monsters with horns do not exist.

As I I ride the bus, I will assert to everyone I meet:
“green and black monsters with horns do not exist”

I will even make a shirt to wear which will say:
“Green and black monsters with horns???
Get real!”

　

Now you might think that would be a very silly thing for me to do.

　

　

But my question is why do you think it would be silly?

Could it be that if I really believed that something did not exist, and that belief was in fact true, then it would be nonsensical for me to go around telling people about it’s nonexistence.

　

What exactly is Atheism again?

　

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him,

but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Romans 1:18-21

　

Lack of evidence?

Or suppression of evidence???

　

Let no one deceive you,

　

Trust JESUS!

†

　

　

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The Sin of False Pretense

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I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every false way
Psalm 119:104

　

For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for those who are mature, who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:13-14

　

　

　

Today I want to speak in regards to the topic of False Pretenses

First of all, just so we can begin on the same page, let me define what false pretenses are according to the Bible:

Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies; For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, and waste your compliments.
Proverbs 23:7-8

In this context, we learn of a man who encourages his company to enjoy the abundance of food he has, all the while despising him in his heart. It also teaches us, that because we have ingested this man’s delicacies that he begrudgingly shared with us, we will not be able to keep it down anyway.

We can sometimes sense that hesitation in others such as family, friends, and yes, even other believers while still growing in grace and a knowledge of the truth.

A parallel context could just as easily be applied to someone who offers their service to some ministry halfheartedly.

Or even to a person who promises to contribute financially to an endeavor but does so begrudgingly.

　

Scripture tells us in various places:

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver
2 Corinthians 9:7

　

　

The Holy Spirit searches out the deep things and knows as well as makes known the truth of our hearts to us.

If you walk closely with the Spirit, you will also be able to discern whether someone’s heart is truly with you and for you, or if they harbor hatred and malice towards you, but also, he will reveal your true intentions and motives and feelings towards others as well.

　

　

There are those who rejoice at the failure and shortcomings of others.

But Scripture tells us that we all have faults and failures of our own and are in need of the Savior just as much as anyone else.

Therefore:

Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them
Proverbs 24:18

This isn’t saying to avoid harboring hatred so the Lord can punish another. That would be a perverse way that some have actually interpreted what this verse means. But, the true heart of this verse is instead speaking to keep you from becoming like your enemies who harbor hatred in their hearts and rejoice when others stumble.

　

This is why it goes on to tell us:

Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked, for there will be no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.
Proverbs 24:19-20

The wicked man who rejects the Savior and the Word of truth will surely be cut off for all eternity. There is no question about it. But if we are filled with the Spirit of God and the love of God as we profess, then that should cause us to be very concern for the eternal salvation of all including even those who despise us and despitefully use us, which is why our Lord Jesus corrected and admonished His followers saying:

You have heard that it was said, “you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

If you only greet your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even pagans do the same?
Matthew 5:43-47

　

　

　Since the Lord has paid the punishment that we all deserved for every wicked motive, thought, word, and deed we’ve done, and has perfected us in the sight of God by His grace through what He alone has accomplished, He then calls us to walk into that new identity as newly created people worthy of such grace in the last verse where he instructs his followers:

Therefore you are to be perfect, just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:48

Perfection in this context is not sinless or without fault, but it means someone who has committed to the sanctification process who is continually recognizing their shortcomings and willing to both address them and repent from those ways.

In our own strength, surely this would be an impossible task, but if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, then His indwelling Spirit will give you the strength and wisdom necessary to carry out the righteous life that is pleasing to God. And He will place different people around you in every season of your life who are willing to walk with you and help you to grow in this these areas more and more each day.

　

Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners,” to abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of his visitation.
1 Peter 2:11-12

　

　

Trust JESUS!

　

†

　

　

　

　

 

A Word to the …….

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Let the wise hear and increase in learning. Let those with understanding receive guidance
Proverbs 1:5

I cannot think unless I have been thought,
Nor can I speak unless I have been spoken.
I cannot teach except as I am taught,
Or break the bread except as I am broken.
O Mind behind the mind through which I seek,
O Light within the light by which I see,
O Word beneath the words with which I speak,
O founding, unfound Wisdom, finding me,
O sounding Song whose depth is sounding me,
O Memory of time, reminding me,
My Ground of Being, always grounding me,
My Maker’s Bounding Line, defining me,
Come, hidden Wisdom, come with all you bring,
Come to me now, disguised as everything.

by Malcolm Guite

　

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.

If you are wise,
you are wise for yourself;

if you scoff,
you alone will bear it.
Proverbs 9:9-12

　

Trust JESUS!

　

†

　

　

 

The Islamic Dilemma

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The Quran affirms the inspiration, preservation and authority of the Christian Scriptures (including the Torah and the Gospel)

Yet the Quran contradicts the Christian Scriptures on fundamental doctrines (e.g. Jesus’s death, resurrection, and deity)

By affirming Christian Scriptures that contradict Islam, the Quran self destructs

　

　

Check out this short video to expand your knowledge and understanding to better equipped yourselves in dialogue with our Muslim brothers and sisters about the truthfulness of the Gospel

　

　

The Quran, the Bible, and the Islamic Dilemma
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNAS0aaViM4

　

Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar? So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the Gospel to get their living from the Gospel. But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one. For if I preach the Gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion.

Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!
1 Corinthians 9:16

　

　

Trust JESUS!

　

†

　

　

Also check out:

What is the Gospel?

　

　

　

　

Special thanks to Acts17Apologetics

 

Herodias – The Woman Responsible for the Murder of a Preacher

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Name Meaning—As a member of the Herodian dynasty, perhaps the most despicable dynasty history has known, the name Herodias is but the female form of Herod, the royal name for the political rulers during the time of Christ and the apostles. It was under the vile and cruel orders of the Herods that Jesus and His followers were often persecuted and punished. Herod means “heroic”—not very applicable to the Herodian family, the majority of whom, particularly Herodias, were more hellish than heroic.

Family Connections—Herodias was the daughter of Aristobulus, son of Herod the Great and Mariamne, daughter of Hyrcanus. Her first husband was Philip I, son of Herod the Great and Mariamne, so she married her own uncle, by whom she had a daughter, Salome, whom her mother used to destroy John the Baptist. When Herod Antipas visited Rome, he was entertained by Philip and Herodias. Herod abducted his royal brother’s wife. His own wife, an Arabian princess, was an obstacle to an illicit marriage, so he divorced her, and Herodias became queen in her stead, and with her daughter was installed in the palace. “The corroding immorality of Herod’s race shows itself in his marriage with Herodias his brother’s wife and the wanton offense thereby given to Jewish sensibilities.”

Among the female characters in God’s portrait gallery there are many wicked women as we are discovering, but surely Herodias stands out among them as one of the most vile and vicious. Amid the putrefying influence of the palace, however, there was one man who knew no fear, John the Baptist. Herod “feared” him and regarded him as “a just man” and whom “he heard gladly.” Herod found music in the preacher’s message until he sternly rebuked the king by saying of Herodias, “It is not lawful for thee to have her.” But such a warning bell was to toll the Baptist’s doom. For his faithful rebuke of Herod’s sin, John was cast into prison, and the evil, scheming mind of Herodias began to work. She was stung by the arrow from the preacher’s quiver and hated him for exposing her shame. “For Herodias’ sake,” he was imprisoned and thus the greatest of the prophets was sacrificed for this lewd and vicious woman.

When you are persecuted in one town, flee to the next. I tell you the truth, the Son of Man will return before you have reached all the towns of Israel.
Matthew 10:23

Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Luke 6:26

Herodias, with her conscience in turmoil because of her accuser, planned to silence him. She did not want Herod to listen too closely and constantly to John’s forceful preaching. She feared her illegal husband—for her first husband was still alive—might repent, and her position as queen, imperiled.

Herodias knew Herod only too well. He easily succumbed to sensual excitement, and as his birthday drew near her foul design was hatched. On the day when drink freely flowed, Herodias used her own daughter to inflame Herod’s passions. She was willing to sacrifice her child’s modesty in order to bend Herod to her will. Herod was overcome by Salome’s form seen through the flowing flimsy garment she wore, and influenced by the act of the dancing girl took a rash and foolish oath to give her whatever she asked, even to half of his kingdom. Approaching her mother, Salome said, “What shall I ask?” Without hesitation Herodias, the female hyena, replied, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist.” Returning to Herod she presented her demand, and Herod was extremely sorry at such a request. Yet, because of his oath’s sake, he sacrificed the preacher whom he regarded as just and holy, and all because of his guilty love for a vile woman. No wonder he was smitten with fear when he heard of the fame of Jesus, thinking it was John the Baptist risen from the dead to torment his conscience further. One wonders how Salome felt when the gory dish of the preacher’s head was handed to her?

Herodias’ Old Testament counterpart was Jezebel. What Herodias was to Herod, Jezebel was to Ahab. Both Ahab and Herod were wicked, and in both cases the woman was more wicked. Both Jezebel and Herodias fostered hate that became deadly against a prophet of God. Jezebel hated Elijah and sought to kill him—Herodias hated John the Baptist, the New Testament Elijah, and succeeded in his murder. What was the end of Herodias? Since she was the source of Herod’s sin, Herodias also became the source of his shame. According to Josephus, Herodias’ ambition was the ruin of Herod. Jealous of the power of Agrippa her brother, she prodded Herod to demand of Caligula, the emperor, the title of king. Agrippa saw to it that this demand was refused, and Herod was banished and ended his days in shame and exile. The pride of Herodias forced her to be faithful to her husband in the disgrace and misfortune she herself had caused.

　

Even at the time of the writing of the book of Revelation (Approx. 81-96 A.D.), we still see this spirit of Jezebel at work in the church in Thyatira. It is named to describe another woman who’s erroneous teachings and self appointed position of authority in the church was used to mislead the servants of the Lord:

　

“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Revelation 2:20-23

　

Do not put your trust in a friend!

　

Trust JESUS!

　

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Special thanks to:
Alphabetical Exposition of Named Women in the Bible