tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84958009721781480522024-03-04T21:18:20.991-08:00iCafe ZürichHanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229686407703824077noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495800972178148052.post-7965379503934702042012-09-06T00:02:00.000-07:002012-09-06T00:03:17.179-07:00Question: "Who was Cain's wife? Was Cain's wife his sister?"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFIqJUeYS_Q8MXP6lddnZfKUYWSdRxeAnxCfYogB0rXNT4FkMRZiJwiB0_euaObLZ4vUWPIjabLm8m5NYsLYTVd9gRKvdR2EiJscQUfj5ZQyw24Uu0bLc4TmUbclqsV2GIZFWeYpfQGuq/s640/cainandabelkill.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFIqJUeYS_Q8MXP6lddnZfKUYWSdRxeAnxCfYogB0rXNT4FkMRZiJwiB0_euaObLZ4vUWPIjabLm8m5NYsLYTVd9gRKvdR2EiJscQUfj5ZQyw24Uu0bLc4TmUbclqsV2GIZFWeYpfQGuq/s320/cainandabelkill.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><strong><br />Answer: </strong></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">The Bible does not specifically say who Cain’s wife was. The only possible answer is that Cain's wife was his sister or niece or great-niece, etc. The Bible does not say how old Cain was when he killed Abel (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Genesis 4.8" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%204.8" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Genesis 4:8</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). Since they were both farmers, they were likely both full-grown adults, possibly with families of their own. Adam and Eve surely had given birth to more children than just Cain and Abel at the time Abel was killed. They definitely had many more children later (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Genesis 5.4" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%205.4" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Genesis 5:4</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). The fact that Cain was scared for his own life after he killed Abel (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Genesis 4.14" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%204.14" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Genesis 4:14</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">) indicates that there were likely many other children and perhaps even grandchildren of Adam and Eve already living at that time. Cain's wife (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Genesis 4.17" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%204.17" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Genesis 4:17</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">) was a daughter or granddaughter of Adam and Eve.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Since Adam and Eve were the first (and only) human beings, their children would have no other choice than to intermarry. God did not forbid inter-family marriage until much later when there were enough people to make intermarriage unnecessary (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Leviticus 18.6-18" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Leviticus%2018.6-18" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Leviticus 18:6-18</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). The reason that incest today often results in genetic abnormalities is that when two people of similar genetics (i.e., a brother and sister) have children together, there is a high risk of their recessive characteristics becoming dominant. When people from different families have children, it is highly unlikely that both parents will carry the same recessive traits. The human genetic code has become increasingly “polluted” over the centuries as genetic defects are multiplied, amplified, and passed down from generation to generation. Adam and Eve did not have any genetic defects, and that enabled them and the first few generations of their descendants to have a far greater quality of health than we do now. Adam and Eve’s children had few, if any, genetic defects. As a result, it was safe for them to intermarry.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Source: http://www.gotquestions.org/Cains-wife.html</span>Hanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229686407703824077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495800972178148052.post-49153866113530330952012-02-13T06:40:00.000-08:002012-02-13T06:40:21.563-08:00What does the Bible really say about sex before marriage?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9z04UxPy52Fvu8V4nNpi679tm6n2g6nkZ_w1sj7pLjx73y2UYt345DNxi6I1QIOfBWgU6qzJXzaNlZ3vHWDP8jrSW12N_pecW8RmBvqMO9D60mnjApAZXgxt52jW6xQ8pB9xW-ALSMo/s1600/Unknown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy9z04UxPy52Fvu8V4nNpi679tm6n2g6nkZ_w1sj7pLjx73y2UYt345DNxi6I1QIOfBWgU6qzJXzaNlZ3vHWDP8jrSW12N_pecW8RmBvqMO9D60mnjApAZXgxt52jW6xQ8pB9xW-ALSMo/s200/Unknown.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">There is no Hebrew or Greek word used in the Bible that precisely refers to sex before marriage. The Bible undeniably condemns adultery and sexual immorality, but is sex before marriage considered sexually immoral? According to</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Corinthians 7.2" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Corinthians%207.2" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 7:2</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">, “yes” is the clear answer: “But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.” In this verse, Paul states that marriage is the “cure” for sexual immorality.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="First Corinthians 7.2" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/First%20Corinthians%207.2" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">First Corinthians 7:2</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">is essentially saying that, because people cannot control themselves and so many are having immoral sex outside of marriage, people should get married. Then they can fulfill their passions in a moral way.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Since</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Corinthians 7.2" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Corinthians%207.2" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 7:2</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">clearly includes sex before marriage in the definition of sexual immorality, all of the Bible verses that condemn sexual immorality as being sinful also condemn sex before marriage as sinful. Sex before marriage is included in the biblical definition of sexual immorality. There are numerous Scriptures that declare sex before marriage to be a sin (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Acts 15.20" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Acts%2015.20" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Acts 15:20</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Corinthians 5.1" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Corinthians%205.1" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 5:1</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Corinthians 6.13" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Corinthians%206.13" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">6:13</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Corinthians 6.18" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Corinthians%206.18" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">18</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Corinthians 10.8" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Corinthians%2010.8" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">10:8</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="2 Corinthians 12.21" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Corinthians%2012.21" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 12:21</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Galatians 5.19" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Galatians%205.19" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Galatians 5:19</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Ephesians 5.3" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ephesians%205.3" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Ephesians 5:3</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Colossians 3.5" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Colossians%203.5" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Colossians 3:5</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Thessalonians 4.3" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Thessalonians%204.3" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">1 Thessalonians 4:3</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Jude 7" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Jude%207" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Jude 7</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). The Bible promotes complete abstinence before marriage. Sex between a husband and his wife is the only form of sexual relations of which God approves (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Hebrews 13.4" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Hebrews%2013.4" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Hebrews 13:4</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Far too often we focus on the “recreation” aspect of sex without recognizing that there is another aspect—procreation. Sex within marriage is pleasurable, and God designed it that way. God wants men and women to enjoy sexual activity within the confines of marriage. Song of Solomon and several other Bible passages (such as</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Proverbs 5.19" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Proverbs%205.19" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Proverbs 5:19</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">) clearly describe the pleasure of sex. However, the couple must understand that God’s intent for sex includes producing children. Thus, for a couple to engage in sex before marriage is doubly wrong—they are enjoying pleasures not intended for them, and they are taking a chance of creating a human life outside of the family structure God intended for every child.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">While practicality does not determine right from wrong, if the Bible's message on sex before marriage were obeyed, there would be far fewer sexually transmitted diseases, far fewer abortions, far fewer unwed mothers and unwanted pregnancies, and far fewer children growing up without both parents in their lives. Abstinence is God’s only policy when it comes to sex before marriage. Abstinence saves lives, protects babies, gives sexual relations the proper value, and, most importantly, honors God.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">For further insights on this topic, please visit: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.blogos.org/gotquestions/premarital-sex.html" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank"><img class="auto-style1" src="http://www.gotquestions.org/images/blogos-logo-sml.gif" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; vertical-align: middle;" /></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br />
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Source: http://www.gotquestions.org/sex-before-marriage.html<br />
