The "180" Movie

If you haven't already seen this movie, watch it, it's a real eye opener!

What Type Of Religion Is Christianity? The True One.

A new video has been ripping up a storm on social networks everywhere: Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word

Before I pen my own thoughts on this hugely popular viral video, I will point out that I'm certainly not the first to do so. A number of people have already expressed themselves clearly on the subject. You can read their thoughts by clicking here and here. I wish to add just a little to what has already been said. Firstly, as Christians we live our lives in the hope of winning as many people to Jesus as we can. This means we are to be discerning in how we live, it means we are to make sacrifices - we give up certain freedoms in life to gain the heart and mind of another. We put others first and we are by default sensitive of others. I do agree there comes a time in life when we need to be more assertive and firm, but that should be the exception rather than the rule. Before we go of on a tirade about something, we need to stop and think about who is watching and who is listening. There is very little evidence that Jeff Bethke has done that. 

You see, what does the religious person think when he hears "Christian Jeff" stand up and say, "I hate religion"? What does he think when a seemingly "religious Christian" stands up and says that Christ came to abolish religion? Isn't Christianity a religion? And why would I give the time of day to someone who wants to come along and abolish what I hold dear? 

Jesus did not attack religion, He attacked religious abuses carried out by people who claimed to be religiously pure in God's eyes. That's the difference. Unfortunately, Jeff Bethke is misleading and confusing. After all, in the eyes of the world, Christianity is a recognised world religion. So let us show the world, with the conduct of our lives and our message, that it is the only true and pure religion that is to be accepted and embraced by this world. 

The Bible tells us in the Book of James:

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.(James 1:27)

I am a Christian and I am also religious. By God's grace I am living a religious life of purity and truth before the eyes of my Lord.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Open-Air Preaching, Leicester Square

Below is a video filmed last week of the message I preached. To read the full report from the night click here.

John 10:30 - "I and the Father are one."

This past Friday night, while witnessing in Leicester Square, I spoke with a Muslim chap regarding the deity of Christ. Our conversation was brief and touched on John 10:30. Although we were not able to talk for long (as by this time it was getting quite late) we did exchange contact details. The next day I received a text from him, which reads as follows:

Hi, 

thank you very much for your time yesterday, as discussed, please see references below. 

John 10:30 "I and the Father are one.” 

This word 'one' and example is also used in John 17:21-23 

New International Version (NIV) 

John 17:21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 

John 17:22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 

John 17:23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 

This word 'one' Jesus (peace be upon him) is referring to in the above includes the disciples and the Father are oneness in purpose and message not in the physical body form, shape or size. 

Check out these fantastic explanations on YouTube: 

I and my Father are One: 

John 10:30. Ahmed Deedat. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY9Uo5qN3n0 

I & My Father are One - What does it Mean? Ahmed Deedat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnP1vVlQZ1I 

Contexts of the verse I and my Father are One? Dr Zakir Naik. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nl6C8HVJ2M 

How would you respond with a counter challenge? 

Best regards, 

Ash

My response is below...

Hi Ash, 

Thank you for your email. 

With regard to John 10:30, you wrote: 

“This word 'one' and example is also used in John 17:21-23 

Correct. The Greek word ἓν is used in John 10:30 and John 17:21-23. 

You also wrote: 

“This word 'one' Jesus (peace be upon him) is referring to in the above includes the disciples and the Father are oneness in purpose and message not in the physical body form, shape or size.” 

Firstly, let us see the whole of John 10:30 as it appears in the Greek language: 

ἐγὼ καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ἕν ἐσμεν. - “I and the Father are one.” 

The word ἕν is translated “one.” 

The word ἐσμεν is the first person plural of “to be” and so it is translated “are.” 

The phrase ἕν ἐσμεν (hen esmen) is a significant statement, which clearly has trinitarian implications. ἕν is neuter (in the Greek grammatical sense), not masculine (again, in the grammatical sense), so the assertion is not that Jesus and the Father are one person, but one “thing.” Identity of the two persons is not what is asserted, but essential unity (unity of essence). 

I hope this make sense to you. It is very significant. The Bible is clear that within the one Being that is God, there exists eternally three coequal persons, namely the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (The Forgotten Trinity, Dr. James White, pg. 26). So Jesus is not saying in John 10:30 that He is the Father. Rather He is saying that He is of the same essence as the Father. 

Let us now look at the beginning of John 17:21 in the Greek: 

ἵνα πάντες ἓν ὦσιν. - “...that they may all be one.” 

Notice the return of the word ἓν. Again it is neuter, which means that Jesus is praying to the Father asking that His disciples would be one in essence/purpose. In John 17:21 Jesus is praying to the Father asking that His disciples would be one, whereas in John 10:30 He is stating that He and the Father are one. 

In the first video Ahmed Deedat picks on the fact that Jesus quotes from an Old Testament psalm, in which God says to men, “I said, you are gods.” (Psalm 82:6). Ahmed Deedat seems to be saying that this is “just Jewish language,” and that Jesus is only saying He is “the Son of God.” Dr. Zakir Naik in his video mentions that two people can be said to be one, but it does not mean they are one. I disagree with both Ahmed Deedat and Dr. Zakir Naik. 

Jesus’ point in quoting Psalm 82:6 is that if human judges (Psalm 82:2–4) can in some sense be called gods (in light of their role as representatives of God), this designation is even more appropriate for the one who truly is the Son of God (John 10:33, 35–36). 

