A former Speech and Language Pathologist for nearly 20 years, I began educating our 3 children full-time in 2015 and have cherished every gifted moment (even the challenges). But what is interwoven into all aspects of daily life (as a wife, via motherhood, teaching, friendship, fitness, etc.) is Christian Apologetics (1 Peter 3:15)… which is why this blog exists.
Proverbs 31:25-30 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” …
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
Isaiah 66:13 As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 49:15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.
Proverbs 23:22-25 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
2 Timothy 1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
Leviticus 19:3 Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.
Psalm 139:13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
Proverbs 1:8-9 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
Proverbs 31:28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
2 Kings 4:30 Then the mother of the child said, “As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So he arose and followed her.
Proverbs 17:6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.
Psalm 113:9 He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!
Luke 1:46-48 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
Proverbs 31:10-12 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
Luke 2:51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
Titus 2:3-5 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Proverbs 14:1 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
1 Peter 3:4 But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
Proverbs 31:25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
Proverbs 15:20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
Proverbs 23:22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Matthew 10:37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Proverbs 6:20-22 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.
Psalm 127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.
1 Timothy 5:2 Older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
Proverbs 6:20-21 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.
1 Timothy 5:1-2 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Matthew 19:19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
1 Samuel 1:26-28 And she said, “Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.
Proverbs 31:26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Joshua 24:15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Proverbs 19:14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Proverbs 31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
1 Corinthians 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Proverbs 31:10-31 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. …
Titus 2:4-5 And so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Titus 2:1-15 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. …
Titus 2:4 And so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Genesis 3:20 The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
Below you will find an article written by Luke Wayne from Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (CARM) along with links and videos as additional resources regarding this important topic. With increased spiritual syncretism occurring in our churches through teachings accompanying the enneagram, we are needing all-the-more to be in prayer for our churches as well as to be ready to share God’s Word…with gentleness and respect. (Deut 18; Jer 10:2-3; 1 Pe 3:15)
The predominant terms that will be both discussed and defined Biblically in this post are Pantheism, Panentheism, and God’s Omnipresence. Friends, please grab your Bible and examine the content provided here alongside God’s Word for yourself…We should get into the habit of do so daily. In God’s grace alone, and for His glory alone. Blessings!
God is distinct from His creation. God is above and beyond all the finite things He has made, and while God may choose to interact with and even fellowship with His creation, the things God brought into existence do not share in His divine essence or Being.
In most forms of Hinduism, the universe is considered to be a manifestation of the divine essence and thus to, in one sense or another, be a part of or an expression of “God.” Similar ideas have become increasingly popular in the west in the last few centuries, such as pantheism (the belief that “God” and the material universe are synonymous) and panentheism (the belief that, while God transcends creation, the created universe exists in God and is a part of God’s being). In each of these ideas, the distinction between God and creation is blurred or outright denied. At best, the “God” of these systems is distinct from the world the way that I am distinct from my own lungs or heart. My heart may not exhaust all that I am, but it shares in my existence and is an essential part of my very being.
The God of the Bible, however, is not like this at all. God exists wholly apart from His creation. He does not need the universe, and the universe is not part of His being or nature. God created all things outside Himself rather than merely emanating them out from His own essence. God is not the universe, and the universe is not part of God.
From Beginning to End
The creation account in Genesis 1:1-2:24 is clearly a description of God creating, forming, and fashioning a universe entirely distinct from Himself. God does not “become,” “emanate,” or otherwise extend His own being into any of the things formed. God creates. He commands, and things come into being. He makes man in His image, but not after His kind or out of His substance. He forms man from the dirt and brings him to life as a separate and distinct living thing. From the opening words of the Bible, we are immediately confronted with the fact that God is separate from and superior to the things He has made. Indeed, our worship of God is rooted, in part, in the fact that He is our distinct creator and sustainer. He is a God utterly outside ourselves to whom we owe our finite existence.
“Let them praise the name of the Lord, For He commanded and they were created. He has also established them forever and ever; He has made a decree which will not pass away,” (Psalm 148:5-6).
“For the Lord is a great God And a great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth, The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, And His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand,” (Psalm 95:3-7).
The grandeur of God is magnified in the very fact that He cannot be identified with any other existing thing:
“‘To whom then will you liken Me That I would be his equal?’ says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing,” (Isaiah 40:25-26).
The last book of the Bible, like the first, confronts us with the fact that God is not His creation, and His creation owes Him worship and sole allegiance:
“And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever,’” (Revelation 5:13).
From beginning to end, the Bible presents us with a God who is distinct from creation and makes that central to our relationship to Him. This is not a tertiary fact, but rather a foundational biblical truth.
Jehovah Among the Gods
That God is entirely distinct from His creation and utterly unlike anything He has made is perhaps the central reason why images of God are forbidden throughout Scripture and why idolatry is such a grave sin. For example, when the apostle Paul traveled to Athens, “his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols,” (Acts 17:16). He confronted the pagan worshipers, proclaiming to them:
“The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things,” (Acts 17:24-25).
