Daily Bible Nugget #690, Nahum 1:7

Posted on August 4, 2022 by Jerry

7-14-22 posted by Ken Sagely 7-11-22

The Nugget:

Nahum 1.7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in Him.

My Comment:

Thanks and credit are due to Ken Sagely, who posted these passages on Facebook. I called Ken and he kindly granted me permission to use his work. That is a great help to me just now while my time is occupied with proofreading and correcting my book, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, which after many years is being brought back into print by the publisher, tentatively scheduled for release in 2023.

Select Cross References:

1 Chronicles 16.34 O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever.

Jeremiah 33.11 Praise the Lord of Hosts; for the Lord is good; for His mercy endureth forever.

Psalm 9.10 They that know Thy name will put their trust in thee; for Thou, Lord hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.

Psalm 46.1 God is our refuge and strength a very present Help in trouble.

Psalm 91.2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in HIm will I trust

2 Samuel 22.31 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried; He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him.

2 Timothy 2.19 The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His.

Psalm 107.1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endureth forever.

 

Posted in Bible Promises, Daily Bible Nuggets, Ken Sagely contributions | Leave a comment

Daily Bible Nugget #689, Isaiah 26:9

Posted on July 13, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

My Comment:

There are great spiritual riches waiting to be mined by a careful study of Isaiah 26:9.

One of the very best ways to access these spiritual riches is to make use of the Bible study tool, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Unfortunately, due to a publisher oversight, digital or electronic versions of the New Treasury fail to “deliver the goods.” Let me share what you may be missing.

Please do not be distracted by the quantity of cross references I have gathered for Isaiah 26:9. They are worthy of close study and attention. But for now, notice the Topic Number designation “T1392″ which follows the first key words, “With my.” Skip down to my brief note below which explains what this refers to.

Here is what I have presented for Isaiah 26:9 in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Isaiah 26:9

With my. T1392. 2Sa 23:5, Psa 42:1-2; Psa 143:6.

soul. Heb. nephesh, +Gen 34:3. +*Psa 84:2, +*Mat 11:29.

have I desired. Neh 1:11, Psa 5:3; Psa 42:1; *Psa 63:6, 7, 8; *Psa 73:25; *Psa 77:2; *Psa 77:3; Psa 84:2; +*Psa 119:62; +*Psa 119:131; Psa 130:6, Pro 11:23; Pro 18:1 note. Song 1:7; Song 2:5; *Song 3:1, 2, 3, 4; Song 5:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, +*Mar 1:35, *Luk 6:12.

the night. Psa 16:7; Psa 63:6; +Psa 119:55; +Psa 119:147, +Pro 3:24,
Son 3:1, Lam 2:19.

spirit. Heb. ruach, +Gen 41:8, FS121A2. +Psa 51:10. +*Mar 2:8, Joh 4:23.

will I seek thee. +1Ch 16:11 note. *Psa 63:1, *Pro 8:17, Ecc 7:28, Lam 3:25, *Hos 5:15, **Mat 6:33, **Heb 11:6.

early. +Gen 19:27, +*Mar 1:35.

for when thy judgments. Isa 27:9, +Exo 7:4, Lev 20:22, Num 14:21, 22, 23, Deut 4:1 note. Psa 28:5; Psa 58:11; *Psa 64:9; *Psa 64:10; +*Psa 83:18; *Psa 105:7; +*Psa 119:155; +*Psa 119:175, Hos 5:15, +*1Ti 2:6, *Rev 7:14, 16, 17; Rev 11:13; Rev 15:4.

are in the earth. +*Rev 5:10.

the inhabitants of the world. Dan 4:35.

will learn righteousness. +*Psa 119:67; +*Psa 119:71, Eze 5:15; Eze 23:48, Jon 1:16, Rev 15:4.

It is not immediately evident to readers and users of the New Treasury or the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury as to what the TOPIC NUMBER 1392 actually refers to, so they miss a literal boat load of spiritual blessings by missing the connection!

The connection is two-fold:

(1) With the soul. Isaiah 26:9

Still not very enlightening until or unless you access the original Topic Number Index in the printed editions of the New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge which immediately on page 1599 lets the reader know that “With the soul, Isaiah 26:9” has reference to one of a great many listed SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS OF PRAYER. The listing starts at Topic Number 1301 and extends to Topic Number 1429 on page 1600.

1301 Abiding in Jesus, John 15:7.
1302. Accordance with the will of God. 1 John 5:14.
1303. Afraid. Hab 3:2.
1304. Agony. Luke 22:44.
1305. Agreement. Matthew 18:19

***

1312. Believing. Mark 11:24.

***

1323. With delight in the Lord. Psalm 37:4.

***

1386. Seeking. 2 Chronicles 7:14.

***

1392. With the soul. Isaiah 26:9.

If you managed to read this far, I trust you see the spiritual value of studying these Spiritual Conditions of Prayer as given in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury.

