Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Do Christians Have Three Gods Part 1?
Without doubt great is the mystery of Godliness. Part of the thing of understanding God is the realisation that he does not fit into very neat descriptions and that any attempt to define him is is going to fall short in some way. And this is to be expected from God who is all powerful and chooses to reveal himself to human beings as God who is three in one. It should be really stressed here that it is God that has sort to reveal himself in that way, human beings have not reach into the great eternity with a sketch pad and drawn the divine in outline but God has opened the ear of the prophet and said this is who I am. Almost any attempt to handle the whole subject of the Trinity will fall short in some way because it is really a revealed truth. someone will say Aha!!! you see one God with three heads, well if we seek to dissect it with intellect we will not get far, but you know, knowing God is all about faith in how he has chosen to reveal himself and responding to that. At the end of the day we cannot dictate to God how it is we would like him to present himself. It is like saying a piece of pottery telling its maker that it objects to the apron that was worn during the creative process. The pot does not have the right to dictate to how the potter has presented him/herself. When all is said and done it is expected of God that he is mysterious and that some things about him will never be found out,
Monday, 20 June 2011
Is The Bible True 3
I must say ahead of time that this is going to be quite a journey. So, I must encourage you ahead of time to hang on to our coat tails, if you are still on board at the end, we guarantee that you will have further evidence with which to consider the authenticity of the Bible.
We are going to consider what is called the Bibliological Test. I hope this does not scare you. The name of this mechanism originates from the fact that when things began to be written down, they were written on papyrus...you know the early version of paper. This is an outmoded concept these days however, it is like a computer desk top without buttons...and its soft and you write on it...with a pen or quill never mind! Well Papyrus decayed easily so many copies would have to be made to preserve the original writings. The Bibliological Test asks the question: "How far are the copies removed from the original?" There is a rule of thumb here: The closer the copy is to the original the more accurate it is. So with that ground work in place let us look at a few examples:
It is possible to accurately date the writings of the scriptures in this way because it is possible discover the age of the manuscript with modern technology. Also, the way that letters were formed gives an indication to when they were written, with prominent features of artistic design and graphical expression it is possible to pinpoint this extremely previous recording of scripture! Well hope you are still on board. If we lost you on the way climb back on - send us a comment!
We are going to consider what is called the Bibliological Test. I hope this does not scare you. The name of this mechanism originates from the fact that when things began to be written down, they were written on papyrus...you know the early version of paper. This is an outmoded concept these days however, it is like a computer desk top without buttons...and its soft and you write on it...with a pen or quill never mind! Well Papyrus decayed easily so many copies would have to be made to preserve the original writings. The Bibliological Test asks the question: "How far are the copies removed from the original?" There is a rule of thumb here: The closer the copy is to the original the more accurate it is. So with that ground work in place let us look at a few examples:
- Pliny Secundus 750 Years
- Ceaser 1000 Years
- Plato 1200 Years
- Aristotle 1400 Years
- Sophocles 1400 Years
- Gospels 100 Years
It is possible to accurately date the writings of the scriptures in this way because it is possible discover the age of the manuscript with modern technology. Also, the way that letters were formed gives an indication to when they were written, with prominent features of artistic design and graphical expression it is possible to pinpoint this extremely previous recording of scripture! Well hope you are still on board. If we lost you on the way climb back on - send us a comment!
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Is the Bible True 2?
Well, this question has been asked and is being asked over and over again. One way in which we can answer this question is to consider how many original manuscripts of the New Testament exist today compared with other classic writings:
New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/
- Ceasers reccord of the Gaelic wars 10 manuscripts
- Writings of Pliny the Younger 7 manuscripts
- Writings of Plato 7 manuscripts
- Writings of Herodotus 8 manuscripts
- Writings Euripides 9 manuscripts
- Writings of Aristotle 49 manuscripts
- Homers Iliad 643 manuscripts
- New Testament writings 24,633 manuscripts
New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Is there such a thing as heaven?
Professor Hawking has hit the news again stating that heaven is a place for people that are afraid of the dark. Well is there a heaven? Is there life after death? The question is not just one raised by professor Hawking but is raised when we are faced with finality and terminus, it dawns on us that there is going to be an end that "one day I will not be here!" There is also a deeper feeling that death is a cruel interruption and is far from normal. The tears and the grief experienced at a funeral tells us that this is alien and should not be.
