Josh McDowell's Blog, page 27
March 13, 2019
Reason for Our Hope: Christ’s Resurrection
Life to death. The exact moment that our earthly constraints unchain and our eyes open to the majesty of what's next. Some won't be ready, others will be chomping at the bit!
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If we love Christ, that poignant moment will bring unbridled joy. Why? Because in proving His power over death, Jesus promised us the privilege of being in His presence for eternity. One of the tenet verses of the Christian faith, John 3:16, puts it this way: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Let’s look at why stepping into Heaven is going to be the most amazing moment ever.
Are You Chomping at the Bit?
Dude! We will be ushered into His presence! The most glorious sunset can only dimly hint at how much this will blow our minds. #justsayin
My heart aches for people who confidently declare there's nothing after death. Too often, they have no basis for their view.
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Those who put their hope in Christ do so because they know Him to be real. And not just because His ministry, death, and resurrection have been historically documented. And not because they dutifully shuffle in and out of church every Sunday. It’s because in earnestly seeking after Him, they feel His presence.
Jesus promises that all believers shall experience eternal joy. Not because we’ve earned it — but simply because we call Him “Lord.”
What’s So Great About Heaven, Anyway?
Spoiler alert: Heaven will be great because God will be there. You think the universe is awesome? God will be a million times more awesome, because He's the Creator.
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When I was a child, I gotta admit: I was not impressed to hear that Heaven is full of mansions, streets of gold, and non-stop choirs of angels. Ho-hum, that sounded boring. Now, as an adult, I gotta be honest and admit that it still does. LOL. So I’m happy to report that Heaven is SO. MUCH. MORE:
~ In Heaven we’ll be reunited with our dearly missed loved ones — fathers, sons, grandparents, even pets (maybe?) — who have gone before us. Oh, happy day!
~ In Heaven we’ll finally get to experience the fullness of God, without the filter of sin that hangs so heavy over this world.
~ In Heaven we’ll finally get answers to our huge philosophical questions. You know, like, “Why was I born?” … “What was my purpose?” … “What was the meaning of life?” … “Why was life so hard?” … and “Did I make you proud, Lord?”
The Truth: Let’s Grab It!
I know it’s cool for some to say, “I’m looking forward to partying with the sinners in hell.” I’m hoping that’s only because they don’t understand that hell isn’t going to be anything close to Party Central. Whether it’s blistering fire and brimstone, or a darkness so crushing that it suffocates the soul, the worst part of hell will be separation from God’s holy, amazing presence. That’s like seeing the beauty of the VIP table, but being banned to the kitchen to wash dishes for the rest of the meal. #justkeepingitreal
Jesus took Hell seriously. It's why He paid the ultimate price to display His power over it. That's the truth of the resurrection!
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Heaven: the place we’d be foolish not to want to be in for all of eternity. It’s our hope, and our promise, our reward for committing to Him. Heaven is the wonderful home we crave deep in our soul. Can you hardly wait to get there?
In our next blog post, let’s look even deeper at our hope in Christ. Continue the journey with us!
Catch up: The introductory post to this series.
The post Reason for Our Hope: Christ’s Resurrection appeared first on Josh.org.
March 10, 2019
Trusting in Christ’s Resurrection: The Disciples’ Reaction
What kind of person would take the blame for something he didn’t do? When you find the adjective, attach it to Jesus. He took the punishment we could not take, to offer the hope we cannot resist.
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The Wavering Became Rock-Solid Believers!
Let’s try to picture the arrest and death of Jesus from His disciples’ point of view: These mostly rough and tumble guys had walked away from their ho-hum lives to follow Jesus. In return, for the next few years, they got to bask in the notoriety of being Jesus’ inner circle. When they walked into a new town with Him, I bet they might have done so with a slight swagger. Because they knew what was about to happen: when Jesus showed up, He brought the miraculous. Can you just hear these guys saying, like it was no big deal, “Yeah, I’m just passing through. With Jesus.”
And then, BAM! A deal was made, a disciple's dastardly kiss was completed, Jesus was arrested, and His disciples scrammed, proving themselves uncommitted.