Posted in Bible Study Tools, Daily Bible Nuggets, How to Study the Bible, Practical Application Bible Studies | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Daily Bible Nugget #688, Isaiah 26:9

Posted on July 10, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Isa 26:9  With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (KJV)

Isa 26:9 I look for you during the night,
my spirit within me seeks you at dawn,
for when your judgments come upon the earth,
those who live in the world learn about justice. (NET Bible)

Isa 26:9 With my soul, longed I for thee in the night, Yea with my spirit within me, I kept on searching for thee, – For, when thy regulations extend to the earth, The inhabitants of the world will have learned, righteousness. (Emphasized Bible by Rotherham)

Isa 26:9 In the night the desire of my soul has been for you; early will my spirit be searching for you; for when your punishments come on the earth, the people of the world will get the knowledge of righteousness. (Basic English Bible)

Isa 26:9  With my soul I long for you at night. Yes, with my spirit I eagerly look for you. When your guiding principles are on earth, those who live in the world learn to do what is right. (GW, God’s Word translation)

My Comment:

Here in the United States of America the system of governance appears to be broken.

Should it happen that the present incompetence in leadership manifest at all levels continue, we could be headed for some very hard times.

There is a simple and immediate solution to every aspect of our current problems: simply ENFORCE THE LAW equally on all parties who violate the law without regard to their social, economic, or political status.

I have stated the principle many times here: “Where there is no penalty, there is no law.”

Since when are monopolies legal in the USA? They are not legal, and the law provides stiff penalties, like required time in jail and monetary penalties, large fines assessed against each individual involved.

We do not need any more laws. We have failed to enforce the laws we already have.

Several recent Supreme Court decisions have recently come down correctly on the side of following the Constitution of the United States. The court properly ruled that the federal government has no jurisdiction over the matter of the so-called right to an abortion. This is a matter for each state to decide. This ought to be clear from the provisions of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution.

Abortion is clearly the murder of an unborn human being. It has become a big business. It disproportionately affects our minority population. It was initially favored by Margaret Sanger who believed that the birth rate of inferior races ought to be stemmed. Such a position is obviously immoral on its face and should never be tolerated. Yet those who are currently protesting the Supreme Court decision are apparently ignorant of the despicable history behind this genocidal practice and favor its continuance.

Personal morality is at issue here. There would be almost no call for abortion services if men and women would abstain from those activities that currently lead to the supposed need for abortion.

The United States Supreme Court has been criticized for ruling in favor of a high school football coach who lost his job because he violated the school administration mandate that he cease praying silently on the field after each game. Once again, the Supreme Court was correct in their ruling. But there are organized groups and individual writers of commentary I’ve read that want to keep all religion out of the public square on the principle of the “separation of church and state.” This just shows that such people who hold such opinions are not well informed about the meaning and provisions of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

Others argue that “There are no political solutions  to a spiritual problem.”

Take care not to fall for that fallacy! It is important that we all participate in the voting process and choose very carefully who we vote for!

Just look around you. It ought to be most evident that voting for incompetent leadership soon becomes a very costly mistake.

The problem is that we have been taken over by a creeping Marxism. Marxists are in control of the Democrat Party and many of the Republican Party. Currently there is a “January 6 committee” investigating what took place on that date earlier this year. Hundreds of individuals have been identified in videos taken that day and have been jailed in Washington DC for months on end as ill-treated political prisoners. Yet the proper officials, including Nancy Pelosi, were offered protection at the Capitol for that date but refused to accept any such protection. It was known at that time that paid rioters were being bussed in from other states with the protection of police agencies who accompanied the buses full of individuals who posed as Trump supporters but were provocateurs who instigated the violence that took place. I watched the events myself on the various media and private live feeds that were accessible at the time it happened.

Marxists have taken control over education in this country. Thankfully, there are some parents who have voiced valid concerns about inappropriate school curriculum and utterly inappropriate books in school and classroom libraries. It is not the job of educators to change the worldviews of students attending public school.

There is a solution to the widely prevalent miseducation of children: for those who can, home school your children.

For those who cannot home school, take the sensible option to home educate your children. Home education of children involves teaching your children by encouraging them to read good books at home instead of spending time watching television or engaging endlessly in social media. You can inoculate your children against falsehood by enabling them to learn the truth from reliable sources.

For Christian parents, encourage your children to learn the Bible as thoroughly and deeply as possible.

To help children and adults become excellent readers who actually love to read, I have written a self-instructional reading program that is available to purchase on Amazon. Just search for “Jerome Smith The Language Enrichment Program” and you will easily find it.

Students who use the program will know more about some topics in English grammar than their teachers do and will boost their reading comprehension and academic motivation at the same time.

The program is a 350 page book that is priced at about $20. The Kindle version is priced at about $10.

My Language Enrichment Program has been used successfully with all ages from 8 years old to adults. It has been used for both remedial and gifted students.

