Reprint from Apologetics Press: Embryos are People

Embryos are People by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

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The polarizing national debate over the use of embryonic stem cells for the purpose of seeking solutions to medical ailments continues to rage. The most recent development entailed the passage by the Senate of a bill to permit government funding for research using human embryonic stem cells (Babington, 2006a). President Bush vetoed the bill on the grounds that such research entails the taking of innocent human life in the hope of finding medical benefits for others (Babington, 2006b). At the formal signing of the veto, the President was surrounded by babies and young children who began life as frozen embryos that were created for in vitro fertilization, but who remained in suspension after the fertility treatments were complete.

What further proof is needed? Nothing was done after conception to change these children from embryos into humans. They became human at conception. From that point onward, they were merely allowed to grow—transferred to the womb to continue their development. No difference exists between a pre-birth infant and a post-birth infant—both are simply at different stages of human growth and development. As the children produced from “adopted” frozen embryos encircled the President with their parents, proof that embryos are people was staring the nation and the world in the face. How blind can we be? Are we of those who “seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand” (Matthew 13:13)?

Apart from the fact that the scientific community’s insistence that embryonic stem cells will be the panacea to cure disease remains both unproven and highly suspect, and despite the fact that adult stem cells have, in fact, shown the most promise and have been used successfully (Harrub and Thompson, 2004; Harrub, 2006), the only concern in the discussion ought to be the moral, ethical, and spiritual implication. On this basis alone, the entire matter ought to be—and can be—settled.

If the God of the Bible exists, and if the Bible is His Word, then human life begins at conception. To deliberately terminate that life—for whatever purpose—is the taking of human life, identified in Scripture as murder. David insisted that his development as a human being, his personhood, was achieved by God, prior to his birth, while he was yet in his mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13-16). Elizabeth’s pre-born baby is represented as a living human being (Luke 1:39-44). In fact, the term “baby” used in verses 41 and 44 to refer to the pre-born John is the exact same term that is used in chapter two to refer to Jesus after His birth as He laid in the manger (Luke 2:12,16). So, in God’s sight, whether a person is in his or her pre-birth developmental state, or in a post-birth developmental state, that person is still a baby! John the Baptizer is referred to as “a son” from the very moment of conception (Luke 1:36). All three phases of human life are listed in reverse order in Hosea 9:11—birth, pregnancy, and conception (see Miller, 2003).

The national discussion regarding the use of embryonic stem cells is “cut and dried” for those who believe in and respect the God of the Bible: “[D]o not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked” (Exodus 23:7). God hates “hands that shed innocent blood” (Proverbs 6:17). The fact that we even are debating this subject demonstrates the extent to which the nation has strayed from its commitment to and reliance on the God of the Universe—yet another unmistakable manifestation of America’s downward spiral into moral and spiritual depravity.

REFERENCES

Babington, Charles (2006a), “Senate Passes Stem Cell Bill; Bush Vows Veto,” Washington Post, July 19, A01, [On-line], URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/18/ AR2006071800182.html.

Babington, Charles (2006b), “Stem Cell Bill Gets Bush’s First Veto,” Washington Post, July 20, A04, [On-line], URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/19/ AR2006071900524.html.

Harrub, Brad (2006), “False Marketing of Embryonic Stem Cells,” Apologetics Press, [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2976.

Harrub, Brad and Bert Thompson (2004), “Presidential Elections, Superman, Embryonic Stem Cells, Bad Science, and False Hope,” Apologetics Press, [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2621.

Miller, Dave (2003), “Abortion and the Bible,” Apologetics Press, [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/1964.

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A Christian View of Islam - Part 1

This will be part of a series, looking at Islam from various points of view - the entire series will be on this blog, with other portions on other blogs or at www.thepriceofliberty.org, since the idea of the series originated with the publisher of The Price of Liberty.

