NewsBusters.org – Exposing Liberal Media Bias

The Volokh Conspiracy reported that yet another college has cracked down on a conservative student paper. The Primary Source, published a fake ad called “Islam–  Arabic Translation: Submission.” It s…

After the rebellion of Satan God made man in His image and likeness to have dominion over everything in the earth including every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. God does not deal with Satan directly – He uses man, his creation, to deal with this spirit-being. Although man was damaged by the Satanic virus of sin, Satan was now trapped in man’s flesh. Satan made a big blunder. Before then, he was elusive. However, by entering into man he was trapped like a fly on flypaper.

Christ took that “flesh of sin” and it was crucified on the cross. So, not only were our sins paid for, but Satan was also dealt with and his works destoyed on the cross – Romans 8:3 and I john 3:8 makes that clear. Satan today is like a toothless roaring lion who no longer can do damage.

What a glory to God that God can change sinners to sons.

Some times that God feller isn’t paying attention and needs a good talking to.

MSimon on February 11, 2007 at 10:52 AM

The last thing our omnipotent creator needs is one of his creations lecturing him about things we don’t fully understand.

God creates solutions. In the face of Satan’s challenges and our temptations to do the same, God provides a solution for us to resist and escape our sinful temptations.

This is the beauty of the Biblical creation story. Adam and Eve fell to temptation and God exacted the punishment that He promised. A punishment that affects all mankind since, ending in the eventual death of our physical bodies and possible eternal life apart from His presence.

Yet, in His loving compassion, God provided the way for our eternal souls to escape that punishment and again share in His full righteous presence. Just like Adam and Eve did prior to their fall to Satan’s temptation.

However Romans 3:11 says no one seeks out God, so man has already made a choice to reject God. The reason man made that choice is due to being infected with the virus of sin – this is the result of Satan and not God. God allows a choice, Satan does not. Satan deserves blame, not God.

So, in effect man has no choice. But man doesn’t care. Man is in a hopeless, pitiful condition. It is only due to God’s far reaching mercy that man has a stirring within to even consider these things.

To just blame man for exercising this sin is rather like Bill Gates blaming Windows users for system crashes!

uptight on February 12, 2007 at 1:00 AM

And that would be a false comparison.

Humankind is weak to Satan’s temptations to strive for equality or superiority with God. Consequently one of the illustrations of Original Sin is the temptation to become equal to or better than God.

Without the saving Grace of Christ’s sacrifice there is no way for us to account when we fall to temptations. We can’t blame ourselves for something that is inherent to our human natures which are born weak due to original sin. If there is blame, it goes to Satan for tempting us to sin through our weaknesses.

But, like before, this isn’t God’s original plan. That’s why Christ was born and then died for us.

Yet, God doesn’t dictate that we believe and follow Him. He gives us a choice. Eternal life with God or eternal life without God, but according to God’s rules, not according to our misguided temptation inspired rules.

Also – isn’t sin part of Gods creation?

uptight on February 11, 2007 at 4:47 PM

Not part of God’s original creation, no.

The first sin is Satan challenging God. Satan wouldn’t repent and fought God, and God removed Satan from His presence. Second sin was Adam and Eve’s temptation by Satan to challenge God’s instructions to not do something. And we do exactly the same things now when we are tempted to challenge God.

Thanks once again Mike. Even if God just build the Garden of Eden and popped mankind into place, the capacity to sin was surely part of the design.

To just blame man for exercising this sin is rather like Bill Gates blaming Windows users for system crashes!

uptight on February 12, 2007 at 1:00 AM

Even accepting your priori that the capacity to sin was part of the design fails to put the burden upon God for sin based upon logical terms.

If God is infinitely powerful, he could.
If God is infinitely good, he would.
If God could and would, then he must.
Since He must, then He did.
Since he did create the universe good, then it must be man who is responsible for evil.

But you are ignoring a second part, who then becomes responsible for the crash. If Gates issues a patch and you refuse to DL and install that patch, then you have no one to blame for the crash, except yourself.

