Richard Aberdeen
Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2026
- Messages
- 196
In the Old Testament, God says to Moses: "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you" Exodus 3:14. In the New Testament, Jesus says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM" John 8:58.
This is the only concept of God tracing from ancient times, that here in the 21st Century continues to match the known historical, scientific and other evidence. And, it remains the only known rational explanation for the existence of both ourselves and the rest of the grand design universal reality.
If one doesn't believe this is true, they can try for themselves to rationally explain their own existence apart from "Eternal Creator" and, see how far they get. Philosophers and scientists have been trying unsuccessfully since the ancient Greeks and, neither modern evolutionary theory or "multi-verse" theory rationally satisfies origins any better then the Greeks could manage.
It is important to note the term "rationally"; virtually anyone can invent a non-evidenced based irrational explanation for anything. For more information as to why it is mathematically and otherwise far beyond irrationally absurd to pretend there is no God, feel free to wade through the information at This Link.
Apart from "Eternal" Creator, there is no rational explanation for either our own existence or for the rest of the grand design universal reality. There is no science, no reason, no purpose and no hope for a wayward violent race called "human being".
According to the New Testament, when Jesus was born, God's messengers sang "on earth peace, goodwill towards the people" Luke 2:14, ushering in a new covenant of grace, where through forgiveness found only in Jesus, we can live free from what Paul later refers to as "the curse of the law" Galatians 3:13-14. In John's narrative, we likewise find a similar explanation for the difference between the Old and the New Testament era: "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Messiah" John 1:17.
And herein lies good news from Jesus, for if we ask Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sins, from that moment forward we immediately pass from death unto life, where we can walk in freedom without fear before our Creator, for we "are not under law, but under grace" Romans 6:14.
Another part of the good news from Jesus, is that if we have asked Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sins, we have eternal life and our soul will never die, but we will go on living forever and ever John 3:16. And even more good news, God's salvation is "the gift of God, not of works less anyone should boast" Ephesians 8:10.
Paul writes that Messiah "has redeemed us from the curse of the law" Galatians 3:13. And in another letter Paul says that Jesus ". . .having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross" Colossians 2:13-14. "For Messiah is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" Romans 10:4.
According to Paul, God gave us his law as a tutor (or teacher) to teach us that we are sinners with an innate disobedience problem Galatians 3:24. If you don't believe you are a sinner and you are somehow exempt from our commonly shared innate disobedience problem, try doing what you think is good all of time and, see how well you do. Like Paul writes elsewhere, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23.
Obviously changing the word "sin" to "seething mass within" (like the Encyclopedia Britannica), "dark core of human personality", (like some modern scientists), "anti-human rights", "negative societal behavior" or calling sin something else, doesn't change the fact that we have an innate disobedience problem. Nor does it change the resulting greed, fear, hatred, violence, inequality of wealth, slavery, pain, other suffering, sorrow and death that sin causes, clearly displayed both in the historical record and in the 21st Century daily news media (just who's trying to kid Who?) Dark Core of Human Personality.
If we don't want Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sins, we remain subject to God's law, which is written on the hearts of humanity, like Paul says in Romans 2:15 and Thomas Jefferson echoes in the Declaration of Independence. Apart from God's grace, we cannot escape and, we will be judged according to our evil deeds.
Evidence that God has written his law on our hearts is abundantly seen in human behavior, ideas and ideals, such as "human and civil rights", our God given conscience also bearing witness within. Similar laws against murder, theft, adultery and false witness are found spread throughout the historical record; from tribal cultures to large modern civilizations, as well as similar so-called "golden rules".
Like Paul teaches us, while under God's grace we are free to "do all things", obviously not everything is in our best interest I Corinthians 10:13. We should use our freedom wisely to care about each other, rather than to sow destruction upon ourselves and other people. Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for we weep what we sow, a hard lesson that few learn or learn very well Galatians 6:7-10.
While we are free to jump off of a high building without any parachute or drink two cases of beer and eat twelve dozen donuts at the same party, perhaps most of us wouldn't necessarily wish to try. What is okay and what is not good for us is a lengthy learning process from cradle to grave and, we attempt to escape this lifetime learning curve at our own peril. Freedom is not only about what we can do, freedom is also about what we don't have to do, don't want to do and, freedom is about putting off what is too hard for now until later, when it becomes easier and we feel more like doing it.
There is much to learn about freedom and we learn as we go, one day at at time Matthew 6:34. We all limit our own freedom, often without thinking twice, which is sometimes to our benefit (such as refraining from jumping off of a high building) and, sometimes to our detriment, leaving us fearful, tense and uptight (like conservative religious folks often are). Freedom is something sinners work on every day, whether or not they believe in Jesus and, whether or not they even realize it.
