YOU DO NOT BELIEVE GOD IF YOU BELIEVE EVOLUTION

TWENTY REASONS WHY GENESIS AND EVOLUTION DO NOT MIX
Many people believe that they can add evolution to the Bible. They think that by doing this they can explain life coming about as a result of God’s use of evolutionary processes. This position is known as "theistic evolution." However, this is totally inconsistent with Scripture. (An offshoot of theistic evolution, which is sometimes promoted by Christians who are sensitive to criticism of evolution, is known as progressive creation. This idea holds that while life was developing through the vast ages imagined by evolutionists God stepped in at various times along the way. At each point He created something new which the evolutionary process could not accomplish without this help from God. Progressive creation implies that God’s forethought in creation was not adequate for the complete evolutionary process at the beginning. It will be seen that the arguments against progressive creation are covered by the arguments against theistic evolution, particularly with reference to death and struggle existing before man.)
1. NO DEATH BEFORE ADAM’S FALL
Evolution teaches that for millions of years before man things have lived and died. They have fought and struggled, killed and been killed. It was a world without mercy—"nature red in tooth and claw." This history of evolution is a history of death. Death has been "from the beginning."
The Bible clearly teaches that death, particularly the physical and spiritual death of man, entered the world only after the first man Adam sinned.
In #Ro 5:12 the Apostle Paul wrote: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." In #1Co 15:21-22, "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." In #Ge 3:22-23 we read: "And the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever:’ Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken." Adam was sent out of the garden so he could not live forever. In other words, he would have to die.
But what about the animals? Was death a part of the created animal world? There are a number of reasons why I believe animal death as well as human death did not occur before the Fall.
(a) Could animals have died from old age? Before the Fall animals could not have died of old age because #Ro 8:1-11 reminds us that corruption and decay entered the world only with sin. Death by old age would have meant that animal bodies would have been wearing out and corruption would have existed. This would not fit with the description that before sin everything in God’s creation was "good." #Isa 51:6 tells us that after sin "the earth shall wax old like a garment...." In #Ro 8:22 we read that because of sin "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." Thus, it is obvious that the whole of creation, which must include all living creatures, has been subject to "the bondage of corruption" (#Ro 8:21) only as a result of the curse because of Adam’s sin. Death from old age, therefore, only began with the curse.
As we live in a world where everything wears out, it is difficult to understand how aging could not happen in the pre-Fall world. However, we are shown a glimpse of the solution in #De 8:4. God reminded the Israelites that during their wanderings in the wilderness their "raiment waxed not old" upon them, "neither did thy foot swell these forty years." Clearly, this was an unusual, supernatural preservation provided by God for His people’s particular circumstances.
We do not see this happening today. Our clothes wear out quickly. However, when God sustains something totally, this wearing-out does not happen. It is obvious that before the Fall everything had been created "good," and nothing would have worn out.
(b) Could animals have died when Adam, or other animals ate them for food? Again, the answer would be "No!" Not only animals, but man and woman were told they were to eat only plants (#Ge 1:29). Animals could not have died from eating each other; #Ge 1:30 tells us their food was also to be only plants. Also, as God created everything "good," animals could not have killed each other for the sake of killing. This would be opposite in meaning to "good." God, being a good God, would not create animals so that the stronger tried to eliminate the weak in a fight for survival. Also, as everything was created good, there could not have been disease to kill off animals or man. Diseases today contribute to our bodies’ wearing out, but this would not be consistent with what has been pointed out earlier.
(c) Could animals have died accidentally? Again, this would go against the concept of "good." Such a question overlooks the sovereignty and greatness of God. As we have seen, God can sustain things so that even clothes do not wear out. Before sin came into the world, death was not even a question—God had total control of the creation and sustained it 100 percent! There was no corruption and no decay. Hence, death was not even a possibility. Adam was made in the image of the all-caring God, and the animals were in his charge. He cared for them. Death and bloodshed came into the world as a judgment from God for man’s rebellion. But at the same time death was the very means by which man was to be redeemed. So bloodshed could not have exited before man’s fall.
There was no bloodshed before Adam sinned: everything was perfect and death was not a part of animal existence. However, Adam did sin; and God, in giving His covenant to Adam, had laid down the condition that death was to be the reward of disobedience. We then read that God Himself was the first shedder of blood, because He gave Adam and Eve coats of skin to cover their nakedness (#Ge 3:21). There is no specific command recorded, but we do know that "And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering" (#Ge 4:4). It is evident, then, that the requirement was understood. The writer of Hebrews (#Heb 9:22) observes that "without shedding of blood is no remission." God fulfilled two undertakings after the Fall: (a) that man should die as the penalty for his sin; and (b) that the Seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head, and the serpent should bruise His heel. So death and bloodshed are the consequences of sin; the penalty which Christ, the last Adam, bore by His death and shedding of blood on the cross but triumphed over in His glorious resurrection for the redemption of man. If death and bloodshed existed before man sinned, the redemption message is nonsense.
Evolution teaches that death and bloodshed existed virtually from the beginning. Millions of years of animals fighting for survival—shedding blood and eating each other—is part of the mechanisms of evolution which brought man into existence. It is completely contrary to the Biblical history of the world.
Evolution says death plus struggle brought man into existence; the Bible says man’s actions led to sin, which led to death. These two are totally contradictory. If evolution is true, then the reason Christ died on the cross has been destroyed.
2. ADAM DID NOT FALL "UPWARDS"
Christians talk about the fact that Adam "fell." The "Fall of Adam" refers to the fact that when God made everything it was perfect. However, because of his action, Adam was responsible for something terrible happening to the whole of creation. #Ro 8:22 says, "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." Because of Adam’s sin, God cursed the whole of creation, including the stars, the ants, the elephants and people.
In Genesis we read, "Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field" (#Ge 3:14). "Cursed is the ground for thy sake" (#Ge 3:17). God placed a curse on the world because of Adam’s rebellion. Therefore, the creation went from a perfect state to a cursed state. As a result of the curse, the whole of creation has been running down ever since—groaning and travailing in pain.
In other words, things are getting worse, not better. The evolutionary belief tells us that things have been improving—life has been evolving into more and more complex forms. For those Christians who believe in evolution, man should be improving—not getting worse. In fact, if Adam was part of an evolutionary progression, how could he fall upwards? What is sin? Is sin an inherited animal characteristic, or is it due to the fall of man through disobedience?
As scientists come to understand more of what is going on in this world, they find that our whole genetic make-up is degenerating. Mistakes in our genes are causing our physiology to have more and more problems.
3. NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH
In #Ac 3:21 we read: "Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." The Bible speaks of a time when this creation will be restored that is, put back to what it used to be. This itself indicates that something is dreadfully wrong with today’s world. For Christians who accept evolution, Paul’s words about the whole of creation groaning and travailing in pain are meaningless.
