<![CDATA[LIVINGSTONE FELLOWSHIP - Answering Skeptics]]>Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:09:31 +0200Weebly<![CDATA[Risen! - Evidences for the Resurrection]]>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.livingstonefellowship.co.za/answering-skeptics/risen-evidences-for-the-resurrectionPicture
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"And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the Resurrection from the dead."
Romans 1:4

​Decisive
The bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is tremendously important. Death is man's greatest enemy, and it has conquered all men - but Christ. Cities and nations, like people, are born and grow for a season, and then fade away.

Homes, clothes, even vehicles, wear out and eventually go back to dust, just as do their owners. The Bible describes this universal reign of decay and death as "the bondage of corruption" (Romans 8:21). In science it is recognised as the Second Law of Thermodynamics - the Law of Increasing Entropy. Left to themselves, every system tends to become disordered, to run down and eventually die. All the founders of great religions and movements have died and you can visit their graves. Zoroaster, Confucius, Buddha, Muhammad, Marx, and Lenin. They are all dead and decayed in the grave. But Jesus Christ is alive!
So, what difference does that make? You may ask. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is vitally important because it demonstrates Christ's victory over death, it gives hope to all mankind, it shows that eternal life is available to believers, it points to the ultimate triumph of God over all evil, and it provides an indisputable proof that the message about Jesus Christ, as both Judge and Saviour, is true.

"Because He has appointed a Day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man Whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."
Acts 17:31


The Research of Skeptics
The Resurrection is so important and foundational to Christianity that it has been targeted for the most relentless attacks. Frank Morison, a lawyer, determined to disprove the Resurrection and thereby undermine Christianity. The result of his exhaustive investigations was his conversion to Christ and the publication of his book: "Who Moved the Stone?" which decisively demonstrates the overwhelming evidence for the Resurrection.

A skeptical university lecturer, Josh McDowell, determined to disprove Christianity by investigating evidence against the Resurrection. The result was his conversion to Christ and publication of the monumental: "Evidence That Demands a Verdict" which exhaustively and conclusively presents documentation and evidence upon evidence substantiating the historical truth, factual accuracy, archaeological evidence, manuscript evidence, fulfilled prophecies, transformed lives, and other indisputable evidences which support the fact of the Resurrection of Christ from the dead and the truth claims of Christianity.

Thomas Arnold, Professor of History at Oxford University, one of the greatest historians of the 19th Century wrote: "I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better, fuller evidence of every sort, to the understanding of a fair enquirer, than the great sign which God has given us that Christ died and rose from the dead."

Simon Greenleaf, and unbelieving Jew, recognised as one of the most skilled legal minds ever produced, developed the Harvard Law School. He is recognised as the top authority on what constitutes sound evidence. After being challenged by a student if he had examined the evidence for the Resurrection, Simon Greenleaf made a thorough and exhaustive examination of the objective evidence and the testimony of the four Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. In his book: "The Testimony of the Evangelists" (Baker, 1874) he concluded: "It was therefore impossible that they could have persisted in affirming the truths they have narrated, had not Jesus actually risen from the dead, and had they not known this fact as certainly as they knew any other fact."

Simon Greenleaf declared that any court of law, if presented with the evidence of the Resurrection, would have to give a verdict in favour of the integrity and accuracy of the Gospel writers and the fact of the Resurrection.

One of the most popular books ever written, and most successful films ever produced, Ben Hur, was a result of a skeptical challenge to General Lew Wallace to the authenticity of Christ's Resurrection, and a careful examination of the evidence. As General Wallace was US Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire at that time, he explored archaelogical sites and manuscripts in the Holy Land. 

What are the facts? The religious leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees, who had campaigned and conspired to have Christ arrested and executed on trumped up charges, had a compelling interest in disproving any claims of the Resurrection. They had presumed that the execution of Jesus would eliminate this threat to their religious power base and silence His supporters. These Jewish religious leaders had great concerns about the corpse of Jesus and they approached the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, for a military detachment to secure the tomb (Matthew 28:62-64).

The Roman governor's priority in the volatile province of Palestine was to preserve peace and stability. He recognised the political problems that would ensue if anything happened to this religious Teacher whom he had three times declared innocent, and ultimately washed his hands in front of the crowd declaring, "I am innocent of this Man's Blood" (Matthew 27:24). His wife had warned him: "Do not have anything to do with that innocent Man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of Him." (Matthew 27:19)

Pilate was only too aware that a travesty of justice had taken place, and the last thing he needed was a review of his shameful conduct and dereliction of duty in this case. Ensuring that the victim's corpse remained buried was definitely in Pilate's political interests as well.

"'Take a guard', Pilate answered. 'Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how'. So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard."
Matthew 27:65 

The Roman Guard
As the chief priests had approached the Roman governor, and as the Greek word Koustodia is used to describe the detachment of soldiers, it was evidently a Roman guard. If only a Temple guard had been used, there would have been no need to approach Pilate to issue the order. Additionally the concern of the guards after the Resurrection to be protected from consequences from the governor (Matthew 28:14) confirms that those guarding the tomb were Roman soldiers. The detachment would have consisted of at least sixteen soldiers with four men placed directly in front of the entrance of the tomb, on duty, at any time. Under Roman military law any guard who deserted his post, or who fell asleep on duty, would face crucifixion. Typically, if Roman soldiers allowed a prisoner to escape they would face the same sentence as the prisoner - in this case crucifixion.

The seal placed on the stone at the entrance to the tomb signified the administrative authority of Rome, and only an authorised officer of Rome would be permitted to break the seal. Anyone breaking a Roman seal without permission would be tracked down and executed.

Although the intention of the religious and political leaders had been to ensure that the phenomenon of Jesus ended at the tomb, their extraordinary security measures have only served to confirm the truth that they had murdered an innocent Man and that Jesus Christ was truly the Messiah, the Son of the Living God,

"the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth… the One Who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore."
Revelation 1:5,18. 
Christ's Victory Over Death

"Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, Who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold I have told you'. So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold Jesus met them, saying 'Rejoice!', so they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him. Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.'"
Matthew 28:1-10 

Attempts to Avoid the Truth of the Resurrection
To explain away the empty tomb, the enemies of the Gospel have had to resort to some desperate deceptions. The first was to suggest that the disciples had stolen the body. This incredible theory suggests that those same disciples who had slept in the garden, fled at His arrest, denied Him before a young woman, were hiding in fear behind locked doors, could have unitedly overcome sixteen professional Roman soldiers, dared to break a Roman seal, moved a two tonne tomb stone, just to steal a corpse! A dead Messiah would have served absolutely no purpose for the disciples. What possible motivation could they have had, even had they possessed the ability to overcome the military, political and logistical obstacles? They had nothing to gain and everything to lose. Every one of the disciples suffered severe persecution, most dying as martyrs for the Faith. Would you die for a lie? 

Did Jesus Really Die?
Others have questioned whether Christ had really died on the Cross. Perhaps He only fainted? This swoon theory would have us believe that the Roman soldiers, who were professional killers, (the centurion in charge, would most probably have already supervised dozens if not hundreds of executions), had failed to ensure that this high profile political prisoner was not actually dead. Considering the vicious flogging which the Lord had already endured, the excruciating torture of crucifixion, and the spear thrust into His side, with blood and water flowing out, all provide convincing evidence of death.

Yet, those advocating the swoon theory would have us believe that One Who had endured such savage flogging, crucifixion, and a spear thrust to the heart, could not only have survived the legendary Roman military efficiency, but that He was revived on a cold slab in a cold tomb. Further that He somehow disengaged from the grave clothes, and one hundred pounds of spices, ointments and wrappings which had effectively mummified Him, rolled away the two tonne stone, overpowered, or eluded, the Roman soldiers, and somehow found and impressed the disciples with His Deity? These suggestions have only to be mentioned in order to be dismissed as unbelievable. 

The Empty Tomb
Another desperate attempt to explain away the Resurrection of Christ has been that they went to the wrong tomb. All of them, Mary Magdalene, Peter, John, the other women, all went to the wrong tomb. Somehow neither the Pharisees, nor the Sadducees, nor the Roman soldiers, nor Joseph of Arimathea, whose tomb it was, thought to point out that the tomb was in fact still occupied! However, this theory is also impossible, as the tomb was not in a cemetery, but in a garden privately owned by Joseph of Arimathea. There was no other tomb in that garden. 