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Comments? icafe@evbg.chHanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229686407703824077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495800972178148052.post-79533040453074137072012-02-13T06:36:00.000-08:002012-02-13T06:36:43.652-08:00Is the Bible truly God's Word or just another "good" book ?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfIsTPHI9AlRD5PNomPqyARU9gSMKhD77KAattRxFOPha3eQW_pc8OI2RhdR_91MZJJhX3Ukmzy_sdf0W7WIxrhSJ347AS2F2BGw02klEk0YSwlJJrF18eURmckr4ccx_NvXXMjTAgtg/s1600/Unknown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfIsTPHI9AlRD5PNomPqyARU9gSMKhD77KAattRxFOPha3eQW_pc8OI2RhdR_91MZJJhX3Ukmzy_sdf0W7WIxrhSJ347AS2F2BGw02klEk0YSwlJJrF18eURmckr4ccx_NvXXMjTAgtg/s200/Unknown.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Our answer to this question will not only determine how we view the Bible and its importance to our lives, but also it will ultimately have an eternal impact on us. If the Bible is truly God’s Word, then we should cherish it, study it, obey it, and fully trust it. If the Bible is the Word of God, then to dismiss it is to dismiss God Himself.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">The fact that God gave us the Bible is an evidence and illustration of His love for us. The term “revelation” simply means that God communicated to mankind what He is like and how we can have a right relationship with Him. These are things that we could not have known had God not divinely revealed them to us in the Bible. Although God’s revelation of Himself in the Bible was given progressively over approximately 1500 years, it has always contained everything man needs to know about God in order to have a right relationship with Him. If the Bible is truly the Word of God, then it is the final authority for all matters of faith, religious practice, and morals.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">The question we must ask ourselves is how can we know that the Bible is the Word of God and not just a good book? What is unique about the Bible that sets it apart from all other religious books ever written? Is there any evidence that the Bible is truly God’s Word? These types of questions must be seriously examined if we are to determine the validity of the Bible’s claim to be the very Word of God, divinely inspired, and totally sufficient for all matters of faith and practice. There can be no doubt that the Bible does claim to be the very Word of God. This is clearly seen in Paul’s commendation to Timothy: “… from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="2 Timothy 3.15-17" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Timothy%203.15-17" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">2 Timothy 3:15-17</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">There are both internal and external evidences that the Bible is truly God’s Word. The internal evidences are those things within the Bible that testify of its divine origin. One of the first internal evidences that the Bible is truly God’s Word is seen in its unity. Even though it is really sixty-six individual books, written on three continents, in three different languages, over a period of approximately 1500 years, by more than 40 authors who came from many walks of life, the Bible remains one unified book from beginning to end without contradiction. This unity is unique from all other books and is evidence of the divine origin of the words which God moved men to record.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Another of the internal evidences that indicates the Bible is truly God’s Word is the prophecies contained within its pages. The Bible contains hundreds of detailed prophecies relating to the future of individual nations including Israel, certain cities, and mankind. Other prophecies concern the coming of One who would be the Messiah, the Savior of all who would believe in Him. Unlike the prophecies found in other religious books or those by men such as Nostradamus, biblical prophecies are extremely detailed. There are over three hundred prophecies concerning Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. Not only was it foretold where He would be born and His lineage, but also how He would die and that He would rise again. There simply is no logical way to explain the fulfilled prophecies in the Bible other than by divine origin. There is no other religious book with the extent or type of predictive prophecy that the Bible contains.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">A third internal evidence of the divine origin of the Bible is its unique authority and power. While this evidence is more subjective than the first two, it is no less a powerful testimony of the divine origin of the Bible. The Bible’s authority is unlike any other book ever written. This authority and power are best seen in the way countless lives have been transformed by the supernatural power of God’s Word. Drug addicts have been cured by it, homosexuals set free by it, derelicts and deadbeats transformed by it, hardened criminals reformed by it, sinners rebuked by it, and hate turned to love by it. The Bible does possess a dynamic and transforming power that is only possible because it is truly God’s Word.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">There are also external evidences that indicate the Bible is truly the Word of God. One is the historicity of the Bible. Because the Bible details historical events, its truthfulness and accuracy are subject to verification like any other historical document. Through both archaeological evidences and other writings, the historical accounts of the Bible have been proven time and time again to be accurate and true. In fact, all the archaeological and manuscript evidence supporting the Bible makes it the best-documented book from the ancient world. The fact that the Bible accurately and truthfully records historically verifiable events is a great indication of its truthfulness when dealing with religious subjects and doctrines and helps substantiate its claim to be the very Word of God.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Another external evidence that the Bible is truly God’s Word is the integrity of its human authors. As mentioned earlier, God used men from many walks of life to record His words. In studying the lives of these men, we find them to be honest and sincere. The fact that they were willing to die often excruciating deaths for what they believed testifies that these ordinary yet honest men truly believed God had spoken to them. The men who wrote the New Testament and many hundreds of other believers (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Corinthians 15.6" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Corinthians%2015.6" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:6</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">) knew the truth of their message because they had seen and spent time with Jesus Christ after He had risen from the dead. Seeing the risen Christ had a tremendous impact on them. They went from hiding in fear to being willing to die for the message God had revealed to them. Their lives and deaths testify to the fact that the Bible truly is God’s Word.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">A final external evidence that the Bible is truly God’s Word is the indestructibility of the Bible. Because of its importance and its claim to be the very Word of God, the Bible has suffered more vicious attacks and attempts to destroy it than any other book in history. From early Roman Emperors like Diocletian, through communist dictators and on to modern-day atheists and agnostics, the Bible has withstood and outlasted all of its attackers and is still today the most widely published book in the world.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Throughout time, skeptics have regarded the Bible as mythological, but archeology has confirmed it as historical. Opponents have attacked its teaching as primitive and outdated, but its moral and legal concepts and teachings have had a positive influence on societies and cultures throughout the world. It continues to be attacked by pseudo-science, psychology, and political movements, yet it remains just as true and relevant today as it was when it was first written. It is a book that has transformed countless lives and cultures throughout the last 2000 years. No matter how its opponents try to attack, destroy, or discredit it, the Bible remains; its veracity and impact on lives is unmistakable. The accuracy which has been preserved despite every attempt to corrupt, attack, or destroy it is clear testimony to the fact that the Bible is truly God’s Word and is supernaturally protected by Him. It should not surprise us that, no matter how the Bible is attacked, it always comes out unchanged and unscathed. After all, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Mark 13.31" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Mark%2013.31" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Mark 13:31</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). After looking at the evidence, one can say without a doubt that, yes, the Bible is truly God’s Word.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Source: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-God-Word.html" target="_blank">http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-God-Word.html</a></span><br />
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Comments? icafe@evbg.chHanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229686407703824077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495800972178148052.post-56182414370798975222012-02-13T06:30:00.000-08:002012-02-13T06:32:46.430-08:00Does God love Satan?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Sqyh4apYUEbxVixZs2ZpwZII9g72VcypMEquoJVvl-BztA4hSPYbXKcIsjccZVQrTC0ZI35Pwx-GXin6VsxVeBZ951nuHtlMeIAY4VzQJ8F4KLJ0FaU5kY3HZSbk0FL2_3BtMaWUIAM/s1600/Bildschirmfoto+2012-02-13+um+15.29.21.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Sqyh4apYUEbxVixZs2ZpwZII9g72VcypMEquoJVvl-BztA4hSPYbXKcIsjccZVQrTC0ZI35Pwx-GXin6VsxVeBZ951nuHtlMeIAY4VzQJ8F4KLJ0FaU5kY3HZSbk0FL2_3BtMaWUIAM/s400/Bildschirmfoto+2012-02-13+um+15.29.21.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">One of the most precious statements in all of Scripture is “God is love” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 John 4.8" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20John%204.8" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">1 John 4:8</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). But in our limited human understanding, we sometimes believe this means that God loves everyone and everything all the time. This is not so, because the Bible also tells us that God hates many things. He hates idolatry (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Deuteronomy 12.31" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Deuteronomy%2012.31" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 12:31</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Deuteronomy 16.22" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Deuteronomy%2016.22" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">16:22</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Psalm 31.6" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%2031.6" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Psalm 31:6</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">) because the worship of false gods robs Him of the praise and glory that belong to Him alone.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Proverbs 6.16-19" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Proverbs%206.16-19" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Proverbs 6:16-19</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">tell us that God hates seven things: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked plans, feet hurrying to run to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and he who causes fighting among brothers. God also hates divorce (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Malachi 2.16" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Malachi%202.16" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Malachi 2:16</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Because God is holy and perfectly righteous, He hates with a pure, holy, righteous hatred. He cannot do otherwise. Neither can He love that which is evil and unholy, and Satan embodies all of that. He is the enemy (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Peter 5.8" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Peter%205.8" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">1 Peter 5:8</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">); the evil one (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Matthew 6.13" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%206.13" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Matthew 6:13</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">); the father of lies and a murderer (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="John 8.44" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%208.44" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">John 8:44</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">); the accuser of God’s people (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Revelation 12.10" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Revelation%2012.10" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Revelation 12:10</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">); the tempter (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Thessalonians 3.5" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Thessalonians%203.5" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">1 Thessalonians 3:5</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">); proud, wicked and violent (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Isaiah 14. 