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But, THEN! There’s no getting around the fact that something incredible happened to transform this motley crew from quivering cowards into red-hot evangelists! These men went from hiding behind locked doors to brazenly sharing the Good News. Did they let the threat of also being arrested, tortured, and possibly killed stop them? NO! (All but one were, in fact, murdered for the Gospel message). Why did they refuse to save themselves now?!
Because they now KNEW that every claim Jesus had made about Himself and God was true.
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For 40 days, you see, Jesus gave His followers the opportunity to engage with Him in community before He ascended into Heaven. He proved Himself in whatever ways they needed: He ate, drank, and spoke with them. He reminded them of where they had been, and where they were headed. He revealed to them how Old Testament scripture had been fulfilled by His grisly death and glorious resurrection. He even pushed back his sleeves and opened His robes to reveal His wounds to Thomas, the doubter on record who asserted to the other disciples:
“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.” ~ John 20:25
Poor Thomas; he has no idea that history has forever pegged him to this moment! But let’s not judge Thomas too harshly; we can be just as bad with our faith requirements! Doesn’t the “I won’t believe it” argument get used regularly today?
Thomas did redeem himself a week later, when Jesus appeared to the disciples. Though Jesus did gently chide Thomas for trusting more in his eyes than in Jesus’ promises, it’s clear that Jesus wasn’t judging Thomas for his low moment of faith. Just as Jesus didn’t judge Peter when he faltered in walking on the lake toward Jesus, or when Peter publicly denied Jesus three times after His arrest. Rather, Jesus lovingly lifted Peter from his self-condemnation over doing so. God is all about our restoration!
The message I get from Scripture is that our Creator is generous with His grace when we question His existence and love. But He also points out the mental and emotional roadblocks we put up that stall our choosing to trust Him. God doesn’t demand blind faith; He asks for our trust:
Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”~ John 20:26-29.
When Jesus showed up, He brought the miraculous. But when Jesus showed up, things also got real.
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Develop Your Own Confidence in Jesus!
So what’s it gonna take for you to believe that Christ is who He said He is?
Do we believe that our dining room chairs will hold our weight? Yes. Because we’ve tested them. Do we believe that lemons are sour? Yes. Because we’ve tested their acidic juice on our tongue. Can we likewise test the Bible, to believe that what it says about Jesus is true? Yes! Some of the ways of testing we’ve already discussed, including eyewitness accounts and confirmation of Bible facts via archeology and non-biblical historical texts. Want to read some of these facts?
These are links to blog posts that provide you with truthful, vetted facts about Christ’s resurrection:
~ Resurrection of Jesus: Code Critical
This post explains defines the term “resurrection,” and explains why Jesus’ rising is so significant for us today.
~ Resurrection of Jesus: Pre-Resurrection Facts
This post shows that Christ was verified to be dead before they removed His body from the cross, historical context for Jewish burial practices, and physical details about Christ’s tomb.
~ Resurrection of Jesus: Hoax or Truth?
This post looks at various theories scholars and critics have proposed over the centuries to debunk Christ’s resurrection. Ironically, we can debunk them using logic and science.
~ Is Jesus’ Resurrection Fact? History Weighs In!
This post looks at details of the empty tomb, discarded grave clothes, an
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12 distinct instances highlighted in the Bible in which Jesus appeared to individuals or groups of people after He rose.
Look, facts matter, even when it comes to Christianity. Because if Jesus isn't who He says He is, then we're all wasting our time here.
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But an important reminder: we can “fact ourselves to death” as I heard one person put it, as we seek evidence to support the Christian faith. Eventually, we must simply CHOOSE to trust in His resurrection. Christ’s disciples — men who had NOTHING to gain from their commitment to sharing the Good News — declare that Christ resurrected. Why shouldn’t we trust these eyewitnesses?
In our next blog post, we’ll look at the hope we have about the afterlife because our Lord defeated death. Please continue the journey with us. We’re just getting started!
Catch up: The introductory post to this series.
The post Trusting in Christ’s Resurrection: The Disciples’ Reaction appeared first on Josh.org.
March 9, 2019
Does God Exist? Quick VIDEO with 5 Arguments
Original post by Sean McDowell here. Used with permission.
Sean McDowell, Ph.D. is a professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University, best-selling author, popular speaker, part-time high school teacher, and the Resident Scholar for Summit Ministries, California. Follow him on Twitter: @sean_mcdowell and his blog: seanmcdowell.org.
