Impossible Apologetics
“I am YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery, you have no other mighty ones against My face.” Exodus 20:2-3 ISR
You have no other – Why is this a commandment? Why is it the first commandment? Why is it that nowhere in the Bible are we given a “proof” for God’s existence but everywhere we are expected to believe Him? The answers to these questions lie in the differences between the worldviews of ancient Israel and ancient Greece. Israel was a culture that simply assumed that all creation, all history and all moral demands were the direct result of divinity. There was no need to prove the existence of divine beings because everyone knew that the gods existed. To think otherwise would have been considered a form of insanity. No one in his right mind could even question the existence of the gods since the mere fact that the world existed was overwhelming proof.
The Greeks had a different view. In the minds of the early Greek philosophers, the gods were merely fabrications of the uneducated as explanations for the natural and regular operations of the universe. The primary question of Greek philosophy was not ethical. It was mechanical. “How did the universe work?” replaced “Why did the universe work?” For the Greeks, the gods were anthropomorphic explanations of deeper mechanical processes and once reason deciphered the mechanics of the universe, the gods were no longer needed. As a result, religious apologetics today, situated in a Greek culture, must construct arguments for the existence of God in order to show that the mechanical explanation of reality is somehow insufficient. But this attempt in itself has a fatal flaw. It rests on the Greek assumption of rational explanation as the determination of what is real. The culture bows to rationalism. Any apologetics that operates within the culture carries the same rationalistic view.
The near-Eastern worldview of Scripture reveals this flaw. “If it were possible to demonstrate the existence of God, conclusively – ecce signum – putting an end to all debate, then there would also be an end to the humanity of man, the essence of which is to choose and to search.”[1]
“Concealing the Truth was necessary in order to make possible man’s greatest adventure: to live in search. If Truth had not been concealed, there would be no need to choose, to search. If Truth had been permitted to prevail, Divinity would have overwhelmed the world and humanity would not have been possible.”[2]
God commands us to accept His claim upon us, His reality and the reasonableness of His instruction. He offers no rational proofs for this. He simply points to evidence – His acts – evidence that must be interpreted in order to be understood. He is the God who brought Israel out of Egypt. His acts demonstrate His divinity. They are sufficient conditions for belief, but they are not necessary conditions. Men can see these acts as merely mechanical functions of the world without ascribing them to God. Men must still choose to believe.
For Israel, He is the One to whom they owe allegiance. That is the end of the argument. Now they must choose. Like all men, Israel can elect not to believe, not to obey, or they can decide to follow. They are not given overwhelming evidence of the sort that would make choice unnecessary. They must decide. So must we, because deciding is what it means to be human. This echoes the letter to the Hebrews. “Now faith is the evidence of things not seen.” Choice is the fundamental constituent of being human. Choice requires the absence of proof. Those who want to be certain want to be robots, not humans.
Topical Index: proof, apologetics, certain, human being, choice, Exodus 20:2-3
“In the beginning- G-d..” There is your “big bang”. G-d started this, G-d runs this, (no, He is not an absentee landlord..)- and G-d will finish this. You and I are somewhere in the timeline.. in a place (here) and a time know a “now.” We exist in the “here and now”. As the youngsters say- “this is where it’s at!”
We choose to believe, and atheist (with less “proof” than we have!) chooses not to believe, and one of the most interesting, or peculiar combinations of words in our Bible is this- “of this- they are willingly ignorant.” Willingly ignorant? They choose not to believe? Refuting and refusing massive amounts of evidence, willfully ignorant, willfully rebellious, saying to G-d as it were,- “talk to the hand because I don’t not want to hear what you have to say..” -and G-d amazingly allows this. He doesn’t fry these stubborn, willful, rebellious ones on the spot. No, instead He waits and with incredible patience He allows them to live another day.
I was one of these. Choosing my own way, my own devices, living life (a gift to me in the first place) by my rules and (of course!)- looking out for Number 1!- “me.” – It’s all about me, baby! – You didn’t know that- did you? And here you were- thinking- the known universe revolves around you. No..- it’s me- you just haven’t discovered this yet.
So, it’s ego against ego- me against you- we will strive to be “king of the ant hill” and kill to obtain. Competing against one another to be top dog. Whatever it takes to succeed, and that includes climbing on top, stepping all over people on the way to Number 1. Climbing to the top of the corporate ladder, only to find it’s leaning against the wrong building What were the words of the Teacher? “All is vanity..”
