Jesus

[Selfnaught]

I have been on this road since 2003 and would like to put an end.

In 2020 I came to know of the existence of God. Not believe, but know without a shadow of a doubt that God exists and it is actually impossible for him not to exist, for as long as truth exist, God exists.

I believe in Jesus and want desperately to erase all doubt that he does but I’m missing something to erase this doubt. Over 20 years I have heard all of the sources and went over all evidence, and there’s still doubt.

With God, there’s no evidence or proof, I’ve come to find. It’s simply a realization of the existence of God.

With Jesus, maybe it just seems too good to be true for me, idk. I mean yeah the evidence is overwhelming, but when we’re talking of the claims we’re talking about it needs to be beyond a shadow of a doubt. Jesus died for my sins, and if I accept him and love my neighbor I am one with him.

I feel like though, once accepting this truly there should be a drastic change in oneself. While I admit I’m more confident, less fearful, and overall in a better state of mind, I have not changed my lifestyle too much for the better, though I try to do better.

I guess for me it seems like my ego is as equally as powerful as me praying to Jesus, blasphemy not intended because I know my ego is not. I just don’t understand how if I pray in Jesus name to not do a sin and eventually commit the sin anyway.

I want to know that Jesus is, and I want to know that he died for my sins and all I need to do is believe. But I want more than to just believe this. I want to know this with all my heart in the same way I now know God exist with all my heart

 

[Who Me]

but when we’re talking of the claims we’re talking about it needs to be beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Why does the evidence have to beyond a shadow of a doubt.
This is not a standard you would use in life.
Do you know beyond a shadow of doubt that you will survive any journey you make tomorrow?

But let's turn this around.

Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus isn't the Son of God, that he didn't died, be buried and rise from the dead. What evidence do you have that proves this?

May I suggest that you check out the coldcasechristianity Web site and books.
Also Lee Strobels 'Case for' series of books.

You have an experienced detective and journalist examining the evidence.
In both cases they started as skeptics and because of the evidence became Christian.

 

[Selfnaught]

Why does the evidence have to beyond a shadow of a doubt.
This is not a standard you would use in life.
Do you know beyond a shadow of doubt that you will survive any journey you make tomorrow?

I do not, but we are talking of the absolute most important thing here. More important than me surviving tomorrow.

But let's turn this around.

Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus isn't the Son of God, that he didn't died, be buried and rise from the dead. What evidence do you have that proves this?

Don’t need to prove it because I never said he wasn't. Plus yeah I agree the other side does not have evidence against really. Burden of proof is on the claimant though. I’m simply trying to discover the truth and am not claiming anything.

May I suggest that you check out the coldcasechristianity Web site and books.
Also Lee Strobels 'Case for' series of books.

You have an experienced detective and journalist examining the evidence.
In both cases they started as skeptics and because of the evidence became Christian.

I’ve read Lee Strobel, it’s more of the same ole.

 

[Fish153]

Selfnaught----- The apostles and many other "witnesses" must have been DEAD SURE that Jesus rose from the dead. Think about it. All 12 of them were martyred because they claimed Jesus rose from the dead. What did they have to gain?? Stephen saw Jesus in Heaven while he was being stoned to death. Paul saw Jesus in Heaven while on the road to Damascus. Would they have reason to lie?? Paul was also martyred for claiming that Jesus rose from the dead and was seated in Heaven. Paul had no reason to make anything up. He MUST have really seen Jesus in Heaven and heard his voice. If you need Proof Jesus is real and is alive think about these first believers. They were willing to DIE for what they stated was true. Is that enough proof for you??
Do you think these people who claim to have seen Bigfoot, or have been abducted by UFO's would be willing to DIE for what they are professing? It's very doubtful. Maybe--maybe if they REALLY saw Bigfoot, or were REALLY abducted they might be willing to DIE for it. The fact that all (12) apostles DIED for believing in a risen Jesus is enough proof for me. It truly is.

 

[onlysaved]

I have been on this road since 2003 and would like to put an end.

In 2020 I came to know of the existence of God. Not believe, but know without a shadow of a doubt that God exists and it is actually impossible for him not to exist, for as long as truth exist, God exists.

I believe in Jesus and want desperately to erase all doubt that he does but I’m missing something to erase this doubt. Over 20 years I have heard all of the sources and went over all evidence, and there’s still doubt.

With God, there’s no evidence or proof, I’ve come to find. It’s simply a realization of the existence of God.

With Jesus, maybe it just seems too good to be true for me, idk. I mean yeah the evidence is overwhelming, but when we’re talking of the claims we’re talking about it needs to be beyond a shadow of a doubt. Jesus died for my sins, and if I accept him and love my neighbor I am one with him.