The same is true when one speaks of the new heaven and new earth in which, as Scripture tells us, "righteousness dwells." Why is there need of a new heaven and new earth unless there is something wrong with the old one? #Isa 11:6-9 tells us what it will be like in the new heaven and the new earth:
"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Here the description indicates that animals will not eat each other, but will eat plants (vegetarian) and that there will be no violence or suffering.
#Re 22:3 tells us, "And there shall be no more curse." #Re 21:4 states: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
The description of what will happen in the restoration of all things can be summarized as follows: no death, no suffering, no bloodshed, no curse, vegetarian animals, no tears, no crying, no pain. This certainly is not a description of today’s world yet it is a description of a restoration, of something that reflects its former state.
When we read #Ge 1:1-2:25, we find a description of the original creation no death, no violence, animals vegetarian. In other words, this present creation will be restored to what it used to be because there is something dreadfully wrong with it at the moment. If a person accepts evolution, then what is the restoration going to be? Death, struggle and violence as we see today? Of course, this makes nonsense of the teachings of the new heaven and new earth given in Scripture.
4. ANIMALS CREATED TO BE VEGETARIAN
When we observe today’s world, we notice that many animals eat other animals. Humans also eat the flesh of animals. The fact that we see violence among animals has been described by one poet as "nature red in tooth and claw." Evolutionists label the struggle as the "survival of the fittest." They see it as part of the evolutionary process. For theistic evolutionists, carnivorous (meat-eating) animals are just a part of this "creation" that God has supposedly used in the struggle towards man’s evolution.
However, #Ge 1:29-30 says: "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 everything that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat:’ and it was so."
Man and animals were created to be vegetarians. This, of course, fits with the fact that there was no death before Adam’s Fall. But, because of the entrance of sin into the world, death resulted. Sin affected the world so much that God caused a flood to come upon the earth in judgment. #Ge 6:12-13 states: "And God looked upon the earth, and, behold it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." Part of this violence could have been animals starting to kill each other and perhaps man, and vice versa. Actually, though, man was not given specific instructions from God that he could eat meat until after Noah’s Flood. #Ge 9:3 tells us: "Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things."
Many people think that because animals have certain kinds of teeth they must have been created to be meat-eaters. However, there are many animals living today that have sharp canine teeth that eat only plants. Originally the teeth of these animals were used to eat the plants which God had made for them. As a result of the Fall, some animals now eat meat. Also, the Bible does not exclude the possibility of direct action by God at the time of the Fall having a direct biological effect on the creatures in relation to feeding habits.
5. CREATION IS FINISHED
The Bible teaches clearly that God finished His work of creating and making things on the sixth day of creation. "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made" (#Ge 2:1-3). God’s work of creation finished at the end of the sixth day, when God completed all He had set out to do. However, because of man’s fall God now works at reconciliation.
Those who believe that God used evolution must believe that the same processes God used in this supposed evolutionary "creation" are going on today. When the evolutionist looks at the world today, he observes mutations (mistakes or changes in genes) and natural selection (survival of the fittest) and sees these as part of the mechanisms of evolution. Given enough time, natural selection and mutations are said to enable organisms to change from one kind into another. What the evolutionist is doing, then, is using processes he observes today to extrapolate into the past. He believes these processes over millions of years are the basic mechanisms of evolution.
Christians who say God used evolution to bring everything including man into being have a real problem. If evolution is not occurring today (that is, if God is not "creating" through evolution), there is no basis to extrapolate into the past to say that evolution has ever occurred, as there is now no mechanism for it.
In other words, modern evolutionary theory accepts that evolution is still going on (therefore, man must still be evolving!), so if a Christian accepts evolution he has to accept that God is still using evolution today. Thus, He is still creating. But God tells us that He finished His work of creating. This is a real dilemma for the theistic evolutionist.
6. DUST TO ADAM—RIB TO EVE
We read in #Ge 2:7 how God made the first man: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."
According to the verse, taken at face value God made the first man Adam from the dust of the ground. His wife Eve was made in a different way. "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called "Woman," because she was taken out of Man’" (#Ge 2:21-23).
The first woman, Eve, was made from Adam’s side. There are many Christians who, having accepted evolution, say that the "dust" in Genesis 2:7 actually represents the chemicals that God used to start the evolutionary process. Thus Genesis 2:7 represents a summary of evolution that is, chemicals-to-man. Yet people who hold this belief have an insurmountable problem: if dust-to-Adam represents chemicals-to-man, then what does rib-to-Eve represent? To be consistent one needs an adequate explanation, and there is none if one accepts evolution. Eve did not come directly from dust, but from an already fully functional created man.
7. RETURN TO DUST
Some people say that "dust" in Genesis 2:7 represents the animal (e.g., ape-like creature) that God breathed into and made a man (Adam). They say that when the Bible tells us God took dust and made Adam, it is symbolic of the evolutionary understanding that ape-like creatures evolved into human beings. But again, one must be consistent. #Ge 3:19 states, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
If the dust God used to make Adam represents an ape-like creature that God used to make man, then according to the Bible the dust from which man was made is what he returns to when he dies. To what "animal" does man return when he dies? Anyone can observe that when we die we return to dust just as the Bible says. Dust of the ground, to which we return, is what we were created from in the first place!
8. GOD IS GOOD
In #Ge 1:31 God pronounced of His creation that "it was very good." What did He mean by "good?" The only way you would know is if you had an absolute with which to make a comparison. Jesus said in #Mt 19:17, " there is none good but one, that is, God." In #Ps 25:8 were are told, "Good and upright is the Lord." Therefore, when God pronounced His creation as "good," what existed reflected the attributes of a God who is good. When we look at the attributes of God we see, for instance, as exhibited in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, that He cared for the sick, He healed the suffering, He raised the dead, He had compassion, He helped the weak. He is a loving and good God.
Now think about the methods of evolution: elimination of the weak, survival of the fittest, death and struggle in an evolutionary progression, elimination of the unfit, and so on. Would God have used this method in bringing all life being and then describe it as good? Of course not—this would be totally inconsistent with God’s nature as revealed in the Scriptures, Christians who believe that God used evolution must consider Him an ogre!
9. GENESIS IS LITERAL HISTORY
Many claims that Genesis is only symbolic—a kind of analogy. They claim it is not important what Genesis says, only what it means. Actually, it cannot mean anything unless it says something anyway. Many Christians say that Genesis is meant only to teach us that God is Creator, but it is done in symbolic terms, because in reality the words really mean God used evolution.
However, if applying this idea—that Genesis is only symbolic—then one has to ask the question, "Where do we learn that God is Creator?" We can, of course, go to #Ge 1:1 which says, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." But if Genesis is only symbolic, to be consistent we would have to question whether the words "God created" are also symbolic. We would have to ask what this really means.