Temples do not share in God’s essence, and He does not dwell in them. God is not His creation, His existence does not depend on His creation, and He is far above and beyond the things He has made. This is what made idolatry so foolish. Now, some will point out that Paul goes on to quote Epimenides, saying “in Him, we live and move and exist,” (Acts 17:28) and will claim that this points to a shared existence or essence between God and men. That is not Paul’s point at all, however. Not only has Paul just affirmed, as we have seen, that God is a distinct creator that does not depend on or dwell within creation, but when we look at the context, Paul’s argument from the pagan poets is nothing remotely pantheistic:
“For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,” (Acts 17:28-30).
Paul’s point is that even pagan writers acknowledge that God formed us, so why should we think that God could be like something we ourselves can form? These statements, in fact, outright deny that God shares in the essence of material things like gold or stone, and thus point to the distinction between God and creation rather than any unity between the two. The very thing that the Greeks were being called to repent of was worshipping created things as if they were God when they are not.
“For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen,” (Romans 1:25).
The earliest Christian writers argued in this same vein, pointing out the foolishness of thinking that any or all created things could be God and emphasizing the necessary distinction. For example, one of the earliest works of Christian apologetics says to the Greek pagan reader:
“Do you accept the vain and silly doctrines of those who are deemed, trustworthy philosophers? Of whom some said that fire was God, calling that God to which they themselves were by and by to come; and some water; and others some other of the elements formed by God. But if any one of these theories is worthy of approbation, every one of the rest of created things might also be declared to be God. But such declarations are simply the startling and erroneous utterances of deceivers,” (Epistle to Diognetus, Chapter 8).
There is no room in Christian thought for a divine universe or a God who shares His own existence or essence with creation.
Omnipresence Isn’t Pantheism
It is also common to see people argue that passages which claim that God is present everywhere at once or that He isn’t bound by time, space, or location somehow prove God’s oneness with the created universe. He is everywhere, it is presumed He must also be everything. This doesn’t logically follow at all. Just because I am present at my house doesn’t mean that I am at my house. Just because I am in my office doesn’t mean that I am my office. To be at, with, in, or among something is not the same is to be that thing. Further, these verses actually assume God’s distinction from creation. For example:
“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,’ Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You,” (Psalm 139:7-12).
This passage certainly claims that the vast presence of God is not bound by location and that one cannot escape His presence. The Psalmist goes on in the very next lines, however, to clearly describe himself as a creation distinct from God:
“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them,” (Psalm 139:13-16).
Likewise with other Omnipresence passages. Jeremiah wrote:
“‘Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?’ declares the Lord,” (Jeremiah 23:24).
This passage, again, shows that man cannot hide from God. It does not, however, say that a man cannot escape God because that man actually is God or is a part of God. Indeed, the assumption of a man trying to hide from God is that God is a separate thing from which the man seeks to hide, and the passage does not contend with that assumption at all. Instead, the passage simply says that God is so vast that there is nowhere man can go to escape Him. Similarly, we see passages related to the temple:
“Thus says the Lord, ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest?’” (Isaiah 66:1).
“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27).
These passages speak of God’s immense grandeur, but they are not the kind of thing someone would write who believed that the Temple was just as much a part of God as anything else. Heaven is God’s throne; it is not God Himself. The earth is God’s footstool, not part of His body. The Temple’s smallness is compared to God’s vastness, but no unity between the two in essence or being is implied. God is magnified above creation here, not merged with it.
Conclusion: God is distinct from creation
The Bible everywhere distinguishes God from His creation and nowhere implies any union or blurring of the two. The view that God and the universe are in any sense the same being is idolatry from which God calls men to repent. This is not a small difference between Christianity and Hinduism or other pantheistic faiths. It is an absolutely foundational matter. It is a Gospel issue.
The following chapter from Matthew was provided by www.Biblegateway.com. The New English Translation was chosen as to supply notes from the translators.
The Resurrection
28 Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord[a] descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3 His[b] appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The[c]guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. 5 But the angel said[d] to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know[e] that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.[f]6 He is not here, for he has been raised,[g] just as he said. Come and see the place where he[h] was lying. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. He[i] is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you!” 8 So[j] they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 But[k] Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They[l] came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”
The Guards’ Report
11 While[m] they were going, some[n] of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After[o] they had assembled with the elders and formed a plan, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole his body[p] while we were asleep.’ 14 If[q] this matter is heard before the governor,[r] we will satisfy him[s] and keep you out of trouble.”[t]15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story is told among the Jews to this day.[u]
The Great Commission
16 So[v] the eleven disciples went to Galilee to the mountain Jesus had designated. 17 When[w] they saw him, they worshiped him,[x]but some doubted.[y]18 Then Jesus came up and said to them,[z] “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go[aa] and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,[ab]20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember,[ac] I am with you[ad] always, to the end of the age.”[ae]
Footnotes
Matthew 28:2tn Or “the angel of the Lord.” See the note on the word “Lord” in 1:20.
Matthew 28:3tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
Matthew 28:4tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
Matthew 28:5tnGrk “But answering, the angel said.” This is somewhat redundant in English and has been simplified in the translation.
Matthew 28:6tn The verb here is passive (ἠγέρθη, ēgerthē). This “divine passive” (see ExSyn 437-38) points to the fact that Jesus was raised by God.