The post Does God Exist? Quick VIDEO with 5 Arguments appeared first on Josh.org.
March 4, 2019
Your Purpose: Gained Through Knowing God
A jigsaw guide to discovering the “Why?” of life.
Life can be so puzzling. We have all of these pieces, but we not always sure where they go. Some of us panic over this, thinking that until we have the puzzle completed, we can’t make sense of life. Relax! The truth: we can trust that God sees the big picture and knows where the pieces go. As we walk in relationship with Him, He helps to guide us in putting the pieces in the right place. As our puzzle gets more and more completed, we begin to see His unique purpose for us!
God has a plan for each of us. In walking in relationship with Him, we gain our purpose.
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What do YOU think is the purpose of life?
I don’t mean just your individual purpose, but the overall purpose of life. This is a difficult question that people have wrestled with throughout the ages. Most of the answers they’ve suggested haven’t satisfied.
Is the purpose of your life to gain wealth?
Nope. You can’t take it with you when you die. You just leave behind a lot of stuff that other people get to enjoy.
Is the purpose of your life to gain fame or success?
Nope. Neither is bad but, like wealth, they are short-lived. The memories people have of our accomplishments will eventually fade.
The seemingly discouraging reality: anything that could possibly offer any meaningful, lasting purpose falls way short of our expectations. It doesn’t ultimately satisfy.
We become discouraged because this world doesn't fulfill the purpose we're longing for. Because our purpose is not something in this world, but something beyond this world.
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So what’s the point of life? I’m glad you asked!
The Bible tells us that our purpose stems from relationship.
Not any relationship this world can offer, but the soul-deep relationship with God He hard-wired us to crave. God designed us to crave this intimate relationship. The Bible assures us that God loves us so much that He longs for each of us to be in close relationship with Him (Genesis 5:1, 1 John 3:1). Because of the void He intentionally placed within us, nothing else in this world can fully satisfy.
It's when we put our eyes on God, and walk in relationship with Him, that we discover and fully live out our purpose.
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Bonus: our relationship with God will impact every other relationship we have in life, and further amplify our purpose. That’s the ultimate win/win!
Trusting God With Our Life Puzzle
When we look at life, let’s recognize that we’re never going to have all the answers. And that’s okay!
We don’t need to have every piece in place. We don’t need to have the puzzle completed to figure out how to do life. Whew! What a relief! Let’s relax, and lean into our relationship with Him. Through Him we discover our purpose. Through Him we can journey with confidence through life.
Watch A Jigsaw Guide to Life, Alex’s short video version of this blog post.
Friends, you can look forward to learning more about trusting God in our upcoming posts. Next time we look at the power of Christ’s resurrection! Let’s keep journeying together, friends!
Catch up: The introductory post to this series.
The post Your Purpose: Gained Through Knowing God appeared first on Josh.org.
March 2, 2019
Has God Given Enough Evidence for Rational Faith?
Original post by Sean McDowell here. Used with permission.
As a college student, I explored significant doubts I had about my faith. It bothered me that God didn’t make His existence more obvious. In fact, one skeptic made me wonder: Why doesn’t God write “Jesus Saves” on the moon or “Made by God” on each cell?
After carefully examining the evidence, however, I became convinced that God has made himself known (Rom. 1:18–21; 2:14, 15). He has not made Himself known exhaustively, but He has sufficiently.
Consider three prominent arguments for the existence of God:
The Cosmological Argument :
Both scientific and philosophical reasons help us conclude that the universe, at some point, had a beginning. Given that something can’t begin to exist without a cause, the cause must be outside the universe. Since matter, time, and energy simultaneously came into existence at a finite point in the past, the cause is plausibly timeless, immaterial, intelligent, powerful, and personal.
Simply put, the beginning of the universe points to a Beginner.
The Fine-Tuning of the Laws of Physics :
The laws of physics that govern the universe are exquisitely fine-tuned for the emergence and sustenance of human life. The slightest changes in any number of physical constants would make our universe inhospitable. The most compelling and reliable explanation for why the universe is so precisely fine- tuned is that an Intelligent Mind made it that way.
