# 4. In series: GOD THE SON.

AGAIN MY THANKS TO SIGNS of the TIMES, Magazine "We Believe".

OUR HOPE

                                  of Salvation centers exclusively in Jesus Christ.One of the titles we know Him by is "The Son of God".. This title reflects His place in the plan of Salvation.. a role that was established before the world began. He was "BORN" on out planet as a human being, thus God-Man, 

   Hebrews 1:5-6  "For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten  [Pre-eminent ] into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him"

     John 1:1  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

    John 1:14  "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as                          of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

   HOWEVER, prior to His incarnation, He existed from all eternity as God in the most complete and exalted sense. HE is God by nature, and authority [ John 1:1-3.] 

    John 17:5 "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."

     

   .Philippians 2:6 "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:"

     Christ is the Creator of all life and materials, ...  John 1:3  "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.:.....Colossians 1:16-17  "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.".....[consist....  GRK- Sunistao (soon-is-tah'-o) to set together; to stand with... Science knows not the force that bids the atom together, perhaps they need to look here in God's word?]

    After Adam and Eve sinned, Christ had constant contact with our world. He was the Member of the Godhead who divest Himself, be "'made in the human likeness", and would be "obedient to death--even the death on the Cross"  

       Philippians 2:7-8  "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

     Through Him the Character of The Father-God, was revealed to fallen humanity, and the the world judged Him... 

      John 5:25-29  "Verily, verily,[Truly]  I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

Note:  also read Revelation 22:11 for this same thoughts.

         ONE OF US.

      As God, for all Eternity, Christ also became a genuine human being in every sense of the word. . Hundreds of years before He came to this, our world, the prophets had predicted His virgin birth and the place where He would be born: Bethlehem [Isaiah 7:14 and Micah 5:2] [ NOTE(JB) Bethlehem means House {Beth} le (of) hem (bread, House of Bread and Christ of our Daily Bread]

      Isaiah 7:14  "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
NOTE: Immanuel---- Hebrew for "God with Us"  EL = God!
      Micah 5:2 " But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."
NOTE: Ephratah means Basket, now connect this with the story of five loaves and two fishes.{Matthew 14:16-21].

  Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, He grew up in Nazareth, a mountain village in Galilee.

      During His life on earth Jesus experienced temptations as a human, yet He never sinned. Thus H3e modelled God's love and His justice in a most outstanding way, giving us a perfect example to imitate.

      ..Hebrews 2:16-18  "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.  Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."
      .1 Peter 1:20-22  "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:"

     Christ lived a humble and generous life. As a child, as an adult, and as a youth, He helped at the carpenter shop in Nazareth. He was always friendly and took an interest in others. About the age3 of thirty [Luke 3:23]. he was baptized by submersion in the Jordan river, by John the Baptist  [Matthew 3:13-17].. However, He was not Baptised in order to cleans Himself from sin, for He never sinned. Rather, as He put it, He was baptized in order to "Fulfill all righteousness" [Matthew 3:15] Through Baptism He identified Himself with sinners, walking the path we must walk, and doing what we must do.

   
       JESUS' MINISTRY.

     When Jesus was Baptized, the Holy Spirit descended on Him in visible form as a dove, and God's voice from Heaven pronounced these words: "This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I  am well pleased" Matthew 3:17] Following His Baptism, Jesus ministered unselfishly for three and one half years,, sharing God's love and the message of salvation with rich and poor, just and unjust Jew and Gentile alike.
      Jesus' teachings were unmatched int simplicity, yet filled with power that drew people's hearts to Him and it changed them. Even the guards who were sent to arrest Him as He was teaching the people were unable to take Him into custody, so powerfully did His words affect them. When they were asked why they hadn't apprehended Him, they could only reply, "No one ever spoke the this Man does."

       Even before the foundation of the world, the Godhead devised a plan to deal with the sin problem, should it arise......
     Ephesians 1:4-5  "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,:"
Note: Predestined, just means Jesus chose each one of to be with Him in the eternity! However, many will and have rejected Him!
     
    John 3:15-17  "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

NOTE: QUESTION: In the WHOMSOEVER, is there anyone left out?  NO!
     1 John 5:11-12  "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

Note:    LIFE?  This IS The Eternal life!  In a glorious body, the same as Jesus now Has, and has had since His Resurrection.No subject to injury, pain, disease, ageing, where there no jails, cops, cemeteries, hospitals , traffic, pollution, or death. Where we can walk up to a male lion, and give him a hug, scratch near his ear, and listen to him purr! Hungry, pick a grape the size of a melon and eat! Remember nothing ever dies, thus fruit is available all year to yearlong! We shall all grow our own food, and eat it, even share it with all the animals, all of which will be our pets, so to speak.   We shall be able to do that which we today can only dream of doing!

        When Jesus was ready to begin His ministry John the Baptist pointed Him out as The Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world". As the concluding act of His ministry, [Acts 17:28-29] For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.Christ subjected Himself willingly, to the supreme sacrifice: He gave His life to secure for us, we human beings, the possibility of escape from sin and to enjoy eternal life with Him and the Father-God!   For IF one does not accept His gift of life, that is IN HIM, and rejects Him, they are choosing to die with their sins!

   Yes He died willingly a horrific slow death, by around six hours of agony, because sin has consequences, and HE absorbed them in our place, if and when we accept Him and His gift. But one's rejection of Jesus means they embrace their sin, and thus will burn up to ashes with with them! Lake of fire Revelation
     Revelation 19:20  "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone"
    .Revelation 20:14  "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."

     Yet He was raised from the dead, for neither death nor the tomb could hold Him, in their grasp. After appearing several times to His disciples and commissioning them to carry on the work of saving souls that He began during His short ministry, Jesus ascended to Heaven. Yet, He id not abandon His people who remained in the world then or now! Rather He entered upon an intercessory ministry to prepare them for an place in the kingdom that He plans to restore upon this earth.

   HE'S COMING AGAIN!

    Soon Jesus will come again in the clouds with Glory! Along with the Father, and ALL His holy angels, to free His people and restore to them everything they lost because of sin!
      The heart of the Bible is Jesus Christ. He is the Center around which all the teachings of the Seventh day Adventist cluster..
     Acts 17:28-29 " For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device."

