Are Christians Buying Into a False Faith?

Could it be that Christianity--despite its loyal masses and moral trappings--is a false faith after all? Could it be that Jesus wasn't Who He claimed to be--or worse--never existed at all? Could it be that when we cry out to God, no one hears us?

The Bible condemns such faiths, for faith--no matter how sincere--is only as valid as the object of that faith.

They say to wood, 'You are my father,' and to stone, 'You gave me birth.' They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!' Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble! For you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah. (Jeremiah 2:27-28)

So, if the Bible is so adamant about the futility of such faiths, then the "truth" the Bible puts forth had better be valid. In other words, there must be a great deal of evidence for the validity of Scripture as truth, or that verse would be nothing but a clever deception (not to mention the rest of it).

Interestingly, there is indeed a vast amount of evidence for the validity of Scripture--so much, in fact, there have been no accusations that have been able to stand their ground against it. What about the many accusations that the Old Testament was simply mythology? Ahh... but archeaology has brought silence to most of those and brought into serious question the rest. And, what about the theory Jesus never existed? Well, that has been soundly blasted out of the water. (For a small taste of this, see: Did Jesus Actually Exist?) And, what about the consipiracy theories--those that claim Jesus' disciples merely collaborated and made up the stories of Jesus so they could start a new religion? But, of course, those have been proven (through a study of extra-biblical historical documents, the religious and political history, the prophetic fulfillments, contextual coherency & accuracy, documental preservation, archeaology and eye-witness accounts) to also be false.

So, if there are so many evidences for the Bible's accuracy and validity and so few arguments against it, why doesn't everyone believe? Because spritual truth is given directly by God and only by God.

"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor. 2:14) (See also Mat. 16:13-17)

It cannot be figured out. It does not come through study. It does not come by being born into it. It is a gift--and it is given only to those who have been called by God and respond to His call.

"No one can come to me [Jesus] unless the Father who sent me draws him. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. This is why I told you that no one can come to me unelss the Father has enabled him." (John 6:44-45, 65)

Now, we are all called by God at one time or another. (See: Jeremiah 7:13, Matt. 18:10-14, John 3:16-17, 2 Peter 3:9) So, there are none that are not chosen to be His, but we are not all called at the same time nor in the same way. Also, even once we are called, we are not forced to believe. That is our choice--although God has made belief very available, simple and appealing. (I mean, what's not appealing about being forgiven for our sins, reunited with God--the omnipotent and loving Being who made us, having his all-knowing guidance during our lives and having the assurance of paradise with Him after we die?)

So, could Christians be buying into a false faith? No. Not as long as that faith is in Jesus Christ--fully God and fully man--as defined by the Scriptures (both Old and New Testaments but no other books). The question then is, why haven't you accepted Jesus yet? Is it because God hasn't called? Or, is it because you haven't answered? Hopefully, though, it isn't because you have rejected Him outright. If so, I ask you to take another look.

Names, Titles and Descriptions of God

A faithful God (Deut.32:4)
A forgiving God (Neh. 9:17)
A fortress of salvation (Ps. 28:8)
A glorious crown (Isa. 28:5)
A jealous and avenging God (Nah. 1:2)
A Master in heaven (Col. 4:1)
A refuge for the oppressed (Ps. 9:9)
A refuge for the poor (Isa. 25:4)
A sanctuary (Isa. 8:14)
A shade from the heat (Isa. 25:4)
A shelter from the storm (Isa. 25:4)
A source of strength (Isa. 28:6)
A stronghold in times of trouble (Ps. 9:9)
An ever-present help in trouble (Ps. 46:1)
Architect and builder (Heb. 11:10)
Builder of everythign (Heb. 3:4)
Commander of the army of the LORD (Josh. 5:14)
Creator of heaven and earth (Gen. 14:19)
Defender of widows (Ps. 68:5)
Eternal King (Jer. 10:10)
Father (Isa. 9:6; 63:16; Matt. 5:16)
Father of compassion (2 Cor. 1:3)
Father of our spirits (Heb. 12:9)
Father of the heavenly lights (Jas. 1:17)
God (Gen. 1:2)
God Almighty (El Shaddai; Gen. 17:1)
God and Father of Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:3)
God Most High (Gen. 14:18-22)
God my Maker (Job 35:10)
God my Rock (Ps. 42:9)
God my Savior (Ps. 18:46; 27:9)
God my stronghold (Ps. 144:2; 2 Sam. 22:3)
God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Ex. 3:16)
God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3)
God of all mankind (Jer. 32:27)
God of glory (Ps. 29:3)
God of gods (Deut. 10:17; Ps. 136:2)
God of grace (1 Pet. 5:10)
God of peace (1 Thess. 5:23)
God of retribution (Jer. 51:56)
God of the living (Matt. 22:32)
God of the spirits (Num. 16:22)
God of truth (Ps. 31:5)
God our Father (Col. 1:2)
God our strength (Ps. 18:2)
God over all the kingdoms (Dan. 4:17)
God the Father (Col. 3:17)
God who avenges me (Ps. 18:47; 94:1)
God who relents from sending calamity (Joel 2:13)
Great and awesome God (Deut. 7:21)
Great and powerful God (Jer. 32:18)
Great, mighty, awesome God (Deut. 10:17)
He who blots out your transgressions (Isa. 43:25)
He who comforts you (Isa. 66:13)
He who forms the hearts of all (Ps. 33:15)
He who raised Christ from the dead (Rom. 8:1)
He who reveals His thoughts to man (Amos 4:13)
Helper of the fatherless (Ps. 10:14)
Him who is able to do more than all we ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20)
Him who is able to keep you from falling (Jude 24)
Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1)
Holy Father (John 17:11)
Holy One (Rev. 16:5)
Holy One among you (Hos. 11:9)
I AM WHO I AM (Ex. 3:14)
Jealous (Ex. 20:5)
Judge of all the earth (Gen. 18:25)
King of glory (Ps. 24:7-10)
King of heaven (Dan. 4:37)
Living and true God (1 Thess. 1:9)
Lord Almighty (2 Cor. 6:18)
Lord God Almighty (Rev. 4:8; 16:7; 21:22)
LORD is Peace (Judg. 6:24)
LORD Most High (Ps. 7:17)
LORD is my Banner (Ex. 17:15)
LORD my Rock (Ps. 28:1)
LORD of all the earth (Mic. 4:13; Zech. 4:14)
Lord of kings (Dan. 2:47)
LORD our God (Deut. 1:6, 10)
LORD our Maker (Ps. 95:6)
LORD who heals you (Ex. 15:26)
LORD who is there (of Jerusalem; Ezek. 48:35)
Lord who makes you holy (Heb. 2:11)
LORD who strikes the blow (Ezek. 7:9)
LORD will provide (Gen. 22:14)
Love (I John 4:8)
Maker of all things (Eccl. 11:5; Jer. 10:16)
Most High (Gen. 14:18-22)
My advocate (Job 16:19)
My Comforter in sorrow (Jer. 8:18)
My confidence (Ps. 71:5)
My helper (Ps. 118:7; Heb. 13:6)
My hiding place (Ps. 32:7)
My hope (Ps. 25:5, 21)
My light (Ps. 27:1)
My might rock (Ps. 62:7)
My refuge in times of trouble (Ps. 59:16)
My song (Ex. 15:2)
My strong deliverer (Ps. 140: 7)
My support (2 Sam. 22:19)
One to be feared (1 Chron. 16:25)
Only wise God (Rom. 16:27)
Our dwelling place (Ps. 90:1)
Our help and our shield (Ps. 33:20)
Our judge (1 Sam. 24:15)
Our lawgiver (Isa. 33:22)
Our leader (2 Chron. 13:12)
Our Mighty One (Isa. 33:21)
Our Redeemer (Isa. 47:4; 63:16)
Our refuge and strength (Ps. 46:1)
Righteous Father (John 17:25)
Rock of our salvation (Ps. 95:1)
Shepherd (Ps. 23:1)
Sovereign Lord (Acts 4:24)
The Almighty God (Gen. 49:25; Ruth 1:20)
The compassionate and gracious God (Ex. 34:6)
The Eternal God (Gen. 21:33)
The consuming fire (Isa. 33:!4)
The everlasting God (Isa. 40:28)
The exalted God (Mic. 6:6)
The faithful God (Deut. 7:9)
The gardener (husbandman; John 15:1)
The glorious Father (Eph. 1:17)
The glory of Israel (Mic. 1:15)
The God who saves me (Ps. 88:1)
The God who sees me (Gen. 16:13)
The great King above all gods (Ps. 95:3)
The just and mighty One (Job 34:17)
The living Father (John 6:57)
The Majestic Glory (2 Pet. 1:17)
The Majesty in heaven (Heb. 1:3)
The one who sustains me (Ps. 54:4)
The only God (Jude 1:25)
The potter (Jer. 18:6)
The rock in whom I take refuge (Ps. 18:2)
The spring of living water (Jer. 2:13)
The strength of my heart (Ps. 73:26)
The true God (1 Thess. 1:9)
You who judge righteously and test the heart and mind (Jer. 11:20)
Your glory (Ps. 57:11)
Your praise (Isa. 38:18; Ps. 71:8; 138:1)
Your very great reward (Gen. 15:1)