12-15" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Isaiah%2014.%2012-15" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Isaiah 14: 12-15</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">); a deceiver (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Acts 13.10" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Acts%2013.10" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Acts 13:10</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">); a schemer (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Ephesians 6.11" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ephesians%206.11" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Ephesians 6:11</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">); a thief (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Luke 8.12" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%208.12" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Luke 8:12</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">), and many, many more evil things. He is, in fact, everything that God hates. The heart of Satan is fixed and confirmed in his hatred of God, his judgment is final, and his destruction is sure. Revelation Chapter 20 describes God’s future plan for Satan and love has no part in it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">It is only because we are “partakers of the Divine nature” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="2 Peter 1.4" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Peter%201.4" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">2 Peter 1:4</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">) that we are able to love God and others, even our enemies. In our natural (unsaved) state, we are only able to act according to our fallen natures because we belong to the evil one. When we come to Christ in faith, God gives us a new nature (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="2 Corinthians 5.17" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Corinthians%205.17" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 5:17</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">)—His righteous and holy nature—and we are then able to love with His love which He has put into our hearts. Then we love that which is good and pure and holy, just as God loves, and we hate sin and evil, just as He hates it. He tells us to love our enemies so that they will repent and turn to Him while there is still time in this age of grace. But Satan will never turn to God and repent, and therefore God will never love him.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Because Satan is the embodiment of evil and everything that is antithetical to the God we love, we cannot love Satan. When Jesus tells us to loves our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Matthew 5.44" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%205.44" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Matthew 5:44</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">), He is referring to other people. We pray for them to come to know God through faith, to believe in Christ and be saved from their sins. We are never told to pray for Satan because there is no chance of his salvation. He does not need faith because he has seen God, knows God and has rejected Him. Therefore, the enemies we love and pray for do not include Satan.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">So does God love Satan and should we love him? The answer is absolutely, without a doubt, no. God has already declared the end and demise of Satan in the Bible: "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Revelation 20.10" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Revelation%2020.10" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Revelation 20:10</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). God has already determined that there will be no forgiveness for Satan; there will be absolutely no chance of him coming into God’s presence, and the sacrificial love God shows for His children is out of the reach of Satan. Even if it were within his grasp, Satan would spurn it just as he spurned God’s rule in heaven.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Source: http://www.gotquestions.org/does-God-love-Satan.html</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Mail us: icafe@evbg.ch</span>Hanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229686407703824077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495800972178148052.post-5696729251736766022012-02-13T06:25:00.000-08:002012-02-13T06:32:11.293-08:00The Bible is a fairy tale... right?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5yB9KTJaJV4YndtRLvGw2neqYDVicWgrN1FJxsxPkvqbH5Zs4IEQC7YNTZU5lTWj-KUUM9qAgE3raUnSGhyapOwmJbt0HtsobGiFU47mSn6rLHkR1qc8yLmfeDtbz4NhtU0q75Bese4/s1600/Unknown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5yB9KTJaJV4YndtRLvGw2neqYDVicWgrN1FJxsxPkvqbH5Zs4IEQC7YNTZU5lTWj-KUUM9qAgE3raUnSGhyapOwmJbt0HtsobGiFU47mSn6rLHkR1qc8yLmfeDtbz4NhtU0q75Bese4/s200/Unknown.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">The charge that the Bible is nothing more than a fairy tale or a book of nice stories is not new. The Bible is undoubtedly the most impactful book the world has ever known, transforming innumerable lives. Why, then, would the question whether or not the Bible is a fairy tale be a legitimate one in the hearts of many around the world?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">From the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation, we read the story of God’s eternal design to redeem a fallen world. With God as its inspiring Author, the Bible is the world’s greatest work of literature, and throughout the ages multitudes have spent their lives proclaiming its truth. Many, in fact, have made the ultimate sacrifice so that others may simply hold in their hands a copy of its pages. Nevertheless, there has never been a book that has been as viciously attacked as the Bible. Banned, burned, mocked, ridiculed and defamed, many have been put to death for simply possessing one. But still the idea that the Bible is a fairy tale persists.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">The “prince of this world” has been blinding people to the truth since the beginning of time. He began his “work” on earth by calling God’s words into question (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Genesis 3.1-5" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%203.1-5" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Genesis 3:1-5</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">), and he has been doing so ever since. Everywhere we look, false teaching is rampant—on television and radio, in books and magazines, in our schools and universities, and sadly, even in our churches and Christian colleges, the very places where the truth of God’s Word should most vigorously be defended. When children are taught that our ancestors crawled out of the ocean eons ago, have we not relegated creation and Adam and Eve to fairy tale status? It’s the same thing when scientists and academicians tell us we are wasting our time searching for the “mythological” Noah’s Ark.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">In fact, when many in the church, in order to placate the academic world, allow for a reinterpretation of the book of Genesis to accommodate modern evolutionary thought, the message sent to the world is that the Bible, apparently, means something other than what its simple, ordinary words convey. When the supernatural events of the Bible are dubbed as allegory by naturalists, it is understandable how those who have never studied the Bible can be confused as to its truth. For those who have never availed themselves of the truth of God’s Word, how likely are they to believe in a talking donkey or a fish swallowing a man and spitting him out on the shore or a woman turning into a pillar of salt?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">However, the Bible is most assuredly not a fairy tale. In fact, the Bible was “God-breathed” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="2 Timothy 3.16" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Timothy%203.16" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">2 Timothy 3:16</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">) and this essentially means He wrote it. Its human authors wrote from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="2 Peter 1.21" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Peter%201.21" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">2 Peter 1:21</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). That’s why this divinely woven text of nearly three quarters of a million words is perfect in harmony from start to finish and contains no contradictions, even though its sixty-six books have forty different authors from different walks of life, written in three different languages and taking nearly sixteen centuries to complete. How possibly could we have this amazing biblical congruity if it wasn’t for God guiding their hands? We could not, it’s that simple. A righteous God would never inspire error. A just God would not call error-filled Scripture “holy and true.” A merciful God would not state that His Word is perfect if it is not, and an omniscient God could write it so that it is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Time and again, the historicity of the Bible has been confirmed by biology, geology, and astronomy. And although the Bible may not always agree with naturalistic hypotheses, it is not in conflict with any true, established scientific facts. In archaeology, the last one hundred years have brought to light a treasure trove of biblical truths that scholars have questioned or doubted for centuries, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, the basalt stone containing the “House of David” inscription, a 7th century BC amulet scroll bearing the name of God, and a stone bearing the name and title of Pontius Pilate, the Judean governor who ordered the execution of Jesus Christ. The Bible is without doubt the best documented book from the ancient world, with more than 24,000 whole or partial biblical manuscripts in existence. No other document of antiquity has nearly as much evidence to confirm its reliability.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Another attestation to the Bible’s divine authorship is the vast number of detailed biblical prophecies that have come true exactly as foretold. We see the psalmist, for example, telling of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ nearly a thousand years before it occurred (Psalm 22), and hundreds of years before crucifixion was even invented! Simply put, it would be impossible for human beings to have seen so far into the future with such precision and accuracy hundreds of times. Indeed, it would be completely illogical to believe these proven prophecies are anything other than the work of God. Incidentally, and amazingly, probability experts tell us the mathematical odds of just forty-eight prophecies regarding one person (i.e. Christ) coming true as foretold are one in ten to the 157th power!