When people say Genesis is only symbolic, they are inconsistent, for they accept some parts as literal (such as "God created") and other parts as symbolic! If it is symbolic, then it must be written for a purpose, therefore, every phrase that is supposed to be symbolic must be a symbol of something. So one has to ask: What does every verse mean? What does it symbolize? For instance, what does "rib-to-Eve" symbolize? This makes no sense at all. (It is, of course, powerfully symbolic (more correctly a type) of the future relationship between Christ and His church. But what does it tell us, symbolically or poetically or whatever, in its own context, about beginnings? Old Testament types (e.g., Moses as a type of Christ) are always real people and events in real history. It is also important to note that the Jews divided their writings into three groups: history, poetry and prophecy. Genesis was included in their list of historical writings. Thus, they accepted it as real history.) Either you take it at face value, or you do not know what it means, for it has no purpose being there.
10. ALL DOCTRINES FOUNDED IN GENESIS
Any basic study of Biblical doctrines of theology will show that ultimately all doctrines, directly or indirectly, have their basis in the book of Genesis.
In #Joh 5:46-47 Jesus Christ said: "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" Jesus was emphatic that the writings of Moses had to be accepted to understand what He was saying because all the doctrines He taught were founded in Genesis. For instance, in #Mt 19:4-6 we read of His answer to the question about divorce that concerned marriage: "And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh.’ What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
Marriage has its foundation in Genesis—the first marriage God ordained is of Adam and Eve. To understand the meaning of marriage one must understand and accept it literal basis and origin as contained in the book of Genesis.
Christ died on a cross because of sin and death and the necessary shedding of blood for the remission of sins. The origin and basis of this is in the book of Genesis. We wear clothing because God gave clothes because of sin. We read this in the book of Genesis. To understand Christian doctrine we must understand the foundations of doctrine given in the book of Genesis. If Genesis cannot be taken literally, there is no foundation for Christian doctrine—therefore, Christian doctrine no longer has meaning.
Many people try to say that in the New Testament Jesus was only quoting the writings of His day—that He did not believe Genesis to be literal. They say that because the Jews happened to believe in the writings of Moses and in Genesis, Jesus just quoted this to go along with them. However, the Bible also teaches us that Jesus Christ is "the way, the truth and the life" (#Joh 14:6). Jesus is the "truth." To say that Jesus would knowingly teach "myth" as fact is to call Jesus Christ a liar. Jesus Christ was not just a man; He was not a sinner; He was the perfect "God-Man." Christians who say that Jesus was only quoting the myths of the day should be careful not to be calling Jesus a liar.
There are other instances where Jesus quoted from, or referred to, and thus accepted Genesis. For example, #Mt 24:37-39: "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark. And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
11. NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES TO GENESIS
There are many references throughout the New Testament to Genesis, accepting it as literal history—as truth. There are at least 165 passages in Genesis that are either directly quoted or clearly referred to throughout the New Testament. Included in these are more than 100 quotations or direct reference to Genesis chapters 1 through 11.
Every one of the New Testament authors refers in his writings to Genesis 1 through 11. Every one of the first 11 chapters is alluded to in certain sections throughout the New Testament. A complete listing of all New Testament references to Genesis can be found in Dr. Henry Morris’ excellent commentary on Genesis, The Genesis Record, co-published by Baker Book House and Creation Life Publishers.
Throughout the Old and New Testament Genesis is quoted from or referred to more than any other book in the entire Bible. This certainly indicates something of its importance. It also shows that both Old Testament and New Testament writers accepted Genesis as truth. On at least six occasions, Jesus Christ either quoted from or referred to some aspects of Genesis 1 through 11.
12. DAYS CANNOT BE MILLIONS OF YEARS
Many Christians claim that the days of creation actually represent millions of years of earth’s history. They say that God did not create the universe in six literal days but in six periods of time, representing the millions of years held by the evolutionists.
First of all, one has to recognize that science cannot prove the age of the earth. There are many assumptions behind all of the dating methods of which most people are not aware. There is also much scientific evidence consistent with a belief in a young earth. But the Bible itself teaches quite clearly that the days in Genesis are ordinary, literal days (approximately 24 hours).
The Hebrew world for day, yom, can mean an ordinary day or an indefinite period of time. It should be made clear that the word for day in Genesis can never mean a long period in the definite sense. It can mean something longer than a day, but only in the indefinite sense (e.g., in the time of the Judges, in the day of the Lord). #Ex 20:11 tells us that God created the universe in six days and rested on one as a pattern for man. This is the reason God took as long as six days to make everything. He set the seven-day week pattern for us, which we still use today. God did not say He worked for six million years and rested for one million years, telling us to do the same. It makes even less sense to suggest he worked for six indefinite periods of time.
There are many other aspects at which we could look to show that the days must be ordinary days. For example, Adam was created on day six. He lived through day six, and day seven, and died when he was 930 years old. If each day were a million years, there are big problems here, too. It also needs to be made clear that the passage in #2Pe 3:8, that compares a day to a thousand years is not defining the word day as a thousand years. In fact, taken in context II Peter 3:8 has nothing to do with the days of creation, but with the fact that God is outside time.
The word "day" when first used in Genesis cannot be symbolic. A word cannot be used symbolically the first time it is used. It can only be used symbolically when it first has a defined literal meaning. It is given this defined literal meaning in #Ge 1:5,8,13,19,23,31 the first time it is used. Also, the words used for the "evening" and "morning" can only mean exactly that.
In #Ge 1:14-19, concerning the fourth day of creation, the word "day" is used five times in relation todays, nights, seasons and years. If the word "day" here does not mean an ordinary day, it makes absolute nonsense of the way it is used in these passages.
13. AFTER HIS KIND
In #Ge 1:1-31, the phrase "after his kind" or "after their kind" occurs a total of ten times. This phrase is used in reference to the animals and plants as they are to reproduce on the earth. The Bible clearly teaches that God created fixed kinds of animals and plants, each to reproduce after its own kind. One kind could not change into another kind. Today we know there can be great variation within a kind, but fixed boundaries do exist. In fact, the classification system we use in naming animals and plants in groups was first formulated on the Biblical teaching of fixity of kinds, basically as the result of the work of Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778).
There is no indisputable in-between, transitional forms anywhere in the world, living or fossil. What we observe are distinct groups of animals and plants, as we would expect on the basis of what the Bible teaches. Those who believe in evolution have to make up additional theories as to why these in-between organisms are missing (e.g., "we have not found them yet," or "evolution happened so fast that it left no in-between forms").
14. EVOLUTION AND GENESIS HAVE A DIFFERENCE SEQUENCE
For those who try to harmonize evolution with Genesis, the order of evolution must compare with the order of events in Genesis. There are a number of problems here. The basic tenets of evolution totally conflict with the order in Genesis. For instance, Genesis teaches that God created fruit trees before fish—plants on day three, fish on day five. Evolution teaches that fish came before fruit trees. Evolution teaches that first life began in the sea, and after millions of years life was established on the land. The Bible teaches that the earth was first created covered with water: evolutionary teaching is that the earth first began as a hot molten blob. There is no way that the order of events according to evolution and Genesis can be reconciled.