Simply put, the fine-tuning of the universe points to a Fine-Tuner.
The Moral Argument :
This argument reasons that since objective moral values exist, so must God. If God does not exist, then moral values are ultimately subjective and nonbinding. Yet we know objective moral values are real. Therefore, since moral values do exist, God must as well.
Simply put, the existence of moral values points to a universal Moral Lawgiver.
Much more could be said about these arguments. My father and I go into depth on each one of these (and more) in the updated Evidence that Demands A Verdict. And we also explore the historical evidence for the deity of Christ and his resurrection. There is evidence for those who want to consider it.
So, then, why doesn’t God make his existence more evident? Why didn’t God write “Jesus Saves” with the stars? This troubled me until I realized that it’s an absurd request.
After all, what language would God write it in? Hebrew? Arabic? English? And if he wrote it in a particular language, wouldn’t all the illiterate people throughout history object? What about all the blind people? Clearly the request for God to write “Jesus Saves” in the stars wouldn’t actually fix the supposed problem.
Remember: God is not interested in proving His existence, but in knowing mankind personally (John 17:1-5).
As counterintuitive as it may seem, there is no reason to believe that if God were to make His existence more manifest that more people would repent of their sin enter into a saving relationship with Him.
God revealed Himself tirelessly in the Old Testament by sending plagues to Egypt, parting the Red Sea, and destroying the enemies of Israel. Sadly, this didn’t produce lasting heart-change in the people. They continually rebelled and followed other gods.
And even in the New Testament, when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, the religious leaders want to kill Lazarus and run Jesus out of town.
Therefore, even if God blazoned “Jesus Saves” in the stars, we would have little reason to believe this would generate lasting faith.
God is not interested in merely proving His existence. But for those with eyes to see, and ears to hear, God has made Himself known. He has offered sufficient evidence for rational faith.
The question is—Will we trust Him?
Sean McDowell, Ph.D. is a professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University, best-selling author, popular speaker, part-time high school teacher, and the Resident Scholar for Summit Ministries, California. Follow him on Twitter: @sean_mcdowell and his blog: seanmcdowell.org.
The post Has God Given Enough Evidence for Rational Faith? appeared first on Josh.org.
February 25, 2019
Five Misconceptions of Christians
We are bombarded with so much false information that we lazily accept as the truth.
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One of the craziest ironies of our time is this: The overload of information being pumped into our heads has resulted in so much illiteracy about our world. We are bombarded with so much information that it becomes difficult to separate fact from fiction. It has become way too easy to develop fantasies about the world we live in. This is especially troubling when these fantasies involve our fellow human beings.
Most of us realize that the media generally picks stories that jab cultural pressure points — and milks those stories to produce maximum click-bait impact. Just look at social media to see how much misinformation is tossed about as “truth” — and how angry people are getting because they lazily accept it as such. It’s just so much easier to instantly get mad and offended, right?
It has, indeed, become very difficult to view and understand each other, with conservative and liberal newscasters choosing to broadcast stories that represent the most extreme aspects of their “enemies.” Christianity, which really bothers some people, has long been skewed as a negative, if not freaky, social construct by the media.
“Well, you Christians don’t like this, and you demand that, and you’re so judgmental about this, and you want to force me to do that….” When I hear non-Christians say these things, I sometimes ask what formed their viewpoint. Too often, it’s simply what they heard from the media. Or it’s based on their experience with a single Christian. Oh, boy!
In view of that, I’d like to offer a short list of broad misconceptions that some people have about Christians — which are simply untrue.
1. Christians Disagree About Everything…Right?
Huh?! Not! Definite misconception! Christians do not disagree about everything.
We agree that Jesus is the Son of God, and died on the cross and resurrected so that we could believe and be saved. We agree that God calls us to love our neighbor. We agree that humankind is inherently sinful without the grace of God, and that God loves us anyway. We agree that truth matters. We agree that the gospel of Jesus is Good News to this world. We agree that the Holy Spirit is with us, and that God has spoken truth to us through His words in Scripture. These core beliefs have carried on through the generations since Christianity first began.
