There is a principal which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all argument, and which can not fail to keep man in everlasting ignorance. That principal is condemnation before investigation.
-Edmund Spencer
If you weighed two CDs, one filled with computer programs and the other blank... You'd find that they both weighed the same. That's because the CD itself is hardware and the weightless information on the CD is software. In a way the same thing is true about us... Our bodies are hardware and the weightless part of us, the part that has no mass, the part that makes us uniquely who we are [our soul or spirit] is software.
Hardware is temporary and subject to the laws of decay, but could it be that software by nature is eternal? The average person grows from childhood to adulthood in a constant state of development. You get bigger, stronger, and more able in every way. But at some point you start to notice changes that aren't improvements. Your hair starts turning gray, or falling out. Your skin isn't as tight and your mussels aren't as strong. You find it hard to do things that use to be easy. Meanwhile, with all of this is going on, your spirit hasn't changed. You're still the same person inside that you were when you were a child. Oh, you may have matured over the years by gaining knowledge and experience, but beyond that you're the same.
The bible says... 2Co 4:16b our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
If this is true, then the question should be... Where will the “eternal me” be after this hardware, my body, dies?
We've all heard about "the Gospel" or "the Good News"... Well if there's "Good News", then it stands to reason that there must also be "Bad News".
FIRST... "The Bad News"
Before we were given the Ten Commandments nobody knew what sin was. But as soon as they were placed in our hands that changed forever. Now, sin becomes obvious to anyone who is willing to accurately measure themselves and their actions against the Laws of God.
The biggest error that most of us make is to compare ourselves with the people around us. That brings us to the logical conclusion that we're just as "good" as the next person, and even though that may be true, it can only give us a false sense of security. Can you picture yourself going into a court room and explaining to the judge that you don't deserve jail because you know lots of people that are just as guilty as you are, and some even worse. The truth is, that argument wouldn't go far in any court. Not in mans, and even more so, not in Gods. The guilt or innocence of someone else will never relieve you of your responsibility to uphold the law. In mans court ignorance of the law is no excuse. How much more would that be true in Gods.
Another huge miscalculation that you can make, is to believe in a god that shares the same moral convictions that you have. Generally he's completely forgiving, open-minded, flexible, requires nothing, wants nothing, and is always there to listen whenever you get into trouble. This sounds great. The only problem is that this god doesn't exist... accept in your mind. Truth is not determined by what you want or believe. Some might argue that there's no such thing as truth. Question... Is that true? The point is, that God is, who God is. He's not, who you decide to make him. That would be you creating a god in your image and that's idolatry.
At this point I suggest that you pray and ask God to show you the truth about who He is and what He wants you to see here.
Gods Law - the Ten Commandments
Read them carefully and after each one, ask yourself if you're innocent or guilty.
Exo 20:1-17
(1) "You shall have no other gods before Me.
(2) "You shall not make for yourself an idol...
(3) "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain...
(4) "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
(5) "Honor your father and your mother...
(6) "You shall not murder.
(7) "You shall not commit adultery.
(8) "You shall not steal.
(9) "You shall not bear false witness...
(10) "You shall not covet (crave or envy)... anything that belongs to your neighbor."
We all agree that if a man kills somebody he's a murderer, but how many times do you have to steal before you're a thief? How many lies until you're a liar?
Results of the Law
Here are a few quotes from the bible...
James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Rom 3:23 all have sinned ...
Rom 6:23 the wages of sin is death...
Was it Gods intention to condemn us all to hell?
At first it may seem that way, but no!
Suppose you go to a doctor for a routine physical. You're thinking it's a big waist of time because you're feeling great. After some tests, he looks you in the eye with a solemn expression on his face, and explains that you have a terminal disease. Your first reaction is to laugh because nothing could seem so far from the truth. In fact, you're sure that he's wrong. Then he says, that the cure you need is extremely hard to get, and that even if you, and your whole family, were to sell everything you could get your hands on, it wouldn't be near enough. Now you start to realize that he's very very serious. Your body quivers uncontrollably from deep inside, and you begin to sweat as you take in the horrible predicament you're faced with.
Pulling a tiny bottle from his pocket, he grins, and then proclaims that this is your lucky day. He carefully places the priceless cure into your trembling hand and says that even though it cost him dearly, he would be more than pleased if you would accept it as a free gift. Your heart jumps. Your eyes tear up and you are grateful... to say the least.
