Free Will Explained Well

“God does not choose us because we believe, but that we may believe.”

~Augustine~

“Until God saves us ,we are all like Lazarus. We are dead and unable to even call out to Christ.”

“Christ calls us out of our tomb of death into life.”

Suffering: If God is good, why is there so much evil in the world? A Audio Sermon By Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church Manhattan N.Y.

Suffering is one of the biggest questions facing the human race.

Why does God allow evil and suffering?

The why of suffering is also the biggest accusation for atheists who claim God is indifferent to the plight of mankind.

The cross of Christ proves that God cares and has intervened on our behalf through Jesus’s sacrificial death on the cross to pay for our sins and save us from an eternal state of suffering.

The book of Job is considered to be the oldest book in the Bible, yet it is about suffering and loss, and the struggle to maintain hope and belief that God really does loves us despite loss.

The biggest question we should ask is, “do I love God for what is in it for me?”

Or do I love God regardless of if I get anything out of  the situation?”  Isn’t that how God loved me?”

Unconditional?

Isn’t that Grace ?

So suffering is the worst kind of teacher, but also the best kind of teacher, because if we can say that even after suffering the bitterness of loss that we still love God, then our love is truly mature and free, and full of the deepest meaning.

We love Him because He first loved us.

Click on the link below for a 30 minute sermon on this subject by Dr, Tim Keller.

http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/suffering-if-god-good-why-there-so-much-evil-world

Atheists – Jesus Is Your Friend

If you have ever been lost you already know how unpleasant and confusing it feels.

But it is possible to be lost and not even know it, or feel it.

And we can also think we know where we are, but find out much later we have been lost for a long time and are far off course.

Some of us, (perhaps many of us), are where we are because we had to retreat to a safe place, far from an element that caused us pain and suffering.

Christians are men, only they are saved by Grace yet are too often a poor reflection of who and what God is.
The Bible says God is love.

“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8

Much of that message often gets lost, and depends on if clergy have had their own hearts awakened to the love of God.

It has been said that rules without relationship breeds resentment.

Those who  teach a Christ-less Christianity are called blind guides in the Bible.They are to blame for many who are,”lost.” or deny Christ.

WE hear, “I was a Christian but…”.

Jesus Christ is the way to the Father. Jesus is the way to genuine relationship with our Loving God.

If that has not been clearly portrayed to you, then you have not seen the true Christ.

No matter where you are, atheist, skeptic, or believer, or if you’re not sure if you even care, please consider the following.

Atheist– if you consider this your current location you may feel pretty safe and do not even want to talk about it.
Denial is not a location. Denial is more like the middle of nowhere. So why are you there?

Anger often accompanies this location. Much of that anger is the result of the kind of people who actually crucified Christ.
People who had a haughty imitation of true Christianity made the religion of the Bible appear repulsive and cruel.

It’s no wonder so many make this their chosen destination.

Self righteous people are not ready to share God’s love with others when they don’t even have it present in their own lives.

Have you been hurt or let down by these kind of people?
Jesus was crucified by them.
He is your friend.

 “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”

Hebrews 9:28,29