Matthew 28:6tc Expansions on the text, especially when the Lord is the subject, are a common scribal activity. In this instance, since the subject is embedded in the verb, three major variants have emerged to make the subject explicit: ὁ κύριος (ho kurios, “the Lord”; A C D L W Γ 0148 ƒ1,13 565 579 700 1241 M lat), τὸ σῶμα τοῦ κυρίου (to sōma tou kuriou, “the body of the Lord”; 1424), and ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς (ho Iēsous, “Jesus”; Φ). The reading with no explicit subject, however, is superior on both internal and external grounds, being supported by א B Θ 33 892* co.
Matthew 28:7tnGrk “And behold he.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).
Matthew 28:8tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the angel’s instructions to tell the disciples.
Matthew 28:9tnGrk “And behold.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate that the return of the women from the tomb was interrupted by this appearance of Jesus. The Greek word ἰδού(idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).
Matthew 28:9tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
Matthew 28:11tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
Matthew 28:11tnGrk “behold, some of the guard.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).
Matthew 28:12tn Here καί(kai) has not been translated.
Matthew 28:14tn Here καί(kai) has not been translated.
Matthew 28:14tn Here ἐπί(epi) followed by the genitive = “before,” especially in the language of lawsuits (BDAG 363 s.v. 3).
Matthew 28:14tc ‡ αὐτόν(auton, “him”) is found after πείσομεν (peisomen, “we will satisfy”) in the majority of witnesses, though it seems to be motivated by a need for clarification and cannot therefore easily explain the rise of the shorter reading (which is found in א B Θ 33 pc). Nevertheless, English style requires the pronoun. NA28includes the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
Matthew 28:14tnGrk “and make you free from care” = “we will keep you out of trouble.”
Matthew 28:15tc ‡ The word ἡμέρας (hēmeras, “day”) is found after σήμερον (sēmeron, “today, this [day]”) in some early and significant witnesses (B D L Θ lat, as well as other versions and fathers), but may be added for emphasis (cf. Acts 20:26; 27:33; Rom 11:8; 2 Cor 3:14). But since the idiom with “day” is unquestionably found only in Paul’s speeches in Acts or his letters, intrinsic evidence is against the addition. The shorter reading (found in א A W 0148vid ƒ1,13 33 565 579 700 1241 1424 M) is thus preferred. NA28 includes the word in brackets, indicating reservations about its authenticity. Whether authentic or not, the translation is not affected.
Matthew 28:16tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of Jesus’ instructions in v. 10.
Matthew 28:17tn Here καί(kai) has not been translated.
Matthew 28:17tn The word “him” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
Matthew 28:17tn The Greek text reads here οἱ δὲ ἐδίστασαν (hoi de edistasan). Some scholars argue that the article is functioning like a personal pronoun, thus “theydoubted” (e.g., D. A. Hagner, Matthew [WBC], 2:884). If so, then all the disciples would be in view. The translation of the text takes οἱ as an alternative pronoun which has a partitive notion (i.e., some of the disciples doubted, but not all). The difficulty with the personal pronoun view is that there are no examples of it in Matthew in which the same subject immediately precedes with its own verb (as would be the case in “they worshiped…they doubted”). Such, in fact, would be quite awkward, for the article would be unnecessary since the pronominal referent is already embedded in the verb. The only reason for the article here would be to distinguish the subject in some way; but if the same subject is in view, no distinction is being made.
Matthew 28:18tnGrk “coming, Jesus spoke to them, saying.” The participle λέγων (legōn, “saying”) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here καί(kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
Matthew 28:19tn “Go…baptize…teach” are participles modifying the imperative verb “make disciples.” According to ExSyn 645 the first participle (πορευθέντες, poreuthentes, “Go”) fits the typical structural pattern for the attendant circumstance participle (aorist participle preceding aorist main verb, with the mood of the main verb usually imperative or indicative) and thus picks up the mood (imperative in this case) from the main verb (μαθητεύσατε, mathēteusate, “make disciples”). This means that semantically the action of “going” is commanded, just as “making disciples” is. As for the two participles that follow the main verb (βαπτίζοντες, baptizontes, “baptizing”; and διδάσκοντες, didaskontes, “teaching”), these do not fit the normal pattern for attendant circumstance participles, since they are present participles and follow the aorist main verb. However, some interpreters do see them as carrying additional imperative force in context. Others regard them as means, manner, or even result.
Matthew 28:19tc Although some scholars have denied that the trinitarian baptismal formula in the Great Commission was a part of the autographic text of Matthew, there is no ms support for their contention. F. C. Conybeare, “The Eusebian Form of the Text of Mt. 28:19, ” ZNW 2 (1901): 275-88, based his view on a faulty reading of Eusebius’ quotations of this text. The shorter reading has also been accepted, on other grounds, by a few other scholars. For discussion (and refutation of the conjecture that removes this baptismal formula), see B. J. Hubbard, The Matthean Redaction of a Primitive Apostolic Commissioning(SBLDS 19), 163-64, 167-75; and Jane Schaberg, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (SBLDS 61), 27-29.
Matthew 28:20tn The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has been translated here as “remember” (BDAG 468 s.v. 1.c).
Matthew 28:20snI am with you. Matthew’s Gospel begins with the prophecy that the Savior’s name would be “Emmanuel, that is, ‘God withus,’” (1:23, in which the author has linked Isa 7:14 and 8:8, 10together) and it ends with Jesus’ promise to be with his disciples forever. The Gospel of Matthew thus forms an inclusio about Jesus in his relationship to his people that suggests his deity.
