Bullshit. My views occasionally coincide with yours. However, when I make an error and become aware of it, I acknowledge it. I have seen you either ignore or blatantly misinterpret legitimate counter arguments presented by others when you are painted into a corner, thereby wiggling your way out of forum discussions like a slippery salamander. You always have the last word, but it does not always have anything to do with the salient matter at hand. You have more posts than anyone here and you have not once acknowledged an error on your part. Enjoy your lipstick. P.S. If your external life is indeed just lipstick on a pig, then expect to be treated accordingly since that is all others have to go on. Further, if you are implying that how you present yourself externally is materially different than who you really are, then you are a hypocrite and not worth engaging in an exchange. I guess that was an error on my part.
Hi, Jesus. Can you please provide me with the daily closing price for the QQQQs over the next 254 trading days? I promise that I will do extremely good work and heavily support my favorite charity. Thanks in advance...
Quote from jzlucas: Hello, Jesus.... nice to hear from you. I was wondering if you could clear up a few contradictions in your fathers book. I'd appreciate it. They concern your rising from the dead after 3.... I mean 2 days. THE RESURRECTION: When did everyone get to the tomb? Mark 16:2 - When the sun was rising in the day John 20:1 - When it was yet dark Mark 16:2 - And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. John 20:1 - The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. As you can see when you read the text in its entirety you will see that before the sun comes up it is (was) still dark. Mark in his fast past literary styles does not go into much detail. John on the other hand his main purpose was to convey the Christ as Emmanuel - God with us. So he goes into a bit more detail. Who came? John 20:1 - Mary Magdalene alone Matt 28:1 - Mary Magdalene and the "other" Mary Mark16:1 - Mary Magdalene, Mary Mother of James & Salome Luke 24:10 - Joanna, Mary Mother of James & other women Matt 28:1 - In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. In this case Matthew omitted the other Mary. However that does not do away with the fact that Mary Magdalene was there. Remember these were eyewitness accounts. Not everybody focuses on the same thing when recounting ones memory of an event. I'm sure If we asked your siblings to recall a particular birthday party of yours (assuming you have siblings) each would remember something different about the event. Nevertheless we would know that the event happend. That's why there are 4 Gospels and not just one. There is a BIG difference between contradictions and apherent contradictions. Tomb open or closed? Luke - open Matt - closed Who did (whoever was there) see? Matt - An Angel Mark - A young man Luke - 2 men John - 2 Angels Inside or Outside the tomb? Matt - outside Mark, Luke, John - inside Matthew is the only one who notices a great earthquake as well. I guess the others didn't take note. Christianity is based on this supposed event. If this took place, how could there be so many contradictions? There is a BIG difference between contradictions and apherent contradictions. One last prophecy that I do not believe was fulfilled: Matt 16:28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Why wasn't your second coming before these people died like you promised, sir... or are they over 2000 years old? I will deal with this one next.... THE EVIDENCE FOR CHRISTâS RESURRECTION Itâs often said that the validity of Christianity rests upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But how do we know Jesus rose from the dead? As Paul noted in 1 Corinthians 15:14, if Christ did not rise from the dead then our preaching and our faith are useless. We must therefore be prepared to demonstrate that Christâs resurrection was an event that occurred in space and time â that it was in fact historical, and not mythological (cf. 2 Pet. 1:16). The importance of this event cannot be minimized as Jesus Himself proclaimed that His resurrection would prove His power over death, and thus His deity (John 2:18-22). Of the variety of evidence we have available, none is more compelling than the fact that over five hundred individuals saw Jesus (1 Cor. 15:6) during a 40-day period following His death and burial (Acts 1:3). In fact, the Apostles appealed to Christâs resurrection as proof for the truth of the gospel (Acts 17:18, 31). The historical evidence for the resurrection is so compelling that the famed Harvard law professor, Simon Greenleaf, concluded that any cross-examination of the eyewitness testimonies recorded in Scripture will result in âan undoubting conviction of their integrity, ability, and truth.