The Absence of the Body
All that the Roman and Jewish leaders had to do in order to end Christianity forever was produce the corpse of Jesus. But they couldn't do it. Even when the Apostle Peter stood up on the day of Pentecost and proclaimed:

"Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 
Acts 2:36.

"And with great power the apostles gave witness to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus." 
Acts 4:33.

Many thousands in Jerusalem, including many Pharisees, came to faith in Jesus Christ. 

The Crisis of Credibility
To the Jewish religious leaders, this was their worst nightmare, a disaster. The proclamation of the Resurrection of Christ undermined their power and credibility. Thousands of their followers now believed that they had condemned an innocent Man, the Messiah Himself. The new religion of Christianity was undermining the power base and credibility of the Pharisees and Sadducees. If the body of Jesus could have been found, Christianity could be stopped dead in its tracks and the threat to the religious status quo would have ended. Since they desperately needed Jesus' corpse, the Jewish leaders would have used every means at their disposal to hunt it down and find it - if that was possible. 

The Testimony of Eye Witnesses
However, we are not only dealing with the empty tomb, and the absence of the body, but the testimony of eyewitnesses. On at least twelve separate occasions Jesus Christ was seen after rising from the tomb. Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18; Mark 16:9); the other women (Matthew 28:8-10); Peter (Luke 24:34); the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35); ten of the disciples (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-24); all eleven disciples, eight days later (John 20:24-29); seven disciples by the Sea of Tiberius (John 21:1-23); to five hundred at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6); to James (1 Corinthians 15:7); to all eleven apostles, and others, at the Ascension (Acts 1:3-12); Paul (Acts 9:3-8); and John (Revelation 1:12-18), all saw the Lord bodily raised from the dead.

To explain away the testimony of all these eyewitnesses, enemies of Christianity suggest that these were merely hallucinations, perhaps as a result of hypnosis or hysteria. However, while hallucinations tend to be unique psychological experiences of an individual, we are here dealing with a large number of individuals, who at different times, in different groups, in different places, both indoors and outdoors, on a hilltop, along a roadside, by a lake shore, all saw the Lord. They saw Him, they ate with Him, they saw the wounds in His hands and in His side.

Far from being gullible, it would appear that His disciples were very skeptical and slow to believe. Thomas declared that he would not believe that Christ had risen unless he personally placed his fingers in the nail prints in His hands and feet and his hand in the wound in His side. 

The Transformation of the Disciples
Not only do we have the testimony of the eyewitnesses, but the dramatic transformation of the disciples. The Resurrection of Christ from the dead transformed the disciples' grief to joy, their cowardice to boldness, their skepticism to faith and their doubt to determination. It turned Saul, the persecutor of the Church into Paul the Apostle of the Church. 

The Transformation of History
It also transformed society and history. It changed the Jewish Sabbath into the Christian Lord's Day. What else could explain the replacement of Saturday as the Jewish day of rest into Sunday as the Christian Lord's Day? The Resurrection transformed a Jewish remnant into the worldwide Christian Church. Over 2-Billion people worldwide describe themselves as Christians who believe in the Resurrection of Christ from the dead. The very existence of the largest religious movement in the history of the world is another powerful evidence of the truth of the Resurrection. 

Prophetic Fulfilment
Jesus Himself had prophesied His Resurrection from the dead. Because of His fulfilment of this, we can be absolutely certain that Jesus Christ is God with us, as He claimed. By His Resurrection we can know that our sins are forgiven through His Blood sacrificed on the Cross of Calvary:

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 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 3:14-16 

Full Salvation
Because of Christ's death on the Cross we can rejoice that our sins are paid for - we are forgiven, justified by faith.

Because of Christ's Resurrection from the dead we can rejoice in the prospect of eternal life.

Because of Christ's Ascension we can know that He has all authority and that His Great Commission will be accomplished on earth.

Because of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost we do not need to trust in our own abilities, but in His power alone. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord."

Proclaim It to the Nations
William Sangster - the church leader and hymn writer - suffered from increasing paralysis which finally prevented him from even being able to talk. On his last Easter before he died, he wrote: "How terrible to wake up on Easter and have no voice to shout, 'HE IS RISEN', far worse, to have a voice and not to want to shout!"

We serve a risen Saviour! Death is defeated. Christ has risen - victorious over death, hell, satan and the grave.

Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Christ, though he may die, yet shall he live (John 11:25).

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 
1 Peter 1:3

The above message has been adapted from a chapter in Answering Skeptics. This book, which answers 14 such questions, is available from:

Christian Liberty Books:
P.O. Box 358,
Howard Place,
7450,
Cape Town ,
Website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za .

An audio MP3 boxset Answering Skeptics with 32 sermons, lectures and radio programmes by Dr. Peter Hammond, answering such key questions is alsoavailable.

Christ is Risen Indeed! Evidences for the Resurrection, can be downloaded in a tract format for printing and distributing.

Dr. Peter Hammond

Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74
Newlands 7725
Cape Town
South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Email: info@ReformationSA.org

Books, Audios,Data Disks and boxsets are available from
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See also: 
The Illegal Trial of Jesus and the Verdict of History
The Centrality of the Cross
Who Killed Jesus?
The Blood of Christ
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]]><![CDATA[THE ILLEGAL TRIAL OF JESUS AND THE VERDICT OF HISTORY]]>Fri, 18 Apr 2025 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.livingstonefellowship.co.za/answering-skeptics/putting-jesus-on-trialPicture
Unique Identity
The betrayal, arrest, trial and execution of Jesus of Nazareth, was unique. It was not His actions that were in question, but His identity. The charge laid against Christ by the Jewish Sanhedrin was blasphemy. The testimony on which He was convicted was concerned with His identity as the Messiah. The interrogation by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate and the inscription and proclamation placed on His Cross at the execution, dealt with the identity of Christ as the Messiah, the Son of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
 
The Illegal Trial
The trial of Jesus of Nazareth was completely illegal. At every point it broke the laws of Israel as well as the laws of Rome. It was illegal to conduct a trial at night. It was also against the law to conduct a summary trial without any warning, or opportunity, for the accused to prepare a defense or seek positive character witnesses. At any trial the accused was to be granted an opportunity to prepare a defense and heralds were to be sent out into the area requiring anyone who knew anything positive about the accused to come forward and testify. There was no opportunity granted for appeal. There was no delay between the arrest and trial, between the trial and verdict, between the verdict and sentencing and between the sentencing and execution. Within less than a 24-hour period, Jesus was arrested, tried, condemned, sentenced to death and executed. This blatantly violated all due process of law.
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Conspiracy and False Witnesses
It was obvious that there was a conspiracy against the accused. In the event of there being evidence of a conspiracy the judges were obligated to release the accused. In addition, the testimony of false witnesses, brought forward by the accusers, contradicted one another.
 
Condemning the Innocent
The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, acquitted Christ three times:
 
"I find no fault in Him at all." John 18:38
"… I find no fault in Him." John 19:6
 
"You have brought this Man to me as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him. No, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him." Luke 23:14-15
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Trial by Mob
"But they shouted saying, 'Crucify Him, crucify Him!' Then he said to them the third time, 'Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.' But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified." Luke 23:21-23
 
Beaten Before Being Tried
The Lord Jesus Christ had also evidently been severely beaten by His captors (Luke 22:63-64). In the event of a prisoner having being mistreated in this way, the judge should have been obligated to release the accused.
 
Miscarriage of Justice
How could any judge allow someone to be executed whom he had three times declared innocent? What a meaningless gesture for the governor and magistrate to wash his hands claiming that he was innocent of the blood of a person who was clearly the victim of a conspiracy and who, as a magistrate, he should have protected from the mob.
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Cowardice and Compromise
"When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude saying, 'I am innocent of the blood of this just person. You see to it.' And all the people answered and said, 'His blood be on us and on our children.'" Matthew 27:24-25
 
A Travesty of Justice
The trial of Jesus was a travesty of justice. It is a terrifying thing to be judged by the mob. Can you imagine being judged by your worst enemies?
 