FROM THE CHRISTIAN POINT OF VIEW

In many ways, the establishment of the religion of Islam (which means “Submission”) was intentionally to create a challenger, a replacement, for “Christianity.” This should come as no surprise, given the degraded state of what was called “Christian” in the 7^th Century. The religious hierarchy so foreign to the New Testament was completely developed, the apostasy from the First Century nearly complete. The “church” was characterized and best known for an era in which rival bishops and archbishops used gangs of ravenous monks to attack their theological opponents, where rivals in the church assassinated each other, where the secular ruler used his troops to support one interpretation of scripture over another, and barricaded dissenting congregations in their burning buildings.

As a result, Mohammed and his Companions (as Joe Smith Jr. was to do 1200 years later) created a religion that drew on both Old and New Testament and even pagan traditions, coupled it with a “new revelation” (the Qu’ran) and created a unique religion. In many ways, what developed over the next century could be described as “Judaism on steroids” for it took much from the Old Law and created a legalistic system that put anything First-Century Pharisees attempted in a distant second place.

Much of the new religion bore the unmistakable stamp of its origin in the Arab peoples of their vast and often inhospitable peninsula, just as 19^th Century Mormonism wears the unquestionable dress of its American origins. Not only were old and favored shrines incorporated into the religion (geo-oriented as much as Judaism and completely unlike pure Christianity), but many of the customs and rituals of the previously pagan or mixed-faith tribes were embedded deeply in the new faith. It should come as no surprise that Islam proved such a perfect tool for Arab, Mongol, Turkic, and Persian imperialism for the next millennium.

In contrast to the messianic hope of the Old Testament faith of Moses and the Prophets, in contrast to the fulfilled promise of the Messiah’s incarnation and His promised return in glory, Islam offers a warped view of salvation by works and a “God-given” society designed for 7^th Century Arabia, created by a man with obvious hatred for both Jews and Christians.

What is wrong with Islam, from a Biblical point of view? (A Baker’s Dozen ™: What is wrong with Islam according to the Bible):

1. Islam portrays God as vindictive, cruel, and hateful, and not loving and merciful (even though they are careful to call Him that).

2. Islam denies that Jesus is the Son of God, and demotes him from Savior to a mere “Prophet” on a par with Abraham, David, Isaiah, and Moses, and less important than “The Messenger” (Mohammed).

3. Islam denies the sufficiency of the Bible, adding not just the Qu’ran but many other writings, and claims that the Bible is corrupt and evil as it presently exists.

4. Islam, while claiming to revere the Old and New Testaments, constantly contradicts both portions of the Bible – claiming, for example, that Ishmael (not Isaac) was the son of promise.

5. Islam teaches salvation by works, and not by faith: that Judgment is a weighing of good and bad deeds, and that men can atone for their own sins.

6. Islam demands perfect adherence to the same sort of rituals and ceremonial, physical actions as found in the Old Law and put away forever by Christ’s sacrifice “once and for all.” Thus, it negates His life, death, burial, and resurrection.

7. Islam preaches violence, conquest, tyranny, slavery, degradation of women, and many other moral and social evils.

8. Islam promotes looting, killing, mutilation, conflict inside and outside families, spouse and child abuse, incest, polygamy, and pedophilia.

9. Islam promotes discrimination and segregation based on ancestry and such cultural features as language (promoting Arabic as the only acceptable language for religion, for example).

10. Islam seeks to unite church and state, elevating what should be “servants” (ministers) of God into masters, and making God into the patron of tyrants.

11. Islam’s followers take into their own hands things that are reserved alone to God, in matters of judgment and punishment.

12. Islam results in civil strife, bloodletting, racial prejudice, personal vengeance, invasions, poverty, slavery, mutilation, and general destruction.

13. Islam claims to result in unity in one single religious-political-cultural system (the “Ummah” or “dar al-Islam”) but the result has been more factions and religions and religious strife, not only outside Islam but within the religion.

