Seeing is NOT Believing

First, we need to dispel the myth that seeing is believing. It isn’t and it never has been. The evidence for this is found in the people who did see Jesus. Many people have said to me before, “If I could just see Jesus I would believe in him.” In my braver moments I reply, “No you wouldn’t—if you saw Jesus, you would kill him!” Because that’s what people did. Thousands of people witnessed Jesus perform miracles that were impossible for a mortal man. And yet it was those same crowds that cried out for his crucifixion. Seeing is not believing: just look at those who saw Jesus and did not believe.

Jesus demonstrates this himself in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. The rich man descends into hell and pleads with Father Abraham to let him go back and warn his brothers, so that they will not end up there,

Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
‘No, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
He said to them, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ (Luke 16:29-31)

In this parable, Jesus makes clear that someone could witness the resurrection and still not believe. Why? Because seeing is not believing. But this raises a question. If seeing is not believing—then what is the real reason why people don’t believe in God? And Jesus tells us: people don’t believe because they simply don’t want to believe.

In John 7, Jesus’ brothers urge him to “show himself to the world”. They thought that if people just saw Jesus—and in particular his miracles—they would believe and follow him. This is what we often think as well. But Jesus rebukes them: “the world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.” (John 7:7)

Jesus knows that the world will not accept him, and He knows that it has nothing to do with whether they see him and his miracles or not. The real reason that the world will not believe in Jesus is that it hates Jesus. If Jesus were to sing to the world’s tune, it would believe in him in a second. But because Jesus testifies that their works are evil, they hate him. And that is the real reason why they don’t believe in him. They don’t want to.

Later in the same chapter Jesus challenges the religious leaders with this truth: “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” (John 7:16-17)

The person who wants to do God’s will believes in Jesus. The person who wants to live their own way won’t. And this is exactly what we see in the rest of the chapter. The Pharisees’ rejection of Jesus is shown to be completely unfounded. Even one of their own, Nicodemus, thinks they are being unfair. Despite all the evidence, they refuse to believe simply because they don’t want to believe. Their unbelief is not based on reason but rebellion. They want to live life their own way.

And this is true for our world today. You could see Jesus every day of your life and still not believe in him. The Pharisees didn’t. Jesus’ own brothers didn’t. Isn’t the real reason people don’t believe in Jesus simply because they don’t want to?

The final part is coming with the next post. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

This is a Part 2 of a 3 part series taken from an article written by Tom Habib for the Bible Coalition. Tom is a lectures on the New Testament and Greek at Moore Theological College.

How Can I Believe in God if I Can’t See Him?

            Like Thomas in the Bible, we tend to think that seeing is believing. Thomas insists, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25). We are often the same.

We live in a skeptical and cynical age. Few people tell the truth and fewer expect the truth to be told. Facebook is Fake News. Politicians lie. Everyone has an agenda. Truth simply doesn’t matter. And so, we are skeptical. Cynical. It’s hard to believe anything unless it’s staring us straight in the face. And in a culture like this—how could I possibly believe in a God I can’t see. He just sounds made up. 

Our worldview doesn’t help, either. Most of us have grown up with materialism: the belief that nothing exists beyond the material world; that we live in a closed universe; that all reality is found within the four walls of the material realm and that anything outside of it is simply make-believe. This is the air we breathe. So how can we believe in an invisible God who is Spirit? We can’t see him—how can he be real?

We think seeing is believing—just like Thomas. But we’re also very different than Thomas. Because Thomas did get to see. He saw Jesus’ hands and feet. He touched Jesus’ side. He believed because he saw. But we can’t do that. None of us get to see Jesus today. I’m happy for Thomas that he believes when he sees—but how does that help me? How can I believe when I can’t see?

The apostle John was well aware of this dilemma when he wrote his gospel. He was writing to believers who never got to see what he saw. He was asking his first readers to do what we must do today—to believe without seeing. It sounds impossible. And so, John includes what Jesus says to Thomas after he believes: Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. (John 20:29)

What an incredible statement. Not only does Jesus make it clear that you can believe without seeing, but that you are blessed if you do! This seems so foreign from our expectations and experience and yet Jesus says that it’s true. Jesus promises us that we can believe without seeing. And He’s right. 