Character Witnesses
However, today, let us call forward some character witnesses to testify of Jesus. Of course, we could call forth millions of Christians throughout the ages who would eagerly testify to the incomparable goodness and greatness of our Lord and Saviour. However, we will call forward only skeptics and many of them enemies of Christ.
 
Hostile Witnesses for Jesus
Thomas Paine, who was an outspoken opponent of Christianity, still admitted in writing: "Jesus Christ was a virtuous and amiable man. For the morality that He preached and practiced was of the most benevolent kind; and while those similar systems of morality had been preached by Confucius and by some of the Greek philosophers, many years before; by the Quakers since and by many good men of all ages, it has not been exceeded by any."
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The Christ
The first century Jewish historian, Josephus Ben Mattathias, the author of The Antiquities of the Jews, wrote: "Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call Him a man, for He was a doer of wonderful works, a Teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to Him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ and when Pilate at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned Him to the Cross, those who loved Him at the first, did not forsake Him; for He appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand wonderful things concerning Him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from Him, are not extinct to this day." (Antiquities XVIII, 33)
 
The Greatest Example and Inspiration
William H. Lecky was one of the leading historians of the 19th century and the author of The History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe. Lecky spent his life advancing the cause of Rationalism, attacking Christianity and the supernatural. Yet, he admitted: "It was reserved for Christianity to present to the world an ideal character, which through all the changes of 18 centuries has inspired the hearts of men with an impassioned love, has shown itself capable of acting on all ages, nations, temperaments and conditions and has been not only the highest pattern of virtue, but also the strongest incentive to its practice and has exercised so deep an influence that it may truly be said that the simple record of three short years of active life has done more to regenerate and soften mankind than all of the dispositions of philosophers and exhortations of moralists."
 
Pre-Eminent
John Stewart Mill was perhaps the most influential and respected economist of the 18th century. He often spoke out against Christianity, yet he had to acknowledge: "Christ is still left - a unique figure, not more unlike all of His percusses than all his followers. Even those who had the direct benefit of His personal teaching. It is of no use to say that Christ, as exhibited in the Gospel, is not historical in that we know not how much of what is admirable has been added by the tradition of His followers …who among His disciples, or among their proselytes, was capable of inventing the sayings attributed to Jesus, or of imagining the life and character revealed in the Gospels? Certainly not the fisherman of Galilee. …When this pre-eminent genius is combined with the qualities of probably the greatest moral Reformer and Martyr to that mission who has ever existed on earth, religion cannot be said to have made a bad choice in pitching on this Man as the ideal representative and guide of humanity; nor even now would it be easy, even for an unbeliever, to find a better translation of the rule of virtue from the abstract into the concrete then to endeavour to so live that Christ would approve our life."
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Recognising Reality
Even as determined an enemy of Christianity as Charles Darwin who popularized the theory of evolution had to concede, in an article written for a newspaper in London: "They forget, or will not remember, those who minimize the work of missionaries in pagan countries. They forget, or will not remember, that human sacrifices and the power of an idolatrous priesthood; a system of profligacy unparalleled in another part of the world; infanticide, a consequence of that system; bloody wars where conquerors spared neither women nor children - that all of these have been abolished in these savage islands. That dishonesty and intemperance and licentiousness have been greatly reduced by Christianity. In a voyager, to forget these things is base ingratitude. For should he chance to be at the point of shipwreck on some unknown coast, he will most devoutly pray that the lesson of the missionary may have reached thus far!"
 
Civilising
On another occasion, Darwin wrote: "The lesson of the missionary is the enchanter's wand. The house has been built, the windows framed, the fields ploughed and even the trees grafted by the New Zealander. The march of improvement, consequent on the introduction of Christianity throughout the seas probably stands by itself in the records of history."
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Irreplaceable
Another hostile witness that could be brought to testify of the uniqueness of Christ was Darwin's bulldog, Thomas Huxley. It was Huxley who first coined the word agnostic, which is what he claimed to be. Huxley did more than any other to popularize the theories of Darwinism. Huxley was steadfastly opposed to almost every aspect of Christianity. Yet, in 1870, he wrote for The Contemporary Review: "I have always been strongly in favour of secular education, in the sense of education without theology. But, I must confess that I have been no less seriously perplexed to know by what practical measures the religious feeling, which is the essential basis of conduct, was to be kept up in the presently utterly chaotic state of opinion on these matters - without the use of the Bible. The pagan moralists lack life and colour. Take the Bible as a whole, make the severest deductions which criticisms can dictate and there still remains a vast residuum of moral beauty and grandeur. By the study of what other book could children be so much humanized and made to feel that each figure in that vast historical procession fills, like themselves, but a momentary space and interval between two eternities and earns the blessings, or curses, of all time, according to its efforts to do good and evil?"
 
Conceited Ignorance
When a fellow agnostic philosopher debunked the Bible, Huxley rebuked the man for putting on display his "conceited ignorance."
 
Indispensable
Huxley even had to go further in admitting: "The Bible has been the Magna Carta of the poor and the oppressed down to modern times. No state has had a constitution in which the interests of the people are so largely taken into account, in which the duties so much more than the privileges of rulers are insisted upon, as that drawn up for Israel. Nowhere is the fundamental truth that the welfare of the state, in the long run, depends upon the uprightness of the citizen so strongly laid down. I do not believe that the human race is yet and possibly never will be, in a position to dispense with the Bible."
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Immeasurably in Advance
Another vocal sceptic who can be called upon to testify of Christ was George Romanes. He wrote many articles against Christianity during his lifetime. Yet, in his book Thoughts on Religion, Romanes observed: "Not only is Christianity thus so immeasurably in advance of all other religions, it is no less so of every other system of thought that has ever been promulgated in regard to all that is moral and spiritual. Whether it be true or false, it is certain that neither philosophy, science, nor poetry has ever produced results in thought, conduct or beauty in any degree to be compared with it. It is the greatest exhibition of the beautiful, the sublime and all else that appeals to our spiritual nature which has ever been known upon our earth. What has all the science, or all the philosophy of the world, done for the thought of mankind to be compared to this one Doctrine - God is Love?"
 
The Dominant Figure in History
H.G. Wells who wrote Outlines of History is best known for his science fiction and filmmaking. However, by profession he was an historian. Despite being a very outspoken critic of Christianity, H.G. Wells wrote: "Jesus of Nazareth is easily the dominant figure in history. I am speaking of Him, of course, as a man. For I can see that the historian must treat Him as a man, just as the painter must paint Him as a man. To assume that He never lived and that the accounts of His life are inventions is more difficult and raises more problems in the path of the historian than to accept the essential elements of the Gospel stories as fact. Of course, you and I live in countries where to millions of men and women Jesus is more than a man. But the historian must disregard that fact. He must adhere to the evidence which would pass unchallenged if His book were to be read in every nation under the sun. Now, it is interesting and significant, isn't it, that an historian setting forth in that spirit, without any theological bias whatsoever, should find that he simply cannot portray the progress of humanity honestly without giving the foremost place to a penniless teacher from Nazareth."
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Unparalleled
The final hostile witness which I would like to call to testify of Christ is the brilliant and volatile journalist and writer H.L. Mencken. Mencken dipped his pen in acid whenever it came to writing on Christianity. Mencken was the journalist who transformed the evolutionist's legal defeat in the courtroom at the Scopes trial to a victory in the court of public opinion. In his work: Treaties on the gods, Mencken declared: "This historicity of Jesus is no longer questioned seriously by anyone, whether Christian or unbeliever. The main facts about Him seem to be beyond dispute …it is not easy to account for His singular and stupendous success. How did it come about that one who in His life had only the bitter cup of contumely to drink should have lifted Himself in death to such vast esteem and circumstance, such incomparable and world-shaking power and renown? …It seems to be certain that many persons saw Him after His supposed death on the Cross, including not a few who were violently disinclined to believe in His Resurrection. Upon that theory, the most civilized sections of the human race have erected a structure and practices so vast in scope and so powerful in effect that the whole range of history shows nothing parallel."
 