It’s no wonder we drink and do drugs- and look for love (in all the wrong places!)
Life, outside of Christ- is futile. A chasing after the wind, for what if (the Bible says) shall it profit a man (any man) that he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul?- or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Is accumulation the answer? – Ask Solomon- go ahead..- I’ll wait.
Read the story of Solomon. Do you think yours would have a different ending? “but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (Mark 4.19) Solomon was choked to death by the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire (yetser hara anyone?) for “other things”. What are these “other things?” We call them “idols”. – Anything we love more, serve more, desire more than G-d.- “Anything.” G-d demands (and deserves!) top spot. Not even prominence, but rather preeminence. – Why? (I glad you asked)..
Because, friends- we are His by right of creation. “It is He who has made us and not we ourselves.” He is our Creator. (In the beginning- our beginning- the beginning of “me”- was G-d) You are not an “accident”- you were formed and fashioned by G-d in the depths (and warmth!) of the womb. I was so traumatized when I was born, I cried like a baby!
But wait!- there’s more!- We are His by right of Calvary. We are now, today, – His purchased possession. We are the redeemed ones, justified, cleansed and made whole by the blood of the cross. Glory Hallelujah for the tslav of Yeshua HaMashiach, the virgin-born, sinless, spotless Lamb of G-d, the ONE who knew no sin, yet became sin for us- that we might become the righteousness of G-d through faith in His atoning blood.
We (none of us) will ever enter into the kingdom of G-d save by the cross of Christ. This is the only Way. I must needs go home by the Way of the cross- there’s no other Way but this! Was it for crimes that I have done- He groaned upon the Tree? Yes, -it was. Amazing pity, grace unknown, and Love beyond degree! At the cross- at the cross, -where I first saw the Light- and the burden of my heart rolled away. It was there, by faith, I received my sight- and now I am happy – all the day.
When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of Glory died..- my richest gain I count but loss..- and pour contempt on all my pride. Oh- the wondrous cross!
“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of G-d.” (1 Corinthians 1.18) Would you be free from the burden of sin? There is power, power, wonder working power in the precious blood of the Lamb.
“All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His Name.” (Acts 10:43) – Yeshua is Salvation. And amazingly, Salvation is – “to the Jew first and also to the Greek..” (Romans 1.16).
The Book of Jonah is read every Yom Kippur, WHY?
This book shows gentiles facing a raging storm on their vessel. (our vessel is the earth)
They talk to their gods, but no one listens. (like the situation in the times we are living )
As they try to solve their problems in their own way, with no good results, they see a sleeping Jonah, (he is a prophet of Israel and his sleep is a way of escaping his reality).
They wake him and find that he must obey the God of Israel in the task given, then the storm will stop, but he would rather die then obey, so they throw him over board.
*Note the prayer that the gentiles pray in Jon 1:14. They have learned to fear the God of Israel.
That prophet of Israel was suppose to prophesy to the gentiles of Nineveh that they would be destroyed by God in 40 days because of their wickedness. Jonah was angry and bitter about having to warn the gentiles, and could not envision his own peace and happiness in world where his enemies were spared by a compassionate God. God knew, and had an even greater compassion on Jonah’s wounded heart. God patiently waited until Jonah saw that separation from his God was not going to be bearable either. When he was thrown up unto the shores of Nineveh by the whale, he knew God had given him another chance to obey. His heart was not changed, but he knew that God had not rejected him, so he decided to do what God asked him to do. After he had done it he felt the way he had expected to feel, bitter and angry. God showed Jonah how myopic his heart had become, by showing him that the death of a plant, raised especially for Jonah’s pleasure, effected him greatly. God wanted him to see that the death of a city of people and animals born for God’s pleasure, would hurt God, and in turn himself, because he had not helped God to save them.
Israel is still God’s nation of priests, and they are still commanded to be a light to the world. We know that as gentile believers. So how do we act now that God has put Israel in the forefront, as a plum line?
Are we listening and helping the Jews to establish the land that was given to them,”that many peoples will come and say, Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the House of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us concerning His ways, and that we may walk in His paths, for the law will go forth from Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Isaiah 2:3. Or are we closing our ears to the crys coming out of the Land?