Although many of these things have been practiced by some claiming to be christian over the centuries, they are unable to justify their actions by the New Testament (regardless of translation) whereas the Qu’ran can be cited in support of these things readily (even though some “moderate” or “liberal” Muslim “clerics” claim to interpret these things into mere symbolism or “spiritual” understandings. Today and always this has been viewed as an aberration, and condemned as the hypocrisy it is, by virtually all of “Christendom” – but it has been common and accepted in Islam, and for the most part still is today.

What should we do?

1. Remember that we are to hate the sin, not the sinner.
2. Be ready to preach, not just in word, but in deed, to those followers of Islam we encounter.
3. Support mission work in areas under Islamic control and threatened by that religion, including areas here in the US. Prayer and giving are both needed.
4. Teach the truth about Islam to other christians and non-christians, countering ideas that it is “peaceful” or “just another way to God.”
5. Resist the slow creep of Islamic concepts into our society and even into religion in general – an all too common process going on in Europe and elsewhere.
6. Understand and act on the urgency to preach to those who might be attracted by this “new” thing or rejecting the evils of “mainstream Christianity”

© Nathan A. Barton, April 2006

Reprint from Apologetics Press: Murderous Scientists

Eliminate 90% of the Human Race? by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. Printer version | Email this article

In elementary schools, it often begins with a crush. In middle schools that crush is frequently transformed to idolization. During the rebellious years of high school, we try to act as if we dislike all of them—even though we still have our favorites. Then, in college, we respect them for their education, and in graduate or professional school we oftentimes revert back to idolization. Most of us can look back through our educational years and remember teachers who really stood out—teachers that made a difference in our lives. These are the ones who made an imprint on us—and as such, we often pattern our own values, beliefs, and ideology accordingly.

That’s all well and good when teachers maintain integrity and adhere to a strong moral code. But what happens when students worship a professor who suggests that we humans are no better than bacteria? And that the world would be a better place if we had an airborne version of Ebola that would wipe out 90% of the human population—a virtual holocaust to cleanse the Earth? To make matters worse, what message are we sending when we designate such a man as the “2006 Distinguished Texas Scientist?”

What does it take to earn the title of “Distinguished Texas Scientist”? Well, obviously, it does not hurt to do research in Texas. But since when is suggesting the human race needed to be wiped out a good thing? This is precisely what Dr. Eric Pianka did at the 109th meeting of the Texas Academy of Science at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. The meeting, held March 3-5, 2006, honored Pianka, an evolutionary ecologist and lizard expert, as the 2006 Distinguished Texas Scientist.

In describing the event, attendee Forest Sims observed:

Something curious occurred a minute before Pianka began speaking. An official of the Academy approached a video camera operator at the front of the auditorium and engaged him in animated conversation. The camera operator did not look pleased as he pointed the lens of the big camera to the ceiling and slowly walked away. This curious incident came to mind a few minutes later when Professor Pianka began his speech by explaining that the general public is not yet ready to hear what he was about to tell us. Because of many years of experience as a writer and editor, Pianka’s strange introduction and the TV camera incident raised a red flag in my mind. Suddenly I forgot that I was a member of the Texas Academy of Science and chairman of its Environmental Science Section. Instead, I grabbed a notepad so I could take on the role of science reporter (2006).

In his recounting of the wicked speech, Sims noted that one of the first planks Pianka laid was that humans were no better than animals. Recounting the story of a neighbor who questioned his interest in lizards, Pianka responded: “What good are you?” He then felt compelled to announce: “We are no better than bacteria!” (Sims, 2006).

From there, the speech took a decisively wicked turn, as Pianka insisted the Earth would not be able to sustain life without drastic measures. He proposed the only solution was to eliminate most of the world’s population. Reflecting back on the conference, Sims noted:

Then, and without presenting any data to justify this number, he asserted that the only feasible solution to saving the Earth is to reduce the population to 10 percent of the present number. He then showed solutions for reducing the world’s population in the form of a slide depicting the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. War and famine would not do, he explained. Instead, disease offered the most efficient and fastest way to kill the billions that must soon die if the population crisis is to be solved (2006, emp. added).