Matthew 28:20tc Most mss(Ac Γ Δ Θ ƒ13 565 579 700 12411424 M it sy) have ἀμήν (amēn, “amen”) at the end of v. 20. Such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. Further, no good reason exists for the omission of the particle in significant and early witnesses such as א A* B D W ƒ133 al lat sa.
As Sunday rapidly approaches, please consider examining the claims Jesus made about Himself. Friends, if His resurrection didn’t happen, Christianity isn’t a viable worldview…it would be futile and misleading. Christianity’s existence hinges entirely on Jesus’s resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15)
As you research, you will find approximately 130 attestations, both Christian and non-Christian (Greco-Roman, Syrian, and Jewish), referencing Jesus outside of the New Testament. A few examples of these historical sources are Flavius Josephus, Suetonius, and Cornelius Tacitus. And what do they show us? Jesus was a real man, he was crucified on a Roman cross, and produced an empty tomb. Not to mention had numerous followers who were martyred for what they earnestly believed. These facts are undesputed by the vast majority of modern day scholars (non-Christian, included).
“Jesus’ death by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate is as sure as anything historical can ever be. For if no follower of Jesus had written anything for one hundred years after his crucifixition, we would still know about him from two authors not among his supporters. Their names are Flavius Josephus and Cornelius Tacitus.”
– John Dominic Crossan
Friends, pour out your heart as you investigate…every hurt, every doubt, and every concern. Genuinely look into Jesus’s claims. Why not? C.S. Lewis articulated it well, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
His,
Meridith
C.S. Lewis addresses Jesus’s Claims
I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him [that is, Christ]: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. 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 a 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 human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as of first importance[c]what I also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than 500 of the brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been in vain. In fact, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, this is the way we preach and this is the way you believed.
No Resurrection?
12 Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. 15 Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that he raised Christ from the dead, when in reality he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. 18 Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep[k] in Christ have also perished. 19 For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man,[l] the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be eliminated is death. 27 For he has put everything in subjection under his feet. But when it says “everything” has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection to him. 28 And when all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.
29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are they baptized for them? 30 Why too are we in danger every hour? 31 Every day I am in danger of death! This is as sure as my boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If from a human point of view I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what did it benefit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”[v]34 Sober up as you should, and stop sinning! For some have no knowledge of God—I say this to your shame!
The Resurrection Body
35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 Fool! What you sow will not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare seed—perhaps of wheat or something else. 38 But God gives it a body just as he planned, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 39 All flesh is not the same: People have one flesh, animals have another, birds and fish another. 40 And there are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. The glory of the heavenly body is one sort and the earthly another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars, for star differs from star in glory.
42 It is the same with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living person”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, made of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 Like the one made of dust, so too are those made of dust, and like the one from heaven, so too those who are heavenly. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, let us also bear the image of the man of heaven.
50 Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the blinking[ae] of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 Now when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will happen,
“Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 58 So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Dr. Hazen points to Christianity as unique from other religions as it is not a “blind leap of faith,” nor dependent upon a subjective, emotional experience. Sisters, Christianity is actually testable! God, in His wisdom and mercy, has provided historical evidence regarding the Truth claims of Christianity. And believe it or not, it all hinges upon Jesus’s Resurrection! Paul (formerly Saul) to the Church in Corinth, highlights the fact that “if Christ has not been raised” then we are still in our sins and the most to be pitied.
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
1 Corinthians 3-8
Now look at verses 12-15…
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
1 Cor 12-19
Paul wrote this from the perspective of someone who had persecuted the followers of Christ before his conversion (only 2-3 years after Jesus’s crucifixion). If the resurrection wasn’t true then their preaching about Jesus’s preeminent deity (Lordship), death, and resurrection was not only “futile” but “misrepresenting God.” Christianity is verifiable, as it rests upon the empty tomb, eyewitness testimony, as well as the transformed lives of it’s followers. If you or someone you know is wanting to investigate Christianity, you can do so! Pray and look into the historical evidence for the Resurrection…God will help you!
Another fact that sets Christianity apart from other religious worldviews is God’s Grace. Biblically speaking, Grace (“Charis”), is God’s unmerited favor. A favor that cannot be earned, but is freely given. As explained by Dr. Hazen, “(With Christianity) there’s no crawling over jagged rocks for miles to lay some offering in some temple. There’s no sitting in lotus positions for hours-on-end hoping to move inwardly toward enlightenment, and there’s no ladder to climb unendingly towards the stratosphere of God. Salvation (in relation to Christianity) is just given to you!” Dr. Hazen explains that many of us succumb to the false dogma of working toward salvation; hence, perceiving Christianity as just another religion that requires folks to “do a bunch of stuff.” When we fall into the snare of “building our own ladders” to Heaven, we miss the point of Grace entirely…leaning instead into the trappings of self-reliance! Jonathan Edwards articulated this reality powerfully when stating, “You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” Friends, God made a way back to Himself that only He could make. God sent His one and only Son down from Heaven, in human flesh, (John 1:14; 3:16) to pay a debt that only He could pay. A rescue that only He could make. “Amazing Grace…Who saved a wrtetch like me.”