A Unanimous Verdict
So, here we have testimonies of some famous skeptics, some of them Christ's enemies, over almost 2000 years, including: rationalist philosophers, a Jewish historian, some famous evolutionists, a secular humanist journalist, a world renowned economist, a religious sceptic and a famous science fiction writer and Hollywood director. None of them were Christians. They all rejected Christianity. Yet, they all had to acknowledge that Jesus Christ was the greatest Person to ever walk on earth. His impact on history and the Bible's contribution to life and civilization are incomparable. The verdict of these skeptics is unanimous. This One who was born in obscurity, who lived in poverty, who died in agony, became the most important and positive influence in the history of the world. No one has influenced the world for the good more than Jesus Christ. ​
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Condemning the Eternal Judge
The chief priests in the Sanhedrin conspired against and condemned Christ. The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, acquitted Christ three times, declaring Him not guilty and yet he ordered Him to be whipped and crucified to appease the mob in the streets. Pilate then had the audacity to wash his hands in public declaring that he was innocent of this just man's blood.
 
The Day of Judgement Will Come
Today many presume to sit in judgement upon Christ. But the day will come when each one of them and each one of us, will stand before the judgment throne of Jesus Christ to give an account of our lives to Him. "It is appointed unto men once to die and after that the judgement." Hebrews 9:27
 
Jesus Will Judge You and I
The question is not so much what you think of Christ – but what does He think of you?
The question is not so much what will you do with Christ – but what will He do with you?
 
On the Day of Judgment will you hear: "Well done! Good and faithful servant?" Or will you hear "Depart from Me ye cursed, into the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels?"
 
"For we must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Africa Christian Action
PO Box 23632
Claremont 7735
Cape Town South Africa
E-mail: info@christianaction.org.za
Web: www.christianaction.org.za

 
The above article has been adapted from the book Answering Skeptics by Peter Hammond. The book and MP3 Boxset Answering Skeptics are available from Christian Liberty Books, PO Box 358, Howard Place 7450, Cape Town, South Africa, Tel: 021-689-7478, Fax: 086-551-7490, email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za and website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.
 
See also:
The Blood of Christ (for the audio, click here.)
Who Killed Jesus? (for a PowerPoint, click here; for the tract in English, click here; for the tract in Afrikaans, click here.)
The Cross of Christ (for the audio, click here.)
How Can I Know that Jesus is the Messiah? (for the audio, click here; for the tract, click here.)
Christ is Risen Indeed! (for a PowerPoint, click here; for the audio, click here; for the tract, click here.)
]]><![CDATA[WHO KILLED JESUS?]]>Tue, 08 Apr 2025 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.livingstonefellowship.co.za/answering-skeptics/who-killed-jesusPicture
To listen to an audio from Salt and Light, click here.
 
As we are reminded again of the sufferings of Christ on the Cross, we need to consider the question: Who is responsible for the sufferings of Christ? As we read the Gospel narratives, or as we see the crucifixion of our Saviour depicted by The Passion of the Christ film, we have to ask the question: Who killed Jesus?
 
1. Do we blame the Roman soldiers? Certainly, they crucified Him.
 
2. Surely though it was the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who was responsible? He alone had the power to enforce the death penalty, it was he who, as a magistrate of the Roman Empire, declared: "I cannot find any reason to condemn Him" John 19:4; "I find no reason to condemn Him" John 19:65; "I find no reason to condemn this Man" Luke 23:4. Yet, Pilate bowed to pressure and condemned an innocent man for political expediency and popularity.
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It was a meaningless gesture for him to publicly "wash his hands" and declare: "I am innocent of the blood of this just person. You see to it" Matthew 27:24. How hypocritical! He was the Roman governor. As the highest magistrate in the land he had declared: "Having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man, concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him." Luke 23:14
 
"He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord." Proverbs 17:15

​3. But what about the mob of people in the streets? They were the ones who pressured Pontius Pilate to condemn the Lord to death. "We have no king but Caesar!" they cried. "Release Barabbas!" "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" was their demand. "His blood be on us and on our children" Matthew 27:25.
 
"You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside many to pervert justice." Exodus 23:2
 
4. However, it was the Jewish religious leaders who initiated the arrest and trial of Jesus. It was the religious leaders who incited the mob to scream for Barabbas to be released and Christ to be crucified. (Matthew 26:3-4; Luke 22:3-4; John 7:32). "And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion… but the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them." Mark 15:7,11
 
"They were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. So, Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will." Luke 23:23-25
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5. Of course, it was Judas who betrayed Christ - for mere silver. Judas was one of the Lord's trusted twelve disciples, the treasurer, but he became a traitor. It has been common for Hollywood productions to deal very sympathetically with Judas, but the Bible is clear that Judas was greedy (Matthew 26:14-15); treacherous (Luke 22:47-48); dishonest and hypocritical (John 12:5-6). The Bible states it clearly that Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ (Matthew 10:4). Judas asked the Chief Priests: "What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?" Matthew 26:14. The Bible records that the Chief priests were 'delighted' at Judas's treachery (Mark 14:10). Although Judas was the treasurer of the Twelve, and feigned concern for the poor, the Bible reveals that, in fact, Judas was a thief, stealing from the funds of the Lord Himself (John 12:4-6). Far from Judas being a well-meaning victim of circumstances, the Bible is quite clear that he was a malicious traitor. John's Gospel plainly states: "Then satan entered into Judas" John 13:27. Jesus was betrayed by Judas.
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6. Yet, was it not God's will that Christ suffer and die on the Cross? In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed: "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done." Luke 22:42
 
7. However, we also need to ask whether it was not the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who was responsible for His own death? As our Lord declared: "I lay down My life for the sheep… I lay down My life… no one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself…" John 10:15-18. Our Lord Jesus was not a victim, or a martyr, he was a willing sacrifice - an Atonement - for our sins.
 
8. So, in the final analysis, was it not your sin and my sin that was responsible for the sufferings and the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ? It was for my sins that He suffered and died.
 
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquity; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, but who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people He was stricken… and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Isaiah 53:5-12
 
The Lamb of God
Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:6-8); our sin offering (Romans 8:3); our Atonement (Romans 3:25). When Christ, the perfect Son of God, a Lamb without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:19) shed His precious Blood on the Cross it was a substitutionary death. He died for us, in our place (1 Peter 3:18), the innocent for the guilty, the just in the place of the unjust.  Shortly after my conversion to Christ in 1977, I wrote this poem”
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He became like us - that we might become like Him.
He was rejected - that we might be accepted.
He was condemned - that we might be forgiven.
He was punished - that we might be pardoned.
He suffered - that we might be strengthened.
He was whipped - that we might healed.
He was hated - that we might be loved.
He was crucified - that we might be justified.
He was tortured - that we might be comforted.
He died - that we might live.
He went to hell - that we might go to Heaven.
He endured what we deserve - that we might enjoy what only He deserves.
 
"In this is love, not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10
 
God is a Holy God and His righteous standards are seen in His Law. We are sinful and need to repent from our wickedness and place our trust in Christ.
 
Have you acknowledged your sinfulness and failings before Almighty God?
 
Have you thanked Him for dying on the Cross for your sins?
 
Jesus died for you. Are you living for Him?
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
mission@frontline.org.za
www.FrontlineMissionSA.org
www.livingstonefellowship.co.za​
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This article was adapted from a chapter in Practical Discipleship book, (also available in Afrikaans- Praktiese Dissipelskap) which are available from Christian Liberty Books, PO Box 358, Howard Place 7450, Cape Town, South Africa, email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za and website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.
 
To download and print this article as a tract in English, click here.
To download and print this article as a tract in Afrikaans, click here.
 
See also:
The Illegal Trial of Jesus and the Verdict of History 
The Blood of Christ
The Cross of Christ 
How Can I Know that Jesus is the Messiah? (for the tract, click here.)
Christ is Risen Indeed! (for the tract, click here.)
]]><![CDATA[How Can I Know That Jesus is the Messiah?]]>Sun, 06 Apr 2025 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.livingstonefellowship.co.za/answering-skeptics/how-can-i-know-that-jesus-is-the-messiahPicture
To download as a tract for printing and distribution, click here.
 
