Posted on 03/31/2012 6:38:44 AM PDT by kindred
If Jesus came in our day (2012) to the "land of the "free", what would you expect the majority of Americans to do with Him? Would the "Word made Flesh" be received and welcomed as the Savior of the world? Would "church" goers receive Him with open arms? Would the socially dependant so called "poor", rich and government and educational elites welcome Him with open arms? Would the conserative and leftist media outlets have good things to say about Him? Would His countless miracles of healing the lame, blind, sick and demon possessed win over the masses from sea to shining sea? Well... Tragically the heart of a man is NOT changed by witnessing signs and wonders (Matt. 13, Rom. 10:17). Man will just about justify, excuse and do anything rather than changing and repenting to Almighty God's saving grace (John 3:19-21, Rom. 1:18-32). The history of mankind is full of such godless testimonies (Psalm 106:7, John 5:1-18, Acts 2:22-23, Rev. 11:3-13, Rev. 20:6-15). I guarantee that the majority of Americans who would have saw Jesus would in like manner (Liberals and Conservatives) by the end of His 3 1/2 year ministry would have had enough of Him, His ETERNAL realities, and cries of repentance to a lost and dying world, and at Easter (an American holiday) in 2012 would in unison yell crucify Him and put Him to death! The country we live into day has absolutely NO PLACE for Almighty God, the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ. Self willed religion (a spiritual philosophy), narcissism, independence from godliness and lawlessness dominate our day. So when push comes to shove and the chips are down, when ones back is against the wall and the fat lady sings the true nature of an individual is then revealed and it "ain't" pretty. Such was the heart in Jesus' day and such is the heart of our day.
Man will just about justify, excuse and do anything rather than changing and repenting to Almighty God's saving grace.
As it were, Jesus had absolutely dominated the “news cycle” of His day for 3 ½ years! Jesus would have been constantly talked about in all of the newspapers and on all of the radio talk shows, blogs and main stream media outlets. Sadducees and Pharisees talk shows hosts would ignorantly miss represent Him to the kool aid drinking Israeli masses of conservatives and liberal Jews of Jesus day. His enemies would have be on 24/7 slandering campaigns to change and curb public opinion against Him. His WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE and ETERNAL REDEMPTION to a doomed and fallen world would have been called intolerant, hate speech, bigoted and satanic-phobia. There would have been constant polls questioning and asking, “Is Jesus the Messiah?” “Is He good for Israel?” “Do you believe that Jesus is God? etc. Religious and political hacks would have followed Him around Israel protesting, misrepresenting and misquoting His words, miracles and wonders to their godless doom! The oppositional government bureaucrats would have sought to limit where Jesus was to speak and sent their spies out to follow Him to gather incriminating evidence against Him. The unbelieving Israeli socialists would have wanted Jesus to run for leadership as a socialist “cradle to grave” provider of the people without ever addressing their ETERNAL needs. Conservatives would have wanted Jesus to run for office to instill a conservative utopia (in this fallen world) where the people can honor God according to their “OWN” conservative mindset while REJECTING Almighty God’s ETERNAL RIGHTEOUS provision for ETERNITY (Rom. 10:2-4). The poor would have wanted something for nothing and the rich low taxes to grow the economy and their “worldly” business.
Unbelief, is unbelief, is unbelief, is unbelief! If it quacks like an unbelieving duck, and walks like an unbelieving duck it is an unbelieving duck! It was so in Jesus Day and it is so in our day!
My friends NOTHING is EVER new under the sun! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING (Eccl. 1)! Whether conservative unbelief or liberal unbelief (politically or religiously), Unbelief, is unbelief, is unbelief, is unbelief! If it quacks like an unbelieving duck, and walks like an unbelieving duck, it is an unbelieving duck! It was so in Jesus day and it is so in our day! What is absolutely key to know the reality of what is going on in our world is that the master of this fallen and godless world of Jew and Gentiles has the same ol playbook but repackaged into whatever deception that is needed for the hour . Lucifer has - then and today - countless unbelieving godless demonic kool aid drinkers to do his will (1 Cor. 4:3-4, Eph 2:2-3) who (conservative, moderate and liberal) REJECT Almighty God’s saving grace which comes ONLY by His dear Son Jesus Messiah (John 3:16-21, 14:6, Acts 4:12). Conservative, Moderate, Liberal, Progressive etc… ALL are lost and ALL are fallen (Rom. 3:23, 5:12-21). Whatever part of the spectrum one might fall in we are all equally a broken egg who desperately need redemption and a PERFECT (a perfect egg) atoning propitiation (Rom. 3:23, 5:12-21, 1 John 4:10)! That my dear friend is the bottom line and is our greatest need for our temporal existence here in time today (Rom. 6:23).
A "Christian" ideology will not save you. A moral life will not save you. ONLY faith in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ will SAVE you from the wrath to come!
