WaterShimmers

Pondering issues of faith & theology. Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith -Hebrews 10:22
In Thy presence is fullness of joy

[Greg Laurie @greglaurie]

Charles Stanley went to Heaven today. He made his mark on this world for the Gospel and his incredible teaching of God’s Word. I like so many others was blessed by hearing his messages on the radio and TV and he was a trusted voice we have all been encouraged https://t.co/dud6k7uC98 was my privilege to meet Dr. Stanley in person in Charlotte, North Carolina at the funeral for Billy Graham. He was warm and gracious.
No doubt, he has already heard Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” Charles Stanley will be greatly missed.

[Ken Ham @aigkenham]

Are Muslims going to Hell?

Ok, so some of you may gulp at me asking that question so bluntly. Actually, this question was asked of me.

I was being interviewed by a reporter with secular news media about the Ark and Creation Museum attractions, but the first question the reporter asked was, “Are Muslims going to Hell?”

That caught me off guard a little, but I’m sure that was the agenda of the reporter. I’ve had quite a lot of experience dealing with the secular media and realize that the majority of times I’m interviewed, the reporter has an agenda to attack and denigrate Christianity. I’m sure this reporter wanted me to say outright, “yes” so they could put the headline “Ken ham says Muslims are going to hell” to try to portray us in an unloving negative light.

When I am being interviewed by such reporters, I want to give answers for the sake of those who will be listening to or watching the program, but I also want to be a witness to the reporter.

So, when asked this question, how did I respond?

I said something like, “Well, it doesn’t matter if one is a Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Catholic, Mennonite, Muslim, Orthodox Jew or any other denomination or religious group, if a person has not repented of sin and received the free gift of salvation offered through the Lord Jesus Christ (being “born again”), they will be separated from God for eternity in a place the bible calls Hell.” And sadly, the majority of people will go there as Jesus warned, ““Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many”” (Matthew 7:13).

I made sure the reporter understood that everyone needs to be born again, including the reporter as I referenced the passage in John 3 about Nicodemus:

“Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:1–5)

Water is often used in Scripture as symbolic of the Word of God. Jesus is telling Nicodemus he must be “born again” or redeemed by the Word of God and the work of the God’s spirit on his heart to save him for eternity. This is consistent with ““For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8).

In other words, Jesus was explaining to Nicodemus that we are born as human beings, born of a woman, but we need to be born again, to born from above!

In summary the message about being born again is:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Romans 10:9)

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. (Acts 3:19)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Instead of the hell we deserve for our sin against a holy God, by repenting and believing, we receive new and eternal life with Christ. What a glorious message of mercy, grace, hope, and love! For more detail: https://t.co/k8snsestNd

So anyone who is not born again regardless of what label you have will be separated from God in Hell for eternity.

There’s another aspect to us. We also need to judge what people believe against the absolute authority of God’s Word, and challenge them if their beliefs are incorrect. For instance with Muslims we need to be aware of the following so we can lovingly point out the problems with their beliefs when judged against God’s Word:

The Quran’s teachings regarding salvation are inconsistent. On the one hand, the Quran teaches that salvation is based on purification by good deeds (Quran 7:6–9). A Muslim can become righteous through prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and living according to the Quran. Yet the Quran also teaches that Allah has predetermined every person’s destiny, and one’s righteous acts may or may not affect Allah’s decision (Quran 57:22). It teaches that everyone, both the righteous and the unrighteous, will be led into hell by Allah, before the righteous will enter heaven (Quran 19:67–72). Therefore no Muslim can know his or her eternal destiny in this life. Even Muhammad himself was unsure of his salvation (Quran 31:34; 46:9).

Allah loves only those who first love him (Qur’an 3:31–32) or who do good deeds (2:195). God first loves us while we are yet sinning (I John 4:10; Romans 5:8). The Koran’s Allah and the Bible’s Yahweh are simply not the same deity with the same attributes.

Muslims believe Jesus was a real person, but they think he only came to teach and do miracles like any other prophet. They don't believe he's the true Son of God. But Jesus is God, He's the Creator (Colossians 1:16).

As Christians we need to show love to everyone and share the vital news with them that:

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

As Christians we need to diligently study God’s Word and know how to defend the Christian faith, and study to know what others believe so we can point out what God’s Word clearly teaches compared to what they believe. And we need to lovingly point out we are all sinners in need of salvation through Christ. And yes, we can know where we will spend eternity:

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:13).

Hell is a real place. We don’t want to see anyone go there! Receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

[Truth For Life @TruthForLife]

"Joseph of Arimathea's appearance is a clear reminder to us of God's providence at work at all times and in all places. God prepared Joseph for this moment. Joseph was fearful and secretive, but God used him for good, just as He does us." —Alistair Begg

https://t.co/j6LMFaF9uX

[David Jeremiah @davidjeremiah]

Like a powerful telescope, the Bible is focused on one central theme, beginning at Genesis. Everything in Scripture supports that theme: Establishing Jesus Christ as the rightful ruler over all of God’s creation.
https://t.co/IsGBgw33sR

[Jeffrey Goodman @JHGoodman8404]

9 April 1945
German theologian and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the night before he was hanged by the Nazis, said: 'This is the end - - for me the beginning' -- his last recorded words. #Lutheran

[Franklin Graham @Franklin_Graham]

The New York City skyline has never been more beautiful—and meaningful—than it was in this 1956 Good Friday photo. Skyscrapers lit up with the cross to acknowledge the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ and our nation’s long and deep foundation of faith and dependence on Him. In God We Trusted.