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
What is a “Worldview?” As defined by Ligonier Ministries, “a worldview is an overall view of the world. It’s not a physical view of the world, but rather a philosophical view, an all-encompassing perspective on everything that exists and matters to us. A person’s worldview represents his most fundamental beliefs and assumptions about the universe he inhabits. It reflects how he would answer all the “big questions” of human existence: fundamental questions about who and what we are, where we came from, why we’re here, where (if anywhere) we’re headed, the meaning and purpose of life, the nature of the afterlife, and what counts as a good life here and now.”
For point #3, Dr. Craig Hazen exclaims that, “Christianity has a tremendous worldview fit, as it paints a picture of the world that matches the way the world really is.” For example, Christianity doesn’t look at the existence of evil and suffering in the world and call it, Maya (an illusion). Biblical and Historical Christianity deals with the reality of our brokenness “head-on!” In Hinduism, someone’s suffering is viewed as a part of their karma…to interfere would be harmful to them. In contrast, God’s Word (Scripture) and Grace encourages Christians to get into the “trenches” with those who are hurting. We are comforted by knowing that Jesus Himself suffered on our behalf. Christianity doesn’t ignore evil and suffering but instead provides the history behind it, calls it by name (sin), and delivers a rescue plan that only God could accomplish for us.
This final point is essential. When you speak with friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors,…how do they describe Jesus? Do they refer to Jesus as a “good teacher,” “a wise prophet,” or “a highly evolved man?” Or do they call Him, “Lord,” as Jesus claimed to be? Investigating Jesus’s self-made proclamations is the most important research any person could undertake. And Christianity focuses upon these assertions. (We will dig-into this more in the paragraphs below)
Hazen explains in his talks that “everybody wants a piece of Jesus” in their religious worldview. He goes on to share that “in Hinduism, Jesus emerges in some Hindus’ minds as either the greatest, or one of the greatest, teachers ever to walk the earth. In Buddhism, Jesus was thought to be an actual incarnation of the Buddha, himself! If not, then he (Jesus) certainly is a great Bodhisattva in the Mahayana tradition…who leads people up to the precipice of enlightenment. “In Islam,” Hazen continues, “Jesus is figured as greater than Mohammad, was considered born of a virgin, and remembered as a miracle worker.” But Christianity has Jesus at the center. Now, for anyone doubting Jesus’s existence, why would most major world religions acknowledge him? (More information on the historical Jesus below)
Christianity acknowledges the claims made by Jesus, as both historically verifiable and true. You see, Jesus did not mince words when he boldly described himself as both the “Son of Man” and “Son of God.” These two titles pointed to Jesus’s preeminent, divine nature. Jesus was stating that he was/is Lord! Something the other major world religions do not ascribe. This proclamation (as shared by both C.S. Lewis and Josh McDowell) lends itself to 3 possibilities for those researching Jesus’s claims: 1) Jesus was telling the truth, 2) lying, or 3) talking as a Lunatic. Sisters, a “good person,” “prophet,” or “wise teacher” would not be a liar or a lunatic. He is either who He professed to be or not! Let’s think about this further…Should a liar be esteemed as highly as Jesus is in most world religions?
Another argument utilized by skeptics as to counter Jesus’s assertions of Lordship is to accuse his followers of writing-in these claims later in history. This could be termed the, “Legend argument.” However, as Dr. Gary Habermas explains, the claims of Jesus’s deity go back to the empty tomb and resurrection. Too soon for legends to be forumulated. Those who saw Jesus resurrected (500+ eyewitnesses) were both teaching and singing creeds that prolifically pointed to 3 distinct components: Jesus’s place in the Godhead, his death, as well as his resurrection. These teachings (homologia) fueled the persecutions of Jesus’s followers by those who were zealous for God’s old covenant. Numerous Christians were martyred for sharing these passionate convictiond, one of whom was Stephen. Saul was present when Stephen was stoned (Acts 7), which happened before Saul’s Damascus Road experience… which historians place just 2 to 3 years (A.D. 32-33) after Jesus’s crucifixion (A.D. 30). The implications of the early teachings and creeds is not only foundational in debunking the Legend Argument but further testifies to the personal convictions of the early Christians regarding the Lordship of Jesus. This evidence regarding Jesus’s life, death, and empty tomb is unchallenged by most non-Christian scholars. Notable mentions would be Bart Ehrman, Gerd Ludemann, and John Dominic Crossan.
“Jesus’ death by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate is as sure as anything historical can ever be. For if no follower of Jesus had written anything for one hundred years after his crucifixion, we would still know about him from two authors not among his supporters. Their names are Flavius Josephus and Cornelius Tacitus.” – Crossan
Friends, it’s my hope and prayer that this post encourages you to examine the claims of Christianity. In His mercy, God has provided all of us with abundant evidence for defending the reasons for the hope that we have in the Gospel of Jesus. You might not need these facts, and yet someone you know…might. But don’t put someone’s salvation upon yourself, as that is something only the Holy Spirit accomplishes.
“And if some folks walked away from Jesus not believing, why would we think that most will walk away from us believing?! At the least, we can put a stone in their shoe.”
Friends, if you were like me, you grew-up with images of heaven as a location where angels perched themselves upon fluffy, white clouds…lounging peacefully, without a care-in-the-world. Beautiful and yet, if we are completely transparent, dull and impersonal. In addition to these characterizations of the afterlife, Scripture was taught predominantly via flannel graph and cartoons. Most often portrayed as “stories” to be memorized, not as God’s inspired Words, both rational and historical. It’s no wonder that our postmodern minds receive what the Bible says with skepticism! And our hearts abandon the solid ground of absolute truth for the shifting sands of emotionalism!