Also, hell isn’t there for not choosing Him, it is there for rejecting Him. God believes in your intrinsic value, that he will give you the exact thing you desire. Since you desire yourself to be God (or at least God like), then he will allow you to be God-like in a place apart from him. Now imagine every human alive being placed in a room, all trying to be god-like. We are sickened by the elitism of celebrity, can you imagine it multiplied a billion fold?

Sure, he could give you a choice after you meet him, but that no longer gives you a choice, it would be manipulation, so God allows you to choose freely. It is why I believe Theism is the only rational worldview, but His existence isn’t written in the sky. If it was written in the sky, the freedom to choose would be gone.

I checked out the Skeptics Annotated Bible site, and the citations he takes for violence in the Bible are so silly and so lacking in basic understanding of Christianity that I’d take his Koran quotations with a grain of salt.

That said, this double standard about criticism of Islam versus criticism of other religion needs to keep being exposed before it gets worse.

frankj on February 9, 2007 at 8:37 PM

So take a serious look at a serious hermeneutical work on the Koran: Prophet of Doom

It has been given props by Brigitte Gabriel.

While you are looking at the doctrinal beliefs of Islam, check out the History of Jihad

I might emphaize also that, yes, God is love, but God is also righteous and won’t excuse sin without payment. We can’t make the payment. Our credit cards of sin are overdrawn. Christ, however, will pay off all our credit card debts if we allow him. That payment was made at the cross. It doesn’t matter if its one sin or ten million.

By the way, the ten commandments were given in Exodus not for man to keep, but rather to expose man’s sinful condition, so Man might receive God’s provision in Christ for his sin. Moses hurling the two tablets of stone with the commandments and breaking them shows that they will be broken.

In the Old Testament the blood of the spotless passover lamb sprinkled on the Jew’s doorpost in Egypt is what caused the death angle to passover that house. Christ is the reality and fulfillment of the pasover lamb. They also had to eat the Lamb to be strenghened for their journey out of Egypt.

Later, in the wilderness, the Jews were being bitten by poisonous snakes. God told Moses to make a brass serpent and put it up on his staff. A brass serpent has no poison. Whoever simply looked upon that serpent would live. It didn’t matter if they were good or bad – they simply had to look. Jesus was the reality of that brass serpent when He was hung on the cross – John 3:14. All we need to do is just look upon Him. The verse says, Looking away unto Jesus… Hebrews 12:2.

Jesus was crucified between two equally bad thieves who were also crucified. Both of them were cursing Jesus, but eventually one of the thieves said, “Lord, remember me in your kingdom,: Jesus replied, “truly, today you will be with me in paradise.” We are like the two thieves – we just need to ask Christ for mercy.

However, the Christian life is not just having one’s sins forgiven. Jesus said, I came that you might have life and have it abundantly - John 10:10. The angel now is no longer guarding the entrance to the Garden of Eden which contains the Tree of Life. We may now enter in and eat of that Tree which was God’s intention. Forget the Tree of the Knowledge of God and Evil. What a shame to have one’s sins forgiven, but then not enjoy the marvelous Tree of Life. People just don’t know what they are missing.

Romans 10:12 says the Lord is rich to all who call on Him. That is and has been my experience. It can be everyone’s experience.

I’m still not sold though – however, if God really is a great thing, he’ll see I’m not a bad person and he’ll forgive me anyway.

uptight,

There’s a problem with this. I am aware that I’ll be unlikely to convince you of anything new, but be advised…

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Romans 3:9-11

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Isaiah 53:5-7

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 14:12

Do not expect that God will see that you are “not a bad person”. Your idea of “not a bad person” and His are different. “For the wages of sin is death“. Any sin places you under judgement as disobedient to your Creator. But the way out follows immediately after: “but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

You presume that He will “forgive you anyway”. But not if you don’t accept His forgiveness on His terms, through the Redeemer He prepared for us all…

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Acts 4:11-13

7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Ephesians 2:7-9

Nobody will enter Heaven of their own doing, lest they have wherewith to brag about it. No, a person enters Heaven as humbly as a little child, or not at all, realizing that God not only gives them each breath they take, but offers them eternal peace and joy in spite of all our faults and sins. The word offer is significant, because it includes the chance that you may reject that offer. God forces nobody.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20

To just blame man for exercising this sin is rather like Bill Gates blaming Windows users for system crashes!

