God Archives - Life Hope

Can God forgive your wrongs?

Ian Denness — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 08:04:46 +0000

“Yes” and “No”!

How does that work? Surely one or the other, or the most popular choice, “No God”!

Well, it depends on whether we try to get forgiveness for our wrongs from the ‘system’ God himself has put in place, or the way we think it is, or should be.

Pretty much everyone today admitted they had done something wrong.

The difference came with what God’s ‘system’ was for forgiving. The Bible says that God the Father had God the Son come to earth, and as a perfect human, as well as being God, be punished for our wrongs in our place. The ultimate substitute completely!

If one accepts that with all one’s heart and soul, then forgiveness is yours. We do need to change to live according to God’s principles, otherwise we would be big hypocrites!

If we don’t like God’s ‘system’, but just try to be good, then no forgiveness.

The verse with it was:

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness…”
1 Peter 2:24 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

Great news, if we go with it!

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What don’t you like about Christianity?

Ian Denness — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 06:22:51 +0000

Most people looked like they had lots of thoughts as to why they didn’t like Christianity. However, they were reluctant to write them down!

Some said they didn’t like the authority and control. Others that they didn’t like any religion.

Nobody addressed the issue of “what is true?”

It was my question, and I am open to other’s thoughts and criticisms. However, I don’t get it as to why they would reject the evidence of Jesus’ life, miracles, substitutionary death for us and then the evidence of his coming back to life again.

Normally, we all love getting something for free. Forgiveness from God offered for free pretty much summarises the good news of Jesus. But most people don’t see that as valuable.

I love the Bible, Jesus and the forgiveness of God! I am sorry that most others in the market don’t want that.

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Are we without excuse?

Ian Denness — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 02:14:35 +0000

Challenge yourself…

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.“

Romans 1:18 (NIV)(www.laridian.com)

The bottom line claim from that passage in the Bible is that “people are without excuse”.

That was the question. What do you think?

That is God’s claim, coming from Paul.

God says that “what has been made”, that is the world around us as we see and feel it, is the evidence for his claim that he exists. And not only do we need to acknowledge that he exists, but also, that we will be held accountable to him.

I heartily and happily accept that, since I see his hand all around in the world, nature and the sky above. But, most don’t…

What are your reasons for not accepting his claims?

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Why Christmas presents?

Ian Denness — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 00:18:11 +0000

“It just feels nice”

That’s what someone wrote for this topic in the market. Another person put up, “The joy of giving people something they need.”

Consumerism

That summarized a comment – “A holiday started by corporations to make money.”

So, what is the reason for presents at Christmas?

The wise men from the east

There were some scholars who came from a country somewhere east of Palestine, according to the detailed narrative in the Bible. They purposely sought out the whereabouts of the baby Jesus, and were eventually led to the actual place in the town of Bethlehem where Jesus and his mother Mary were.

They then bowed down to Jesus, and presented him with very expensive gifts carrying great significance for his future life, ministry, and death.

The gifts were gold (for kings), frankincense (for priests), and myrrh (for the dead).

Good old Saint Nick!

Historically, another explanation is that of the man Nicholas, who lived in south-western Turkey in the 4th century. He had changed his faith from the predominant Greco-Roman paganism and had become a Christian before it had become legal. He then tried to secretly give poor people in his town gifts to help them in their lack. Sometimes he would hide the gifts in clothing, like long socks hung up in front of the fire to dry. People eventually found out that he was the secret gift-giver. Some time later, he was renamed Saint Nicholas, from which many centuries later the name and story eventually morphed into Santa Claus.

The original story is inspiring, and Jesus did say that it is better to give than to get!

In fact, nowadays, many followers of Jesus are leaving behind the consumerism and getting back to the basics, just wanting to thank God for sending Jesus. Why would we do that?

It obviously shows belief, but as well the evidence of his life 2,000 years ago, the depth and detail of descriptions about him in the Bible, and the way we claim he has dramatically changed our lives for the good, now and forever.

Why not open a Bible online and check out the first couple of chapters of the Gospel of Luke concerning the circumstances of his birth?

https://www.esv.org/Luke+1/

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Does saying “O My God!” misuse God’s name?

Ian Denness — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 11:47:02 +0000

It is so common…

How many times a day would you hear it?

Why do people in the West only use God, Jesus, Christ, Hell, Blood (derivative words) for surprise, emphasis or swearing? We never hear “O Mohammad” or “O Buddha”. As well, in countries where those religious leaders are esteemed, such expressions aren’t heard.

Many think that the expression is simply a fashion, and of no negative value.

However, the Bible does say that God’s name is not to be misused.

“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
Exodus 20:7 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

The main reason I don’t use the expression is that I want to please God, the God of the Bible. I have been in relationship with him since I was 14, through following Jesus, and I have only found him to be perfect, wonderful and good. Why would I want to say something that makes him seem so ordinary or even less than he is?

What if God holds us to account for not only our actions, but also our talk?

Now that is a really scary thought!

However, that sums up this saying of Jesus in the Bible.

But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. [37] For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:36 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

That claim would be a shock to many people. I am so grateful for what Jesus did when he came to earth and lived amongst his creation for those 33 years!

He took the shame and the punishment for our rebellion, our wrong actions and our wrong talk when he volunteerily died for us on the cross. He paid the price, as he did that as our substitute.

I am forgiven and know that my wrong words and intentions have been wiped off the record, and so I don’t need to fear the judgement Jesus mentioned.

What are your thoughts about all of this?

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How will we escape the wrath of God?

Ian Denness — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 11:42:30 +0000

If you don’t believe that God exists, or if you don’t believe the Bible is true, then you wouldn’t be bothered by this challenging question.

However, if you do believe both, then what does the Bible say about this?

