Edward
Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2015
- Messages
- 42
They call us intolerant
Some say you are intolerant to say, that Jesus is the only way to God. When I remember that He says, “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell” (Matt.10:28), it may seem intolerant to some, but in this case, my fear is greater than my faith.
But listen to what He says – “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father, but by Me” (Jn.14:6). I think the key to understanding this matter of intolerance is to look at the uniqueness of Christ. Jesus said, “The Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins” (Matt.9:6). Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and other major world religions cannot forgive sins, including the largest “Christian” religion. The Christ of God is totally unique for the fact he suffered and died a death for the sins of all who come to Him, whatever their previous religious back rounds may be. But coming to Him is only the result of a broken heart and contrite spirit over those sins (Psa.51:17).
Unlike these other religions with their prophets and holy men, He rose again, from the dead, the third day. This is no coincidence, for as in the numeral “7,” the number “3” has great significance. It is a number of completion with God. Other religions cannot boast of this. He prayed 3 times in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest. He was placed on the cross at the 3rd hour of the day (9 a.m.), and died the 9th hour (3 p.m.). There were 3 hours of darkness that covered the land while Jesus was suffering on His cross, from the 6th hour to the 9th hour. “3” is the number of resurrection. Christ was dead for 3 full days and 3 full nights, a total of 72 hours, before being resurrected on Saturday, April 8th, just before sunset.
My friends, those without Christ need not concern themselves with intolerance, through the view of others, but may they be persuaded through the words of the apostle Paul that they may see the darkness of their own hearts, in the way God sees it – “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (II Cor.5:11).
May His Spirit convince, and persuade your heart, to your need of Him.
21 For from within, [that is] out of the hearts of men, come base and wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery,
22 Coveting (a greedy desire to have more wealth), dangerous and destructive wickedness, deceit; unrestrained (indecent) conduct; an evil eye (envy), slander (evil speaking, malicious misrepresentation, abusiveness), pride (the sin of an uplifted heart against God and man), foolishness (folly, lack of sense, recklessness, thoughtlessness).
23 All these evil [purposes and desires] come from within, and they make the man unclean and render him unhallowed (Mark 7:21-23; Amplified Bible).
3 The cords and sorrows of death were around me, and the terrors of Sheol (the place of the dead) had laid hold of me; I suffered anguish and grief (trouble and sorrow).
4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord: O Lord, I beseech You, save my life and deliver me! (Psa.116:3, 4; Amp. Bible).
42 And they told the woman, Now we no longer believe (trust, have faith) just because of what you said; for we have heard Him ourselves [personally], and we know that He truly is the Savior of the world, the Christ (John 4:42; Amp. Bible).
My Lord, if this is intolerance, give me more.
Written By Robert Borreson
Some say you are intolerant to say, that Jesus is the only way to God. When I remember that He says, “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell” (Matt.10:28), it may seem intolerant to some, but in this case, my fear is greater than my faith.
But listen to what He says – “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father, but by Me” (Jn.14:6). I think the key to understanding this matter of intolerance is to look at the uniqueness of Christ. Jesus said, “The Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins” (Matt.9:6). Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and other major world religions cannot forgive sins, including the largest “Christian” religion. The Christ of God is totally unique for the fact he suffered and died a death for the sins of all who come to Him, whatever their previous religious back rounds may be. But coming to Him is only the result of a broken heart and contrite spirit over those sins (Psa.51:17).
Unlike these other religions with their prophets and holy men, He rose again, from the dead, the third day. This is no coincidence, for as in the numeral “7,” the number “3” has great significance. It is a number of completion with God. Other religions cannot boast of this. He prayed 3 times in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest. He was placed on the cross at the 3rd hour of the day (9 a.m.), and died the 9th hour (3 p.m.). There were 3 hours of darkness that covered the land while Jesus was suffering on His cross, from the 6th hour to the 9th hour. “3” is the number of resurrection. Christ was dead for 3 full days and 3 full nights, a total of 72 hours, before being resurrected on Saturday, April 8th, just before sunset.
My friends, those without Christ need not concern themselves with intolerance, through the view of others, but may they be persuaded through the words of the apostle Paul that they may see the darkness of their own hearts, in the way God sees it – “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (II Cor.5:11).
May His Spirit convince, and persuade your heart, to your need of Him.
21 For from within, [that is] out of the hearts of men, come base and wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery,
22 Coveting (a greedy desire to have more wealth), dangerous and destructive wickedness, deceit; unrestrained (indecent) conduct; an evil eye (envy), slander (evil speaking, malicious misrepresentation, abusiveness), pride (the sin of an uplifted heart against God and man), foolishness (folly, lack of sense, recklessness, thoughtlessness).
23 All these evil [purposes and desires] come from within, and they make the man unclean and render him unhallowed (Mark 7:21-23; Amplified Bible).
3 The cords and sorrows of death were around me, and the terrors of Sheol (the place of the dead) had laid hold of me; I suffered anguish and grief (trouble and sorrow).
4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord: O Lord, I beseech You, save my life and deliver me! (Psa.116:3, 4; Amp. Bible).
42 And they told the woman, Now we no longer believe (trust, have faith) just because of what you said; for we have heard Him ourselves [personally], and we know that He truly is the Savior of the world, the Christ (John 4:42; Amp. Bible).
My Lord, if this is intolerance, give me more.
Written By Robert Borreson