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">But the greatest proof that the Bible is not a fairy tale is the countless number of lives that have been transformed by the truths contained in its pages. Used by the Spirit of God, the holy truths of the Bible have turned millions of sinners into saints. Drug addicts have been cured by it, homosexuals set free by it, derelicts and deadbeats transformed by it, hardened criminals reformed by it, sinners rebuked by it, and hate turned to love by it. No amount of reading “Cinderella” or “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” can effect such change on the soul of man. The Bible does possess a dynamic and transforming power that is only possible because it is truly God’s Word.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">In light of the foregoing, the greater question, then, is how could someone</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><i>not</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">believe in these convincing, God-breathed, error-free, life-transforming truths? Unfortunately, the answer is actually an easy one. God has said that if we do not open your hearts to Him, He will not open our eyes to the truth. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would teach us (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="John 14.26" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2014.26" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">John 14:26</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">) and guide us into truth (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="John 16.13" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2016.13" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">John 16:13</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). And the truth of God is found in the Word of God. Thus, to those who believe, these sacred words are life itself, but to those without the Spirit the Bible is nothing but foolishness (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Corinthians 2.14" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Corinthians%202.14" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 2:14</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Source: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-fairy-tale.html" target="_blank">http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-fairy-tale.html</a></span><br />
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Questions? Comments? icafe@evbg.chHanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229686407703824077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495800972178148052.post-3286915685477143812012-02-13T06:22:00.000-08:002012-02-13T06:22:20.562-08:00Why was God so evident in the Bible, and seems so hidden today?<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">The Bible records God appearing to people, performing amazing and undeniable miracles, speaking audibly, and many other things that we do not seem to witness today. Why is this? Why was God so willing to reveal and prove Himself in Bible times, but almost seems "hidden" and silent today? God used miracles and direct communication with people in order to reveal to them His character and nature, as well as His plans and commands. His first miracle – creation – was the primary evidence of God’s existence and exhibited many of His attributes. From what was made, man could conclude that God is powerful, sovereign, and good. The creation was His first declaration to mankind. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the expanse proclaims His handiwork” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Psalm 19.1" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%2019.1" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Psalm 19:1</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). Following creation, God spoke to people to further declare Himself and to inform man of His law and His ways. He first spoke to Adam and Eve, giving them commandments to follow and, when they disobeyed, pronouncing a curse upon them and their descendants. He also assured them, and all mankind, that He would send a Savior to redeem us from sin. Thereafter, God spoke to Moses, giving him the law for His people to follow. He performed miracle after miracle to verify His existence to His people and to build their faith in Him. In addition, He spoke to His prophets so they would write down His words, words which were preserved for us in the Bible.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">When Jesus came to earth, He also performed miracles to prove that He was indeed the Son of God and to foster belief in Him (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Matthew 9.6" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%209.6" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Matthew 9:6</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="John 10.38" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2010.38" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">John 10:38</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). After His miraculous resurrection, He enabled His disciples to continue performing miracles in order to prove they were truly His, again so that people would believe on Him who sent them. So why does God no longer speak audibly to us?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">There are several reasons for this. As noted above, God has already spoken, and His words have been miraculously kept for us down through the ages. Now we have the completed canon of scripture, and we need no further miracles to “validate” the Bible. In His perfect Word is everything we need “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="2 Timothy 3.16" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Timothy%203.16" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">2 Timothy 3:16</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). The Bible is complete and is perfectly able to make us “wise to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="2 Timothy 3.15" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Timothy%203.15" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">2 Timothy 3:15</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">), a “more sure Word of prophecy to which we would do well to take heed” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="2 Peter 1.19" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/2%20Peter%201.19" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">2 Peter 1:19</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). We need nothing more, and we are not to seek extra-biblical revelations. To do so calls into question the efficacy of Scripture which God has declared to be sufficient.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Second, we have within us the Holy Spirit whom God has given to us to “lead us into all truth” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="John 16.13" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2016.13" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">John 16:13</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). He speaks to us continually, teaching us (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Corinthians 2.3" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Corinthians%202.3" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 2:3</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">), reminding us of all things that Jesus taught (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="John 14.26" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2014.26" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">John 14:26</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">), guiding, correcting, and convicting us of sin (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="John 16.8" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2016.8" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">John 16:8</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). God is indeed “speaking” to us today through the Holy Spirit, who is certainly not hidden. Another reason for God’s seeming concealment is alluded to by the prophet Habakkuk: “The just shall live by his faith” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Habakkuk 2.4" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Habakkuk%202.4" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Habakkuk 2:4</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">). God does not give His people a continual chain of miraculous signs; He expects them to trust what He has already done, search the Scriptures daily, respond to the Holy Spirit within, and live by faith, not by sight (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Matthew 16.4" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2016.4" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Matthew 16:4</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="John 20.29" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%2020.29" style="color: #3d448a; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">John 20:29</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">Finally, let us remember that even in those times when it seems that God is doing nothing, He is still the sovereign Lord of all creation, and He is constantly at work, bringing about the fruition of His perfect plan. One of the best examples of God’s “hidden” working is the book of Esther, in which God is never mentioned, but which plainly shows His sovereign hand at work from beginning to end.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Source: http://www.gotquestions.org/God-hidden.html</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Write us: icafe@evbg.ch</span></span>Hanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229686407703824077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495800972178148052.post-17885744223633144982011-09-21T10:19:00.000-07:002011-09-21T10:19:10.442-07:00Iʻm good... I donʻt harm anyone... Does God judge me?<a href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSk-yrqn3_zS4aEfnji8SSc8MLE9wzqrAD50U99ZdXk-vOfAiYv" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSk-yrqn3_zS4aEfnji8SSc8MLE9wzqrAD50U99ZdXk-vOfAiYv" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">The first thing to understand about the final judgment is that it cannot be avoided. Regardless of how we may choose to interpret the end times, we are told that “it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Hebrews 9.27" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Hebrews%209.27" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Hebrews 9:27</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">). Just as John graphically recorded in the last book of the Bible, each of us will one day find ourselves standing before God. No one will escape this climactic moment—his divine appointment with our Creator:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">“And I saw a great white throne, and Him sitting on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And a place was not found for them. And I saw the dead, the small and the great, stand before God. And books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead in it. And death and hell delivered up the dead in them. And each one of them was judged according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the Lake of Fire. This is the second death. And if anyone was not found having been written in the Book of Life, he was cast into the Lake of Fire” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Revelation 20.11-15" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Revelation%2020.11-15" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Revelation 20:11-15</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">This remarkable passage introduces to us the final judgment—the end of human history and the beginning of the eternal state. We can be sure of this: no mistakes will be made in our hearings because we will be judged by a perfect God (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Matthew 5.48" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%205.48" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Matthew 5:48</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 John 1.5" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20John%201.5" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">1 John 1:5</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">). This will manifest itself