What I Believe

I know that God exists for two reasons:

• Firstly, because something inside of me tells me that is has to be so – this is known as intuition.
• Also, I know that God is real because of logic. The alternative is ridiculous. I do not know of a scientific law that agrees with the idea that everything came from nothing (as proposed by atheists). Zero plus zero never equals one, ten thousand, or even minus one. Objects and beings within a system cannot develop or improve – as the theory of evolution claims – without input from an outside source. A creation has to have a creator and life always comes from life. Therefore, my objection to Atheism is a simple one – it defies common sense.“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” (Romans 1:20)

I know that the Bible, in it’s entirety, is the revealed, complete and infallible word of God. I know this for three reasons:

• Once again because of intuition – I know it to be so.
• Secondly, because it makes sense of the world around me. For instance, it does not claim that the world is held up by turtles or elephants but hangs in space upon nothing and is spherical.“It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in” (Isaiah 40:22). “He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.” (Job 26:7) The Bible has never been proven wrong – in fact Archaeology has consistently confirmed it’s accuracy (see here for more info).
• Thirdly – and in light of the above – because that is exactly what it claims about itself over and over again. “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” (Psalm 12:6)
• Lastly, I know it to be true because I have applied it’s principles and teachings to my life and they have never failed me.

Therefore, as I know that the whole Bible is the revealed word of God, through the plain meaning of it’s pages I can come to know the truth about the human condition.

God – as is his legitimate right as maker of the cosmos – has created a set of absolute moral laws that he calls upon mankind to obey. For example:

• Value nothing more then Him
• Do not worship any other god (all other gods are false as they do not exist)
• Do not take the name of God in vain
• Keep the sabbath (have one day of rest)
• Honor your father and mother
• Do not murder
• Do not commit adulatory (sexual intercourse outside of marriage)
• Do not steal
• Do not lie
• Do not covet (lust after other people’s possessions)

(see Exodus 20:1-17)

Moreover, Jesus Christ went even further:

“You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not commit adultery: But I say to you, That whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28)

“You have heard that it was said of them of old time, You shall not kill; and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:  But I say to you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:21-22)

None of us have kept these commandments completely. We have all, at one time or another, disobeyed his commandments and in so doing have rebelled against the one true God of the universe. That rebellion is called sin.

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Romans 3:10)

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)

“For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10)

Because God is just he has to punish all sin, if he did not he would not be just.

If a judge failed to mete out some form of punishment to a guilty criminal then he could hardly be described as a just judge. We are all guilty criminals under God’s law – anyone who thinks they’re not is deluding themselves.

The Bible is very clear that the just punishment for sin is death – an eternity spent burning in a lake of fire.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

Setting me on fire would not be a particularly pleasent thing for you to do. But the ordeal for me would fortunately end relatively quickly. But because man is an eternal being those who are condemned to this hellish lake will not burn for a year or two years, not even for a few hundred years, but billions upon billions of years – and it will never, ever end!

“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:10-15)

However, God is merciful as well as just and does not want to condemn anyone to this damnation.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us” (Ephesians 2:4)

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (II Peter 3:9)

This is despite the fact that we all fully deserve to be punished, and as a result of our sin the whole of creation is cursed with death, disease and suffering.

“For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.” (Romans 8:22)

But the penalty for all our sins had to be paid.

Consequently, in order to provide us with a way of escape, God – in the form of Jesus Christ – came to the earth and lived a perfect life, keeping all the commandments of God – being both fully God and man. Then he was executed in the most horrendous way that man has ever invented and took the punishment for the sins of all humanity that have ever been committed and will ever be commit in the future.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

The Bible teaches that in order be saved we must respond to what Jesus Christ did for us.

It says that if anyone repents – recognizes their sins and turns away from them, calling upon God to forgive them – and puts their trust in Jesus Christ alone to save them from the ultimate consequences of their sins (that is, damnation), then through His grace (undeserved favour) and mercy they will be saved and spend eternity in Heaven. His righteousness will be credited to that person’s account in Heaven and all the sins ever committed by that individual – no matter how terrible, past present or future – will be completely forgiven. No matter what you’ve done, no matter who you are, you can be forgiven.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Hebrews 2:9)

“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8)

“I tell you, No: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5)

“Repent you therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. ” (Acts 3:19)

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be rich.” (II Corinthians 8:9)

“Come now, and let us reason together, said the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

Futhurmore, the Bible promises that to  those who do this God will give a new nature which will enable them to overcome sin – without which we are all doomed to wallow in it – and will adopt them into His family, so that they can have a close, personal relationship with Him for all eternity.

” Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

” But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name…” (John 1:12)

” And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Gal 4:6-7)

This I have done and know that I will go to Heaven when I die – even though I do not deserve to. I know this to be true because God promises it in His word and He would never lie.

“He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

You can disagree with this outright if you so wish to. But remember that if God exists and the Bible is true, unless you recognize you are not a good person – rather, that you are a sinner like all of us – repent and turn to Jesus Christ alone to save you, then you will spend eternity in never-ending torment. Please don’t ask yourself whether or not you like this message, or whether you’d much prefer to believe something different, but rather ask yourself, “is this true?”  For the truth is the truth, regardless of how many people believe it or dislike it.

So now you know. Please don’t wait, make a decision on this today. Admit to God that you are a wicked, vile and wretched sinner and fall upon His saving grace right now. Do not wait until tomorrow – for it may never come.

For more info email me at bpscotton@gmail.com, visit wayofthemaster.com, wretchedradio.com and answersingenesis.org, or you could just leave a comment, they’re always welcome!