Enormous Evidence That False Religions Are Illogical

Dear Christians, we need to be well-armed with the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). We must understand what the Bible teaches so we can share it accurately and identify half-truths and false teachings.

One of Satan's favorite lies is to claim that Jesus is not God. When he tempted Jesus, he taunted him by saying “If you are the Son of God” prove it (Matthew 4:1-11)!

It's no surprise that cults and false religions such as the Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, and Muslims also reject Christ as God. 

Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons believe Jesus was a perfect created man. Why then do they deny His words when He taught about existing before Abraham (John 8:58) and being one with the Father (John 10:30)?

Why don't they trust Him when He allows people to worship Him (Matthew 14:33; Matthew 28:9; Matthew 28:17; Luke 24:52; John 9:38) and says only God deserves worship (Matthew 4:10)?

Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet, but they don't believe what He taught. Christ said He is the only way of salvation (John 14:6), and the Savior of mankind (John 3:16).

You can't call Jesus a prophet or a perfect created man while denying what He taught unless you have been blinded by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4). (See C.S. Lewis' quote at the bottom). 

Let's pray for these lost people and learn how to refute their illogical claims.

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To understand how to respond to these lies, arm yourself with these verses from sword of the Spirit: 

✞ Scripture defines Jesus as God:

John 1:1,14: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God....The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” 

John 1:18: “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” 

John 10:30: “The Father and I are one.”

Titus 2:13: “while we wait for the blessed hope--the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…,” 

2 Peter 1:1: “Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours....” 

Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” [“Immanuel” means “God with us.”]

✞  Jesus has always existed because He's God:

John 8:58: “'Very truly I tell you,' Jesus answered, 'before Abraham was born, I am!'” 

Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

1 Corinthians 10:2-4: “They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” 

Philippians 2:5-8: “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;  rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” 

 ✞ Scripture forbids worshiping anyone or anything besides God:

Revelation 19:9-10: “Then the angel said to me, 'Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' And he added, 'These are the true words of God.' At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, 'Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.'” 

✞ Jesus is worshiped throughout Scripture:
He is worshiped as a baby: 
Matthew 2:11
Jesus allows people to worship Him:
Matthew 14:33;  Matthew 28:9;  Matthew 28:17;  Luke 24:52;  John 9:38

✞ Jesus, is part of the Trinity, and was active in Creation:

Hebrews 1: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word…. 6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God’s angels worship him.' …8 about the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom….' 10 He also says, 'In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.'” 

Colossians 1:15-17: “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.” 

✞ Quote from C.S. Lewis

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

When Christians Justify and Promote Lies About God

If a fictional book or movie portrays a real person, that person can sue for libel if his character behaves in ways that misrepresents him. In fact, people can win libel suits if a fictional character closely resembles them, even if the character doesn’t bear their name.

Saying something is “just fiction” doesn’t cut it with the law because there’s great power in the written word, whether fictional or true. The written word can damage, deceive, mislead, and endanger.

If my husband were misrepresented in a fictional book, you can bet I’d be there to defend his honor.  And there’s only one person more important to me than my husband – my Lord. 

That's why it saddens me to hear so many Christians justifying and excusing errors about God in popular entertainment with the excuse “It's just fiction” or, in the case of The Chosen, “It's not Scripture.” 

But it gets even worse because these excuses are almost always followed by the claim that it's drawing enormous numbers of people to God. 

What a perfect example of accepting “another Jesus” or “another gospel” as referred to in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4. Since it's not Scripture or only fiction, Christians think it's wonderful to share a distorted gospel with millions of people. 

God says those who change His Word are interested in unhealthy controversies and sometimes are doing it simply to make money (1 Timothy 6:3-5). 

Our goal as Christians is to promote things that carefully and accurately share God's character and His Word. As Jeremiah explained, “What has straw to do with grain?” (Jeremiah 23:28-32).   

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The acceptance of biblical inaccuracy is a growing problem in the church, a problem that leads to further deception and an ever-weakening faith. For other insights on this devotion, see Slightly Skewed and An Authority We Can Trust.

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Pray for These Folks but Don't Listen to Them

A man wrote to Bible Love Notes regarding the post March 31st: When Public Holidays Mock Christianity. He said, “Because of this message I unsubscribed. I don't like it when Christians politicize their messages.” 

Many who call themselves Christians believe they can worship Christ in church but be silent when He is mocked in culture and politics. They try to shame Christians who live their faith in all areas of life.

We need to pray for these people who are offended by the salt and light of Christianity (Matthew 5:13-16). And we need to recognize that many who shame Christians are weeds whose purpose is to compromise God's church. We must not listen to them!

Abortion and LGBTQ lifestyles are biblical and moral issues first and foremost. The genuineness of our faith and love for mankind is reflected in our willingness to speak and vote biblically (Proverbs 24:11-12; Psalm 82:2-4). 

Jesus said, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38 *

For those who take a stand for Christ in all areas of life, He shared this truth:

“Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Mark 13:13

Let’s remember that those who hate us for speaking truth are bringing us eternal rewards (Matthew 5:10-16).