In the next post we’ll see why. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

 

This is a Part 1 of a 3 part series taken from an article written by Tom Habib for the Bible Coalition. Tom is a lectures on the New Testament and Greek at Moore Theological College.

What Does Theodicy Mean in Christianity?

Does the Bible Give a Definite Answer to Theodicy?

 

God’s only answer to Job is the same one we see throughout scripture: God’s ways are not ours. Even Jesus prayed for God to remove suffering, but only if it was God’s will. His prayer is the ultimate example of how we should respond to trials and suffering. Jesus asked for the suffering to be removed if it was his Father’s will, but he was willing to obey whatever the Father asked of him (Matthew 26:39-42).

 

What Are Some Practical Things We Can Learn from Theodicy?

 

We can learn many things from the concept of theodicy, such as the character of God and the purpose of pain and suffering. Here are a few things we can learn:

 

1. God is infinite, and we are finite, so there are some things we will never understand here on earth. Isaiah 55:8 tell us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord” (KNJV). He also works on a different schedule than we do. Second Peter 3:8-9 tell us that God’s timeline differs from ours. A thousand years is like a day to him, but He does not forget. He is long-suffering in allowing people to repent before He brings down judgment

2. Faith by nature requires us to trust God even when we don’t understand. First Corinthians 13:12 tells us that “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

3. Suffering brings us closer to God and is a source of transformation. Paul and the other apostles all suffered for Christ. On the day Paul surrendered to Christ, God sent Ananias a message, warning that Paul would suffer many things in Jesus’ name (Acts 9:16).

4. Never dismiss someone else’s suffering. As Christians, we are called to support our brothers, sisters, and non-believers, through prayer and a listening ear. Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep”(NKJV). It does not say to offer explanations or criticism.

5. We shouldn’t waste time in vain arguments. First Peter 6:5, Paul tells Timothy to stay away from proud people who like to argue over useless questions and cause strife in the church.

6. We should make the best use of the time we have. Ephesians 5:15-16 tells us that we should “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (NKJV).

There are some things in this world we will probably never understand this side of Heaven, but our faith is built on trust in God and not on what we can see. While we should diligently study the scriptures and prayer, we shouldn’t allow debates and philosophies to distract us from God’s assignments. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate teacher; we should follow His leadership in everything.

                  This finishes our study. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/theodicy.html#google_vignette

What Does Theodicy Mean in Christianity?

What Are Some Places Where the Bible Talks about Theodicy?

While the term theodicy is not found in the Bible, examples can be found throughout the Scriptures, especially in the Psalms. David often cried out to God about injustice and suffering, such as in Psalm 94:3: “Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?”

Habakkuk also asked the question of how long. He could have been living in today’s time when he penned the following verses: “The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ And You will not save. Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.” (Habakkuk 1:1-4 NKJV)

However, the best example is found in the book of Job. God declared Job righteous yet allowed him to suffer physically and emotionally. If that wasn’t enough, Job’s supposed friends urged him to confess his sins, and his wife told him to curse God and die. Job asked God why 14 times, but instead, God answered him with a description of who God is. Job repented in ashes and vindicated God, saying:

“You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” (Job 42:3 NKJV)

 

What Are Christianity’s Major Approaches to Theodicy?

 

There are many approaches to this topic, but according to Dr. Mitchell, some of the more common ones are as follows:

1 - The Free Will approach states that God wanted us to love Him of our own choice, allowing us to choose not to; therefore, evil is the unfortunate result of human free will.

2 - The Soul Making approach sees suffering as a means of growth and improvement, purifying our souls through trials.

3 - The Great Design approach focuses on how God uses all things to work together for a greater good, even if we can’t see it.

4 - The Eschatological Hope approach approaches the problem of evil and suffering as only present for a finite period, but justice will rein in the future.

5 - The Theology of the Cross approach looks at Christ’s suffering on the cross as not only the atonement for sin but also the victory over and judgment upon evil.