Because of this, we often find ourselves “wishing” our days away with unspoken lists of what we hope to accomplish before we die! Our self-bent hearts holding ever-so-tightly to the temporary rewards of this world (money, self-esteem, power, the praises of others, etc)…and our weary minds just wanting to be numb (ie., binging Netflix in lieu of reading the Bible, etc).
But, please consider this…
The same Creator who intentionally fashioned the entire universe, along with every living organism within, has promised to provide both a new Heaven and a new earth one day! The Maker of all things will have a brand new home for us! Why would we create bucket lists for this fleeting moment when all of eternity contains God’s perfect design!? A beautiful world without brokenness and heartbreak! Who can fathom it?!
Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 12:33-34
With this in mind, Sisters, take a deep breath and relinquish your Bucket List into His hands. Being in God’s presence for all of eternity is one’s best life! A gift which only God could provide. A gift that came through God’s rescue plan. A rescue plan which involved God’s one and only Son coming to earth and paying a debt that we deserved to pay. It’s a reality that should both humble and amaze us daily. Gals, let’s live this life not making temporary lists which change “with the seasons, but instead let’s rely upon God’s strength in sharing the Gospel!It’s the most important endeavor we could undertake. (1 Peter 3:15; Gal 2:20)
“I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”
Philippians 1:23
His,
Meridith
65 minutes with Sean McDowell and Lee Strobel
20 minutes with David Wood “Image of God”
3 minutes with Greg Koukl
53 minutes with Gary Habermas, Darrell Bock, and Mikel Del Rosario
7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
Ask, and It Will Be Given
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
The Golden Rule
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Build Your House on the Rock
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
The Authority of Jesus
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Footnotes
Matthew 7:13 Some manuscripts For the way is wide and easy
Psalm 40
My Help and My Deliverer
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
4 Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! 5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.
6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear.[a] Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. 7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: 8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance[b] in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord. 10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! 12 For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my iniquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.
13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! 14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 15 Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”
16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” 17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!
What about those who have never heard about the Gospel of Jesus? Will they go to Heaven? These two questions are pondered deeply by many-a-heart when considering Christianity as a worldview for reality. And at the heart of this, when we dig deeper, is the question of whether God is both good and just.
Per 1 Timothy 2:4, God “desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” I may not understand why some choose Him and others don’t, but what is certain is that we can know God cares more about His creation (i.e., us and our loved ones) infinity more than we ever could endeavor. And to example this abundant love are the cross and the empty tomb. Both of these are historically testable…Neither are a leap of faith to believe. Friends, God made a way back to Himself that only He could make. God sent His one and only Son down from Heaven, in human flesh, (John 1:14; 3:16) to pay a debt that only He could pay. A rescue that only He could make. When Adam and Eve heeded the voice of the serpent, Sin then had bent our hearts inward, inhibiting their ability to acccurately discern the will of God. This inward focus is seen in how readily we worship creation over the Creator. Humans are constantly attempting to create God in their/our own image instead of worshiping the One who created us in His. Pastor Mike Winger provides a visual of this screwed authority structure. Winger suggests that we often make Jesus a “bobble head” savior. A feeble icon which nods to our personal wants and wills, instead of a Savior who sits on the throne of our lives. Sin tempts us to live under the banner of “our will be done,” versus “God, Your will be done.” Sisters, God alone could do what man is unable to do. Only God could make a way back to Himself.
“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”
Jonathan Edwards
Ladies, we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Every, single one of us. (Romans 3:23) We are not the center of the story of reality, God is. We need to worship Him for who He is, not for whom we want Him to be. For this reason, we need to be living a life of dependency upon Jesus…Praying constantly, reading the Bible daily, and sharing the Gospel (Truth) with anyone and everyone. And why some choose this way and others don’t…I don’t understand. But we can trust God.
“If you found Christianity to be true, would you believe?”
Frank Turek
6 minutes with Frank Turek and CrossExamined
“Most people aren’t on a Truth quest. They are on a happiness quest.”
Frank Turek
5 minutes with Pastor Mike Winger
What is the Gospel?
20 minutes with David Wood
3 minutes with Greg Koukl
The Ressurection
2 minutes with Lee Strobel
65 minutes with Dr. Gary Habermas
Who is Jesus?
6 minutes
44 minutes with Mikel Del Rosario
18 minutes with Nabeel Qureshi
Why Christianity?
10 minutes with Jon McCray
10 minutes with Alan Shlemon
Scripture Says
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
Romans 10:9 Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
John 1:14 ESV And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 5:23 That all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
John 20:28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
John 10:30 I and the Father are one.”
John 10:30-33 I and the Father are one.” The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
1 Corinthians 8:6 Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
John 14:9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
1 John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
1 John 2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.
Acts 16:30-31 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Matthew 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Romans 10:13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Hebrews 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
1 John 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
John 3:13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
Romans 10:9-11 Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
John 1:3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
1 Peter 2:4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
John 5:18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Revelation 1:17-18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Romans 3:10 As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Ephesians 2:1-22 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— …
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Colossians 2:9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
Romans 3:20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
Acts 13:38-39 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
John 6:50-51 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
John 8:51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.”