in many undeniable proofs. First, God will be perfectly just and fair (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Acts 10.34" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Acts%2010.34" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Acts 10:34</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Galatians 3.28" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Galatians%203.28" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Galatians 3:28</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">). Second, God cannot be deceived (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Galatians 6.7" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Galatians%206.7" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Galatians 6:7</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">). Third, God cannot be swayed by any prejudices, excuses or lies (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Luke 14.16-24" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Luke%2014.16-24" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Luke 14:16-24</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">As God the Son, Jesus Christ will be the judge. All unbelievers will be judged by Christ, and they will be punished according to the works they have done. The Bible is very clear that unbelievers are storing up wrath against themselves (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Romans 2.5" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%202.5" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Romans 2:5</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">) and that God will “give to each person according to what he has done” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Romans 2.6" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%202.6" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Romans 2:6</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">). Believers will also be judged by Christ, but since Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us and our names are written in the book of life, we will be rewarded, but not punished, according to our deeds. At the final judgment our fate will be in the hands of the omniscient God who will judge us according to our soul’s condition. Therefore, the final judgment will be a time of rejoicing for a few and the ultimate nightmare for everyone else. Jesus said that only a few would be saved while the rest would be lost (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Matthew 7.13-14" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%207.13-14" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Matthew 7:13-14</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">However, for now, our fate is in our own hands. The end of our soul’s journey will be either in an eternal heaven or in an eternal hell (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Matthew 25.46" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2025.46" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Matthew 25:46</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">). We must choose where we will be by accepting or rejecting the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf, and we must make that choice before our physical lives on this earth come to an end. After death, there is no longer a choice, and our fate is to stand before the throne of God, where everything will be open and naked before Him (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Hebrews 4.13" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Hebrews%204.13" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Hebrews 4:13</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Romans 2.6" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%202.6" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Romans 2:6</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">declares that what we do in our lives goes into the books that will be opened at our judgment. God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” It is on that final judgment day that God will open His arms and declare those profound words, the very essence of our fervent hope upon this earth, “Enter into the joy of your Lord” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Matthew 25.21" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2025.21" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Matthew 25:21</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Source: <a href="http://www.gotquestions.org/final-judgment.html">http://www.gotquestions.org/final-judgment.html</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">For any comments/questions, the iCafe-Team is reachable under the E-Mail: icafe@evbg.ch</span>Hanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229686407703824077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495800972178148052.post-60752532956379777262011-09-21T10:10:00.000-07:002011-09-21T10:11:13.694-07:00Science and Faith? Impossible... or not?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.creationstudies.org/htdocs/Ceration-vs-Evolution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="106" src="http://www.creationstudies.org/htdocs/Ceration-vs-Evolution.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Science is defined as “the observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena.” Science is a method that mankind can use to gain a greater understanding of the natural universe. It is a search for knowledge through observation. Advances in science demonstrate the reach of human logic and imagination. However, a Christian’s belief in science should never be like our belief in God. A Christian can have faith in God and respect for science, as long as we remember which is perfect and which is not.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Our belief in God is a belief of faith. We have faith in His Son for salvation, faith in His Word for instruction, and faith in His Holy Spirit for guidance. Our faith in God should be absolute, since when we put our faith in God, we depend on a perfect, omnipotent, omniscient Creator. Our belief in science should be intellectual and nothing more. We can count on science to do many great things, but we can also count on science to make mistakes. If we put faith in science, we depend on imperfect, sinful, limited, mortal men. Science throughout history has been wrong about many things, such as the shape of the earth, powered flight, vaccines, blood transfusions, and even reproduction. God is never wrong.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Truth is nothing to fear, so there is no reason for a Christian to fear good science. Learning more about the way God constructed our universe helps all of mankind appreciate the wonder of creation. Expanding our knowledge helps us to combat disease, ignorance, and misunderstanding. However, there is danger when scientists hold their faith in human logic above faith in our Creator. These persons are no different from anyone devoted to a religion; they have chosen faith in man and will find facts to defend that faith.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Still, the most rational scientists, even those who refuse to believe in God, admit to a lack of completeness in our understanding of the universe. They will admit that neither God nor the Bible can be proved or disproved by science, just as many of their favorite theories ultimately cannot be proved or disproved. Science is meant to be a truly neutral discipline, seeking only the truth, not furtherance of an agenda.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Much of science supports the existence and work of God.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Psalm 19.1" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%2019.1" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Psalm 19:1</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” As modern science discovers more about the universe, we find more evidence of creation. The amazing complexity and replication of DNA, the intricate and interlocking laws of physics, and the absolute harmony of conditions and chemistry here on earth all serve to support the message of the Bible. A Christian should embrace science that seeks the truth, but reject the “priests of science” who put human knowledge above God.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Source: <a href="http://www.gotquestions.org/science-God.html">http://www.gotquestions.org/science-God.html</a></span><br />
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Questions? Comments? icafe@evbg.chHanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229686407703824077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495800972178148052.post-38150148465999392072011-09-21T10:07:00.000-07:002011-09-21T10:07:02.963-07:00Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">This is one of the most difficult questions in all of theology. God is eternal, infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. Why should human beings (not eternal, infinite, omniscient, omnipresent, or omnipotent) expect to be able to fully understand God’s ways? The book of Job deals with this issue. God had allowed Satan to do everything he wanted to Job except kill him. What was Job’s reaction? “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Job 13.15" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Job%2013.15" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Job 13:15</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">). “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Job 1.21" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Job%201.21" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Job 1:21</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">). Job did not understand why God had allowed the things He did, but he knew God was good and therefore continued to trust in Him. Ultimately, that should be our reaction as well.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Why do bad things happen to good people? The biblical answer is there are no “good” people. The Bible makes it abundantly clear that all of us are tainted by and infected with sin (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Ecclesiastes 7.20" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Ecclesiastes%207.20" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Ecclesiastes 7:20</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Romans 6.23" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%206.23" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Romans 6:23</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 John 1.8" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20John%201.8" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">1 John 1:8</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Romans 3.10-18" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%203.10-18" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Romans 3:10-18</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">could not be clearer about the non-existence of “good” people: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Every human being on this planet deserves to be thrown into hell at this very moment. Every second we spend alive is only by the grace and mercy of God. Even the most terrible misery we could experience on this planet is merciful compared to what we deserve, eternal hell in the lake of fire.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">A better question would be “</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.gotquestions.org/good-things-bad-people.html" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_self">Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people?