"THE GREATEST GIFT IN THE WORLD"
By Fred Clarence ProJesus.com Staff
What is the "Greatest Gift in the World?
In the next few minutes we will provide you with evidence for Creation vs. Evolution.
We will briefly discuss two subjects: 1) Were we and all that is around us created
or not? 2) Is Jesus Christ the one and only God and creator or not? There are
many questions that could be asked about these two subjects. A first question
here may be, HOW did our existence on earth begin? The answer is very simple:
either we were created or we were not created. If we were created, it logically
follows that there is a creator.
We will reason with you and present evidence so that you and you alone will decide what is true and what is not true. However, if we were not created, how did we come to be? By chance? Evolution? The theory of Evolution says that all living things improve with time. However, the second law of thermodynamics, in physics, states that all energy decreases with time so that at some point in time everything will die.
If the "Big Bang" is true and the scientific law on angular momentum is correct, why is it that the sun rotates clockwise and the planets rotate counter clockwise? They should all rotate in the same direction. And, how does evolution account for moral consciousness, feelings like love, hate, depression and many more? Well, What is the Greatest Gift?
So now let's go back to the idea of a creation and a creator, whom we will call GOD. Christianity certainly does not have all the answers. Some answers must be left to faith, like who made God? We as humans have faith in many things. Such as: HOW does the earth maintain its perfect tilt and rotation? WHY does the sun provide perfect heat, light and gravity? (Wow! Three=One)
Is the Bible Reliable?
What evidence can be presented to establish the Bible as an accurate and reliable
document? WHY not use archeology? We are fortunate to live in a time of history
that is so very rich in archeological discoveries. Since the middle of the 19th
century, the number of archeological "digs" have increased dramatically.
There have been over 20,000 locations, names and treasures that are indicated
in the Bible that have been verified with these archeological digs.
Not one of the archeological findings has shown the Bible to be wrong. Another source that shows the reliability of the Bible is the "Dead Sea Scrolls". These scrolls were first discovered in 1948 in some caves in the area of Qumran, near the Dead Sea in Israel. It is believed that the scrolls were placed in clay jars around 70 A.D. at the end of the uprising against Rome.
These scrolls have been reviewed for content and discovered to be the same as the Bible of today. In other words, our Bible has not changed in 2000 years. WHY? No errors have been found, the Bible is Reliable
Did Jesus Live?
The New Testament writings are about Jesus Christ. So, the next question might
be: did Jesus really live? Many 1st and 2nd Century non-Christian authors mentioned
Christ in their writings. These writings confirm the fact that Jesus did live
2000 years ago. So, what is the Greatest Gift?
"Is Jesus The Creator and God?"
Noted author, C. S. Lewis, makes the point that Jesus was either a liar and
lunatic or He is Lord and Creator of the universe. There is no place for anything
else. C.S. Lewis says "He wasn't just a good teacher." Nothing in
the Bible or the action of his followers indicates this point of view. Let's
first look at the possibility that Jesus was a liar and a lunatic.
If Jesus was an ordinary man, and He claimed to be Divine and God, then surely He was a liar and a lunatic. If that is the case, then all Christians should be pitied because they believe lies and are completely lost spiritually. What remains is the proposition that Jesus is the Lord God, Savior and Creator of the universe. Jesus Christ was crucified for "who He said He is" not for anything He did! The Bible quotes Jesus saying, "The Father and I are One".
The evidence shows that the Bible is a very reliable document. What was so profound about what Jesus said? He said "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no-one comes to the Father (God) except through me (God the Son)." This was not some casual statement. Jesus said it as fact.
Jesus is God incarnate! God the Son! If we want glorious eternal life, it comes through Jesus. Through the Gospel, which is the power of God, for the salvation (eternal life) for everyone who believes (in Jesus) and repents (turns away from sin). There it is, the Greatest Gift in the world, "Eternal Life". WHY did Jesus say these things? Because Jesus wants all to know the joy that is found in knowing Him. That pure "joy" is WHY Christians share Jesus with friends, relatives and strangers.
Because Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation, many think of Christians as intolerant. However, Jesus commanded His followers to spread His loving word to all nations. Jesus told us to love Him and to love others. The Christian's assurance for everlasting life after physical death is based on the "faith" that Jesus Christ died for our sins and we will be with Him in heaven. Other religions require "works" in order to be "good enough". No one is good enough on their own merits.
Within these two options lies a world of difference. Let's look into the difference. Say, all other religions and cults are right and Christianity is wrong. It seems to me that if I naturally do "good" for others and the community then I will be "good enough" to go to heaven or wherever one goes after death. So, it appears I will be O.K. along with folks from other religions. However, if Jesus is God, and if Christ is the "Way the Truth and the Life", then the Christian is doing what God (Jesus) said to do and will be with Jesus in heaven after death.
What is a Christian?
How does one become a Christian and obtain the "World' Greatest Gift? (Eternal
Life with Jesus!) There are six basic beliefs.
1. Believe that the Bible is from God and is without error.
2. Believe the "trinity" (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and that Jesus
is the
one true God.
3. Believe in the virgin birth (Muslims believe this) and other miracles in
the Bible.
4. Believe that Jesus, God the Son, died on the cross for our sins.
5. Believe that Jesus rose from the dead and gives the repentant sinner
Eternal Life.
6. Believe Jesus is alive today and will return as King over all creation.
Invitation:
We at ProJesus.com invite you to investigate the claims made by Jesus in the
many articles on the web site www.ProJesus.com.
All personal questions are answered at, e-mail, answers@ProJesus.com.