Antoinette, in my Bible study this morning from JEREMIAH 13:15-17
“Or are we closing our ears to the crys coming out of the Land?”
Jeremiah 13:15-17
New King James Version (NKJV)
Pride Precedes Captivity
15 Hear and give ear:
Do not be proud,
For the LORD has spoken.
16 Give glory to the LORD your God
Before He causes darkness,
And before your feet stumble
On the dark mountains,
And while you are looking for light,
He turns it into the shadow of death
And makes it dense darkness.
17 But if you will not hear it,
My soul will weep in secret for your pride;
My eyes will weep bitterly
And run down with tears,
Because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.
jan
So what is that saying to you in these times (today), when all of the nations are lining up against Israel, and telling her that Judea and Samaria do not belong to her, and she should not build on the land? They want to divide the land and give it to the “Palestinians”? and how should we respond?
They are trying to accomplish His Word. and we should be helping them. Gen.12:3
Here is a good video to explain the “Judea-Samaria/West Bank” situation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R0DQg-yNHA
Antoinette, surely you must know whose side i am on with posting what i did. i know what is going to happen to nations that try & will interfere with God’s Beloved – the Apple of His eye(s) – we should as wild olives trees grafted in travail for the peace of Jerusalem but also know that it will have to happen for all else to take place – my heart resides with COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS…♥
jan
I agree Jan that we must continually pray for the Peace of Jerusalem, But I think we must also do more than pray, we need to see the times we are living in and be counted among the righteous gentiles, as those who stood with the Jews in the Holocaust, even at the cost of their lives. More than prayer was needed at that time, as God was testing us in that time too! We need to have compassion, and to oppose persecution. James really speaks to me.
Jam 2:13 NASB – For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. 14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
AND Antoinette – your point is??? you are preaching to the choir here – do you think or feel that i am not doing something that i should be doing??? i’m not sure i know what you are tying to convey here or say to me without saying it – trying to understand??? is this about the faith issue between Michael & i – where is this coming from??? jan
Antoinette,
Thanks for the link to the video on Israel. It gives a wonderful overview of the history of the land in Israel (in 7 minutes.) SO informative and helpful!!
Hey, You are welcome. I’m glad you took the time to watch it. Be Blessed in your day!
“Those who want to be certain want to be robots, not humans.”
Skip, are you quite certain about this statement? 🙂
Pretty sure, 🙂
I don’t understand this post.
I don’t seek certainty, because I don’t believe certainty is possible outside of mathematics. However, I do want my beliefs to be more probable than any competing beliefs.
Perhaps I’ve misunderstood the post, but are you saying that everyone must choose between the propositions that there is or there is not sufficient evidence for the God of the bible, and that the choice itself can only be random? That is, there is not enough available information to allow anyone to conclude which propisition is more probable, so they must merely choose one by intuition or chance?
If that really is the case, I hope God does not judge anyone on the basis of whether or not they made the right choice. How could they have known what to choose?
Anyone who makes a decision about religion risks being wrong about it, whether they are a buddhist or an atheist or a messianic jew. I would much rather take a calculated risk—to choose the option that is the most probable—than pick something at random. Does that really make me a robot?
This resonates well with me, Skip. I have always felt uneasy about the vast framework of apologetic structures that attempt to provide ‘the answers’. You have hit the nail on the head with the comment that, operating within the Greek-based paradigm, such are missing the (Hebrew) point…
John
“They are not given overwhelming evidence of the sort that would make choice unnecessary..”
What does the Psalmist mean when he says “The heavens declare the glory of God, the dome of the sky speaks the work of his hands “? Or when he says, “The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.” Rabbi Sha’ul gives us the answer, Rom 1:18, when he describes the “wickedness of people who in their wickedness keep suppressing the truth”. He repeats the Psalmist’s idea, Rom. 1:20, “For ever since the creation of the universe his invisible qualities – both his eternal power and his divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they can be understood from what he has made. Therefore, they have no excuse; ”
Clearly seen? How much clearer can the Rabbi make this point. God’s existence is clearly seen!! It is not concealed in the slightest. But wicked people “keep suppressing the truth.” Who are the wicked? Those who do not acknowledge YHVH and His Son, Yeshua HaMashiach. In fact, says Sha’ul, “They have no excuse; because, although they know who God is, they do not glorify him as God or thank him. On the contrary, they have become futile in their thinking; and their undiscerning hearts have become darkened. Claiming to be wise, they have become fools!”