That isn’t to say that things don’t get messy. We are, after all, human. There are plenty of theological disagreements to go around. But at the end of the day, most Christians recognize that the majority of disagreements needn’t divide us. We are still brothers and sisters, unified through Christ. Our unity is accomplished through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:3-4). Though we have disagreements, we are a family. That’s not to say there aren’t some strange uncles and wayward cousins.
2. Christians Are Opposed to Science…Right?
Seriously?! Not! Definite misconception! Most Christians highly value the contributions of Science!
There are some Christians who take a strong obscurantist approach toward science, but I have not personally met one. Most of science doesn’t address things that concern faith in Christ. The speed of light, the chemistry of ammonium, the size of our sun, or the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow have little to do with the Gospel message. Yet for some reason, it remains a popular notion that Christians are hostile to science.
Our concerns come into play when science is wielded to defend naturalism, the view that there is nothing supernatural and everything in our universe can be explained by natural causes. Science is just one resource for us to learn about the world.
Christians rarely take issue with the scientific method or the scientific enterprise. If anything, we are concerned with the theological and philosophical interpretations that sometimes originate in the laboratory.
3. Christians Are a Hate Group…Right?
Yowza! Not! Definite misconception! Committed Christians know hate has no place in their lives!
Talk about propaganda! This lie comes straight from Satan — and the media, which loves to showcase specific Christians and church groups that decidedly do NOT represent the Church. Unfortunately, these people are the ones paraded on the headlines and distort we who are. They are a gross generalization of Christianity, not an accurate picture of committed Christ-followers.
I can honestly tell you that I do not know any of these “Christians.” The Christians I know, the ones who sit next to me in the pew of the churches I have been in, truly want to represent the love of Christ.
To be like Jesus, Christians have to wrestle with the question of how to hold truth and love together. We believe certain matters — such as sex, gender, and spirituality — to be true for the best interest of all people. But we believe that God has called us to present His truth in love. We are not to endorse sin, but to love sinners, because every one of us is a sinner in desperate need of Christ’s grace.
The reality is that we've been trained by society to view disagreement with another's religion or lifestyle as a violation of tolerance -- and thus a form of hate. This is hogwash.
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And this view places us squarely in a constant state of feeling offended. But here’s the truth: We really can express disagreement with each other without devaluing each other. Even in matters of religion, sexuality, and gender. Our culture has simply forgotten how to extend this civility, which has crippled our ability to have effective conversations about the big issues facing us today. As a nation we’ve become so vested in being self-focused.
4. Christians Don’t Positively Contribute to Society…Right?
Wait, what?! Definite misconception! So much of the good being done in the world is being done by Christians!
A great number of philanthropic organizations doing marvelous work around the world are Christian-based, fueled by Christian values, and funded by the generosity of middle-class Christians. Many other organizations are team efforts, with Christians and non-Christians coming together to share a common cause.
Modern Christians recognize that Christ calls us to care for His world and His people. We understand that Jesus identifies with the poor and marginalized (Matthew 25:31-46). We recognize the significance of the Gospel message, but we cannot divorce that from God’s heart for the hurting.
5. Christians Don’t Know How to Have Fun…Right?
LOL! Let me stop laughing! Definite misconception! That’s just more media and Hollywood propaganda!
We get it. We know we’re portrayed as boring and unhip and old-fashioned because we’re not out there “living it up” every weekend, getting drunk, having casual sex, etc. But that doesn’t make us boring. It means that we’re living to the standard Christ set for us. A standard designed to keep us from making unwise choices and adding a whole lot of unnecessary drama and pain to our lives. #ouch
Here’s the thing: before many of us became Christians, many of us did walk that path before someone introduced us to Christ. And our testimony is unanimous: That empty lifestyle didn’t fill us. We were still empty. As crazy as it sounds to non-Christians, God really does change us from the inside out.
Honestly, we’ve found ourselves learning that living for God is way better than living for ourselves. We have discovered that our friendships, marriages, and enjoyment of life have flourished because of our joy in knowing Him. And our privilege of introducing others to God is incredibly satisfying. I’m telling you, nothing is more exciting!
If you want to know what Christianity is really all about, slip into a Bible-based church and listen to some sermons. Read through the numerous, fact-filled blog posts on our site. Read the Bible. And find some committed Christ-followers to engage in conversation. Committed Christ-followers aren’t perfect….we mess up all the time….but our hearts and our eyes are on Jesus, the greatest role model we could possibly follow.