The Bible shows that death is a foreign thing to God's original plan for humanity, and only came along as a result of sin-disobedience to Gods orders (more about sin and its meaning in future blogs) Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:4,.Romans 6:23. People are designed to live forever.
The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible is written by a teacher who had great wealth. He had so much wealth that he had time to study human life. He gathered plants, precious metals, jewellery, animals to observe them he studied human wisdom from all over the world Ecclesiastes 1:13. He indulged himself in whatever took his fancy. He was the original self imposed "lab rat". His words were so sort after that royal visitors like the Queen of Sheba travelled to listen to him 1 Kings 10:1-13 The teacher is Solomon. He was one of the wisest men that ever lived and when he spoke it was worth its weight in gold..
Two women who lived in the same house came to him one day disputing that a baby boy was theirs. Without the ability to detect blood types and carry out DNA testing, Solomon sorted out the problem by giving orders to cut the child in half so that half may be given to each woman. The real mother balled and begged that the child be given to the other woman, whilst the impostor agreed that the child should be divided. Solomon moved by his acute sense of human nature gave the child to the woman who begged for his life to be spared. 1 Kings 3:16-28
When considering humanity he said "God has set eternity in the heart of men" Ecclesiastes 3:11. So woven into the DNA of every human being there is a sense of eternal continuity. From the Jungles of Papua New Guinea to Silicon Valley, instinctively we know that death is not the end. We know we were built to live forever!
Consider the humble Pigeon, if you take that bird from it's home in Birmingham, UK to the United States of America (USA) in a covered cage and release it, the bird will circle the skies to get its bearing but once that is done, it will head towards home, starvation and exhaustion permitting it will arrive in the UK. Birds do not teach it to each other, neither is it scientifically verified how this is done by birds who do not speak. Science says it may be because the bird has an inbuilt detector of the earths magnetic fields. Whilst heaven, its location and direction cannot be discovered by science it cannot be falsified or dismissed by the god of science either. Professor Hawking assertions about heaven are flying in the face of the Bible and the witness of the human soul, far from running away from the dark, our thirst for heaven is hard wired into our cells and no amount of blue sky thinking can erase that eternal hope.
New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/
The Bible shows that death is a foreign thing to God's original plan for humanity, and only came along as a result of sin-disobedience to Gods orders (more about sin and its meaning in future blogs) Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:4,.Romans 6:23. People are designed to live forever.
The book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible is written by a teacher who had great wealth. He had so much wealth that he had time to study human life. He gathered plants, precious metals, jewellery, animals to observe them he studied human wisdom from all over the world Ecclesiastes 1:13. He indulged himself in whatever took his fancy. He was the original self imposed "lab rat". His words were so sort after that royal visitors like the Queen of Sheba travelled to listen to him 1 Kings 10:1-13 The teacher is Solomon. He was one of the wisest men that ever lived and when he spoke it was worth its weight in gold..
Two women who lived in the same house came to him one day disputing that a baby boy was theirs. Without the ability to detect blood types and carry out DNA testing, Solomon sorted out the problem by giving orders to cut the child in half so that half may be given to each woman. The real mother balled and begged that the child be given to the other woman, whilst the impostor agreed that the child should be divided. Solomon moved by his acute sense of human nature gave the child to the woman who begged for his life to be spared. 1 Kings 3:16-28
When considering humanity he said "God has set eternity in the heart of men" Ecclesiastes 3:11. So woven into the DNA of every human being there is a sense of eternal continuity. From the Jungles of Papua New Guinea to Silicon Valley, instinctively we know that death is not the end. We know we were built to live forever!
Consider the humble Pigeon, if you take that bird from it's home in Birmingham, UK to the United States of America (USA) in a covered cage and release it, the bird will circle the skies to get its bearing but once that is done, it will head towards home, starvation and exhaustion permitting it will arrive in the UK. Birds do not teach it to each other, neither is it scientifically verified how this is done by birds who do not speak. Science says it may be because the bird has an inbuilt detector of the earths magnetic fields. Whilst heaven, its location and direction cannot be discovered by science it cannot be falsified or dismissed by the god of science either. Professor Hawking assertions about heaven are flying in the face of the Bible and the witness of the human soul, far from running away from the dark, our thirst for heaven is hard wired into our cells and no amount of blue sky thinking can erase that eternal hope.
New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Will the world end on Saturday?
Harold Campings prediction that the world would end at 6.00pm on Saturday 21st of May has stopped the world in its tracks sponsoring firey media interest. Today, Monday 24th May we are still here. Embarrassed Harold Camping has gone into hiding after followers gave away everything they had in line with his predictions. Well, the shouts of "the end is nigh" like this are sponsored by a misunderstanding of the Bible. There is some truth in the debris though so lets take a look at them.