Surely, “Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”They deal corruptly, their deeds are vile, not one does what is right.” (Psa 14:1).
Man’s problem is thus not a knowledge problem. It is a sin problem. It is a moral problem. Man chooses to reject God not because there is no proof. Everything around him screams “God exists! God Exists!” Only foolish people say “There is no God.”
But in order to hold on to his mistaken idea that he is the determiner of truth (Gen. 3:5), man continues to “hold down” or “suppress” the truth about God.
Apologetics, therefore is not about knowledge. It’s about man’s self-proclaimed autonomy, that he alone, unaided by divine revelation, can determine truth. Apologetics is an epistemological activity that demonstrates the Psalmist’s declaration, “In your light, we see light.”
It is not the truth of God that the “natural” man needs to demonstrate. He needs to demonstrate the reality and the cohesiveness of his self-proclaimed autonomy and why the knowledge of God is a lie and not the truth.
Thus apologetics may not prove the existence of God. It assumes the existence of God in order to make even the simplest of statements make sense.
Putting this another way, it is the rationality of Biblical belief that is contrasted against the irrationality of all belief systems that do not begin and end with the LORD of Creation. It is not knowledge of God that is the problem. It is man’s suppression of this knowledge that is the problem.
Thus men must choose. Not in vacuum, with insufficient proof or evidence of God. They must simply choose to believe God. They have all the evidence they need. It is not an “evidence” problem. It is a moral problem, a sin problem, a problem of unbelief
Ian, i agree…
jan
I don’t mean any offense or hostility (so please don’t take this the wrong way), but this is the sort of attitude that turns me off from religion entirely, namely:
– Asserting God’s existence without explanation (stating that his existence is obvious is not the same as explaining *why* it is obvious)
– Attacking people who don’t assume his existence (by calling them fools)
– Rejecting the burden of proof. From my understanding, the null position on god’s existence is neutral (“I don’t know”), not postiive or negative.
Now, I’m not an atheist (one could say I’m on the fence about the matter), but I believe in evaluating everyone’s arguments farily. To dismiss the atheists with a wave of the hand and assumptions of moral decay is hurtful.
My suspicion is that the passage in Romans you referenced is Paul claiming that the roman culture at one time knew God and had the chance to obey him, but rejected him instead. I think Paul’s critcisms are applicable only to the romans and not to mankind universally. Otherwise, he appears to be judging all cultures for not discovering the God of Judaism from some sort of a priori principle, which hardly seems fair to me (think of those same criticisms falling on inuits or kalahari bushmen—does that seem fair?)
Also, I would like to note that the “there is” from “The fool says in his heart, there is no God” is in italics, so there is a possibility the verse may be read in different ways. The psalmist can hardly be reacting to modern atheism, which to my knowledge did not exist during his lifetime.
My understanding of these passages could be in error, though—perhaps Skip could shed some light on them.
Anyway, my intention is not to cause any trouble or to offend anyone, but I felt the need to say something on this matter.
“I don’t mean any offense or hostility (so please don’t take this the wrong way), but this is the sort of attitude that turns me off from religion entirely, namely:
– Asserting God’s existence without explanation (stating that his existence is obvious is not the same as explaining *why* it is obvious)”
No offence taken by me! 🙂
I’ll try to approach it from the backside, maybe that’ll help.
The material creation isn’t intended to “prove” the existence of God. He didn’t need it before this creation, and He doesn’t need it now. It helps those who see it understand the nature of Him, but for those who reject the very idea it serves no such purposes. I find it interesting that in the parable of Lazarus, Yeshua said that even if one were to raise from the dead, it wouldn’t be enough to convince. What convinces? The words of Moses and the prophets. (speaking God’s words) The issue is faith. A materialist can no more “disprove” the existence of God by the material world than the theist can by it. They’re both faith issues (although in opposing directions) Faith is assured by DOING the words of God, and until you do so, you’ll never gain in it. note: I didn’t say you’ll never have an opportunity to believe outside of “doing”, only that you’ll never gain assurance) The issue is pointed out by God in the relation of ourselves and others in the world, as well as God. It’s not about the “things”, it’s how we handle those things. Do the relationships you have work outside of the perimeters God says are there, and when you violate them, do the repercussions match up with His statements like He said they would? Those are the things that faith works in. It’s the SUBSTANCE of things not seen. In other words, faith (what you believe) makes up the very fabric of life. BTW, the athiest (or whatever) BELIEVES there is no god, that is what “dictates” his life, and it the reason why he handles both people and things the way he does, he has no lack of faith, it’s only moving in the opposite direction.