6 - The Faith and Trust approach affirms the basic truth that we must have faith that God is good and in control, so He is to be trusted even during trials.

                  Next time we will continue our look at Theodicy as it relates to Christianity. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/theodicy.html#google_vignette

What Does Theodicy Mean in Christianity?

Theodicy is a big word with an important idea: where is God when bad things happen? Rather than ignoring this question, Christianity faces it, but with answers you may not expect.

 

How long must I suffer? 

How long will You allow this evil? 

How long, God?

In a world of natural disasters, wars, and violence, we all look for someone or something to blame. Usually, this falls at God’s feet. How can a good God allow such evil to continue or even exist? It is a question for the ages and the subject of theodicy—which is a big word for a complex issue. We will all face trials and suffering in this world, but a deeper understanding of the term theodicy and its implications can help us look at the issue from a different perspective.

 

What Does the Word Theodicy Mean?

The term theodicy combines the Greek words theos (God) and dikaios (justification). It is an attempt to justify or vindicate God for the existence of evil. Theodicy was first used in 1710 by Gottfried Leibniz in his book Theodicy: Essays on the Goodness of God, the Freedom of Man and the Origin of Evil. The problem of evil and suffering has been debated for centuries. It is the subject of great literature, such as The Divine Comedy by Dante, Paradise Lost by John Milton), Candide by Voltaire), and Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. In Christian circles, one of the best-known discussions is by C.S. Lewis in The Problem of Pain. Lewis proposes that pain and suffering are not evil but the way God draws us closer to Himself:

 

“We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

 

Dr. Mitchell of Dallas Baptist University gives three key approaches to theodicy as follows: the logical problem, the evidential problem, and the existential problem.

 

The logical (deductive) argument states that God exists, and is good, all-knowing, and all-powerful, so how can a good being allow evil to exist?

 

The evidential approach argues that a good God would not allow so much unjustified evil that appears to have no good purpose, as evidence shows to exist in large amounts in the world.

 

The existential approach is the personal argument of, “Why am I suffering?”

 

Next time we will continue our look at Theodicy as it relates to Christianity. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/theodicy.html#google_vignette

What is a Theodicy?

Back to the beginning

 

Looking at these ideas, then, we can see that Epicurus’ version of the problem of evil suffers from a fatal flaw. This can be summed up in one simple statement: the “God” Epicurus criticizes is not the God of the Bible. In other words, Epicurus’ criticism only works against the deities of Greek polytheism* and in the context of a polytheistic view of reality.

 

The Christian can respond to Epicurus as follows:

 

1 - Is God willing to prevent evil, but unable to? Then he is not omnipotent. God is willing to limit evil and has acted to do just that. So, He is still omnipotent.

2 - Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. God is able, but not willing, to abolish our free will. So, He is still omnibenevolent.

3 - Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? God has acted to defeat evil. Evil comes simply when we fall short of His will.

4 - Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? God is not willing to prevent our free will. Your disapproval does not make Him any less God.

 

And, to the more pop-culture-friendly Lex Luthor, Christianity can respond as follows:

 

“If God is all powerful, he cannot be all good. And if he’s all good, then he cannot be all powerful.” God can be all-powerful and choose not to act according to your preferences. When you say, “all good,” what you really mean is “doing things my way”; and when you say, “all powerful,” what you really mean is “capable of making us simultaneously free and robotic,” which is gibberish. An all-powerful, all-good God can allow evil in order to obtain the greater, eternal good.

Human beings will always struggle with the problem of evil. Theodicy is not an attempt to make God appear as palatable as possible. In fact, the opposite is true. A truly rational theodicy has to begin with the admission that our dislike of something does not make it false. The question is not whether God is compatible with our personal preferences. The problem of evil is simply the debate over whether or not God is logically possible. Theodicy, taking all logic and evidence together, clearly says He is—whether we like Him or not.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

*Polytheism - the belief in or worship of more than one god.

What is a Theodicy?

So why allow evil?