Firstly, Jesus who prophesied about the end times over 2000 years ago, said that nobody could calculate the exact time when the curtains would close. That precise date is hidden in the heart of God the Father and he will reveal it to the Son (Jesus) when time eventually runs out. Ironically, Jesus himself said that one of the signs that the end is near, is that people would increasingly say things like "the end is near" and "I saw Jesus in a dessert let's go out and see him" Matthew 26:24, even more unreal "I am Jesus". The fact that people are tuned in to the finality of things is a massive clue that time is actually ending. Matthew 24:4 "...Jesus answered and said watch out that no one deceives you, for many will come in my name proclaiming that I am the Messiah and will deceive many.
Secondly, it's worth mentioning here that whilst Christ did not give a precise time when the world would end, he did tell his disciples that there will be certain clues as that end time approaches. It will be like the cramping womb of an expectant mother. Have you seen the TV dramas in which a pregnant woman’s contractions begin on an airplane 5000 ft in the air, or in the high street at midday. She knows that the baby is coming. Onlookers know the baby is coming. It might happen it the next minute. It might happen in the next 24 hours. Nothing will stop that baby not even public embarrassment. According to the Bible further indicative spasms include: the increase of wars, earthquakes and the predictions of false prophets. So will the world end next Saturday? I do not know, but it might, get ready!!!
New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/
Firstly, Jesus who prophesied about the end times over 2000 years ago, said that nobody could calculate the exact time when the curtains would close. That precise date is hidden in the heart of God the Father and he will reveal it to the Son (Jesus) when time eventually runs out. Ironically, Jesus himself said that one of the signs that the end is near, is that people would increasingly say things like "the end is near" and "I saw Jesus in a dessert let's go out and see him" Matthew 26:24, even more unreal "I am Jesus". The fact that people are tuned in to the finality of things is a massive clue that time is actually ending. Matthew 24:4 "...Jesus answered and said watch out that no one deceives you, for many will come in my name proclaiming that I am the Messiah and will deceive many.
Secondly, it's worth mentioning here that whilst Christ did not give a precise time when the world would end, he did tell his disciples that there will be certain clues as that end time approaches. It will be like the cramping womb of an expectant mother. Have you seen the TV dramas in which a pregnant woman’s contractions begin on an airplane 5000 ft in the air, or in the high street at midday. She knows that the baby is coming. Onlookers know the baby is coming. It might happen it the next minute. It might happen in the next 24 hours. Nothing will stop that baby not even public embarrassment. According to the Bible further indicative spasms include: the increase of wars, earthquakes and the predictions of false prophets. So will the world end next Saturday? I do not know, but it might, get ready!!!
New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Would a Loving God Send People To Hell?
Well what a question this is! It is usually asked from the point of view that God is so good and hell is so terrible, the contrast between Gods goodness and the lethal nature of hell seems to drive a natural divide between the two, so thinking naturally God would not send any one there.
Lets step away from this scene a little to something different, Madeline McCann the daughter of Kate and Gerry McCann went missing four years ago while the family where on holiday. This year David Camereon has engaged Scotalnd Yard to review the case. This disappearance peaks our interests for many reasons but one common reason for most is the reason of justice. Something needs to be done to set this situation right. If someone has abducted her, those parties need to be brought to justice and punished in a public way. As part of the human family we want things to be put to rights. But still more than that we need this be set right. Suppose the guilty party is unearthed by the new investigation and confessess to what they did, would any sane person dismiss it as "one of those things", a mistake, something to be let go, let by gones be be by gones-I do not thinks so!
Humans have a sense of justice in the same way that God has a sense of justice, there is a divine demand that wrong be put to rights. The Bible sends clear warnings about hell Matthew 9:47, Matthew 18:9 says that hell should be avoided at all costs, it is so terrible that loosing an eye or a limb is a small price to pay in the quest to avoid it (do not try this at home!). The key point of about seperation is the giving up of sinful ways of living and replacing that with trust in Christ for the forgiveness of sin.
The good news about Hell is that no one needs to go there because part of Christ mission to earth was to go to Hell and take its punishment on behalf of everyone. The Bible records Christ being shown the way out of hell Acts 2:27, Acts 2:31 Christ was shown the way out of hell and today he offers his hand to anyone who needs to know that pathway.