There is NO EXCUSE for any child or adult to not read well when I have painstakingly written and repeatedly tested this program on thousands of students so that I know absolutely that it works when used according to the directions I have provided in the book.

Most users (in my experience, 80%) measurably improve in reading comprehension by one to five years in less than one semester of use.

The book includes an answer key with explanations where I have found they are sometimes needed. The answers to each program step can be written in a notebook or on loose leaf paper using pen or pencil. Those are the only supplies needed. If you are serious about learning and serious about wanting to read better, I have pointed out a resource that works. Now it is up to you! Learning to read better will make it possible to learn all other subjects much easier.

Posted in Daily Bible Nuggets, Education Issues, Politics and the Bible, The Language Enrichment Program | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bible versus Koran witness to Jesus, Part Four

Posted on July 4, 2022 by Jerry

The Muslim Claim:

There are strong evidences that Jesus did not die:

My response to TK

You next comment:

“2) he was placed in a spacious tomb, not buried underground, so he could breathe normally and start healing, just like Jonas did after being expelled from the belly of the fish”

You are most correct that Jesus was placed, not buried, in Joseph of Arimathea’s new tomb wherein never a man was laid.

Luke 23:53
53  And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
King James Version

This hardly establishes your supposition that this indicates Jesus had not already died. This supposition is sometimes called the “swoon theory.” This theory is mistaken because it cannot account for all the facts presented in the historical record contained in the Gospels.

I find it most interesting to consider carefully the testimony presented in the Gospel of John, particularly John 20:6, 7, 8,

Joh 20:6  Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
Joh 20:7  And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Joh 20:8  Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

I placed the following note in my digital book, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, for the phrase “wrapped together. or, rolled, or coiled round and round, found in John 20:7,

wrapped together. or, rolled, or coiled round and round. Gr. entulissō (S# G1794). Used elsewhere, only in Mat 27:59 and Luk 23:53 of the linen cloth. Here it implies that the cloth had been folded around the head as a turban is folded, and that it lay still in the form of a turban. The linen clothes also lay exactly as they were when swathed round the body. The Lord had passed out of them, not needing, as Lazarus (Joh 11:44), to be loosed. It was this sight that convinced John (Joh 20:8) [CB].

These statements of precise details which could only be known and recorded by the direct experience of eye-witnesses who were there, demonstrate we are reading historical record, not fabricated fable written long after by an unknown author.

TK responded to me:

the “unknown author” is your Creator.. so take care in your speech.. don’t insult and mock your Creator

I responded to TK on Saturday, June 18, 2022:

You are the one who is making the unsubstantiated claim that the Four Gospels were each written by an unknown author, not me!

I continued and concluded my responses to the six claims of TK:

Continuing from above, you further commented:

“3) Mary went to the tomb with tonnes of myrhh, a healing herb. Why did she bring them if he’s already dead?”

Your reasoning is entirely mistaken. Mary went to the tomb with the purpose of completing the burial preparations for the body of our Lord Jesus Christ because those preparations were left incomplete by the onset of the Sabbath.

This shows that Mary knew with certainty where the tomb was. This shows Mary knew that Jesus had most certainly died upon the cross. This shows that she, like the other disciples, had not understood the repeated prediction that Jesus had made that He would rise bodily from the dead on the third day.

“4) he did not walk through the tomb walk, he rolled the door, meaning he was not a ghost”

Once again, you are failing to read the text of Scripture carefully. Since Jesus exited his grave clothes or wrappings, leaving them perfectly intact (the very remarkable fact John personally observed which caused him to believe when he saw the grave clothes both empty and intact, John 20:6, 7, 8 which I cited above), Jesus left the tomb in the same manner. When Mary reached the tomb, though all the while on her journey she wondered how she would gain entrance, she found the tomb already opened and two angels seated therein (John 20:11, 12),

Joh 20:11  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
Joh 20:12  And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

In the same manner, our Lord Jesus Christ entered the locked room where the disciples were gathered “for fear of the Jews,”

John 20:19
19  Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
King James Version

Our Lord Jesus Christ was clearly able to do some things in His glorified and resurrected body that we cannot do in our natural human bodies.

“5) his wounds were visible to the disciples, which means he wasn’t in any glorified body that humans take on after resurrection”

As I thoroughly answered you on this point before, you are once again misreading the text. If Jesus were yet in the sickly, weakened and wounded body you imagine, He could hardly have presented Himself in such a condition as a gloriously resurrected body who had defeated death itself!