   IT IS OUR LOVE FOR HIM that gives us the motivation to obey His Commandments, and to humble self, by "dying to self," and thus follow His example in our lives, so that He can live within us through the Holy Spirit, which as a "Channel to us from Him".

Further study: Luke 1:35. John 1:1-3,14. 5:22, 10:30, 14:9. Romans 5:18, 6:23. 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4:2.     2 Corinthians 5:17-21. Hebrews 4:14, 7:25, 8:1-2. 9: 28. Revelation 22:20.

Thanking you for your time.
Questions?   Comments?     John at www.servant@frontier.com

Need More? Visit your Seventh day Adventist Church, any Saturday/Sabbath at 9-10 AM. To learn that BOTH The Father and The son are crazy about YOU, and want you with Them forever!

Other sites www.AFTV.org    www.BLBN.org     wwwamazingdiscoveries.org

GOD ---THE FATHER...OF ALL.

 My many thanks to Signs of the Times special Magazine "WE BELIEVE"
Signs of the Times,  P.O.Box. 5389, Nampa, Idaho. 84653-5398. 1.800.545-2449. in Canada.   IN  US. 1-800- 765-6955.

    MANY PEOPLE..

     tired of the culture of self, are looking for something better, something more satisfying. They want to know God. Primarily, because man's ideas about evolution's "Dead stuff brought life" nonsense, leaves them cold!
     Great fortune, God also wants us to know Him! It is for that very reason, that He has revealed so much of Himself in many ways, the most important of which is the His Word the Holy Bible!.

Note: Any Bible, any serious Bible student can use  it to show us the whole plan of Salvation and what we each must do to gain it and Eternal life. However, for most of us, that seldom, if ever, really study it, may I recommend a King James Revised edition, NO not the New, nor any other, such as NIV, [Not Inspired Version} as it leaves out far too information about Jesus and His role in this!} A KJV Study Bible, with reference column, showing this word, thought or phrase, in other locations "Chin of Evidence", and a good large Bible Concordance, Strong's or Green's., as each has all the words in both Hebrew and Greek for the original meanings, but for the one to three letter words, a and it the etc. Plus note: No commentary is inspired by God, it's human opinion only!

   Neither the Bible writers, nor The Author, made no direct effort to prove the existence of God. They all took that much for granted.

Note: Cosmologist and Physicists, and others with $100.00 Titles, now say the "Big Bang" initial material came from nothing! Well excuse me, but getting something from nothing is in the realm of the Divine Persons, is it not?  Look....
 
    Genesis 1:1-2 " In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

Note: Many a person, holds that there's a huge gap of time between verse one and two! However, no man was an eyewitness to this event, PLUS we are not given any hint, that there is a time span between the two verses! They base this on the fact, there are many time frames within the Bible, that are blank, they argue! SO WHAT? The Bible, is NOT, not holds itself to be, a moment by moment running commentary, now does it? If it did, we could use all the editions to build a stairway to the Moon and beyond! Can you only imagine. a history book listing all human events, from day one to now?

  However, Genesis 1, speaks volumes about Him. Before the world was created, God existed! He's the Creator, The Source of life and every material blessing!  [One that does NOT exist, cannot created agree?]

      WHAT WE CANNOT KNOW:

     Nevertheless, there's much about God's basic nature we don't understand because He hasn't revealed it to us. Among these unknowns are God's Eternal nature and His capacity to be everywhere at once. We can never understand the essence of God's nature. [(jb) NOTE: if we could we'd.be as God, and that 's never going to happen!]  But we can understand that which He has revealed to us, in His word! At least to the point that He has revealed centers around His unfailing love for each one of us!
      The New Testament presents God to us as a loving heavenly Father...
      Matthew 5:45  "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."
      1 John 4:8  "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."

Note: Can 1Jn 4:8 be a reason for men such as Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and the Castro brothers? Each only able to love their won aggrandizement?
      Because Jesus adopted us all we have become.....
     John 1:12-13  "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Note (JB) very few "Christians", act as a child of God!  Is this the reason for this next verse?...

     Matthew 7:13-14  "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
   Yet ALL who search earnestly shall find it! Jesus will guide anyone, who seeks Him!

     Jesus told the woman at the well of Sychar that ...John 4:23-24 " But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
      Does this suggest that God has a form, a shape? This statement has more to do with some more profound aspects of God's Divine  Nature. He is far above nature and beyond the capacity of the human mind to imagine Him. He lives on a plane far superior to ours.  Yet......
     Genesis 1:26-27  "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."

If YOU dear reader have followed all in this series of "We Believe" [The Trinity] in the previous blog, find the Godhead and tie that into the above passage, and know their form must be as we are in form!

GOD IS A PERSON.

     The Hebrew concept of spirit was more concrete than abstract. God dwells in that re3alm. We can not see Him, but we are made in His image [see Gen 1: 26-27 above] which suggests strongly, that HE and the the other Two Members of the Godhead, each have a specific form. Throughout its pages, the Bible presents God as a Person. Either as the pronoun He, or  a definitive, "The," Father.

     The words chosen top describe God, makes it easy as possible for us to understand God as a Person. He "talks", "hears", "sees", and "Writes".. He suffers and feels sadness, and He expresses both anger and joy.and He as we, have a free-will.

    Psalms 40:8 " I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."

    2 Corinthians 1:1  "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:"

    God Judges: Psalms 7:11  "God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day"

                        Romans 2:16  "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ                                                             according to my gospel."

    And Pardons:  Isaiah 55:7  "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and                                                    let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our                                                 God, for he will abundantly pardon".

    Nevertheless, He is above all. He created and sustains everything... Hebrews 1:1-3  "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;"

     God is Omnipotent: Revelation 19:6  "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, a,d as the                                      voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."

He is Sublime: Isaiah 57:15 " For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is                           Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones"

OMNISCIENT: Ephesians 1:8  "Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;"

ETERNAL & IMMORTAL : 1 Timothy 1:17  "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Note: Contrary to common teaching, there nothing immortal about mankind,  Gen. 2:7,  man became a living soul, thus a soul is a living body, not an add on feature, that is immortal, that's Paganism!

Plus Omnipresent: Psalms 139:7  "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy                                             presence?"    Jeremiah 23:24  "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD"

     God is free of time and space limitations in all His actions.