Logic says that God does not have to create evil in order for there to be evil. Logic says that God does not have to conform to our moral preferences in order to be perfectly good. So, then, how can a person rationalize the existence of evil in a way that’s relevant to our own experience?

The first point that must be realized is that God is consistent in His “allowance” of our free will and the natural function of His creation. As it turns out, it’s the fact that God is consistent in His moral behaviors that greatly aggravates the skeptic. This is because God’s consistency runs counter to our human preferences: we’d rather God bend or break the rules to suit our own selfish preferences.

For example, God is consistent in allowing human beings a broad use of free will. This includes allowing people the freedom to reject His will and spurn His commands. This can result in consequences for those who choose to disobey. At the same time, much of the suffering of man on earth is due to the decisions of other people. There, again, God is being consistent in allowing humanity the freedom to act.

This is really nothing more than a re-phrasing of the earlier argument about allowing the potential for evil, because, without it, there is no potential for good. The same natural laws that allow us to build skyscrapers and develop medicines can be abused to make bombs and illicit drugs. They are the same laws that produce earthquakes and hurricanes. Too often, we make choices knowing the risks involved or with a deliberate intent to misuse creation and then blame God when those potential problems materialize.

The second point to make is that God is not motionless, silent, and inactive in the face of evil. Here, again, is a point where the critic becomes inconsistent. The same voices who attempt to say, “God is not doing enough to stop evil” are almost always the same ones who object when God does anything to stop evil. The incidents most often pointed to by critics of the Bible as evidence of God’s supposed immorality (such as the destruction of Sodom) were times when God explicitly stated that His actions were a response to malevolence. They were His means of stopping and preventing more evil.

The same critic who cries, “God does nothing about evil,” is all too often the same person calling God immoral for His actions in the flood. Or against the Amalekites. Or at Jericho. God has already taken steps to neutralize and counter evil. Saying He does “nothing” is simply untrue. Complaining that He does “too much” to stop evil is all well and good, but that makes theodicy irrelevant and the problem of evil moot.

The third point is that we have a limited perspective. This is not a very persuasive argument, especially for someone hostile to the idea of God. But, logically, it has to be said that the God under examination is supposed to be omniscient, omnipotent, eternal, and omnipresent. We, of course, are not. We often hear employers, military personnel, parents, doctors, and others reminding us that there are things happening “behind the scenes” that we simply cannot understand. Our inability to understand certain decisions is not hard evidence that those decisions are wrong. It means nothing more than that we have an incomplete understanding.

Finally, one has to take all criticisms of evil in the entire context of Christian teaching. If this life were all there is, then the problem of evil would be a much bigger problem. However, according to the Bible, this is not the only life we are going to live. A person can reject that belief, but he cannot criticize the God of the Bible and His morality as if the afterlife were not an intrinsic part of Christian moral understanding. Christians believe that all wrongs—every single one—will be reckoned with, someday. They believe that God is acting to restrain evil now, just as He has in the past. The Bible makes it clear that the struggles we experience now are not the purpose for which we exist, nor do they define our value. Instead, there is a point to the suffering and a plan that involves making all wrongs right. 

Next, we finish up our look at what a Theodicy is and how evil relates to God. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

What is Theodicy?

Our will versus God’s will

 

The debate of how we define evil doesn’t stop. For many critics, the objection to God being “all good” inherently means “never allowing any evil.” The first problem with this view of God’s goodness is logical. The second is personal.

Logically, if God is perfect, then anything different from Him, in any way, is no longer perfect. You cannot change absolute, complete perfection and still be absolutely and completely perfect. This means that anything God creates is, by definition, different from Him and must be less than perfect. Considering evil as a deviation from God’s goodness, this leads to two possibilities in order for God to completely and totally avoid evil of any kind.

 

First, God could simply not create anything at all.

 

Second, God could create but allow nothing in His creation the capacity for moral free will. In other words, allow no deviation leading to “evil.” But this makes a mockery of every other emotion, ideal, and benefit that critics of God want to uphold. In short, a universe logically incapable of evil is also one logically incapable of love, nobility, sacrifice or success.

