Both the question suggests that there are other ways to God/Heaven, Other religions can also be true. How do we know what is truth? What is Truth?
Why does God make it difficult for us to believe in him?
First: When we see the nature, there is a beginning, reason behind everything, there are many theories that state that there should be a creator (The Grand Designer, Cosmological Arguments, Cause & Effect Theory. etc) but this is to prove the existence of God, now lets go further to answer why Jesus Christ?
Second: To Understand the fact or truth about Jesus' claim that he is God and only through him is Salvation, Eternal Life and Heaven we need to understand about Creation, Order of Creation and the History of Mankind.
Adam & Eve, Sin, Catastrophic events like the Flood. Then God choose One man through whom he wanted to bless every nation and people, Since Adam failed and through God's Grace and Mercy he chose Abraham. Abraham also called as "Father of Faith", "Friend of God". Wasn't a perfect man, but feared God and Obeyed God, when he was asked to show his faith to God by sacrificing his only Son - Issac the promised Son (that after he has been too old to bear a child, God blessed him with this Son). Abraham obeyed and just before or about to strike his Son by the knife the angel of God stopped Abraham from sacrificing(this also points to Jesus's death on Cross, God did not allow Abraham to sacrifice his Son, but God allowed Jesus's sacrifice on cross for our sins.
Then God chose the nation of Israel, as an example(even Israel was punished when they turned back from God, by following Idols - Why do people went to create Idol? One of the 10 commandments says..
Reliability of Holy Bible
Manuscripts:
These are the written copies made for the purpose of reliability that future generations can read and know the truth. It testifies about Jesus as God.
Humans always want something tangible to believe, to touch, feel and believe. But Jesus gave a new perspective, 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."
There are many reasons why God does not appear today,
1. Faith is "Hope on things not seen". God loves those who have Faith in him, believing that he exists. Trusting in him all the times. Faith would not have been possible and the element of our belief would have been explained, but now we have a reason, a hope and we trust in the true living God.
2. God's Wisdom, we think that if God is visible or appearing then we will fear and believe, walk in his ways and do his will. But God knows the thoughts of man, that man is unfaithful. The best example is in the Gospel's parable of "The Rich man and Lazarus", Where the Rich man after being in the torture asks God permission that he may go to his brothers and testify about the Judgment and truth, but God refutes by saying that there are already many prophets and ways to know the God, if they won't listen then they will not believe even if someone who has come from the death(this is also pointing to the resurrected Christ - 1 Cor 15, that many will not believe in the Resurrected Christ).
Why Jesus is God?
Because he says so. Why should we believe in what he says? Because he did so. So while understanding the nature of human beings, his sinful nature. There is none who claimed to have removed this aspect called sin. Everyone claimed to be God never thought of the condition of human heart, which is the most important aspect that gives us eternal life, life after death. Jesus came to save the humans from their sins, he did not just say(which would have been sufficient, because he created things just by saying) but as he placed high value to human soul, his life and for the love of God to humans, Jesus gave up his position of God and came in the human form, his death on cross was not because of his weakness, but because of his power, as Apostle Paul says: 1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
No one claimed to be God, But Jesus did, he proved...
John 10:33 NIV
"We are not stoning you for any good work," they replied, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."
John 6:41-42 (NASB)
Words to the Jews
41 Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.” 42 They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?”
John 10:30 NIV
I and the Father are one."
John 14:9 NIV
Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Matthew 28:17 NIV
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
So, what is the reason why many do not believe in Jesus as God, Son of God.
1. Because of their sins, they like to be in the dark:
John 3:19 NIV
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
2. Deception
Apostle Paul clearly says that it is the suppression of Truth, which is nothing but although their consciousness tells them what to believe and what is Truth. It is easier for them to disobey and find alternatives,.. i.e idols, invention of evils. See what Paul says at the end, they not only do evil and wrong things, sinful things, but also approve others doing that. This is a fact that many have turned away from the Truth and being blind about the Spiritual knowledge that God offers.
What shall I do now?
Acts 4:12 NIV
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
Know God:
God is Merciful, his ways are different from our ways, yet whoever comes to him he will never reject. Repent, born again, deny yourself, follow his commands, be his disciple by loving others as yourself, share his word.