Freedom is also about changing our mind over time, something relatively easy for sinners to do and, often difficult for the conservative fundamentally religious. There is far more to freedom than meets the casual eye and like the Bible says, we must all "work out" our own salvation Philippians 2:12-13. No one can do it for us, no matter who they are, what they claim or, how much money we throw away paying them: For "God is no respecter of persons" Acts 10:34 (KJV) and, "by grace" we are saved Ephesians 2:8 (KJV).
And freedom is also about taking it easy, for "by grace" we are saved. Many people are afraid to take it easy in life, for fear they will miss something, while the main thing they are likely to miss is freedom from a heart attack. Don't forget you have been told, under God's grace we can take it easy; for "by grace" we are saved.
In James 1:25, we find the following very good and important advice: "But those who look intently into the perfect law of freedom and closely continue in it and, having been not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, their work will be blessed (corrected to the Greek)."
Unlike during the Old Testament covenant of "eye-for-an-eye", we are told by Jesus to put our swords away and instead, promote love, peace and goodwill to all people. Jesus: "He who is not with me is against me and, he who does not gather with me scatters abroad." Matthew 12:30. According to Paul: ". . .he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life" Galatians 6:8.
Modern Christians ignoring the specific instruction by Jesus to put our swords away, which is underscored in Revelation 13:9-10 by "whoever has an ear, let them hear," are without excuse and are a terrible example to well-meaning and rational people of all religious, political and other persuasion. An atheist carrying an anti-war or peace sign is perhaps closer to what Jesus calls "the kingdom of heavens", than a Christian openly endorsing the actions of a government engaged in a so-called "pre-emptive" slaughter of men, women and children.
It says volumes that not a single follower of Jesus in the New Testament is ever mentioned resorting to violence as a means to an end, after Jesus tells us to put our swords away; "for all who take the sword will perish by the sword" is directed at all people Matthew 26:52 and "Those who kill with the sword must be killed with the sword Revelation 13:10. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, early century soldiers refused to fight after deciding to follow Jesus.
We find this in I John 5:20: "And we know that the son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his son Jesus Messiah. This is the true God and eternal life." And in Revelation: "And the spirit and the bride say, "come!" And let those who hear say, "Come!" And let those who thirst come. Whoever desires, let him take freely from the water of life" Revelation 22:17.
This is the only concept of God tracing from ancient times, that here in the 21st Century continues to match the known historical, scientific and other evidence. And, it remains the only known rational explanation for the existence of both ourselves and the rest of the grand design universal reality.
If one doesn't believe this is true, they can try for themselves to rationally explain their own existence apart from "Eternal Creator" and, see how far they get. Philosophers and scientists have been trying unsuccessfully since the ancient Greeks and, neither modern evolutionary theory or "multi-verse" theory rationally satisfies origins any better then the Greeks could manage.
It is important to note the term "rationally"; virtually anyone can invent a non-evidenced based irrational explanation for anything. For more information as to why it is mathematically and otherwise far beyond irrationally absurd to pretend there is no God, feel free to wade through the information at This Link.
Apart from "Eternal" Creator, there is no rational explanation for either our own existence or for the rest of the grand design universal reality. There is no science, no reason, no purpose and no hope for a wayward violent race called "human being".
According to the New Testament, when Jesus was born, God's messengers sang "on earth peace, goodwill towards the people" Luke 2:14, ushering in a new covenant of grace, where through forgiveness found only in Jesus, we can live free from what Paul later refers to as "the curse of the law" Galatians 3:13-14. In John's narrative, we likewise find a similar explanation for the difference between the Old and the New Testament era: "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Messiah" John 1:17.
And herein lies good news from Jesus, for if we ask Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sins, from that moment forward we immediately pass from death unto life, where we can walk in freedom without fear before our Creator, for we "are not under law, but under grace" Romans 6:14.
Another part of the good news from Jesus, is that if we have asked Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sins, we have eternal life and our soul will never die, but we will go on living forever and ever John 3:16. And even more good news, God's salvation is "the gift of God, not of works less anyone should boast" Ephesians 8:10.
Paul writes that Messiah "has redeemed us from the curse of the law" Galatians 3:13. And in another letter Paul says that Jesus ". . .having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross" Colossians 2:13-14. "For Messiah is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" Romans 10:4.
According to Paul, God gave us his law as a tutor (or teacher) to teach us that we are sinners with an innate disobedience problem Galatians 3:24. If you don't believe you are a sinner and you are somehow exempt from our commonly shared innate disobedience problem, try doing what you think is good all of time and, see how well you do. Like Paul writes elsewhere, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23.