The Bible says…

“It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Hebrews 10:31 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness”

Romans 1:18 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

And Jesus’ words:

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Matthew 10:28 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

So, God’s wrath is coming

Why is it coming? It’s coming because of our rebellion against him. This shows itself by our ignoring and minimising him, or actively hating him. Either way, they are different levels of rebelling against him, since he is the God of the universe in which we live.

How can we escape the wrath of God?

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
Acts 16:31 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

Help yourself!

By accepting what Jesus has already done for us, to solve our problem. He purposely fitted into God’s plan to reconcile us by going to the cross on our behalf. He voluntarily took that wrath of God against our rebelling. Instead of each one of us being punished, he became our perfect substitute. No punishment, no wrath, remains for those fortunate people who have accepted his sacrifice. That will hurt our pride, but then there is reconciliation and forgiveness. Such love, such compassion, such empathy, such incredible kindness!

What’s the proof?

To prove that it was accepted, God brought him back to life again. God presented adequate proof that Jesus had come back to life again by him showing himself to many people over 40 days. God must have thought that was enough proof for any reasonable person to believe that it had really happened.

However, those who don’t accept this free gift of the ‘get out of jail card’, well, that will be another Post.

What do you think?

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Will there be a “Day of Judgement”?

Ian Denness — Sun, 26 Sep 2021 10:38:25 +0000

Many would scoff at such a thought

Most wouldn’t see a ‘Day of Judgement’ even as a threat.

However, Jesus often talked about such an event as real and coming. He didn’t mince his words about it either.

He gives the result for those who are on the wrong side of the judgement like this:

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Matthew 25:46 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

Another part of the Bible gives this prediction:

“…people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…”
Hebrews 9:27 (NIV) (http://www.laridian.com)

So, according to the Bible, there is no doubt about a judgement for every person ‘being on the cards’.

A reasonable question – ‘What will we be judged on?’

When I look at the Bible, the most reasonable place to look for this, it’s not supposed to be based on

-are you religious, or not?

-do you go to church or not?

-have you had an abortion, or not?

-do you give money to charity, or not, or how much?

But rather,

-are you forgiven by God for your wrongs against him and other people, or not?

Forgiven, or Not Forgiven?

Only two categories of people… Not based on smartness, degrees, colour, finances, or race.

I went for that forgiveness with an open mind when I was 14. Never have I regretted it!

What is your experience?

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What’s lacking in Christianity?

Ian Denness — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 08:46:03 +0000

Do you think Christianity is deficient?

What I call ‘Cultural Christianity’ is definitely deficient, in my opinion.

That is what a lot of people think Christianity is, but it is only a name-only version, and a poor one at that. You could call it ‘Churchianity’ with popes, priests and platitudes. Going to church now and again, a thin veneer of religiosity, having a great time at Christmas and Easter, and a bunch of religious formulas, rules and traditions.

The Bible itself is usually secondary in this whole generalisation. Most of the population of our western societies have followed that over the centuries, and this has led to much of the confusion, hypocrisy and rejection of it over the last decades.

A living relationship, not a religion

The real thing is actually a radical and personal relationship with the living God of the Bible, which has been made possible through Jesus Christ. That is why it is called Christ-ianity. It leads to a changed life, a changed attitude and a changed future.

It is dependent on ordinary people like us realising who the God of the Bible really is, that he is completely holy and pure, and that we aren’t. It goes on from there to understand and thankfully accept what Jesus, the Son of God, at great personal cost, did for us in coming to earth and giving himself on the cross in Jerusalem as a substitute for us. And this out of pure and self-denying love, something totally foreign to any other belief system in the world.

To authenticate the truth of the spiritual transaction, God then brought Jesus back to life again, just as it had been predicted.

Our wrongs

Those of us who accept that we have wronged God, by ignoring him, and also wronged other people, have the opportunity of being completely forgiven our wrongs by God. However, since it is not just a mental acceptance, but a revolutionary change from the inside, we do need to change our lifestyle, learn to love others and to live to please God.

This free gift then gives us great joy and thankfulness, so much so that we want to live for him, rather than just for our own self-centred selves.

A new life

This new life should lead to faith, hope and love, with acts of kindness, sacrifice and serving of others. History has shown that such people over the centuries have willingly served the poor, the sick, the uneducated and the down-trodden.

However, there are still deficencies, as we are still very much human!

What do you think are the main deficencies?

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What sort of God don’t you believe in?

Ian Denness — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 03:09:05 +0000

Probably, I also don’t believe in that God!

Misconceptions and stereotypes can travel in all directions.

Is it that God who is really mean, the Richard Dawkin’s one, or the one that hates only LGBT people, or the one that will never forgive someone who’s had an abortion?

It is easy to make a ‘straw-man’ God, the one you think only weird religious people believe in.

However, that clever game could mean you miss out on coming to know the real God, the one who created the universe, who actually is strongly interested in your present and eternal welfare. Probably, the biggest issue is that the real God will also one day judge you and me…

Now, of course, someone will say, “That’s only if that God is really there.”

That’s true. That’s why it is good to look into the evidence for that God, the reasoning for believing in him, and then to have the courage to follow where the evidence leads, onto faith.

This is a good website – https://www.reasonablefaith.org/

I’m interested in what others think, and how you got there.

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In this ‘Sexular Age’, should sexual identity trump everything else?

Ian Denness — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 01:41:00 +0000

What should trump everything else?

We all make priorities in our lives.

Instinctively, we choose what is most important and what is less, and then seek to live with as little inconsistency as possible.

Would life, or love, faithfulness, choice, God, Atheism, or coffee, or whatever, be the priority that trumps all else in the core of your being? Or would it just be your sexual identity?

What about serving others, kindness, family, safety, meaning, morality, or faithfulness?

What is your reasoning for your decision?

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