</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Romans 5.8" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%205.8" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Romans 5:8</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">declares, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Despite the evil, wicked, sinful nature of the people of this world, God still loves us. He loved us enough to die to take the penalty for our sins (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Romans 6.23" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%206.23" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Romans 6:23</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">). If we receive Jesus Christ as Savior (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="John 3.16" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%203.16" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">John 3:16</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Romans 10.9" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%2010.9" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Romans 10:9</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">), we will be forgiven and promised an eternal home in heaven (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Romans 8.1" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%208.1" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Romans 8:1</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">). What we deserve is hell. What we are given is eternal life in heaven if we come to Christ in faith.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Yes, sometimes bad things happen to people who seem undeserving of them. But God allows things to happen for His reasons, whether or not we understand them. Above all, however, we must remember that God is good, just, loving, and merciful. Often things happen to us that we simply cannot understand. However, instead of doubting God's goodness, our reaction should be to trust Him. ”Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Proverbs 3.5-6" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Proverbs%203.5-6" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Proverbs 3:5-6</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Source: <a href="http://www.gotquestions.org/bad-things-good-people.html">http://www.gotquestions.org/bad-things-good-people.html</a></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">For Questions/Comments email us! icafe@evbg.ch</span></span>Hanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229686407703824077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495800972178148052.post-52292795425374059522011-09-21T10:03:00.000-07:002011-09-21T10:03:23.831-07:00Did God create evil?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.detodo.ch/hans/PK/Deutsch/FAQs/Eintr%C3%A4ge/2008/6/29_Warum_gibt_es_so_viel_Leiden_&_B%C3%B6ses_Wo_ist_Gott_files/shapeimage_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://www.detodo.ch/hans/PK/Deutsch/FAQs/Eintr%C3%A4ge/2008/6/29_Warum_gibt_es_so_viel_Leiden_&_B%C3%B6ses_Wo_ist_Gott_files/shapeimage_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">At first it might seem that if God created all things, then evil must have been created by God. However, evil is not a “thing” like a rock or electricity. You cannot have a jar of evil. Evil has no existence of its own; it is really the absence of good. For example, holes are real but they only exist in something else. We call the absence of dirt a hole, but it cannot be separated from the dirt. So when God created, it is true that all He created was good. One of the good things God made was creatures who had the freedom to choose good. In order to have a real choice, God had to allow there to be something besides good to choose. So, God allowed these free angels and humans to choose good or reject good (evil). When a bad relationship exists between two good things we call that evil, but it does not become a “thing” that required God to create it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Perhaps a further illustration will help. If a person is asked, “Does cold exist?” the answer would likely be “yes.” However, this is incorrect. Cold does not exist. Cold is the absence of heat. Similarly, darkness does not exist; it is the absence of light. Evil is the absence of good, or better, evil is the absence of God. God did not have to create evil, but rather only allow for the absence of good.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">God did not create evil, but He does allow evil. If God had not allowed for the possibility of evil, both mankind and angels would be serving God out of obligation, not choice. He did not want “robots” that simply did what He wanted them to do because of their “programming.” God allowed for the possibility of evil so that we could genuinely have a free will and choose whether or not we wanted to serve Him.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">As finite human beings, we can never fully understand an infinite God (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Romans 11.33-34" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%2011.33-34" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Romans 11:33-34</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">). Sometimes we think we understand why God is doing something, only to find out later that it was for a different purpose than we originally thought. God looks at things from a holy, eternal perspective. We look at things from a sinful, earthly, and temporal perspective. Why did God put man on earth knowing that Adam and Eve would sin and therefore bring evil, death, and suffering on all mankind? Why didn’t He just create us all and leave us in heaven where we would be perfect and without suffering? These questions cannot be adequately answered this side of eternity. What we can know is whatever God does is holy and perfect and ultimately will glorify Him. God allowed for the possibility of evil in order to give us a true choice in regards to whether we worship Him. God did not create evil, but He allowed it. If He had not allowed evil, we would be worshipping Him out of obligation, not by a choice of our own will.</span>Hanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229686407703824077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495800972178148052.post-13608484122262760262011-09-21T09:52:00.000-07:002011-09-21T10:12:15.464-07:00Is there an argument for the existence of God?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGTYW2PxkkBqDUvLvPQZKQRIMQsgKQPIcYQCajxfRdl5t6fP3zlhpIzmQF-LwoJhGVBmmW9zKd_mtvIYOaBK7WXYfEHVdSReOHc0xBqwp80PIE9VSv9oY6ETtMh2sVO1_DP8oumiA/s320/1710654418_725ad7181f_o.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGTYW2PxkkBqDUvLvPQZKQRIMQsgKQPIcYQCajxfRdl5t6fP3zlhpIzmQF-LwoJhGVBmmW9zKd_mtvIYOaBK7WXYfEHVdSReOHc0xBqwp80PIE9VSv9oY6ETtMh2sVO1_DP8oumiA/s200/1710654418_725ad7181f_o.png" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Karl Marx asserted that anyone believing in God must have a mental disorder that caused invalid thinking. The psychiatrist Sigmund Freud wrote that a person who believed in a Creator God was delusional and only held those beliefs due to a “wish-fulfillment” factor that produced what Freud considered to be an unjustifiable position. The philosopher Frederick Nietzsche bluntly said that faith equates to not wanting to know what is true. The voices of these three figures from history (along with others) are simply now parroted by a new generation of atheists who claim that a belief in God is intellectually unwarranted.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Is this truly the case? Is belief in God a rationally unacceptable position to hold? Is there a logical and reasonable argument for the existence of God? Outside of referencing the Bible, can a case for the existence of God be made that refutes the positions of both the old and new atheists and gives sufficient warrant for believing in a Creator? The answer is, yes, it can. Moreover, in demonstrating the validity of an argument for the existence of God, the case for atheism is shown to be intellectually weak.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">To make an argument for the existence of God, we must start by asking the right questions. We begin with the most basic metaphysical question: “<b><i>Why do we have something rather than nothing at all?</i></b>” This is the basic question of existence—why are we here; why is the earth here; why is the universe here rather than nothing? Commenting on this point, one theologian has said, “In one sense man does not ask the question about God, his very existence raises the question about God.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">In considering this question, there are four possible answers to why we have something rather than nothing at all:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">1. Reality is an illusion.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">2. Reality is/was self-created.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">3. Reality is self-existent (eternal).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">4. Reality was created by something that is self-existent.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">So, which is the most plausible solution? Let’s begin with reality being simply an illusion, which is what a number of Eastern religions believe. This option was ruled out centuries ago by the philosopher Rene Descartes who is famous for the statement, “I think, therefore I am.” Descartes, a mathematician, argued that if he is thinking, then he must “be.” In other words, “I think, therefore I am not an illusion.” Illusions require something experiencing the illusion, and moreover, you cannot doubt the existence of yourself without proving your existence; it is a self-defeating argument. So the possibility of reality being an illusion is eliminated.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Next is the option of reality being self-created. When we study philosophy, we learn of “analytically false” statements, which means they are false by definition. The possibility of reality being self-created is one of those types of statements for the simple reason that something cannot be prior to itself. If you created yourself, then you must have existed prior to you creating yourself, but that simply cannot be. In evolution this is sometimes referred to as “spontaneous generation” —something coming from nothing—a position that few, if any, reasonable people hold to anymore simply because you cannot get something from nothing. Even the atheist David Hume said, “I never asserted so absurd a proposition as that anything might arise without a cause.” Since something cannot come from nothing, the alternative of reality being self-created is ruled out.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Now we are left with only two choices—an eternal reality or reality being created by something that is eternal: an eternal universe or an eternal Creator. The 18th-century theologian Jonathan Edwards summed up this crossroads:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• Something exists.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• Nothing cannot create something.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• Therefore, a necessary and eternal “something” exists.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Notice that we must go back to an eternal “something.” The atheist who derides the believer in God for believing in an eternal Creator must turn around and embrace an eternal universe; it is the only other door he can choose. But the question now is, where does the evidence lead? Does the evidence point to matter before mind or mind before matter?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">To date, all key scientific and philosophical evidence points away from an eternal universe and toward an eternal Creator. From a scientific standpoint, honest scientists admit the universe had a beginning, and whatever has a beginning is not eternal. In other words, whatever has a beginning has a cause, and if the universe had a beginning, it had a cause. The fact that the universe had a beginning is underscored by evidence such as the second law of thermodynamics, the radiation echo of the big bang discovered in the early 1900s, the fact that the universe is expanding and can be traced back to a singular beginning, and Einstein’s theory of relativity. All prove the universe is not eternal.