'Death Is Not The End--It's A Doorway"

"What you believe about life and death matters because it determines your eternal destiny," says J.R. Hudberg of RBC Ministries.

"We don't like to talk about death, yet it comes for us all," he says.

"When our hearts stop beating and our brains shut down and our last breath rasps from our lungs, is that the end?

"Death is not the end," Hudberg contends. "It's a doorway."

And what we believe about Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection determines where that 'doorway' leads: Heaven or Hell said Jesus Christ Himself.

According to literary scholar, C.S. Lewis' famous argument (or "trilemma" as it's become known), Jesus was either a "Lunatic, Liar, or Lord".

Your choice between these three options will have eternal ramifications. Says Lewis, a former atheist:

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him:

"I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.

"That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the Devil of Hell."

"You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is the Son of God, or else a madman or worse.

"You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to...

"Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend; and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was and is God," Lewis opined.

So, was Jesus who He claimed to be? Or just some madman, or worse, a badman? 

Your choice in life determines which doorway will open for you at death: Heaven or Hell.

A wise man once said: "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else." -- C.S. Lewis

"Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me."  John 14:6

"I am the door. Those who come in through Me will be saved." John 10:9

👉HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN 👈

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"Supernatural Instructions"

"The words Read This First have taken an important role in the packaging of modern consumer products," says Bible editor Barry J. Beitzel, PhD.

Why? Because most of us think life is too short to read instruction manuals.

The Bible is a supernatural instruction manual; all of it "is given by the inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16), but the Gospel of John is the Read This First of the Bible.

The Gospel of John was written "to tell individuals how to find eternal life" (John 20:31), says Beitzel.

"This clearly identified purpose sets the Gospel of John apart from the other Gospels. It is not so much a life of Jesus as it is a powerful presentation of His deity.

"Every chapter presents evidence--both signs and statements--for His divine authority. According to John, believing that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, is the beginning of eternal life (John 3:14-17).

"What could be more important? John's statement about his Gospel is as good as a Read This First sticker for one's eternal life."

A wise man once said: "The Gospel of John is a persuasive argument for the deity of Jesus. It concentrates on presenting Jesus as the Word, that is, God (John 1:1) who became a man (John 1:14). Thus John meticulously records the statements and describes the miracles of Jesus that can only be attributed to God Himself." -- Barry J. Beitzel, PhD

"Jesus said, 'I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God...Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. So don't be surprised at My statement that you must be born again.'"                   -- John 3:3, 5-7

How To Go To Heaven

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"What If Christ Had Not Come: Tragic Loss Or No Big Deal?"

Ever wonder what life would be like if Christ had not come?

No Christ = No Christianity

No big deal some might say.

Aside from the fact that there would be no salvation, no heaven, no life after death, how has the worldwide spread of Christianity affected secular history?

"Although Greece gave western civilization much art, philosophy and literature, and Rome provided law and government," contends Barry J. Beitzel, Ph.D., contributing editor of The Nelson Study Bible, it was the Christian worldview that provided:

• the basis for modern science
• efforts to alleviate poverty
• universal education
• the ideals of equality and liberty

"The God of order and beauty provided for the view that nature was predictable and orderly. The Christian belief that all humanity is a creation of God gave a foundation to the self-evident truth of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," Beitzel insists.

"Since people are made in the image of God they are valuable apart from their station in life, amount of wealth, or utility to society. People are helped, educated and protected simply because they are made in God's image. Loss of these Christian ideals would undoubtedly be a tragic loss to the well-being of humanity," Beitzel concludes.

And he's right. Strip the world of Christianity and the world will strip humanity of its worth.

"At that time you were without Christ. Having no hope, and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12).

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).

A wise man once said: "Abundant life includes salvation, eternal life, God's life. It speaks not only of endlessness, but of quality of life. With Christ, life on earth can reach much higher quality, and then in heaven it will be complete and perfect." - Barry J. Beitzel, Ph.D.

HOW TO GO TO HEAVEN!

News:

• The Washington Times: 63% of American adults want to know more about Jesus; 58% believe the Bible has "transformed" their life.
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• Cape Cod Times: Enraged woman 'rams into car' sporting Trump bumper sticker; Marine veteran wearing Trump shirt violently attacked near Trump star in Hollywood. 

 

                        

"Will There Be Tears In Heaven?"

"Although Christians have been justified by faith, Christ will still judge them for the 'deeds done in the body...whether good or bad' (2 Corinthians 5:10). How well or poorly we do here might indeed determine our status in heaven for all eternity," warns Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, Th.M, author and Bible scholar.

