Happy Riches, answers question by anonymous
When making a reference to Christians, please note, not all batteries are batteries, some are fakes, even though they may look like a battery. For to be a Christian one has to be born from above, and this is not something that happens automatically, as one slips out of a womb or is pulled out of a stomach on an operating table. The idea that one has to be born a second time puzzles Jews, as is evidenced in the account of Nicodemus.
Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.2 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.”3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God.”4 Nicode′mus 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?”5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’8 The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit.”9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can this be?”10 Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this?11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony.
Speaking as a person who has been born from above and understands the Scriptures, in that I have sought to be taught of God by the Holy Spirit, the New Testament informs us that everything was created and exists through the Son of God, Lord Jesus Christ.
- He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:15-17)
Moreover the Old Testament tells us that God has a Son who carries the same name as Himself.
- Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man.I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know! (Proverbs 30:2-4)
The same God who created the Heavens and the Earth is the same God who became manifest as Jesus of Nazareth and died for the sin of the world.
Why did Jesus of Nazareth die for the sin of the world?
Nobody asked to be born. Nobody asked to be born only to die. Worse still, nobody asked to be subject to suffering. Even Buddha recognized that living on Earth was a crap gig. Notice how intelligent the Buddha becomes one day when he found a solution:
The Buddha's most important teachings were focused on a way to end the suffering he had experienced and had seen in other people. His discovery of the solution began with the recognition that life is suffering. —Buddhist Studies: The First Noble Truth
When reading the Old Testament, we see how evil men were inclined to be and the Creator would point this out. The Old Testament is really about how the nations of the Earth corrupted truth, justice, mercy and faith. Has anything changed today?
The nation Israel was created to bring about God’s plan and purpose, but in doing so, everything was presented within the framework and terms of the world. Would you blame the God of Israel for the heinous crimes of butchery and genocide executed by the likes of the Roman Emperor Nero, or Genghis Khan (loved by Greenies), or the Aztecs? There were many more like them. There are many like them today, who delight in “We came. We saw. He died.”
- But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. (Acts 3:14-15 )
If you read the Old Testament with an open, meditative heart, with a desire to understand the truth, you will come across Scripture that demonstrates that God is good and delights in righteousness and mercy and loving kindness. God does not even rejoice at the death of the wicked.
- Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33:11)
- Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? (Ezekiel 18:23)
God created everything good. He does not want anyone to suffer eternal punishment. What people seem to believe is a different God in the Old Testament to Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament is a matter of misconception. God does not change and has not changed. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Unfortunately, people do not like the truth—it hurts!
The good news is those who admit the truth about themselves and acknowledge the truth about God, have their hurts when having to face their wrongdoings wiped away (Matthew 5:4).
The good news is those who admit the truth about themselves and acknowledge the truth about God, have their hurts when having to face their wrongdoings wiped away (Matthew 5:4).
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