| ABOUT GODIn determining why Christianity
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| | question is answered, you have to ask the
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| seems to have done so much harm in
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| | question as to why God can't be more
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| society (the crusades, the inquisition
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| | obvious in what He really wants from us?
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| etc), one has to distinguish between
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| | The problem here is that even if He were,
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| people who have a relationship with
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| | we probably would want to do our own
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| Christ, and the institution which calls
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| | thing anyway. There are several reasons
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| itself Christian. An institution can
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| | for this. 1) The impression stupendous
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| never be Christian.Suffering comes about
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| | events have on us, such as miracles, are
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| mostly because of the gift God gave us,
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| | never permanent and fade away with time.
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| "free will", which is the gift that
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| | 2) There are always other explanations
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| allows us to choose whether to love, or
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| | available for anything you observe. 3)
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| hate, which if the latter is chosen could
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| | Divine things are never as clear in this
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| cause much suffering. Without free will,
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| | world because of the spiritual warfare
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| however, we could not really love
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| | going on around us. And 4) God only wants
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| voluntarily. And without voluntary love,
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| | a loving trusting relationship with us,
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| you just become a robot who cannot
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| | and this requires a moral decision by us,
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| possibly love. Also with free will, God
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| | not absolute proof which would require no
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| chooses to limit Himself as to His power
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| | moral decision having to be made
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| as well as to His foreknowledge of an
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| | whatsoever. Besides, nothing is ever
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| individual's future, although He does
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| | absolute.Now getting back to the Bible.
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| know the over-all beneficial future of
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| | It's true that there are some
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| society. As I say, most suffering is
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| | unbelievable stories contained therein,
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| caused by our use of free will, but some
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| | but in a sense, you have to look at the
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| suffering is also caused by creation
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| | Bible as a baby carriage carrying the
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| limitations, and spiritual warfare
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| | baby, whereby the baby carrage can have
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| (because you can't see this really taking
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| | many defects in it, while the baby
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| place, doesn't mean it's actually not
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| | cannot, although sometimes it's hard to
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| taking place). But this free will is also
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| | distinguish between the two. Also many of
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| somewhat limited for the individual in
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| | these so-called defects are really not
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| that one's free will is greatly
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| | defects at all, but a way of making a
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| influenced by generation after generation
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| | point allegorically that couldn't be made
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| of free will decisions made by their
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| | more effectively in any other way. After
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| ancestors. And from looking at the world
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| | all, the Bible is basically not an
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| around us, one can see that many of these
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| | historical or scientific book, but a book
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| decisions went in the wrong direction.But
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| | to show us how we could be redeemed. Now
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| then how do you know that there really is
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| | if you consider the Lordship of Jesus as
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| a God overseeing all this? It's in the
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| | portrayed in the Gospels as authentic,
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| creation. It's illogical to assume that
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| | you have to consider the Bible itself as
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| chance really created rationality, so
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| | being authentic, because Jesus uses so
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| since we were actually created with a
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| | much of the Old Testament in His
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| desire for meaningfulness, which is a
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| | teachings In other words, the Gospels'
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| part of rationality and a creator is
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| | authenticity lends itself to the
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| always greater than his creation, our
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| | authenticity of the rest of the Bible.
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| creator must be greater in personhood (a
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| | Besides the Bible seems to have a unity
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| God) than we are. And our physical
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| | of purpose despite the diversity of its
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| smallness compared to what's out there in
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| | authorship, prophetic, and archaeological
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| the universe should be no criteria for
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| | accuracy in many instances, and the Bible
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| our importance to God. After all, we do
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| | as a whole has given many people
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| have rationality. Another arguement for
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| | tremendous spiritual uplifts thoughout
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| God's existence is that we being
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| | the centuries. Therefore if you consider
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| imperfect as we all know, but continually
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| | the Gospels as being historically
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| striving for perfection, must have
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| | authentic, you also have to trust the
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| developed this idea of perfection from
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| | Bible as a whole in being historically
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| someplace, and the most logical place
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| | reliable as well. But why so much
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| that we developed this from seems to be
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| | violence in the Bible, especially in the
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| from a higher power (a God, for
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| | Old Testament, whereby sometimes whole
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| instance). And finally, can you imagine a
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| | groups of people are killed under a
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| planet spinning around the universe in
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| | loving God's direction? One has to
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| perfect unison allowing human life to
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| | realize that one has to measure one kind
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| evolve as it has for as long as it has
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| | of evil against another, especially if
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| without completely breaking up with all
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| | the particular evil you want to stamp out
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| its earthquakes and volcanoes taking
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| | is going to interfere with God's
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| place without a God being in control.So
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| | universal plan for redemption Besides,
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| if there is a God, why doesn't He seem to
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| | you still have the after-life to sort out
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| answer prayer? This is a difficult
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| | what's right or wrong.But with one
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| question to answer, but it's probably due
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| | authoritative Bible, why do we have so
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| to the consequences of sin and spiritual
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| | many Christian denominations with
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| warfare taking place around us, although
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| | different translations and
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| in our prayers one can experience God
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| | interpretations of the Bible? There are
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| being with us to comfort and heal us in
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| | basically 3 reasons for this. 1)
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| any of the suffering we're encountering.
