The Questions, doubts and answers

The claim of the Jews is that they were the children of Abraham, John says: Matthew 3:9 NIV
And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

Jesus said: in John chapter 8... When they say they, "Abraham is our father".

John 8:39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus *said to them, “If you are Abraham’s children, do the deeds of Abraham.40 But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do. 41 You are doing the deeds of your father.”

The LORD of Hosts: Frequency and Use in the OT

Why does the title “LORD of hosts” appear more frequently in Malachi than in any other OT book, and in the time of prophetic books more than during other time periods? In the period of Isaiah, the northern kingdom was overrun and destroyed and the southern kingdom almost destroyed by the “hosts” (armies) of Assyria. God’s people had so few troops that the Assyrian King Sennacherib could mockingly challenge King Hezekiah with the offer of a gift of 2,000 horses if Hezekiah could find enough soldiers to ride them (Isa. 36:8). Similarly, in the period of Jeremiah, the southern kingdom was wiped out by the hosts (armies) of Babylon.

In the postexilic period of Malachi, the postage-stamp-sized Judah, as a tiny province within the vast Persian Empire, had no army of its own. It is precisely in such times, when God’s people are painfully aware of how limited their own resources are, that there is no greater comfort than the fact that the Lord has his invincible heavenly armies standing at the ready. It is like the comfort that Elisha prayed for his servant at Dothan when they were surrounded by the Syrian armies: “‘O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). Perhaps it is like the comfort felt by Jesus before the cross: “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:53).

The following chart shows the percentages of verses in a book containing at least one occurrence of the phrase, “LORD of hosts” (or related variation):

Malachi	(43.6%)
Haggai	(31.6%)
Zechariah	(21.8%)
Amos	(6.1%)
Jeremiah	(5.9%)
Isaiah	(4.7%)
Nahum	(4.3%)
Zephaniah	(3.8%)
Habakkuk	(1.8%)
Micah	(1.0%)
2 Samuel	(0.9%)
Psalms	(0.7%)
1 Samuel	(0.6%)
Hosea	(0.5%)
1 Kings	(0.4%)
1 Chronicles	(0.3%)
2 Kings	(0.3%)

Source: ESV Study Bible

The Day of The Lord:

Source: ESV Study Bible

The questions are always been a amazing way of our understanding about the things that we are not sure about, but it does not limit there. Sometimes or many a time people question because they wanted a particular answer or they wanted to prove something. The best is not to answer, but to question. Jesus did that... He asked questions that made Jews, Pharisees and other look like Jesus had a point. Most of the time they did not answer or they ignored the question. 

Nicodemus questions Jesus, Pontius Pilate questions Jesus, The High Priest Questions.

Jesus Questions:

Matthew 22:43-44New International Version (NIV)

43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,

44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
    under your feet.”’[a]

The most fascinating thing about Jesus' question is that we may understand the spiritual meaning and message behind it. In Luke chapter 5 we see a Paralytic man healed by Jesus.

There is this one statement that Jesus makes,

Luke 5:23 NIV

Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 

I was for a long time did not understand the exact meaning and message behind this, why should Jesus ask them a question, giving them a choice and he then does something. We see the fact that no one except God can forgive sins? The Pharisees and Doctors of the law were sitting and saying themselves this question.

Jesus' response teaches us two important things:

1. He proves that he is God

2. He proves that he can forgive sins and also can heal the paralytic

When he saw the friends of the paralytic brought he down through the roof, Jesus saw their faith and first forgive his sins, he could have complimented their friends and healed the sick at first, but he does forgive for a reason. Some of the sickness are through sin, some doesn't. Jesus saw that this man's sin to be forgiven that he not only will be healed with his present, temporary sickness of being paralytic, but saw that he should be accepted in his kingdom. But when it came to prove that he is God not just by saying, which many prophets and people do, either through their misunderstood philosophies about God, or their belief on their texts or scriptures or their traditions. Jesus thought a lesson to the Pharisees and the Doctors of Laws. In fact these people were the one who actually condemned Jesus for his claim and being, they thought their works only lead to salvation, their traditions were accepted by God. 

The last week of Jesus' calcification. Three disciples exhibited their character weaknesses. One Denied - Apostle Peter, One Doubted - Apostle Thomas, and one betrayed - judas.

The parable of Jesus - The Seed and the Sower, I was always thinking that the Sower had the control, Yes, he did. But it was not about the control of the Sower, but the heart of the field that is the places of the person who receives the Gospel. The Heart of Man. He either chooses God's word and obeys, bringing fruit to his life and an assurance for his life after death or he ignores and dis-obeys to be Judged by the Almighty God.

Jesus' answer to Apostle Peter is this he asks Peter, do you Love me? His answer to Apostle Thomas is, John 20:29 NIV Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

He gives us the liberty to ask the right questions? 

Matthew 8:9 NIV

For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

He allows our doubts to be cleared.

John 20:25 NIV

So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."