I feel like though, once accepting this truly there should be a drastic change in oneself. While I admit I’m more confident, less fearful, and overall in a better state of mind, I have not changed my lifestyle too much for the better, though I try to do better.

I guess for me it seems like my ego is as equally as powerful as me praying to Jesus, blasphemy not intended because I know my ego is not. I just don’t understand how if I pray in Jesus name to not do a sin and eventually commit the sin anyway.

I want to know that Jesus is, and I want to know that he died for my sins and all I need to do is believe. But I want more than to just believe this. I want to know this with all my heart in the same way I now know God exist with all my heart

Simple. Jesus is God.

John 8 48-59. Jesus explains to Pharasies that He is God.
"Before Abraham was, I Am"

This is an old testament quote where God referred to himself as I Am."
Exodus chapter 3.

Ego is the only force on earth capable of keeping us from Jesus.
We value our own will more than we value Jesus.

 

[miamited]

Hey Selfnaught

With God, there’s no evidence or proof, I’ve come to find. It’s simply a realization of the existence of God.

Absolutely there is proof that God exists. All you have to do is use the test that God told Israel to use.

Prophecy.

In the book of Daniel we find a prophecy that absolutely assures anyone with a reasonable mind that God exists and it's a solid proof that cannot be denied. Chapter 9 beginning in vs.20. Daniel recounts for us something that he claims that an angel of God told him. Now, you may or may not believe that part, but you cannot deny that the particulars of the prophecy itself came from anyone but God. Daniel lived in the mid 500's BC. He told of a prophecy that was to occur during a period of 69 weeks of years. Now, that's not particularly spectacular until you begin to work out the timeline from the time it was given until its fulfillment in Jesus.

Daniel received this prophecy when he was alive living in Babylon. We know that was in the late 500 BC period. So, somewhere around 520 or so, Daniel writes this prophecy to us. It outlines a period of time until the Messiah would be here. That period of time is 484 years. That's not such a great deal until you realize that the angel told Daniel that the clock wouldn't start ticking until a decree was issued to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. That decree didn't come until the mid 400's BC. So, get the picture. Daniel is long dead before that decree is issued. How did Daniel even know that a decree was going to be issued. I mean, it's no big deal to say that something is going to happen and it happens in your life time. But this event didn't come about until Daniel had been dead for 50 years.

Now, here's the real kicker. Daniel's been dead for 50 years and this event occurs that he wouldn't have had any idea would even happen, although, maybe he could have guessed that at some time in the future the Israelites would be given some proper papers to go back and rebuild Jerusalem... but it gets much more specific than that. The prophecy is that 484 years after the decree that Daniel really had no idea when or if it would ever be issued, Messiah was going to be here. He was going to be cut off.

Guess what? 484 years after that decree comes to the very year that Jesus was cut off. Some have even figured it out that it ends on the very week that Jesus was cut off. Now, there's no way that any man could prophecy something that specific that was going to happen in 500 years. That would be like Christopher Columbus making a prophecy that when the American Constitution was ratified, -- that he would not have any idea when that would be --, 294 years after we would have a president named Donald Trump.

That's how God told the Israelites to understand that He does exist and knows the end from the beginning. I mean, you can take it as you like, but God has given ample real provable proof that He does exist.

 

[miamited]

Hi again Selfnaught

Now, if you understand this prophecy that Daniel wrote for you, then you know that it specifically explains about a 'Messiah', an 'Annointed One'. It ends exactly when Jesus was here claiming to be that Messiah. So if you decide to believe that God does exist, then you have to believe that Jesus is His Son. He said so. "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased." God has told you before it happened that His Messiah would be here 484 years after the decree was issued to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. Friend, God is wiser than you or I could ever hope to imagine to be and He has given you solid proof that He exists and that Jesus, who died proclaiming that he was God's Son, was in fact God's Messiah that Daniel wrote to you about.

 

[PopaSodinski]

Finding a good preacher to listen to might help. I personally recommend looking up Dr. Charles Stanley's sermons.

 

[onlysaved]

Spiritual things are discerned spiritually, they cannot be understood through science or logic.

You either choose to believe or not.

The Bible is chuck full of examples of God physically proving His existence but such things do not typically make people believe.
You have to choose to believe.. every day, every hour every minute.
"Trust in the Lord, lean NOT on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.

 

[Tenchi]

I have been on this road since 2003 and would like to put an end.