How heartbreaking and deeply regrettable that as a nation we have turned our back on Him. There is a high price for removing God and His authority from our lives. Whether or not rulers, kings, authorities, peoples or nations acknowledge it, He is still the King of kings and the Lord of lords. At Easter we celebrate the fact that Jesus Christ came to earth to pay the price for our sins, poured out His blood on a cross, died, was buried and God raised Him to life on the third day. He’s alive! He came as a Savior and will return one day and will judge those who have rejected Him. I believe time is short. Even if buildings aren’t lit up with the cross, our hearts can be if we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Let’s tell everyone about a risen Savior who loves them and is the only way to Heaven!

[Father V @father_rmv]

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fundamental truth of our faith. Jesus intended it to take place in such a way that nobody could reasonably deny it. There is no historical fact which can be upheld by such clear and ample evidence as the Resurrection of Our Lord. It emerges most of all from the absolute certainty of Jesus' death. After the fearful scourging, crowning with thorns, and crucifixion, His blood had poured forth for three hours from His nailed Hands and feet. Moreover, even though he saw that Christ was dead, the Roman soldier pierced His heart with a lance. His body was taken down from the cross and enclosed in the tomb until the third day. Jesus, therefore, was dead and buried. But there is still further proof. The Jews remembered that Jesus had prophesied that He would rise on the third day. For this reason they had the sepulchre sealed and they placed a guard of soldiers beside it so that the body could not be stolen. In spite of the enormous stone at the mouth of the tomb, however, Our Lord rose in glory, flinging the sentries into a state of terror and confusion. The frightened guards ran to the leaders of the Sanhedrin and related what had happened. If the Jewish authorities had believed that the soldiers were responsible, they would have punished them, and if they had believed that the body of Our Lord had been stolen, they would have searched for it. Instead, they bribed the soldiers to say that the body of Jesus had been stolen while they were asleep. (Mt. 28:12) St. Augustine comments on the stupidity of the Jews in calling on the testimony of sleeping witnesses! Jesus, moreover, saw to it that St. Thomas would not be present when He appeared to the other Apostles, and that he would believe only when he had seen the wounds in His hands and feet and had placed his finger in the gash made by the lance in Our Lord's side. What further evidence could anyone expect? There is a still stronger proof, however. After the death of Jesus the Apostles were an insignificant group of discouraged and disillusioned men, without the daring or the ability to accomplish anything. It was only the Resurrection of Jesus which could have given them the supreme courage to stand up to the Jews and to convert the world. Let us fall in adoration before the risen Christ and say with St. Thomas the Apostle: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)

Even as Jesus rose from the dead, so we shall rise again. This is a dogma of our faith. "I believe... in the resurrection of the body." When Job was seated on his dunghill, his body rotting with leprosy, deserted by everybody, scorned by his wife and reproved by his friends, he found comfort in this great truth. “I know that my Vindicator lives, and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust where I myself shall see, and not another -- and from my flesh I shall see God: my inmost being is consumed with longing.” (Job 19:25-27) St. Paul described this resurrection. “In the twinkling of an eye,” he says,” at the sound of the trumpet of the Eternal judge, our bodies will be reformed and will have life again. We shall all rise, but not all in the same manner. The body which was the companion of the soul during our mortal life will once again be its companion and share with it either the eternal glory of Heaven or the everlasting pains of Hell.” (Cf. I Cor. 15) We shall live forever like Jesus. "I believe in life everlasting," in everlasting happiness in Heaven or in eternal damnation in Hell. This great truth is a warning to us. If we remember it all our lives, we shall not steer our course towards evil and towards Hell, but towards goodness and towards Heaven, where one day we shall come to rest in a land of lasting happiness.

[Father V @father_rmv]

Peter had denied his Master three times. He was standing in the courtyard of the High Priest warming himself before a brazier and not even thinking of the depths to which he had descended. Jesus, calumniated, struck and mocked as if He were criminal, forgets altogether about Himself. Moved by compassion for the leader of His Apostles, now become a perjurer, He turns His gaze towards him. Peter is jerked back to his senses by this look, which is at the same time stern and affectionate. He realises at last the level to which he has fallen. He is stricken to the heart and feels a sudden tightness in his throat. “And Peter went out and wept bitterly.” (Luke 22:62)

Peter saw clearly at this stage the chasm into which he had fallen. He thought of all the gifts and favours which he had received from Jesus and recalled the prophecy which his Master had made. “A cock will not crow this day, until thou hast denied three times that thou knowest me.” (Luke 22:34) He remembered also how he had sworn that he would never deny Jesus. Now he saw himself in the role of the prodigal son or the lost sheep... and as he wept bitterly he saw again the reproachful yet loving gaze of Jesus. His grief found an outlet in his tears and he was filled with confidence that Jesus in His infinite goodness would forgive him. If we should fall (as we often do, unfortunately), let us rise again immediately as Peter did. Let us weep for our sins and kneeling before Jesus, represented by the priest, let us confess our faults and tell God that we shall never offend Him again.