May I ask YOU this very simple question? If the Lord Jesus came today to America, would YOU receive Him as your Savior? The test to see for yourself is will YOU receive God's Word witness to Who He was? That is always the crossroad for an individual. A "Christian" ideology will not save you. A moral life will not save you. ONLY faith in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ will SAVE you from the wrath to come (John 3:16-17,36, 1 Thes. 1:10). My dear friend, see for yourself and take this simple challenge from Almighty God's Book. It will be then and there that YOU will see if - in the end - you would have yelled with the multitudes 2000 years ago "CRUCIFY HIM!!" or SAVE ME Lord Jesus! In the end the choice is ALL yours. would will it be? May you choose life my dear friend!
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Good post! Thanks! A good word for our day.
He'll save the grand entrance for later.
Thanks kindred for posting. How true and relevant.
What is left to be said? nothing to argue about, as it is all true.
If Jesus came today as he did 2000 years ago he would be executed again. Human nature (sin) hasn’t changed.
Just believe.
“With God all things are possible.” Mathew 19:26.”
How would He prove that He is the son of God?
How would He prove that He is the son of God?
I agree. He’s already here. Problem is, people are not tuned to the level where they can perceive Him. That’s the reason He spoke of being “Asleep” in Matthew 13 parable of the Tares in the Wheat. That is also the reason they need to be “raised up” or “awakened” or “born again” so they can see him. (Most people do not understand the experience of being “born again by passing through their personal “dark-night-of-the-soul.”) Your perception of reality changes and you begin to be able to do many of the same things that Jesus did when He walked this earth. His promises are true and can be experienced by all who have eyes and ears. Remember, we are the good seeds planted here to grow!
Luke 17:24
24 For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day.
Matthew 24:27
27 For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Matthew 24:39
39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
This is exactly what happened to Jesus when He went through the “dark-night-of-the-soul” and the raised his awareness to a level where He realized and stated “My Father and I are One.” (John 10:30) Communion is His offering that same relationship to us.
I often joke when teaching on this subject that the Messiah” must be one heck of a big dude to be seen everywhere at the same time. Most Bible scholars don’t understand this concept. I use Russian nesting dolls as a model to teach what happens to human consciousness as it is cleansed, awakens and expands its awareness to higher levels. The symbolism of the squaring of the circle is all about this.
Problem is, most Christians treat Jesus as their savior like a life guard who can rescue them from drowning, not as the teacher/lifeguard who is teaching them how to swim!
He did that then, by rising again on the third day, as promised.
What more would you require Stuart? Walking n water? He did that too. Giving life to a dead person? Did that a few times. What would you require Stuart?
For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten son. And He died for us while we were yet sinners, yet ENEMIES to Him.
Even a disciple, Thomas, doubted lest he could touch the wounds. This happened.
Today, Doubting Thomas would be doubting-Stuart. Prayers for you stuart,
As noted, there is nothing new under the sun.
Ever notice how many more are ready to tear down than build up? Some even want to destroy what another has built for their self.
The one that does such a thing is to be pitied. They have no faith.
OK, thanks
Something that does not require belief that these things actually happened, something that could be proved beyond a doubt, to all people at any time in history. Not what is written in a book or passed down from generation to generation.
I think it’s really more that people seem to expect others to be the same as they are, and when questioned about their beliefs, they look at those questions as negative and with fear. I believe that God made us each individuals for a reason.
Stuart,
Jesus DID that, He came to this fallen world, did heal the sick, did walk on water, did feed 5000 men with 3 loaves and 2 fish, did rise on the third day and appear not only to the 11 remaining disciples, but many others. He did these in front of people 2000 years ago. And it is recorded so.
IF he did that today, then in 2000 years, there would be another stuart, reading the accounts of His life and miracles, somewhere mouthing the same silliness you just did.
Very telling, in Jesus’ own words about how blessed those were that saw Him and believed, yet even MORE blessed would be those who had not seen Him and would believe.
That book you seem to hold no value for was written not by one man, but many, over many years, all of the Old Testament pointing to the Messiah, and when He came, He fulfilled ALL of the prophesies about Him, that were written centuries before He came.
And why did He come? To be the sacrifice needed for my own sins (and yours). To pay my debt (and yours). To BE the way for me (and you) to stand clean before God. And all it takes to realize the incrdible benefits of this freely offered gift is to accept that He was indeed that Son of God and that He died for you.
Praying for you stuart.
ok, thanks
There are questions and there is discussing questions,IE the press of today hypes and essentially attacks anything they disagree with or casts it purposely in a negative light. Liberals and conservatives will never see things the same as each other. So the plan seems to be ... because they are the media ... to destroy through distortion. Religious atheists are often using the same tactics. Did/have you noticed it?
Gos is clear. Love God, do good to our fellow man, help the poor. Spend time in prayer, and learn of God. All the rest will follow from the 2 most important ideas.
oooppppsss!
Gos xxx= God!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.