    Everything that happens o n our planet is under god's control, even Satan, the destroyer with his winds, floods and earthquakes, is allowed only to do as God allows! {Is it to get our attention? Just as this economic downturn, what better way to get our attention than to kick this money hungry nation is their collective wallets?  

     Yet, He understands our plans, but e acts in ways to insure the ultimate fulfillment and consummation of His will, within us.

     The qualities and powers that we see in God the Son and God thew Holy Spirit also reveal to us what the The Father is like.

For further study:  Exodus 34:6-7. Exodus 16. Revelation 4:11 John 13:16; 14:9. 1 Corinthians 15:28.

Thanking you for your time.

Questions?  Comments?   John at WWW.servant@frontier.com

Need more? Visit your Seventh day Adventist Church, any Saturday/Sabbath at 9-10AM. You will find the Peace of Mind the world can only wonder about.

Other sites" www.AFTV.org.  www.BLBN.org  www.amazingdiscoveries.org. www.itiswritten.com

John B.

THE TRINITY.

MANY THANKS TO SIGNS OF THE TIMES SPECIAL, "WE BELIEVE'".

    WHILE      

                        other religions include a "trinity" in their pantheon of gods, Christianity is the only religion that distinguishes itself within a general belief about a real, living God, Who exists as Three Distinct Persona who are equal, eternal as, God The Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Three Persona in this divine Trinity are immortal, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.

      The God of the Holy Bible is infinite and far, far beyond all human comprehension. Yet, we can know these Persons of the Godhead to the extent that They have revealed themselves to us. They have made Themselves known to us through Nature, through the circumstances of providence, through the written Word, the Holy Bible, and especially through The Living Word Jesus Christ!
     The Holy Bible teaches that god exists as Three distinct Persons whom we call The Trinity.

     THE THREE PERSONS.

    1. GOD THE FATHER:
        1 Corinthians 8:6  "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."
       Ephesians 4:4-6  "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

NOTE: we, each, and, all, are members of the Body of Christ, in other words HIS CHURCH! Even those who deny and reject Him! Because He lived a perfect life and then died for our sins!

2. GOD THE SON:
     Colossians 2:9-10  "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"
     Titus 2:13-14  "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

3  GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT:
    Acts 5:3-4  "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God"
NOTE BACK-GROUND STORY:   Ananias and his wife, pledged the monies from the sale of some land, to the church, but then kept some of it back, they both dropped dead! The Father takes our pledges seriously!  How can HE know this?
     1 Corinthians 2:10-11  "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God."

    The Holy Bible presents the Three Persons of three Godhead as related to each Other, in the same way that we humans are related to each each other. {Due to the Fact that The Father is OUR FATHER, for it is HE who decides, IF we are conceived or not, or brought to full term, or not! We can not know His reasons!

   The Holy Bible uses pronouns when  it speaks of the Members of the Trinity....Matthew 17:5  "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.".   John 16:13  "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth,[ The holy Spirit] is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come"..
    They love and glorify each Other    John 3:35-36  "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." [ + John 15:10; 16:14] .
     The Father sent the Son... Matthew 10:40-41  "He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward."
     The Son prays to the Father... John 17:18  "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world."

NOTE: John 17, this chapter is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus to His Father , and well worth the effort to read it!

    Both The Father and The Son sent the Holy Spirit as THEIR Representative ...John 14:26  "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." +[ Jn.16: 7].

     Each One of Them has His own special work to do and carry out, even when They are cooperating in joint activities such as the Creation and Redemption. It is the Holy Spirit's ability to enter into our minds as it is God's way of direct communication with us, some call this our conscience, but it's far more than that!

   The Bible's statement that "God id love, "   1 John 4:8  "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love"
Note: The above verse allows us to think, that the worse of the worse, dictators were incapable of love beyond self aggrandizement right?.
    Yet that same verse applies perfectly to each Person of the trinity. The fact that god is love from Eternity presupposes that there MUST be more than Person from eternity, or that One's love would be only for self!

           THE TRINITY IN THE HOLY BIBLE.

      While no one passage of Scripture defines the doctrine of the Trinity, the author assumed it as a given, as He did for His very existence,, and He spoke of it repeatedly. The teaching of the Trinity is implied in Genesis 1, which presents God and the Spirit both acting in Creation ... Genesis 1:1-2  "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."
   The New Testament point out that Christ also participated in Creation, and that HE is in fact the Creator.....
     John 1:1-3  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."
     Hebrews 1:2 " Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; "

Note: The Word, in fact, is Jesus Christ!   [John 1:14 tells it]   Colossians 1:16-17 " For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."Note: And we think our votes really count?  Please THINK!

  Plus Jesus Himself directed Baptism as: Matthew 28:19-20  "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen"
   Here the Trinity is shown as giving strong support as an article of faith!

NOTE: As Jesus as the example before us at His own Baptism, wherein He was totally submersed under water., this symbolises the death and burial of the old person, and coming up out of the water is them our rebirth, a new creature, in Christ! SPRINKLING WILL NOT CUT IT! NOE WILL BAPTISM BEFORE THE AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AS IN BABIES! {(jb) but we know why its faster and much less work right? Aren't you glad God took no short-cuts in our Creation, as we could have been 24 inches tall, or less! Or perhaps with all having but one very strong leg!

    FAITH:   Hebrews 11:1  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
     Can YOU imagine using the above principles in a court of law?. But Please know, each time you sit in chair, you have Faith, it will hold you, right? Or when you turn the key on your ignition...., the car will start, or applying the brakes it will stop you, all that is faith!

    The Trinity was present at Christ's baptism....... Matthew 3:16-17  "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

     Luke 1:34-37  "Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible."

 
The Divine powers would "Overshadow" her, and she would give birth to Jesus Christ as a GOD and MAN! There's no scripture to tell us she was without sin, before or after this birth! Traditions of men!

Note: There is NOT one hint, in any passage of Scriptures that has Mary resurrected and in heaven, she as King David are still in their tombs!   .... Acts 2:34  "For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, " So why pray to those who are dead, as the Catholics do? Or why Baptize them, as the Mormons do?  Use the Word of God, not those of men!

     Jesus spoke showing us there's a difference in the Godhead Members... John 15:26  "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:"

   Paul's apostolic benediction also supports this:....2 Corinthians 13:14  "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. <Philippi
, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.>>" 
               TRADITIONAL ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.