â And even as we consider alternative explanations, reason drives us back to the conclusion that Christ rose from the dead. We know that the Romans had no intentions of stealing Christâs body because the last thing they wanted was any turmoil that was sure to follow such an event. The Jewish religious leaders would also have no motive in stealing the body since that would only stir up the very movement they tried to crush. And certainly, the disciples could not have stolen the body; after all, would anyone really suffer and die for a cause that they knew to be a lie? It is conceivable that someone may die for the truth, but inconceivable that hundredâs of his followerâs would, in fact, be willing to die for what they knew to be a lie. All this leads us to only one possibility â that Jesus indeed rose from the dead, and lives to be our Lord and our Savior (cf. Rev. 1:18)! IS ATHEISM LOGICAL? Atheism is the world view that denies the existence of God. More specifically, traditional atheism argues that there never was and never will be a God. But is this position rationally justifiable? Atheism positively affirms that there is no God. But can the atheist be certain of this claim? You see, to know that a transcendent God does not exist would require a perfect knowledge of all things (omniscience). To attain this knowledge you would have to have simultaneous access to all parts of the universe (omnipresence). Therefore, as an atheist, to be certain of this claim you would have to possess Godlike characteristics. Obviously, mankindâs limited nature precludes these special abilities. The atheistâs dogmatic claim is therefore clearly unjustifiable. The atheist is attempting to prove a universal negative. In terms of logic this is called a logical fallacy. The atheistic world view is inadequate for many other reasons as well. First, atheism cannot adequately explain the existence of the world. Like all other things, the world in which we live cries out for an explanation which is clearly beyond itself â however, the atheist is unable to provide one. Second, the atheistic world view is unable to provide the necessary preconditions to account for the laws of science, the universal laws of logic â and, of course, absolute moral standards. In short, the atheistic world view cannot account for the meaningful realities of life. If individual atheists are serious about truth when it comes to God, let them consider the claims of Jesus Christ. He claimed to be none other than God in human flesh (John 1:1). This astounding claim was supported, however, by His matchless personal character, His fulfillment of predictive prophecy, His incredible influence on human history â and most importantly, the historical fact of His resurrection from the dead. The evidence is definitely there for the skeptic to analyze. As Francis Schaeffer, the noted apologist, stated: âGod is there and He is not silent.â God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Cor. 5:19). Ultimately man does not deny the existence of God for lack of evidence, but because man does not want to be accountable to his creator.
Matthew 16:27[en]17:13 is one of the highlights of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples. The sixteenth chapter of Matthew contains some monumental realities. At this point in Christ's ministry it is just a few months until His death. As He moves toward it, He senses a great need to prepare His disciples for what they're going to endure in His death, resurrection, and ascension and their subsequent ministry. In the span of Matthew 16:16-28, He reveals to them that He is the Messiah, that He is building His Kingdom, and that He will die, rise, and finally come again. Review I. THE PRINCIPLE (16:24) II. THE PARADOX (16:25-26) III. THE PAROUSIA (16:27) "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then He shall reward every man according to his works." Lesson Verse 27 is the first clear revelation in the life of our Lord of His Second Coming. His deity, death, resurrection, and eventual return constitute His instruction for the disciples in the few short months before His death. Even though the disciples would hear those lessons again and again, the message didn't sink in until after Christ was gone. The lessons then took on a deeper meaning than when the disciples first heard them. A. The Glory of the Prophecy 1. Affirming the prophets The message that the Messiah would come in glory was not new. The Old Testament is filled with prophecies of it. The Davidic covenant promised there would come a King with an everlasting, glorious Kingdom (2 Sam. 7:12-13, 16). Jesus was merely affirming to the disciples the glory the prophets said would come to pass through the Messiah. 