Religion is a system of beliefs that leads to worshipping a divine being. Based on this definition, Christianity is a religion. But there are ways in which Christianity is different from all other religions—primarily, the value of the human being in the sight of the Deity.
(more…)Tag: Bible
The Bible
The Bible is the word of God. It is just as relevant today as the day it was written. It has the power to change lives. It can equip you to live in a fallen world and prepare you for the future. By following its teaching you can find peace and joy while on earth, and secure your place in heaven so that you can spend eternity with the Lord.
Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy, for it is the living word of God.
There is no book like the Bible. It is totally unique, it is one of a kind for it was God ordained. It contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.
It begins with paradise (Eden) lost in Genesis and ends with paradise regained in Revelation. It starts in Genesis with sin entering the world and ends in Revelation with the world being cleansed of sin. The Old Testament tells us of man’s downfall and the coming Messiah. The New Testament tells of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, His life on earth, and the coming redemption of man.
The Bible contains information that could not have been written without divine inspiration. Its main theme is the salvation of man. However, the scriptures also include wisdom and advanced knowledge about nature, prophecy, medicine, sanitation, and science. Knowledge that was thousands of years ahead of its time, proving that the scriptures were God inspired.
Jesus
The life of Jesus is a part of documented history. No historian of any credibility would deny that Jesus lived. His life is a part of recorded history, not just in the Bible and by religious writers, but by secular historians of His day.
The fulfillment of Bible prophecy by Jesus should have left no doubt about the deity of Christ. The Old Testament was written over a period of 1000 years. During that time God gave his prophets over 300 prophecies concerning the messiah’s coming. In the Old Testament, there are 60 major messianic prophecies and 270 minor prophecies or conditions that were fulfilled by one person. That person was Jesus Christ.
Professor Peter Stoner and his mathematical class spent several months doing a mathematical analysis overseen by the American Scientific Affrication and by the Executive Council of the same group, using the modern science of probability in reference to eight major prophecies found that the chance that any man might have lived to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 10 to the seventeenth power. That’s 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. Or to put it in perspective that would be like covering the state of Texas 2 ft. deep in quarters, marking one quarter, burying it somewhere in Texas, blindfolding a person, and telling him to go find it on the 1st try. They determined that the odds for someone to fulfill 8 of the prophecies was 1 in 13 trillion.
Amazing isn’t it that Jesus not only fulfilled those 8 prophecies but he also fulfilled all 330 prophecies. God did not intend that there be any mistake about who the Messiah was.
We can track the lineage of Jesus in Genesis from Adam to his birth. Genesis and Jeremiah both specified his ancestry; he would be a descendant of Shem, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, from the tribe of Judah, the house of David.
In Isaiah 7:14 we were told that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. Micah 5:2 said that he would be born in Bethlehem. Isaiah 53 pictures a messiah who would suffer and die for the sins of Israel and the World. This was 700 years before Jesus lived.
Isaiah predicted the Jews would reject him and the Gentiles would believe in him. Psalms 22 foretold the crucifixion of Jesus 800 years before the crucifixion was invented by the Romans.
Psalms tell us the Messiah would be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver and that it would be cast on the floor of the temple and used to buy a potter’s field, and that’s exactly what happened.
Malachi 3:1 & 4 other Old Testament verses require the Messiah to come while the Temple of Jerusalem is still standing. This is significant when we realize that the temple was destroyed about 37 years after Jesus ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of God and it has never been rebuilt since.
Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1 states that there will be a forerunner for the Messiah, a voice crying in the wilderness, one preparing the way before the Lord. John the Baptist fulfilled that prediction.
God through the Old Testament predicted the precise lineage of Jesus, the time of his coming, the manner of his birth, the place of his birth, his betrayal by Judas, and the betrayal price. The manner of his death, the people’s reaction, the mocking and spitting, the casting of dice for his clothes, the non-tearing of his garments, his resurrection, and hundreds of other prophecies and details.
The New Testament documents the life of Jesus from His birth to His ascension to heaven. But there are many other references to Jesus besides the Bible.
There is so much more proof that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God the Father. To see more evidence of Jesus’s deity, check out my book “Things You Didn’t Learn in Church.”
Books by Jerry, many of which you may read for free on Prime: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jerry-Blount/author/B06XK4GJT1
- Things You Probably Didn’t Learn in Chruch
- Basic Christianity: Living a Joy-Filled Life and Making a Difference
- The End Times: Signs and Prophecy
- Noah and the Great Flood: Proof and Effects
- Following Jesus and Fishing Along the Way: Stories of God’s Great Outdoors
- The Rapture: Coming Soon
Our Perception of God
How we live our lives as Christians is usually on the same level as our perception of God. The greater our perception of God, the greater our trust in Him. Therefore, the closer and more intimate our relationship with Him is.