Your comment on “no god” is interesting because it’s the term used by Isaiah (and others) to describe idols. It’s read for example as: they served “no gods”. Even though they claimed diety, they had no power to deliver from oppression of any sort, as a matter of fact, if you followed them and their ways certain destruction was declared by YHWH Himself. (as the natural result of adherance to their WAYS) The plea of God to His people then and now, is return to Me. Do you want security and assurance? Do things MY WAY, and see how it works out for you.
My advice for you, and us, is try it, you’ll like it. When you DO what He says, you’ll begin to know Him, if you don’t, you’ll only know what it is to NOT know Him, but you’ll never know God, and you’ll be left to you own devices. (and other’s devices)
BTW, whether a bushman or a business man, these things operate the same way. There are no financial, technical, cultural or political boundries in place that limit these principles. They’re truly “universal”
Let me add some clarity to the “fool says in his heart” verse. First, the reason that “there is” is in italics is because Hebrew does not express the present tense the way English does. This gloss only provides the missing verb in Hebrew. Secondly, to be a fool in the Hebrew culture is NOT about one’s intellectual capacity or rational arguments. To be a fool is to act without moral grounding in Torah and since Torah is God’s instructions about how to live, to be a fool is to act as if God’s instructions didn’t matter. Foolishness is a moral concept, not a cognitive one. This helps us see that the biblical claim is about behavior. I can acknowledge God’s existence with all kinds of powerful rational arguments and still be a fool if I do not behave as He requires.
On apologetics in general: we must recognize that Greek apologetics begins with the premise that I must first provide sound reasoning before I can make a decision for action. Therefore, you sit on the fence because you have not found sound reasoning to compel you to move off the fence. But this is not Hebrew thinking. Hebrew thinking (like all Near-eastern worldviews) begins with the premise that God has revealed Himself to Man and therefore, a decision to obey comes BEFORE a quest to understand. In other words, since I know what God has asked of me, I must first submit my will to Him before I can expect the world to make sense. You see this reality in Islam today. Obedience comes before rational argument.
Of course, that doesn’t mean obedience is based on the irrational (that was Kiekegaard’s mistake). It means that the PRIORITY is a matter of choice. I make a decision to be obedient because He is God, not because I have determined it makes sense to me. This, obviously, works within a wider cultural setting where the claims of God on men are clearly understood, not in a setting like today where the culture in general is skeptical of all religious claims. Perhaps today we need cognitive arguments prior to faith, but at some point the question will always be: Why are to still withholding your commitment? Don’t you know enough already to decide?
Does anyone truly make a commitment to religion without a reason? Even if someone continues practicing their religion because they’ve always done it, or it feels comforting, or they prefer it over other alternatives, those are still reasons.
Does God call Abraham and his descendants to follow him without giving them observable evidence of himself through his interventions?
If someone told you they wanted to become a mormon, would you not advise them to read historical and archeological criticisms of the book of mormon? Does that not indicate that there must be at least some level of empirical testing done before one makes a commitment to something?
I am afraid of being wrong, because wrong beliefs lead to wrong actions. If I want to minimize mistakes, I must have some methodology to remove false beliefs.
But you didn’t read what I wrote. I didn’t say “reason,” I said “sound reason.” Tradition is a reason. How I feel today is a reason. What color I like is a reason. But Greek apologetics requires a sound reason, and that means the argument turns on what Plato called justified true belief. The problem, of course, is that as men have moved down the epistemological scale, the definition of justified true belief has changed – dramatically. Part of the time you are offering criticisms based on justified true belief epistemology, other times you complain about what you consider unjustified belief. The Hebrew approach is different. COMMIT yourself. DO IT! See what happens.
Or you can sit on the fence while the world goes by.
Hey, sorry about the delay.
Right, I understand that epistemology is an unsolved problem.
My criticisms aren’t based on any precise theory of justified belief. I don’t really know how to justify a belief, and I may never know. But that doesn’t allow me to give up entirely—I still have a responsibility to test beliefs to see if they are trustworthy. Will I make mistakes? Of course. But I still have to try.