Don't accept the media's portrayal of Christians as truth. Rip off the fantasy goggles and dive into the reality of learning about Christ. He's way better than fiction! #Word
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In our next blog post, let’s look even deeper at what it means to be a committed Christ-follower!
Catch up: The introductory post to this series.
The post Five Misconceptions of Christians appeared first on Josh.org.
February 23, 2019
If There is Such Good Evidence for God, Why Don’t More People Believe? Quick VIDEO
Original post by Sean McDowell here. Used with permission.
Sean McDowell, Ph.D. is a professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University, best-selling author, popular speaker, part-time high school teacher, and the Resident Scholar for Summit Ministries, California. Follow him on Twitter: @sean_mcdowell and his blog: seanmcdowell.org.
The post If There is Such Good Evidence for God, Why Don’t More People Believe? Quick VIDEO appeared first on Josh.org.
February 22, 2019
Deity of Christ: True or False?
Some Bible critics assert that Jesus didn't say He was God. Not true. In the Gospel of Mark alone, Jesus claimed His deity more than six times. I AM, He said.
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We look around at our majestic world and we ask, “Did this all really just occur through fortunate happenstance?” Or is this the work of a Creator, whose love of order and beauty and creativity extends also to us? To believe in God doesn’t actually require all that much faith, because the clockwork intricacies of our world truly are astounding. Our souls yearn for a connection to Him. Yet some of us still fight so hard against believing in and trusting in God and the deity of Christ. Look, we can take our own explanations for life — or God’s Word. Which will you choose?
Did Jesus claim to be just a great spiritual guide — or God in human form? (Hint: the latter!)
Some skeptics like to assert that Jesus wasn’t God — and never claimed to be. So not true, people!! We should scratch our heads in confusion at these claims, because the Bible’s New Testament writers clearly wrote otherwise.
Take, for example, when the high priest asked Jesus, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus replied, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
“Blasphemy!” cried the high priest, as he tore his robes to signal his condemnation of Jesus. “What further need do we have of witnesses?” he asked the assembled Jewish leaders. And with that, without a fair and just trial, these leaders decided to murder Jesus. He wasn’t just stealing their thunder, He was uncomfortably questioning their beliefs.
But here’s the thing: Jesus allowed them to kill Him. Jesus didn’t care about saving Himself. So He didn’t, in all of recorded Scripture, tiptoe around the issue of His deity. He was God and claimed to be such. He did so calmly. Assuredly. Without worry. Because Jesus knew He was fully in control of the outcome of this and every other moment. #truth
Jesus kept His focus on the mission He came to complete: dying to wipe our life slates clean. The Gospel of John records that Jesus said, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent me.”
~ With Humility, Jesus Boldly Claimed His Deity ~
John also records that Jesus said, without ego, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Yet at this claim to deity, the Jews grabbed stones to try to kill Him. Why? Because they knew that, according to Mosaic law, any person daring to make such a claim was deserving of death. An important point: We know, from their reaction, that they understood Jesus to be claiming His deity. You and I should arrive at the same conclusion. When critics say otherwise, they ignore the obvious.
Jesus claimed to be worthy of the same honor due God. And that to see Jesus was to see God.Only a fool would make such a claim….yet Jesus DID walk on water. And calm the storms. And heal the lepers. And send all demons scurrying….
Jesus also said that He pre-existed with God before coming to earth in human form. John 17:5 reads, “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.” In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In John 5, Jesus tells us that God the Father “has given all judgment to the Son.”
And in the Gospel of Matthew, in what is referred to as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus claimed to have higher authority than the sacred Old Testament law and established Jewish tradition. Jesus is recorded as gathering a group of His disciples in Galilee to tell them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Again, not to air a massive ego, but to simply assert His deity. To assure ALL Christ-followers going forward that He holds the universe in His hands. We can trust Him!
~ And Humbly Displayed His Deity Via His Actions ~
Even in healing people Jesus humbly put His power and nature on display. He healed everyone — from the highest in stature to the lowest social outcast. Jesus wasn’t motivated by the highest bidder, but by His pure love. I adore that about Him!