A being unable to partake in evil is also incapable of exhibiting mercy, compassion, or love. It’s not hard to see how, if God had created things with this limitation, creation would seem like a waste of time. God desires love and glory—and our approval of that desire is irrelevant to its truth—but there can be no love given by robotic, choice-less creations.

So, for God to preclude even the possibility of evil, He must either not create or create something utterly pointless. Logically, it stands to reason that God allows the potential for evil because such freedom is intrinsically the same that allows the potential for nobility and virtue. Without that potential no love or other “good” things can actually occur.

This leads to the “personal” problem with demanding that God disallow evil. Once a person accepts the idea that evil has to be possible in order for us to have a meaningful free will, the next step is often to criticize God for allowing “too much” evil or the “wrong kinds” of evil. Here, again, definitions and personal preferences are key.

Critics of God often make an assumption at this stage. They make statements such as “a good God might allow some evil, but He would never allow X.” Once again, the logic leading to this point shows that God does not have to create evil for it to exist. This question also assumes, irrationally, that there cannot be things worse than X. Logically, it’s possible there could be evils even worse than X that God has prevented, and, because He has prevented them, we are unaware they are even possible. To continue to criticize God on account of there being “too much” evil is to waffle between logic and emotion.

We may not like the idea that God allows certain kinds of evil. And, logically, there is nothing invalid about a person choosing to say, “I reject obedience to God because I don’t agree with His morality.” But theodicy is not a question of making God agree with our whims. What we cannot say, logically, is that, if God does not act according to our moral preferences, then He cannot exist in moral perfection. This makes the critic the ultimate standard of morality!

To put that another way, claiming God cannot exist or cannot be perfectly moral unless He agrees with my moral preferences is to say this: “I am morally perfect, so if God and I differ on some moral issue, the only possible reason is that God is flawed, and I am not.” Once again, a person is not logically prevented from taking this approach. But just because it’s a possible viewpoint does not make it a reasonable one.

Does this mean there could never be a circumstance where God’s supposed morality conflicts with what we see in our experience? Not at all. The problem—for the critic—is that many of the rules he claims God fails to live up to are simply fictional. God never promises to make everyone’s life easier or better, nor does He promise to alter cause and effect simply at our whims. There is an eternal context and a spiritual condition to what God tells us about suffering and evil in this world. This is a key part of any reasonable theodicy.

More on Theodicy and the existence of evil in the world next time. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

What is Theodicy?

What evil is, and is “not”

 

The primary issue with the “Problem of Evil” is defining what evil actually is. Evil is typically seen as a force opposed to good, forming a yin and yang or two poles of a magnet. Defining evil in this way leads to a logical problem for the theist: why would God create evil? God created gravity, light, magnetism, and so forth: why would He also create evil?

The most logical answer is simply that God didn’t create evil. Because evil, in and of itself, does not actually exist, except as the absence of goodness. Similarly, God created light, but did He also “create” darkness? No, because darkness in and of itself does not exist. Darkness is only a term we use to refer to a relative lack of light. It’s entirely defined in terms of deprivation: the absence of something else.

The same is true of physical heat. Heat is a term used to describe the motion of atoms and molecules. When an object is cold, it simply has less molecular movement, relatively speaking. At absolute zero all molecular movement would completely stop, theoretically. You cannot get any “colder” than that, because there is no way to add more coldness. You can only remove heat, and when all the heat is gone, that’s as far as you can go.

The same basic point applies to many descriptive words. Terms such as short or thin are all references to the relative lack of something else. There is no such thing as “shortness,” and one cannot “add” shortness. There are only varying measurements of length. Printer paper is not “thin” because it has more “thinness” added to it than cardboard. We use the term thin, so we don’t have to say, “less thick.”

An example from mathematics is the constant ‘I’, or the square root of negative one (√ (-1)). In reality, negative numbers cannot have a “square root,” but there are places in advanced equations where it’s a handy shortcut. The term ‘I’ has meaning, at least in theory, even though we know it’s not a literal description of some tangible thing.