If Pianka’s words do not send chills up your spine you need to check your pulse. How does it feel knowing that this man is idolized, to the point that one of his students was heard to say: “I worship Dr. Pianka” (Sims, 2006). One wonders how many young graduate students currently enrolled at various universities “worship” this man and would be more than willing to work on creating an airborne strain of Ebola.

One of the saddest parts of this story was the audiences’ reaction. Instead of being outraged or standing up against Pianka, his own colleagues gave him a standing ovation. Sims observed:

When Pianka finished his remarks, the audience applauded. It wasn’t merely a smattering of polite clapping that audiences diplomatically reserve for poor or boring speakers. It was a loud, vigorous and enthusiastic applause (Sims, 2006).

This account should be a sobering reminder as to why there should be restraints on scientific research. Most scientists do not want any restrictions on their research, and in many cases their research has out-paced ethical laws. They contend that they should be a “self-governing body,” and yet we find them giving a standing ovation to a man who suggests that “billions must soon die” in order to solve the “population crisis.” In an article titled “Scientists Cheer Holocaust Wish,” the World Net Daily noted:

During a question-and-answer session, the audience laughed approvingly when Pianka offered the bird flu as another vehicle toward achieving his goal. They also chuckled when he suggested it was time to sterilize everyone on Earth. “What kind of reception have you received as you have presented these ideas to other audiences that are not representative of us?” asked one member of the audience. “I speak to the converted!” Pianka replied (see “Scientists Cheer...,” 2006).

Converted from what? Sanity?! Here is a man who is willing to press atheistic evolution to its logical conclusion. This is the same man who approves of the Chinese “one-child” policy and proclaimed that smarter people have fewer kids. As a society we must quickly acknowledge the fact that our children and grandchildren are placing many professors on pedestals. It’s time we hold those professors accountable for the seeds they are planting in the hearts and minds of our young people.

REFERENCES

“Scientists Cheer Holocaust Wish” (2006), World Net Daily, [On-line], URL: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=49555.

Sims, Forest (2006), “Meeting Doctor Doom,” The Citizen Scientist, [On-line], URL: http://www.sas.org/tcs/weeklyIssues_2006/2006-04-07/feature1p/index.html.

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Copyright © 2006 Apologetics Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

We are happy to grant permission for items in the "In the News" section to be reproduced in their entirety, as long as the following stipulations are observed: (1) Apologetics Press must be designated as the original publisher; (2) the specific Apologetics Press Web site URL must be noted; (3) the author’s name must remain attached to the materials; (4) any references, footnotes, or endnotes that accompany the article must be included with any written reproduction of the article; (5) alterations of any kind are strictly forbidden (e.g., photographs, charts, graphics, quotations, etc. must be reproduced exactly as they appear in the original); (6) serialization of written material (e.g., running an article in several parts) is permitted, as long as the whole of the material is made available, without editing, in a reasonable length of time; (7) articles, in whole or in part, may not be offered for sale or included in items offered for sale; and (8) articles may be reproduced in electronic form for posting on Web sites pending they are not edited or altered from their original content and that credit is given to Apologetics Press, including the web location from which the articles were taken.

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Judas' Gospel and other Fairytales

Over the past year, attacks on the historical accuracy of the Bible, and the history of both Jesus and His church, have been appearing frequently. The book (soon-to-be movie) “The DaVinci Code”, revived interest in historic revisionism and conspiracy, creating fresh interest in books like “Holy Blood, Holy Grail.” Now, with the National Geographic Society’s publication of the so-called “Gospel of Judas,” another series of attacks have appeared.

One purpose of these attacks is to weaken faith in God by discrediting the accuracy and origins of the Bible. It is therefore critical to effectively counter such attempts.