When Peter realised how wretchedly he had fallen, the first thing which he did was to escape from the occasion of sin. “Peter went out.” (Luke 22:62) He grieved for his three sins not only on that sad night but throughout his life. St. Clement writes that he wept so often that his tears wore two deep furrows in his cheeks and that whenever he heard the cock crowing, the cry pierced his heart. He loved Jesus sincerely and passionately. When he was asked three times if he loved Him, he replied humbly: “Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.” (Cf. John 21:16) Can we say these same words to Jesus with equal sincerity and humility? If we really love Jesus as Peter did, and are prepared to face death for His sake as Peter was, then we may be sure that we shall never offend God again.

Two of the Apostles sinned seriously. Peter denied Jesus and Judas betrayed Him. Both regretted their offence, but Peter's was the repentance of love and that of Judas was the remorse of despair. Judas also admitted his fault. “I have sinned,” he said, “in betraying innocent blood.” (Mt. 27:4) He flung the thirty pieces of silver, which he received as a reward for his crime, into the temple. But he did not return to Jesus, Who had even called him His friend at the time of the betrayal. He did not trust in His infinite goodness, but went away in despair and hanged himself with a halter from a tree. Let us adore the mystery of the providence and mercy of God, but let us remember that we are lost if we abuse it. Our next sin could be the last which we should have the opportunity of committing. If God did not grant us the grace to repent, we could end in the manner of Judas rather than that of Peter. Let us think earnestly about this and form new resolutions with sincerity and humility.—Meditation of Antonio Cardinal Bacci on the Repentance of St. Peter

[Peter Whittle @prwhittle]

Appropriately, on Easter Weekend, a wonderful clip here from our @NewCultureForum series #The West , in which @andrewklavan considers the extraordinary power of La Pieta by Michelangelo

Episode 3 is out this Sunday at 9.30am

[Dr. Abby Johnson @AbbyJohnson]

I spent 8 years running a Planned Parenthood. Abortion being a decision between a woman and her doctor is a LIE! Doctors would barely even speak to a woman beforehand. It was our job to affirm her and push her into an abortion.

They pressure women into getting abortions.

[Riley Gaines @Riley_Gaines_]

The prisoners are running the asylum at SFSU...I was ambushed and physically hit twice by a man. This is proof that women need sex-protected spaces.

Still only further assures me I'm doing something right. When they want you silent, speak louder. 🗣️

[Dr. Abby Johnson @AbbyJohnson]

The rainbow is God’s promise never to flood the earth again. It belongs to Him. It doesn’t belong to a sin movement, a political movement, or a movement that doesn’t know the difference between a man and a woman.

I’m not giving up God’s rainbow to something that’s anti-God.

[Father V @father_rmv]

Explanation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church of the article of the Apostles’ Creed which states, “He descended into hell…”

https://t.co/EqnYYogwrA

[Alex DiPrima @Alex_DiPrima]

To my Presby friends,

The best definition of faith I have yet found is in John Murray’s masterpiece, “Redemption Accomplished and Applied.” He defines faith as involving three things: knowledge, assent, & trust. In this, he agrees with the traditional Presbyterian heritage. 1/2

[Greg Laurie @greglaurie]

Let’s all be praying for the Scruggs family.
They lost their beloved little girl, Hallie in this act of pure evil.
Having lost a son, I know they are in unimaginable  pain right now.
I know there are so many “Why” questions.
After our son died, Pastor Chuck Smith said to me, “Never trade what you do know for what you don’t know”. Here is what we do know-
God loves this Christian family.
Little Hallie Scruggs is in Heaven right now.
They will all be reunited one day.
Hallie is not just a part of their past, she is also a part of their future.
May God comfort this family as only He can today.
Let’s also be praying for the families of the five others who lost loved ones.

[Truth For Life @TruthForLife]

For the Christian faith, the main things are the plain things, and the plain things are the main things. Nonessentials need not divide us.

[Ligonier Ministries @Ligonier]

Are we living in the last days? During #LigCon, Derek Thomas joined us in the bookstore to explain how a biblical understanding of the end times can help us stand firm in our faith today.

[Matt Kennedy @lambeth981]

https://t.co/UN1GPoGxun

[Matt Kennedy @lambeth981]

In seminary, I was taught to preach for 12 to 15 minutes using what was then called the “narrative” style which, essentially, meant retelling the “story” of the biblical text in modern terms. Biblical exposition, we were told, would be irrelevant to the average parishioner 1/9

[@markdtooley @markdtooley]

1965 poll of 7441 Protestant clergy on Christians doctrines