(This list was recorded in Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God workbook.)

Is Preterism Sound Doctrine?

What is "Preterism"?

Preterism is the belief that the end time events prophesized in the New Testament have already happened. The great war of Armageddon in the book of Revelation occurred in the late 60's and early 70's AD when the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, many Jews were killed and the rest were driven from Palestine. When Jesus talked about the end of the world, he did not mean that the physical world would be no more. He taught that the old Jewish worldview was coming to an end, to be replaced by a new concept, the Kingdom of God. Thus, all of the major elements in the book of Revelation (Tribulation, Armageddon, Rapture, etc.) actually took place in the first century AD.

How To Understand Confusing Biblical Passages:

Whenever there is confusion over a passage of Scripture, one must do the following: 1.  Humble yourself to submit to the teaching of the Word--admitting you really don't know much about the ways of God (Isa. 55:8).  2. Ask the Holy Spirit--the Spirit of wisdom and understanding (Eph. 1:17) to help you understand as you read and then don't jump to any conclusions until you're certain He has answered.  3. Read the entire passage & consider it within the context of ALL Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16).  4. Consider the meaning of the confusing words in their original languages*.  5.  Avoid "proof-texting": simply looking for verses to support your view instead of considering the Bible as a whole.  6.  WAIT and keep searching and praying!  Sometimes God teaches you things over time.  You can't expect to understand everything in an afternoon.

*The trouble of interpretation arises when we strictly rely on the English variances of the Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic words instead of returning to the original languages.  Strictly speaking, the Bible is inerrant only in the original languages.  Translations must be studied with the understanding that there are inherent difficulties within language translation--take it from someone who knows; I'm bilingual.

A Couple of Verses Explained Which Have Been Misunderstood:

Matthew 24:34:  "I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things [the end time events] have happened."  Trouble:  Scholars agree that "these things" refers to end time events; however, they disagree as to what Jesus meant by "this generation".  Preterists believe "this generation" meant specifically those who were alive at the time of Jesus' teaching.  However, we have to recognize that Jesus had a tendency toward being cryptic--using earthly/physical references to teach spiritual things.  The parables provide many examples of this, but perhaps an even better one is in John 2:18-21:  "Then the Jews demanded of him, 'What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?'  Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.'  The Jews replied, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it again in three days?' But the temple he had spoken of was his body."  Though Jesus said, "temple", what He meant was "body"--two very different words and very confusing to those around Him; however, later the truth of His statement became clear--even to his enemies and even before His actual resurrection (Matt. 27:63).  So, given Jesus' tendency to cryptic messages and the vast amount of Scripture that is very specific about the events that are yet to come, it would be best to be careful in our interpretation of what Jesus intended to say here.  Furthermore, the word "generation" lends itself quite easily to double meaning--even more so than the word "temple", in my opinion.  The word "generation" in the Greek used here is "Genea", meaning:  a space of time, circle of time, a race, an age of time.  It could also mean the type of Jew in existence at that time, but it is not specific to a generation as we understand the term in English to mean the lifespan of one individual.  

Matthew 10:23b: "I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes."  Trouble: Given Jesus' cryptic language and His tendency to make seemingly simple statements which are actually pregnant with deeper spiritual meaning, one needs to really consider the Greek word for "city" in this passage.  The word in the Greek is "polis", meaning, "city or town", but is very closely related to the word, "polemai", meaning "warfare, battle, fight or war".  If you read the entire chapter you will note the vast number of references to warfare--both physical and spiritual.  In fact, verse 34 states, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."  Jesus' hearers would have understood the double meaning--that the "cities" they were going through would indeed be "battles".  Furthermore, the Jews have not yet been reached.  Due to the diaspora (the scattering of both the northern and southern tribes of Israel at the hands of the Assyrians and Babylonians centuries earlier) not all of "cities of Israel" were even in Israel at that time.  Even today they are scattered across the globe and still have not all been reached with the Gospel of Christ.  This verse seems to say that Jesus Himself will have to be here before the Jews are all reached and, yet, since those Jews have consistently remained lost since then until even today, it seems obvious that we are still waiting for His return.

Others:  There are various verses in Scripture that refer to Christ coming "soon" or that the time is "near"; and there is no doubt that some of these passages are difficult to understand; however, we must take these in light of how God--who is the Creator of time and not to be governed by it--intends.  Naturally, we will not naturally understand God's ways.  It must be taught to us through the Holy Spirt and through the Word.  Here is one verse that sheds some light on how God sees the passage of time:  "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."  (2 Peter 3:9)

The Trouble of "Missing Events":

One of the primary arguments against preterism is the fact that there is little to no evidence that many of the end time prophesies have, indeed, occurred--let alone within the lifetimes of those who were there to hear Christ's teaching on the subject.  