“Which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the Resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:2-4
 
Careful Investigation is Encouraged
There is nothing wrong with being cautious and careful when it comes to eternal matters. Indeed, there is much in the world that we should be skeptical about. We should not be gullible. There is far too much superstition and ignorance in the world. We should carefully investigate and establish what the facts are. We need to have the courage to face the facts.

​Faith in Facts
Christianity does not require one to make a blind leap into the dark. False religions require blind faith. Christianity is an intelligent step into the light, in response to facts.
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The Testimony of Thomas
Thomas declared: “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” John 20:25
 
Yet, when Thomas was confronted with the risen Lord Jesus, he dedicated the rest of his life to proclaiming the truth of the Resurrected Messiah. Thomas died establishing churches in India. The Bar Thomas churches in India remain to this day.
 
The Absence of Prophecies
Of the twenty-six books of the world that claim to be some kind of holy book, specific prophecies concerning the future are glaringly absent. You will not find specific, predictive prophecy in the writings of Buddha, Lao-Tzu, Confucius or Muhammad. The reason for the lack of prophecies is that they require supernatural ability.
 
The Fulfilment of Prophecies
The Bible is a unique book in every way. From the Old Testament alone, more than two thousand specific prophecies have already been fulfilled. Most of the three hundred and thirty-three prophecies concerning the Messiah were fulfilled in the First Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The others will be fulfilled at His Second Coming.
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Identifying the Messiah
Some years ago, when I was conducting outreaches in Hillbrow, I had a conversation with two Jewish people who claimed that they were waiting for the promised Messiah. I read to them from Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22. Then I asked them who they understood these passages to be referring to. Both agreed that obviously these Scriptures were talking about Jesus of Nazareth. However, one added, “But, that’s from your New Testament!”
 
“No”, I pointed out to them. “The two passages that I read to you are from your Bible, The Old Testament. Psalm 22 was written by King David a thousand years before the birth of Christ. Isaiah 53 was written by the prophet Isaiah some six hundred years before the time of Christ.” They were shocked. I handed them the Bible so that they could read for themselves and urged them to go back home and look in their own Scriptures to see that this was so.
 
There are 333 passages of the Old Testament that make predictions about the Messiah. 451 details are given in these passages. They were all fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth.
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How to Identify a False Prophet
The Law of God revealed through the prophet Moses declared: “When a prophet speaks in the Name of the Lord if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously, you shall not be afraid of him.” Deuteronomy 18:22
 
The Incomplete Old Testament
The Old Testament Scriptures are the Word of God. However, they were definitely incomplete. The Old Covenant speaks of a King from the line of David, whose Kingdom would never end. It spoke of all the families of the nations of the earth being blessed by the Seed of Abraham. It spoke of a Prophet like Moses, arising from among the people, whose teaching would be unparalleled. It spoke of a Servant of the Lord, whose death would atone for the sins of His people. Of One who would make a New Covenant between God and men. One who would put the Spirit of the Lord into the hearts of men, so that they could know God personally and have their sins wiped out. It spoke of a Stone, despised by the builders, which would become the chief Cornerstone. It spoke of One like the Son of Man who would receive authority, honour and royal power so that the people of all nations, races and languages would serve Him. It spoke of a Priest of the order of Melchizedek whom the Almighty would call Lord and welcome to His throne. It spoke of a coming Messiah who would be born of the tribe of Judah, from David’s line, in Bethlehem. He would be despised and rejected by the very people He came to deliver. He would die among wicked men and His tomb would be supplied by a rich man. Yet He would live again, forever and the Lord’s purpose would succeed through Him. All of this was fulfilled by Jesus! Not some of it. Not much of it. All of it! Prophecies made by many prophets over a thousand years and more were all fulfilled in One historical Person.
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Proclaiming the Future in the Past
“Remember the former things of old, for I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done …” Isaiah 46:9-10
 
“I have declared the former things from the beginning; they went forth from My mouth and I caused them to hear it. Suddenly I did them and they came to pass, even from the beginning I have declared it to you; before it came to pass, I have proclaimed it to you …” Isaiah 48:3-5
 
After He had risen from the dead, Jesus appeared to some of His followers on the road to Emmaus “and beginning at Moses and all the prophets He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:27
 
To His disciples Jesus explained: “These are the Words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” Luke 24:44
 
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me … if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me …” John 5:39-47
 
Again and again in the Scriptures we read of how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies. “But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Matthew 26:56
 
Jesus began His public ministry by reading a Messianic prophecy from the book of Isaiah and declaring: “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:21
 
In the book of Acts, we read that the Apostles taught that Jesus Christ fulfilled the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. “But those things that God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.” Acts 3:18
 
“To Him all the prophets witness …” Acts 10:43
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Festivals Fulfilled
The Levitical feasts of the Old Covenant are fulfilled in Christ. For example, The Passover is fulfilled in the death of Christ (1 Corinthians 5:7). The feast of First Fruits is fulfilled in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:23). The feast of Pentecost is fulfilled in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5; 2:4).
 
Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus
So, what are some of the Messianic prophecies fulfilled in the earthly ministry of Jesus of Nazareth?
 
After the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, God promised a Redeemer, born of the seed of woman, who would suffer but He would defeat satan (Genesis 3:15; Galatians 4:4; Matthew 1:21).
 
The Messiah was to be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).
 
The Messiah shall be a descendant of Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3; 22:18; Matthew 1:1).
 
It is most significant that Jesus is called the Son of Abraham, as He was called to the altar of the Cross. He is also called the Son of David, because He is destined to the Crown and the throne. The first time He came as the Lamb of God, a sacrifice. God himself has provided the Lamb: “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” The second time He comes, He will come not as the suffering Servant, the sacrificial Lamb, but as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, King of kings and Lord of lords.
 
The Messiah was to be born of the line of Isaac (Genesis 21:12; Luke 3:23, 34).
 
So, these prophecies identify that the Messiah would come from the Hebrew race and of the line of Abraham and Isaac.
 
The Messiah would be a descendent from Jacob (Numbers 24:17; Luke 3:23, 34).
 
The Scripture prophesied that the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10; Luke 3:23, 33).
 
The Messiah would come from the family of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1; Luke 3:23, 32).
 
The Messiah would come from the house of David (Jeremiah 23:5; Luke 3:23, 31).
 
So, these prophecies tell us that the Messiah would be born of a virgin, from the line of Abraham, descended from Isaac (not Ishmael), from Jacob (not Esau), from the tribe of Judah (eliminating 11/12th of the tribes of Israel as possibilities), from the family of Jesse and from the house of King David. Now the prophecies become even more specific as to where the Messiah will be born:
 
The Messiah would be born at Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1). In Matthew 2:6 the scribes informed King Herod with great assurance that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. It was only fitting that Bethlehem, meaning the house of bread, should be the birthplace of the One who is the Bread of Life.
 
Other Messianic prophecies included that: He shall be called Lord (Psalm 110:1; Luke 2:11; Matthew 22:43-45); and He shall be a Prophet (Deut. 18:18; Mat. 21:11).
 
It can be noted that Christ and Moses were both delivered from a violent death in their infancy, both exercised control over the sea, both fed multitudes of people miraculously, both mediated between Jehovah and Israel and made intercession on behalf of sinful people.
 
“For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:17
 
The Messiah would also be a Priest according to the Order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 5:5-6).
 
The Messiah would be Judge (Isaiah 33:22; Titus 2:13-14).
 
The Messiah will be King (Psalm 2:6; Jeremiah 23:5; Zachariah 9:9; Revelation 19:16).
 
The Messiah shall have a special anointing of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2; Matthew 3:16-17).
 
The Messiah shall be preceded by a messenger who will prepare the way in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3-5; Matthew 3:1-3).
 
His ministry would begin in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:12-17).
 
He would work miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6; Matthew 9:35; Luke 7:22).
 
He would teach in parables (Psalm 78:2; Matthew 13:34).
 
He would enter Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:35-37).
 