The marks or scars left visible on His resurrected body served as the full proof that He was the very same Jesus they had known but who now stood before them in His very same but now gloriously resurrected body as Luke carefully relates (Luke 24:38, 39):

Luk 24:38  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Luk 24:39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

Thomas, who was not present when Jesus first showed Himself alive upon His bodily resurrection from the dead, said he would not believe unless he could see and touch the very wounds he knew Jesus had suffered upon the cross:

Joh 20:24  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
Joh 20:25  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Our Lord Jesus Christ eight days later gave Thomas the very opportunity to verify His risen identity as the very same Jesus He had known before the cross:

Joh 20:26  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Joh 20:27  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

“6) he was hungry and asked for food, meaning the time in the tomb had made him ravenous
He was probably unconscious or in coma when they took his body down from the tree, but to onlookers, it looked as if he had died. He did not! Allah saved him!”

Jesus asked if the disciples had any food available, and they did. Jesus ate the food before their very eyes, demonstrating He was not an immaterial ghost or phantom as they first supposed. He ate before them to demonstrate the fact that “a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:38-43).

Your supposition that Jesus merely appeared to have died to the onlookers but actually was unconscious or in a coma is a central element of the “swoon theory,” which is amply disproved by the historical fact that Pilate himself was surprised that Jesus had expired so soon. You will recall that Pilate sent for the centurion who had been observing these events to confirm by the centurion’s testimony that Jesus was in fact physically dead. When Pilate received that confirmation, he released the body of Jesus to Joseph of Arimathea who desired to give Jesus a proper burial (Mark 15:42-47):

Mark 15:42-47
42  And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
43  Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
44  And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
45  And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
46  And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
47  And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.
King James Version

All the documentary evidence is on my side, not yours, refuting your mistaken notion that “There are strong evidences that he did not die!”

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Bible Historicity and Validity, False Religions | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Bible versus Koran witness to Jesus, Part Three

Posted on July 1, 2022 by Jerry

7-1-22 Bible versus Koran witness to Jesus, Part Three

The Muslim Challenge:

There are strong evidences that Jesus did not die.

My response to TK (Wednesday, June 15, 2022), Part Two:

You comment:

“There are strong evidences that he did not die:

1) he was hanged for at most 6h, too short to cause death”

I answer:

Questioning how long it took Jesus to die has no bearing upon the historical fact that our Lord Jesus Christ most certainly died on the cross as described in the four Gospel records which record the fact:

The Death of Jesus
Luk 23:44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,
Luk 23:45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
Luk 23:46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (ESV)

[I plan to return soon to continue my answers. Just now, the clock has stopped me! Thank you for your kindness and patience in continuing this discussion. It helps me learn more about your faith and I trust it helps you learn more about mine.]

Mat 27:50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. (ESV)

Mar 15:37 And Jesus, uttering a loud cry, expired.
Mar 15:38 Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Mar 15:39 Now when the centurion who stood across from Him saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” (EMTV, English Majority Text Version)

The Death of Jesus
Joh 19:28  After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
Joh 19:29  Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
Joh 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced
Joh 19:31  The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
Joh 19:32  Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
Joh 19:33  But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
Joh 19:34  But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
Joh 19:35  And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
Joh 19:36  For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
Joh 19:37  And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

Jesus Is Buried
Joh 19:38  And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
Joh 19:39  And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Joh 19:40  Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
Joh 19:41  Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
Joh 19:42  There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. (KJV)

The four Gospel accounts clearly record the fact that our Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross. There is no historical evidence from that time that gives any possible reason to believe otherwise.

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Bible Historicity and Validity, False Religions | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Bible versus Koran witness to Jesus, Part Two

Posted on June 26, 2022 by Jerry

My comment from Part One (repeated here to provide context):

The Koran denies that Jesus died on the cross. The Koran on this point is very mistaken.

The Koran denies the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and on this point the Koran is fatally mistaken.

Salvation is dependent upon our belief in these fundamental facts:

Rom 10:9 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:
Rom 10:10 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (ASV)

1Jn 5:10  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
1Jn 5:11  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

It is obviously a most dangerous thing to make God a liar by not believing the record that God gave of His Son.

TK’s response to me:

Quran is not mistaken. Jesus was not crucified nor killed. It’s God, the All-Knowing who said so. How can you doubt God?!

There are strong evidences that he did not die:

1) he was hanged for at most 6h, too short to cause death

2) he was placed in a spacious tomb, not buried underground, so he could breathe normally and start healing, just like Jonas did after being expelled from the belly of the fish

3) Mary went to the tomb with tonnes of myrhh, a healing herb. Why did she bring them if he’s already dead?

4) he did not walk through the tomb walk, he rolled the door, meaning he was not a ghost

5) his wounds were visible to the disciples, which means he wasn’t in any glorified body that humans take on after resurrection

6) he was hungry and asked for food, meaning the time in the tomb had made him ravenous

He was probably unconscious or in coma when they took his body down from the tree, but to onlookers, it looked as if he had died. He did not! Allah saved him!

My response to TK (Wednesday, June 15, 2022), Part One:

You comment:

“Quran is not mistaken.”

I answer:

If the Koran asserts that Jesus did not die, then the Koran contradicts the uniform testimony of all four Gospel records in the New Testament. And if this is the case, then the Koran is mistaken. The Koran, if thus mistaken, must have been written by someone not well acquainted with the facts of the case. The Koran is 600 years too late for it to be counted as a primary source historical document concerning the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ.