I’ve been a Christian all my life. Since I became aware of the Torah-observant perspective on theology and biblical interpretation, my behavior has changed. (For example, I don’t practice my occupation on the sabbath).
So, I haven’t done nothing. I’m just not satisfied with the current state of my knowledge.
I realize your apologetics isn’t based on any theory of justified true belief, and I’m okay with that. But I’m more interested in what your apologetics says—how it responds to the world’s criticism of the bible, on textual, archeological, historical grounds—rather than where it starts.
Thanks for your time.
Ian: What does the Psalmist mean when he says “The heavens declare the glory of God, the dome of the sky speaks the work of his hands “?
Hi Ian,
What I think the Psalmist means is that we can see the “signs/language” of God written in the sky
And the Psalmist assumes that we choose to believe, and have faith, in the author/creator of this text
But there is no proof of the existence of God, so I don’t know how there could be any good evidence
Ian: Rabbi Sha’ul gives us the answer, … in Rom. 1:20, “For ever since the creation of the universe his invisible qualities – both his eternal power and his divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they can be understood from what he has made. Therefore, they have no excuse; ”
Ian: Clearly seen? How much clearer can the Rabbi make this point. God’s existence is clearly seen!!
Mike: How can “invisible qualities be clearly seen” ???
Skip: This echoes the letter to the Hebrews. “Now faith is the evidence of things not seen.”
Mike: Faith might be evidence, but I don’t think it is very good evidence 🙂
I’ll throw in one more line. Since “faith” is behavioral, i.e. faith is doing what God asks, not simply having a rational argument or a propositional creed, “faith” as evidence is readily observable. It is the ACTION of those who follow His instructions. So, if you go to Israel with us in April next year, and you stand at the Wall, you will “see” faith. In fact, you can’t miss it! But in order to “see” it, we will first have to shift paradigms and understand the world from the ancient hear-eastern view implicit in Hebraic thinking.
” faith is doing what God asks, not simply having a rational argument or a propositional creed, “faith” as evidence is readily observable.”
Hi Skip,
I understand and agree
If faith is doing what God asks
Then faith as evidence is readily observable
Michael & Skip,
Faith is visible and observable in the actions of people.
Faith is the determining factor for salvation, healing and deliverance.
Jesus never mentions any other factor for a person being made whole, other than their faith.
Jesus is expecting to find faith when He returns for us very soon.
Do you have the faith that Jesus is looking for?
http://agapegeek.com/2011/01/06/understanding-bible-faith-your-faith-is-the-determining-factor-to-you-being-made-whole-part-2/
YOU BROTHERS & SISTERS IN THE LORD NEED TO READ THIS 10 PART SERIES ON FAITH – IT IS EXCELLENT – I AM LEARNING THINGS ABOUT FAITH I NEVER KNEW OR REALIZED BEFORE – IT HAS OPENED A WHOLE NEW REALM // DIMENSION OF FAITH FOR ME…
DO YOURSELVES A MAJOR FAVOR BLESSING BY READING THIS MATERIAL – IT IS ASTOUNDING… ♥
jan
Andrew, – great to hear from you. Thank you for your contribution to this dialogue. It is wonderful to discuss and debate these things.
There is a source for our opinions or thoughts. It is the word of G-d, our Bible. This is not just a book, but rather the Book of books written by G-d through inspired men. The Bible says of itself- “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of G-d spoke as they were moved by the Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Breath). 2 Peter 1.21)
This is what what do here, studying together the scriptures and the Hebrew roots of our faith. As the song says- “How Firm a Foundation Ye Saint’s Of the LORD”- and how true this is.
We have discovered one word, one phrase at a time: “our Bible is a gold mine when you learn to dig with a Hebrew shovel.” So many of our New(er) Covenant blessings are based upon the Old(er) Covenant writings. What was foreshadowed in the O.T. is fulfilled in the N.T., but everything here is Bible based.
We are following the command of Christ- and remembering His exhortation to “search the scriptures”- “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to Me!” (John 5.39) How tragic it would be to not see the Author and Completer of our faith, the Living Word within the written words of our blessing Book, the Lamb’s book of life.
The former “title” of this website was “At G-d’s Table” and this is again another confirmation and affirmation of the scriptures which say “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of G-d”.. And where are these words found? -but within the pages of His book!