John 8:32 NIV
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Fear God.
Proverbs 9:10 NIV
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Do his will:
Read his word - The Word Of God - Bible.
Bible is none like any other book. It is the Word of God, throughout the Bible there is one story about one person, Jesus Christ. God in flesh dwelt among men. God's love for us. Written by about 40 authors ranging from fishermen to kings, poets, travelers, doctors, tent makers. Bible is the inspiration from God, God helped these authors to write it down so that we will get to know about him and his will for our lives.
2 Timothy 3:16 NIV
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
God's Word is the Truth. In fact the Word of God is said to be Jesus Christ, John chapter 1 tells a lot about this. It is not a vague though arising out of somebody, but God enabled these men to write his word according to his purpose not ignoring the human effort of using jargon, language and culture. But it puts the boundary on the human thought, 2 Peter 1:20 NIV
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things.
Unlike many other scriptures which are merely written to fulfill their own needs and wants.
What about people who never heard about Jesus?
God fearing men will always be in touch with the God. God makes it possible. ex: Please read:
If Christianity is True and the only True religion. Why then Christianity is not the only religion? why there are many other religions?
This is like asking why cannot oranges grow in apple tree. The problem with this question is that if one is born in a particular country or culture he has to be living in that culture only and he should not accept any other culture. When the Truth needs to be suppressed, When the freedom should be revoked then yes this should be done, but any person who has been given choice to choose, without fear and without obligation must be allowed to accept and share what he believes in it. For it is the nature of man to share the Truth, to share what is good, what benefits everyone to bring one from dark to light, to bring one from sin to salvation, Christ is the only way. It is the free choice of any human to chose him that is why Jesus said:
Revelation 3:20 NIV
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
So, if anyone sins against God and he asks for forgiveness, will(should) he be forgiven? Why?
God is a God of Just, no doubt about that. He Judges our every act, Good or Evil. But at the same time he is also merciful and kind, knowing that if he is patient then people will eventually turn away from their sins and will come to the knowledge of him, but at the same time when he gives us the option of forgiveness and we use it for our benefit, say suppose if we are forgiven we are suppose to be ceased from sinning, if sin continues it means we are not yet forgiven. So, forgiveness is not a passport to sin, but it is for the fact that we understand God better and turning away from sins and living according to his purpose, for everyone who thinks that God forgives all the sins without consequences and continues to sin fools himself it is a deception and Grace being called as cheap,
Ecclesiastes 8:11 NIV
When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people's hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.
Today's world we hear phrases like, there is no wrong, no sin its all in the way of our thinking.
There is nothing wrong until you are caught....
But those who believe in God, believe in the Day of Judgment. Fears Lord and shun evil.
Proverbs 3:7 NIV
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
Why should Jesus die?
Even before understanding the fact about Jesus' death, we need to understand the concept of Death. Death is the result of sin, its a separation from the holy one. God never intended it to happen, he gave a choice to chose the right from wrong, from obeying and denying, from truth to lie. But human chose the death. God did not stop, Through out history we see men who are called as hero came to save people from their misery, those leading from death and oppression to freedom and joy. But Jesus is the only Hero who came to save the lost, from people going to death and bring them to life - Everlasting life. No only claimed to raise from death, no one lives forever, but Jesus did. He predicted his death, he rose again from the Tomb. His death is for our sins, he took our very position. In front of the Holy God no one is perfect, all of us have sinned. We were separated from the God because of our sins, but Jesus came that we not only are accepted to be God's Children, but also his friend.
Hebrews 10:19 NIV
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
John 17:3 NIV
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Limiting God. Twisting God's word.
Why many do not believe Jesus as God is because they limit God by saying, if Jesus were to be God he would not have died on Cross. But look at what the pass by people and others say when Jesus hung on Cross.
Matthew 27:40 NIV
and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"
Matthew 27:42 NIV
"He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
So these people and many other suppress the Truth by this way: By limiting God and by twisting their positions, they are logically fallacies. Inconsistent they twist the truth by all means, even though they know the Truth they do not accept not because of lack of evidence, but because of their heart. It is the matter of Heart. "Truth can be twisted for their own benefit and then they name it as False". Even though there are 100% proof and 100 ways to prove the truth, they find 101 ways to prove it as false.
