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,

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:

• Pliny Secundus 750 Years
• Ceaser 1000 Years
• Plato 1200 Years
• Aristotle 1400 Years
• Sophocles 1400 Years
• Gospels 100 Years

Think about that!!!! Now, some of these names may not strike a light in some readers, however it is worth note that the things that these men wrote, still influence popular thinking today, indeed greek thought popularised by these early intellectuals is very much the bedrock of our present educational system.

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!

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:

1. Ceasers reccord of the Gaelic wars 10 manuscripts
2. Writings of Pliny the Younger 7 manuscripts
3. Writings of Plato 7 manuscripts
4. Writings of Herodotus 8 manuscripts
5. Writings Euripides 9 manuscripts
6. Writings of Aristotle 49 manuscripts
7. Homers Iliad 643 manuscripts
8. New Testament writings 24,633 manuscripts

Just think about that for one minute!!!!


New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

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/

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/

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/

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/

What is Baptism About?

When two Bs get together what happens? Bread and Butter, Bed and Breakfast and Believing and Baptism. Acts 18:8 in the Bible says those that heard the gospel and believed it were baptized.  Sometimes people say:
"Well I believe in Christ, but I will not get baptized"
In Biblical thought though, those that believe will be baptized!  So what is baptism?  Baptism comes from a word that means to immerse in water.  In Matthew 3:13 Jesus himself turns up at a baptism service at the river Jordon and asks to be baptized.  The person most surprised by this is John the baptizer, no says John, you should be baptizing me. Imagine that, Jesus shows up for baptism and is refused on the grounds that he is over qualified.  Jesus however, insists saying: "John you must allow this to happen, because this is the way to fulfill righteousness".  Jesus publicly endorses baptism by insisting that John baptize him.  Jesus himself was immersed in water and therefore sets the example for those who would be Christ followers.

There is a deeper significance to baptism, and that is written about in Romans 6:1-9.  The act of baptism is a sign that a person believes, but it is also a demonstration that someone is identifying with the death and resurrection of Christ.  In other words they are leaving the old life of sin behind and starting a new way of life known as being a Christian.  Baptisms are carried out by church ministers in Christian churches and those that are interested need to speak to a pastor or leader initially.

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

What is a Christian?

Some things are just like the wallpaper, once it is up, people pay it little or no attention, but it is always there underpinning everything.  The word Christian is like this in many ways,  but what does the word Christian mean, and how does a person become a Christian?  It may surprise you realize that the name started as a nickname at a place called Antioch, shortly after the death of Christ citizens of Antioch where watching those who had spent time with Jesus.  These people displayed behaviours and attitudes that reminded onlookers, of the crucified preacher and healer, so they branded these people with the name Christian Acts 11:19, 20 Bible.  The saying is true, if you throw enough mud some of it will stick, and stick it has for over 2000 years.  So there it is Christian means Christ follower or Christ like.

So how do people become followers of Christ today?  The Bible instructs in Romans 10:9 Bible that in order to become a Christian a person needs to:

• Believe that Jesus is the Son of God
• Confess openly that they are Christian

Following believing and confessing comes that act of baptism Acts 18:8 Bible.  This is an extension of a verbal confession because it is a public declaration of a persons faith with a symbolic act.  More on Baptism later.

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

What is the church for 2?

If you visit a church and it is your first time there you may not be able to tell what is going on.  In this blog there is a basic guide as to what they do in churches.  The basic structure of all activity in church stems from Acts 2:42:"They (the early Christians) devoted themselves to the teaching and fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer".  Well there you have it the basic recipe for what happens it churches.