2. Encouraging the disciples The disciples may have lost a sense of the Messiah's glory because of what had occurred in the life of Christ. To date He had not operated according to their Messianic expectations. So the Lord added this significant dimension: the last view the world will have of Jesus Christ is not as a crucified criminal, but as One coming again in full glory. The first time He came He received rejection and hostility, and was executed as a criminal. The second time He will come in glory, majesty, dominion, power and might as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The old hymn "Son of Man to Thee I Cry" says, He who wept above the grave, He who stilled the raging wave, Meek to suffer, strong to save, He shall come in glory! He whose sorrows pathway trod, He that ever good bestowed-- Son of Man and Son of God-- He shall come in glory. He who bled with scourging sore, Thorns and scarlet meekly wore, He who every sorrow bore, He shall come in glory. Monarch of the smitten cheek, Scorn of Jew and scorn of Greek, Priest and king, divinely meek, He shall come in glory. He who died to set us free, He who lives and loves even me, He who comes, whom I shall see, Jesus only--only He-- He shall come in glory. That is a perspective the disciples needed because the Messianic plan wasn't unfolding the way they expected. B. The Character of the Prophecy Matthew 16:27 needs to be seen from two vantage points. 1. As a promise a) To all believers Verse 27 is a promise to those who believe. The thought of His coming is a promise that fills us with great hope and anticipation. Like John we say, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20). We are like those who gather under the altar of God and cry out, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?" (Rev. 6:10). b) To the disciples (1) The conditions of discipleship In Matthew 16:24 Jesus gives the disciples the conditions of discipleship. If anyone wants to be a Christian--to identify with Him and enter His Kingdom-- he must deny himself, bear his cross, and follow in obedience. Self-denial implies sacrifice--saying no to self and yes to God. We must say no to ease and comfort and yes to a cross--a cross of rejection, persecution, and alienation from the people of the world. It is a cross we must carry willingly. Finally, we must say yes to loyal obedience at any price. It is easy to see how excited the disciples must have been when they realized Christ was the Messiah and heard Him say, "I will build my church, and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 16:18-19). I'm sure they were thinking Christ was going to usher in the Kingdom right away. But then Christ said "he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer ... and be killed" (Matt. 16:21). Then He said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me" (Matt. 16:24). Those were some strong realities for the disciples to comprehend. They could see a lot of pain but not much gain, a lot of suffering but not much glory, and a lot of the cross but not much of a crown. (2) The compassion of the Lord The Lord understood the disciples' frustration. He never gives any of us more than we can bear. So He said, "The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels" (Matt. 16:27). The divine plan hadn't changed--it was still on schedule. Later, the apostle Paul added a footnote to that when he said, "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Rom. 8:18). Matthew 16:27 is filled with promise for the disciples and for us, because we, like them, long for the coming of Jesus Christ. 2. As a warning In Matthew 16:25 Jesus says, "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it." If you try to hang on to this world, you will forfeit eternity. In verse 26 He says, "What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Verse 27 implies a similar warning: What about the people who do not belong to Jesus Christ--who never abandoned themselves, took up their cross, and followed Him? It says, "He shall reward every man according to his works." The Christian eagerly awaits Christ's reappearance because he knows it is a time of reward. The non-Christian vigorously denies or dreads His appearance because he knows it is a time of judgment. In the vision recorded in Revelation 10:8-11 the apostle John eats the title deed to the earth, which represents the coming of Jesus Christ. He said, "It was in my mouth sweet as honey, and as soon as I had eaten it my belly was bitter" (v. 10). The sweetness is the promise to believers; the bitterness is the warning to the unbelievers. Paul viewed the coming of Christ in the same way. He longed for Jesus to come, yet wrote, "Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Cor. 5:11). So we rejoice because Jesus is coming, yet we are sad for the lot of those who don't know Him. For some Jesus' return ends a life of dying to self, taking up the cross, and living in obedience and brings about eternal rest, riches, and prosperity. For others it brings an end to a life of self-centeredness and self-indulgence, replaced by an eternity of torment, unrest, poverty, and loneliness. Jesus is not discussing any one element of the Second Coming; He is saying in verse 27 that when He comes, everyone will be dealt with. Before Christ's return, the believers are raptured and immediately taken to the judgment seat of Christ, where they receive reward for good they did through the Spirit of God. After His return, the unbelievers are ultimately gathered from out of the land and sea and brought before the great white throne. God as judge then sends them into the second death of everlasting hell. All those elements of judgment are generalized in Matthew 16:27.