Why Did Christ Do Miracles?

As I hinted at in my previous post, it seems to us that performing miracles would be a good way to gain followers. In actuality, we read in John chapter six how that notion resulted in shallow followers. They, like squirrels in the park, just wanted the free food. The Israelites also desired a king who would kick the hated Romans out of Israel.

So, why did Jesus perform miracles? Reading through the Bible, we can see clusters of miraculous deeds with long periods of time between them. Excluding creation, we see the first batch of miracles with the arrival of Moses and the law. Joshua carried on doing miracles but they soon ceased.

The second batch of miracles happened through Elijah and Elisha. Then no wonders were wrought through people for hundreds of years.

The third period of miracles were done by Jesus and his disciples. The apostles also performed wonders but they soon ceased as the original people died off.

Why are these batches of miracles linked to Moses', Elijah's, and Christ's ministries? They validated what they said. Even the Pharisees, through Nicodemus, knew that Jesus couldn't do wonderful works unless God was with him.

I once thought that if I was healed of my poor vision, it would convince people that God is real. The Bible refutes that through the accounts of the Israelites, as just one example. In Exodus, we see miracle after miracle. But with all that visible proof, the people still murmured and distrusted Moses and God.

When Elijah had the sacrifice-lighting contest with the priests of Baal, people believed but for a short while. Even most of the witnesses of Christ's miracles turned away unconvinced.

I don't doubt that God can and does work miracles today. What I reject is that faith healers perform real miracles at their over-hyped meetings. If they did work wonders, people's limbs, internal organs, and sense organs would be regenerated. What they really do is akin to parlor tricks.

I wrote about my foolish attempts to be healed in How I Was Razed: A Journey from Cultism to Christianity. Please check out this glorious testimony of God's gentle and providential guidance.

So, why don't we see miracles done today? I'll deal with that question next time.

Why Hasn't Christ Come Yet?

Remember how I said in my previous post that God predestinated some people to be born again? This ties in with today's topic. I believe that there are a set number of individuals who will be saved before Christ returns to judge the world. This is why he seems to be taking a long time before returning to put the world right.

Why do I think this? First of all, Jesus mentioned several times during his ministry on earth that the Father had given him followers who became his disciples. He had lost none but Judas who wasn't really genuinely saved. By extension, we can see that all who follow the Lord willingly and with all their hearts will be on his right hand at the Judgement Day. From all the studying I've done, there is no extension to his limited time offer of salvation.

John also pointed out in his epistles that some Christians stopped believing in him because they really didn't believe in the first place. In the sixth chapter of John's gospel, a large crowd followed Jesus until he spoke metaphorically about consuming his flesh and drinking his blood. Those who left were only interested in earthly food and to make Christ a military leader. Devoting themselves spiritually to him and his teachings was out of the question.

Fickle followers left because Jesus stressed following him and taking up of the cross for his disciples. This doesn't mean putting up with a disability or a chronic difficulty. Instead, we identify with him though it might mean being martyred. The title "Lord" isn't some nice complement we say to butter him up but a declaration that he owns us. He purchased souls on the cross through his atoning death, therefore all who believe in him are his possessions.

In my next post, I'll reveal the answer to the question of why Christ did miracles. After all, most of Christ's followers  turned away once they realized that the free food and healings wouldn't go on forever. Watch this space.

Which is it, Predestination or Free Will?

Now that you know how God could forgive even seemingly unforgivable sins, have you thought about how he chooses  us verses how we choose to follow Christ? This subject has caused theologians to metaphorically chase their tails for millennia.

Even my nephew Logan Huard asked me about free will verses predestination. John MacArthur's answer makes the most sense to me, even if I can't explain how it could be.

According to the Bible, both are true. How so? There are verses which state that before the world began, God determined to save certain individuals. The sign of their predestination is their willingness to follow Christ and surrender all to him. Furthermore, Jesus thanked his father, God, for all those he had given him. This implies that there are a certain number of followers who would put their trust in Christ.

On the other hand, the Bible is filled with verses exhorting people to believe in the Lord. Jesus said in John 3:16 that whosoever believed on the son should be saved. The word "whosoever" means anybody who lets Jesus be Lord of their lives and who follows him.