You state:

“Jesus was not crucified nor killed.”

I answer:

Your claim does not at all agree with the primary source documents which comprise the New Testament and is therefore totally mistaken.

You state:

“It’s God, the All-Knowing who said so. How can you doubt God?!”

I answer:

That is your faith claim. I appreciate the sincerity of your faith. But when a faith-claim contradicts the plain and well-attested facts of history it must be mistaken.

The New Testament documents were written by eye-witnesses and/or associates of eye-witnesses who had first-hand knowledge of the events they record. The New Testament documents were written at the time the events happened or within the living memory of those who were there at the time.

There is no other person or event from early or ancient history that has come down to us that has equivalent or better documentary attestation.

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Bible Historicity and Validity, False Religions | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Bible versus Koran witness to Jesus, Part One

Posted on June 19, 2022 by Jerry

Muslim challenge and Opening Post by TK:

Christians, you believe in every word attributed to Jesus in a book that is written by unknown Greeks, a book which has undergone numerous editions, is tested and found to contain additions, deletions, errors in translations, etc. Then why dont you believe in every word quoted of him in the Quran? You should have more faith in the Quran as speaking the truth about him since it’s a book written by God Almighty, the Creator of the Universe, and preserved by Muslims since Day 1.

My response:

The New Testament was written by eye witnesses to His majesty or by immediate followers of our Lord Jesus Christ during the first century, thus well within their living memory.

2 Peter 1:16

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
King James Version

Jesus (and other New Testament persons or events) is also mentioned by non-Christian sources within the first 150 years or so of His death and bodily resurrection which together verify the major themes or events recorded in the New Testament.

The Koran also mentions Jesus as an historical person, but written more than six centuries after the fact has no verifiable basis to claim to record His deeds or words independently of what is already recorded in the 27 primary sources now compiled as our New Testament.

AM response to me:

repeating a story doesn’t make it true (for most people ) & people were eyewitnesses to Jesus during his Ministry, but not his alleged ending.

My response to AM:

Just what do you mean by “his alleged ending”?

AM responded to me:

some people say he died, while he himself displayed he did not.

All had forsook Jesus & fled. They were not eyewitnesses to his most trying time.

My response to AM:

Your comment does not take into account the written record of where they fled to. Peter was at the scene of many of these happenings during the time he denied Jesus three times. The Apostle John was clearly at the scene when Jesus spoke from the cross regarding the care of His mother Mary. John gives further written testimony under oath in the Gospel of John. John gives further testimony of his eye-witness status in his letter, 1 John.

Jesus displayed the FACT that He was the very same Jesus who died on the cross when He appeared to His disciples who were in a locked room “for fear of the Jews.” He ate before them. He showed them His wounds, obviously now healed scars of the nails in his hands and feet. He said “Handle me and see that it is I myself,” a very emphatic expression.

The historical record we have does not support your claim that “some people say he died, while he himself displayed he did not.”

AM responded to me:

Jesus said he was alive during all that ; “for a spirit does not have flesh & bones”.

So, based on your argument & cross-referencing what the Greek Testament says, if any of the authors were in fact present (they weren’t ), they misunderstood what they witnessed.

This is actually what The Koran says about the events surrounding the alleged crucifixion of Jesus.

So, congratulations, you’re coming closer to being a Muslim.


My response to AM (Monday, 6-13-22):

If you know the Bible well enough you would know that spirits do not die, only bodies die. Jesus confirms this when He told the dying thief beside Him while on the cross,

Luk 23:43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Among His final words on the cross, Jesus said:

Luk 23:46  And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Jesus asserted, therefore, conscious life immediately after death.

But when Jesus appeared (just as He had repeatedly predicted, “the third day,” Luke 24:21, after His death and burial in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb, Luke 23:50-56) after His bodily resurrection in the presence of His disciples,

Luk 24:36  And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Luk 24:37  But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

To demonstrate He was not merely a spirit or apparition, Jesus responded,

Luk 24:38  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Luk 24:39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Luk 24:40  And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
Luk 24:41  And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
Luk 24:42  And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
Luk 24:43  And he took it, and did eat before them.

The Koran denies that Jesus died on the cross. The Koran on this point is very mistaken.

The Koran denies the bodily resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and on this point the Koran is fatally mistaken.

Salvation is dependent upon our belief in these fundamental facts:

Romans 10:9 because if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved:
Romans 10:10 for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (ASV)

1Jn 5:10  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
1Jn 5:11  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

It is obviously a most dangerous thing to make God a liar by not believing the record that God gave of His Son.