These "missing events" include: 

False "Christs" which perform great signs and miracles, Wars, Famines, Earthquakes in various places, most of the believers leaving the faith, the gospel being preached to all nations, an abominable thing will be set up inside the holy place of the Temple, the flight of the people of Judea into the hills, Jesus Christ will appear in the sky and all nations of the earth will mourn, the sun and moon will be darkened, the stars will fall from the sky, the heavenly bodies will be shaken; a loud trumpet will sound, all believers from all around the world will be gathered (raptured) and taken to heaven as they go about their business, many will have long given up and cease to expect Christ's return, the appearance of the Antichrist, the appearance of the ten kings, the enforcement of all to take the mark of the beast or be beheaded, the inability of any without the mark of the beast to buy or sell, the 7 years of tribulation, the 200-million man army from the north, the drying up of the Euphrates River, the falling of 100-pound hailstones, the destruction of all of Satan's forces by the words of Christ's mouth, the battle of Armageddon, the imprisonment of Satan and his spiritual forces, the 1000 years of peace on earth....  and the list goes on and on and on....

How Do Preterists Get Around This Lack of Fulfillment of Prophesy?

The Bible takes a very dim view of false teachers and false prophets.  Deuteronomy 18:22 states, "If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him."  In other words, if any prophesy goes unfulfilled, then that prophet is a liar. A prophet of God will be correct 100 percent of the time.

The preterists, however, do not say the prophesies went unfulfilled, they simply spiritualize them and try to make them appear to have been figurative only--not real prophesies or literal fulfillments at all.  For example, they say that the "old earth", prophesied in Scripture to pass away, is the "Old Covenant".  The new earth then becomes the "New Covenant" and the "elements" which Scripture says will burn with fervent heat are the elements of the law.  Furthermore, it's quite interesting to watch preterist theologians (after their dogmatic defense of the literal interpretations of other passages of Scripture) try to squeeze the very specific number of the millennium--no less than 1,000 years--into the 40 years between 30 AD and 70 AD.  The backflips they have to do with Scripture would make an Olympian beg for an ice-pack.

When we begin to study prophesy, a good place to look for how God both makes and fulfills prophesy is to those prophesies fulfilled by Jesus Himself when He first came to Earth in bodily form.  We must ask: Were the prophesies specific in nature?  Were the prophesies fulfilled in a specific manner?  Were the fulfillments easily recognized?  Did all of the prophesies come true up to that point?  Were the prophesies about literal, physical realities?  Were the prophesies fulfilled literally and physically?  To each of these questions, we must respond with a resounding "Yes!"  So, it stands to reason that when there are prophesies surrounding the end times that call for "earthquakes in various places" (Matt. 24:7), "an army of 200 million soldiers on horseback" (Rev. 9:16) or "100-pound hail stones" (Rev. 16:21), that those are literal, physical prophesies that must be fulfilled.  Well, have they?

So, Is Preterism Sound Doctrine?  Based on what I've seen, I would have to say, no.

What Are the Dangers?

When Scripture can, at a whim, be taken as "figurative" in order to make it fit with our worldview, we are straying onto very dangerous ground.  Suddenly, anything we dislike, can be rationalized away.  Convenient, isn't it?  Instead of basing our faith on God and His instruction, we are now trusting in ourselves--massaging our own wants and desires.  We no longer even have to have a relationship with Him--we just have to find the path of least resistance toward a "warm and fuzzy" conscience and get on it. (But, beware!  A deep pit of legalism waits just down this road!)  In fact, why bother taking anything Jesus said seriously?  I mean, after all, He could be a bit of a battle-axe sometimes--all that talk about how even looking at a woman lustfully being sin and taking a whip after those guys trying to make a living on Temple grounds.  And, while we're hard at the task of stripping away anything that pricks our consciences or makes us afraid or confused, why bother believing in Jesus at all--or even in God?  

Do you see how dangerous it is to pretend we have an intellectual superiority over the Scriptures?  I'm not denying there are confusing passages within it's pages.  That's part of the point!  Jesus' words were often very confusing to His disciples.  Why did He speak in riddles so often?  So that they would SEEK HIM--so that they would RELY on the HIM and, later, on the HOLY SPIRIT, not on themselves to understand spiritual things (Prov. 3:5-6).  Remember, only the Holy Spirit can reveal spiritual truth.  Reading the Bible alone isn't going to do it.  

"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."  (I Cor. 2:14) 

