3 December 2010

Answering Major Questions

I- Trinity: What does the doctrine of "The Holy Trinity" mean?
The Word of God, the Holy Bible, teaches that there is only one true God, in three persons: "God the Father, God the Son (The LORD Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit." This is called "The Holy Trinity" in Christian faith. We Christians are strict monotheists, that is we believe strongly in the oneness of God (Mark 12:29). However, the oneness of God has to do with its nature, not person (we are not Unitarian). The doctrine of Holy Trinity is different from believing in existence of three gods. This doctrine has nothing to do with the number of gods but only with His nature. The nature of God is a mystery, and we must only rely on God’s own and only revelation to man, the Holy Bible. "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and our sons forever"(EX 29:29).


II- Jesus as the Son of God: What does the Word of God, the Bible means when it says Jesus is the Son of God?
The Word of God, the Bible, itself gives the best explanation in Hebrews 1:3. It says: "The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being." The term "Son of God" has been used in the Bible in a metaphorical sense as in Hebrews 1:3. It is not meant in a physical sense since God is spirit and the term "The Son of God" describes a spiritual relationship between God the Father and Jesus. In John 10:30, Jesus says: "I and the Father are one." , meaning oneness in nature. Also, look at John 1:18 and John 14:9. Thus basically, the Sonship of Jesus means: 1- Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory. 2- Jesus is the exact representation of God’s being. 3- Jesus is the only source who has made God completely and fully known to Man. 4- Only by knowing Jesus we can know God, fully and intimately. 5- Jesus has the exact same nature as God the Father.


III- The Lordship of Jesus Christ: Why do you say Jesus is the LORD and has divine nature?
Jesus is LORD and has divine nature because His words and actions, as they are recorded in the Bible, are the words and actions that can be said and done only by the LORD God. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus has divine nature and the full attributes of God exist in Him (see: Heb 1:3; Jn 1:18; 10:30; 14:9; Lk 3:22; power over death 11:1-44; power over sickness Lk 7:1-9, Jn 9; power over nature Lk 8:22-25; power over all evil spirits Lk 8:26-39; God’s moral character in Jesus Matt 5:18; 22:37-40; His resurrection Rom 1:4; 1 Cor. 15; Lk 24).


IV- Is the Bible reliable?
Yes! Absolutely. The Bible is fully and completely inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God. Based on manuscripts evidence, the Bible has not been changed. God is almighty and He has the power to preserve His message from any corruption. If He can not Keep His own Word safely protected, then what can he do? Also, the Word of God is not like fashion clothes, so that a "newer fashion" takes the place of "the older fashion." God’s Word is Eternal (Isa. 40:6-8; 1 Pet. 1:25). We need to keep in mind that when the term "The Word of God" is used for the Bible, it does not mean that God is the speaker for everything in it. Rather, it means that God inspired (guided) the recording of the revelation and other facts in the Bible while ensuring its hundred percent accuracy.


V- What does the Bible means by "salvation" and how can I be saved?
Salvation means rescuing from the wrath of God on sin and sinners. Also, salvation includes obtaining eternal life, close friendship with God, and freedom from power of sin, and Satan with all his demons. The only way of salvation, as indicated above, is through turning 180 degree from our sins with all our minds, emotion, and will. This is called "repentance." Then we must put our faith and trust for the whole of our lives in the LORD Jesus Christ who died for our on the cross, was buried, but rose again both physically and spiritually after 3 days. Jesus is now alive.
How can you obtain salvation?:
1- Admit your need (I am a sinner).
2- Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).
3- Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and rose from the grave.
4- Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. Receive Him as your LORD and Saviour.
What to pray?:
"Dear LORD Jesus, I know that I am sinful and I need your forgiveness. I believe that you died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. I want to turn from my sin nature and follow you instead. I invite you to come into my heart and life. In Jesus’ name. Amen."


VI- Is Jesus the only way to God?
Absolutely, yes. Jesus did not claim to be one of many equally legitimate paths to God, or the way to God only for his own days. Rather, He claimed to be the ONLY way to God- then, and forever. Jesus said: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."(John 14:6). "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name, except the name of Jesus, given to men by which we must be saved"(Acts 4:12).


VII- Does the Bible predict the coming of any prophet from God after Jesus?
Absolutely, no! Jesus said on the cross: "It is finished." Meaning the revelation of God to man, and His plan of salvation for all mankind, for all the times, are finished and completed by Jesus Christ. God has not send any prophet after Jesus ,nor any book after the completion of The Holy Bible. In Revelation 22:13 Jesus said: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Also, in Revelation 22:18, the Word of God warns: "If anyone adds anything to the prophecy of this book, God will add to him the plagues described in this book."


VIII- What about the followers of other religions?
We Christians, love and respect the followers of all religions even though we may not agree with their beliefs. We have only the Love of Christ in our hearts for them. In many countries which are predominately non-Christian, Christians have served the followers of other religions by building hospitals, schools, specially for the blinds, lepers, and orphans. We pray that all people may come to the blessed and saving personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.


IX- What about "the gospel of Barnabas"?
The so called "gospel of Barnabas" is a forgery which is not written by the apostle Barnabas. This book contradicts the Bible, the Koran and even itself (Itself: Prologue, and Barnabas 42,82; The Bible: Lev. 25:11 and Barnabas 82; The Koran: Surah 3:45 and Barnabas 42,82). This book was written between 1300-1343 A.D. in Spain, by person who possibly was a victim of the Inquisition and decided to take revenge by composing a false Gospel under the assumed name of Barnabas to give his forgery some measure of apparent authenticity. He probably first composed his gospel in Italian to maintain an appearance of genuineness, but simultaneously composed (or arranged for such a translation) a Spanish version for distribution in his own country. He may well have been Fra. Marino or he may have been the translator, "Mustafa de Aranda." He was someone far more at home in Spain in Middle Ages, rather the in Palestine at the time of Jesus Christ.


X- Was Jesus crucified and rose again from the death?
Yes! Both the Word of God, the Bible (Matt 27:32-28:20; Mark 15:21-16:10; Luke 23:26-24:1-12; John 19:17-20:10) and historical records testify that Jesus was crucified on the cross in our place for the punishment of our sins, buried, and rose again, after 3 days, both physically and spiritually from the death.

2 comments:

  1. This is really wonderful, and I would like to be able to teach from some of the things you wrote here, especially in the way that you described the trinity, which is hard to teach well. The nature of the Father and the Son's union was also beautifully explained. Thank you!

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  2. The Trinity was a mystery. It is not anymore. I have explained it. And I am a prophet given the world after Christ.

    See http://www.vaccinius.com/the-trinity.


    OUR GOD

    A trinity is our God:
    The heart, the body and the blood.
    As Father, Son and Holy Spirit
    God will and pleasure will exhibit.

    Merry Christmas!

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