In 2020 I came to know of the existence of God. Not believe, but know without a shadow of a doubt that God exists and it is actually impossible for him not to exist, for as long as truth exist, God exists.

As a Christian, I'd say you've got this backward: So long as God exists, Truth exists. Regardless, you've drawn a proper connection, I think, between Truth and its Source (God). If you see this much, and see it with such great certainty, why do you still remain mostly agnostic (or, at least, doubtful) about the existence of your Maker?

I believe in Jesus and want desperately to erase all doubt that he does but I’m missing something to erase this doubt. Over 20 years I have heard all of the sources and went over all evidence, and there’s still doubt.

Jesus came to earth, lived and died, and rose again not merely to demonstrate that God exists but to make it possible for us to have daily, intimate, life-changing communion with Him, enjoying a smaller experience of the perfect communion the Godhead - Father, Son and Spirit - has always enjoyed.

Revelation 3:20
20 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

1 John 1:3
3 ... our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Philippians 3:8-11
8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

In my experience, most Christians don't know Jesus, though they know a great deal about him. Some fear that moving into a personal, concrete and transformative experience of God will lead them into the grotesque craziness of the hyper-charismatics (e.g. Kenneth Copeland, Todd White, Paula White, Joni Lamb, Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar, et al). And so, they move in the other direction toward an institutionalized, cerebral, academic "experience" of God, mediated entirely by the clergy, rituals and teaching of the institutional Church. God is not found in either extreme. You can't find God in the wild, fleshly sensuality of hyper-charismaticism, nor in the cold, sterile forms and edicts of institutionalized religion.

But you do need to find God, not just in propositions about Him, but in a direct, personal, concrete and transformative experience of Him. If you don't encounter God in this way, it is very possible that you aren't actually one of His own - that, or sin has so plugged up the line between you and Him that fellowship between you is impossible. In either case, doubt, distance, frustration and hypocrisy are always the result.

With God, there’s no evidence or proof, I’ve come to find. It’s simply a realization of the existence of God.

This is rather over-stating the case, I think. In fact, there is much evidence for God presented to us in philosophy, natural theology, the realm of morality, and in the historical record.

God, though, has approached us such that we retain the liberty to choose Him, to choose to trust in Him and walk with Him. If God were to present Himself to us in all of His heavenly power and glory, we'd have no choice but to drop onto our faces in mad terror before Him, compelled by the awesome, mind-blowing force of His being to yield to Him. But God doesn't want this sort of compulsory fidelity to Himself. He wants a love relationship with us, which necessarily entails our freedom to choose Him, or not. And so, He gives us room to maneuver, to choose to walk with Him in fellowship, or to deny Him.

For those who accept the testimony of Creation, conscience, and the Incarnation and choose to trust in Him, God "draws near" (James 4:8), by His Spirit acting upon His child in the various ways the Bible describes (conviction, illumination, strengthening, comfort, transformation, etc.).

With Jesus, maybe it just seems too good to be true for me, idk. I mean yeah the evidence is overwhelming, but when we’re talking of the claims we’re talking about it needs to be beyond a shadow of a doubt. Jesus died for my sins, and if I accept him and love my neighbor I am one with him.

It's actually not true that "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." See:

www.reasonablefaith.org

Also, it isn't by anything that you do that you're saved. God saves you through Jesus, the one and only Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12); you can do nothing to contribute to your own salvation except receive it by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9; Romans 5:6-10). It's an unearned gift of God to you.

I feel like though, once accepting this truly there should be a drastic change in oneself. While I admit I’m more confident, less fearful, and overall in a better state of mind, I have not changed my lifestyle too much for the better, though I try to do better.

Yes, the change God will work in you may be very drastic, very radical. But the wonderful thing is that He does it, not you. As with His salvation of you, you just receive His transforming work in you, living it out as He enables you to do.

Philippians 1:6
6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2:12-13
12 ...work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

1 Corinthians 1:27-31
27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
29 so that no man may boast before God.
30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
31 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD."

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

What God wants from you He first supplies to you in the Person of indwelling Holy Spirit. In the Spirit, God has given to you all you need to walk with Him and be who He created you to be. It's not all on you to be such a person.

I guess for me it seems like my ego is as equally as powerful as me praying to Jesus, blasphemy not intended because I know my ego is not. I just don’t understand how if I pray in Jesus name to not do a sin and eventually commit the sin anyway.

Because you're not living in daily, constant submission to God. Until you do, the life of the Holy Spirit, his power, is unavailable to you. God, you see, does not fill rebels with Himself and all the good things that He is. And it is only a rebel you can be if you're not submitted to God's will and way throughout each day. He's God, right? He's the Boss, the King, the Lord of All. If you won't recognize this and yield yourself to Him, to His will, you remain His opponent and cut off from all the joy and power of fellowship with Himself.

