Finally - Two Posts in One Week!

Just a reminder today why I write this blog - to interest people in reading the Holy Bible in order to learn more about God, Jesus, and Christianity. Of course, there is a goal - to get people to ask questions about God, Jesus, Christianity - and themselves. Where do we fit into God's universe?

If you look at the creation story in Genesis, it would appear we were an afterthought. Created following the solar system followed by plants and specific animals (which fits with the theory of evolution except for timing), mankind might have been considered an afterthought. Until you read a verse or two from the Bible:

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: (Acts 2:22-23)

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (1 Peter 1:20)

In the first reference Paul is explaining to Jews that they did not surprise God by crucifying the man who called Himself the God. God knew it was going to happen when He was speaking to Adam and Eve as they were being ejected from the Garden of Eden. There's another verse in Genesis that shows me the crucifixion was part of creation:

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8)

Through the birth of Jesus (definitely a human being) with the Holy Spirit of God, the Messiah (or Christ in Greek) was as human as we are, and still as much God as God always. That doesn't mean that there are or were two separate Gods, because we fully believe:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: (Deuteronomy 6:4-6)

Which Jesus answered when asked:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40)

That's not quite the entire basics for having faith that Jesus is who He said He is. John has much more of the story in his third chapter. The important things are repeated, but the most memorized are:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:16-19)

If you are not a Christian, that might sound a bit odd to you - feel free to leave a note expressing your own opinion as to why this is an oddity. Do it anonymously if you wish, as there are times it is easier to express opinions without getting personal. 

If you belong to a different religion, it might sound blasphemous since it does not agree with your concept of deity - feel free to ask questions as to why I chose to follow Jesus instead of any other major earthly religion after studying their differences and their similarities. I'd love such a discussion of differences.

If you are a Christian and you find it slightly off kilter - please take time to leave a note as to why. I believe in looking at scripture the way Paul tells Timothy how to use them:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

I know - yesterday I used the same reference. It is important. It is doctrine. It is good for both an expression of disapproval and an offer for correction, even instructions. Hopefully I'll get into how we are perfect next week. Oh, yes - haven't Christians explained their perfection to you? Or mentioned why good works are great, but not sufficient? 

There are so many things to discuss about Christianity. Read your Bible so you can do so well. See you later this week week. Sunday morning I'll be in a building with our church celebrating Jesus. Christmas is just one day. We celebrate together weekly, and daily in our own lives. I've been remiss about sharing that paraticular piece of information.