All these books are based on one or more of a series of spurious “gospels” written in the second and third centuries, a hundred years or more after Jesus’ ascension. “The DaVinci Code” and “Holy Blood, Holy Grail” are based on two forgeries called the Gospel of Thomas and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. These claim that Jesus married the Magdalene (some claim He married Mary and Martha of Bethany, as well), and had children. Following Jesus’ death (and presumably, His resurrection), mother and child (or children) took refuge, either in Gaul (France) or the West Country (England). Then, supposedly, this family founded a dynasty which at times ruled much of Europe, and today includes the “royal” Bourbon and Hapsburg families, who continue to strive for power and fight against the Roman Catholic Church, which has supposedly “surpressed” all this knowledge.

“The Gospel of Judas” does not claim to be written by the traitor himself, but rather purports to tell the truth about Judas – that he was really the most beloved disciple, therefore hated by the others, and selected by Jesus to “betray” Him, thus triggering the entire Passion of our Lord. Of course, the Bible clearly contradicts this. Judas (like many Jews who listened to, and even followed Jesus) expected Jesus to be a powerful, earthly king, who would make Israel physically and politically free and stronger than the nations around it. When Judas saw that Jesus’ “kingdom is not of this world,” we are told “Satan entered into him.” Whether he expected his action to force Jesus to launch the revolution, or he truly sided with the temple authorities is a moot point – he betrayed our Lord. And Jesus knew it and told Judas in so many words that He did.[1]

All these (and many more writings from AD 100 to perhaps AD 500) are examples of Gnostic texts. They were written to support a faction that claimed that “secret knowledge” existed and was necessary for “true” salvation. This faction mixed magic, ancient philosophies, even demonology, with the pure Gospel of Christ Jesus. They were never considered by any real christian to be Scripture, despite the claims being circulated today. The particular group or tradition which circulated “The Gospel of Judas” are often called Cainite Gnostics, because they had a regular cottage industry of rehabilitating biblical villains such as Cain, Saul, Simon the Sorcerer, and Judas.

Catholics (and most Protestants) today will claim that the Canon (the “official” listing of books of the Bible) was established by a worldwide Catholic council (convention) in the late forth century, AD, and that until that time, such books as the Judas, Thomas, and Mary Magdalene gospels might have been acceptable as “scripture.” This makes the Bible appear to be the creation of humans, of a church. Fortunately, that is not really what happened – it is false history, even outright propaganda.

What history shows is, that just as men inspired by God wrote the books that make up the Bible, so the Spirit inspired the assembling of those various books into a single collection, not later than AD 150 and likely even sooner, perhaps while John the Apostle was still alive. This agrees with Scripture itself. After that time, there were many challenges to specific books (as late as Martin Luther’s challenge of James’ letter), and these challenges were mostly put to rest by a series of these councils – which amounted to man presumptuously “ratifying” what God had done.

The bizarre and pernicious doctrine of Gnosticism first rose in New Testament times, as discussed in Titus 3:18, 2 Peter 2:1, 2 John 10-11, and perhaps 2 Corinthians 11:3-4. It was not a “competitor” to “orthodox” Christianity, as some would charge, but rather, a departure from the faith once and for all delivered to the saints (like so many other ideas). Its key aspects are strongly condemned in Scripture, and are incompatible with God’s revealed religion. Gnosticism is internally inconsistent and its writings, like all false teachings, contain many obvious errors.

Gnosticism is sometimes thought (in tradition) to be traced to Simon (Acts 9). It would create an inner “elite” or “initiate” church like most religions have – a system completely opposed to God’s will for the church. Sadly, Gnosticism is still a threat to the faith of members of the church today, in many different ways: the blending of pagan philosophies (such as “new age Christianity” or the modern Roman Catholic Church), the blending of science and religion, and such. The very idea that only an elite (priests, scientists, school-trained preachers, etc.) can understand God’s will, and other errors, are exactly the kind of Gnostic concepts that plagued the church 1700 years ago. The christian must be ever vigilant to deal with such issues as “The DaVinci Code” and “The Gospel of Judas.”