Names, Titles and Descriptions of Jesus

A Nazarene (Matt. 2:23; Mark 14:67)
All (Col. 3:11)
Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8)
Anointed One (Actsw 4:26, Ps. 2:2)
Apostle and high priest (Heb. 3:1)
Author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2)
Author of life (Acts 3:15)
Author of their salvation (Heb. 2:10)
Branch of the LORD (Isa. 4:2)
Bread of God (John 6:33)
Bread of life (John 6:48)
Bridegroom (Luke 5:34-35)
Chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)
Chosen and precious cornerstone (2 Pet. 2:6)
Christ Jesus my Lord (Phil. 3:8)
Christ Jesus our hope (I Tim. 1:1)
Christ of God (Luke 9:20)
Consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25)
Crown of splendor (Isa. 62:3)
Eternal life (1 John 5:20)
Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11)
Faithful and true witness (Rev. 3:14)
First to rise from the dead (Acts 26:23)
Firstborn from among the dead (Col. 1:18)
Firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15)
Firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor. 15:20)
Fragrant offering and sacrifice to God (Eph. 5:2)
Friend of tax collectors and "sinners" (Matt. 11:19)
God over all (Rom. 9:5)
God's Son (John 11:4)
Great high priest (Heb. 13:20)
Great light (Matt. 4:16)
Great Shepherd of the sheep (Heb. 13:20)
Guarantee of a better covenant (Heb. 7:22)
He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world (John 6:33)
He who searches hearts and minds (Rev. 2:23)
Head of every man (1 Cor. 11:3)
Head of the body, the church (Col. 1:18)
Head over every power and authority (Col. 2:10)
Heir of all things (Heb. 1:2)
Him ... who died and came to life again (Rev. 2:8)
Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins (Rev. 1:5)
His one and only Son (1 John 4:9)
Holy and Righteous One (Acts 3:14)
Holy One of God (John 6:69)
Holy servant Jesus (Acts 4:27, 30)
Hope of Israel (Jer. 17:13)
Horn of salvation (Luke 1:69)
Image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15)
Immanuel (God with us; Matt. 1:23)
Indescribable gift (2 Cor. 9:15)
Jesus (Matt. 1:21)
Jesus Christ (John 1:17)
Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 1:4; 5:21)
Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:6)
Jesus of Nazareth (Mark 1:24; Matt. 26:71)
Judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42)
KING OF KINGS (Rev. 19:16)
King of the ages (Rev. 15:3)
Lamb of God (John 1:29; 1:36)
Light for revelation to the Gentiles (Luke 2:32)
Light of men (John 1:4)
Light of the world (John 8:12)
Living bread that came down from heaven (John 6:51)
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18)
Lord (Kurios; Josh. 3:11, 13)
Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2:8)
LORD OF LORDS (Rev. 19:16)
Lord of peace (2 Thess. 3:16)
Lord of the harvest (Matt. 9:38)
Lord of the Sabbath (Matt. 12:8)
Lord (Rabboni; John 20:16)
Man accredited by God (Acts 2:22)
Man of sorrows (Isa. 53:3)
Master (Luke 8:24; 9:33; Col. 4:1)
Mediator of a new covenant (Heb. 9:15; 12:24)
Merciful and faithful high priest (Heb. 2:17)
Messenger of the covenant (Mal. 3:1)
Messiah (John 1:41)
Morning star (Rev. 2:28)
My friend (Jer. 3:4)
My intercessor (Job 16:20)
One who makes men holy (Heb. 2:11)
One who speaks to the Father in our defense (1 John 2:1)
One who will arise to rule over the nations (Rom. 15:12)
Our glorious Lord Jesus Christ (Jas. 2:1)
Our God and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:1)
Our only Sovereign and Lord (Jude 1:4)
Our Passover lamb (1 Cor. 1:30)
Our peace (Eph. 2:14)
Our righteousness, holiness and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30)
Physician (Luke 4:23)
Prince and Savior (Isa. 9:6)
Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6)
Prince of princes (Dan. 8:25)
Prince of the hosts (Dan. 8:11)
Ransom for all men (1 Tim. 2:6)
Refiner and purifier (Mal. 3:3)
Resurrection and the life (John 11:25)
Righteous Judge (2 Tim. 4:8)
Righteous One (Acts 3:14; 7:52)
Rock eternal (rock of ages; Isa. 26:4)
Ruler of God's creation (Rev. 3:14)
Ruler of the kings of the earth (Rev. 1:5)
Savior of the world (John 4:42)
Second man (1 Cor. 15:47)
Shepherd and Overseer of your souls (1 Pet. 2: 25)
Son of Man (John 3:13-14; 5:27; 6:27)
Son of the Blessed One (Mark 14:61)
Son of the living God (Matt. 16:16)
Son of the Most High God (Luke 8:28)
Source of eternal salvation (Heb. 5:9)
Sure foundation (Isa. 33:6)
Teacher (Matt. 23:10)
The Amen (2 Cor. 1:20)
The Beginning and the End (Rev. 21:6)
The bright Morning Star (Rev. 22:16)
The exact repreentation of His (God's) being (Heb. 1:13)
The First and the Last (Rev. 1:17)
The gate (door; John 10:7, 9)
The good shepherd (John 10:11)
The Head (Eph. 4:15; Col. 2:19)
The last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45)
The life (John 14:6)
The Living One (Rev. 1:18)
The living Stone (1 Pet. 2:4)
The LORD Our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6)
The man from heaven (1 Cor. 15:49)
The man Christ Jesus (1 Tim. 2:5)
The most holy (Dan. 9:24)
The One and Only (John 1:14, 18)
The only God our Savior (Jude 1:25)
The radiance of God's glory (Heb. 1:3)
The rising of the sun (Isa. 59:19)
The stone the builders rejected (1 Pet. 2:7)
The testimony given in its proper time (1 Tim. 2:6)
The true light (John 1:9)
The true vine (John 15:1)
The truth (John 14:6)
The way (John 14:6)
The Word (logos; John 1:1)
True bread from heaven (John 6:32)
Wisdom from God (1 Cor. 1:30)
Wonderful Counselor (Isa. 9:6)
Word of God (Rev. 19:13)
Word of life (1 John 1:1)
Your life (Col. 3:3)
Your salvation (Isa. 30:15; Eph. 1:13)

Names, Titles and Descriptions of the Holy Spirit

A deposit (earnest; 2 Cor. 5:5)
Another Counselor (John 14:16; 26)
Breath of the Almighty (Job 32:8)
Holy One (1 John 2:20)
Holy Spirit (John 1:33)
Holy Spirit of God (Eph. 4:30)
Seal (2 Cor. 1:22)
Spirit of Christ (1 Pet. 1:11)
Spirit of counsel and of power (Isa. 11:2)
Spirit of faith (2 Cor. 4:13)
Spirit of fire (Isa. 4:4)
Spirit of glory (1 Pet. 4:14)
Spirit grace and supplication (Zech. 12:10)
Spirit of his Son (Gal. 4:6)
Spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4)
Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:19)
Spirit of judgement (Isa. 4:4)
Spirit of justice (Isa. 28:6)
Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD (Isa. 11:2)
Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2)
Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:11)
Spirit of sonship (adoption; Rom. 8:15)
Spirit of the living God (2 Cor. 3:3)
Spirit of the LORD (Isa. 63:14; Luke 4:18)
Spirit of the Soverign LORD (Isa. 61:1)
Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 1 John 4:6)
Spirit of wisdom and understanding (Isa. 11:2)
The gift (Acts. 2:38; 10:45)
The promised Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33)
The same gift (Acts 11:17)
Voice of the Almighty (Ezek. 1:24)
Voice of the LORD (Hag. 1:12; Isa. 30:31)

(Taken from Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God workbook.)

God of Love or God of Wrath?

[This topic was written and posted in response to a request made by a reader. Thanks, Vince! To ask a question or suggest a topic of your own, click here.]

Why do we so often think of the God of the New Testament as a God of LOVE and the God of the Old Testament as a God of WRATH, and yet insist they are one and the same? Going even further, doesn't the Bible claim that God never changes? ("I the LORD do not change." Malachi 3:6, and see also James 1:17.) So, why does a changeless God appear wrathful and angry in the Old Testament, but loving and patient in the New Testament? Is this the same God?

I think the answers to these questions lie in developing a better understanding of God's nature--not an easy or simple thing, but a very worthy pursuit, all the same. I don't have time to delineate ALL of God's characteristics--indeed, no one even knows all of them!--but for the purpose of answering this question, I think we can focus on five major ones: God's Holiness, God's Love, God's Justice, God's Mercy and God's Jealousy. (This post also assumes that God is also all-knowing, all-present and all-powerful, as well as the Creator of the universe and the Triune God--God the Father, God the Son [Jesus] and God the Holy Spirit.) 

I will first briefly describe each characteristic individually and then I will compare the Old Testament with the New Testament to see if all three of these characteristics appear within them. Finally, I will address some of the major biblical examples for why God seems to have "gone soft" in the New Testament as compared to the Old and explain the real change that has taken place within how we now relate to God.

God's Holiness

Though some may disagree, I believe Holiness, not love is God's primary characteristic (if one could be chosen above the others). As defined by the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, Holiness is: "Chief attribute of God and a quality to be developed in his people. 'Holiness' and the adjective 'holy' occur more than 900 times in the Bible. The primary OT word for 'holiness' means 'to cut' or 'to separate'. Fundamentally, holiness is a cutting off or separation from what is unclean, and consecration to what is pure." 