Obviously changing the word "sin" to "seething mass within" (like the Encyclopedia Britannica), "dark core of human personality", (like some modern scientists), "anti-human rights", "negative societal behavior" or calling sin something else, doesn't change the fact that we have an innate disobedience problem. Nor does it change the resulting greed, fear, hatred, violence, inequality of wealth, slavery, pain, other suffering, sorrow and death that sin causes, clearly displayed both in the historical record and in the 21st Century daily news media (just who's trying to kid Who?) Dark Core of Human Personality.
If we don't want Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sins, we remain subject to God's law, which is written on the hearts of humanity, like Paul says in Romans 2:15 and Thomas Jefferson echoes in the Declaration of Independence. Apart from God's grace, we cannot escape and, we will be judged according to our evil deeds.
Evidence that God has written his law on our hearts is abundantly seen in human behavior, ideas and ideals, such as "human and civil rights", our God given conscience also bearing witness within. Similar laws against murder, theft, adultery and false witness are found spread throughout the historical record; from tribal cultures to large modern civilizations, as well as similar so-called "golden rules".
Like Paul teaches us, while under God's grace we are free to "do all things", obviously not everything is in our best interest I Corinthians 10:13. We should use our freedom wisely to care about each other, rather than to sow destruction upon ourselves and other people. Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for we weep what we sow, a hard lesson that few learn or learn very well Galatians 6:7-10.
While we are free to jump off of a high building without any parachute or drink two cases of beer and eat twelve dozen donuts at the same party, perhaps most of us wouldn't necessarily wish to try. What is okay and what is not good for us is a lengthy learning process from cradle to grave and, we attempt to escape this lifetime learning curve at our own peril. Freedom is not only about what we can do, freedom is also about what we don't have to do, don't want to do and, freedom is about putting off what is too hard for now until later, when it becomes easier and we feel more like doing it.
There is much to learn about freedom and we learn as we go, one day at at time Matthew 6:34. We all limit our own freedom, often without thinking twice, which is sometimes to our benefit (such as refraining from jumping off of a high building) and, sometimes to our detriment, leaving us fearful, tense and uptight (like conservative religious folks often are). Freedom is something sinners work on every day, whether or not they believe in Jesus and, whether or not they even realize it.
Freedom is also about changing our mind over time, something relatively easy for sinners to do and, often difficult for the conservative fundamentally religious. There is far more to freedom than meets the casual eye and like the Bible says, we must all "work out" our own salvation Philippians 2:12-13. No one can do it for us, no matter who they are, what they claim or, how much money we throw away paying them: For "God is no respecter of persons" Acts 10:34 (KJV) and, "by grace" we are saved Ephesians 2:8 (KJV).
And freedom is also about taking it easy, for "by grace" we are saved. Many people are afraid to take it easy in life, for fear they will miss something, while the main thing they are likely to miss is freedom from a heart attack. Don't forget you have been told, under God's grace we can take it easy; for "by grace" we are saved.
In James 1:25, we find the following very good and important advice: "But those who look intently into the perfect law of freedom and closely continue in it and, having been not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, their work will be blessed (corrected to the Greek)."
Unlike during the Old Testament covenant of "eye-for-an-eye", we are told by Jesus to put our swords away and instead, promote love, peace and goodwill to all people. Jesus: "He who is not with me is against me and, he who does not gather with me scatters abroad." Matthew 12:30. According to Paul: ". . .he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life" Galatians 6:8.
Modern Christians ignoring the specific instruction by Jesus to put our swords away, which is underscored in Revelation 13:9-10 by "whoever has an ear, let them hear," are without excuse and are a terrible example to well-meaning and rational people of all religious, political and other persuasion. An atheist carrying an anti-war or peace sign is perhaps closer to what Jesus calls "the kingdom of heavens", than a Christian openly endorsing the actions of a government engaged in a so-called "pre-emptive" slaughter of men, women and children.
It says volumes that not a single follower of Jesus in the New Testament is ever mentioned resorting to violence as a means to an end, after Jesus tells us to put our swords away; "for all who take the sword will perish by the sword" is directed at all people Matthew 26:52 and "Those who kill with the sword must be killed with the sword Revelation 13:10. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, early century soldiers refused to fight after deciding to follow Jesus.
We find this in I John 5:20: "And we know that the son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his son Jesus Messiah. This is the true God and eternal life." And in Revelation: "And the spirit and the bride say, "come!" And let those who hear say, "Come!" And let those who thirst come. Whoever desires, let him take freely from the water of life" Revelation 22:17.
