Dear Greg;
Long post, let me go in chronological order. First about faith. Allow me to let the Bible define this interesting concept.
Hbr 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. To me the difference with religion is that it is man's attempt to reach God. In my case faith was something that happened to me so the two are very different. Faith is a gift of God that must be asked for. It can never be arrived at alone or through logical evidence. Once you have it, science and logic tend to support it because faith in Yeshua is faith based on fact.
<<It may be said that you have Faith in your beliefs in the Bible as opposed to just the Bible, itself.>>
Not for me. The Bible is truth. It claims to be and proves it by recording history before it occurs. Again I have found it to be 100% accurate. It is true regardless of what we think of it.
<<Josh McDowell. Does he address the apparent inconsistency between Jesus saying some already alive would see his second coming and Revelation? >> Didn't you like my answer. I do not think that was what Yeshua was saying.
<<Would you consider Zeus or Jupiter a living god? Perhaps at their zenith? What about Ra? >>
No, they are religious myths. They do not survive today because they are or were error. Yeshua will never die. He testified himself; Mar 13:31 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. So far faith in him is still as strong as ever. In spite of many people being tortured, beaten and fed to lions, he is still believed in and shared among people around the world. His positive influence on history is apparent to even his skeptics.
Message 4627302
Message 4626890
<<Why doesn't YHWH say, "there are no other gods but me." >>
The premise of your question is in error. Isa 43:10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
As far as other religions reaching similar conclusions, I find many more differences than similarities. I must admit to you that from the foundation of the world there has been a battle with an enemy that Christians know as Satan. If the world demonstrates the love of God at all, it also evidences a darker side which I believe is propagated by this enemy. That he would spread lies with a bit of truth sprinkled in would not surprise me. I believe he is the author of false religions and deceives people into believing him. Do not think that this is a critique of the people involved. I blame him not them. I believe only Yeshua proved who he was through his death, resurrection, and the changed lives and effects of his ministry that are still being felt to this day. Allow me to quote C.S. Lewis in his book MERE CHRISTIANITY. pg. 56
"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronising nonsense about His being a great teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."
Sorry for the length of this post. I tried to answer short and sweetly. I welcome any comments you may have. I do have 3 questions for you. 1. What do you think of Yeshua. Liar, Lunatic, or Creator. 2. Where do you think evil came from? 3. On what basis can we call anything from murder to cutting someone off on the freeway wrong.
I will look forward to your responses. You are a pleasure to speak with. May God richly bless you as you seek his will for your life.
In Yeshua's name I pray for you and yours. AMEN - DLL |