    We can accept the existence of the Trinity only by faith. Nevertheless, reason does provide evidence that confirms our belief in God. Throughout the centuries, theologians have suggested various arguments for the His Existence, They are:

1. THE MORAL ARGUMENT: The search for most humans for "The Best Good", implies the existence of a moral Being.. Our conscience and our moral understanding distinguish us humans from animals. There must be a SOURCE for this moral insight that independent of humans and that Source is God!  Plus the huge fact, that in all nations and tribes, it is wrong to lie to steal to kill, honor parents and commit no adultery, but these are all from God's Ten Commandments, thus the world for the most part adheres to the last Six commandments even if they know not God!

2 THE MENTAL ARGUMENT:  Our mental faculties, our imagination, and intelligence, can be explained only by presupposing the existence of a super-intelligent Source.

3. THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT: In view of the fact that every effect must have a cause, a never-ending chain of cause and effect must go back to the great "First Cause". Nothing can proceed from nothing, unless via God!

4. THE TELEOLOGICAL ARGUMENT:  The intricate structure and design seen in all of nature, from the Butterfly's eggs, to a caterpillar, to a chrysalis, to a butterfly.. [ the butterfly knows where, and on what vegetation to lay her eggs, but how? When the butter emerges from the chrysalis, it knows what to eat and how too fly? HOW? How can we explain the intricate human brain via evolution only, other than by an Intelligent Designer?  Anyone who has designed and programmed a computer, must know how complex the human brain really is, and that it could not have been developed purely through natural caused, or we'd ALL be far above Einstein in smarts agree?

5.  THE ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT: Anselm, the 11th Century Archbishop of Canterbury, defined God as "Than which nothing greater can be conceived", He reasoned that life must be a necessary part of such a perfect Being, and therefore He must exist. To put it another way, if it's possible to conceive that such a Being exists, then He must in fact exist.  

6. THE ARGUMENT FROM EXPERIENCE: Human religious experiences, which are an common part of our human existence, indicates that there must be something, or someone behind them.The very fact, that so many people everywhere had an actual experience of God, makes it very likely the existence of such a Being, who created the Universe and sustains it!
Note: Personally, I feel, hard on my "tail feathers" years ago, that destroyed my Sacroiliac disk and the L4-5 Lumbar disk, and the pain was horrific. In prayer I asked to have this pain reduced to a dull roar, and HE did! Right then and there! So ask me if I know, God is real!  HE IS!

A QUESTION:   Can it be that as Bible Prophecy, has been resurrected since 1844, that Satan has thrown all types of ideas against it? Engels' movement, the death of all religions, ad the opiate of the Masses, who joined with Marx to created their Godless Utopias such as USSR China North Korea, Cambodia and Cuba and Venezuela?  All in the same year with Darwin's rough draft for evolution? Or Darby's spiritism and glossolalia, the "Speaking in  tongues"? Plus also the rapping in a cottage, latter owned by the Fox sisters who started the "Speaking to the dead movement? Can you detect a pattern?

    However, beyond these rational evidences, God invites us to know Him in our own experience. the triune God promises, 
      
     Jeremiah 29:13 "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."
     Revelation 3:20-22  "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

To save your eternal life, wont YOU answer His knock?

Questions?  Comments?   John at www.servant@frontier.com

More Info? Visit a Seventh day Adventist Church, any Saturday/Sabbath, 9-10 AM. You just may find the Peace of mind you have searched for.

Other sites:  www.AFTV.org.    www.BLBN.org.  www.amazingdiscoveries.org  www. servantsite@wordpress.;com  www.benabraham.com


   

THE HOLY SCRIPTURES---THE WORD OF GOD--THE BIBLE.

TAKEN FROM,WITH GRATITUDE AND MANY THANKS, FROM SIGNS OF THE TIMES SPECIAL "WE BELIEVE",  ALL SCRIPTURES ARE FROM KING JAMES VERSION REVISED.


                              The HOLY SCRIPTURES.

    The God of the Bible is a God that reveals Himself. He does not leave us alone in our lost condition, separated from Him, because of our sins. He comes to us, showing His character, revealing His will, and offering us the Salvation He {HIMSELF] provided on the Cross, for ALL!  He is a God Who speaks; "In the past God spoke to our forefathers,, through His prophets at many times and in various ways, but in place of these last days  He has spoken to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, by Whom He has appointed heir of all things, and through Whom He made the3 Universe.
     Hebrews 1:1-2  "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;"

    The Holy Bible then, is The Voice, of God, both the Old and the New Testaments! They are in effect, the Living Word of God, His Record if you will!

    Note: Biblicaly we God The Father; God The Son in Jesus Christ who became the God-Man; and God The Holy Spirit, all work towards ONE COMMON GOAL, to re-unite humanity with The Father through Jesus Christ, and both use the Holy Spirit as a "Channel or means" to work within us, those who are so willing to allow it. Satan used all means but not, ever,  love and truth, which are God's only  "Weapons"!.

   God the Holy Spirit gave the Bible by inspiration of the minds, of those He chose as various Bible writers.......
   2 Peter 1:20-21 " Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
  The same Spirit speaks to us today, through the Holy Bible Note [(jb) only if we pray and ask for help to understand and guidance, without which to even the very intelligent person, it has no meanings] The Holy Spirit' job is to guide us to the Father through Jesus Christ as our Personal Savior. by convicting us of our sins and illuminating our minds and hearts:..

   Hebrews 3:7-8  "Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:"

    Because God id the Author, we can trust the Bible to be His authoritative voice and is very practical.

        WHO WROTE THE BIBLE;

  HISTORICALLY, it was written during some 1,500 years in three languages, on three continents, Asia, Asia Minor and Europe, with Hebrew Aramaic/Chaldean and Greek , including two women!
    Like Jesus the Bible is God's Word made flesh...