I’ve never bought this idea of a fiery hell.

uptight on February 9, 2007 at 9:24 PM

Actually, uptight, there are devout Christians who would agree with you. Lots of ‘em, actually.

I’m reminded of “It’s in the Koran” which still exists on You Tube.

Pablo on February 9, 2007 at 8:36 PM

Shhhh! I keep a low profile at YouTube so that video in particular won’t get banned! ;-) It’s pretty ridiculous that it was banned when it was (thanks, CAIR!), when you compare it with the insane number of jihadi videos there, and the obvious terrorists (i.e., this scumbag, whose account I flagged but is STILL THERE).

They’ve got such a double standard at YouTube that there’s really no need for Al Jazeera or terrorist websites any more. All they need is YouTube to broadcast their (un)holy terror war propaganda.

You may ask, if Jesus is considered God how could God allow God to be crucified? This is where the aspect of God is three comes in.

God in His essence is one. In God’s economy (Ephesians 1:10 – also called dispensation -the Greek word is oikonomiameaning arrangment or administration)God is three – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit – all three are distinct but not separate. At the baptism of Jesus at the start of His ministry you see the economical aspect with the Father speaking and the Spirit decending as a dove. At the crucifixion at the cross the Father did not speak but instead turned away as the sins of mankind were poured upon Jesus and Jesus was made sin on our behalf- see 2 Corinthians 5:21) Jesus crying out My God, My God why have you forsaken Me is a fulfillment of Psalms 22:1 which describes His crudifixion in detail. He could endure the abuse of the Roman soldiers,the Jewish priests and the people mocking at the foot of the cross, but when the Father’s presence left it was agonizing. To bear the total sins of mankind, nailed to a cross and without God’s presence is more than we can imagine.

So, in God’s essential aspect God is one while in His economical aspect God is three – this is mysterious.

Sin was not part of God’s creation. The earth was a wonderful place when first created (Isaiah 45:18) and the angels – called sons of God – sang for joy (Job 38:7)when its foundatins were laid. When Satan rebelled perhaps millions of years ago he was cast to the earth (Isaiah 14:12)and the earth became a waste and desolate place (Genesis 1:2) In the first two chapters of the Bible man has no sin and the last two chapters in the last book –
Revelation there is no longer any sin – it has been completely dealt with. In between those chapters are all the dealings and problems with sin.

To become a Christian is not by joining some organization – it is simply to receive the free gift of life in Christ Jesus. A “good talking to” as MSimon said would do it. God will surely pay attention. What happens is that you will notice an inward change – finally, peace comes in.

Our believing therefore is simply receiving (John 1:10). Although many use the name Jesus Christ in a slang way the Bible says no one can say “Lord Jesus” except by the Holy Spirit.(Ist Corinthians 12:3) That term implies the man Jesus became the Lord of All. You will only hear Christians say Lord Jesus.

One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess – even Mohammed, Confucious, Buddha – you name them – that Jesus Christ is Lord of all. (Philippians 2:10) Thanks for the great question Uptight.

Was Jesus without sin? I though he complained to God for “forsaking him”. Not that this seems particularly sinful. Just a human reaction, I guess.

I went to a football match in London today, and on the way into the stadium, I saw a film crew in the distance.

I paid it no attention, but when I reached them I found myself standing face-to-face with Michael Moore.

I won’t say what I called him, but it begins with “F” and ending in “R”.

Also, my team won the match…so quite a good day :)

Some times that God feller isn’t paying attention and needs a good talking to.

Jesus said to love your enemies and do good to those who do evil to you. Mohammed says something much different.

How about Jesus saying if someone strikes you on one cheek then turn the other also? I think the Jihadist say if the head does not cut off on one side try the other side also.

No wonder Christianity is not allowed in Saudi Arabia.

I realized in my teens (I’m 57 now) from dabbling in the metaphysical there was an unseen world around us just like radio frequency waves are transmitting all sorts of information and communication. If you have broken radio you can’t tune it, but that doesn’t mean radio waves do not exist. I searched in many different religions and isms to try to find the answers to my main problem which was myself.