• Teaching.  This is centered on the Christian holy book called the Bible.  Teaching takes place in several ways.  The main sermon or homily, the speech on Sunday morning is one of the ways that teaching is carried out in churches.  Teaching is also carried out in Sunday Schools and Bible Studies
• Fellowship. A word not used a lot in day to day speech, all it means though is living together in a Christian community in which a common life is shared beyond the Sunday service.  The interaction of fellowship is governed by what is taught in scripture.  So example the Bible says that if during our fellowship we have a disagreement, that disagreement needs to be sorted out following the guidelines of scripture.
• Breaking Bread.  This is also a practical thing, eating bread together is an indication of a community.  Eating with people that you do not get along with is a chore.  Eating where there is a common link is much better. Also, When Christians break bread together it is alluding to the communion or the last supper,  a symbol which Jesus said was a picture of his death and ressurrection.
• Prayer.  The church is a living organism because it is connected to God.  One of the main ways in which this is shown is that christians may talk to God.  This is called prayer.  Jesus taught the disciples to pray when he was on earth, so prayer is a central part of church life.  Christians pray at any time sometimes it is in church, but Jesus says that there is a special blessing for those who pray in private because God will reward in a public way.

These four elements represent the foundation blocks of what happens in church.  One word that covers these units is the word worship.  It means that God is worthy of all the effort made to remain connected to him.  This word comes from a root word which means to "kiss the feet of" and pictures a servant kissing the feet of the master.  In many churches Gods worthiness is expressed in the songs that are sung by the people who gather together.

If you are not sure what to do next time you visit, just ask the person next to you, in most cases they will be only too pleased to help.

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

What happens when we die?

The subject of what happens when we die is something that has occupied the minds of generations of people.  There are cultures and traditions all around the world which address this subject in their own way.  Hinduism for instance speaks about reincarnation which is the rebirth after death in a different form.  For Hindu the cycle is potentially endless.  Jesus answered the whole life after death emphatically by being killed on a cross and appearing 3 days later to more than 500 people at one time.  This is what we celebrate this easter time:Christs death, Christ ressurection from the dead, and Christ offering of eternal life to those who believe in him and follow him.  While Christ hung on the cross he said to one of the thieves that was crucified that day "...today you will be with me in paradise".  Christ offered that dying man eternal life there and then.  For those who believe in Jesus Christ, life goes on after death.  Christ return from death answers the question, Jesus knows the way out of death in much the same way that a guide knows the way when there is no  street map.  If you want to know the way out of death follow the guide who has been through it.

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

What is the cross-Why is it part of Easter?

There are some things that are hard to disguise by gift wrapping, a squeeze or a shaking of the package will easily reveal what is inside.  A cross is something that cannot be hidden by clothing it in pretty paper.  The shape is very distinctive and seems to refuse to be hidden.  In the christian faith the cross is very prominent, but why is this?

The cross was a gross instrument of torture which was used by the Romans as a form of capital punishment.  So it was not unique to christianity.  What makes it special to Christians is that Jesus Christ the Son of God was put to death on one of them.  Following his death he was buried for three days.  On the third day he rose from the dead.  At Easter time Christians celebrate the death of Christ but they also celebrate his coming back from the dead.  This also gives hope to Christians that after they die they will live again just like Jesus did.  The gift of eternal life is for everyone that believes in Jesus.  That is the message of the cross.


New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

What is Easter all about?

The story of Easter unfolds in a room that had been hurriedly booked.  If you where a fly on the wall on that day, what you would see is thirteen friends gathered together for an evening meal.  Just picture the get together, where someone mentions what should remain unsaid. The dreadful ripple of disquiet spreads, and the tone of the party is ruined forever! Someone has disturbed the old wounds, it is not going to be a quiet evening.  Jesus is the one whose words are to spoil the evening. He announces that he knows that one of the twelve people  he has trusted is about to stab him in the back!  There is hurt embarrassment and denial in the nest. No more friendly back slapping.  No more eating too much and crashing out on the couch.  All eyes are wide open now, appetites have vanished.  Jesus further underlines that death is in the offing with a symbolic act known as The Last Supper Mark 14:23 "He took a cup of grape juice, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and they drank it.  And he said this is my blood which ratifies the new covenant which is being poured out on many".  The spectacle of death is now clearly fixed in each persons

Where does the Easter Bunny comes from?