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| | Primarily because of the sinfulness of
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| The basic function of prayer, however, is
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| | the church, in that, despite the fact
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| to build a faith relationship between God
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| | that Jesus prayed for unity among His
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| and ourselves, and petitionary prayer is
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| | children (John 17), our pride and
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| only a small part of this faith
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| | arrogance insisted on our divisiveness.
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| relationship. But with petitionary prayer
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| | It's amazing that Jesus can still
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| being the crux of the problem as to
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| | minister through this sinful church. 2)
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| whether prayer works or not, you can
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| | Some churches view the authority of the
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| never scientifically prove that
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| | Bible in different ways, such as the
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| petitionary prayer really works, because
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| | Roman Catholic Church which views the
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| there are so many interconnected
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| | Bible, Church Tradition and the Pope as
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| variables to look at in God's scheme of
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| | equal in authority, and the
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| things. Sometimes prayer seems to work,
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| | Fundamentalists
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| and sometimes it doesn't, but here you
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| | who view the Bible simply as a Supreme
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| have to realize our loving God has a much
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| | Legal Document. And 3) some churches have
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| broader perspective as to what is really
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| | honest differences of opinion on how to
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| needed for society's betterment, than we
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| | interpret different portions of
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| do while we're here on earth. And as I
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| | Scripture, such as the role women should
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| said above, you also have to take into
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| | play in the church,, due to the fraility
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| account the consequences of sin, and
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| | of our human understanding. But the
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| spiritual warfareABOUT JESUS CHRISTWho is
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| | central message in all these traditions
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| Jesus Christ? According to Christians,
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| | is still the same in that Jesus Christ
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| Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is
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| | died for our sins and saved all of us who
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| also our Savior in that He saved us from
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| | believe in Him. And although the Bible is
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| our sin by suffering and dying on the
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| | the prime source for this central
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| cross and being raised from the dead. He
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| | message, God can speak to us in many
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| was God's sacrifice for us. It was like
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| | other ways as well.Now, what happens to
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| perfection saving imperfection. But we
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| | those who aren't Christians? I'm not
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| actually have to believe in all this so
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| | sure, but you should investigate and
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| that we can then become wrapped up in our
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| | study the non-Christian's philosophy of
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| belief, or Jesus Christ, just like a
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| | life and belief, and see how it compares
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| Christmas package, so that when God looks
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| | with that of Christianity to perhaps find
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| at us, all that He can see is His Son
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| | out. Most belief systems do have much
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| (perfection), or Himself as if He were
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| | good in them, but do they contain as much
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| looking into a mirror. Now how do we know
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| | truth in regard to this as Christianity
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| all this? By reading the Gospels. But how
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| | does? I don't think so, because no other
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| do we know that the Gospels are really
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| | belief system provides an adequate
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| trustworthy. To go into this, you have to
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| | solution in how to handle sin the way
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| look at the Gospels, not as the literal
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| | Chrisitnity does. So whatever belief
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| Word of God, but as historical documents.
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| | system you do choose, this will guide you
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| In doing this, you have to ask certain
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| | in how you might want to live the rest of
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| questions about these documents . 1) Do
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| | your spiritual life. But you really have
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| the documents portray eyewitness
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| | to study all the belief systems in order
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| accounts. The Gospels do. 2) Do the
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| | to discover what suits you best.ABOUT
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| documents contain irrelevant material not
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| | CHRISTIAN LIFE AND DOCTRINEMost belief
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| pertinent to the eyewitness accounts?