As recorded in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus healed a paralytic brought to Jesus by four friends. Upon seeing the man, Jesus declared, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” “Blasphemy!” again cried the Jewish leaders. “Who but God can forgive sins?” As Sean McDowell explains in his post on the deity of Christ, “They believed the man was paralyzed because he had sinned against God, and yet Jesus had the audacity to claim that he could personally forgive these sins.” Because He WAS who He said He was, dudes!
Jesus furthered His claim to divine authority by healing a man in the synagogue over the Sabbath. Some of the Pharisees were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched closely to see if He would heal on the Sabbath. “Which is lawful on the Sabbath,” asked Jesus, “to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” Scripture tells us His critics stayed silent, but plotted in their hearts to kill Him.
Rather than be floored by the miraculous, these hard-hearted Jewish leaders chose to besmirch Jesus’ deity and turn people against Him. (Hmm….sounds like modern critics!) Some even suggested that Jesus had power over demons simply because He, Himself, was a demon. Circular logic at its best!
~ Yet Jesus Still Doesn’t Force the Issue ~
In His prayers to God, the Gospel writers tell us that Jesus used the Aramaic word Abba for father. It’s a word that suggested His closest possible intimacy with God. In claiming this unique relationship, Jesus calmly asserted His authority over Old Testament Scripture and the Jewish leadership. But His claims seriously upset the Jewish leaders’ apple cart.
Would you and I get just as mad at Jesus’ claims if He arrived today, declaring to be the Messiah and telling us to look to Him for life and answers? Quite possibly, if we similarly viewed Jesus through the lens of our selfish pride.
Yet Jesus had zero pride issues; He never moved beyond humility. Isn’t that freaking amazing?! He didn’t force people to believe in Him. He didn’t waste time chasing after people or trying to persuade them. He simply stated who He was, then got busy displaying the truth of His claims through His actions. Who but God has the power to control the natural world? Jesus performed the miraculous as easily as child’s play. He healed the sick just with a word or gesture. And salved the wounds of the hurting. And restored the lives of any who sought His help.
Though He possessed all the power of heaven, Jesus chose to die a criminal’s death to display the depth of His endless love for us. And through His resurrection, Jesus soundly settled the argument of His deity. But He gives us the freedom to choose whether we will trust Him on this.
So what say you? If you’re still hesitating to take Jesus at His word, I invite you to get up to speed on the historical evidence for Christ. You can start by reading through the year-long blog series we did last year, based on Josh and Sean McDowell’s book, Evidence That Demands a Verdict.
Jesus proclaimed His deity, and humbly proved it through His love and actions. The evidence is plentiful, if we choose to see it. Will we believe?
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In our next blog post, let’s look at five misconceptions non-believers have about Christians. (One is that we have no fun. Whaaaaaat? LOL!)
Catch up: The introductory post to this series.
The post Deity of Christ: True or False? appeared first on Josh.org.
February 16, 2019
Why Are Stories Such Powerful Means of Communication?
Original post by Sean McDowell here. Used with permission.
The first time I ever spoke at a student retreat, I asked my dad for some speaking advice.
He said, “Son, I have three words of advice for you: stories, stories, stories.”
In other words, if you want to be an effective communicator, tell stories. Now that I have been a public speaker for over two decades, I can see the wisdom in his suggestions with even greater clarity.
People remember stories and relate to them. Jesus is remembered partly because he told remarkable stories such as the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), and the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20). People have always loved stories. And they always will. As I wrote in a previous post, human beings are “storytelling animals.”
But have you ever wondered what it is about stories that makes them so impactful? Why do we enjoy a good story from a friend? Why do we love movies so much?
In his excellent book Marching Off the Map, student culture expert Tim Elmore offers some fascinating insights from neuroscience:
Part of the answer, at least, is because our brains become more active when hearing a story. Consider what it feels like to listen to a presentation, where the speaker uses boring PowerPoint slides with lists of bullet points.
No doubt, it can engage certain part of our brain. The visual aid helps, but the data listed on the screen is limited in how much it harnesses our minds.
When we hear a story, however, things dramatically shift inside us, according to researchers in Europe. Not only are the language processing portions of our brain activated, but any other portion we’d use when experiencing the events of that story are as well.
