Sharing the Gospel about the Lord Jesus Christ

My approach using the Bible

Why study about the Lord Jesus Christ?

• “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”

– Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), “Pensees”

– (http://www.goodreads.com /quotes/ 10567 -there-is-a-god-shaped-vacuum-in-the-heart-of)

French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and

Catholic philosopher

Why do I use the Bible as my reference?

• It has been in existence since man’s early days

• It refers to and talks about Jesus

• It is historically accurate

• It is scientifically correct, valid, and proven

• It is very human (declares human weaknesses and strengths)

• Its prophecies defy statistics; it declares and breathes God in its pages

Some people are not happy with the Bible

• Errors pointed out – http://1001errors.com/pages/Matthew.html

– http://www.freethoughtdebater.org/2011/12/30/bible-errors-and-contradictions/

– http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Scientific_errors_in_the_Bible

• Others defend it /so-called errors explained – http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/bible.htm

– http://creation.com/claimed-bible-errors

These words I cannot contest

• Matthew 24:35- “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away”

• Timothy 3: 16-17 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”

• Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”

The Bible has been in existence since man’s early days

• Pre-Flood: Book of Genesis (Adam→Noah)

• Post-Flood: – Before Abraham (Noah and sons)

– Records about the patriarchs, Israel (Moses and later the chroniclers)

– Mentions about the kingdoms around Israel

• Even tells about today and the future – Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Exequiel, Daniel

– Gospels, Book of Acts and Revelation

What is the oldest book ever written?

• http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_oldest_book_ever_written

• Answer: The Bible is the oldest book ever written, parts of it being composed some 3,500 years ago. The first part of this book was written a few centuries before the earliest hymns of the Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, were formulated and about a thousand years before Buddha, Mahāvīra, and Confucius walked the earth. This book was completed in 98 AD, more than 500 years before Muḥammad founded Islam.

The Bible Dead Sea scrolls Found between 1946 and 1956 @408 BC (2,400 yrs ago)

Codex Sinaiticus Oldest existing Bible Written 1,600 yrs ago)

The Bible refers to and talks about Jesus

• Prophecies about Jesus = >400 (http://www.raptureready.com/faq/faq195.html)

• Jesus declared He is God: (http://www.letusreason.org/trin23.htm)

– John 6:35-59; John 8:12-59; 11:25; 12:44-50; 14:1-14; 15:1-27 (very clear declarations)

– Matthew 19:28-30 (declarations on the future)

– Luke 8:22-56 (his miracles)

Evidence Jesus is God

• Fulfilled scriptures (>400 prophecies)

• His declarations (He is God)

• His miracles including raising dead people back to life (Gospels)

• His prophecies (Gospels and current history)

• His crucifixion and resurrection (Gospels)

• The Holy Spirit (Gospels and Book of Acts)

Empty garden tomb of Jesus, Jerusalem (32 AD)

Temple of Buddha’s tooth, Sri Lanka (400 BC)

Tomb of Mohammed, Medina (600 AD)

Mt. Nebo where Moses was buried (1400 BC)

Tomb of Confucius, Shandong province,

China (479 BC)

Tomb of world religion founders

Why are there different religions?

Man is sinful (Romans 3:23)

He is separated from God (Isaiah 59:2)

Man is continually trying to reach God = “I want to go to heaven” Proverbs 14:12 (ways seem right – leads to death)

• Religion • Good works • Philosophy • Morality

Whether you like it or not – the Bible shows the way

The historical and scientific accuracy of the Bible

• The Flood and Post-Flood status

– Archeology: “Pre-historic” dinosaurs and plant life

– Science: the earth is round; man the pinnacle of creation

• Civilizations

– Pre-flood and post-flood civilizations

– History of Israel – from Abraham to Judges

– Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

– Book of Acts and after (prophecies)

The Exodus (1447 BC)

Exodus: the geologic site

SINAI

ARABIA

Daniel 2 (600 BC)

Verse Empire Years (started)

v32: Head of gold Babylonian 70 years (600 BC+)

v32: Chest and arms of silver Medo-Persian 215 years (530 BC+)

v32: Belly and thighs of bronze Greek 250 years (300 BC+)

v33: Legs of iron Roman 1500 years (60 BC+)

v33: Feet of iron mixed with clay

Today – New Roman

Today (1500 AD+)

v34: The Rock Millenium Future (Jesus second coming)

The most important point for me

• The Bible is very human (declares human weaknesses and strengths)

– The life and stories of the Kings even surpasses modern day telenovelas

• Its prophecies defy statistics; it declares and breathes God in its pages

– Prophecies on what would happen to the kingdoms which made war on Israel

– Prophecies about Jesus’ birth and suffering

Daniel 9:24-27

Exequiel 37: 1-14 (590 BC)

1948 – Arab Israeli War (increase in land area by 50%)

May 11, 1949 – recognized by UN

1956 – Suez Canal crisis (got the Gaza strip and Sinai peninsula)

1967 – Six Day war (Sinai, Gaza strip, eastern Jerusalem, west bank, Shebaa farms, Golan heights)

THE ABOVE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS WHY I WANT TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH YOU

What is the Gospel?

• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ (disambiguation)

– A gospel is an account of the life and teachings of Jesus

– The Gospel or "good news", the message of Jesus especially his offer of the New Covenant

• Why:

– Jesus?

– “good news”?

– “New Covenant”?

What is the bad news?

• You are dead, physically and spiritually

• You are not qualified to go to heaven when you die (i.e. the spirit leaves the physical)

• Your final destination is hell (Matthew 25:31-46)

• There are no second chances once you die (Luke 16:26)

• You miss a glorious future when you die without salvation – Genesis 3: 17-19, Romans 3:23, Romans 5: 12-21

– Hebrews 9:27

– Luke 16: 9-26

• You have no excuse (Romans 1:18-23)

What is hell?

• It is a place of torment

• No one wants to be there

• Everyone dreads and fears it, including the angels (Matthew 5:7, 8:28-29; Luke 4:33)

• Satan does not want to be there – BUT he will be thrown there someday (Revelation 20:10)

• God created it for the fallen angels, not man (Matthew 25:41)

What is the good news?

• “Jesus” and “salvation”

• There is only one way to heaven → Jesus

• Basis: – Jesus’ own words (John 1: 1-3; John 1: 10-13; John

3: 16-18)

– Warning (Matthew 10: 32-42; Mark 8:38)

– Salvation (Luke 23: 39-43)

– What the apostles say in their letters and records (From Book of Acts to Jude)

How can you go to heaven?

• Admit you are a sinner and confess your sin to God

• Believe in the Lord Jesus and declare He is God • Accept His offer of the new covenant by

accepting Him into your heart and life • Make Him the Lord and Savior of your life • Let the Holy Spirit control your life until you die • Basis:

– Luke 23:43 – The whole Bible

What will you do next? Go, grow, glow

• Know Jesus and God more – Read the Bible, join a Bible study group preferable

“Christians” or evangelicals (ask for references or advice)

• Practice what the Bible says regarding what a Christian life would be – Read the Bible and a “discipleship” or D-group

– Enjoy your life (appreciating what God will do)

• Share this gift with others who have not known Jesus yet

Once you are saved what will happen to you?

• You become a true Christian

• When you die you go direct to heaven and be with the Lord (meet your loved ones who have gone first)

• You will come back and be part of the First Resurrection during the second coming

• You will live as a leader and judge during the Millenium

• You will judge angels after the final rebellion by Satan (after the millenium) and live forever in the new heaven and new earth (1Cor 6:3)

If you don’t accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord what will happen to you?

• Once you die you go to the ”place of torment” (=Hades, the first judgment)

• You will wallow in misery and pain

• After the final judgment you will receive an incorruptible body that will be punished forever and ever – it is a physical, emotional, and spiritual torment forever.

• It will happen in the “lake of fire and brimstone” where the occupants are: Satan, fallen angels, Hitler, and all the proud and “kontrabidas” in life who did not accept Jesus as Lord and Savior

What is wrong with these pictures?

PURGATORY

John 14: 26 1 John 2: 1

John 15: 26

Luke 16: 26

Remove the conflict issues

Basis for the doctrine on purgatory

• Decrees of the Second Council of Nicea, of the Council of Florence and the Council of Trent

• 2nd Book of Maccabees

• Zechariah 13:9

• Matthew 12:32 (interpellation by Pope Gregory and interpretation from Council of Lyons)

• Reaffirmed by Pope John Paul 2 – Reference: Letter of Fr. William Saunders, president of Notre Dame

Institute and pastor of Queen of Apostles Parish, both in Alexandria; Nov 16, 1995 in the “Arlington Catholic Herald” http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/BASISPUR.htm

HOW CAN I ACCEPT THE LORD JESUS?

Pray this Prayer

• Lord Jesus, I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross and saving me from the fires of hell and painful torment forever and giving me eternal life. I am sorry for all my sins. I want you to be the Lord and Savior of my life. I CONFESS MY SINS AND ACCEPT YOU AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR. Do with me according to what your plan for my life. Amen.

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU JUST MADE THE GREATEST DECISION IN YOUR LIFE! IF YOU ARE SINCERE; IF NOT . . .

There is no second chance once you die