He Answers:

John 18:37... “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

John 14:6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

The Intelligent Design

It is always bothering for many of us to think why in the whole universe which is vast and empty, only our planet that's very small compared to the universe and other objects like Stars. Is considered to be the most important place in universe?

A slight difference from the Sun, would lead either too cold or too hot that life in this planet would have been a challenge, the percentage of possibility of life this planet compared to all the other objects outside the solar system or the galaxy is mind blowing.

It would have been better if the Bible has given some idea about what is universe all means, the outer planets, galaxies, black hole, stars...etc But it would be as meaningless for us humans, if some of these things are told without the mention of God who has created these, in life some things to be mysterious is better and that gives us an idea about who God can be, it leads us to humble ourselves to this wonderful and amazing things that we cannot even imagine, but one day when we face him we can ask him of why this mystery?

The Bible doesn't have to give the details of everything, but only what is required for us to have faith in God. The Bible which is the God breathed, inspired by the Holy Spirit was written by around 40 authors and 66 books.

Psalm 8New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Lord’s Glory and Man’s Dignity.

For the choir director; on the Gittith. A Psalm of David.

Lord
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have [a]displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established [b]strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.

3 When I [c]consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have [d]ordained;
4 What is man that You [e]take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
5 Yet You have made him a little lower than [f]God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!
6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen,
And also the [g]beasts of the field,
8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

Psalm 19King James Version (KJV)

19 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.

6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 150New King James Version (NKJV)

Let All Things Praise the Lord

Lord

Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

2 Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

There are many ways Apologist use the argument for creation like, the cause and effect theory, Kalam cosmological argument, The Intelligent Designer.

If I give you a book full of pictures, graphs and words, and tell you that these were just random falling from sky that turned to be pictures that gives us shapes, graphs that are by itself to convey a meaning and words that convey a message would you believe that? yet that is the case of many who believe that with our life, which is even more complex than just a book, which is even more wonderful and beautiful, marvelous. as much as the argument for the belief of God, as to why we believe in God naturally there are ways as to show why do not want to submit to an higher authority - God, because of our selfishness and we fear that our freedom of will revoked. But opposite is the case.

The meaning of life, the value of human being, the creation order, everything comes from the Intelligent Design. The morality, the consciousness, etc comes from the law giver - God. We cannot argue that we can live a moral life without the belief in God, because of two reasons. You cannot argue by following certain principles and tell that there needs no starting point for it. Secondly, the physical world has restrictions on the immorality though it makes no sense for the people who do not believe in God to follow such rules and they follow only because of fear of law.

But with God, the moral God giver who gave us the rules of life, laws to live, and abundant Grace through his Son Jesus Christ. First he accounts each and every act that we do, Secondly he gives us chance to repent and Finally there is Judgment. This order and flow of events are made perfect in order and we cannot deny the fact.

If we believe in the Son of God - Jesus Christ he will lead us into understanding his will for our life. Apostle Paul says this:

Ephesians 4:17-24New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Christian’s Walk

17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, [a]excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality [b]for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 20 But you did not learn [c]Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old [d]self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new [e]self, which [f]in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

How can we rely on scriptures?

God want us to understand his word by both physical(Intellectual) and spiritual(faith). Reasoning as to how could it be possible to have four different Gospels, different letters from Apostle Paul who was not a eye witness of Jesus Christ?

The reliability of the Gospel writers: It is very important to note that for 2 centuries theses letters were observed, thought, inquired and well researched by many people, the fact is, when it was being written it would have even more scrutiny by the people who lived at those times, they wouldn't have accepted the things if it was not happened in the manner as it was written.

Luke for example was not even a eye witness. But he took an inquiry and found all the details of what is written by others about Jesus Christ. The other most important aspect that we need to consider is when these were written. God can supernaturally help the writer to write about a long past, like in case of Pentachute written by Moses, but here God uses his own disciples to record the account of Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

More than any other factors it is the faith in believing that these were the truth takes a very important aspect of believing in Lord Jesus Christ.

John 20:29 ►

Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

A New Perspective

We see Jesus' answers give us different perspectives of life that never hit our thinking hat. When he answered Nicodemus, When he spoke and answered to the Women at the Well. When he spoke, healed the blind from the birth.

For Nicodemus Jesus said, "you shall be born again" giving us an idea about the fact that one who speaks and does the will of God is one who has born again, speaking of people who think they are Godly, but if they are in sin they still hypocritically can speak and act as if they do the God's will, but to enter into the kingdom of God, one has to be born again. Jesus shifts Nicodemus thoughts about these elements and gives him a new perspective about life after death, entering into the kingdom of God. etc

To the Women at the Well, Jesus said, "Go, call your husband and come back."  The women thought "living Waters" are just like the physical water could be carried by a vessel, but Jesus gives us a new perspective that if she wants the "life giving water - Living Water" she has to be holy, she has to be worthy in her spiritual life, Jesus wants her to see that she missed her point when she was not having the right kind of relationships, how can she claim for that "Life giving water"?

John 9 tells us about the man born blind, Jesus gave us a new perspective by healing him, saying he was blind,

John 9:3 NIV
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.