15. THE EARTH CAME FIRST, NOT THE SUN
One evolutionary view of the earth’s beginning is that, 20 billion years ago a Big Bang occurred, which resulted eventually in the sun forming and, subsequently, the earth as a hot molten blob. The Bible teaches that when God first created the heavens and the earth there was no sun. Light was created on the first day, but the sun was to act as the light-holder and was not made until day four. Also, the earth was covered with water when it was first made. In #2Pe 3:5-6 we have a prophecy concerning the last days in which Peter tells us that men will deliberately choose to forget that the earth was created covered with water. The Big Bang theory and the Biblical account of creation are in total conflict.
16. GENESIS 1 AND 2 COMPLEMENTARY—NOT CONTRADICTORY
Since Moses was not an eyewitness to creation, Noah’s Flood or the events of the Tower of Babel, etc., presumably Genesis was a series of earlier records which Moses brought together in one publication under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Because of the reference in the New Testament by Jesus to Moses and his authorship of the Pentateuch, there is very strong evidence to suggest that Moses was responsible for the book of Genesis. Throughout Genesis the phrase, "These are the generations of..." (e.g., #Ge 2:4), occurs a number of times. From external evidence, such as the use of what is called the colophon system in Mesopotamia, linguists say that these link passages ("these are the generations of") actually end each section. In other words, they are a kind of "signature" to most of the sections. Thus, in Genesis chapters 1 and 2 the first section goes from #Ge 1:1-2:4 a, and the second section goes from #Ge 2:4 b to #Ge 5:1 a.
Many people say that Genesis chapter 1 and Genesis chapter 2 are two contradictory accounts of creation. In reality, it is easy to see that these two accounts of creation are not contradictory but complementary. #Ge 1:1-2:4 a is an account in chronological order (first, second, third, etc.) of the days of creation. #Ge 2:4 b begins the second account, which is a more detailed coverage of certain aspects of Genesis chapter 1. This second account is not meant to be chronological of each day of creation. In fact, it is meant to give a lot more of the details—particularly in relation to man and the garden—setting the scene for the fall of man in Genesis chapter 3.
The second account is extremely necessary for us to understand what happened in Genesis chapter 3. Not only that, the second account includes the actual details as to how God made man and woman, enabling us to understand more about the nature of the marriage relationship. The pattern of placing a more general account before the recording of certain specific events is not confined to the first two chapters of Genesis. We find it again in #Ge 10:2-32 where we have a population distribution table. This is followed by #Ge 11:1-10, which tells us what happened at Babel in about the third generation of the distribution genealogy in Genesis 10.
It should be noted that in #Mt 19:4-5, when Jesus replied concerning the question relating to marriage, He actually quoted from Genesis chapter 1 and Genesis chapter 2 in His reply, showing that He took them as complementary and authoritative. #Mt 19:4 states: "Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female" (#Ge 1:27). #Mt 19:5: "And said, ‘for this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh’" (#Ge 2:24).
17. ADAM COULD WRITE
Those who believe in evolution speculate that as man evolved he first had to learn to grunt, then he had to learn to write. He had to use stone tools and learn about farming before he could develop what is called "advanced technology." However, the Bible tells us Adam was not "primitive" but a highly developed individual. For instance, we note in #Ge 2:20 that "Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field." Adam could obviously speak; he had a complex language.
Further, in #Ge 3:20 we are told that, "Adam called his wife’s name, Eve; because she was the mother of all living." In #Ge 5:1 we read that: "This is the book of the generations of Adam." Presumably, Adam wrote down all the details that God had given him concerning the original creation. He would have recorded the other events under God’s direction, and Moses later obtained this material and compiled it into the book of Genesis. If this is so, then Noah must have taken on board the precious documents that Adam had written, in whatever form they existed.
It should also be noted that Adam’s descendants made musical instruments and worked with brass and iron. #Ge 4:21-22 states: "And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an instructor of every artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubal-cain was Na-amah." They were not primitive savages in the evolutionary progression.
18. NOAH’S FLOOD WORLD-WIDE, NOT LOCAL
Those Christians who accept the evolutionary view of earth’s history believe that the billions of fossils found on earth are the result of the processes occurring over millions of years. These processes are said to have involved the slow formation of sedimentary layers associated with the trapping of organisms and their subsequent fossilization. Therefore, when it comes to the section in Genesis chapters 6 through 9 concerning Noah’s Flood, they have a problem. If there really was a world-wide flood, it would have ripped up this record from supposedly millions of years ago and destroyed it. On the other hand, the Bible teaches that there was no death before Adam sinned. Therefore, fossils could not have formed millions of years preceding Adam’s sin.
However, there has to be an explanation for the millions of preserved animals and plants laid down by water in layers all over the earth. A world-wide flood such as that of Noah’s time certainly is an excellent explanation. Christians who accept the fossil record as a result of millions of years of slow processes usually say Noah’s Flood was only local in extent, not world-wide. The Bible teaches clearly that the water covered "all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven. (#Ge 7:19).
In addition, we are told in #Ge 9:11-13 of the covenant of the rainbow. God put a rainbow in the sky as a sign He would never again destroy the earth by a flood. We have obviously seen lots of floods since that time, but God has not broken His covenant, as He cannot do that. Therefore, these passages cannot be referred to a local event, but something which will never be repeated—a world-wide flood!
19. THEISTIC EVOLUTION EQUALS ATHEISTIC EVOLUTION PLUS GOD
In reality, theistic evolution is no different from atheistic evolution. God is simply added to the story. Christians who believe God used evolution accept what the atheistic view tells them, and then add God to the situation and reinterpret the Bible. Understanding the nature of man, that he is sinful and biased against God and that "there is none righteous, no not one," any view concerning the origin of life which has a consensus of opinion among non-Christians should at least be suspect. As the Bible is the Word of God—the God who knows everything, who has always been there, who does not tell a lie—everything we believe and think must be judged against God’s Word. To understand any area of life we must have a Christian philosophy, which means we must start with the words of God, who was there, and not the words of men who were not.
20. ALL PEOPLE ARE DESCENDANTS OF ADAM
Because of their belief in evolution, there are Christians who consider that some of the cultures around the world are "primitive" in an evolutionary sense. They have not "evolved" as far as other cultures. However, the Bible teaches in #1Co 15:45 that Adam was the first man. There are not different races of men in an evolutionary sense. #Ro 5:12 tell us that because of one man’s sin (Adam) death passed upon all men, for all have sinned. All the different cultures of the world today have arisen since the time of the Tower of Babel. It was there that people began speaking different languages, causing them to go to different places on the earth’s surface.
Every human being has the same ancestor, Adam, which is why we all have the same problem of sin and the same need for a Saviour.
The same question the Lord asked the people of Israel through Joshua should be a stern reminder to us concerning whom we are choosing to believe. This passage states, "Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord" (#Jos 24:14).
Perhaps today we should ask ourselves a similar question. "Choose you this day whom you will believe: the words of men who are sinful creatures, who were not there, or the words of God who knows everything, who was there, and who has revealed to us all we need to know."