In his classic book, Your Eternal Reward, Dr. Lutzer asks the questions inquiring minds want to know:

• Does our behavior as Christians matter once we are assured of our salvation?
• Will eternity be the same for those believers who follow Christ faithfully and those who live a carnal life style?

According to Lutzer, "everything we do in this life matters. We all struggle with the concept of negative consequences at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Our sins have been washed away and God cannot judge us for our carnality, selfishness, and wasted lives,we think. Because we are not under condemnation, we feel secure that any loss we suffer cannot be too serious."

Not so fast. Lutzer points out that God sometimes judges His people while they are still alive even though they are forgiven and justified. Ananias and Sapphira were judged by death for their dishonesty (Acts 5:1-11). Carnal believers in Corinth died because of their disrespect for the Lord's Table (1 Corinthians 11:30).

"I can't lose my salvation," says Lutzer, "but there is something I can lose--the highest privileges available for all eternity. Let's not live in such a way that we'll be given a rebuke from Christ and have "shame at His Coming" (1 John 2:28)."

In other words, how we live our lives has eternal consequences. Charles Stanley (pastor, radio preacher and author of over 45 books) agrees:

"Will eternity be the same for everybody? Not a chance. Our God is a God of justice as well as grace. His offer of grace is continually extended to even the most vile sinner. But His justice moves Him to keep a careful record of those who remain faithful and those who do not. His grace moved Him to sacrifice His only Son to provide a way for our salvation. But His justice causes Him to take special note of those believers who are willing to sacrifice for His Son."

A wise man once said: "Entrance into heaven is gained by accepting Christ's sacrifice for justification, but a person's rewards in heaven will be determined by what they did for Christ here on earth. There are consequences to a careless Christian life." -- Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, author of The Complete Word Study New Testament (With Parallel Greek)

Jesus said, "...I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds." (Revelation 2:23)

"Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done." (Revelation 22:12)

"...there are some who have not soiled their garments with evil deeds. They will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before My Father and His angels that they are Mine. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches." (Revelation 3:4-6)

How To Go To Heaven...click here

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• DEBKAfile: Moscow now ready to give Syria S-300 air defense missiles 'to curb further aggression'. 

 

"Aging Gracefully"

"Imagine, if you will, being able to know first hand what it feels like to be 20, 30 or even 40 years older than you are right now. Well, thanks to new technology--you can.

Genworth Financial, Inc. has developed an "age suit" that simulates old age.

The Genworth R70i Aging Experience uses state-of-the-art technology that allows people to experience the physical effects of aging, such as:

• vision and hearing impairments
• muscle loss
• mobility limitations
• speech and mental confusion

Talk about walking a mile in some one's shoes! Donning the R70i Age Suit = instant empathy.

The Genworth R70i Aging Experience--watch the Age Suit in action!

Geoffrey Fowler of The Wall Street Journal wore the suit and said, "The unforgettable, and at times distressing experience shed light not just on aging, but also on how virtual reality equipment can teach empathy and shape our perceptions on the world around us."

Amazing, isn't it? But even more amazing, a little over 2,000 years ago, God put on a "man suit". "Jesus, who is wholly God, also became wholly human," says Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship.

"It is extremely important to note that Jesus did not cease to be God when He came to earth," says Laurie. "He simply laid aside His divine privileges and walked the earth as a man.

"In doing so, He was personally able to experience the gamut of human emotions, ranging from happiness to deep sorrow. He felt what it was like to be tired, cold, and hungry.

"Moreover, He came to this earth with a clear objective in mind: to bridge the gap between a holy, perfect God, and unholy, imperfect man.

"The truth is, we all suffer from a terminal condition called sin, or falling short of God's perfection. Sin is not just an act but the actual nature of our being. In other words," contends Laurie, "we are not sinners because we sin. Rather, we sin because we are sinners!

"When the Israelites of the Old Testament sinned, they would have the high priest go into the Temple and offer an animal sacrifice to God to atone for their sins. In a symbolic sense, this was a way of putting one's sins on the animal, which stood in the place of the guilty person. The Bible teaches without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).

"These sacrificial rituals were only a foreshadow, or symbol of what Jesus would do when He came to this earth. He took the sin of the world upon Himself, once and for all time when He suffered and died on the cross."

In other words, Jesus put on our sin-defiled "man suit" and died in our place.

A wise man once said: "To have your sins forgiven, you must admit you are a sinner, turn from your sins, believe that Jesus Christ died in your place and rose again from the dead" --Greg Laurie, pastor.

"The free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

Find out "How To Go Heaven"

News:

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