The Messiah would enter the Temple (Malachi 3:1; Matthew 21:12).
 
He would be zealous for God’s House (Psalm 69:9; John 2:15; Matthew 21:12-13).
 
The Messiah was to be a Stone of Stumbling (Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 8:14-15; Luke 20;17-18; 1 Peter 2:7).
 
He would be betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9; Matthew 10:4).
 
He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:15).
 
The money would be thrown into God’s House (Zechariah 11:13; Matthew 27:5 & 7).
 
He would be forsaken by His disciples (Zechariah 13:7; Mark 14:15).
 
He would be accused by false witnesses (Psalm 35:11; Matthew 26:59-60).
 
He would be silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12).
 
He would be wounded and bruised (Isaiah 53:5).
 
He would be beaten and abused (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 26:67).
 
He would be mocked (Psalm 22:7-8; Matthew 27:29).
 
His hands and His feet would be pierced (Psalm 22:16; Luke 23:33).
 
He would be executed with thieves (Isaiah 53:12; Matthew 27:38).
 
He would intercede for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12; Luke 23:34).
 
He would be rejected by His own people (Isaiah 53:3).
 
His friends would stand afar off (Psalm 38:11; Luke 23:49).
 
People would shake their heads at Him (Psalm 109:25; Matthew 27:39).
 
His garment would be gambled for (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24).
 
Gall and vinegar would be offered to Him (Psalm 69:21; Matthew 27:34).
 
He would cry out: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Psalm 22:1; Matthew 27:47).
 
He would commit His Spirit to God (Luke 23:46).
 
None of His bones would be broken (Psalm 34:20; John 19:33).
 
His side would be pierced (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34).
 
His heart would break (Psalm 22:14; John 19:34).
 
There would be darkness over the land (Amos 8:9; Matthew 27:45). (Because they calculated the hours from sunrise to sunset this should make the sixth hour to the ninth hour from noon to three o clock in the afternoon.)
 
He would be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60).
 
He would rise from the dead (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:30-32).
 
He would ascend on High (Acts 1:9).
 
He would be seated at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3).
 
Many Gentiles, including kings, would come to His light (Isaiah 60:3; Acts 13:47-48).
 
These are only some of the over 300 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. The place of His birth (Micah 5:2), the time of His birth (Genesis 49:10; Daniel 9:25), the unique manner of His birth (Isaiah 7:14), the manner of His death (Psalm 22:16) and so much more, was prophesied in great detail from 500 to over 1000 years before His birth. All of these prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus Christ and they establish a solid confirmation of His credentials as the Messiah.
 
“To Him all the prophets witness …” Acts 10:43
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Jesus is the Messiah
Jesus is the Seed of the woman, born of the virgin, Emmanuel, the Son of God, the Son of Abraham, the Son of David, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Prophet, Priest and King, eternal Judge. He made the blind see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk and the dumb to sing for joy. He cleansed the lepers, healed the sick and raised the dead. He taught in parables. At the appointed time He entered Jerusalem on a donkey and suddenly came to His temple, cleansing it. He was a rock of offence and a stone of stumbling to the Jews, but He became a light to the Gentiles. He was betrayed by a friend, for 30 pieces of silver, forsaken by His disciples, accused by false witnesses, wounded and bruised, smitten and spat upon, mocked and crucified. Yet He rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. He is seated at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven and He will come again to Judge the living and the dead.
 
He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the eternal Judge before whom each one of us will stand. Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, the fulfilment of all Old Testament prophecies.
 
Have you surrendered your life to Him?
 
Are you living in obedience to Him?
 
Do you love Him with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind and with all of your strength?
 
Is Jesus Christ your Saviour and Lord, or is He your Eternal Judge?
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
mission@frontline.org.za
www.FrontlineMissionSA.org
www.livingstonefellowship.co.za

To download this message as a tract, for printing and distribution, click here.
 
The above article has been adapted from the book Answering Skeptics by Peter Hammond. The book and MP3 Audio Boxset Answering Skeptics are available from Christian Liberty Books, PO Box 358, Howard Place 7450, Cape Town, South Africa, Tel: 021-689-7478, Fax: 086-551-7490, email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za and website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.
 
See also:
Who Killed Jesus? (for the tract in English, click here; for the tract in Afrikaans, click here.)
The Illegal Trial of Jesus and the Verdict of History
The Cross of Christ
The Blood of Christ
Christ is Risen Indeed! (for the tract, click here.)
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]]><![CDATA[CHRIST on TRIAL]]>Thu, 03 Apr 2025 22:00:00 GMThttps://www.livingstonefellowship.co.za/answering-skeptics/christ-on-trialPicture
​Unique Identity
The betrayal, arrest, trial and execution of Jesus of Nazareth, was unique. It was not His actions that were in question, but His identity. The charge laid against Christ by the Jewish Sanhedrin was blasphemy. The testimony on which He was convicted was concerned with His identity as the Messiah. The interrogation by the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate and the inscription and proclamation placed on His Cross at the execution, dealt with the identity of Christ as the Messiah, the Son of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
 
The Illegal Trial
The trial of Jesus of Nazareth was completely illegal. At every point it broke the laws of Israel as well as the laws of Rome. It was illegal to conduct a trial at night. It was also against the law to conduct a summary trial without any warning, or opportunity, for the accused to prepare a defense or seek positive character witnesses. At any trial the accused was to be granted an opportunity to prepare a defense and heralds were to be sent out into the area requiring anyone who knew anything positive about the accused to come forward and testify. There was no opportunity granted for appeal. There was no delay between the arrest and trial, between the trial and verdict, between the verdict and sentencing and between the sentencing and execution. Within less than a 24-hour period, Jesus was arrested, tried, condemned, sentenced to death and executed. This blatantly violated all due process of law.
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Conspiracy and False Witnesses
It was obvious that there was a conspiracy against the accused. In the event of there being evidence of a conspiracy the judges were obligated to release the accused. In addition, the testimony of false witnesses, brought forward by the accusers, contradicted one another.
 
Condemning the Innocent
The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, acquitted Christ three times:
"I find no fault in Him at all." John 18:38
"… I find no fault in Him." John 19:6
"You have brought this Man to me as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him. No, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him." Luke 23:14-15
 
Trial by Mob
"But they shouted saying, 'Crucify Him, crucify Him!' Then he said to them the third time, 'Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.' But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified." Luke 23:21-23
 
Beaten Before Being Tried
The Lord Jesus Christ had also evidently been severely beaten by His captors (Luke 22:63-64). In the event of a prisoner having being mistreated in this way, the judge should have been obligated to release the accused.
 
Miscarriage of Justice
How could any judge allow someone to be executed whom he had three times declared innocent? What a meaningless gesture for the governor and magistrate to wash his hands claiming that he was innocent of the blood of a person who was clearly the victim of a conspiracy and who, as a magistrate, he should have protected from the mob.
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Cowardice and Compromise
"When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude saying, 'I am innocent of the blood of this just person. You see to it.' And all the people answered and said, 'His blood be on us and on our children.'" Matthew 27:24-25
 
A Travesty of Justice
The trial of Jesus was a travesty of justice. It is a terrifying thing to be judged by the mob. Can you imagine being judged by your worst enemies?
 