     .John 1:14  "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

     It and Jesus is a unique union of the divine and the human, [something only God can accomplish, man knows not how, for if one did then that one would also be God, that's not possible}, God did not dictate the Bible word for word, nor did He give it to the prophets in some otherworldly language. Rather He used people of varied backgrounds, highly educated people, highly cultured ones, and some with little education; people with royal blood and common people. He inspired their minds with thought--messages for the human race.. They then expressed, as most think, those ideas and thought in their own words!
NOTE (JB) No man knows now How this was done, but what can be sure of it is God's periods! As no human could write such an all-encompassing book, so so many connections with it, that become apparent only with deep studies, and still proves itself within itself!
   Yes, it had many writers, but ONLY ONE Author the God-Man Jesus Christ! .It is Authoritative, it is Jesus Christ Himself speaking to us all, for ALL are God's children, as it is HE who created us within the wombs!

    Psalms 127:3 " Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."
Note: Can YOU dear reader, think of a better reason that this to appose abortions?

  As the Bible is then God's Authoritative Word,, We should believe it words, and practice what it commands. Every human opinion must be subject to proof from the Bible. The Bible is, in all its parts, god's INFALLIBLE Word.{ (JB) unlike those of ANY MAN,  Popes included, as we all come with baggage not found in the Bible!]  WHY?

    2 Timothy 3:15 " And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus"

    God's Word is infallible presentation od God's plan to redeem the lost humanity. That plan is the same through the New and the Old Testaments, and it centers in Jesus Christ. The prophecies of the Old Testament, testify of Him in John 1:1-3,14 ] and IS the Central Focal Character in God's written Word!

    John 1:1-3  "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made"
    John 1:14  "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth"
NOTE: The Word is Jesus Christ!  He is our Creator! As well as our Savior! It was His dead that paid the ransom for us all from the captivity of Satan!
 
   John 5:39-40  "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."
    The prophecies of the Old are fulfilled in the New in Jesus.

   1 Peter 1:10-11 " Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow."

  Because Christ IS the central Being in God's Written Word! Thus He can not be diminished by men worshiping Mary, nor be removed by men!  [(JB) as men have done in the NIV translations!]

                                 OUR ONLY,,,,ONLY INFALLIBLE GUIDE!

     God never changes  .....
      Malachi 3:6 " For I am the LORD, I change not; ....."
     Hebrews 13:8 " Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

    Therefore, the revelation of His character in the Bible is unchanging. He has just one plan to save the lost human beings., and it can never be altered. Because His will is unchanging, the teaching purpose of the Bible is indispensable. The Word of god call people everywhere to be saved and obey Jesus as Lord of life. In a world of fluctuation and change, of shifting values and conflicting notions of truth, God's Word [Stands like a rock] is the ONLY safe moral guide. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path....

      Psalms 119:105 . "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

      It tests our experience so that we do not end up being captive to our shifting feelings. The Bible tells us how to life day by day. It steers us away from the shifting sands of error. It guided us  through the perils of the last days. It reminds us that we are son and daughters of God, created in OUR Image Genesis 1:26-27] by Jesus Christ Himself Genesis 2:7]. Loved by Him, and accepted by Him in Jesus Christ,j and destined to live with Him throughout eternity.....

     2 Timothy 3:16-17  "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

    In the Bible we learn of Jesus, {note(jb) we can't learn to love an unknown, can we?] , The Word of god, made flesh, our Savior and LORD. Through spending time with Him, in the Bible we are "Born Again", ...

     1 Peter 1:23  "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."
     
......and transformed daily into His image...

     2 Corinthians 3:18  "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

     Thus, the Bible is our Light, our Spiritual nourishment, our refuge. just as it guided God's people in the past, so it is for us our heart's joy and delight....

   Jeremiah 15:16  "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts."

  ......our comfort in affliction, our counsel in prosperity, and our hope of eternal life.  When we embark upon a study of the Bible, we must especially keep in mind its unique character. The ordinary methods of study are inadequate for understanding the Bible. Because Spiritual things are spiritually discerned....
 
        1 Corinthians 2:14  "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned"

    Thus we are in need of guidance from the Holy Spirit, to correctly understand and apply God's Word to our lives. We must be willing to accept the Bible as the word of God and ready to receive God's instruction on its pages.....
 
     .Revelation 2:7  "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."

   God's invitation to every human being is to "tast4e and see that the Lord is good".[ Psalms 34:8].
He reveals Himself as the Author of the Bible to every person who opens its pages with a willing heart to learn. The Bible is the living Word of God for your life. God still speaks through its words today..

For further Study::  Proverbs 30:5-6. Isaiah 8:20; John 10:35; 17:17. 1 Thessalonians 2:13. Hebrews 4:12

Thanking you dear reader, for your time.
.
Questions?   Comments?  John at www.servant@frontier.com

Want more?  Visit your Seventh day Adventist Church, any Saturday/Sabbath at 9-10 AM. You just may find the peace of mind you been searching for!

Other sites:  www.BLBN.org.   www.AFTV.org   www.amazingdiscoveries.org.

John B.
    
     ..
               

"Let FOOD BE THY MEDICINE" ARISTOTLE

  Many thanks to Sue Radd and Signs of the Times magazine Jan. 2016 for this article.

A GOUT PREVENTION GUIDE:

Q: What is GOUT?
A: Gout is an inflammatory arthritis caused by the deposits of uric acid crystals within the joints. Gout is unfortunately common in men and elderly women, and it can be very painful.

FACTORS THAT INCREASES RISK OF:

ALCOHOL:  avoid it altogether. Beer is especially associated with the greatest risk of gout. For example, five bottles of beer daily increases the risk of gout by 2. 1/2 times. But even on drink oer day will raise it!

MEAT:

Avoid red meat...beef, pork, thus bacon and ham, especially sausages, as most are made with pork. Men with the highest meat intake had a 41% higher risk of gout then men with the lowest intake.

BEING OVERWEIGHT:

Attain and maintain a healthy body weight. High levels of body fat may lead to high uric acid levels. Plus the extra pounds puts increased stress on all  our joints.

SEAFOOD;

Shun all shellfish--prawns, lobster, crab, mussels, clams and shrimp. Men who consume the highest amounts of sea foods had a 51% higher risk factor than those consuming the least.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:

If you have high blood pressure--- lower this by changing your life style. By eating more vegetables, and far less animal products. Increase or begin an regular exercise program and cut down on salt or salt laden foods.

.{ (JB) Personally I eat very little from anything that had a face and or a mother. Of course most opt out for a pill, but that only ads to the poison load, right?]

