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| Do you recognize this? Do you know what this is? JOHN 3:16 Most of us have seen someone on TV (or in person) holding a sign with this on it @ football games, soccer games, and other sporting events around the world so often it kind of becomes expected - a part of the scenery. John 3:16 is in the Book of John, in the New Testament of the Bible. It reads: "For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And John 3:17 goes on to say, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him." Dear Reader, Jesus Christ IS God's Son who was sent to save the world through His selfless sacrifice as stated in John 3:16. Did you know that the life and death of Jesus Christ was declared in the Bible, in the book of Isaiah, chapter 53 about 750 years BEFORE Jesus was born? And Isaiah was told Jesus' name (Immanuel, "God with us") and that He would be born of a virgin in Isaiah 7:14. Also, a well-respected 1st century Jewish historian named Josephus, (who was never a Christian, born in 37 AD) mentions Jesus in two separate passages in his writings. And Tacitus (a Roman historian of the 1st century) mentioned Jesus and Pontius Pilate in his writings. There IS secular corroboration as to Jesus’ existence. Now let's explore a little further. This article describes how Jesus' Apostles died. These are the most commonly held traditions of how each one died. However, it is not so important how the apostles died. What is important is the fact that they were all willing to die for their faith. If Jesus had not been resurrected, the disciples would have known it. People will not die for something they know to be a lie. The fact that all of the apostles were willing to die horrible deaths, refusing to renounce their faith in Christ, is tremendous evidence that they had truly witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Should we expect God to give us an easy, carefree life? No, but He did promise that through the blood of Jesus, His sacrifice, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, He would sustain us through all things. God became Man in the form of Jesus Christ to implement His Redemption Plan for mankind. During His life Jesus suffered through poverty, indignation, family humiliation, ridicule, shame, beatings, hunger, thirst, intense and unbearable physical and emotional pain. He suffered through loneliness, false accusations, and condemnation. Through it all he did not use supernatural powers to change His circumstances. Jesus died on the cross at the hands of the very people He became Man to redeem. He could have called down ten thousand angels to rescue Him and minister to Him. He did not. I know quite a few of the people who click on my website either don’t know Jesus as their Savior, or just don’t believe in Him, or in God. There will be some who are Atheists, Agnostics, Deists, etc… My goal with this letter is to ask you to open up your thoughts and explore your belief system to determine why you believe and feel the way you do. I ask you to allow yourselves to at least realize it may be time to do some re-thinking. J
I urge you to examine your heart, and history, to expose the root cause of your rejection of God. Is it because a person who claimed to be a Christian committed an act of hatred, cruelty, perversion, or the like against you or a loved one? Is it because you have only met people who profess to be Christians, but who are hypocrites and ungodly? Did something happen to you? Are you mad @ God for something that happened in your life that you blame God for, and therefore feel He's not worth believing in, especially if you think He caused your pain? Are there bad things in this world? ABSOLUTELY! This world is corrupt and full of sin. But God has not lost control. He always has been, is now, and forever will be in control. "Our God is a God who can, and does, change lives, situations, hearts, and events. Our God is a God with limitless power. He can and will act on the basis of every prayer you and I ever pray. That is the God who IS." Mark Littleton, The Ten-Second Prayer Principle God can take away your pain, fear, frustration, and loneliness. He longs for a loving, intimate relationship with you. The whole reason for the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is to allow us the opportunity to become clean and therefore, allowing us in the presence of God. God has the power to do the impossible. He loves each of us more than we can ever imagine or hope. Allow me to share this with you: Religion was created by man who is flawed, biased, ungodly, etc... Being a Christian doesn't have anything to do with religion. It is simply the belief in God and accepting His only Son for our salvation. I do not subscribe to any particular religious denomination. I am a Christian. God did not make religion. Man did. And they got it wrong in Jesus' day. And they're still getting it wrong! 
If you died right now, do you know where you would spend eternity? The worst thing that can ever happen to a person is being sentenced to hell for all eternity. Hell is REAL and eternity is forever. People in hell will suffer unbearable pain and torment, but worst of all is not knowing God's love. Because of our sin we are separated from God. However, because of Jesus' sacrifice, we can ask for forgiveness for our sins and be saved. (See the home page to pray the prayer of salvation.) When a person dies they will either go to heaven or hell. One you're with God always, and the other you’re completely cut off from His love. OUR CHOICE. I wanted to ask doesn't the belief that God does not exist demonstrate faith? Not faith in God perhaps, but faith that there is no God? No Divine Creator? No Jesus Christ, Son of God? No plan of Salvation? Aren't Atheists and non-believers placing their faith (their very souls) in these beliefs? If so, how can they be so perfectly certain they are right? Also, how can Christians be condemned and ridiculed for their faith, but its okay for Atheists and non-believers to have their faith? * Why do those who do not believe in God (Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or the Bible) hold people who profess to be Christians in such contempt? * Why is there such intense hatred and loathing of Christians? * Why, throughout the world, are Christians murdered, persecuted, ridiculed, reviled, hated, dismissed, etc...? * Why, when in Paul's letter to the Romans he instructs each believer on how to live? * Where/what/who is the threat? I suppose the answer to all these questions is simply the name of Jesus. Non-believers hate that name and what it represents - hope, faith in something bigger, redemption, love, etc... What do they really fear? I think deep down they realize that if Jesus is truly the Son of God, and was crucified and rose again, then they would have to change their lives, beliefs, and attitudes and acknowledge they will answer to Him someday. One myth to dispel – Some say the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) contradict each other. Those who say that are relying on their own interpretation of these books. They also do not have a true understanding of the men who wrote these books nor of the context in which they were written. Here are the four great truths corresponding with the purpose of the four gospels: 1. Thou shalt … bring forth a Son: “Behold the Man,” as portrayed in Luke. 2. Thou shalt call His name Jesus: “Behold My Servant,” as portrayed in Mark. 3. He shall be great … the Son of the Highest: “Behold your God,” as portrayed in John. 4. He shall reign: “Behold your King,” as portrayed in Matthew.
You see, each of the authors of the four gospels were inspired by the Holy Spirit to show a different aspect of Jesus and together they portray Jesus as; Man, Servant, God, and King – our Lord and Savior! My belief is those who do not believe in God either don't want to admit that God exists, or are too proud of their strong-held beliefs that they do not to want to change. Reverend Billy Graham said, "The sin of pride particularly has caused the downfall of Lucifer in heaven; most certainly it can bring mortal man down too." He sums it up by saying, "He (Satan) forever tries to discredit the truthfulness of the Word of God; he coaxes men to deny the authority of God, and persuades the world to wallow in the deluding comfort of sin." If they allow themselves to admit there "may be a Creator" or "God" then they would have to admit they are responsible to Him. Well my friends, the time will come when we will all have to answer to God. Jesus will be our judge. "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" Philippians 2:9-11. And John 5:22-23 says, "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him." Here's a link to a video of Bill Wiese. He's not a preacher or pastor, but his message is powerful. Please reserve your judgment until you've watched the whole video. You will not regret it. 23 minutes In Hell Please feel free to contact me to voice your concerns, hopes, fears, and requests for prayer. Or if you just need an anonymous person to listen to you. I am happy to help any way I can. May God Bless each of you and keep you until the day of our Lord's return. :-) Jim Please visit our Partner site @ JesusLovesYouToo.org
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