I’m reading a book written by an agnostic critical of the Christian faIth and theism in general. It’s titled “Divinity of Doubt” by Vincent Bugliosi. It is sort of an apologetic for agnosticism, so he is also critical of atheism as well. There is no doubt that Mr. Bugliosi is an intelligent and well-educated man. His reasoning and wit in the book is engaging. He has made me thoroughly interested in the view of Christianity from an agnostic perspective. However, I am not persuaded. In this post, I would like to address just one of his criticisms which I found to be very odd. Continue reading
Tag Archives: God
Giving Thanks to the Lord
1 Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.
This verse is David’s response to the return of the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark represented the presence and power of God in Israel.
All believers can be thankful that God is present in our lives and that we have His power through the Spirit of God Who is resident in our lives.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
We have many things to be thankful for. One of the greatest is that God is with us.
Serve Christ with Humility
Philippians 3:4-7 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
More than anyone else, the Apostle Paul could have boasted of himself. He was a “Hebrew of Hebrews” with Pharisaical training and a zeal for the law. In fact, he was “blameless” concerning the law. In addition, he was intellectually sharp and and well-respected. By his own admission, he could have had “confidence in the flesh”. But he didn’t. Continue reading
God Is Not Done with Israel
Deuteronomy 4:31 (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.
These words were spoken by Moses to the children of Israel. They communicate one general fact and three facts which are specific to the nation of Israel.
The general fact is that God is merciful. This is true for the Jews and the Gentiles. Regardless of who you are, God is merciful. Continue reading
Christians Are Dead?
Colossians 3:1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
In this passage, Christians (i.e. those who are “risen with Christ”) are told to keep their focus on heaven and not Earth. Then we read something rather strange. Paul writes, “For ye are dead…” Huh? I thought we were made “alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:11) What does it mean that we are dead!
When we read the word “dead” in the Scriptures, it needs to be understood as “separated”. Death is always a separation. Physical death is a separation of our spiritual part from our physical body. Spiritual death is the separation of a person from God. We are told in Romans 6:2 that believers are “dead to sin”, which in context means separated from its penalty, and by extension, its power. When one is dead to something, the thing in question has no power.
So in the passage above, believers are dead to the things of this world. Therefore, the things of the world should not be our focus. The life of the believer is “hid with Christ in God.” It is “hid” in the sense that it cannot be found on the Earth. It is where Christ is, and that is in heaven. Christian need to keep looking to Him.