Posted in Apologetics Issues--Other Faiths, Bible Historicity and Validity, False Religions | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

How to force a contradiction by misreading the Bible Muslim style

Posted on June 14, 2022 by Jerry

The Nugget:

2Ti 2:15  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (ESV)

The Muslim Challenge:

GOD says in the bible:

Hosea 11:9 “I am God, and not a man”

Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man”

Christians say “Jesus is both God and Man”

Don’t we see a major contradiction here? Major misinterpretation. Major error. Are Christians ready to face God and tell him He’s both God and Man after He plainly tells you He is NOT a man?

My Response:

When it comes to correctly understanding the Bible we must read it carefully. Careful reading takes into account the immediate context, the near context, and the whole context of Scripture.

Numbers 23:19
19  God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
King James Version

When referencing “God is not a man,” we must account for the immediate context, for it tells us in what respect God is not a man: in this case, with reference to the absolute character of God, for unlike man, God cannot lie.

Accounting for the whole context of Scripture, we are taught expressly that God cannot lie:

Titus 1:2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal;
American Standard Version

Numbers 23:19. God is not a man. This expression does not deny that our Lord Jesus Christ is God, for here God is a reference to the Father, not the Son. So, when it has been proved that Jesus is Jehovah (+1Pe 2:3 note. +Exo 3:2 note. +Gen 19:24 note), this is not to say that Jesus is the Father, but rather that there is more than one Jehovah in the Godhead (Gen 19:24 note). [From my Bible study resource, The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury]

Hosea 11:9
9  I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.
King James Version

In the immediate context of Hosea 11:9 God is said to be “not man” with respect to His own character of extending patience and restraining anger, for God keeps His promises to His people and will ultimately extend His mercy to Ephraim, that is, to His people and nation of Israel, in accordance to promises He has already given.

In the near context of Hosea 11:8, God states He will not give up His love for Ephraim and will not utterly destroy Ephraim as God destroyed Admah and Zeboim which were destroyed in the overthrow and destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Deuteronomy 29:23).

This reflects the promises founded upon the character of God expressed in the wider context of the whole of Scripture:

Isaiah 41:9
9  Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
King James Version

Lamentations 3:22
22  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
King James Version

Malachi 3:6
6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
King James Version

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
English Standard Version

Therefore, to say

“Don’t we see a major contradiction here? Major misinterpretation. Major error. Are Christians ready to face God and tell him He’s both God and Man after He plainly tells you He is NOT a man?”

is a forced misreading of the Bible designed to foist a supposed contradiction on the text when there is no contradiction when the Bible is read carefully and properly.

Posted in Bible 'Contradictions' Answered, Bible Promises, Bible Prophecy, Bible Study Tools, False Religions, How to Interpret the Bible Correctly, How to Study the Bible | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

My answer to the Muslim claim Jesus is not Lord or God

Posted on June 12, 2022 by Jerry

The Muslim Claim:

what your Bible teaches about Jesus?

1-Jesus was born

As we all know, Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, and so this clearly shows Jesus cannot be God as being born means he was created and not eternal. God is eternal, He is forever, He always is, and He did not come into being or into existence.

2- Jesus died

According to the gospels and Christianity, Jesus died, and this once again proves that he cannot be God, for God is eternal and does not die. God cannot die, to die is something for finite limited created beings, but God is obviously above that.

3-Jesus was not all knowing

In the gospels we learn that Jesus was not all knowing, he had limited knowledge, and this again show he cannot be God as God is perfect in knowledge and knows everything.

According to the Bible, Jesus did not know when the last hour would come:

But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Matthew 24:36)

Elsewhere in the Bible we read that Jesus grew in wisdom, and learned about right and wrong as he got older, can you imagine that? God having to learn about good and bad?

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. (Luke 2:52)

4- Jesus was a man

As we all know, Jesus was a man, and to put it simply, God is not a man. The fact that Jesus was a man proves he is not God. Being a man as we all know also comes with limitations, such as needing to eat, needing to sleep, and so on. God is obviously above all of that, He is all-powerful, and hence He does not need to eat or sleep. God is not in need of anything, while man is obviously in need of a lot. In the Bible we read about Jesus being hungry, can you imagine that, God, who created food, getting hungry?

5- Jesus had a God

This is probably the most ironic point, but Jesus who is supposedly God, had a God. In the Bible we see Jesus talking about having a God, and praying to God, so was he praying to himself?

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her. (John 20:16-18)

So Jesus as we read above, has a God. Not only does Jesus have a God, but he also prays to God:

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

So if Jesus is God, why is he praying to God to relieve him of his distress? Does that make any rational sense?

6- Jesus never said he was God

Now if Jesus was God, then you’d obviously expect him to say it right? You’d expect Jesus to say “I am God”, or “I am God worship me the one who created you” or something similar along those lines.

Yet when we read the Gospels, the supposed historical narratives of Jesus, they never once record him saying or calling himself God. Is it a coincidence that he never laid claim to being God? Of course not, the reason he never called himself God, is because he was not God.