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I think you'll be encouraged by On the Alert and Cower, Criticize, or Fight?  

* Some may claim that Christ never said anything about abortion and LGBTQ lifestyles. You can easily refute this claim by sharing the truths in The Fake Jesus Only Believes Part of the Bible. 

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We Serve a God of Adventure

When we returned from overseas Christian work and moved close to our family in 2010, my husband and I thought it would be the last of our 20+ moves.

But five years later, we felt God prompting us to volunteer with a ministry in another state. So we sold our house that was ten minutes from family and left a community we enjoyed.

This wasn't the first time God had called us to a new adventure that involved sacrifice, and it wasn't the last. But we've never regretted any of His plans. 

We serve a God of adventure, and His plans for us may be difficult, but they build our faith and give us experiences that help us minister to others.

He has so many blessings in store for us if we're willing. 

This doesn't mean we all should be moving to a new location. For most people, God's faith-building adventures are right where they live! The key is our willingness to make whatever sacrifices are required (Luke 9:23-25).

Where is God asking you to go with Him? What is He asking you to do with Him? Take some time this week to ask God if He has a new adventure in store for you this coming year. 

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For more about God adventures, see When God Changes Our Plans and Don't Let Circumstances Eat You.

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Do You Treat the Word of God as a Treasure?

By Marika Marton

Do you have your own copy of the Bible? If you are reading this devotion, I assume the answer is “yes.” Most Christians have Bibles in several translations, and they may have Bibles in different languages as well. They also have easy access to Scripture online.

Yet we often take these blessings for granted. We rarely stop to consider how many people in the world lack access to these privileges(1)—and how little we value what we freely possess. 

We should treat Scripture as a treasure, a limitless, infinite treasure. The more we “dig” into it, the more precious truth we uncover: truth that reveals who God is and what His will is for our lives.

Everything we need to live a godly life is written in the Bible (2 Peter 1:3). Even when we don’t find a specific answer for every situation, we can always find wise and trustworthy principles that guide us through daily life.

Jesus gave an example in Matthew 13:44: A man found a treasure hidden in a field, and he sold everything he owned to buy that field because the treasure was so valuable.

Jesus used this picture to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. When we discover the treasure of God’s Kingdom revealed in Scripture and enjoy its benefits, we begin to desire it more than anything this world can offer. 

So if you have access to a Bible, don’t let it sit unopened on a shelf. Read it daily. Dig into it often. Obey what it says. And enjoy the blessings it brings!

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(1) See a one-minute video about how persecuted Christians in China receive their first Bibles. 

For more insights, see Hiding God’s Word in Our Hearts and Better than Morning Coffee.

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Why Proverbs Says: “Go to the Ant”

“Ants are a remarkable species. They are highly organized, hard-working, and can survive almost anywhere…At sunrise, the ant colony stirs to life. The ants emerge from their underground homes and immediately start searching for food…Once evening comes, the ants return home. They will be in a dormant state until the following day when the cycle begins again!” ~ A Look at an Ant's Daily Life

When most of us think of ants, we think of pesky little bugs to step on. But God created ants to display some qualities he’d like to see in human beings. Two times in Proverbs, ants are mentioned in a positive light.
 

Proverbs 6:6-8: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”
 

Proverbs 30:25: “Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer.”
 

God hates laziness, and Proverbs is full of condemnation for sluggards. In addition, Paul gave this rule to the Christians at Thessalonica: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”

It's easy for Christians to slip into the societal sin of entitlement, thinking we deserve things we can't afford and acting like victims if we don't get them.

We need to remember—and maybe even memorize—Christ's words below.

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Luke 12:15: “Then he [Jesus] said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’”

Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

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15 Benefits of Being Thankful

Any way you slice it, gratefulness is good for us.

Secular studies show that grateful people:

1. Make friends more easily and have better relationships.
  
2. Have better physical health.
  
3. Have better psychological health. 
  
4. Are more compassionate and generous.
  
5. Are less resentful, jealous, and aggressive.
  
6. More easily overcome trauma and loss.
  
7. Are less stressed and sleep better.

8. Have better immune systems and healthier hearts.
  
9. Do better in their careers and are better team players.
  
10. Are less materialistic. 

11. Are more optimistic.
  
12. Are less self-centered.
  
13. Have higher energy levels and are more productive.
  
14. Feel more joyful and content.
  
15. Are more relaxed.

No wonder God says:

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Philippians 4:6 

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

Why not check out this link, which shows you each time “thanks” or “thanksgiving” is mentioned in the New Testament: Thanks Key Word.  

 
Resources for this devotion:
Forbes, Happier Human

I also encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word: Wisdom for Life. Read the story behind Wisdom for Life HERE. 

 

And if you aren't a subscriber, sign up for a free subscription to Bible Love Notes HERE.

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Why Does He Love Us?

“I don’t need to struggle for His love,” the young woman said, tears streaming down her face.

I was living in Budapest, Hungary, and I'd just given a seminar to a group of Hungarian women. Starting in Genesis and going through Revelation, I'd explained mankind's repeated rebellion and God's repeated forgiveness.