In the book of Revelation Jesus is pictured having in his firm possession the keys of death and hell Revelation 1:18. Would God send a person to hell. Yes, but not at random. In a sense someone sends themselves there by ignoring the hand offered to them by God through Jesus Christ.
New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/
Lets step away from this scene a little to something different, Madeline McCann the daughter of Kate and Gerry McCann went missing four years ago while the family where on holiday. This year David Camereon has engaged Scotalnd Yard to review the case. This disappearance peaks our interests for many reasons but one common reason for most is the reason of justice. Something needs to be done to set this situation right. If someone has abducted her, those parties need to be brought to justice and punished in a public way. As part of the human family we want things to be put to rights. But still more than that we need this be set right. Suppose the guilty party is unearthed by the new investigation and confessess to what they did, would any sane person dismiss it as "one of those things", a mistake, something to be let go, let by gones be be by gones-I do not thinks so!
Humans have a sense of justice in the same way that God has a sense of justice, there is a divine demand that wrong be put to rights. The Bible sends clear warnings about hell Matthew 9:47, Matthew 18:9 says that hell should be avoided at all costs, it is so terrible that loosing an eye or a limb is a small price to pay in the quest to avoid it (do not try this at home!). The key point of about seperation is the giving up of sinful ways of living and replacing that with trust in Christ for the forgiveness of sin.
The good news about Hell is that no one needs to go there because part of Christ mission to earth was to go to Hell and take its punishment on behalf of everyone. The Bible records Christ being shown the way out of hell Acts 2:27, Acts 2:31 Christ was shown the way out of hell and today he offers his hand to anyone who needs to know that pathway.
In the book of Revelation Jesus is pictured having in his firm possession the keys of death and hell Revelation 1:18. Would God send a person to hell. Yes, but not at random. In a sense someone sends themselves there by ignoring the hand offered to them by God through Jesus Christ.
New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/
Friday, 29 April 2011
Is The Bible True 1?
This is a question that has been asked for hundreds of years. Is the Bible made up to fool people into believing in God? Is the Bible written to control peoples natural self expression? Is the Bible the tool of enslavement? In a court of law it is essential that the accused be allowed to speak in order to establish the grounds on which the case is being brought, that way it can be discovered whether or not what is being said makes sense, even whether it is true or false! In II Timothy 3:16 the Bible says about itself: "Every Scripture is God inspired and is profitable for instruction, for correction and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, and for training in right living in conformity to God's will purpose and action"
Now this is a tall order to for any witness to make especially if it cannot be backed up! Now, it has been documented there are two ways of looking at it, it is either true or it is false. The Bible states that it is from God, and that it has a right to set principles which are to be followed.
Although the term "the Bible says" does not appear in the news paper every time someone is murdered, raped, mugged, defrauded of their money, there is little doubt that people feel that something ill has gone on. Someone has crossed the line! Who put the line there in the first place? Western society has been founded on Biblical Ethics (Big word- moral values). The values are so deeply etched in our society we rely on them to keep us safe as a society and deliver justice. Words flow out of people’s mouths that come from the Bible without them even knowing it. Imagine you hit your finger with a hammer. What do you say apart from !!!!&&*****. "Oh Jesus Christ" "Crikey/Christ", "Gosh/God" "Oh my giddy aunt/substitute for oh may God" The Bible has influenced us more that we think "For peace sake". So it is evident that a scripture from the Bible has set principles for life that we all depend on. So is it from God?
New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/
Now this is a tall order to for any witness to make especially if it cannot be backed up! Now, it has been documented there are two ways of looking at it, it is either true or it is false. The Bible states that it is from God, and that it has a right to set principles which are to be followed.
Although the term "the Bible says" does not appear in the news paper every time someone is murdered, raped, mugged, defrauded of their money, there is little doubt that people feel that something ill has gone on. Someone has crossed the line! Who put the line there in the first place? Western society has been founded on Biblical Ethics (Big word- moral values). The values are so deeply etched in our society we rely on them to keep us safe as a society and deliver justice. Words flow out of people’s mouths that come from the Bible without them even knowing it. Imagine you hit your finger with a hammer. What do you say apart from !!!!&&*****. "Oh Jesus Christ" "Crikey/Christ", "Gosh/God" "Oh my giddy aunt/substitute for oh may God" The Bible has influenced us more that we think "For peace sake". So it is evident that a scripture from the Bible has set principles for life that we all depend on. So is it from God?
New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)