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| | systems feel that a Perfect God could
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| Yes, they do. 3) Do the Gospels contain
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| | accept imperfect or sinful human beings
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| self-damaging material? Yes, they do. For
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| | into His Heavenly Kingdom, because, after
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| example,the boldness of some of the women
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| | all, He is Perfect and He can accept
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| during this time period, and the
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| | anybody He desires.. And those He desires
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| statement Jesus made from the cross when
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| | are those on balance who are better
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| He cried out" My God, My God, Why have
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| | benefactors than sinners. But the
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| You forsaken Me?" 4) Do all 4 Gospels
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| | question remains, "Can Perfection ever
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| have a consistency as well as a
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| | accept imperfection, or sinners, into His
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| divergency in perspectives? Yes, they do.
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| | Heavenly Kingdom? If God does, wouldn't
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| 5) Do the Gospels increase their
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| | the sinners pollute His Kingdom. just as
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| legendary exaggeration? No, they don't,
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| | dirty water would pollute pure water.
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| even though they do have some
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| | Many believe they wouldn't, but if they
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| supernatural events in them. 6) Is there
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| | would, Christianity has a way around
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| any indication that the writers of the
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| | this. Christianity says that God came
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| Gospels have an ulterior motive for
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| | down to earth in the person of Jesus
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| writing them? No, there isn't. In fact
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| | Christ, mingled with humanity for awhile
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| they could have faced persecution for
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| | teaching them about God, died on the
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| writing them. 7) Can outside sources from
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| | cross absorbing our imperfections or
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| that time authenticate the Gospels? Yes,
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| | sinfulness within Himself, and finally
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| they can and do. 8) Do archeological
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| | was resurrected as Perfection after only
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| findings substantiate many of the
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| | 3 days.. And those who believe in this
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| Biblical events related to us in the
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| | Jesus Christ have placed around
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| Gospels? Yes, they do. And 9) Were there
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| | themselves this perfection so that when
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| many opponents of the Gospels at the time
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| | God sees us He only sees His son, Jesus
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| that could disprove the Gospels, but
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| | Christ. In other words, it's like our
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| couldn't? Yes, there were. These are all
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| | being wrapped up like a Christmas
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| questions that should be asked to
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| | present, with the wrapping being our
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| determine whether a document has
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| | belief in Jesus Christ, so that when God
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| historical merit or not. And if the
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| | looks at us, He only sees the wrapping or
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| answers are all in the affirmative,
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| | Perfection (Jesus Christ), and not our
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| except for questions 5 and 6, then the
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| | own sinfulness. It's similar to God
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| document has historical authenticity. In
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| | looking into a mirror at Himself. We
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| this case from the answers given above,
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| | still remain sinners, but God really
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| the Gospels appear to be authentic
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| | doesn't see this. But as we put more and
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| historical documents and can be used as
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| | more of this wrapping around ourselves,
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| historical evidence for the life of Jesus
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| | the wrapping begins to seap more and more
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| Christ. But there still seem to be many
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| | into our hearts, and as this happens we
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| historical discrepencies within the
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| | begin to change and become much more
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| Gospels. This actually can be explained
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| | loving and forgiving. But you have to
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| away by realizing that the Gospels were
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| | believe in Jesus Christ for this to
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| never intended to be a biographical
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| | happen and for you to enter into His
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| sketch of Jesus Christ, although there
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| | Heavenly Kingdom.But what about those who
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| was much biographical material contained
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| | don't believe in Jesus Christ? Do they go
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| therein. The purpose of the Gospels was
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| | to Hell as the Bible suggests? According
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| really to convey a message of salvation
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| | to the Bible, Hell is described as a
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| for the readers. In doing this, the
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| | gruesome place, and nobody in their right
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| discrepencies then become irrelevent. And
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| | mind would want to go there. And being
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| finally the authorship and date that the
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| | such a gruesome place, it seems that only
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| Gospels were written are not essential
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| | those who have committed the most
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| elements to the credibility as to what
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| | horrendous sins should ever go there.