Theology is the human attempt to understand God. It is absolutely impossible for us as humans to understand God. God is far greater than we can ever comprehend in our wildest dreams.
God tells us in Isaiah 55: 8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
(more…)Jesus – God or Man
As Christians, the foundation of our faith is Jesus Christ. Paul said that we should always be prepared to explain to others why our hope and faith are in Jesus. So, who is Jesus? What do we tell the unbeliever or those who may have doubts? We can say with confidence that Jesus is Alive! His resurrection was real. The textual, documentary, and archaeological proof of Jesus’s life abounds!
(more…)Will we know people in heaven? What will Heaven be Like?
Will we know people in heaven?
Many people wonder if we will recognize our friends and family when we get to heaven. We will not only recognize our loved ones and friends, but it appears that we will know everyone in heaven. We will enjoy fellowship with people from all walks of life and from the time of Adam to the present time. Can you imagine meeting the saints of the Old and New Testaments or of the generations before us?
At the mount of transfiguration, Peter, James, and John recognized Elijah and Moses even though they had never seen them before and they were separated by hundreds of years (Luke 9:30-32). This is how it will be in heaven. We will recognize everyone else and will feel like one with them.
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12).
We will leave our sinful nature behind, and we will instead be filled with the spirit of God. Therefore we will love each other as God intended us to. We will be like one big family in heaven. Parents, Grandparents, children, and babies will be reunited and will all recognize each other. It will be a family reunion like no other!
What will it be like When we get to Heaven?
The most glorious thing is that God will be there, and Christ will be there. Tens of thousands of angels will be there praising God and serving Him. The experience will be beyond our present understanding.
“But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly” (Hebrews 12:22).
While this scripture was not meant to describe heaven, the writer of Hebrews does give us a glimpse into heaven. The singing and music will be far beyond anything we have experienced before. Can you imagine singing with the angels? Our joy in the Lord will be complete.
“They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion…They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more…I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow” (Jeremiah 31:12-13).
Those that suffered bad things on earth will be comforted (Luke 16:25). The tired and weary will find rest. To the thief on the cross Jesus called Heaven Paradise (Luke 23:43).
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Discouragement, despair, and heartache will be a thing of the past. No more sickness or pain. No more sadness, no more sorrow. We will be filled with the peace and joy of being in the presence of God.
The Old Testament saints will be there. Saints such as Moses, Samuel, Daniel, Noah, and all the others. There will be people from every denomination, ethnic group, and continent in heaven, anyone who was a true believer and trusted Christ as Lord and Savior of their life. Children who died before the “age of accountability” will be there, as will those with mental limitations that made them unable to understand the gospel. Also, the millions of aborted babies will be in heaven. Our family and friends who accepted Christ as their Saviour and went before us will be there to welcome us home. It will be the greatest homecoming we have ever experienced. Wow!
This post was taken from my book “Things You Probably Didn’t Learn in Church.” To learn more about Heaven and many other subjects check out this book at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jerry-Blount/author/B06XK4GJT1
Books by Jerry, most you can read for free:
- Things you Probably Didn’t Learn in Chruch
- Basic Christianity: Living a Joy-Filled Life and Making a Difference
- Noah and the Great Flood: Proof and Effects
- The End Times: Signs and Prophecy
- Following Jesus and Fishing Along the Way: Stories From God’s Great Outdoors
- The Rapture: Coming Soon
Will our Sins be Remembered at the Judgment?
If one should enter a jewelry store and ask to see a diamond or any other precious stone, the jeweler would first spread upon his showcase a black cloth and then place the diamonds upon it, not only for protection but also in order that the black background might bring out distinctly the brilliancy and worth of the gems. So God gives this best of all promises with the dark picture of sin clearly and thoughtfully portrayed.
But first, think about the fact that for each of us, there will come a time of judgment. We will be judged and then receive eternal punishment for our sins.
Every sin we have ever committed is written down. Every unkind word, every impure thought, and every godless act will be written down. When we stand at the judgment there shall appear before us all our sins of commission and all our sins of omission, the sins we have long forgotten, and more recent sins we have committed against our fellow man and against God. There is not a sin of your youth, or passion of our mature years that is not recorded. Every act, feeling, or imagination has been indelibly recorded. All the efforts of man cannot erase this record, nor will time dim it.