Romans 5:1-21 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. …
Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
2 John 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
2 Peter 1:1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
Hebrews 2:14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
1 Timothy 3:16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Matthew 11:27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
Revelation 1:5-6 And from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 John 5:10-12 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—
Acts 16:31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Revelation 1:18 And the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Hebrews 5:8-9 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
Revelation 14:12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Romans 5:21 So that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 John 2:1-2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 Timothy 2:3-6 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
Romans 4:25 Who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Hebrews 9:14-15 How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
John 1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Hebrews 10:20 By the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
Hebrews 9:11-12 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Hebrews 9:24-28 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 And to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
John 1:2 He was in the beginning with God.
Matthew 10:32-33 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 10:25-37 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” …
“We often sacrifice others when we give them what they want, but we sacrifice ourselves when we give them what he or she needs.” – Frank Turek
This statement by Christian Apologist, Frank Turek, during a Q&A at Grace Community Church in Sarasota, genuinely gave me reason to pause and pray… This hits home. How much do I fear the responses of my children, family, friends, or neighbors versus lovingly sharing Truth with them?
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, growsand builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
Ephesians 4:15-16
Friends, loving others well takes humility. And humility takes sacrifice. Sacrifice entails placing God on the throne of our lives instead of ourselves. A heart full of itself (self-confidence and self-reliance) will lend itself to “wants,” but a heart brought low will look-up and find God faithful…and true to His Word. Sisters, let’s abandon the man-centered fear that sacrifices for self, and humbly carry the cross of the One who boldly sacrificed for others. The Grace of God be the strength you need as you lovingly side with Truth in the lives of others. He, Jesus, is who they need.
Scriptureabout Truth
What does Scripture?
John 18:37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness (testify) to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
John 18:38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I amthe way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 17:7 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
John 8:32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Matthew 22:29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,” (testifying to history and promises fulfilled)
1 Corinthians 15:6 “Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.”
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
1 Corinthians 2:1-16 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Psalm 12:17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
2 Timothy 3:13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Colossians 3:1-3 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Psalm 119:160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 Corinthians 10:5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
Judges 2:10 And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.
Colossians 2:1-23 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 16:13 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.
Psalm 5:9 For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.
Psalm 25:5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
Psalm 119:151 But you are near, O Lord, and all your commandments are true.
Psalm 45:4 In your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
Psalm 43:3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!
Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 8:31-32 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to His own glory and excellence,
1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
John 3:20-21 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
Ephesians 5:8-11 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Ephesians 4:14-15 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
3 John 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
2 Timothy 3:3-7 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
2 Peter 2:2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
2 Thessalonians 2:10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Colossians 1:10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Proverbs 18:17 The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.
Sis, do you need encouragement, today? Gary Habermas has some for you! In a recent message delivered by Dr. Gary Habermas to the Evangelical Philosophical Society, he provided 3 examples of how God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes:
Peter, James, and Paul
Peter, a Disciple of Jesus, readily denied Jesus 3 times after Jesus’s arrest. James, the 1/2 brother of Jesus, had grown-up in the same home with Jesus but rejected Jesus’s claims of Deity as well as thought Jesus to be “out of his mind” when teaching his disciples (Mark 3). And then there was Paul. Paul, formerly Saul, was responsible for the deaths of numerous Christians…one of those being Stephen. Luke chronicles Saul’s participation in the stoning death of Stephen, as the synagogue members threw their garments at Saul’s feet (Acts 7). Peter, James, and Paul were sinners just as we are…and yet God had a plan! And that plan involved Himself!
Despite their heartbreaking mistakes and infamous failures, all three men were gifted the opportunity to see the risen Jesus! They were saved not by their works, but by grace through faith in Christ! And this should be an immense encouragement to all of us! Friends, God works to accomplish His purposes in spite of our quirks, failures, and current propensities. The good He accomplishes is through His strength, not our own. As Dr. Habermas tenderly asserts: “God uses wounded lives” for purposes beyond what we could imagine. Let that sink in! God, in His wisdom and mercy, works through our suffering and hardships for the Kingdom! This type of faithfulness is not of this world! Sister, no matter how much the remorse of past mistakes may bring you low, God is with you and will use it for good,…according to His purposes. There is everlasting hope from God for you and I. Every…single…day. And it all comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus. His Grace is enough.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Dear Sister, you might be gazing at this post with a deep longing for encouragement. For this very reason, it’s my genuine prayer that the words shared below (Scriptures) will fill your heart and mind today,…as they are the only ones which can truly meet the real need you hold.
Elisabeth Elliot, one of my favorite authors, penned trust with these words “If my life is surrendered to God, all is well. Let me not grab it back, as though it were in peril in His hand but would be safer in mine!” Be encouraged, friends- what is unknown to us, is known by God. (Psalm 139; Hebrews 4:13) What appears impossible to us, is not to God (Luke 1:37) And while we may not understand His plans, we can certainly trust His heart. (James 4:7; Proverbs 3:5) Wherever you may be right now, take a breath and pray. No question is too lofty; no sorrow is too deep; and no past is beyond His Grace. The hope God provides through His Son and in His Words (Bible) will be sufficient. God’s got you!
What is the Gospel? 3 minutes with Greg Koukl
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Psalms 34:18 “The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged.”
