Apologetics: I Won't Apologize for the Bible

The Word: Jesus did many miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. (Jn 20:30-31 NIV)

His Truth:

Boldly professing my faith in Jesus, I've found myself in some interesting conversations.  It's in these conversations where I've been asked some tough, thought-provoking questions - questions that have tested my ability to adequately articulate why I believe what I believe.  Throughout my study of God's Word, He's helped me answer a lot of them, and today He did it again.

The Question: What makes the Bible so special?  Couldn't there be other books out there that God has also inspired that we don't even know about?

The underlying assertion here is that if there are other books that God has also inspired, then why do Christians hold the Bible in such high regard - living our lives by it, endorsing others to read it more often, and claiming it as ultimate Truth.  It's the last part that I think gets most people confused.  I think what they really want to ask me: 

Why are you so "naive"?  Why do you constantly refer to the Bible, especially when you're going through something crazy? How dare you be so calm, pretending like your Reality isn't what you can see, touch or taste?

This is the answer that God showed me in John 20:30-31.  Yes, there could be other books written out there that I inspired other people to write.  But I, in my infinite wisdom, designed this specific collection of books, with this specific collection of testimonies and events because I felt like it was just what you needed to BELIEVE.  So why not start with this one?  Then perhaps once you feel like you've gotten all from it that you possibly can, you can go searching for another.

You Are NOT a Sinner!

The Word: For just as through the disobedience of the one man, many were made Sinners, so also, through the obedience of the one man the many will be made Righteous. (Ro 5:19)

His Truth:

When we were born - we were born Sinners. Why?  Because of the Disobedience of one man - Adam.  The scripture says we were made Sinners.

• made (to make): to cause to become; to fix; appoint

So when we say "we made dinner" - we made the dinner, the dinner didn't make itself.  So the reason, we were caused to become Sinners was not because of anything we did (or didn't do).  It was only Adam's disobedience, that fixed us in a position of a Sinner.  It's because, a seed produces after its own kind.  So Adam, being our Flesh Father, produced seeds that were all Disobedient.  Therefore, your sin did not make you a Sinner! Put another way - Sinning is the Fruit of our position of being a Sinner.  We Sin because we're a Sinner, we're not a Sinner because we Sin.

Sidetone: for all the Pious People out there who think they don't Sin or don't have "bad" Sins.  Sin = to miss the mark of God.  God has a Perfect Standard, that's why we all fall short of the glory of God.  Doesn't matter if someone is shoots an airball or if the basketball swirls around the rim before it comes out.  A miss is a miss - it's all Sin in God's Book.

I digress . . . -- Enters Jesus -- 

This is the best part!  Then the verse says, just like we didn't do anything to be a Sinner, we didn't do anything to be Righteous.  Again, we were made Righteous.  By what?  The obedience of one man = Jesus!  This is why we are BORN again - because our first birth was into this flesh nature, and our Flesh Father was no good - he made us a Sinner.  But thanks be to God, when we accept Jesus Christ, we make Him our Spirit Father, and He, through His obedience (to the Law) makes us Righteous!  So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. (1 Co 15:45)

The Good News! Just like your Right Acts didn't make you Righteous, when you were a Sinner, your Wrong Acts won't turn you into a Sinner, after you've been made Righteous.  

So if you are reading this today, and you believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, You Are NOT a Sinner (and yes, you still sin), rather, 

You. Are. Righteous. 

So what about the Sin part?  Don't worry about it!  If your Sin was the fruit of your Sin Nature, your Right Acts will be the fruit of your Righteousness.  Don't let the enemy make you feel bad about something you keep doing, a sin you keep falling into . . . because that Sin can't rob you of your Righteousness.  That's why we depend on Jesus Christ - it's not our Obedience, but His, that Made us Righteous!

Just Ask God, "How?"

The Word: ""Blessed is (s)he who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" (Luke 1: 45) "For no word from God will ever fail." (Luke 1:37)

My Revelation:
Luke opens up his Gospel with a story of two people being visited by the same angel (Gabriel), on separate occasions, both with a similar Promise of a future child in a seemingly impossible situation.     But although both Promises were Fulfilled, one person suffered some consequences during the waiting period... so I asked God "why?"  The answer was in their Response.

The first appearance of the angel Gabriel was to a man named Zechariah with a vision that his wife would bear a son (John the Baptist).  Zechariah's response to the angel was "by what shall I know and be sure of this?  For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years. (verse 18 AMP)" He left that encounter with with a curse - being prevented from speaking until the day his son would be born.

The second appearance of Gabriel was with Mary, with a vision that she would bear a son (Jesus).  Her response was "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" (verse 34 NIV) Mary walked away with revelation of God's plan to fulfill His Promise.

So how can WE be like Mary?  Waiting for our miracle under a Blessing rather than a Curse, and even more, walk in Confidence because we have received revelation as to HOW God will carry out His Promise?  At first glance, their two Responses don't seem all that different.

• Both initially reacted in Fear. - It's natural for us to ask the "what ifs" because when God gives a Vision, it's so big you're not really sure you are up for the job.  
• Both stated the obvious Obstacles. - Because God will do that, He'll give you a Vision of something that seems absolutely impossible and utterly ridiculous given the current circumstances.  As a matter of fact, if it doesn't seem crazy - then it might not be from God.

The difference lies in a matter of FAITH.  Zechariah in effect said, "give me a sign so that I can be sure you're able to do it", whereas Mary said, "I believe you Lord, so tell me, How are you going to do it? 'cause you know I'm not having sex, right?".  I think that's what Faith is - Acknowledgement of God's Greatness in the Awareness of Contradiction.  Mary didn't deny the problems, she just didn't dwell on them.  So let's choose to operate in Faith today, if God has given you a Promise that seems impossible - just ask God, How?  Maybe, just maybe - He'll tell you.

WAIT for the one for whom you have been made SUITABLE

THE WORD:   "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." 

– Genesis 2:18

MY TRUTH:  You may be "right" or "good" for a lot of men, but you're only "suitable" for one. God has someone just for you. Don't rely on your own shallow depictions of the spouse YOU want but rely on GOD's perfect choice.  There is one out there that you are completely suitable for. He will find and choose you. He will find you suitable.

You may not agree in the physical but God looks at the spiritual, and His ways are higher than ours.  Don’t get blinded by outward appearances and material possessions.  There is nothing necessarily wrong with these things but God looks deeper.  The one you are suitable for may not be who you’ve envisioned, but it’s not about your vision but God’s.  It’s not about looks or status but the one who is going to help you fulfill the purpose God has placed on your life. 

So pray that your will is aligned with God’s will.  Be open to the move of God and know that who you end up marrying may not be who you initially thought it would, but God has a plan and purpose and will grow all the things you THINK he may lack. You are worth the wait so wait for the one for whom you have been made suitable.