 

When I finished, this woman began weeping because she realized for the first time in her life that God was eager to forgive her.

Another woman looked at me with wonder and asked, “Why does He love us?” 

 

I told her there's no human explanation for God's unexplainable, perfect, and “unreasonable” love. God offers it “while we [are] still sinners” (Romans 5:8), and He “does not treat us as our sins deserve” (Psalm 103:10). 

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"  1 John 3:1      

These women's questions reminded me to never take God's love for granted, as John 15:10-11 explains:

“If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”  

Let's never take God's love for granted!

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See God Hugs and God's Love Is Better Than Unconditional.  

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Why Scripture Doesn't Describe God's Love as Unconditional

God's love is so much better than “unconditional.”

The description “unconditional love”:

➤ Isn't found in Scripture

It's not equivalent to agape or any Greek or Hebrew description of God's love in Bible manuscripts. It's not found in any legitimate Bible translation.

➤ Contradicts Scripture

God's love involves holy wrath based on His conditions of right and wrong (Romans 1:18-20). Christ's sacrifice fulfilled a necessary condition for our salvation (2 Corinthians 5:21). John 3:16 contains a life and death condition. God's blessings and rewards for believers have conditions (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). 

➤ Is an oxymoron*

Unconditional love isn't love. Godly love has conditions: values, expectations, absolutes, blessings, etc.

➤ Leads to heresy

For example, Universal Salvation, Antinomianism, He Gets Us, Wilderness Wanderers, etc.

➤ Has an unhealthy hold on people

Even when Christians are confronted with the Scriptures refuting it, many refuse to give up this easily misunderstood human description. 

No wonder our world has created a Jesus who's soft on sin.

Dear Christians, let's start describing God's perfect, glorious, sacrificial, forgiving, undeserved love correctly. And let's avoid this human description that misrepresents the gospel. 

In my book Lies in Disguise, Half-Truths Many Christians Believe, I have a chapter addressing the error of unconditional love. I believe God has laid it on my heart to warn Christians of this and other lies that are damaging their faith. And I know that some will listen.  

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* For example, if a couple marries and agrees to have multiple affairs, that's not love. If a parent says they love their children but never punishes them so they can learn right from wrong, that's not love. If a person says they love God, but never intends to obey His commands, that's not love (John 14:15). Conditions are a good thing! Genuine human love is fair, faithful, honest, and moral. God's love fulfills the conditions of justice, holiness, perfection, etc. 

You can find thousands of articles on the internet using the term “unconditional love.” Most of them are unintentionally repeating this popular error and equating it to biblical truths. But it highlights a huge problem in the modern church when godly preachers are adopting words without fully checking them out. 

Here are some videos and articles that refute the belief that God's love is unconditional:

4-minute video: Is the Love of God Unconditional?: Ultimately with R.C. Sproul

14-minute video: Does God Love Us Unconditionally? John MacArthur, R.C. Sproul

Good News! God Does not Love You Unconditionally

Is God’s Love Unconditional or Unconditioned?

Leadership Ministries: Untwisting Unconditional Love

An interesting look at mixing secular psychology with Christianity: Is God's Love Unconditional?

Spiritual Myth – God Loves You Unconditionally

Specifically on unconditional forgiveness: God's Forgiveness, Like His Love, Is Better than Unconditional

Randy Alcorn: God's Contraconditional Love

God's Love: Better than Unconditional

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When Something You've Believed for Years Is Challenged

Suppose someone explained to you that a popular description used by the majority of Christians was misleading. They gave you proof that such a description was not found in Scripture. They showed you that a Greek word used to support this description was not correctly translated.

Suppose they told you that there’s substantial evidence to believe that this description was introduced into culture by an atheist psychologist and wasn't used by Christians until the 1960s. Suppose they showed you how the description led to serious misunderstandings for both believers and unbelievers.

But suppose this description had always been part of your Christian vocabulary. Your parents used it. The person who led you to the Lord used it. Your pastor and Bible study leader use it. And you'd never heard anyone refute it. 

When you googled it, you found that some Bible teachers refuted it, but hundreds of Christian sites used the description.

Studies show that very few people will give up a long-held belief, no matter how much evidence proves it's wrong (National Library of Medicine).

Do you know what description I’m talking about? If you’re a long-time Bible Love Notes reader, you might remember previous devotions about it. 

But this is my question today: Are you a noble Berean-type Christian whose goal is correctly handling God’s Word, or are you someone who calls Berean Christians “picky and legalistic”?

 

Read about the description HERE, but please take time to prayerfully and carefully read through the passages below before reading it.

 

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This highly popular and passionately defended description is one that I cover in my book Lies in Disguise. In my book, it is concisely presented so you can not only understand it yourself, but you can also explain it to others. And just as you find in my Bible Love Notes devotions, my book is filled with Scripture references—the true basis for any and all beliefs we hold as Christians. Find out more about Lies in Disguise HERE. And please take time to read through the Scriptures below before tomorrow's devotion.

Acts 17:11-12:  “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.”

2 Timothy 2:15: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

 

2 Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

1 Timothy 6:20-21: “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all.”

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