James 4:6-10
6 ...Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."
7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

1 Peter 5:6
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

Romans 12:1
1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Romans 8:14
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

I want to know that Jesus is, and I want to know that he died for my sins and all I need to do is believe. But I want more than to just believe this. I want to know this with all my heart in the same way I now know God exist with all my heart

See above.

 

[jonathanbrickman0000]

I have been on this road since 2003 and would like to put an end.

In 2020 I came to know of the existence of God. Not believe, but know without a shadow of a doubt that God exists and it is actually impossible for him not to exist, for as long as truth exist, God exists.

I believe in Jesus and want desperately to erase all doubt that he does but I’m missing something to erase this doubt. Over 20 years I have heard all of the sources and went over all evidence, and there’s still doubt.

I'll suggest, that we should not want desperately, anything God has not yet given to us.

I would be most happy to live in this world, entirely without doubts of Christ the Lord. If I did, I would walk on water, I would move mountains by the asking. But this is not His will for either of us, I will suggest. He has said that we must deny ourselves, take up our crosses (our burdens the Father has given), and follow Him. It therefore does not matter what we want desperately. It matters, what He wants, and is willing to give, in the now, the future, and forever.

 

[WIP]

I have been on this road since 2003 and would like to put an end.

In 2020 I came to know of the existence of God. Not believe, but know without a shadow of a doubt that God exists and it is actually impossible for him not to exist, for as long as truth exist, God exists.

I believe in Jesus and want desperately to erase all doubt that he does but I’m missing something to erase this doubt. Over 20 years I have heard all of the sources and went over all evidence, and there’s still doubt.

With God, there’s no evidence or proof, I’ve come to find. It’s simply a realization of the existence of God.

With Jesus, maybe it just seems too good to be true for me, idk. I mean yeah the evidence is overwhelming, but when we’re talking of the claims we’re talking about it needs to be beyond a shadow of a doubt. Jesus died for my sins, and if I accept him and love my neighbor I am one with him.

I feel like though, once accepting this truly there should be a drastic change in oneself. While I admit I’m more confident, less fearful, and overall in a better state of mind, I have not changed my lifestyle too much for the better, though I try to do better.

I guess for me it seems like my ego is as equally as powerful as me praying to Jesus, blasphemy not intended because I know my ego is not. I just don’t understand how if I pray in Jesus name to not do a sin and eventually commit the sin anyway.

I want to know that Jesus is, and I want to know that he died for my sins and all I need to do is believe. But I want more than to just believe this. I want to know this with all my heart in the same way I now know God exist with all my heart

Sounds to me like what you're asking for is faith. Even Jesus' disciples, who spent three years with Him in person, witnessing things like healing the sick, repairing deformities, curing the deaf and mute, giving sight to the blind, and raising the dead back to life, came to a point where they asked Him to increase their faith.

Pray for increased faith, not just one time but keep praying, be persistent in prayer but remember that God works in His time, not yours.

Jesus said, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."
Matthew 7:7-8 NKJV

 

[jonathanbrickman0000]

Very good.

 

[Fish153]

Just to add to what miamited has stated about prophecy. Read Isaiah 11. It clearly teaches that Jesus will be sent to the earth, and that God will re-gather his people from where they have been scattered:

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, AND FROM THE ISLANDS OF THE SEA".

"And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." (Is. 11: 11,12)

Often I remind myself if I happen to think this: "Is there a God?" All I have to do is walk over to a globe of the earth and spin it to see ISRAEL right there in the middle east. God has definitely fulfilled his promise. We are so blessed to be alive right now! We are WITNESSES to the fulfillment of prophecy---in 1948 Israel became a nation once again. We are alive to SEE this!! The return of Israel as a nation is the first step in the RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST to the earth. NONE of God's promises ever fail! Is there a God? Is Jesus at his right hand? YES---ABSOLUTELY!!

 

[jonathanbrickman0000]

Um, well, a few catches. The Israelis credit no God for bringing them there; they rejected control of the Temple Mount when they conquered it; and there are far more Jews not brought back, then back (see www.jpr.org.uk for stats). There is a nation called Israel, but only about 1/3 of Jews of the world are part of it.

I'll have to suggest that the prophecies of the return to the land were already fulfilled, in known history. And after that, we have the following. And this has occurred. No one in righteousness, seeks the ark of the covenant of the Lord: not that covenant, not either of those nations, not that ark. We who have received, do not seek that which God has condemned and divorced. We seek the new, Christ the Lord and His Kingdom of Heaven, Christ the Lord who refuses to rule anything of this doomed world.