DECREASE YOUR RISK:

WATER: 

Drink plenty of plain water, get you a empty milk bottle, fill it with tap water, and let it sit on your counter without the cap. This will allow all the chlorine to escape, we need no bleach in our systems do we? Aim for at least 3 liters per day, but limit water intake after 5 PM, or you will be getting up out of bed for a bathroom run.

VEGETABLES:

Include at lest five serving of different-colored vegetables daily. Research shows that although some vegetables have a hi purine content (which breaks down uric acid in the body) they do not increase the gout risk. A higher protein intake from all vegetables actually reduced the risk of goat by 27%. Weight for weight most dry beans, cooked are equal to red meat in protein content, but the protein in beans is much more readily taken in than meats, especially cold-cuts which are mixed meats with high nitrates content, a known cancer causing agent! In fact many now consider bacon to be a thing not a food, due to the high nitrate contents, and pure fat

DAIRY:

Note (JB) to end the of this post.

[Yes, although dairy products DO have a low Purine content and thus pose a lower risk for gout, in a International survey, nations with the highest dairy consumption, Norway, per 100,000 people (per Capita) also had the world's highest per capita rates of Osteoporosis, and broken hips! Mankind is the ONLY life-form in nature, to drink milk after being weaned!  We must ask the why of this. right?]

If one insists on milk use the low-fat, or calcium-fortified soy milks..
NOTE: WHY is this so?  All dairy products are ACIDIC, yet our bodies are nearly neutral thus the body MUST use calcium to neutralize the acid, and the ONLY source in our body, is stored in our bones, and is the reason why Norway's people have the highest rates of bone-loss, and thinning causing them to break more than for any other nation.

Now whether YOU, dear reader believe or not, in the fact that God is, your non-belief will not make Him disappear! But as our builder/Creator, He knows what's our best diet, just as YOU would not go to your baker, for the care and feeding of your automobile, agree?

    Genesis 1:29-31  "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.  And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.  And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.



    Leviticus 11:3-4  "Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you."

    Deuteronomy 14:10  "And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you."

WHY NOT?   These art life-forms God created, to be His Sanitation Crews, to clean up the dead the sick and the their droppings,  I mean can you only imagine you biting into a breast of Vulture sandwich?

WHY is it?  Why are not those who passed on with Alzheimer's, not have an autopsy? Is this not due to Spondylitis?  {Mad-cow disease} cause of which is a protein called a PRION which is so encased in a shell that stands up to 2300 degrees temperatures, thus melting ALL the stainless steel tools?

Why is it? That the FDA and Department of Agriculture, both Government Agencies that controls medicines, and food recommendation IE Food Pyramid, and the big drug and chemical and big Ag and meat processes. CEO's play musical chairs as who heads which ones? How do you spell conflict of interest?   JUST ASKING!

Thanking You for your time.
Questions?  Comments?  John at www.servant@frontier.com

IS SEEING. . . BELIEVING ?

IS SCIENCE THE Ultimate authority on truth? At least so far as the natural world is concerned? Author Clifford Goldstein reflects on the answer to that question.

John B. my many thanks to both the author Mr. Goldstein and the Signs of the Times January 2016 issue.
http://www.signs@pacificpress.com to order.

A WIFE,    comes home early, and finds her husband in bed with another woman. The husband denies it by saying, "Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes"?

    Granted, a silly line, but this line has a very important implications, because so much of what information we take in, comes to us by our eye-sight. The question then to be asked, is.."Just how accurately do our sight, hearing and the other of our senses portray the world to us"?
   After all, have we not all been fooled by a mirage on the summer's highways? Or by an optical illusion {or is it a pollution?} Or even a magician on stage?
    This issue gets even more critical, when the question of science arises. Because after all science is from the human mind, agree?

Note: Because scientists are human, they are also subject to all the human biases, preconceived notions, and hold to the can we call them Prejudices? the things we have accepted as each has been taught? As humans the most difficult thing for us is to set aside long held facts and beliefs, that are not true, and have been proven to be false, yet still rejected by many! The Piltdown man, comes to mind, a proven hoax, by the 1930's yet still in some Text-books in schools. As are the drawings of a whole family, the Nebraska Man, from one farmer's finding a tooth! The next year, the same farmer, in the same field, plowed up a JAW bone with one missing tooth, into which a replica of the ONE tooth fit perfectly, yet there's a problem, the Jaw and the TOOTH belonged to a PIG! Some are SO eager to prove evolution, that truth has little bearing on their ideals! For example the "DATING" of the Moon rocks, was arrived at by consensus only not by scientific means! One man, a Creationist, after Mt. ST. Helen blew her top, within a few years, he gathered three rock samples from a newly forming lava cone, sent them to three different University labs, and got three widely differing dates for their ages!. From a low of 2 Million years to a high of 4 Billion, from the same single rock, that had not seen the sunlight until about 2 years before its... "BIRTH"!
   The NEANDERTHALS all have been shown as a huge protruding lower jaw, just as the large apes, but what is not KNOWN, is that the lower Jaws of the found skulls, have been photographed up to 1 inch gap between jaw and skull, in order to show the ape-like features! Mitochondrial DNA from found teeth have proven that they were fully human! Yet it took much digging to find these buried deep facts. . . if they have nothing to hide I ask WHY?

Science, is a form of "EMPIRICISM",-- the concept that knowledge comes to us from what we experience with our five senses, especially sight, being at times deceptive, thus how much does this deception influence science as well, seeing all are human?
    This issue gets even more important when it comes to the question of faith and science. For most of history, science and faith have gotten along just fine. Even today, in most cases, little conflict exists. However, in one very important area, that of origins, the authority of science and the authority of God's Word conflict. And the sad fact is that many people, believe science should have the final say. After all, "It's Science"!-- the idea being that, because it's science, it has to be correct.
     This notion is a fallacy-- one that even many "Christians" (?)  have bought in to. There's no question that science has done wonderful things, allowing us to manipulate and interact with nature in ways that would boggle the minds of our ancestors. However, should science trump the Bible in areas where the two conflict, especially when science is merely one source of knowledge?

    THE ROOM AND THE LIGHT.