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Isaiah 40:31 But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Romans 8:24-25 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Psalm 39:7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.
1 Corinthians 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Colossians 1:27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Romans 5:5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 5:2-5 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Proverbs 23:18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Proverbs 24:14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Psalm 71:5 For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Titus 3:7 So that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Hebrews 6:19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
1 Thessalonians 5:8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
Psalm 31:24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
Lamentations 3:24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Psalm 119:114 You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
Jeremiah 17:7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.
Romans 8:24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
Titus 2:13 Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Ephesians 1:18 Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
Psalm 71:14 But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more.
Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
Mark 9:23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 130:5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
Psalm 33:22 Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Psalm 147:11 But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
1 Corinthians 15:19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Galatians 5:5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.
1 John 3:3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
Titus 1:2 ESV In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
Psalm 9:18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.
Titus 1:1-2 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Job 11:18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.
Psalm 42:11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
Psalm 146:5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—
Psalm 62:5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.
Micah 7:7 But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
Psalm 10:17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
Hebrews 6:18-19 So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
1 Timothy 6:17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
2 Corinthians 3:12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,
Hebrews 3:6 But Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
Psalm 119:81 My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.
Romans 5:2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Psalm 23:1-6 A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. …
1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Romans 4:18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Joel 3:16 The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel.
Psalm 130:7 O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.
Proverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
Romans 5:3-4 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Zechariah 9:12 Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.
Matthew 12:21 And in his name the Gentiles will hope.”
Numbers 23:19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 1:21 Who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Colossians 1:23 If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Lamentations 3:21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
Job 13:15 Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.
Colossians 1:5 Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,
Psalm 78:7 So that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;
Ephesians 2:12 Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Hebrews 6:11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end,
Acts 24:15 Having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.
Psalm 25:5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Psalm 38:15 But for you, O Lord, do I wait; it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
What exactly is, “Christ Consciousness?” Below you will find an article written by Steven Bancarz, a former New Age writer and teacher, which not only provides a definition of Christ Consciousness but also includes a Biblical Perspective. Per his apologetics website, Reasons for Jesus, Steven gave his life to Jesus in 2015, and “has since been in full-time ministry after exposing the deception of the New Age movement.” It’s my hope and prayer that Steven’s post below provides the Biblical answers you need as to confidently answer the question provided in the title, “Did Jesus Teach Christ Consciousness?” Keep reading God’s Word (the Bible), Sisters…and by it, test everything that is said, and hold on to what is good! His, Mer
A brief answer to the title? No, Jesus didn’t.
Facebook Post written by Steven Bancarz:
March 1, 2022
Did Jesus teach Christ Consciousness? In the New Age, it’s believed that “Christ” references the I Am Presence within all things. Jesus is thus someone who became Christ by realizing His intrinsic connection to Source, and it’s claimed that His real teachings lead us to the state of Higher Consciousness that He obtained that we may be Christ too. Jesus taught us how to access our own divinity and live from the Christ Consciousness He accessed in Himself. I used to teach this myself, **but Jesus actually teaches something much different, and we can be sure of this for several reasons:
1) Jesus warned twice in Mat. 24 against those who claimed to be “Christ”, claiming this would be a sign of deception before the end of the age. “I Am Christ” is what many will say to deceive others. This teaching of Christ consciousness is not only absent from Jesus ministry, it’s something He warned of as a coming deception.
2) The promise of god-hood is the first lie told to man by Satan in the Garden (Gen. 3:3-5). Jesus came to “destroy the works of the devil” (1 Jn. 3:8), the first of which was to convince man they could become God. Jesus came into the world to clean up the mess that unfolded when people (Adam and Eve) were allured away from the truth into the pursuit of self-godhood.
3) Jesus says John the Baptist was the most spiritually advanced man ever (next to Himself), and John denied being “Christ” twice. If greatest man ever isn’t Christ and didn’t become it, then “Christ” is not a state of consciousness belonging to the spiritually advanced. Moses, David, Abraham, and every other spiritual giant in history couldn’t knock at John’s door. If John still wasn’t a Christ, than neither are we.
4) “Christos” in the Greek is used hundreds of times in the NT, and every time it references a person; Jesus. It never references an “it”, but only a “he”. This word is never used in a sense compatible with an impersonal force or a state of mind, or any other “it”. It is only used in just one sense; as a title for the personal Messiah. “Christ” is said to have died for our sins, been buried, and raised bodily from the dead. “Christos” is a personal word referencing Jesus, and never anyone or anything else.
5) The Bible tells us that we are not divine beings who can ascend to godhood. We are “but men” (Ps. 9:20), “men and no gods “ (Ez. 28:9), and “man and not gods” (Eze. 31:3). We are not gods with amnesia, and all those in Scripture who claimed to be gods were issued the death penalty by God (Acts 12:20-23, Eze. 28:1-10, Isa. 14:12-22). The Bible has a lot to say about the pursuit of Godhood, but only in the context of it being sin worthy of judgement.
What Jesus really taught is that He is the divine Saviour, we are human sinners in need of redemption, that in His life, death, and resurrection Heaven has been earned for us, and if we repent of our sins and trust in Him we will receive the free gift of eternal life and be reconciled unto God.
For more on this teaching of Christ consciousness from a Biblical perspective:
Hold Fast Apologetics 