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Further, the laws that surround causation speak against the universe being the ultimate cause of all we know for this simple fact: an effect must resemble its cause. This being true, no atheist can explain how an impersonal, purposeless, meaningless, and amoral universe accidentally created beings (us) who are full of personality and obsessed with purpose, meaning, and morals. Such a thing, from a causation standpoint, completely refutes the idea of a natural universe birthing everything that exists. So in the end, the concept of an eternal universe is eliminated.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Philosopher J. S. Mill (not a Christian) summed up where we have now come to: “It is self-evident that only Mind can create mind.” The only rational and reasonable conclusion is that an eternal Creator is the one who is responsible for reality as we know it. Or to put it in a logical set of statements:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• Something exists.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• You do not get something from nothing.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• Therefore a necessary and eternal “something” exists.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• The only two options are an eternal universe and an eternal Creator.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• Science and philosophy have disproven the concept of an eternal universe.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• Therefore, an eternal Creator exists.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Former atheist Lee Strobel, who arrived at this end result many years ago, has commented, “Essentially, I realized that to stay an atheist, I would have to believe that nothing produces everything; non-life produces life; randomness produces fine-tuning; chaos produces information; unconsciousness produces consciousness; and non-reason produces reason. Those leaps of faith were simply too big for me to take, especially in light of the affirmative case for God's existence … In other words, in my assessment the Christian worldview accounted for the totality of the evidence much better than the atheistic worldview.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">But the next question we must tackle is this: if an eternal Creator exists (and we have shown that He does), what kind of Creator is He? Can we infer things about Him from what He created? In other words, can we understand the cause by its effects? The answer to this is yes, we can, with the following characteristics being surmised:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• He must be supernatural in nature (as He created time and space).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• He must be powerful (exceedingly).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• He must be eternal (self-existent).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• He must be omnipresent (He created space and is not limited by it).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• He must be timeless and changeless (He created time).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• He must be immaterial because He transcends space/physical.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• He must be personal (the impersonal cannot create personality).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• He must be infinite and singular as you cannot have two infinites.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• He must be diverse yet have unity as unity and diversity exist in nature.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• He must be intelligent (supremely). Only cognitive being can produce cognitive being.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• He must be purposeful as He deliberately created everything.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• He must be moral (no moral law can be had without a giver).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">• He must be caring (or no moral laws would have been given).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">These things being true, we now ask if any religion in the world describes such a Creator. The answer to this is yes: the God of the Bible fits this profile perfectly. He is supernatural (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Genesis 1.1" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%201.1" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Genesis 1:1</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">), powerful (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Jeremiah 32.17" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Jeremiah%2032.17" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Jeremiah 32:17</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">), eternal (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Psalm 90.2" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%2090.2" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Psalm 90:2</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">), omnipresent (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Psalm 139.7" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%20139.7" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Psalm 139:7</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">), timeless/changeless (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Malachi 3.6" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Malachi%203.6" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Malachi 3:6</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">), immaterial (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="John 5.24" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%205.24" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">John 5:24</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">), personal (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Genesis 3.9" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%203.9" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Genesis 3:9</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">), necessary (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Colossians 1.17" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Colossians%201.17" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Colossians 1:17</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">), infinite/singular (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Jeremiah 23.24" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Jeremiah%2023.24" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Jeremiah 23:24</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Deuteronomy 6.4" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Deuteronomy%206.4" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Deuteronomy 6:4</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">), diverse yet with unity (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Matthew 28.19" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Matthew%2028.19" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Matthew 28:19</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">), intelligent (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Psalm 147.4-5" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%20147.4-5" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Psalm 147:4-5</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">), purposeful (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Jeremiah 29.11" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Jeremiah%2029.11" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Jeremiah 29:11</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">), moral (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Daniel 9.14" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Daniel%209.14" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Daniel 9:14</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">), and caring (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="1 Peter 5.6-7" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/1%20Peter%205.6-7" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">1 Peter 5:6-7</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">).</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">One last subject to address on the matter of God’s existence is the matter of how justifiable the atheist’s position actually is. Since the atheist asserts the believer’s position is unsound, it is only reasonable to turn the question around and aim it squarely back at him. The first thing to understand is that the claim the atheist makes—“no god,” which is what “atheist” means—is an untenable position to hold from a philosophical standpoint. As legal scholar and philosopher Mortimer Adler says, “An affirmative existential proposition can be proved, but a negative existential proposition—one that denies the existence of something—cannot be proved.” For example, someone may claim that a red eagle exists and someone else may assert that red eagles do not exist. The former only needs to find a single red eagle to prove his assertion. But the latter must comb the entire universe and literally be in every place at once to ensure he has not missed a red eagle somewhere and at some time, which is impossible to do. This is why intellectually honest atheists will admit they cannot prove God does not exist.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Next, it is important to understand the issue that surrounds the seriousness of truth claims that are made and the amount of evidence required to warrant certain conclusions. For example, if someone puts two containers of lemonade in front of you and says that one may be more tart than the other, since the consequences of getting the more tart drink would not be serious, you would not require a large amount of evidence in order to make your choice. However, if to one cup the host added sweetener but to the other he introduced rat poison, then you would want to have quite a bit of evidence before you made your choice.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">This is where a person sits when deciding between atheism and belief in God. Since belief in atheism could possibly result in irreparable and eternal consequences, it would seem that the atheist should be mandated to produce weighty and overriding evidence to support his position, but he cannot. Atheism simply cannot meet the test for evidence for the seriousness of the charge it makes. Instead, the atheist and those whom he convinces of his position slide into eternity with their fingers crossed and hope they do not find the unpleasant truth that eternity does indeed exist. As Mortimer Adler says, “More consequences for life and action follow from the affirmation or denial of God than from any other basic question.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">So does belief in God have intellectual warrant? Is there a rational, logical, and reasonable argument for the existence of God? Absolutely. While atheists such as Freud claim that those believing in God have a wish-fulfillment desire, perhaps it is Freud and his followers who actually suffer from wish-fulfillment: the hope and wish that there is no God, no accountability, and therefore no judgment. But refuting Freud is the God of the Bible who affirms His existence and the fact that a judgment is indeed coming for those who know within themselves the truth that He exists but suppress that truth (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Romans 1.20" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%201.20" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Romans 1:20</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">). But for those who respond to the evidence that a Creator does indeed exist, He offers the way of salvation that has been accomplished through His Son, Jesus Christ: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="John 1.12-13" data-version="ESV" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/John%201.12-13" style="color: #3d448a; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">John 1:12-13</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, Tahoma, Verdana, Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;">Source: <a href="http://www.gotquestions.org/argument-existence-God.html">http://www.gotquestions.org/argument-existence-God.html</a></span><br />