    Am account I read of some one's visit to a museum will help lead us to an answer.
      "At the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington D.C.," the writer said, "I entered an exhibit-- a small room so dark that an usher had to guide me in. The only light was a dimly lit wall opposite my seat. However, within a few minutes the light got brighter. As I sat there, still wondering what it was about, the3 usher guided in an other man to a seat..
   BUT WHY?, NOW !
   "Then it hit me! The room seemed bright enough toy mind, which had adjusted to the light. But to the man that just entered, the room was so dark that he needed an usher. In other words, the reality of the room appeared one way to me and another way to him."
     "There was only one room, and one light in it, so whose view was the true one that accurately corresponded to the immediate environment around us both....his or mine?

   This anecdote says something significant about the limits that are inherent in all human attempts to understand the world, including those of science: we aren't granted complete access to reality. The world comes to us through our five senses. As we know, our senses can be exceedingly deceiving, even when we use science. Hence, how much can we trust even what science tells us?

SENSE AND SCIENCE.

    Keep in mind, please, that science is a human attempt to understand, explain, interpret, describe, and, ideally, explain the world. Whether it's Aristotle, 2,500 years ago, looking at bugs, Darwin in the Galapagos Islands, studying birds, or a chemist working for a corporation, or astronomers using the Hubble Space Scope to examine stars, or a biologist claiming that life on earth began between 3.8 and 4 billion years ago... science is human beings, sometimes with the aid of devices, using their senses to explore the natural world..
Hence, how much can we trust even what science tells us?

Note:(JB). During the 1950's when I was in Public School, I was taught that earth was 3.5 billion years old, yet by the time I hit high school, it has AGED to 4.5 Billions of years! Must have needed to give, EVOLUTION more time?

Note(JB) All of us are human, and more than a few humans tell lies, agree? Thus do NOT discount this possibility!

   And all that is fine. after all, one could argue that most of what we know, at least about the natural world, we know from our senses. Even knowledge revealed to us---things we wouldn't know otherwise, such as our birthday--- we know only because someone told us (via our ears), or we read it (via our eyes). And if we know that John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and that Julius Caesar held the title of PONTIFEX MAXIMUS [ all POPES HAVE,  History shows that Pagan Rome, became the Holy Roman Empire, ruled by the the Popes!], How do we know these things other than, again, by either our eyes or ears, or both?

SENSORY DEPRIVATION:

     Yet for thousands of years people have struggled with the difficult question about how accurately, or inaccurately our senses funnel the world to us. What's the difference between what's OUTSIDE our brains and how it appears to us INSIDE OUR BRAINS?
  When a scientist looks at a tree, what he sees is not the tree itself, but an image of the tree that exists ONLY in his or her mind! If this mind suddenly quit functioning, the image would disappear, but the TREE ITSELF, would still exist!
    So what transformation takes place by the time whatever is external to us is captures by our senses, and converted into the chemical-electric impulses in our bodies and brains that underlie all our experiences? What's the difference between the image of the tree existing in your head, and the tree itself? Certainly a lot, because whatever in your head, it isn't two tons of wood,bark and leaves.

    As the museum example showed, our senses can give conflicting views of what's "Out there". To one person the room appeared well lit; to the other it appears dark. If science studies what's "Out There", then it should not be concerned with how the room appears to different people. The issue is really with the room itself. Why would a geologist studying a shale cliff face, care about how the cliff appears to the eyes of say a bat, or a lens of a camera, or to one who is color-blind? In the same, science science is concerned only with what the room is really like in and of itself, regardless of the size, of the pupils in the eyes of the intelligent beings in the room itself.
    Yet the difficult question remains: How well do our senses, even for scientists, reveal the real world?

REALIST  VS.  EMPIRICISTS..

     There are two philosophies about what constitutes science: SCIENTIFIC REALISM   and SCIENTIFIC EMPIRICISM.

     The REALISTS  argue that science does give us, if not an Absolute true account of the world, then at least an approximate one. They argue that even though science rests upon experience inside our brains, it goes deeper than that to the truth about reality that exists outside our brains. Science must discover what's "really out there", which is why realism is, in the words of Hilary Putnam, "the only philosophy of science that does not make the success of science a miracle."

Note: (JB) Only the Creator God, is in the "Miracle Business!" Never any human, creatures!

  In contrast, scientific "empiricists" argue that science gives us only our own SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCES, of how the world appears to us and that it never gets to the REAL world. the truth itself. According to empiricists, the most that science can do is to explain, even somewhat superficially, the  why of the things we observe appear to us as they do.
    Now, if the philosophers of science can't agree on whether science is giving us a "true account of the world," The why...WHY.. do so many people, including "Christians(?), lie down, and play dead before nearly every scientific declaration, as if what science declares, MUST be true?

FAITH STATEMENTS>

    There's no question that science has been incredibly fruitful human endeavor. And it's still just that: A HUMAN ENDEAVOR. And thus it comes with all the human limitations, weaknesses, and prejudices, [(JB) including preconceived ideas and biases] that we all suffer from to one degree or an other!
   How else can we explain why scientists are constantly changing and or upgrading, their vies and theories about the natural world? { Which in the fundamentals never changes!]
   For instance, how many decades ago was it that the latest and greatest news from science was that  of the great dangers to health being "Saturated Fats"?  Tet today the latest scientific facts are well... science was wrong, Saturated fat isn't bad for our arteries after all,{ but fat creates fat, on our bodies.}
   What changed? Did the fat change, NO! Did we, our bodies change, NO! SCIENCE CHANGED! As a human and cultural project, simply shifted in the wind of opinion.
    This is nothing new. Earlier in the twentieth Century, one famous writer and thinker, Alfred North Whitehead, wrote: "Fifty-seven years ago it was when I was a young man in the University of Cambridge. I was taught science and mathematics by brilliant men and I did well in them; since the turn of the century I have lived to see every one of the basic assumptions of both set aside....And yet, in the face of that, the discovers of a new hypotheses in science are declaring, "Now at last, we have" certitude".
     Unfortunately, one generation's "Certitude," often becomes an other generation's myth. What scientific "certitudes" of today will our grandchildren laugh at?

FAITH ANS SCIENCE.

    Belief in the Holy Bible and belief in science, both rest upon assumptions! Science assumes that we can learn about the natural world through observation and reason. Christians assume that God exists, not just through nature, but also through the Bible. In most cases these assumptions do NOT clash. For instance, the Microscope and the Telescope, both inventions of science, have revealed a depth and complexity to the natural world that clearly point to the wonderful creative powers of God.