Conclusion:

So we have given 6 clear reasons for why Jesus is not God, nobody can rationally or objectively look at these points and try to then reason that Jesus is God when we have such facts staring us right in the face.

The evidence points to the obvious, Jesus was not God, but a man of God, and this is why the Bible itself says:

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know (Acts 2:22)

My Point by Point Answer:

The six points above demonstrate that whoever composed them does not understand how to read the Bible correctly.

“1-Jesus was born
As we all know, Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, and so this clearly shows Jesus cannot be God as being born means he was created and not eternal. God is eternal, He is forever, He always is, and He did not come into being or into existence.”

Luk 1:31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 
Luk 1:32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 
Luk 1:33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 
Luk 1:34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 
Luk 1:35  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Mat 1:21  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Mat 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

If Jesus is merely a man, explain how it is that “he shall save his people from their sins.”

If Jesus is merely a man, explain how it is that he is called “God with us.”

Jesus clearly declared that He existed before Abraham when He declared “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58), after declaring “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad” (John 8:56). Fully studying the implications of what Jesus said by reading the narrative account in Genesis absolutely identifies Jesus with the Angel of Jehovah, for in that context He is called both God and Jehovah.

“2- Jesus died
According to the gospels and Christianity, Jesus died, and this once again proves that he cannot be God, for God is eternal and does not die. God cannot die, to die is something for finite limited created beings, but God is obviously above that.”

Jesus became man with the intent that He would in His life perfectly fulfill the requirements of the Law of God (Matthew 5:17) to qualify as man as the perfect sacrifice for sin. If he were not a man, he could not die. If he were not God, the efficacy of his death would suffice only for a single man, but being divine, being God, his sacrifice is sufficient to atone for the sins of the whole human race–the whole world (1 John 2:2):

Mat 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 

1Jn 2:2 And He is Himself the atoning sacrifice for our sins; and not for ours alone, but also for the whole world.

“3-Jesus was not all knowing
In the gospels we learn that Jesus was not all knowing, he had limited knowledge, and this again show he cannot be God as God is perfect in knowledge and knows everything.
According to the Bible, Jesus did not know when the last hour would come:
But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (Matthew 24:36)
Elsewhere in the Bible we read that Jesus grew in wisdom, and learned about right and wrong as he got older, can you imagine that? God having to learn about good and bad?
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. (Luke 2:52)”

In the Bible we also learn that Jesus is all-knowing:

John 16:30  Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

John 21:17  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Cross references to John 16:30 furnish many more passages where the Bible asserts the omniscience of our Lord Jesus Christ:

thou knowest. +Joh 16:19, +Joh 1:48; +*Joh 2:24; +*Joh 2:25; Joh 4:29; Joh 6:61; Joh 6:64; +Joh 13:1; +Joh 13:11; +Joh 13:18; **Joh 21:15, 16, 17, %2Sa 14:20, 1Ki 8:39, +Mat 9:4; Mat 16:8, Mar 8:17, %Luk 7:39; Luk 9:47.

As man at the time during which Jesus ministered to people on earth He spoke only what the Father commanded Him to speak, so He obediently chose not to know the timing of His return. Since Jesus was truly human, he naturally grew in wisdom as he grew older, as normal human beings do (Hebrews 4:15), but unlike any of us, Jesus was always without sin and remained sinless.

“4- Jesus was a man
As we all know, Jesus was a man, and to put it simply, God is not a man. The fact that Jesus was a man proves he is not God. Being a man as we all know also comes with limitations, such as needing to eat, needing to sleep, and so on. God is obviously above all of that, He is all-powerful, and hence He does not need to eat or sleep. God is not in need of anything, while man is obviously in need of a lot. In the Bible we read about Jesus being hungry, can you imagine that, God, who created food, getting hungry?”

I have already affirmed that Jesus was a man. The Bible teaches He is still a man (1 Timothy 2:5).

Though not done so in this post, some appeal to Numbers 23:19 to assert that “God is not a man.”

Num 23:19  God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? 

The point of this verse is that unlike people, God never lies. He is affirming nothing about whether he is human or not. Jesus taught God is spirit (John 4:24) and so has no corporeality, though He may assume such in what are called theophanies, most of which in the Old Testament are actually Christophanies.

“5- Jesus had a God
This is probably the most ironic point, but Jesus who is supposedly God, had a God. In the Bible we see Jesus talking about having a God, and praying to God, so was he praying to himself?
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her. (John 20:16-18)
So Jesus as we read above, has a God. Not only does Jesus have a God, but he also prays to God:
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)
So if Jesus is God, why is he praying to God to relieve him of his distress? Does that make any rational sense?”

As being truly man, Jesus acknowledged God as His Father. God was His Father in a unique sense because Jesus “came from the Father,”

John 16:28  I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

Since Jesus came from the Father and is the Son of the Father, the Son and Father in this unique and special sense share the same divine nature, proving that in His divine nature Jesus is God.