Another mathematical example is the “number” 0. The term zero literally refers to that which does not exist. It is a reference to nothing, to the absence of something. This is why adding or subtracting 0 results in no change, multiplying 0 is still “nothing,” and dividing by 0 is a logical contradiction. Is zero “real”? In the sense that it’s a term we can understand and that has use, yes. But, of course, 0 does not exist in any tangible sense. It’s literally defined as the absence of something (everything) else.

Putting all of these thoughts together, then, the same can be said of evil. The term has meaning and use, but we don’t have to assume it’s some actual, tangible, created thing. Evil is a relative term used to mean anything that deviates from the will or moral perfection of God. Evil is the lack of goodness.

All by itself, this reasoning goes a long way toward forming a proper theodicy. If evil is not some “thing” God created or some force outside of God that He cannot control, then the meaning of these questions becomes very different. Any premise that requires God to have created, formed, or generated evil is immediately invalidated. All that is required, then, is for God to have “allowed” it.

Next we will continue with our study on evil in relation to God. Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

What is a theodicy?

God in Relation to Evil

 

Theodicy is a branch of philosophy dealing with the issue of evil in light of the existence of God. If God is just and holy and good, then how do evil and misery exist? That’s the question theodicy wrestles with. History’s most famous statement of the “problem of evil” comes from the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus:

 

1 - Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.

2 - Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.

3 - Is he both able and willing? Then where does evil come from?

4 - Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?

 

Of course, most people have no experience with philosophers. They do, however, watch movies, and a slightly modified version of this idea came from the character of Lex Luthor in a recent action film: “If God is all powerful, he cannot be all good. And if he’s all good, then he cannot be all powerful.” – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

The biggest hurdle in discussing theodicy is a tendency to waffle on the definitions of certain words. Or to color certain words with a meaning that is not part of the argument. So, in order to really understand the concept of theodicy, one has to carefully define his terms and then stick to those definitions. 

My next post will tackle the topic “Exactly What is Evil?” Until then, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions.org

Confidence in God

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”- 1 John 5:14-15

                  I remember when I was a child, I had asked for a tape recorder for Christmas. For some reason, I took it upon myself to go on a hunting expedition in my parent’s closet one Saturday, when my folks were out shopping for groceries. Well, I found a small reel-to-reel tape recorder in a box buried deep in the bowels of their closet, behind my mom’s long dresses. That particular year I was extremely confident that what I had asked for I would be receiving. This is the same confidence we can have regarding those things we ask for from God. There is one stipulation though; we must ask according to His will. If we know the Lord personally than chances are you’ll know what to ask for.

                  Sometimes it seems as if the will of God is one of the most difficult things to discern in the whole, wide world, but it really isn’t. Start off by doing what you know is right and righteous in the sight of God. Do whatever you do to glorify Him. Be like Solomon, in that you ask for that which will benefit others and not lift yourself up. Remember, according to scripture, “we must decrease, and He must increase” (John 3:30). If you seek wisdom, guidance, assistance out of a dilemma or a healing … all noble requests that would bring glory to God, then God will answer you in the affirmative. God’s will is not unattainable. If the answer doesn’t come there is a reason. Trust Him to give you just what you need when you need it the most.

                  If you’re uncertain as to whether something is within the parameters of God’s will just ask that his will be done in your life and wait for the manifestation of it.  Something like this, “Lord, give me wisdom and sound judgment today that I might be able to bless and encourage others and I will give You all the glory. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus, amen.” I believe God will not only hear, but also answer a request like that.

                  May the will of God never be far from you is my prayer for you this day. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! 

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Erroneous Views of Hell

(1) The second chance view – After death there is still a way to escape hell.  Answer: “It is appointed unto men once to die and after that the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

(2) Universalism – All are eternally saved.  Answer: It denies the truth of salvation through Christ which means that a person decides to either trust in Christ or else he/she rejects Christ and goes to hell (John 3:16; 3:36).

(3) Annihilationism – Hell means a person dies like an animal – ceases to exist. Answer: It denies the resurrection of the unsaved (John 5:28, etc. – see above). It denies conscious torment.