God's Love

Though God is primarily holy, it was His characteristic of love that motivated Him to create man and woman, to initiate an intimate relationship with them (and us) and then, even after they (and we) turned their backs on Him in favor of becoming enslaved to sin and forfeit to Satan, to offer a means by which they might be rescued and returned into a harmonious & pure relationship with Him--by coming as Jesus Christ to give His life as a ransom for them and bridge the gap between a holy God and a sinful people. Godly love is perhaps best described in I Corinthians 13, but there are many, many passages in both the Old and New Testaments that praise God's loving nature.

God's Justice

Webster says that "Just" means: 1. adhering to what is fair, honest and moral, 2. rational and informed, 3. in accordance with correct principles, 4. agreeable to truth or fact, 5. given or awarded rightly, and 6. proper or right. The Bible describes God's justice as the quality that causes Him to be a righteous judge--rewarding righteousness and never allowing evil to go unpunished. To understand, then, how we--who are evil--can ever be forgiven instead of simply receiving his just punishment, we need to understand God's mercy:

God's Mercy

Webster says of mercy: "1. compassion shown toward an offender or an enemy, 2. a disposition to forgive or forbear..." Though God's characteristics of holiness and justice require that all sin be punished, His love and His mercy caused Him to provide a way for us to escape destruction and be reunited with Him, while still dealing with the issue of our sinfulness. In the Old Testament this was done through the sacrifice of an animal or through a scapegoat. In the New Testament this was done once and for all by Jesus Christ--God in the flesh--who willingly allowed Himself to be crucified in our place and then rose from the grave, evidencing God's power over both sin and the death penalty sin demands.

God's Jealousy

Though we often think of jealousy as an unfavorable quality, God exhibits a righteous jealousy--and a very active one, at that. Webster says that jealous means: 1. resentful and envious, as of someone's attainments, 2. fearful of losing another's affection, 3. troubled by suspicions of rivalry, unfaithfulness, etc., and 4. vigilant in guarding something. My favorite is the last definition, though the others could apply as well. God, like a man desperately in love with his wife, becomes very jealous when our affection--due rightfully to Him--strays onto other things, people or gods. He responds by being "vigilant in guarding" us from those things that would draw our love from Him--through warnings, punishments and great displays of His love and power. Eventually, though, we must choose: God's salvation or our own lusts?

Characteristic	Old Testament Example*	New Testament Example*
Holiness	"...'Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy." (Lev. 19:2)	"...'Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.'" (Rev. 4:8)
Love	"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." (Jer. 31:3)	"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." (I John 4:8)
Justice	"Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free." (Prov. 11:21)	"God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well." (2 Thes. 1:6-7a)
Mercy	"Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from old." (Psalm 25:6)	"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." (Eph. 2:4-5)
Jealousy	"You shall not bow down to them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God...." (Exodus 20:5)	"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of the demons too: you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. Are you trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy?" (I Cor. 10:21-22a)

* There are many more references in both the Old and New Testaments for these characteristics. I am providing only one example of each, though some of these verses mention more than one of these characteristics.

Has the God of the Old Testament Gone Soft?

As you can see from the above comparisons of God's primary characteristics, both the Old and the New Testaments describe God in very similar terms. Obviously, this is the same God--so why does He seem to act differently in the Old Testament than He does in the New? It kind-of reminds me of parenting--with the first kid, you're on top of everything, but by the time you have the fourth or fifth, you tend to not care so much whether they eat a cookie before dinner or not. Is this what happened with God? Has He gotten tired and resigned Himself to "picking His battles"? Has God gone soft?

Here are some prime examples of God's wrath as displayed in the Old Testament:

The Flood:        

In Genesis 6-8, God got so fed up with mankind that He decided to wipe them all out and start over, sparing only one family. Everyone died--men, women, children and all the animals of the land or air. (If that's not wrath, I don't know what is!)

Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed:

In Genesis 19, God got so sick of the stench of the sinfulness in these two cities that He rained down burning sulfur on them. (FYI: Burning sulfur will easily burn through metal. Yep! That would do it!)

The 10 Plagues on Egypt:

Exodus 7-11 describes some pretty horrible plagues God sent on the Egyptians to persuade them to free the Israelites from bondage, culminating in the deaths of all the firstborn sons of any family that didn't mark their door frames with the blood of a sacrificed lamb. But, wait... is this an example of His wrath toward the Egyptians or His great love and deliverance of the Hebrew people? Hmmm....

Destruction of the Canaanites:

Much of the Old Testament describes various ways the Canaanites and the other people groups of that region were attacked by the Hebrew people. In fact, God told them to wipe these people out completely—down to the last child and to even kill all their animals, though the Hebrews didn't completely obey this command.

After reading through all of that, anyone might tremble at the thought of this God who often seems content to heartlessly order the destruction of many. But, if one is willing to read further, he comes to the New Testament and it's like a breath of fresh air. 

Here are some contrasting examples of how God appears loving in the New Testament:

Jesus' Miracles:

Jesus healed the sick, lame and the blind, fed hungry multitudes, cast out demons, and even raised the dead. (Ex.: man with leprosy: Matt. 8:1-4; sick and demon-possessed: Matt. 8:14-17 & 28-34; paralytic man: Matt. 9:1-8; a dead girl and a sick woman: Matt. 9:18-26; a two blind men and a mute/demon-possessed man: Matt. 9:27-33; fed 5,000: Matt. 14:13-21, etc.)

Jesus with the Children:

Jesus allowed the children to come to Him when the disciples were trying to shoo them away. (Matt. 19:14) 

Jesus facing his enemies in the Garden of Gethsemane:

When Peter cut off a soldier's ear with his sword, Jesus told Peter to knock it off and healed the man. (Luke 22:49-51)

Jesus on the cross:

Not only did Jesus show mercy to one of the thieves being crucified along with him (despite His own enormous agony), He also asked God to forgive those who were crucifying Him. (Luke 23:26-43)

When recalling such stories to mind, the God of the Old Testament certainly seems much harsher than how God acted in the Person of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. However, I think we are forgetting two very important things. 1. There are some very fine, but often overlooked, examples of God's love in the Old Testament as well as His wrath in the New Testament (some of these are outlined below.) AND, 2. The way God interacted with those before Christ's death and resurrection was in accordance with the Old Covenant, while the way He interacted with them after Christ's resurrection was in accordance with the New Covenant--which we are currently enjoying. (Comparison to follow.)

God's Love in the Old Testament

Contrary to how we normally think of the Old Testament God, the most harmonious relationship God has ever had with man is described not in the New Testament, but in the Old. This was the relationship God had with man and woman (Adam and Eve) before they sinned. In that relationship, they actually walked in the Garden with God, spoke to Him face to face, conversed freely with Him and were naked before Him without feeling ashamed. (Genesis 2 & 3) Never again has man had such a free and open relationship with God. Not only does this picture show us something about humanity, but it shows us about God's original design--that of an intimate, open and free relationship between Himself and us--and of His inclination toward open revelation and communication, not the image of separation between God and man as shown through the rest of the Old Testament. In other words, God's natural inclination and desire is for an intimate, loving relationship with us--not a relationship of disunity, anger and wrath. Yet because of the Fall--the event in which dominion of this earth, first given to us by God, was handed over to Satan when in our free will we chose to disobey God--a chasm opened up between God and man. This chasm was not closed until Jesus came to pay the cost of our disobedience through His death and resurrection.