NOTE: (JB). I know that God is, due to the changes in my character for the good! A truth I have experienced! This only.. The Divine is able to do.

    Isaiah 42:5  "Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:"

NOTE (JB) "... and stretched out the heavens..."   .It was not until Mr Hubble,                                         concluded in the 1930's time frame, that science knew the universe was expanding, yet God has man so write between 740- 697 B.C time frames.{Isaiah] To bad the people of science oft reject the Bible, they would learn many things, by the study of it.

   Nevertheless, the conflict over origins, a very sequential one---remains. The most popular today it seems being the MACRO-evolution,  {small, minute changes due to mutations within a species}, yet it fully conflicts and contradicts the Bible, at its most basic levels, not only destroying not just the Bible's Creations accounts, but two other crucial doctrines, that stem directly from it: The Fall of Adam and Eve, which tells us how we humans became sinners, and the Gospel, which tells us of God's plan to rescue us from our sins. And YES, the issue IS that important!

    Romans 6:22-23  "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
    John 3:15-16  "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

NOTE (JB) Rome has for some decades now, agreed with science, telling her followers that Creation Story, is but an ALLEGORY, not an actual account, yet they expect  us all to fully believe them when they speak of the rest of God's Holy Word? Please give me a break! Enough of the deceptions and lies! God is more than able to protect and PROJECT HIS WORD, to all, as it is written!

     2 Thessalonians 2:9-12  "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

    Two thousand years ago Jesus said this:....
    Matthew 15:8-9  "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men"

   Sadly 1 billion human beings, have been deceived by the Traditions of the Fathers, whose word is held above the word of God, by Rome's leadership.

  Yes the context of this science view and Matthew 15, above differs in context, the principle fits the challenge that this scientific "certitude", about creation presents us with. Christians, then, need to ask themselves, where they put their faith, for in both cases, it's still all, about the matter of faith. Faith either in God and His Word, or the many differing words of men. Even if and when these words come wrapped up in the mantle of science! It still is, in the end, ONLY the words of man!

Here's what many consider the most horrific words a human can hear....

   Matthew 7:23  "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.."  {meaning "lawlessness"  the breaking of God's TEN COMMANDMENTS!  [Exodus 20 1-17] .

Thanking you dear reader, for your time.
Questions?  Comments?  John  at  www.servant@frontier.com

Want/Need more info? Visit you local Seventh-Day Adventist Church, any Saturday/Sabbath 9-10 AM. You'll be surprised at your welcome, and begin to learn that Jesus can give you HIS peace of mind, the world only is in awe about..

Other sites. wwwaftv.org  www.blbn.org  www.3abn.org.  www.benabraham.com
John B.



   









    

ENEMIES AT THE ALTER. FROM HENRY FERGUSON.

Many thanks to both H. Ferguson and Signs of the Times December 2015 edition.


   Conflicts between nations typically create hostilities between people,Henry Ferguson, recounts an incident during WWII, that belies that conclusion.

     Christmas Eve 1942.  The Germans and the Allies were honoring an unofficial truce. Nevertheless, the City of Warrington, England, was blacked out that cold damp and windy night, as though an air raid might be expected at any moment
      Father Richard Rochford was to hold a midnight mass in St. Mary's Church that night, and soldiers and civilians alike slowly found their way through the unlighted streets to the place of worship. By eleven thirty there was standing room only in the Sanctuary--- except for the three front rows, which were totally empty.
      Ten minutes before the services were to begin, the front doors opened, and a file of Germans and Italian prisoners, flanked by American and British armed guards, with rifles, marched down the aisles to the empty pews. The flaming red POW insignia on each man's back stood out like a target. In reality, that's exactly what it was!

     Just before midnight, Father Rochford took to the Pulpit. He told the worshipers that in 1939, when  when the war broke out, a beautiful organ was being installed in the Church, but the war caused a shortage of materials that had brought the work on the organ to a halt. Then had come the happy-go- lucky American G.I's They had unselfishly furnished the materials and the know-how to put the organ into perfect condition in time for Christmas Eve Mass. The church organist has been taking lessons in Manchester for the past three months.. Then a pause, and the Pastor's voice broke as he said, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this but the organist has been stricken with the flue, and in a soft voice, continued, "I am sorry but there's be no music, No Christmas music tonight"

     An audible sigh of disappointment was heard, then a stir in the ranks of the prisoners was heard. One of the men rose up and spoke to the Guard. Then, closely followed by the guard, he walked the few paces to the front of the Church, bowed at the base of of the alter, ascended the steps and spoke to the Pastor, he bowing again walked to the organ and seated himself before it.
    Tensions rose, Could he actually play or would he start some trouble, to show disrespect for this occasion?  But, soon the lovely, and haunting strains of "Silent Night".were floating through the Sanctuary, and the crowd sat silent as if entranced. Never has they heard music played with such feeling. It was as through the spirit if of the Christ Child flowed from the prisoner's fingers, and pierced every one's hearts.
    On went the music as the organist proceeded from through sons through the beautiful season's music, that has come down through the centuries, of time. Many an eye was misty and few wept openly, overcome by the thoughts and the music. And the entire time the prisoner was playing the guard stood there with his rifle pointing right at the organist heart! No more incongruous sight could have been imagined for such a holy hour.

   When the organist stopped playing rising he spoke briefly to the Pastor, and then sat down at the pew. The Pastor's voice was husky as he again addressed the audience. He told them that the young man, who played so inspirational, that he had studied music min a small town in Bavaria, since his childhood.
   "This young man," he concluded, "a prisoner in an unfriendly land, has fully demonstrated here tonight, that true brotherly love, as exemplified by the Christmas Spirit, transcended any conflict in which people may engage. We owe a debt of gratitude for the showing us that, in faith, the people of two alien nations still have common grounds for understanding."

Note: (JB) Where there is a will, people will find a way, and when enough people do, then governments will follow their examples!

Thank YOU dear reader, for your time!

Questions?  Comments?   John at www.servant@frontier.com

What to learn more?   Visit your local Seventh day Adventist church any Saturday/Sabbath at 9-10 AM. Only God can give you the Peace of Mind the world can only wonder about.

Other sites:  www.blbn.org  wwwamazingfacts.org  wwwaftv.org   wwwamazingdiscoveries.org

john B.