In college I decided to read a chapter of the New Testament every day just so I could argue intellectually against it. What happened instead was that after many months as I read the Bible my pathetic and pitiful situation was exposed. I put God to the test and said if Christ and this Bible stuff was real then I wanted to see a change in myself – I would try it for a semester. Otherwise I would go back to rip roaring sin. I had previously prayed to receive Christ. A change occurred that semester in my being and that was over 30 years ago, and I’m more convinced today than back then.

Its important to see that we are created with three parts – a human body, a mind and a human spirit. The greek work for body is bios (we we get the word biology), for the mind psychue (psychology), and the spirit is zoe. The human spirit sets us apart from animals. You don’t see the great apes having a religious ceremony simply because they don’t have a spirit. Augustine said in man is a God shaped vacuum (the spirit) which only God can fill. Because man has a spirit man desires to contact God. That is why there are so many relgions in the world – even in the darkest jungle there is some kind of worship going on.

When Adam ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil he was contaminated by Satan and his human spirit was deadened. Man received from Satan, not from God, the desire to know the difference between good and evil. Most religions today are still eating from that same tree debating what is good and evil, right and wrong.

God’s intention was for man to have life from the Tree of Life – not to know right and wrong. If you are in the light you can see where to walk. If you are in darkness then you need someone to tell you what is the right way or wrong way.

Since man has a sin problem he expresses sin, Satan and death. Sin is a hereditary disease which is passed down from the man to his offspring. The woman does not pass her sin down – it comes from her deadbeat or saintly husband.

What was God’s solution for the sin problem, according to the Bible, was for God to put on human flesh – incarnation as a man named Jesus. Jesus means Jehovah savior. Since Mary was a virgin Jesus did not have a human father and thus no passed down sin. He was like Adam who was created sinless. He was also tested and tempted like Adam by Satan, but Jesus passed every test. In first Corinthians 15:45 He is called the last Adam.

You asked what kind of person does God want??? God simply wants Christ. God said, “this is my beloved Son, in whom I’m well pleased – Matthew 3:17.” Since Jesus did not sin he could therefore pay the the wages of mankinds sins which was done at the cross. When the soldier pierce his side out came blood (for our sins) and water (for regeneration). Now, man can once again have access to the Tree of Life which was barred to man. God doesn’t need anyone to do anything for Him – Christ has accomplished everything. What pleases God is to receive His Son.

When we receive Jesus as the Spirit in our human spirit our spirit become alive (regenerated). We also become a son of God and begin a transformation process to become the same as He. We actually become his duplication – not in the Godhead but as God’s children. Jesus is also called the firstborn of many sons. Man can now receive God in his human spirit in order to have fellowship with God and as the many sons is the body of Christ. This body is also the church, which is the many regenerated believers contituted with Christ and growing in Christ to become the bride of Christ. What does Christ want – He wants his bride and that is why He is returning. Is the church ready? No, but that is another story.

Oh well – I’m hoping, as I say, that if God exists he’ll see I’m not a bad geezer and let me in.

uptight on February 10, 2007 at 9:12 PM

The problem with this statement is that you are trying to dictate to God how God should save you. If God won’t work they way you want, then you tell God to go scratch.

Here’s the thing… given any world religion, which one worships a god that is subservient to its worshipers? None.

Here’s the problem… when we dictate to God, we place faith in ourselves above God. This is what Satan did when he challenged God and was thrown out of God’s presence. The place God created for Satan, the place that is separated from God’s presence, is what we call hell.

uptight on February 10, 2007 at 4:50 PM

That’s just it. God doesn’t make us perishable. We were always inteded for a higher purpose. The fact that our less-than-perfect physical bodies perish does not mean that our souls perish. Point is that Christ didn’t say He would save our skins, He only offers to save our souls.

Lawrence – I’ve been living without God for 35 years. It’s not that bad :)

uptight on February 10, 2007 at 4:32 PM

It’s not the last 35 years you need to worry about. It’s what you choose between now and when you die that counts.