YOU THINK YOU WILL BE WITH GOD IN HEAVEN WHEN YOU DIE - JUST BECAUSE...

Of all the questions you will ask yourself in life, probably the most important is, Am I good enough to go to Heaven? The way to find this out is to ask yourself if you have obeyed the Ten Commandments. most would answer the question, "Well, I've broken one or two, but nothing too serious, like murder, etc." So, let's go through them and see how you do:

1. "You shall have no other gods before Me."

Is God first in your life? Do you love God above all else? Many years ago, I purchased a T.V. for our children, but the first evening we had it, I arrived home from work and found that they didn't even bother to greet me. They were too busy watching television. I turned it off and explained to them that if they ignored me because they preferred to watch T.V. they were setting their love on the gift rather then the giver, a wrong order of affections. In the same way, if we love anything-husband, wife, children or even our own lives-more than we love God, we are setting our affection on the gift rather than the Giver, which is a transgression of the First Commandment. In fact, the Bible says that we should so love God that our love for Mom and Dad and brother and sister should seem like hatred compared to the love we have for the God who gave those loved ones to us.

We are also commanded to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. Jesus spoke of a Samaritan who found an injured stranger, bathed his wounds, carried him to an inn, gave money for his care and told the inn-keeper that he would pay for his expenses. We call him thegood Samaritan, but in reality he wasn't "good" at all, he merely obeyed the basic command to love his neighbor as himself. That is a picture of how God expects us to love our fellow human beings. We should love them as much as we love ourselves...whether they be friend or foe.

Have you loved God with all your heart? Have you loved humanity as much as you love yourself? You be the judge. Will you be innocent or guilty on Judgment Day of breaking that Commandment? I'm not judging you-I'm asking you to judge yourself before the Day of Judgment. The sentence for breaking this Commandment is death.

2. "You shall not make for yourself any graven image."

This means that we shouldn't make a god to suit ourselves, either with our hands or our mind. I was guilty of this. I made a god to suit myself. My god didn't mind a "white" lie or a fib here and there-in fact, he didn't exist. He was a figment of my imagination, an "image" which I shaped to suit myself. Is your God the One revealed in Holy Scripture? If not, then you have made your own god to suit yourself-you have committed the oldest sin in the Book. Scripture warns that no idolater will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."

Have you ever taken God's name in vain-instead of using a four-letter word to express disgust, you've used His name? Hitler's name wasn't despised enough to use as a curse word. If you have used His holy name in that manner, you are a blasphemer and will not enter the Kingdom of God.

4. "Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy."

I ignored this command for 22 years. Even though God gave me the gift of life, never once did I ask what He required of me. I was guilty of breaking this Commandment.

5. "Honor your father and your mother."

Have you always honored your parents in a way that's pleasing in the sight of God? Ask Him to remind you of the sins of your youth. You may have forgotten them, but God hasn't.

6. "You shall not murder."

Jesus warned that if we get angry without cause we are in danger of judgment. If we hate our brother, God calls us a murderer. We can violate God's Law by attitude and intent.

7. "You shall not commit adultery."

Who of us can say that we are pure of heart? Jesus warned, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart." Remember that God has seen every thought you have had and every sin you have ever committed. The day will come when you have to face His Law, and we are told that the impure, fornicators (those who have sex before marriage) and adulterers will not enter the Kingdom of God. Punishment for transgression of this Commandment is the death penalty.

8. "You shall not steal."

Have you ever taken something that belonged to someone else (irrespective of its value)? Then you are a thief-you cannot enter God's Kingdom.

9. "You shall not bear false witness."

Have you ever told a lie? Then you are a liar. How many lies do you have to tell to be a liar? Just one. The Bible warns that all liars will have their part in the Lake of Fire. You may not think deceitfulness is a serious sin. God does!

10. "You shall not covet."

That means we shouldn't desire anything that belongs to another person. The covetous will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Who of us can say we are not guilty of breaking these Commandments? All of us have sinned, and just as with civil law, you don't have to break ten laws to be a lawbreaker, so the Bible warns, "For whoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all."

A little girl was once watching a sheep eat grass and thought how white it looked against the green background. But when it began to snow she thought, "That sheep now looks dirty against the white snow!" It was the same sheep, but with a different background. When we compare ourselves to man's standard we look pretty clean, but when we compare ourselves to the pure snow-white righteousness of God's standard-His Law, we can see ourselves in truth, that we are unclean in His sight. That Law is the holy standard by which humanity will be judged on Judgment Day.

This may sound strange, but the worst thing you could do at this point of time is to try and clean up your lifestyle-you realize that you have sinned, so from now on you will keep the Ten Commandments, do good deeds, say the right things and think only pure thoughts. But should a judge let a murderer go because he says he will now live a good life? No, he's in debt to justice and therefore must be punished.

The Law of God is merely like a mirror-all a mirror does is show you the truth. If you see egg on your face, you don't try and wash yourself with the mirror, it's purpose should be to send you to water for cleansing. Neither should you try and wash yourself with the mirror of God's Law...that's not its purpose.

The sight in the mirror is not a pretty one, but if you don't face it and acknowledge that you are unclean, then all that "dirt" will be presented on Judgment Day as evidence of your guilt, and then it will be too late to be cleansed.

Perhaps you think that God is good and will therefore overlook your sins. But if you were guilty of terrible crimes in a civil court and said to the judge, "Judge, I am guilty but I believe that you are a good man and will therefore overlook my crimes," the judge would probably respond by saying, "You are right about one thing; I am a good man, and it's because of my goodness that I am going to see that justice is done, that you are punished for your crimes." The very thing that many are hoping will save them on Judgment Day, God's "goodness," will be the very thing that will condemn them. If God is good, He should punish murderers. liars, thieves, etc., and Hell will be their dreadful fate.