"But how could it be both?" I'm sure somebody is asking. The short answer is that it is what it is. Just as a triune being makes no sense to our puny minds, so does having choice and predestination at the same time makes no sense. It's like light being both made of waves and particles.

My next book will be dealing with subjects like this, thanks to excellent Bible scholars whom I've learned from.

Speaking of these expert expositors, I'll share the reason why Jesus Christ hasn't returned yet. Preachers keep predicting his return but end up being a hundred percent wrong every time.

How Could God Forgive What I Did?

Have you ever felt that some wicked deed you did in the past was so horrible that God couldn't possibly forgive you? The truth is that the only unforgivable sin is resisting God's command to repent and follow Christ during your lifetime. Whoever wrote the book of Hebrews in the Bible stated that it's appointed unto man once to die and then the judgement.

During our threescore and ten, we have enough time to surrender our lives to the Lord. Death is the cut off point where repentance is no longer possible. I know it doesn't sound fair but that's the way the Lord set things up.

But how can the Lord forgive heinous sins? It's only because Jesus voluntarily took on the punishment for whosoever believed in his authority over humanity and followed him.

Examine the lives of the saints and you'll see how bad some were. Moses was a murderer, yet he led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. David committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed in battle, yet he was forgiven. Many of the people mentioned in Hebrews chapter eleven had checkered pasts, yet they all placed their hope in the messiah.

Since God is eternal and knows everything, nothing you did can surprise him. He's just waiting for you to ask for forgiveness and turn from serving your own desires.

Though I feel ashamed at turning my back on God for nine years, I know that he forgave me. My How I Was Razed book shows how merciful the heavenly Father was and still is. Please contact me to find out more amazing facts about my awesome testimony.

What's With All These Denominations?

This question confused me too, along with arguments about the right Bible to read,  when I was a new believer in Christ. I remember how every church used to believe that they were the best or only church Christians should attend. Each claimed all the rest were wrong or, even worse, heretical. Thanks to excellent biblical apologists, I now know How and why we came to have so many sects.

The answer is quite simple. Satan hates the truth so he infiltrated the churches from the beginning to confuse people and lead them astray. Even in the first few decades of church history, people were attempting to distort or nullify the gospel.

For a thousand years, the church at Rome, now known as the Roman Catholic Church, restricted the study of the scriptures to the priests and monks. They feared that if lay people read them, they'd come up with a plethora of blasphemous ideas.

Martin Luther, translators,  and the printing press made it possible for ordinary people to read the Bible. Though cults have arisen and churches have divided over doctrinal differences, the gospel and the scriptures have survived.

I learned from excellent scholars that misunderstandings happened due to people not knowing the cultures, customs, and nuances of the ancient languages. Proper biblical scholars and translators take all these factors into account whereas unscrupulous individuals seek to build up their own followings.

An example of false teachers is portrayed in my How I Was Razed book. Contact me regarding how to purchase this marvelous memoir of God's providential guidance.

In my next post, I'll deal with pastors who abuse their congregants and teach heresy. These are wolves in shepherd costumes and must be avoided.

Why Care About Christ's Birth?

What a mad rush everybody is in today. An observer from another world would be astonished at the huge deal we make of Christmas. "All this fuss for one day?" our imaginary visitor would exclaim upon seeing all the cooking, baking, shopping, decorating, and so many other frenzied activities we insist upon doing.

Lost in the rush each year is the birth of Christ. Apart from an hour-long service at churches this evening, Christians seem to act just like the rest of the world. Our traveler would be most amazed at the way we celebrate the birth of the Son of God.

There was a time when I turned my back on the Lord for nine miserable years. Two years into my rebellion, I quit celebrating Christmas the traditional way. It seemed pointless, and I still feel that way today, to decorate and buy gifts for those who would just return the favour.

What re ignited my fascination for Christ's birth once I returned to my senses was the myriad of Old Testament prophecies fulfilled by his birth. Read the gospels of Matthew and Luke. You'll see so many references to Old Testament prophecies mentioned there. And if you study other passages, you'll find more predictions regarding the life, death, and resurrection of the Messiah.

God willing, I hope to write a new book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? My hope is to deal with many objections people make to the truth about God's criteria for entry into eternal life. Contact me regarding this and previous books which I've written.

Have a blessed Christmas.