Character Witnesses
However, today, let us call forward some character witnesses to testify of Jesus. Of course, we could call forth millions of Christians throughout the ages who would eagerly testify to the incomparable goodness and greatness of our Lord and Saviour. However, we will call forward only skeptics and many of the enemies of Christ.
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Hostile Witnesses for Jesus
Thomas Paine, who was an outspoken opponent of Christianity, still admitted in writing: "Jesus Christ was a virtuous and amiable man. For the morality that He preached and practiced was of the most benevolent kind; and while those similar systems of morality had been preached by Confucius and by some of the Greek philosophers, many years before; by the Quakers since and by many good men of all ages, it has not been exceeded by any."
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The Christ
The first century Jewish historian, Josephus Ben Mattathias, the author of The Antiquities of the Jews, wrote: "Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call Him a man, for He was a doer of wonderful works, a Teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to Him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ and when Pilate at the suggestion of the principal men among us, had condemned Him to the Cross, those who loved Him at the first, did not forsake Him; for He appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand wonderful things concerning Him. And the tribe of Christians, so named from Him, are not extinct to this day." (Antiquities XVIII, 33)
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The Greatest Example and Inspiration
William H. Lecky was one of the leading historians of the 19th century and the author of The History of the Rise and Influence of the Spirit of Rationalism in Europe. Lecky spent his life advancing the cause of Rationalism, attacking Christianity and the supernatural. Yet, he admitted: "It was reserved for Christianity to present to the world an ideal character, which through all the changes of 18 centuries has inspired the hearts of men with an impassioned love, has shown itself capable of acting on all ages, nations, temperaments and conditions and has been not only the highest pattern of virtue, but also the strongest incentive to its practice and has exercised so deep an influence that it may truly be said that the simple record of three short years of active life has done more to regenerate and soften mankind than all of the dispositions of philosophers and exhortations of moralists."
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Pre-Eminent
John Stewart Mill was perhaps the most influential and respected economist of the 18th century. He often spoke out against Christianity, yet he had to acknowledge: "Christ is still left - a unique figure, not more unlike all of His percusses than all his followers. Even those who had the direct benefit of His personal teaching. It is of no use to say that Christ, as exhibited in the Gospel, is not historical in that we know not how much of what is admirable has been added by the tradition of His followers …who among His disciples, or among their proselytes, was capable of inventing the sayings attributed to Jesus, or of imagining the life and character revealed in the Gospels? Certainly not the fisherman of Galilee. …When this pre-eminent genius is combined with the qualities of probably the greatest moral Reformer and Martyr to that mission who has ever existed on earth, religion cannot be said to have made a bad choice in pitching on this Man as the ideal representative and guide of humanity; nor even now would it be easy, even for an unbeliever, to find a better translation of the rule of virtue from the abstract into the concrete then to endeavour to so live that Christ would approve our life."
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Recognising Reality
Even as determined an enemy of Christianity as Charles Darwin who popularized the theory of evolution had to concede, in an article written for a newspaper in London: "They forget, or will not remember, those who minimize the work of missionaries in pagan countries. They forget, or will not remember, that human sacrifices and the power of an idolatrous priesthood; a system of profligacy unparalleled in another part of the world; infanticide, a consequence of that system; bloody wars where conquerors spared neither women nor children - that all of these have been abolished in these savage islands. That dishonesty and intemperance and licentiousness have been greatly reduced by Christianity. In a voyager, to forget these things is base ingratitude. For should he chance to be at the point of shipwreck on some unknown coast, he will most devoutly pray that the lesson of the missionary may have reached thus far!"
 
Civilising
On another occasion, Darwin wrote: "The lesson of the missionary is the enchanter's wand. The house has been built, the windows framed, the fields ploughed and even the trees grafted by the New Zealander. The march of improvement, consequent on the introduction of Christianity throughout the seas probably stands by itself in the records of history."
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Irreplaceable
Another hostile witness that could be brought to testify of the uniqueness of Christ was Darwin's bulldog, Thomas Huxley. It was Huxley who first coined the word agnostic, which is what he claimed to be. Huxley did more than any other to popularize the theories of Darwinism. Huxley was steadfastly opposed to almost every aspect of Christianity. Yet, in 1870, he wrote for The Contemporary Review: "I have always been strongly in favour of secular education, in the sense of education without theology. But I must confess that I have been no less seriously perplexed to know by what practical measures the religious feeling, which is the essential basis of conduct, was to be kept up in the presently utterly chaotic state of opinion on these matters - without the use of the Bible. The pagan moralists lack life and colour. Take the Bible as a whole, make the severest deductions which criticisms can dictate and there still remains a vast residuum of moral beauty and grandeur. By the study of what other book could children be so much humanized and made to feel that each figure in that vast historical procession fills, like themselves, but a momentary space and interval between two eternities and earns the blessings, or curses, of all time, according to its efforts to do good and evil?"
 
Conceited Ignorance
When a fellow agnostic philosopher debunked the Bible, Huxley rebuked the man for putting on display his "conceited ignorance."
 
Indispensable
Huxley even had to go further in admitting: "The Bible has been the Magna Carta of the poor and the oppressed down to modern times. No state has had a constitution in which the interests of the people are so largely taken into account, in which the duties so much more than the privileges of rulers are insisted upon, as that drawn up for Israel. Nowhere is the fundamental truth that the welfare of the state, in the long run, depends upon the uprightness of the citizen so strongly laid down. I do not believe that the human race is yet and possibly never will be, in a position to dispense with the Bible."
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Immeasurably in Advance
Another vocal sceptic who can be called upon to testify of Christ was George Romanes. He wrote many articles against Christianity during his lifetime. Yet, in his book Thoughts on Religion, Romanes observed: "Not only is Christianity thus so immeasurably in advance of all other religions, it is no less so of every other system of thought that has ever been promulgated in regard to all that is moral and spiritual. Whether it be true or false, it is certain that neither philosophy, science, nor poetry has ever produced results in thought, conduct or beauty in any degree to be compared with it. It is the greatest exhibition of the beautiful, the sublime and all else that appeals to our spiritual nature which has ever been known upon our earth. What has all the science, or all the philosophy of the world, done for the thought of mankind to be compared to this one Doctrine - God is Love?"
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The Dominant Figure in History
H.G. Wells who wrote Outlines of History is best known for his science fiction and filmmaking. However, by profession he was an historian. Despite being a very outspoken critic of Christianity, H.G. Wells wrote: "Jesus of Nazareth is easily the dominant figure in history. I am speaking of Him, of course, as a man. For I can see that the historian must treat Him as a man, just as the painter must paint Him as a man. To assume that He never lived and that the accounts of His life are inventions is more difficult and raises more problems in the path of the historian than to accept the essential elements of the Gospel stories as fact. Of course, you and I live in countries where to millions of men and women Jesus is more than a man. But the historian must disregard that fact. He must adhere to the evidence which would pass unchallenged if His book were to be read in every nation under the sun. Now, it is interesting and significant, isn't it, that an historian setting forth in that spirit, without any theological bias whatsoever, should find that he simply cannot portray the progress of humanity honestly without giving the foremost place to a penniless teacher from Nazareth."
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Unparalleled
The final hostile witness which I would like to call to testify of Christ is the brilliant and volatile journalist and writer H.L. Mencken. Mencken dipped his pen in acid whenever it came to writing on Christianity. Mencken was the journalist who transformed the evolutionist's legal defeat in the courtroom at the Scopes trial to a victory in the court of public opinion. In his work: Treaties on the gods, Mencken declared: "This historicity of Jesus is no longer questioned seriously by anyone, whether Christian or unbeliever. The main facts about Him seem to be beyond dispute …it is not easy to account for His singular and stupendous success. How did it come about that one who in His life had only the bitter cup of contumely to drink should have lifted Himself in death to such vast esteem and circumstance, such incomparable and world-shaking power and renown? …It seems to be certain that many persons saw Him after His supposed death on the Cross, including not a few who were violently disinclined to believe in His Resurrection. Upon that theory, the most civilized sections of the human race have erected a structure and practices so vast in scope and so powerful in effect that the whole range of history shows nothing parallel."
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A Unanimous Verdict
So, here we have testimonies of some famous skeptics, some of them Christ's enemies, over almost 2000 years, including: rationalist philosophers, a Jewish historian, some famous evolutionists, a secular humanist journalist, a world-renowned economist, a religious sceptic and a famous science fiction writer and Hollywood director. None of them were Christians. They all rejected Christianity. Yet, they all had to acknowledge that Jesus Christ was the greatest Person to ever walk on earth. His impact on history and the Bible's contribution to life and civilization are incomparable. The verdict of these skeptics is unanimous. This One who was born in obscurity, who lived in poverty, who died in agony, became the most important and positive influence in the history of the world. No one has influenced the world for the good more than Jesus Christ.
 
Condemning the Eternal Judge
The chief priests in the Sanhedrin conspired against and condemned Christ. The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, acquitted Christ three times, declaring Him not guilty and yet he ordered Him to be whipped and crucified to appease the mob in the streets. Pilate then had the audacity to wash his hands in public declaring that he was innocent of this just man's blood.
 