What a terrible place Hell must be. If you read in the newspaper that a man received a $5 fine for a crime, you could conclude that his crime was insignificant. But if a man received multiple life sentences, you could conclude that his crime was heinous. In the same way, we can catch a glimpse of how terrible sin must be in the sight of God by looking to the punishment given for it-eternal punishment. Ungrateful humanity never bothers to thank God for His wonderful blessings of color, light, food, joy, beauty, love, and laughter, so He will take those blessings away from them. Instead of proving their gratitude by obedience to His will, they use His name to curse. Their punishment will be just but severe to the uttermost. Take the time to read what Jesus said Hell was like in Mark 9:43-48. I am afraid for you...please, look honestly into the mirror of the Law, then seek the "water" that cleanses every sin. If you don't believe what I am saying about the reality of Hell, it means you think God is corrupt (that He hasn't the moral backbone to seek justice), that Jesus was a liar, that the Apostles were false witnesses, that God's promises are nothing but prefabricated lies, and there is no greater insult to God than to call Him a liar. By doing so, you are adding to your transgressions. Imagine if you reject the Savior, die in your sins and find that what I have told is the Gospel truth? Then it will be too late, you will be judged for you sins. If that happens, and your eyes meet my eyes on the Day of Judgment, I'm free from your blood. I have told you the truth, but if you choose to ignore it your blood will be upon your own head...you will have no one to blame buy yourself.

Can you see your predicament? You are guilty of sinning against God Himself, and, because you have a conscience, you have sinned "with knowledge." Isn't it true that every time you lied, stole, lusted, etc., you did it with knowledge that it was wrong?

Does the fact that you have sinned against God scare you? It should. You have actually angeredHim by your sin. The Bible says His wrath abides on you, that you are an "enemy of God in your mind through wicked works." But let fear work for your good in the same way that a fear of jumping out of a plane at a great height would make you put on a parachute. Let your will to live open your heart to the Gospel of salvation.

I am not the only one who doesn't want you to end up in Hell. The person who gave you this tract cared enough to give it to you and risk your rejection, and God Himself is not willing that you perish. To make clear what an incredible thing He has done for you in the Gospel, let's look again to civil law: You are standing in front of a judge, guilty of very serious crimes. All the evidence has been presented and there is no doubt about your guilt. The fine for your crime is $250,000 or imprisonment, but you haven't two pennies to rub together. The judge is about to pass sentence...he lifts his gavel, when someone you don't even know steps in and pays the fine for you. The moment you accept that payment, you are free to go. Justice has been served, the law has been satisfied, and what's more, the stranger who paid your fine showed how much he cares for you. His payment was evidence of his love.

That's what God did for you, in the person of Jesus Christ. you are guilty, He paid the fine 2,000 years ago. It is that simple. The Bible puts it this way: "he was bruised for our iniquities . . . Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us...God commended His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

It was no small thing for Jesus to die for us. The only thing that would satisfy the demands of Eternal Law was the suffering death of the sinless Son of God. What love God must have for you! He suffered unspeakable agony, so that you wouldn't have to be punished for your sins. His sacrificial death and resurrection mean that you need no longer be in debt to the Law, and God can now grant you everlasting life if you obey Him -- death no longer has a legal hold upon those who belong to Jesus Christ.

Two men were offered a parachute while seated in a plane. The first man was told it would improve his flight, but the second man was informed he had to make a 25,000 foot jump. when the flight struck severe turbulence the first man took his parachute off because as far as he was concerned it didn't improve the flight. but during the same violent turbulence, the second man clung tighter to his parachute. Each man's motive for putting the parachute on determined whether or not they would keep it on.* In the same way, the reason you should "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" shouldn't be to find peace, joy, true happiness, to have your marriage healed or your problems fixed, etc. (to have your flight improved), but it should be to escape the jump to come-because of the fact that you have to pass through the door of death. Then, when the flight gets bumpy (when problems come) you won't fall away from the faith.

What should you then do? Simply repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Don't put it off until tomorrow.

Would you sell an eye for a million dollars? How about both for $20 million? No one in his right mind would. Your eyes are priceless to you, yet they are merely the windows of your soul. Your life (your soul) is of such value, Jesus said that you should despise the value of your eye compared to it. He said that if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you, for it is better to enter Heaven blind than to go to Hell seeing. In other words, of all the things you should prioritize in your life, it's not your health, your vocation, etc., it's your eternal salvation.

Think of a man who has committed adultery. His faithful wife is more than willing to take him back, so what is the attitude in which he should approach her? It should be one of tremendous humility, asking for forgiveness, and determining in his heart never to even think of committing adultery again.

That's how you should approach God. If you are not sure how to pray, read Psalm 51 and make it your prayer. Then put your faith in Jesus Christ in the same way you would put your faith in a parachute. You don't just "believe" it will benefit you, you actually trust yourself to it by putting it on. Then, once you have made peace with God, read the Bible daily and obey what you read.