 

Objections to the Biblical View of Hell

 

(1) A loving God would not send people to a horrible hell. Response: God is just (Romans 2:11). God has provided the way of salvation to all (John 3:16,17; 2 Corinthians 5:14,15; 1 Timothy 2:6; 4:10; Titus 2:11; 2 Peter 3:9). Even those who haven’t heard of Christ are accountable for God’s revelation in nature (Romans 1:20). God will seek those who seek Him (Matthew 7:7; Luke 19:10). Therefore God doesn’t send people to hell, they choose to go by their rejection of Christ (Romans 1:18,21,25).

(2) Hell is too severe a punishment for man’s sin. Response: God is holy ... perfect (1 Peter 1:14,15). Sin is willful opposition to God our creator (Romans 1:18-32). Our sin does merit hell (Romans 1:32; 2:2,5,6). What is truly amazing is that Christ died for our sin and freely offers salvation to all (Romans 2:4; 3:22-24; 4:7,8; 5:8,9).

 

Biblical Terms Describing Where the Dead Are

 

Sheol - a Hebrew term simply describing “the grave” or “death” – Does not refer to “hell” specifically

Hades - A Greek term that usually refers to hell – a place of torment (Luke 10:15; 16:23, etc.)

Gehenna - A Greek term (borrowed from a literal burning dump near Jerusalem) that always refers to hell – a place of torment (Matthew 5:30; 23:33)

“Lake of fire”- the final abode of unbelievers after they are resurrected (Revelation 20:14,15)

“Abraham’s bosom” - (Luke 16:22) a place of eternal comfort

“Paradise” - (Luke 23:43) a place of eternal comfort

“With the Lord” - a key phrase describes where church age believers are after death (Philippians 1:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 2 Corinthians 5:8)

“New heavens and earth” – where believers will be after they are resurrected (Revelation 20:4-6; 21:1-4)

 

Conclusion

 

Our curiosity about the abode of the dead is not completely satisfied by biblical terms or verses. What we DO know is that either eternal torment in hell or eternal joy in heaven awaits all people after death, based on whether they trust in Christ’s payment for sin or not. Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Will Everyone Go to Heaven?

Exactly who WILL go to heaven?

Only those who trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior will receive eternal life. There’s no second chance for salvation after death, so we must respond to God's call now and share this truth with others.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Not everyone will go to heaven; only those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will receive eternal life (John 3:16). The Bible teaches that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23) and that no one can earn salvation through their own efforts. Salvation is through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection, as we confess Him as Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9-10). There is NO second chance after death to change one's eternal destiny, so it is crucial to respond to God’s call of salvation now (Hebrews 9:27). As believers, we are called to share this message with others, helping them come to know Jesus and experience the hope of salvation (Matthew 28:18-20).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

Although salvation in the Old Testament also came by faith through the promise of the Messiah, it was not fulfilled until the New Testament time.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

Who will go to heaven? John 3:16 offers the clear words of Jesus on this issue: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Those with faith in Jesus as God's Son have eternal life. Those who do not are separated from Him for eternity. Their future is in what the Bible describes as hell or eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46; Luke 12:5; Romans 6:23).

Every person sins (Romans 3:10), and no one is good enough to achieve entrance into God's perfect presence in heaven by works or human goodness. Romans 3:23 also teaches that all have sinned and have fallen short of God's glory or perfect standard. God, in His grace, made the way for those who believe in Jesus Christ by faith to receive salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). Romans 10:9-10 confirms who will be saved: "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

Acts 4:12 is clear that this salvation is only through Jesus: "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

After this life, there will be no opportunity to choose to believe in Jesus or to change one's eternal destiny; there will be death and then a judgment regarding our eternity (Hebrews 9:27). There will be no reincarnation or second chance after death, only eternity with God or apart from Him. 

If none of this is true, then why did Jesus have to die? Hebrew historical documents verify His existence on earth. He said He was the Son of God. Are you willing to bet your eternity on it being a lie or fairytale? That’s up to you. 