God's Wrath in the New Testament

Though Jesus has ushered in a new era of openness between God and man, we often make the mistake of thinking He has lightened up when it comes to the issue of sin. I can assure you that in this regard God has not changed! God is still holy! God is still just! Sin will still be punished! If you take a good look at Jesus and His teachings throughout the Gospels, you will find that never does He gloss over the issue of sin. In fact, He goes even deeper, requires even more and demands higher standards than even the religious zealots and legalists of the day. No, He does not require legalistic ritual, but rather purity of heart--something the Law cannot govern--something that is between God and man alone. For example, the Law said "Do not commit adultery", but Jesus said, "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt. 5:28) The Law requires action, but God requires a loving heart, for God knows that if you love Him, you will obey Him. (John 14:23-24) Another good example of God's wrath in the New Testament is in the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 who were struck dead by God when they lied to God. So, no! God has certainly NOT gone soft!

NOTE: God's wrath, when shown in either New or Old Testaments, is always in response to at least one of the following: a form of idolatry (putting self or something else above God), willful sin or hypocrisy. His wrath is triggered when His desire for a love relationship with a pure people is thwarted by sin, thus igniting His righteous jealousy.      

Below is a very basic outline of the differences between the Old and New Covenants. (Hebrews 8-11 describes it better.)

	Old Covenant	New Covenant
Given Through	Abraham	Jesus Christ
When	Abraham to the Messiah	For all time.
What	The Law given to the Jews by God that told them how to set themselves apart in obedience to Him.	Grace given to men through the death and resurrection of Jesus through which they might be reconciled to God.
Ramifications	Was only for the Jews.	Was for all men.
	Had to make animal sacrifices.	Jesus was the ultimate, once and for all sacrifice for yesterday, today and forever.
	Life under the Law. (Cleanliness rituals, circumcision, etc.)	Live under grace. (Jesus didn't revoke the law; He fulfilled the Law.)
	Were separated from God while awaiting the Messiah to bridge the gap between them and God's presence.	Jesus, the Messiah, had come! He bridged the gap; the curtain was torn in two (symbolizing that man and God no longer had to remain separated. Mark 15:38)
	External influence only of the Holy Spirit.	The Holy Spirit actually indwells the believer, allowing Christ to live through him or her and granting them access to Christ's righteousness and power.

 

 

As you can see, the relationship between man and God seems much more strained in the Old Testament because they were still covered in their sin. God and man were still separated by the sinfulness--the uncovered impurity of their hearts. They were under the Old Covenant--under the Law, not under grace. Remember, God is holy--"separated" or "cut off" from anything impure. It is His nature--His primary characteristic and thus He cannot go against His own holiness or He wouldn't be God! But, because of His great love--described first and best in the Old Testament--He decided to make a way for us to again be reconciled to Him--through Jesus Christ.

The God of the Old Testament--complete with vengeful wrath and fists full of destruction--is the SAME God as the God of the New Testament, who laid His life down as a ransom for many. His holiness, love, justice, mercy and jealousy are fully intact today.

Perhaps the best picture of both God's holy wrath and His love is this one, which appears in the Old Testament:

"For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who lives forever, whose name is holy: 'I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. I will not accuse forever, nor will I always be angry, for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me--the breath of man that I have created. I was enraged by his sinful greed; I punished him, and hid my face in anger, yet he kept on in his willful ways. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him..." (Isaiah 57:15-18)

Is Belief in Hell Damaging to Our Children’s Psyches?

Hell is not a popular topic today—not even among Christians. Nobody likes to consider this unsavory—even terrifying—prospect. Death is scary enough in its inevitability. Do we really have to add to it the fear of an eternity of burning damnation—to be the object of torture by demons without any possibility of release? In fact, such beliefs are not only unpopular, they are coming under serious attack. Some believe that religious freedom should be limited to only those beliefs which meet with a general, national consensus as to what is considered psychologically benign and beneficial (which, of course, is no religious freedom at all). In fact, some religious beliefs are considered psychological abuse and are being compared to some of the worst crimes against humanity ever committed. For example, Richard Dawkins, a well-known atheist, speaker and author said:

"Who will say with confidence that sexual abuse is more permanently damaging to children than threatening them with the eternal and unquenchable fires of hell?"

Let me respond with a true story:

Ken, a friend of mine, once told me that although he had grown up as a confirmed atheist and refused to even consider if Christ's life and death had any impact on today's reality, as a child he would often go to bed at night in absolute terror that he might die and go to hell. "What if?" he would ask himself in the dark recesses of his mind. "What if there is something horrible awaiting me after this life?" Ken said he often cried himself to sleep because of this terror that he simply couldn't avoid. When I heard that story (and although this man had long since become a Christian and was secure in his eternity with Christ) I felt such sorrow for that little boy. My heart ached for what he had experienced and my eyes were opened to the pain that so many people—young and old—face on a regular basis. What a horrible way to go to sleep at night! What a horrible thing it is to live in such fear!

Interestingly, though I was raised in a Christian home where the idea of hell was quite prevalent, I never experienced what Ken did. I never worried about going to hell. I never cried myself to sleep over it. I never really gave it much thought. Furthermore, my own children (ages 11, 8 & 5) have not once seemed the least bit concerned about hell. We've talked about it from time to time and they've heard about it at church and the older ones have even encountered it in the Bible, but I've never once been awakened in the night to deal with a nightmare about hell. I've dealt with nightmares about enemies, monsters and hurt feelings, but never have I heard, "Mom, I can't sleep because I'm scared I might die and go to hell." It's simply not something I've dealt with—and here's why: when you know you have been fully forgiven and are completely loved by Jesus Christ, hell has absolutely no power over you. The only people who fear hell are those who aren't secure in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Now, I'm not saying that this lack of security is only found in non-Christian homes or among non-Christians. There are many Christians who simply haven't come to the place in their faiths where they understand what Christ's mercy and grace really is. There may also exist some psychotic parents out there (though I've not personally come across any) who might tell their children horrible lies like, "if you don't obey me, God won't like you anymore and He'll send you to hell." This, in my opinion, would be very akin to child abuse, and Mr. Dawkins would undoubtedly agree. However, I've never heard of such things happening in a Christian home and I've spent my entire life around Christians.

The fact is, the kind of fear we're talking about is not, primarily, a problem Christians struggle with. What the atheists might, therefore, accuse us of, then, is spreading it to their children. Now, I certainly can't blame them for having a problem with this—I would if I were in their shoes; however, due to the nature of our basic disagreement (whether or not God exists and has a beneficial interest in our lives) we may not be able to find much more common ground. Still, let me provide an approximate example:

Let's say my child came home one day in near hysterics over something she had heard at school. "Teacher says that there is a meteorite heading for earth and if we don't get into a bomb shelter quick, we're all going to die!"