Question... Was it the doctors intention to condemn you to death?
No! He wants you to comprehend the truth about your unhealthy state.
Why did he have to terrify you before he handed you the cure?
If you didn't appreciate your condition you might have rejected the gift thinking that you didn't need it, and if you accepted it but didn't believe in the disease, you would have considered the gift to be cheep or worthless.
Purpose of the Law
God wants to convince you of your inability to rescue yourself, and just like the doctor needs you to grasp the fact that you're dying, before you'll take the cure seriously, so God wants you to see that you're already condemned to hell in your present condition and that without His help your eternity is completely without hope.
The bible says... Heb 10:30-31 For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
NOW... "The GOOD News"
The “Good News” is really quite simple. It breaks down like this.
We are all sinners (Law Breakers) and destined for eternal hell. But... God who loves us and wants to save all of us that He can... gave His son Jesus. Jesus is God who became flesh and lived amoung us. He lived a sinless life here on the earth and therefore death and hell had no legal right over him. Then, and this is the unreasonable part... He submitted himself to be a sacrifice for our sin. His brutal death paid for the sins of anyone who would believe, rely, and trust in Him.
Gods Love
Here's some more quotes from the bible.
Jhn 3:16-18 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ...(Jesus)
Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates his love for us by the fact that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
1Jo 4:10 This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice (payment) for our sins.
Purpose for the Death and Resurrection of Christ
Rom 4:25 He was handed over to death because of our sins and was raised to life because of our justification.
2Co 5:21 God made the one who did not know sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that we might become God's righteousness in him.
Isa 53:5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
How You Can Be Saved From this Fate?
Where Salvation Begins - The Broken Heart
Brokenhearted = Those who mourn and deeply regret their sins against God.
If you've read, thought, and prayed about all that's written above and your heart is not moved, then it's safe to say that you are not yet ready to be saved. However, if you're feeling a deep sense of sadness because you've sinned against God, then you're close, not only salvation, but to a relationship with Him that will change you forever.
Here's what the bible says about the brokenhearted.
Psa 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Isa 66:2-b "But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.
James 4:6-10 "God opposes the arrogant but gives grace to the humble." Therefore, submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you. Come close to God, and he will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable, mourn, and cry. Let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Where Salvation Begins - Repentance
Repentance = a radical change of your coarse by going in the opposite direction.
If your heart is broken then you need to repent. Here's what the bible says about repentance.
Prov 28:13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.
Luk 15:10 I tell you that there is joy in the presence of God's angels over one sinner who repents." ...(Jesus)
Where Salvation Begins - Confession
If you believe that Jesus is who God said he is... then go to God in prayer, confess your sin, and proclaim that Jesus is your Lord.
Rom 10:9-10 If you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For a person believes with his heart and is justified, and a person declares with his mouth and is saved.
True and False Salvation
There are those who believe they are saved... and are not.
Maybe they go to church... They do good things for others... They might even be in the ministry...
BUT... Salvation is not a result of doing good works.
If it were possible to be saved by doing good things then Jesus wouldn't have had to die in the first place. The bible says that to God, our righteousness is like filthy rags and that the blood of Jesus is the only thing powerfull enough to wash away our sins. In the book of Romans (New Testament) it says that whatever is not of faith is sin. Obedience and good works are a result of True Faith. In other words good works do not lead to salvation but salvation always leads to good works.
Jesus on True and False Salvation
Luk 8:5-15 "A sower went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, were trampled on, and the birds of the sky ate them up. Others fell on stony ground, and as soon as they came up, they dried up because they had no moisture. Others fell among thorn bushes, and the thorn bushes grew with them and choked them. But others fell on good soil, and when they came up, they produced a hundred times as much as was planted." As he said this, he called out, "Let the person who has ears to hear, listen!"
Then his disciples began to ask him what this parable meant.
So he said, "The seed is God's word. The ones on the path are the people who listen, but then the devil comes and takes the word away from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The ones on the stony ground are the people who welcome the word with joy when they hear it [notice that they are not brokenhearted]. But since they don't have any roots, they believe for a while, but in a time of testing they fall away. The ones that fell among the thorn bushes are the people who listen, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries, wealth, and pleasures of life, and their fruit doesn't mature. But the ones on the good soil are the people who also hear the word but hold on to it with good and honest hearts and produce a crop through endurance." ...(Jesus)
The Results of True Salvation
2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and-look!-all things have become new!
Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Being Led By the Holy Spirit of God
Bible quotes...
1Co 6:17 the person who unites himself with the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
Eph 1:13-14 You, too, have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed in him you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of God's own possession, to his praise and glory.
1Jo 4:13 This is how we know that we abide in him and he in us: he has given us his Spirit.
Gal 5:16-17 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will never fulfill the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh wants is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to the flesh.
Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.
A Word about the Book we call... “the Bible”
The Bible is a compilation of 66 books written by 40 authors over a span of thousands of years and yet it demonstrates integrity, design, and a communication from outside the limits of our time and space.
A quick example from Dr. Chuck Missler:
The first book in the Old Testament is called Genesis (Beginnings). A book kept and held sacred by the Jews.
Genesis chapter 5. It's here that you'll find a genealogy starting with Adam and working it's way to Noah. Normally you'd read right through without giving it a second thought. But if you did some digging you'd find that each of the names listed has its own meaning. For example, the first name Adam means “man”, and Adams son Seth means “appointed”, and Seths son Enosh means “mortal”. Here's a list of the names and their meanings.
Adam = Man... Seth = Appointed... Enosh = Mortal... Kenan = Sorrow... Mahalallel = The Blessed God
Jared = Shall Come Down... Enoch = Teaching... Methuselah = His Death Shall Bring... Lamech = The Despairing
Noah = Rest, or Comfort
Read the meanings together... Man (is) appointed mortal sorrow (but) the blessed God shall come down teaching (and) His death shall bring the despairing rest or comfort
No Jewish rabbis would ever have hidden the Christian Gospel within a genealogy of their sacred writtings!
What the Bible says about itself......
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart
The Bible and Prophecy
The Hebrew Scriptures were Translated into Greek by 270 BC.
The pre-Christian Greek version of the Old Testament called the Septuagint still exists and is a matter of public record.
The importance of this fact is staggering.
It authenticates beyond any doubt that the Old Testament in its present form (unchanged) existed hundreds of years before Christ was born. This is significant because it proves that the hundreds of prophecies relating to Christ (the Messiah) are not some contrivance created to produce the illusion of fulfillment by zealous Christians.
Here is a small list of Old Testament Prophecies relating to Jesus “the Christ” that are quoted in the Gospels (First four books of the New Testament).
He was to be of David's family ................. 2 Sam 7:21-16, Psm 89:3-4, 110:1, 132:11, Isa 9:6,7, 11:1
He would be born of a Virgin ................... Gen 3:15, Isa 7:14
He would be born in Bethlehem ............... Micah 5:2
He would sojourn in Egypt ....................... Hos 11:1
He would live in Galilee ............................ Isa 9:1-2
He would live in Nazareth ......................... Isa 11:1
Be announced by an Elijah-Type .............. Isa 40:3-5, Mal 3:1, 4:5
Would occasion massacre ....................... Gen 35:19-20, Jer 31:15
Would Proclaim a World Jubilee .............. Isa 58:6, 61:1
His Mission included the Gentiles ............ Isa 42:1-4
Ministry would be one of Healing .............. Isa 53:4
He would Teach using Parables ............... Isa 6:9-10, Psm 78:2
He'd be disbelieved and rejected ............. Psm 69:4, 118:22, Isa 6:10, 29:13, 53:1
Triumphal entry into Jerusalem ................ Zech 9:9, Psm 118:26
Betrayed by friend for 30 silver ................ Zech 11:1-13, Psm 41:9
He'd be like a smitten shepherd ............... Zech 13:7
Given Vinegar and Gall ............................ Psm 69:21
They'd cast lots for his garments .............. Psm 22:18
His side would be pierced ........................ Zech 12:10, Psm 22:16
Not one broken bone ................................ Ex 12:46, Num 9:12, Psm 34:20
Would die among outlaws ........................ Isa 53:9-12
His Dying words Foretold ........................ Psm 22:1, 31:5
Would be Buried by a Rich Man ............... Isa 53:9
Raised from the Dead on 3rd Day ............. Gen 22:4, Psm 16:10-11, Jonah 1:17, Hos 6:2
Resurrection followed by the
Destruction of Jerusalem .................. Dan 9:26, 11:31, 12:1-11
Note: All of this information was compiled but not created or originated by Chris Jansson. Many of the thoughts and ideas were from Dr. Chuck Missler (www.khouse.org) and Ray Comfort (www.livingwaters.com ).
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