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: www.gotquestions?.org

“BECAUSE OF THE JOY AWAITING HIM…”

“…let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”- HEBREWS 12:2

                  I ran Cross Country in high school and though I wasn’t any good, I certainly knew what it took to BE a good runner. You had to build up your endurance by running and you didn’t run on smooth surfaces all the time. Many times we’d hit the road and run 5-8 miles up and down big hills and thru the country roads miles behind the school. At that time the races were on a predetermined course either on the school grounds or neighboring roads around the school. The races were 2.5 miles back in the early 70’s. You had to work very hard to achieve the stamina and endurance needed to win or for that matter, just finish the race. So when the writer of Hebrews talks about running the race God sets before us with endurance, I know exactly what he’s talking about.

                  And what about the ‘joy awaiting Jesus’ … what’s that all about. He knew He was going to be beaten to within an inch of his life and had just asked His Father if there was any way to take ‘this cup’ away from Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Let us remember that He left that Garden having to be resolute regarding His fate. He wished to perform the Father’s will and not His own. Also remember, He was 100% human & 100% divine. Naturally the divine side won out, but not before the human side had its’ say.

                  Hanging on a criminal’s cross garnered a certain amount of shame, but Jesus totally disregarded the shame scripture says. Once He galvanized His own will to line up with the Fathers, He set Himself as a flint to go about the Father’s business. Without Christ’s blood there is no salvation … no forgiveness for sin. It had to be done this way, so Jesus acquiesced to the Father’s will and willingly endured that which no innocent man should have had to endure. And it says He did it joyfully, even resolutely, to save the souls of all mankind. What a mighty God we serve! Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His name & for His glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Bible used: Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation, Tyndale House Publishing, latest copyright is 2005.

 

Christ’s Blood Redeems Us

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.”- Ephesians 1:7-8 (NIV)

Hell or Hades defined: “The Greek word ‘hades’ of the New Testament has the same scope of signification as ‘sheol’ of the Old Testament. It is a prison (1 Pet. 3:19), with gates and bars and locks (Matt. 16:18; Rev. 1:18), and it is downward (Matt. 11:23; Luke 10:15). In Greek Mythology, Hades is the god of the netherworld. We are taught that hell is a place of evil, misery, discord, or destruction; a place of eternal torment and anguish; a state of separation from God; an exclusion from God’s presence.” ⁽¹⁾
            With Ephesians 1:7-8 emblazoned upon the top of this entry, why define hell? Because we need to understand what we, as believers, were saved from. We also need to understand that this is where unregenerate souls go if they never receive the gift God has for everyone … His grace.
Grace defined: “the free and unmerited favor of God shown towards man; the divine assistance and power given to man in spiritual rebirth and sanctification; the condition of being favored or sanctified by God.” ⁽²⁾

Lavish defined: “To give or bestow in abundance; shower.” ⁽²⁾
            We need, as believers in Christ, to understand what was done for us. We need to understand that we did nothing to deserve such a monumental and gracious gift. We need to understand that we were bound for an everlasting and infinite stint in hell, separated from God, with no hope of parole. If you don’t believe in such things, are you willing to bet your eternal soul on it?
            Are we living our lives only for ourselves or are we living for God first. You see, God doesn’t want you to live for Him to the exclusion of your family … no. He wants you to be a better husband, father, and provider for them through Him. It is only through the Holy Spirit of God that we can be all we CAN be. It’s the only way we can grow spiritually and be a proper Godly leader in our families. And I am not forgetting about women ... wives/mothers are a key component in a family, so what I say applies to them as well, for God loves them just the same. No one gender is more important than the other in God’s economy. Remember, Christ Himself said, “I am the vine, you are the branches; without Me you can do nothing.” ⁽³⁾ The gospels also declare: Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who try to build anything not according to His call. [paraphrase]
                  Don’t let God’s grace become a cheap thing to you, like a withered piece of fruit on the vine. Let Him be both Savior AND Lord of everything you have, everything you are, and everything you do. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!
In His Name & for His Glory, 

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries
(1) Bible Dictionary; www.biblegateway.com
(2) www.thefreedictionary.com
(3) John 15:5 (NIV)