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For Questions/Comments please write to icafe@evbg.chHanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229686407703824077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495800972178148052.post-15455042897939955702011-09-02T00:55:00.000-07:002011-09-02T00:58:04.604-07:00If God exits.. why is there suffering in the world?<div class="almost_half_cell" id="gt-res-content" style="color: #888888;"><div dir="ltr" style="zoom: 1;"><div class="separator" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://blog.abuddhistcatholic.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/human_suffering_08.jpg" width="149" /></span></div><span class="long_text" id="result_box" style="color: #333333; display: block; min-height: 93px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;" title="El sufrimiento muchas veces tiene argumentos incontestables, es decir, preguntas sin respuestas.">Suffering often has incontestable arguments, that means, unanswered questions. </span><span style="background-color: white;" title="Un prestigioso psiquiatra dice que hay dos tipos de sufrimiento difícil (¿quizás imposible?) de comprender: el sufrimiento de los animales y el sufrimiento de los niños (o personas indefensas en general).">A leading psychiatrist said ones that there are two kinds of suffering difficult (perhaps impossible) to understand: the suffering of animals and the suffering of children (or helpless people in general). </span><span style="background-color: white;" title="El de los animales porque al moverse por instintos no tienen conciencia de la muerte y ¿qué sentido tiene para ellos sufrir?">The suffering of the animal, because by acting by instinct they haven't conscience of death and... what is the point for them to suffer? </span><span style="background-color: white;" title="Y el de los niños, porque un argumento a favor del sufrimiento es su valor terapéutico, y la muerte por enfermedad nos hace preguntarnos con impotencia y dolor, ¿para qué le sirvió ese dolor?">And the suffering of children, because an argument is for its therapeutic value , and the death by sickness makes us wonder with impotence and pain, what helped him the pain? </span></span></span><span class="long_text" id="result_box" style="color: #333333; display: block; min-height: 93px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;" title="Y el de los niños, porque un argumento a favor del sufrimiento es su valor terapéutico, y la muerte por enfermedad nos hace preguntarnos con impotencia y dolor, ¿para qué le sirvió ese dolor?"> </span><span style="background-color: white;" title="Generalmente, nuestro acercamiento y debate sobre Dios ya la Biblia lo hacemos mediante planteamiento conceptuales aunque muchas veces se da una verdadera vocación.">Generally, we do our approach and discussion about God and the Bible with conceptual approach but although there is often a true vocation. </span><span style="background-color: white;" title="El tema del sufrimiento nos toca de lleno el corazón, el dolor que sentimos y la pena que nos abruma.">The theme of suffering touches us in full heart, we feel pain and grief that overwhelms us.</span><span style="background-color: white;" title="El tema del sufrimiento nos toca de lleno el corazón, el dolor que sentimos y la pena que nos abruma."> <b><i>W</i></b></span><span style="background-color: white; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" title="¿Por qué Dios permite el sufrimiento, las catástrofes naturales, las guerras y la">hy does God allow suffering, natural disasters, wars and </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" title="pobreza?">poverty?</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;" title="pobreza?"> </span><span style="background-color: white;" title="¿Es Dios un Dios masoquista?"><b style="font-style: italic;">God is a masochist God? </b>T</span><span title="Pensar que Dios actúa deliberada y caprichosamente contra el ser humano nos expone a cualquier desgracia sin tener siquiera el consuelo de que Dios nos puede ayudar.">o think that God acts deliberately and wantonly against the human exposes us to any mishap without even the consolation that God can help us. </span><span title="Entonces, la indignación y rebeldía surge de nosotros contra Dios.">Then the anger and rebellion against God comes to us. </span><span style="background-color: white;" title="Ahora bien, ¿es Dios el último responsable de todo cuanto acontece?"><b><i>Now, God is ultimately responsible for everything that happens? </i></b></span></span></span><span class="long_text" id="result_box" style="color: #333333; display: block; min-height: 93px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;" title="Pensemos en las guerras y en la pobreza de este planeta.">Think of the wars and poverty on this planet. </span><span title="Una de las figuras utilizadas en la Biblia para explicar la relación de Dios con la gente es la figura de un Padre y un hijo.">One of the figures used in the Bible to explain God's relationship with people is the figure of a father and son. </span><span title="¿Tú eres hijo, verdad?"><i>Are you child, right</i>? </span><span title="Con sentido común y en parámetros de normalidad, ¿un padre puede dejar de amar a un hijo?">With common sense and normal settings, did a parent can stop loving a child? He p</span><span style="background-color: white;" title="El padre ampara al hijo porque le ama, sólo por este motivo.">rotects the child because he loves him</span><span style="background-color: white;" title="El padre ampara al hijo porque le ama, sólo por este motivo.">, just for this reason. </span><span title="Sin referirnos a Dios,">Without referring to God, c</span><span style="background-color: white;" title="¿Podemos explicar las guerras y el hambre?">an we explain the wars and hunger? </span><span title="Quizás estemos atribuyendo a Dios consecuencias sin ser él responsable.">We may be attributed to God without being responsible for consequences. </span><span title="Sobre las catástrofes humanas es difícil pronunciarse.">On human catastrophe is difficult to say. </span><span style="background-color: white;" title="Sobre el Tsunami del pasado diciembre (2004), un líder musulmán lo atribuyó a un castigo divino a causa de la inmoralidad que se manifestaba.">On the Tsunami of last December (2004), a Muslim leader attributed it to divine punishment for immorality because they were made. </span><span title="¿Hay algo de verdad en todo esto?">Is there any truth to this? </span><span style="background-color: white;" title="¿Es una manipulación en nombre de Dios?">Is it a manipulation in the name of God? </span><span title="¿…?">...? </span></span></span><span class="long_text" id="result_box" style="color: #333333; display: block; min-height: 93px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span title="Sobre le sufrimiento sigue habiendo argumentos incontestables.">About suffering will remain unanswerable arguments. </span><span title="Por este motivo, no hemos pretendido una argumentación prepotente para dar explicación a muchas cosas que simplemente se nos escapan.">For this reason, we have tried to give an explanation arrogant argument to many things that simply escape us. </span><span title="Con todo, dos cosas importantes que es necesario destacar:">However, two important things that it should be noted:</span><span title="Con todo, dos cosas importantes que es necesario destacar:"> T</span><span title="La primera tiene que ver con la condición de cada uno de nosotros.">he first has to do with the condition of each one of us. </span><span title="Huimos del sufrimiento en busca continua del placer.">We avoid suffering in constant search of pleasure. </span><span title="Pero sin querer contar con Dios, no entenderemos nunca el por qué."><b><i>But not wanting to have God, there never understand why</i></b>. </span><span title="Lo admirable en situaciones que nos desbordan es saber que Dios conoce (aunque yo no comprenda) y sobretodo que hay consuelo.">The wonder in situations that overwhelm us know that God knows (although I do not understand) and above that is no consolation. </span><span title="En segundo lugar, el mejor argumento que ha dado Dios para experimentar el sufrimiento es Jesucristo.">Second, the best argument that God has given to <i><b>experience suffering is Jesus Christ.</b></i></span></span></span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" title="En segundo lugar, el mejor argumento que ha dado Dios para experimentar el sufrimiento es Jesucristo.">Source: http://gbuconecta.org/2011/05/03/si-dios-existe-¿por-que-permite-el-sufrimiento-las-desgracias-las-guerras-y-la-pobreza/</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" title="En segundo lugar, el mejor argumento que ha dado Dios para experimentar el sufrimiento es Jesucristo."><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" title="En segundo lugar, el mejor argumento que ha dado Dios para experimentar el sufrimiento es Jesucristo."> - Original in Spanish</span></div></div></div>Hanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229686407703824077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8495800972178148052.post-33634248431415667002011-08-17T01:52:00.000-07:002011-08-17T23:41:35.792-07:00How do I search Christ ?<div>1.- The love</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.detodo.ch/hans/PK/Spanisch/Como_buscar_files/droppedImage_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.detodo.ch/hans/PK/Spanisch/Como_buscar_files/droppedImage_2.jpg" /></a></div><div>The Bible teaches us that God loves us so much that he couldn't bear the idea to live away from us.</div><div>That's the reason why he sent the most valuable for him: His only son, Jesus Christ.</div><div><br />
</div><div><i>"I have loved you with everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." Jeremiah 31:3</i></div><div><br />
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</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.detodo.ch/hans/PK/Spanisch/Como_buscar_files/droppedImage_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.detodo.ch/hans/PK/Spanisch/Como_buscar_files/droppedImage_3.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">2.- Recognize my sins</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">The human being is by nature a sinner. We sin day by day, because we like it. But the nature of God is holy and there is no way that in such a sin-situation, we become worthy to meet Him.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><i>"There is no one righteous, not even one;" Romans 3:10</i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.detodo.ch/hans/PK/Spanisch/Como_buscar_files/droppedImage_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.detodo.ch/hans/PK/Spanisch/Como_buscar_files/droppedImage_4.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">3.- Christ as Savior</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">But, why had Jesus to die? Because the price of sin is death. Now we understand that God sent Jesus TO PAY FOR OUR SINS. His blood can wash all our sins away. And 'without' sins we can come again to God.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><i>"Jesus answered: "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."" John 14:6</i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16</span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.detodo.ch/hans/PK/Spanisch/Como_buscar_files/droppedImage_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.detodo.ch/hans/PK/Spanisch/Como_buscar_files/droppedImage_5.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">4.- Repentance</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">The Resurrection of Jesus was the prove that he has the power over death and sin. Now the bridge between Men and God has been built. The only thing that we have to do now is to cross it. We have to accept him as our savior and Lord to receive the wonderful gift of salvation. And by accepting Him, we are deciding to live our lifes with Him until the end.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" 1 John 1:9</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." Revelation 3:20</i></span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></span></div></div>Hanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07229686407703824077noreply@blogger.com