"Nonsense!" I tell her, trying to calm her fears—absolutely livid with that monster of a teacher for causing such trauma. "There is no meteorite heading for earth! That's just silly! Look up into the sky. Do you see a meteorite? No? Then, you don't have to worry about it. Run along and play."

Now… that would be fine, except for one small detail. What if there really was a meteorite heading for earth? What if I'd actually already heard about it on news reports and from friends, but had refused to listen? What if I had been offered a secure place in a bomb shelter with some friends, but had vehemently turned them down? Who is the monster now? Obviously, diagnosing "psychological damage" is dependent upon the reasons for its appearance. Some psychological stress is merited; some is not. What we need to determine, then, is this: "Is Hell real?" (See: Is There a Hell?)

Do I Have to Believe in the Bible to Accept Jesus?

A common misconception among Christians and non-Christians alike, is that one must accept the entire Bible as true and reliable before one is able to accept Jesus Christ as Savior. And, since I personally uphold the Bible as fully reliable, I would like to start there to find the answer to this question. What are the "requirements" for salvation?

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

AND

"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

There is only one way to God and that is through Jesus Christ. The Bible also makes it perfectly clear that acts of service or works cannot be used as tickets into Heaven or as payment for God's love or favor.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The process of "being saved" is not nearly so complicated as we try to make it. It is a recognition of who Jesus is and what He has done on my behalf. It is meeting Him as a Person--a Being--not merely a belief. It is a falling in love with Him. It is a commitment to a love relationship with Jesus. That is salvation, because all of the "work" was already done by Jesus on our behalf. The rest that we do--obedience, Scripture study and belief, acts of service--comes later. For though these things are pleasing to God if offered to Him from a loving heart, none of them can get you into Heaven. Only Jesus Christ can do that. (See: How Do I Accept Jesus?)

Once you have begun on that journey of getting to know Jesus, then take a look at how He used and relied on Scripture. As you allow Him to be your guide in life, allow Him to be your guide in your attitudes toward Scripture. It may be a long process. The key is to keep moving forward with Christ as your Guide.

The Battleground of the Mind

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” (Ps. 19:14)


I love this verse. I love it because it is a prayer. It is a request of God to guard those things which are sometimes the most difficult for us to control--our tongue and our thoughts. What's the difference between a sincere follower of Christ and a hypocrite? Often there is nothing outwardly visible that one can point out to expose a hypocrite. Often, the difference is in our heart and in our thoughts. The only one who can know these things, other than ourselves, is God.


“…for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts...” (1 Chron. 28:9)


We might be able to fool other people--even people who are close to us--but we cannot fool God. He knows the motives of our heart. He sees the mental battles we wage against hatred and bitterness and envy. He hears the unspoken curses we hurl at those around us. God knows that faith and love and obedience begin in the heart and in the mind... deep within those secret, hidden places, where only we and God can reside. Satan knows this, too, and he is desperate to conquer your mind. He will wage war against you in every way in order to gain control of that vital piece of territory--your thought life.


When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15)


But we do not have to relinquish ground to the enemy. The Bible tells us: If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) and "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (I John 4:4)

It is so important for us to preserve our thoughts for things that are worthy of God. It is our first act of worship each day and our first line of defense against temptation. When we are tempted to let our thoughts linger on impure ideas or on unkind thoughts, we should instead say, "I refuse to let my mind go there. Instead, I will think of a way to offer God praise at this moment." And then, let the praises flow. Your thoughts are your own. You must learn to take them captive if you ever want to develop self-control in other areas of your life. God offers His help.

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Would God Forgive a Sinner Like Me?

Have you struggled with the fear that you are already too far down the wrong road to ever turn back? Have you doubted that God would be willing to save you after all the wrong you have done?

Paul, the writer of most of the New Testament, wrote:
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life." (I Timothy 1:15-16)

And Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17)

As He said, Jesus did not come for perfect people, but for flawed people. He does not expect us to clean ourselves up first, because that would be impossible. For how can we be made clean unless we have the Cleaner? Jesus is the Cleaner and His forgiveness is available to anyone who will believe in Him and accept that forgiveness. Jesus will take us just as we are, but He will not leave us that way. God takes a very dim view of sin. (See this post.) Accepting Christ's forgiveness is not simply a claim to fire insurance, it is entering into a relationship with God--a relationship that will change and grow over time.

So, no matter who you are or what you've done, forgiveness is yours for the taking and the Bible promises, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

Need a little help with that first step? Go to this post: How Do I Accept Jesus?

Then, the next time such things worry you, consider this passage:

This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. (I John 3:19-20)

Is There a Hell?

Do people still really believe in Hell?
Is there really a place where damned souls will go? Is life really some ambiguous test to see who’s good and who’s bad? People throughout history have disagreed about the nature of hell, its existence and its purpose. However, in this post, I will deal with the biblical explanation and illuminate some of the misconceptions, both within secular society and Christian tradition.

What is the biblical origination of hell?
The first time Hell is mentioned in the (KJV) Bible is in Deuteronomy 32:22. The Hebrew word is “lwaX” and its English equivalent is “sheol”, meaning, “sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit, Sheol - the OT designation for the abode of the dead: place of no return, without praise of God, wicked sent there for punishment, righteous not abandoned to it, of the place of exile, of extreme degradation in sin” (Strong’s).

In the New Testament, Jesus used the Greek word, “gevenna” when speaking of spiritual hell; however, the word also referred to an actual place on earth. Gehenna is the English transliteration of the Greek form of an Aramaic word, which, in turn, is derived from the Hebrew phrase “the Valley of [the son(s) of] Hinnom”. (Baker Ency. Of the Bible, v.1) Strong’s tells us: “Hell is the place of the future punishment call "Gehenna" or "Gehenna of fire". This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; a fit symbol of the wicked and their future destruction.” Additionally, the Valley of Hinnom was used for ritual infant sacrifice to the pagan god, Molech. Later, after King Josiah rid the region of such practices, the valley was used, as Strong’s tells us, for burning of refuse and dead animals. Interestingly, it was also used as a place to burn the dead bodies of criminals.

Unfortunately, both terms—sheol and gehenna—have been mistakenly considered to be synonymous with “hell” and are translated the same in some English versions of the Bible—hence, the confusion among Christians as to their real meaning. It is important to note that “sheol” in the Old Testament refers to a temporary abode of the lost between death and their final resurrection unto judgment. “Gehenna” is the place of ultimate and everlasting punishment where Satan, his demons and the wicked will be cast (Matthew 10:28). Additionally, “Tartarus” (used only once in 2 Peter 2:4) designates the place where the angels who fell during the original satanic revolt are imprisoned.

What is Hell like?
Hell (Gehenna) is described by Jesus as “a fire that shall never be quenched” in Mark 9:43 & 45, which seems to be a reference to Isaiah 66:24. Other terms associated with Hell include “eternal punishment” (Matthew 25:46), “torments” (Luke 16:23), “…kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” (Revelations 6:8), “Lake of Fire” & “second death” (Revelations 20:14), “burning brimstone” (Revelations 19:20), “…tormented day and night forever” (Revelations 20:10), and “outer darkness” and “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12, 22:13 & 25:30). Pretty much, this isn’t somewhere you want to go, and if you believe that going to hell is inevitable for you, you are believing a lie.