Just about now the shelves of supermarkets and confectioners are beginning to fill up with Easter eggs and Easter bunnies.  But have you stopped to think about where the Easter bunny comes from?  Well the Easter bunny is also known as the spring bunny in the U.S.  The Easter Bunny is a mythical creature on par with Santa Claus.  Both the Easter bunny and Santa bring gifts at the relevant time of year...apparently.  The Easter Hare is supposed to secretly bring eggs and hide them in the home or in the garden for children to find on Easter day.  As we know Hares and Bunnies do not do this. This is a cute cuddly story but it is not true....I can hear the tears already as Santa and the Easter Bunny are fired!!!  Alas, the truth is very painful.

The true story of Easter though is a heart warming message about Gods' love.  It surrounds the account of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ who came to earth to reveal Gods' love for human beings.  There is one merit in the bunny story though, the eggs that the furry jumper brings is symbolic.  Just as the chick emerges from the egg when it hatches, Christ emerged from the grave to give us the hope of eternal life.     This is summed up beautifully in St John 3:16 in the Holy Bible.  It says: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son so that who ever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life".

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)

244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

Why Do Christians Worship on a Sunday?

What makes Sunday the day of Christian Worship?  Do I have to Go to Church on Sunday! Sunday is the only day I have to do what I am doing.  These are some of the comments that you may hear when it comes to talking about church on Sunday.  Well the first thing to say is that Christian worship is an everyday thing which is not limited by days.  However, Sunday is significant and here is why:

1. Sunday is significant for Christians because it marked the Birthday of the modern church.  The church was born on the first day of the week.
2. Sunday is significant because whenever the resurrection of Christ from the dead is mentioned , it is mentioned as taking place on the first day of the week St.John 20:19,
3. Sunday is significant because following the resurrection Jesus breathed on his disciples and said “receive the Holy Ghost”. John 20:22
4. Sunday is significant because it was the day that Mary Visited the tomb of Christ to find that he was not there but had risen from the dead. John 20:11-18

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)

244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

Welcome to Handsworth NTCG

This our first blog so if you are looking in for the first time you are welcome.  We want you to feel free to join us in the discussions and questions that we are going to have.  Have you ever wondered what Christians believe or what is behind the things people do in church, or if you have ever said to yourself: "church what is the point of that?"  Keep on coming back we hope to cover the areas that your itching to ask about. Bye for now.

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

What is a Church 1 ?

The word that is transalated church comes from a greek word ECCLESIA it means called out and is not strictly a religious word.  It can refer to a group or gathering that have set themselves aside for a specific cause.  Birmingham City Football Club supporters are very ecclesiastical especially after winning the Carling Cup recently, there will be lots conversations from this group about their victory for years to come!

When it comes to church in the religious sense, it is a group of people who gather to celebrate Jesus Christ.  Jesus said in response to Peters statement about his (Jesus) identity, "...upon this rock I build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it".  Jesus announces his church as a distinct contrast to what was the general use of the word.   Here is a list of  four other things the Bible says about churches:

1. Churches preached the good news about Jesus 2 Corinthians 8:18
2. Churches have Angels Revelation 1:20
3. Churches are places where God speaks to people by the Holy Spirit Revelation 2:7
4. Churches are called the body of Christ Ephesians 5:23 

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358

http://www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/

Church and Football Do Mix!

Since we did mention Birmingham City Football Club in our first blog...It is only fair... we will mention  Aston Villa FC.  Did you know that Aston Villa Football Club was started on the site that the new George Street Building now stands.  Well it started under the street light outside the old church doors actually, when former members of the St Domingos Bible Class formed a football team way back in 1874.  Not only that Aston Villa were the founders of the football league and later the premier league.  So there it is great things can come out Bible Study! 

New Testament Church of God (Handsworth)
244 Lozells Road
Handsworth
Birmingham
B19 1NP
0121 554 1358
http://www.ntcg-handsworth.org.uk/