If we hear about the sweltering heat of a summer day, the preoptic areas of the anterior hypothalamus portion of our brain lights up.
If a person tells us how delicious their lasagna was last night, our sensory cortex lights up.
When a friend describes how fast he was running on a track last week, our motor cortex is ignited.
In other words, the better the storyteller, the more portions of the brain are engaged. It can be far superior to relaying mere facts. In many cases, the listeners actually feel as if they are experiencing the story itself. It is an experience.
Simply put, a story can put your whole brain to work.
Yes! God has physically wired our brains to respond to narratives.
We feel, experience, and sometimes even taste certain aspects of a story. That’s why stories are such powerful means of persuasion.
So, if you want to genuinely influence people, don’t give mere facts and data, tell good stories.
Want to be a good parent? Tell your kids meaningful stories.
Want to be a good salesman? Tell powerful stories.
Want to be a good speaker? Tell good stories.
In fact, for anyone who wants to make a real difference in life, allow me to close with three words of advice: stories, stories, stories.
Sean McDowell, Ph.D. is a professor of Christian Apologetics at Biola University, best-selling author, popular speaker, part-time high school teacher, and the Resident Scholar for Summit Ministries, California. Follow him on Twitter: @sean_mcdowell and his blog: seanmcdowell.org.
Tim Elmore and Andrew McPeak, Marching off the Map (Atlanta, GA: Poet Gardner Publishing, 2017), 141-142.
The post Why Are Stories Such Powerful Means of Communication? appeared first on Josh.org.
February 12, 2019
The Best Valentine Ever
Ugh. Valentine’s Day. Just mentioning those two words puts some of us in a funk.
Because either we’re not in a relationship, and desperately want one — or we’re in one, but the bloom of love has worn off. And some of us simply roll our eyes at Valentine’s Day — this “Hallmark Holiday” as I call it — because it feels contrived and inauthentic.
I’ve been married to my lovely bride, Dottie, for nearly half a century now (wow!). You can bet that after all these years, even on Valentine’s Day, I want her to feel really loved. But I have to admit that, to us, Valentine’s Day feels no different from the other 364 days of the year. Because we’re “all in” when it comes to loving each other.
Here's the thing about authentic love: it can't be boxed up and saved up for a single day. Real love leaks out. Continuously. Through our thoughts, words, and actions.
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The Author of Perfect Love
For the perfect example of how to do love “right,” Dottie and I look to the greatest source of love in the universe. I’m talking about God, of course. Our Creator loves us so much that He was willing to take human form to demonstrate the agony He feels about sin. Because God is utterly holy, He couldn’t allow us into full relationship with Him again until He took our sins upon Himself at the cross.
God pines for us! For the trusting, intimate relationship He always planned to share with us. He wants us to feel the assurance of His love 24/7 — 365 days of the year. His love is so perfect, in fact, that He refuses to remove it, even when we least deserve it. His love is as constant as the sun, moon, and stars, which serve to remind us of His incredible consistency, creativity, and power.
We know of His love because it’s the message He repeats … and repeats and repeats … throughout His Word. The Bible is His living, breathing love song to us. It’s like the best Valentine’s Day gesture ever … only waaaaaay better than the biggest box of chocolates, lushest bouquet, or fanciest 5-star meal available on the planet.
God is saying, to put it in Valentine's speak, Roses are red, violets are blue, My child, I reeeeeaaaaally love you. Don't doubt it! #bestvalentineever
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God promises us that nothing can separate us from His love. One of my favorite verses of this promise is found in Romans 8:38-39. Commit this to memory! It’s a terrific verse to recall in the moments you begin to doubt that God loves you:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When Valentine’s Day pops up on the calendar this week, let it remind you of the greatest love you will ever experience — if you open your heart to God. His love won’t whither and fade like the petals of the beautiful red rose pictured above. His love blooms eternal. For YOU and for me. We are never separated from God’s perfect love.
WATCH THIS: a short video of my recalling a Valentine memory with Dottie.
In our next blog post, let’s look at the deity of Christ. Christ is our physical representation of this amazing love!
Catch up: The introductory post to this series.
The post The Best Valentine Ever appeared first on Josh.org.
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