© Nathan A. Barton, 9 APR 2006, used by permission

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[1] It is interesting, that as recently as this week, I have heard that John 13:26-27 is “proof” that the Gospel of Judas is true, because Jesus clearly commanded Judas to do the deed – rather than simply Jesus knowing what he would do. As with many other claims, this is based on the assumption that Jesus is human, not divine.

How to be saved

It is, despite so many people’s claims, very simple. Let us look at five very basic points, which will help you understand both yourself and the Lord.

God is the Lawmaker, and just as He made universal natural laws that govern the very elements of the Universe, He also created universal spiritual laws that govern our relationship with Him. Man can no more change these spiritual laws than Congress can change the law of gravity.

Point One

God LOVES you very much. He offers a wonderful future for your life.

God's Love: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

“Believe” as generally used in the Bible means much more than “thinking this is so,” as so many people would define it today. Here, it means more than recognizing that Christ Jesus exists; it means taking action to commit to His service. (Remember even Satan believes in God, "Thou believe that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." James 2:19)

True Biblical belief requires that we act on it by commiting our lives to Him.

God's Future: Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (that is, full and complete) (John 10:10)

But few people HAVE that “abundant life.” Why?

Point Two

All people are SINFUL. Sin separates us from God. Separate from God, we cannot understand or experience God's love and future. "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) "For the [result] of sin is death" –not just physical death, but spiritual separation from God (Romans 6:23)

God created Man to be in fellowship with Him. But our stubbornness has caused us to become willful, go our own way, and therefore, we break that fellowship with God. Whether our stubbornness is an active rebellion against God, or a passive apathy towards Him, it is sin, and separates us from our future and His love.

How do we end that separation?

Point Three

God provided just one solution for Man’s sin: Jesus Christ. Only through the Son of God can you can know and have God's love and future.

He Died in Our Stead: "But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)

He Defeated Death: "... Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures ... he was buried ... he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1st Corinthians 15:3-6)

He is The Way to God ~ "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.'" (John 14:6)

We must do more than “know” what God’s provision for us is; we must understand more...

Point Four

We must each RECEIVE and ACCEPT Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord; otherwise we can neither know nor have a future through God's love.

We Must Accept Jesus as the Christ (the Anointed): "But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" (John 1:12)

We Can Have Christ Only through Faith ~ "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

We Must Be Born into Christ: "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind blows where it will, and thou hear the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:3-8)

We Are Personally Invited to Receive Him: Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come to him" (Revelation 3:20)

Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self and sin (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us the kind of people He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of will... and we must demonstrate that faith. True belief requires action.

Point Five

Once you have believed and rejected sin and self, you must accept Christ; you must become a born-again Christian by confessing His Name before men and being baptized INTO Jesus Christ.

We Must Have A Living Faith: "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works (deeds or service) is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" (James 2:20-22)

We Must Submit to His Will: “And they said, ‘Men and brethren, what must we do to be saved?’ And Peter answered and said, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:38)

A New Change ~ "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2nd Corinthians 5:17)

Yes it is true that works, service or good deeds do not save us; God alone can save us. But we must submit to Him and we do this through publicly confessing He is Lord and being buried with Him in the waters of baptism, “that we might rise to walk in newness of life.” (Romans )

Are you ready?

You can receive Christ right now very simply. First, you must by faith through prayer (that is, talking with God); show that you believe in God and His Son, and tell Him you repent of your past life of sin. God knows your heart, so don’t be as concerned with your words as with your attitude. You can then tell others, even if it is only one person (to start with) that you accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God, your Lord and Savior. Then you can submit to Christ, in faith, in the waters of baptism (immersion in water), just as those thousands at Pentecost, the Ethiopian Eunich, the Philippian Jailer, and so many more from that day to this; “Arise, and be baptized, washing away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord,” (Acts 22:16) “This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you-not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.(1 Peter 3:21).

IF you are willing to submit, Jesus Christ will come into your life, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, just as He promised. We are very excited if you want to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord, and if you decide to follow Him. We would love to help you become and grow as a Christian. Please let me know if you need any further assistance, or if you need assistance in study or to be baptized into Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.