(written by ray comfort) www.raycomfort.com

THE SHOCKING TRUTH - YOUR T-SHIRT DOES NOT MAKE YOU A CHRISTIAN

FACING THE REALITY OF GOD

FACING THE REALITY OF GOD Most of us go through life trying to find some kind of success fullness, excitement, purpose, pleasure, happiness, ect. Maybe you have found your peace of mind or maybe you are still looking. Most consider a family, friends, a good job, and a little entertainment & fun to be enough for them and they are for the most part satisfied. Well,what about God? What happened to God? While we find time for everything else we can think of,we ignore the most important thing in life.We ignore God.In fact most people avoid God at all cost.Society has erased God from it's memory! When you watch TV or go to a movie, you usually  find that it contains nothing but lots of violence, sex, improper language, and general wickedness. When I am in public  I see nothing that promotes Godliness. People find it easy to start a conversation on the weather , sports , current events but are too shy to mention God. Why is this? I think most people find it easier to ignore God and claim he doesn't see or doesn't care or doesn't even exist than to face God and deal with their sin and become righteous and holy.   I have come to the conclusion that people don't want godliness. They know it would interfere too much with their lives. They don't want to change. Just look at the lifestyles of the average person (especially the younger generation)Who would watch a movie that didn't contain a little action, or dirty humor, or a little nudity. Who would turn down an invitation to a party (everyone knows what goes on at most parties)? Who would intentionally avoid becoming popular? It is a sad fact but these are the things that the majority of people find entertaining / fulfilling. I also don't see Godliness at work. I see swearing, laziness, greed, and backstabbing. No one mentions God (except when swearing) and no one wants to hear about God. People may claim to believe in God or claim to "be a Christian" but you should see the looks people get on their faces when someone actually mentions God.This doesn't just occur at the workplace.Try to bring up a discussion with a friend, family member, or neighbor about God or a discussion on right and wrong. Just see how Quickly that conversation ends. It is funny.You see bumper stickers saying "God bless America".You see "IN GOD WE TRUST" printed on our currency and you hear a patriotic song mentioning God sung before sporting events. Lets not fool ourselves.This is all just for show.There are very few people that wouldn't look at you funny if you mentioned God to them. Most people will say "Religion is a private matter and you should keep it to yourself" or "Religion & politics shouldn't be discussed in public" Who made these stupid rules anyway? It almost seems that good has become evil and evil has become good. Why has it become taboo to mention God. I'll tell you why. All people know God exists and all people know they are living contrary to the way God intended us to live. People love their lifestyle, and their things, and their lusts, and their greed and they know that these things can't be accepted by God, so people pretend God doesn't exist or they pretend God doesn't really mean what He says.Many people only believe what they want to about God. They dream up what they would like God to be and accept that as who God is. We can dream up all kinds of gods in our own mind but in reality God is what God is.You have to find out who God really is. God isn't whatever you believe him to be.Don't be blind! Don"t think that you can just ignore God. Whether you believe it or not you will have to answer for everything that you have ever done. Everyone is guilty of breaking God's law.You are, I am, everyone! God says that everyone that breaks his law will have to die. God created us so don't you think that He has the right to tell us how to live? God created us with a purpose in mind. He wanted us to act , and think a certain way. We have all rebelled against God and have decided to do what we want instead of what God wants. God has the right to destroy all of us. If you were to create something and it didn't work properly wouldn't you destroy it if it couldn't be fixed? God doesn't destroy us because he loves us. He waits patiently for us to realize our mistakes and turn from them and do His will but if we refuse what can God do but have us destroyed? What God commands us to do is not unreasonable. In fact it is beneficial. If everyone lived as we should we would all get along, there would be no war, crime, hatred, ect. God made laws because he loves us, just as parents make rules for their children.They make them for the children's benefit. In fact God sent his own son to earth to die and take the punishment for any person who would turn from their sin and turn to God. If God exists and is in control of our future, why do we ignore Him. Eternity is a very long time compared to the short time we have here on earth.  In the Bible, God tells us how we should live and what the consequences are if we don't obey Him. The Bible can be used for things other than hiding your money in or putting it on the coffee table when the preacher comes over. I know society mocks anyone who actually reads the Bible, but what is more important:your eternal future or protecting your ego.I have noticed that most people have been lead to believe that the Bible is difficult if not imposable for "ordinary people" to understand.Don't you know that most of the Bible was written as letters by ordinary people to other ordinary people.It was not for the highly educated only.The only reason some people claim that the Bible is hard to understand is because it's concepts are so foreign to them.Can a prideful person understand humility?Can a thief understand generosity? Can a self-centered person understand love?If you can read with an open mind ,and accept what it says,you will soon understand the concepts of love,patients,self-control,generosity,humility,and kindness.God expresses his will for us through these writings.It is our responsibility to seek God and learn His will for us.

WHO ARE WE FOOLING???

When Love is Mistaken for Self Rightiousness   

 

I have  found that as I jounney on through my Christian walk , as more and more truths are revealed to me through the scriptures I feel the need and desire to share them with others. A problem that I sometimes come accross is that when I realize a fault in my life and correct it , out of love for others , I feel the urge to point it out when I see a fellow Christian stumbling in the same offence. It is clear that they do not see it as an offence just as I previously did not recognise it as a sin. It hurts to see that person in their ignorance making a mistake that I myself had already made and suffered the concequences of. The problem is that when I attempt to help the person and keep him from stumbling , the first response from that person is almost always something like: "Who are you to judge me! Who do you think you are? Do you think that you are better than me?" Christians should be willing and able to not only accept but also give instuction or correction to others. Unfortunately it seems that when someone actually speaks out against sin they are told to be quiet and mind their own buisness. Is this the way Christians are to act?  Why can't Christians accept that most of the time when a rebuke is given it is out of love for their own benefit. People make mistaks. Why can't we have an attitude of love so that we can share our mistakes with each other and keep each othe from sin without being accused of self rightiousness? I appreciate it very much when a sin is pointed out to me. It helps to know that there are others watching out for and showing concern for me. Concerned enough to say "You are doing wrong , you should not do that." Not only am I saved from sinning , I am saved from the results of that sin as well. If we help each other and learn to accept the help of others who knows how much we can grow in Christ!

When Self Rightiousness is Mistaken for Love

 

What rightiousness is there in good works if they are not done with good motives? Good works are nothing (even evil) if they are not done cheerfully and willingly out of a spirit of genuine love. A good heart will produce good  works instinctively. Good works will not produce a good heart. In fact , many people wickedly use good works as a way to hide a wicked heart. Many people find it easier to change their outward actions and look rightious rather than changing the heart and actually being made rightious (by doing acts of self rightiousness). My Bible study teacher and friend gave a good example of this. He noticed that many times churches will set aside a time for good works to be done rather than having a desire that causes good works to be done all the time. Churches give food baskets to the needy around Christmas but neglect them the rest of the year. If it is good to give food to the poor then why only give it at certain times of the year? This is not love , but rather it is an act of self rightiousness. If it was the churches desire for the poor to have food they would make it a prioraty to give all the time.   He gave another example of a church having a banquet to honour the elderly  in the church. Why does a day need to be set aside for this? Why cant we honour them every day by showing respect for the wisdom  that they have aquired over the years , by letting them teach the young men and women in the church , by young christians submitting to the wisdom that the elderly can give. It is an insulting act of self rightiousness to set aside just a day to show honour to the elderly rather than doing what is right and showing honour at all times. People find it easier do do their good works so they can pat themselves on the back and feal good about themselves (a form of pride) instead of changing their heart so that they instinctively and automatically do what is good all the time. I know this does not apply to everyone but look inside yourself at your true motives to see if this describes you. If it does you need to repent and seek a heart that will do things out of true love. Start with the heart and genuine good works will follow. God will change the heart of those that diligently seek change.

THERE AIN'T NO GOD

When wicked and unprincipled persons have gone on in a course of sin to the degree that they can scarcely hope for pardon and find that they have reason to fear the just judgments of God for their sins , they begin at first to wish that there were no God to punnish them , which they believe to be in their best interests. And so , by degrees , they come to persuade themselves that there is no God. Then they determine to find arguements to back their opinion in order to prove what they are willing to believe.