1 Corinthians 1:23 NIV
but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
From the-prince-of-peace by-william-jennings
I was eating a piece of watermelon some months ago and was struck with its beauty. I took some of the seeds and dried them and weighed them, and found that it would require some five thousand seeds to weigh a pound; and then I applied mathematics to that forty-pound melon. One of these seeds, put into the ground, when warmed by the sun and moistened by the rain, takes off its coat and goes to work; it gathers from somewhere two hundred thousand times its own weight, and forcing this raw material through a tiny stem, constructs a watermelon. It ornaments the outside with a covering of green; inside the green it puts a layer of white, and within the white a core of red, and all through the red it scatters seeds, each one capable of continuing the work of reproduction. Where does that little seed get its tremendous power? Where does it find its coloring matter? How does it collect its flavoring extract? How does it build a watermelon? Until you can explain a watermelon, do not be too sure that you can set limits to the power of the Almighty and say just what He would do or how He would do it. I cannot explain the watermelon, but I eat it and enjoy it. - from The Prince of Peace - William Jennings Bryan read the full essay at http://gr8speech.blogspot.in/2014/05/the-prince-of-peace-william-jennings.html
Why does God make it difficult for us to believe in him?
First: When we see the nature, there is a beginning, reason behind everything, there are many theories that state that there should be a creator (The Grand Designer, Cosmological Arguments, Cause & Effect Theory. etc) but this is to prove the existence of God, now lets go further to answer why Jesus Christ?
Second: To Understand the fact or truth about Jesus' claim that he is God and only through him is Salvation, Eternal Life and Heaven we need to understand about Creation, Order of Creation and the History of Mankind.
Adam & Eve, Sin, Catastrophic events like the Flood. Then God choose One man through whom he wanted to bless every nation and people, Since Adam failed and through God's Grace and Mercy he chose Abraham. Abraham also called as "Father of Faith", "Friend of God". Wasn't a perfect man, but feared God and Obeyed God, when he was asked to show his faith to God by sacrificing his only Son - Issac the promised Son (that after he has been too old to bear a child, God blessed him with this Son). Abraham obeyed and just before or about to strike his Son by the knife the angel of God stopped Abraham from sacrificing(this also points to Jesus's death on Cross, God did not allow Abraham to sacrifice his Son, but God allowed Jesus's sacrifice on cross for our sins.
Then God chose the nation of Israel, as an example(even Israel was punished when they turned back from God, by following Idols - Why do people went to create Idol? One of the 10 commandments says..
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image
Reliability of Holy Bible
Manuscripts:
These are the written copies made for the purpose of reliability that future generations can read and know the truth. It testifies about Jesus as God.
Humans always want something tangible to believe, to touch, feel and believe. But Jesus gave a new perspective, 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."
There are many reasons why God does not appear today,
1. Faith is "Hope on things not seen". God loves those who have Faith in him, believing that he exists. Trusting in him all the times. Faith would not have been possible and the element of our belief would have been explained, but now we have a reason, a hope and we trust in the true living God.
2. God's Wisdom, we think that if God is visible or appearing then we will fear and believe, walk in his ways and do his will. But God knows the thoughts of man, that man is unfaithful. The best example is in the Gospel's parable of "The Rich man and Lazarus", Where the Rich man after being in the torture asks God permission that he may go to his brothers and testify about the Judgment and truth, but God refutes by saying that there are already many prophets and ways to know the God, if they won't listen then they will not believe even if someone who has come from the death(this is also pointing to the resurrected Christ - 1 Cor 15, that many will not believe in the Resurrected Christ).
Why Jesus is God?
Because he says so. Why should we believe in what he says? Because he did so. So while understanding the nature of human beings, his sinful nature. There is none who claimed to have removed this aspect called sin. Everyone claimed to be God never thought of the condition of human heart, which is the most important aspect that gives us eternal life, life after death. Jesus came to save the humans from their sins, he did not just say(which would have been sufficient, because he created things just by saying) but as he placed high value to human soul, his life and for the love of God to humans, Jesus gave up his position of God and came in the human form, his death on cross was not because of his weakness, but because of his power, as Apostle Paul says: 1 Corinthians 1:18 NIV
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
No one claimed to be God, But Jesus did, he proved...