Did God create Hell?
I don’t think the Bible is especially clear on this subject. We know that it was “prepared” (Matthew 25:41), but it does not specifically state who created it or how Hell was created. It is certainly possible that it was prepared by God; however, one idea is that Hell is not so much a place as it is a state of being (which would make sense given the fact that souls exist in a spiritual rather than physical form). This state of being is eternal separation from God, which by its very definition could be a place of torment. In other words, it is possible that Hell is not so much a created place as it is a place/state from which God has removed His presence, His protection and His glory (all things which both the lost and the saved alike enjoy here on earth). Could it be that when God leaves, hell is simply the natural result? This concept, I believe, is more in line with the nature of God as I see it described in the Bible. God desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9) and neither does He delight even in the destruction of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23), but instead desires that all would live (John 3:16,17).

Who is Hell for?
Matthew 25:41 specifically states that hell was “prepared for the devil and his angels”. God has absolutely no desire that any man or woman go to Hell. He did not prepare Hell for us, but for Satan and his followers. In fact the Bible says, 1Thessalonians 5:9 - "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." God has only ever wanted us to spend eternity with Him in heaven. God has chosen us for paradise; however, He is not going to force us to choose Him. To be with God means to be reconciled to God, made pure and brought into a love relationship with Him. He offers this freely, but He will not force it on us. We must love Him back—and love demanded is no love at all.

Does God send people to Hell?
Matthew 25:31-46 seems to be the best description of the way in which people end up in Hell. When Christ “sends” people to Hell in this passage, it’s not so much “sending” as it is directing souls toward the only available alternative for those who can not enter into Heaven. It’s either-or, not both, and there’s no middle ground or third option. Either you get into Heaven through Christ’s payment or you don’t because you have rejected His sacrifice on your behalf. The choice, then, is entirely ours. In that sense, Christ does not “send” anyone to Hell. However, we might choose to send ourselves. This passage shows how the decision had been made long before these people stood before Christ—a decision made only by them.

Who will go to Hell?
Revelations 20:15 Though God desires that no human man or woman go to Hell, the Bible is clear that some will end up there. This verse shows that only those whose name is not found in the Book of Life, will go to Hell. The Book of Life is a record of all those who have accepted Christ’s substitutional payment for sin. If your name is written in this book, then you have nothing to worry about.

How can I escape Hell?
I’m not big on selling Christ as a form of fire insurance; however, neither can I deny that escaping Hell is a big bonus to getting to know the only One who holds the keys to Heaven. The fact is Jesus Christ—fully God, fully man, a member of the Triune God—came to earth in human form so that He might live a perfect life and die in our place. Only a perfect sacrifice can negate the hold Satan has on our souls. By rights, we belong to Satan, thanks to our long legacy of being in sin; however, if a payment is made on our behalf—the blood of a perfect sacrifice—we have the right to accept that payment and enter into God’s presence in Heaven. Through that payment our sin is covered, our guilt is released and our righteousness in God’s eyes secured. We are made “perfect” as Christ is perfect. (That is not to say that we will never again sin, but that our souls have been purchased by God through Jesus Christ and we now belong to Him and are freed from our bondage to Satan.)

Now, that’s the math, so to speak, but here’s the heart of the issue: Jesus longs for us to be present in Heaven with Him one day, yes—but more importantly, He longs for our love. He wants to enter into a harmonious, intimate love relationship with Him. He wants to be present in our lives from this moment until we draw our dying breath. He wants to be our strength and our joy and our confidence in times of trouble. And, when hard times come we know that we have nothing to fear, for God is true to His promises and once we are in His loving hands, nothing can snatch us out of His grasp. Psalm 49:15, 16 & John 10:28 See also How Do I Accept Jesus?

Should Feelings be a Basis for Faith?

Perhaps you have come across religions who say something like this: "If you have a question about our faith and aren't sure it's really true or not, just pray and ask God to give you assurance. If you experience a burning in your chest through His Holy Spirit, then you know that these things can be trusted."

Or, perhaps, you have had some kind of heightened emotional experience connected with a religious belief and, though certain aspects of that belief seem to be contradictory, you are hesitant to question them because you do not want to dismiss the validity of that experience or admit that you could have been emotionally misled in some way.

Let me offer you these words of encouragement from the Bible: Test everything. Hold on to the good. I Thessalonians 5:21

God is a mysterious Being, to be sure, and our interactions with Him will undoubtedly be quite emotional from time to time; however, He wants us to have a faith based on knowledge, wisdom and committed love, not simply emotion. Psalms 119:66 tells says, Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands. And, Proverbs 2:6 says, For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (See also: Proverbs 8:10, Proverbs 11:9, Proverbs 20:15, Proverbs 23:12, Proverbs 24:3-4, Isaiah 33:6, Phillipians 1:9-11, Colossians 1:9, 2 Peter 1:5-11)

It's important to note that, while emotion itself is not a bad thing (it was given to us by God, after all), it was never intended as a means by which to determine truth. Why? Because emotions are deceptive and can be easily swayed and manipulated by various outside forces, not the least of which is Satan himself. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

So, if our own hearts (i.e. our emotions) can be deceptive, how do we know if what the man behind the pulpit is saying is true or not? How do we know if someone is trying to deceive us? How do we know if our past emotional experiences were based on truth or on lies? We do some digging! We study and pray and then study some more. Then, once we determine that the Bible can be trusted, we use it as a lens through which we test everything else. The Bible itself actually tells us to do so through the example of the Bereans: Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17:11

You may have also noticed that these same religions that encourage a reliance on emotion, rarely encourage deep, personal study of the Bible--even if they claim that the Bible is one of their accepted religious texts. Much more emphasis is given to other, extra-biblical writings, which invariably contradict the Bible (and, hence, lead to this need for emotional validation, since intellectual validation is unobtainable.) However, the Bible welcomes deep study and is fully capable of standing up under scrutiny. God also warns us in I John 4:1-3 to be wary of those who would seek to mislead us:

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ [as defined in the Bible--added by author] has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Remember, don't trust in your emotions or in reason apart from study, but search out these things in God's Word. Proverbs 28:26 reminds us, He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be kept safe. And Proverbs 3:5-6 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Also, II Corinthians 13:5 gives us some good advice: Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?

Let me also share one more short passage with you, which is one of my personal favorites:

James 1:5-6

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask of God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.


Remember, God desires to speak to us--to our hearts, yes, but also to our minds. God, who created us, including every aspect of our beings--our emotions, our intellect, our sexuality, our spirits, our bodies, etc.--can, therefore, speak to every part of us, fill every part of us and fully sustain every part of us. We don't have to close off our minds in order to experience God--quite the opposite! And, when things don't make sense, He wants us to ask for wisdom--which He promises to give to us in abundance without finding any fault in us for needing it. What a wonderful promise!