(more…)Who were the Twelve Disciples of Jesus
Names, Professions, and Characteristics
12 disciples list:
- Simon Peter, (the son of Jonas)
- James, the Elder (the son of Zebedee)
- John, the brother of James (the son of Zebedee)
- Andrew, brother of Peter (the son of Jonas)
- Bartholomew or Nathanael)
- James, the Lesser or Younger (the son of Alphaeus)
- Judas Iscariot
- Jude or Thaddeus, the brother of James the Younger (the son of Alphaeus)
- Matthew or Levi, (the son of Alphaeus)
- Phillip
- Simon the Zealot
- Thomas Didymus
The Apostles of Jesus
The 12 disciples/apostles of Jesus were the foundation stones of His church, several even wrote portions of the Bible. In Revelation 21:14 we are told that the twelve foundations of the wall of the New Jerusalem will have in them the names of the twelve disciples/apostles. It is evident, therefore, that God attaches great importance to these 12 men.
In the Gospels, Peter, James, and John become Jesus’ inner circle among the disciples, sharing knowledge and experiences with Jesus that the other disciples don’t have. They are even referred to as the Pillars of the Church in Paul’s letters. These three are the only ones present at Jesus’ Transfiguration and are with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest.
The following biographical information about the 12 original disciples of Jesus uses the New Testament accounts along with the most respected legends and traditions. We do not mean to infer, that legend and tradition constitute historical fact. We do feel, however, that they do have value in the study of the lives of these men who “…turned the world upside down…”
Peter
Simon Peter, son of Jonas, was a fisherman who lived in Bethsaida and Capernaum. He did evangelistic and missionary work among the Jews, going as far as Babylon. He was a member of the Inner Circle and authored the two New Testament epistles which bear his name. Tradition says he was crucified, head downward, in Rome.
In every apostolic list, the name Peter is mentioned first. However, Peter had other names. At the time of Christ, the common language was Greek and the family language was Hebrew. So his Greek name was Simon (Mark 1:16; John 1:40, 41). His Hebrew name was Cephas (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:22; 9:5 and Galatians 2:9). The Greek meaning of Simon is rock. The Arabic meaning of Cephas is also rock.
By trade, Peter was a fisherman. He was a married man (1 Corinthians 9:5) and his home was Capernaum. Jesus probably made His headquarters there when He visited Capernaum. Peter was also a Galilean as was typical of many of the other disciples. Josephus described the Galileans this way, “They were ever fond of innovation and by nature disposed to change and delighted in sedition. They were ever ready to follow the leader and to begin an insurrection. They were quick in temper and given to quarreling and they were very chivalrous men.” The Talmud says this of the Galileans, “They were more anxious for honor than for gain, quick-tempered, impulsive, emotional, easily aroused by an appeal to adventure, loyal to the end.”
(more…)Love – Our motive and Power for God’s Service
In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he explains just how
important love is in the life of a Christian.
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not
have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If
I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all
knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do
not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor
and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not
have love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
Of all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, love is the most
important. There were great prophets of old, such as Daniel and
Isaiah, who had the gift of prophecy. There are great preachers
today who possess the gifts of wisdom and knowledge for
preaching and teaching. There are those who have the gift of
healing or speaking in tongues. These gifts are all great, but we
are told that those who possess love are greater still. Mary of
Bethany was so full of love that she held a higher position than
any of these.
Praying in Faith
“Prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.” (James 5:15 NIV)
Without getting into the full meaning of this passage, we note that faith is one of the main ingredients of effective praying. There are others, of course (praying in God’s will, no unconfessed sin, unselfish motives, etc.), but all these must be “mixed with faith” to be effective (Hebrews 4:2).
There are many such exhortations to pray in faith. Jesus said, “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matthew 21:22 ESV).
Another example: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6).
And another: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24).
Every Scripture passage must be viewed in context, including the context of the entire Bible. The “faith” we must exercise is not only confidence that God will answer, but also faith in God who created all things and can do all things, and in Jesus Christ who hears our every prayer. James warns any man without genuine faith, “That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” (James 1:7-8).
True Biblical faith is faith in God as the omnipotent Creator (Hebrews 11:3), faith in Christ as our redeeming Savior (John 3:16-18), and complete faith in the revealed Word of God (Romans 10:17). Then we can believe in confidence that God will indeed answer our prayer of faith.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)
ICR/HMM
Sharing Jesus 