Take note that the title “Son of God” is a title given to Jesus which describes the relationship that exists between the Father and the Son. Jesus is not a created being, the Father has not reproduced another being which is Deity. Jesus made it clear that He was God through all that He did and said. 

I do hope all I have said is understandable to you. I look forward to your response. 

Kind regards, 

Rob

Ash has responded by asking me to meet with him over coffee in order to discuss things further. I'm greatly encouraged by this and hope to share God's truth with him in greater detail. 

Please pray for me. 

Chinese Food For Thought

We had a number of people join us for outreach this past Friday, at least five new people, which was so encouraging. After a great time of fellowship in the cafe we headed out to our new spot near China Town. There was roughly twenty of us and so we were in for a great night!

I preached for a good 30 minutes. This is quite long and the reason was largely due to the hecklers in the crowd. One gentleman in particular, which you will be able to see in the video above, had a number of questions and charges to lay against Christianity and Jesus Christ. One of his questions centred around the life of Christ before he entered his ministry. He asked, “What did Jesus do for the thirty years undocumented in the Bible?” I asked him to elaborate and he said, “The part between the two years before his death and his birth, what was he doing? The Son of God surely should have been doing good things.” I responded by saying, “He was growing up.” He then responded by saying, “Oh, the Son of God had to grow up did he?” I recognise that I could have done a better job in answering his question, however it allowed me to emphasise something very important. Jesus became a man so that we could relate to Him (He subjected Himself to human existence. He slept, ate, walked, etc, even though He was God) and also, more importantly, He became a human being so that He would be the perfect representative for mankind. Man has sinned, which means man is culpable. The only hope for humanity is a substitute willing to take our place. But what kind of substitute? The Bible tells the only acceptable substitute is one who is both fully God and fully man. Why is this? The Heidelberg Catechism of 1619 A.D. explains it so well:

Qu. Can any mere creature pay for us?

A. No. In the first place, God will not punish another creature for the sin which man has committed.[1] Furthermore, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God's eternal wrath against sin and deliver others from it.[2]

[1] Ezek. 18:4, 20; Heb. 2:14-18. [2] Ps. 130:3; Nah. 1:6.

Qu. What kind of mediator and deliverer must we seek?

A. One who is a true[1] and righteous[2] man, and yet more powerful than all creatures; that is, one who is at the same time true God.[3]

[1] I Cor. 15:21; Heb. 2:17. [2] Is. 53:9; II Cor. 5:21; Heb. 7:26. [3] Is. 7:14; 9:6; Jer. 23:6; John 1:1; Rom. 8:3, 4.

Qu. Why must He be a true and righteous man?

A. He must be a true man because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which has sinned should pay for sin.[1] He must be a righteous man because one who himself is a sinner cannot pay for others.[2]

[1] Rom: 5:12, 15; I Cor. 15:21; Heb. 2:14-16. [2] Heb. 7:26, 27; I Pet. 3:18.

Qu. Why must He at the same time be true God?

A. He must be true God so that by the power of His divine nature[1] He might bear in His human nature the burden of God's wrath,[2] and might obtain for us and restore to us righteousness and life.[3]

[1] Is. 9:5. [2] Deut. 4:24; Nah. 1:6; Ps. 130:3. [3] Is. 53:5, 11; John 3:16; II Cor. 5:21.

Qu. But who is that Mediator who at the same time is true God and a true and righteous man?

A. Our Lord Jesus Christ,[1] whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption (I Corinthians 1:30).

[1] Matt. 1:21-23; Luke 2:11; I Tim. 2:5; 3:16.

Turning back to the objections from my heckler, it is important to note a few things. Firstly, the time between Jesus’ birth and the commencement of His ministry is documented in Scripture. See Luke 2:41-52. At the age of twelve He was aware of who He was and that it was necessary for Him to spend time in His “Father’s house” (the Temple). Secondly, the Bible is not obligated to give us a detailed account of his entire childhood and early adulthood. We know that as He grew up He “increased in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). Clearly He lived a life that was set apart from the rest of humanity. However it was not until He reached the age of thirty that He entered into His ministry in a far more significant way. There is no problem with this, for it makes sense that He would be of a mature age with adequate life experience when the time eventually came.

We all got into conversation with people after I had finished preaching. I spoke with a young girl who seemed certain that God is not the Creator of the universe and that there is another explanation, although “we don’t know what it is.” I reasoned with her logically and offered to her three hypothesis for our existence:

1. The universe created itself.
2. The universe has always existed.
3. The universe was created by a supreme being.

I explained that option 1 is impossible, since for something to create itself it would mean that it existed before it existed. This of course is absurd. Option 2 has been accepted almost universally by the scientific community as false since the laws of thermodynamics show us that the universe must have had a beginning. This leaves option 3 as the only rationale explanation for our existence. She didn’t like this but it was obvious she saw the logic to what I was saying. I reasoned with her some more and explained that there truly is a God before whom we must one day stand and give an account.

Although the spot we have chosen is great for open-air preaching, it is tricky with regard to one-to-one witnessing, as the road we are in is opened for traffic at roughly 10:00pm. It became quite difficult and so we decided to move back down to Leicester Square. Arriving back at the Square we continued to witness to people and hand out tracts. It was a great time and I was so encouraged to join with so many brothers and sisters in making Christ’s name known. Lord may you open the hearts of the people to hear and respond to your Word. Grant repentance and faith Lord to the lost people of London!

Soli Deo Gloria!