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| the Gospels actually say, although from
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| | This creates quite a dilema for the
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| the Book of Acts it does seem to say that
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| | Christian belief, because we Christians
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| at least the first three Gospels were
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| | believe that those who don't believe in
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| written before 60 AD, and that the
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| | Jesus Christ go there, but we also
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| authorship of Luke is almost a certainty,
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| | believe that God is very fair and just,
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| whereas the authorship of the other
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| | and that He wouldn't just throw these
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| Gospels are closer to a certainty than
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| | non-believers into such a horrendous
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| not. But the bottom line is that there is
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| | place as Hell if they're basically good
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| enough historical authenticity in the
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| | people. After all, they never committed
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| Gospels to make them worth-while
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| | such horrendous acts whereby they
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| reading.As I say, in general, the Gospels
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| | deserved such horrendous punishment. God
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| are historically reliable, but how about
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| | must have provided another alternative
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| the resurrection? Here too, you have
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| | for them. Perhaps a type of Purgatory for
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| enough historical criteria to indicate
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| | them after death. Or perhaps Jesus died
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| that the resurrection actually took
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| | for them on the cross also, even though
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| place. For instance, 1) There are 5
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| | they did not consciously know Him or were
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| independent sources to indicate that the
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| | incapable of knowing him, such as infants
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| event took place (Matthew, Mark, Luke,
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| | retards, or mental incompetents but did
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| John, and Paul),with each giving
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| | God's bidding anyway to the best of their
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| individual eyewitness accounts of the
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| | ability. But to make sure that they're
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| occasion. 2) Jesus's tomb was empty with
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| | accepted by God, we Christian should
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| His burial clothes neatly folded inside
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| | still continue to share our faith with
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| the tomb. This could have been easily
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| | others. Hell, as I see it, is really only
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| checked out at the time by those opposed
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| | for those who have commited horrendous
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| to the story. 3) The church's sudden
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| | acts, such as Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin,
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| growth a few weeks after the
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| | Sadam Hussein, unrepentent criminals or
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| resurrection. 4) The resurrection
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| | assassins, and the political suicide
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| accounts also have many irrevelant
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| | bombers . And God's not really putting
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| material and some self-damaging material
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| | them there. They're putting themselves
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| (such as the role of women in the event)
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| | there by their own free will of so much
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| that are common to early eyewitness based
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| | hate and cruelty. And at the end of time,
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| accounts. 5) There is a total lack of
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| | according to the Book of Revelation, they
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| theological reflection in the narrative
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| | will be totally destroyed by God.I was
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| which is not true for most legendary
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| | born in New York City in 1931, grew up on
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| accounts. 6) The conversion of Paul is
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| | Long Island, graduated from Roanoke
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| unexplained without the resurrection.
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| | College in Virginia with a BA Degree in
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| 7)Paul lists over 500 witnesses to the
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| | Political Science, and from New York
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| resurrection (1 Cor 15) who could always
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| | Theological Seminary with a Masters
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| be cross-examined. 8) The transformation
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| | Degree in Religious Education. I became
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| of the Disciples which was a miracle
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| | a committed Christian in 1958, and after
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| considering their character before the
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| | a number of years became a committed
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| resurrection. And 9) There is no motive
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| | Ecumenical Christian. After my
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| for the authors to fabricate the story.
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| | conversion though, my greatest sin of
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| They had nothing to gain, and everything
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| | sexual obsession was greatly relieved by
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| to lose (their lives). Now does the
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| | my discovering that being active in a
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| resurrection prove that Jesus was also
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| | social nudist (both sexes) camp for 3
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| God Incarnate? No it doesn't, but if you
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| | years would do this for me. This changed
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| can take the Gospels as reliable
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| | my life most dramatically. In the
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| historical documents, you find that Jesus
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| | secular world, I worked as an accountant
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| does make such statements in them as, "I
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| | in various companies for about 25 years
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| and the Father are one", "If you see Me,
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| | in New York City, then moved down to
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| you see the Father", and "He who believes
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| | Argentina and worked for about 23 years
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| in Me, believes in the Father who sent
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| | as a Business English conversationalist
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| Me". This seems to show that Jesus really
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| | teacher with some of the top managers. I
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| believed that He was God incarnate. And
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| | also became a Stephen Minister (trained
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| if the Gospels were fabricated, wouldn't
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| | counselor) while down here. Married twice
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| the story have ended differently before
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| | (the last to an Argentine) widowed once,
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| the crucifixion?ABOUT THE BIBLEWhat about
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| | no children, one cat. You can contact me
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| the Bible? Can you believe all that you
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| | via ().
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| find in the Bible? But before this
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| |
|