John 10:33 NIV
"We are not stoning you for any good work," they replied, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God."
John 6:41-42 (NASB)
Words to the Jews
41 Therefore the Jews were grumbling about Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down out of heaven.” 42 They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?”
John 10:30 NIV
I and the Father are one."
John 14:9 NIV
Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Matthew 28:17 NIV
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.
So, what is the reason why many do not believe in Jesus as God, Son of God.
1. Because of their sins, they like to be in the dark:
John 3:19 NIV
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
2. Deception
Apostle Paul clearly says that it is the suppression of Truth, which is nothing but although their consciousness tells them what to believe and what is Truth. It is easier for them to disobey and find alternatives,.. i.e idols, invention of evils. See what Paul says at the end, they not only do evil and wrong things, sinful things, but also approve others doing that. This is a fact that many have turned away from the Truth and being blind about the Spiritual knowledge that God offers.
Romans 1New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Gospel Exalted
1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, [a]called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who was born of a [b]descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power [c]by the resurrection from the dead, according to the [d]Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship [e]to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;
7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as [f]saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ [g]for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. 9 For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you, 10 always in my prayers making request, if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be [h]established; 12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you (and have been prevented so far) so that I may obtain some fruit among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am [i]under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed [j]from faith to faith; as it is written, “[k]But the righteous man shall live by faith.”
Unbelief and Its Consequences
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth [l]in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident [m]within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not [n]honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and [o]crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for [p]a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed [q]forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is [r]unnatural,27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing [s]indecent acts and receiving in [t]their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit [u]to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,30 slanderers, [v]haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
2 Corinthians 4:1-6New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Paul’s Apostolic Ministry
4 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled [a]to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this [b]world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving [c]so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants [d]for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
What shall I do now?
Acts 4:12 NIV
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."
Know God:
God is Merciful, his ways are different from our ways, yet whoever comes to him he will never reject. Repent, born again, deny yourself, follow his commands, be his disciple by loving others as yourself, share his word.
John 8:32 NIV
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
Fear God.
Proverbs 9:10 NIV
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Do his will:
Read his word - The Word Of God - Bible.
Bible is none like any other book. It is the Word of God, throughout the Bible there is one story about one person, Jesus Christ. God in flesh dwelt among men. God's love for us. Written by about 40 authors ranging from fishermen to kings, poets, travelers, doctors, tent makers. Bible is the inspiration from God, God helped these authors to write it down so that we will get to know about him and his will for our lives.
2 Timothy 3:16 NIV
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
God's Word is the Truth. In fact the Word of God is said to be Jesus Christ, John chapter 1 tells a lot about this. It is not a vague though arising out of somebody, but God enabled these men to write his word according to his purpose not ignoring the human effort of using jargon, language and culture. But it puts the boundary on the human thought, 2 Peter 1:20 NIV
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things.
Unlike many other scriptures which are merely written to fulfill their own needs and wants.
What about people who never heard about Jesus?
God fearing men will always be in touch with the God. God makes it possible. ex: Please read:
Acts 10:1-48 Peter and Cornelius
Cornelius in the New Testament, Many other Gentiles in the New Testament clearly states that God will intervene in one or the other way and make sure that they know about Jesus.If Christianity is True and the only True religion. Why then Christianity is not the only religion? why there are many other religions?
This is like asking why cannot oranges grow in apple tree. The problem with this question is that if one is born in a particular country or culture he has to be living in that culture only and he should not accept any other culture. When the Truth needs to be suppressed, When the freedom should be revoked then yes this should be done, but any person who has been given choice to choose, without fear and without obligation must be allowed to accept and share what he believes in it. For it is the nature of man to share the Truth, to share what is good, what benefits everyone to bring one from dark to light, to bring one from sin to salvation, Christ is the only way. It is the free choice of any human to chose him that is why Jesus said:
Revelation 3:20 NIV
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
So, if anyone sins against God and he asks for forgiveness, will(should) he be forgiven? Why?