[Part two of my Internet comment:]

I was not able to include a response to all six points of the opening post because my comment would have exceeded the character limit. So I continue my answer with point six and the conclusion (also shortened at the end because of the character limit again!):

“6- Jesus never said he was God
Now if Jesus was God, then you’d obviously expect him to say it right? You’d expect Jesus to say “I am God”, or “I am God worship me the one who created you” or something similar along those lines.
Yet when we read the Gospels, the supposed historical narratives of Jesus, they never once record him saying or calling himself God. Is it a coincidence that he never laid claim to being God? Of course not, the reason he never called himself God, is because he was not God.”

This is an example of the often repeated and previously refuted “exact word fallacy.”

To argue that Jesus never said “I am God” does not mean He did not adequately demonstrate who He was and is:

(1) Mark 2:1-12

Mar 2:1  And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 
Mar 2:2  And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 
Mar 2:3  And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 
Mar 2:4  And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 
Mar 2:5  When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 
Mar 2:6  But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 
Mar 2:7  Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 
Mar 2:8  And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 
Mar 2:9  Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 
Mar 2:10  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 
Mar 2:11  I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 
Mar 2:12  And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. 

Jesus expressly told the paralytic man, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee” (Mark 2:5).

The reaction in the minds of “certain of the scribes sitting there” (Mark 2:6) was to correctly ask,

Mar 2:7  Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 

Now notice the omniscience of Jesus, for He immediately knew what they were thinking:

Mar 2:8  And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

So, how was Jesus to prove to these scribes that He indeed had power on earth to forgive sins?

Jesus performed an instantaneous miracle of healing:

Mar 2:9  Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 
Mar 2:10  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 
Mar 2:11  I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 
Mar 2:12  And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. 

In the culture of that day the Jews also believed that only God could perform a miracle of healing. Jesus demonstrated He was God by healing the man in proof that He had forgiven the sins of the man who now was able before their eyes to pick up his bed and walk, something the man surely was unable to do before this miracle.

(2) John 5:14-18

We have in John 5:14-18 another case of Jesus healing a man and commanding that the man take up his bed and walk (John 5:8).

Joh 5:14  Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. 
Joh 5:15  The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. 
Joh 5:16  And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 
Joh 5:17  But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 

In response to the claim Jesus made, the Jews sought even more to kill Jesus not only because He had broken the sabbath but said “God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”

Joh 5:18  Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 

Notice that Jesus did not correct or deny the conclusion the Jews made based upon what Jesus said.

(3) John 20:24-29

The case of Thomas, the disciple who doubted the testimonies of the other disciples who claimed they had seen the risen Christ, alive after His crucifixion by the bodily resurrection from the dead on the third day, gives firm evidence about Who they now knew Jesus to be:

Joh 20:24  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 
Joh 20:25  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 
Joh 20:26  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 
Joh 20:27  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 
Joh 20:28  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 
Joh 20:29  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 

Once again, notice Jesus did not correct or condemn Thomas for what Thomas said, but rather commended him.

There is much more in the Bible that confirms that Jesus possessed two natures, a human nature and a divine nature. Jesus is presented in the Bible as being truly God and truly man.

Immediately after this account of the testimony of Thomas, John declares the purpose of his book:

Joh 20:30  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 
Joh 20:31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. 

Anyone who dares to contradict or not believe in this record that John has written, John declares such unbelief is equivalent to making God a liar, because such a person has not believed the record that God has given about His Son:

1Jn 5:10  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 
1Jn 5:11  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

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Can we be saved by Grace without the Law?

Posted on June 12, 2022 by Jerry

6-12-22 Can we be saved by Grace without the Law?

The Nugget:

Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal_3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

The Muslim question:

“So does being under Grace grant you Guarantee to get salvation without the Law?”

My Answer:

Anyone who depends upon their full obedience to Law for salvation will fail to receive salvation. The whole Bible proclaims this truth.

Leviticus 18:5  Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.

Notice the included statement: “which IF a man do.” The rest of the Bible affirms that no man has ever met this requirement except the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, pointing to the very reason we need a Savior.

Deuteronomy 6:25
25  And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
King James Version

Notice carefully in Deuteronomy 6:25 the clause “IF we observe to do ALL these commandments.”

Ecclesiastes 7:20
20  For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
King James Version

Job 4:17
17  Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
King James Version

Job 15:14-16
14  What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?
15  Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight.
16  How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?
King James Version

Psalms 14:3
3  They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
King James Version

Proverbs 20:9
9  Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
King James Version

Isaiah 64:6
6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
King James Version

Philippians 3:9
9 and be actually in union with Him, not having a supposed right standing with God which depends on my doing what the law commands, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the real right standing with God which originates from Him and rests on faith.
William’s New Testament

James 2:10
Jas 2:10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 
King James Version

Jesus declared He is the only way to God and heaven for all people, not the Jews only:

John 14:6
Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

Jesus promised:

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 John 5:23  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 
John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

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