    

JOHN BUNYAN (17th century Christian and author of The Pilgrim's Progress )

^{AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY (FOR SOME PEOPLE) GOD DOES NOT APPEAR TO EXIST}

^{ROMANS 1}

¹⁸   For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
¹⁹   Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
²⁰   For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
²¹   Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
²²   Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
²³   And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
²⁴   Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
²⁵   Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
²⁶   For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
²⁷   And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
²⁸   And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
²⁹   Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
³⁰   Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
³¹   Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
³²   Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

PASS ON THE FORTUNE COOKIE

Discovering the Will of God

1. Is it right? 1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

2. Will this bring me near some temptation? Rom. 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

3. Does this give place to the devil? Eph. 4:27 Neither give place to the devil.

4. Is there anything in scripture contrary to it? Isa. 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

5. Am I trusting God or depending in my own strength? Prov. 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

6. Is it doubtful? Rom. 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

7. Will it cause someone to stumble? Rom. 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

8. Does it appear evil to anyone? 1 Ths. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

9. Would the Lord Jesus Christ do this? 1 Pet. 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Rom. 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

10. Will it please God? John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

11. Am I trying to impress others with my spirituality? Acts 5:1-11 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, andlaid it, at the apostles' feet. 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. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

12. Do I hope somebody notices me? Gal. 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

13. Does it edify? 1 Cor. 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

14. Am I being selfish? Phil. 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

15. Am I denying the flesh? Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

16. Am I putting Christ first? Col. 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

17. Is it expedient? 1 Cor. 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

18. Will it bring glory to God? 1 Cor. 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

19. Am I deceiving myself or being deceived? 1 Cor. 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

20. Do I know better? 1 Cor. 8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols.

21. Am I searching for an excuse to justify what I want to do? Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

22. Do I have to hide it from anyone? Sneak around? 2 Cor. 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

23. Did I handle the word of God deceitfully? 2 Cor. 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

24. Will this in anyway defile God's body? 1 Cor. 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 1Cor. 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

25. Can I sincerely thank God for it? 1 Thess. 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

26. Can I do this in Jesus' name? Col. 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

27. Can I go all the way with it? Col. 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Eccl. 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

28. Have I prayed about it? Ps. 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Phil. 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

29. Will it increase or hinder my prayer life? 1 Pet. 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

30. Am I breaking one commandment in order to keep another? Jer. 48:10 Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

31. What does my pastor think about it? Hebr. 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Hebr. 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

32. What does my church brethren think about it? Prov. 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Prov. 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

33. Would I like to be doing this when Jesus Christ returns? 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

34. How will it appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ? Rom. 14:10-12 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 1 Cor. 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

ACCEPT THE THINGS THAT GOD HAS COMMANDED YOU TO DO

As believers we are managers of the gifts that God has given us. We are to manage the short time that God has given us - not wasting it on our own vein pleasures but using it always for the exclusively to the glory of God. We are to manage the money and resources that are given to us by God - not as if it were ours to be wasted on anything but for your necessities (basic and not extravagant food - clothing - shelter) and for the glory of God. We are managers of this body of ours which is also the temple of the very Spirit of God. As the dwelling place of God's spirit we are not to defile God's temple with sin and should care for it as if it were not our own but as a caretaker of the temple of God. We are managers of one another and are to not only be watchful of ourselves but are to care for God's sheep. We are also managers of the grace and mercy of God. God freely gives these gifts of grace and mercy and we are not to despise them by returning to our old wicked ways. God has freed us from sin by His grace. To undo the work of grace and return to sin is to despise God's grace and considering it to be of no value to you. We are to use the grace of God to be transformed into the image of Christ. There are far too many that squander the gifts of God and live a wasteful life accomplishing nothing.  MATTHEW 25 14   " For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them. 15   "To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. 16   "Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. 17   "In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. 18   "But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. 19   "Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20   "The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.' 21   "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 22   "Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.' 23   "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' 24   "And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed. 25   'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.' 26   "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. 27   'Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. 28   'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.' 29   " For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. 30   "Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

If you are going to call yourself a "Christian", a "believer", a child of "God", ect..., you should act in a way as to not shame the name of Christ. Constantly examine yourself to see that your life is within the will of God. People will judge the whole body of believers based on one person's actions. A Christian should have a loving spirit with an attitude that puts the needs of others before and instead of his own. There must be no pride, selfishness, arrogance, haughtiness, envyness, lustfulness, greed or any evilness in the mind of a believer. We must make a constant, daily effort to transform our mind from a mind based on self, greed and wickedness, to a mind focused on godliness, holiness, righteousness......and above all, love. The mind is the battlefield of good and evil. If no evil enters the mind, then no evil will be done. Righteousness will not be accomplished by trying to follow rules and laws. Righteousness is accomplished through the constant desire and through constant praying for the perfect mind of Christ. This should be the goal for all believers. Avoid anything that could possibly tempt you to sin, as we are a lot weaker than we would like to admit. The best way to prevent yourself from stumbling is to avoid temptation in the first place. You know the things that easily tempt you. You know how to avoid them. If you purposely place yourself in a situation that you know will be difficult to resist, you will most likely stumble. I know that there are times when temptation cannot be avoided. Sometimes it seems no matter how careful you are it can sneak up on you and take you unaware. Always pray to God for strength during these moments, pray for God to protect you from them. Also, do not become overconfident and think that you have mastered temptation, as you may not be as strong as you think. Do not take on too many obligations or activities as time easily slips away. If you do not find time for prayer, studying God's word, and fellowship with other believers, you will not find the strength to walk the path of righteousness. We must always remind ourselves that we are to live for God and not for ourselves. Also, Christians should look after one another and encourage each other so that no one becomes discouraged and falls back into sin. This has become very difficult to do as many churches are very large and a person can be "lost in the crowd".I recommend a very small church or a home church, as it is easier to get to know everyone. How can you give effective encouragement to another believer that you hardly know? Encouragement is very important, as is discipline. A person can hide his sin in a large crowd but it is much more difficult in a smaller assembly amongst close friends. Finally, a Christian's most important responsibility is to help others see that they need to acknowledge God and be reconciled to Him. Someone at one time has to have shared Jesus with you. Show your gratitude for that person and for Christ and tell someone else! Learn to show love to others especially to those that don't deserve it. Showing your love can usually have a greater effect on a person than anything you can say to them. Be sure that you always read the Word of God and pray for correct understanding as you don't want to be a false teacher and lead someone in error. Remember action speaks louder than words. Do not only be a hearer but be a doer. Knowing what it is to be righteous is not the same as being righteous. JAMES 1 22   But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.  (NKJV) Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.  2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.   3But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;   4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.   5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.   6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.   7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.   8For you were once darkness, but now [you are] light in the Lord. Walk as children of light   9 (for the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),   10finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.   11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose [them.]   12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.   13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.   14Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."   15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,   16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.   17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord [is.]   18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,   19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,   20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,   21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.   EPHESIANS 4      17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. 20You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin"[4] : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.