God is a God of Just, no doubt about that. He Judges our every act, Good or Evil. But at the same time he is also merciful and kind, knowing that if he is patient then people will eventually turn away from their sins and will come to the knowledge of him, but at the same time when he gives us the option of forgiveness and we use it for our benefit, say suppose if we are forgiven we are suppose to be ceased from sinning, if sin continues it means we are not yet forgiven. So, forgiveness is not a passport to sin, but it is for the fact that we understand God better and turning away from sins and living according to his purpose, for everyone who thinks that God forgives all the sins without consequences and continues to sin fools himself it is a deception and Grace being called as cheap,
Ecclesiastes 8:11 NIV
When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people's hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.
Today's world we hear phrases like, there is no wrong, no sin its all in the way of our thinking.
There is nothing wrong until you are caught....
But those who believe in God, believe in the Day of Judgment. Fears Lord and shun evil.
Proverbs 3:7 NIV
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
Why should Jesus die?
Even before understanding the fact about Jesus' death, we need to understand the concept of Death. Death is the result of sin, its a separation from the holy one. God never intended it to happen, he gave a choice to chose the right from wrong, from obeying and denying, from truth to lie. But human chose the death. God did not stop, Through out history we see men who are called as hero came to save people from their misery, those leading from death and oppression to freedom and joy. But Jesus is the only Hero who came to save the lost, from people going to death and bring them to life - Everlasting life. No only claimed to raise from death, no one lives forever, but Jesus did. He predicted his death, he rose again from the Tomb. His death is for our sins, he took our very position. In front of the Holy God no one is perfect, all of us have sinned. We were separated from the God because of our sins, but Jesus came that we not only are accepted to be God's Children, but also his friend.
Hebrews 10:19 NIV
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
John 17:3 NIV
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Limiting God. Twisting God's word.
Why many do not believe Jesus as God is because they limit God by saying, if Jesus were to be God he would not have died on Cross. But look at what the pass by people and others say when Jesus hung on Cross.
Matthew 27:40 NIV
and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"
Matthew 27:42 NIV
"He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
So these people and many other suppress the Truth by this way: By limiting God and by twisting their positions, they are logically fallacies. Inconsistent they twist the truth by all means, even though they know the Truth they do not accept not because of lack of evidence, but because of their heart. It is the matter of Heart. "Truth can be twisted for their own benefit and then they name it as False". Even though there are 100% proof and 100 ways to prove the truth, they find 101 ways to prove it as false.
1 Corinthians 1:23 NIV
but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
1 Corinthians 15New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The Fact of Christ’s Resurrection
15 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast [a]the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you [b]as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to [c]James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as [d]to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, [e]and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified [f]against God that He raised [g]Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
The Order of Resurrection
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in [h]Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.
29 Otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them? 30 Why are we also in danger every hour? 31 I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If [i]from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 34 Become sober-minded [j]as you ought, and stop sinning; for some have no knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?” 36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; 37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of [k]something else. 38 But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the glory of the earthly is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown [l]a perishable body, it is raised [m]an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual.47 The first man is from the earth, [n]earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, [o]we will also bear the image of the heavenly.
The Mystery of Resurrection
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does [p]the perishable inherit [q]the imperishable.51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised [r]imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this [s]perishable must put on [t]the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this [u]perishable will have put on [v]the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
From the-prince-of-peace by-william-jennings
I was eating a piece of watermelon some months ago and was struck with its beauty. I took some of the seeds and dried them and weighed them, and found that it would require some five thousand seeds to weigh a pound; and then I applied mathematics to that forty-pound melon. One of these seeds, put into the ground, when warmed by the sun and moistened by the rain, takes off its coat and goes to work; it gathers from somewhere two hundred thousand times its own weight, and forcing this raw material through a tiny stem, constructs a watermelon. It ornaments the outside with a covering of green; inside the green it puts a layer of white, and within the white a core of red, and all through the red it scatters seeds, each one capable of continuing the work of reproduction. Where does that little seed get its tremendous power? Where does it find its coloring matter? How does it collect its flavoring extract? How does it build a watermelon? Until you can explain a watermelon, do not be too sure that you can set limits to the power of the Almighty and say just what He would do or how He would do it. I cannot explain the watermelon, but I eat it and enjoy it. - from The Prince of Peace - William Jennings Bryan read the full essay at http://gr8speech.blogspot.in/2014/05/the-prince-of-peace-william-jennings.html
No comments:
Post a Comment