8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. 9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. 10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. 12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. 13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. 14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.
Jeremiah 3:8-16

 

[Tenchi]

Remember Selfnaught that if you plead with God in prayer for more faith from a life filled with sin, God won't hear you.

Psalm 66:18
18 If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;

Psalm 5:4-5
4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You.

Isaiah 59:2
2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

1 Peter 3:12
12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

We can't approach God in just any old way we like. Who He is has an enormous bearing on how we approach Him. If we don't respect who God is in how we attempt to interact with Him, we will encounter silence, and a feeling of distance from God, and even His opposition (see my last post). And so, people who approach God with lives filled with self-will and sin, holding in their minds a warped, incredibly diminished, sin-accepting version of their Creator, and ask that actually non-existent cartoon of God for faith, or strength, or patience, or guidance, or whatever, find themselves disappointed. From the rebellious and sinful, God will hear only one prayer and until He hears it, He will respond to no other from them. That prayer is a prayer of repentance from sin, confession of it, and conscious, explicit submission to His will and way.

 

[ajaxquest]

Remember Selfnaught that if you plead with God in prayer for more faith from a life filled with sin, God won't hear you.

Psalm 66:18
18 If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear;

Psalm 5:4-5
4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You.

Isaiah 59:2
2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

1 Peter 3:12
12 For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

We can't approach God in just any old way we like. Who He is has an enormous bearing on how we approach Him. If we don't respect who God is in how we attempt to interact with Him, we will encounter silence, and a feeling of distance from God, and even His opposition (see my last post). And so, people who approach God with lives filled with self-will and sin, holding in their minds a warped, incredibly diminished, sin-accepting version of their Creator, and ask that actually non-existent cartoon of God for faith, or strength, or patience, or guidance, or whatever, find themselves disappointed. From the rebellious and sinful, God will hear only one prayer and until He hears it, He will respond to no other from them. That prayer is a prayer of repentance from sin, confession of it, and conscious, explicit submission to His will and way.

what about act 10 Cornelius who prayed (not yet a christian )and God heard his prayer

 

[jonathanbrickman0000]

what about act 10 Cornelius who prayed (not yet a christian )and God heard his prayer

Exactly. God is God as He is described in the form of the Son Jesus. He will hear all who seek Him.

 

[Tenchi]

what about act 10 Cornelius who prayed (not yet a christian )and God heard his prayer

Have you read what is said of Cornelius in the Acts 10 account of him? He actually bears out what I've pointed out from Scripture.

You might also read more carefully what I wrote. I never said God doesn't hear the prayer of a non-Christian. No one would be saved if this were the case, obviously. But, whether saved or not, God has put very clear stipulations on how we may approach Him in prayer.

 

[Fish153]

Um, well, a few catches. The Israelis credit no God for bringing them there; they rejected control of the Temple Mount when they conquered it; and there are far more Jews not brought back, then back (see www.jpr.org.uk for stats). There is a nation called Israel, but only about 1/3 of Jews of the world are part of it.

I'll have to suggest that the prophecies of the return to the land were already fulfilled, in known history. And after that, we have the following. And this has occurred. No one in righteousness, seeks the ark of the covenant of the Lord: not that covenant, not either of those nations, not that ark. We who have received, do not seek that which God has condemned and divorced. We seek the new, Christ the Lord and His Kingdom of Heaven, Christ the Lord who refuses to rule anything of this doomed world.

8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. 9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. 10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the Lord. 11 And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. 12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. 13 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. 14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Lord: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.
Jeremiah 3:8-16

I totally disagree with you. I believe the Jews return to their land is miraculous. Many commentators in the past (written before the 1948 return) have also stated that the Jews would first return in "unbelief". So, there are many Jews who have returned that would not credit God for their return. However, many Jews DO sternly claim that it is God who has restored them to their land. Even Netanyahu refers to the promises of God and prophecy in much of what he says. You appear to be of that minority who don't believe that Israel has really been restored to their land---that impostors have taken over. This couldn't be further from the truth.

The return of Israel to the land coincides with MANY prophetic events that have taken place shortly thereafter that show that God is much at work with this people. He has not forgotten about them and will shortly begin dealing with them again (The Tribulation). God has not forgotten nor will he ever stop working with his earthly people---the Jews. Any denial thereof is a denial of the God of the Old Testament (who is also the God of the New) and His promises that will NEVER FAIL.