As a Christian believer in Jesus Christ (who is the Son of God, Lord, Savior, Creator and King) my work here at this blog is, unfortunately, sometimes shunned (or even mocked) by non-believers. Why do they feel that way? Why do they feel the need to mock such beliefs? It could be due to a myriad of reasons.
Dr. David Jeremiah covers many of them in his new book, I Never Thought I'd See The Day! Culture at the Crossroads. However, there is one reason for such angst that is common amongst most skeptics. In my own research that I had done years ago, it was helpful to study the writings of people who posted at a skeptics website forum called "Skeptics Annotated Bible." I must warn you that people there can be brutal, but it helps you to develop a thick skin during confrontation. The day that I found another website entitled, "Skeptics Annotated Bible Refuted" actually made my task against them easier. Eventually, I stopped showing up there and started my own forum (now discontinued due to this blog).
During that time, I discovered that angry skeptics are just lost people who have a severe hole in their heart (whether they want to admit it or not) that can never be filled until they are redeemed through the Cross of Christ and reconciled back unto God. That is when a person becomes whole spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and even physically!
Every testimony that I have ever heard - from a new believer in Christ all the way up to the more seasoned believers in the Lord Jesus Christ - included such healing. The salvation of the soul is instantaneous at the born-again moment of genuine conversion. However, the healing of the whole person continues on until the day we die. This is known as sanctification. Please see Becoming a Christian for more detailed information.
Studying the Bible for over 23 years now has enabled me to be more and more confident in what I share regarding the way of God in truth. It is not because of who I am, but because of Who Jesus is that I can have such confidence. The Bible is God's written Word of truth without any error. The Bible reveals Jesus Christ - God's Living Truth! The Old Testament pointed towards the coming Messiah. The New Testament reveals Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah spoken about in the Old Testament. Prophecies regarding Jesus (and there are over 300 of them!!) have mostly been fulfilled. Those that haven't been fulfilled yet WILL BE at the end of the age.
The creation of the State of Israel in 1948 was a huge, modern times fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Israel became an independent, united nation for the second time in history, and for the first time in 2,900 years! But did you know that nine additional prophecies where fulfilled in 1948? Many people are not aware of that fact.
Think about all of the centuries where non-believers scoffed at those ten prophecies; thinking that they would never be fulfilled! I think that the same thing is happening today regarding the return of Jesus Christ. It truly saddens my heart to realize that fact. Dr. Jeremiah's new book reveals the main reasons why our culture has shifted so drastically from the Judeo-Christian roots that our Founding Fathers so wisely utilized in the formation of the United States of America.
You might ask, 'What happens to the non-believers?" The Bible reveals their fate. Look it up! When Jesus does return, those who did not accept Him as Lord and Savior of their lives will grieve deeply over their wrong decisions. But there is no good reason for them to continue to be snared in the trap of "the marketplace of sin" when Jesus Christ paid a ransom price to redeem mankind out of it!
I can't wait to get to the end of Dr. Jeremiah's book where the chapter tells us, "When Changing Your Mind Could Save Your Life."
I would encourage anyone who does not know Jesus Christ and/or the Bible as well as they should to read the book of John. That is the very first book that I read when I seriously started studying the Bible. It enabled me to re-dedicate my life to Christ after years of wandering away from Him. It is the one book of the Bible that I recommend for anyone who is still searching for the truth.
Below is Turning Point's daily devotional for this weekend. It fits right in with this post!
Have a blessed weekend!
Yours in Christ's service,
~ Christine
Weekend, October 15 & 16
Day of the Cross: God Provides Redemption
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:14
Recommended Reading
Colossians 2:13-14
Some theologians limit the purpose of Christ's death on the cross to being an example of sacrificial love, an illustration of His words in John 15:13: "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." Jesus proved that such costly love was possible when He illustrated it by His own sacrificial action.
Jesus certainly was an example of love and other godly attributes as well--imitated by the apostles (1 Corinthians 11:1). But something more profound than an example happened on the cross: Jesus Christ paid a ransom price to redeem mankind out of the marketplace of slavery to sin (Galatians 3:13; 1 Timothy 2:6). The most important transaction in history took place: Jesus exchanged His innocent life for our sin-stained life, dying the death we deserved that we might, by God's mercy, be spared the judgment we richly deserved. Because God was pleased with Christ in every way, the Cross turned away the wrath of God (Romans 5:9).
Take a moment today to thank God for the Day of the Cross and your redemption from sin.
The heart of the gospel is redemption, and the essence of redemption is the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ.
C. H. Spurgeon
Read-Thru-the-Bible
Luke 23:1-John 3:21
Hat Tips:
Watchman Bible Study
David Jeremiah.org
Angels Helper
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2 comments:
Hi Christine,
These are beautiful words. Thank you. The sun is shining brightly in SC today.
You said: “. . . I discovered that angry skeptics are just lost people who have a severe hole in their heart (whether they want to admit it or not) that can never be filled until they are redeemed through the Cross of Christ and reconciled back unto God. That is when a person becomes whole spiritually, intellectually, emotionally, and even physically!”
I was a very angry skeptic as I tried to reconcile my behavior, emotions and identity as a lesbian for more than 20 years during my death style in a way the world calls a lifestyle.
I had a heart problem and did not know it. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts…” (Matthew 15:19). Only the Great Physician, Jesus the Messiah, can give us a new and healthy heart.
My wholeness continues to progress in a positive direction toward the ONE G-D of ISRAEL as my wounds from childhood, adolescent and adult abuse continue to heal. Some of my abuse was self-inflicted.
Keep shining the LIGHT of the ONE who lives in unapproachable light (1 Timothy 6:16). Your brilliance is being seen all over the world from the east to the west. Much love to you and your readers in the world this day! (ss)
Hi Susan,
Your story of redemption through the Cross of Christ is an encouragement to all!
The suffering of our souls is clearly evident in the world today. Before the forgiveness and salvation of Christ is applied to our hearts through confession, repentance, and the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can only be seen as an example of being in "the marketplace of slavery to sin (Galatians 3:13; 1 Timothy 2:6)." Every person who has ever lived has a sin problem! Our individual types of "slavery to sin" may be different, but it all leads to death - the eternal death we would experience if not for Jesus Christ who paid a ransom price to redeem mankind.
We all have that heart problem you mentioned. But when the gift of Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross is substituted for what would have been our own spiritual death, who would EVER want to go back to that "marketplace of slavery to sin?"
All people have been in that "marketplace." But the Good News of the Gospel is that there is no need to stay there!
Keep sharing your love for Jesus the Messiah, Susan! Those who are being culturally brainwashed into thinking that nothing could set them free from the lesbian lifestyle needs to read your story and see that through Christ - it is indeed possible!
Love & God Bless!
Christine
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