The Day of Judgement Will Come
Today many presume to sit in judgement upon Christ. But the day will come when each one of them and each one of us, will stand before the judgment throne of Jesus Christ to give an account of our lives to Him. "It is appointed unto men once to die and after that the Judgement." Hebrews 9:27
 
Jesus Will Judge You and I
The question is not so much what you think of Christ – but what does He think of you?
The question is not so much what will you do with Christ – but what will He do with you?
 
On That Day
On the Day of Judgment will you hear: "Well done! Good and faithful servant?" Or will you hear "Depart from Me ye cursed, into the lake of fire prepared for the devil and his angels?" "For we must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10
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Who Killed Jesus?
As we are reminded again of the sufferings of Christ on the Cross, we need to consider the question: Who is responsible for the sufferings of Christ? As we read the Gospel narratives, or as we see the crucifixion of our Saviour depicted by The Passion of the Christ film, we have to ask the question: Who killed Jesus?
 
1. Do we blame the Roman soldiers? Certainly, they crucified Him.
 
2. Surely though it was the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who was responsible? He alone had the power to enforce the death penalty, it was he who, as a magistrate of the Roman Empire, declared: "I cannot find any reason to condemn Him" John 19:4; "I find no reason to condemn Him" John 19:65; "I find no reason to condemn this Man" Luke 23:4. Yet, Pilate bowed to pressure and condemned an innocent man for political expediency and popularity.
 
It was a meaningless gesture for him to publicly "wash his hands" and declare: "I am innocent of the blood of this just person. You see to it" Matthew 27:24. How hypocritical! He was the Roman governor. As the highest magistrate in the land, he had declared: "Having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man, concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed, nothing deserving of death has been done by Him." Luke 23:14
 
"He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord." Proverbs 17:15
 
3. But what about the mob of people in the streets? They were the ones who pressured Pontius Pilate to condemn the Lord to death. "We have no king but Caesar!" they cried. "Release Barabbas!" "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" was their demand. "His blood be on us and on our children" Matthew 27:25.
 
"You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside many to pervert justice." Exodus 23:2
 
4. However, it was the Jewish religious leaders who initiated the arrest and trial of Jesus. It was the religious leaders who incited the mob to scream for Barabbas to be released and Christ to be crucified. (Matthew 26:3-4; Luke 22:3-4; John 7:32). "And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion… but the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them." Mark 15:7,11
 
"They were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. So, Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested. And he released to them the one they requested, who for rebellion and murder had been thrown into prison; but he delivered Jesus to their will." Luke 23:23-25
 
5. Of course, it was Judas who betrayed Christ - for mere silver. Judas was one of the Lord's trusted twelve disciples, the treasurer, but he became a traitor. It has been common for Hollywood productions to deal very sympathetically with Judas, but the Bible is clear that Judas was greedy (Matthew 26:14-15); treacherous (Luke 22:47-48); dishonest and hypocritical (John 12:5-6). The Bible states it clearly that Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ (Matthew 10:4). Judas asked the Chief Priests: "What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?" Matthew 26:14. The Bible records that the Chief priests were 'delighted' at Judas's treachery (Mark 14:10). Although Judas was the treasurer of the Twelve, and feigned concern for the poor, the Bible reveals that, in fact, Judas was a thief, stealing from the funds of the Lord Himself (John 12:4-6). Far from Judas being a well-meaning victim of circumstances, the Bible is quite clear that he was a malicious traitor. John's Gospel plainly states: "Then satan entered into Judas" John 13:27. Jesus was betrayed by Judas.
 
6. Yet, was it not God's will that Christ suffer and die on the Cross? In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed: "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done." Luke 22:42
 
7. However, we also need to ask whether it was not the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who was responsible for His own death? As our Lord declared: "I lay down My life for the sheep… I lay down My life… no one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself…" John 10:15-18. Our Lord Jesus was not a victim, or a martyr, he was a willing sacrifice - an Atonement - for our sins.
 
8. So, in the final analysis, was it not your sin and my sin that was responsible for the sufferings and the atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ? It was for my sins that He suffered and died.
 
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquity; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, everyone, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, but who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people, He was stricken… and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Isaiah 53:5-12
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The Lamb of God
Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:6-8); our sin offering (Romans 8:3); our Atonement (Romans 3:25). When Christ, the perfect Son of God, a Lamb without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:19) shed His precious Blood on the Cross it was a substitutionary death. He died for us, in our place (1 Peter 3:18), the innocent for the guilty, the just in the place of the unjust. Shortly after my conversion to Christ in 1977, I wrote this poem:
 
“He became like us - that we might become like Him.
He was rejected - that we might be accepted.
He was condemned - that we might be forgiven.
He was punished - that we might be pardoned.
He suffered - that we might be strengthened.
He was whipped - that we might be healed.
He was hated - that we might be loved.
He was crucified - that we might be justified.
He was tortured - that we might be comforted.
He died - that we might live.
He went to hell - that we might go to Heaven.
He endured what we deserve - that we might enjoy what only He deserves.”
 
"In this is love, not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10
 
God is a Holy God and His righteous standards are seen in His Law.
We are sinful and need to repent from our wickedness and place our trust in Christ.
 
Have you acknowledged your sinfulness and failings before Almighty God?
 
Have you thanked Him for dying on the Cross for your sins?
 
Jesus died for you. Are you living for Him?
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
mission@frontline.org.za
www.FrontlineMissionSA.org
 
The above article has been adapted from the book Answering Skeptics by Peter Hammond (144 pages). The book, E-book and MP3 Boxset Answering Skeptics are also available from Christian Liberty Books, PO Box 358, Howard Place 7450, Cape Town, South Africa, Tel: 021-689-7478, Fax: 086-551-7490, email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za and website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za.
 
See also:
To view The Worst Crime in History video, click here.
The Illegal Trial of Jesus and the Verdict of History 
Who Killed Jesus? 
The Blood of Christ
The Cross of Christ
To hear the From the Frontline radio discussion on The Centrality of the Cross, click here.
How Can I Know that Jesus is the Messiah? (for the tract, click here.)
Christ is Risen Indeed! (for the audio, click here; for the tract, click here.)
]]><![CDATA[STRENGTHENING the HANDS of EVILDOERS]]>Tue, 18 Jun 2019 14:29:10 GMThttps://www.livingstonefellowship.co.za/answering-skeptics/strengthening-the-hands-of-evildoers​"But if they had stood in My counsel and had caused My people to hear My Words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings." Jeremiah 23:22
 
At a recent meeting of military veterans, one person asked, how, with all the Transformation prayer rallies, Angus Buchan Mighty Mens’ Conferences and prayer events, could things in our country have continued to deteriorate so badly?
 
The Crisis That Confronts Us
Just how did we descend to such a disastrous situation that litter, pollution, deforestation and degenerate Hollywood entertainment could be considered normal? That corruption could be endemic, dysfunctional families the norm, most state schools failing, student riots, rampant rhino poaching, canned lion hunting, legalised abortion, "gay pride" parades, legalised perversion, transgenderism and gender fluidity disrupting sports and infiltrating schools and so-called homosexual "weddings"! How could perverts be called pastors? How could Europe so abandon its Christian heritage that it could be hijacked by secular humanism and endangered by an Islamic invasion? How could South Africa have been hijacked by corrupt criminals who have looted this country into power failures, water shortages and violent crime?
 
Wickedness Within the Church
"My heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake. I am like a drunken man and like a man whom wine has overcome, because of the Lord and because of His holy Words. For the land is full of adulterers; for because of a curse the land mourns. The pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up. Their course of life is evil and their might is not right. 'For both prophet and priest are profane; Yes, in My house I have found their wickedness,' says the Lord." Jeremiah 23:9-11
 
Recognise the Tactics of satan
We need to recognise the tactics of the enemy: corrupt and conquer and confuse, divide and conquer. We need to learn the lessons of history, recognise the tactics and strategies of satan, as well as the disastrous consequences of idolatry and immorality, compromise and cowardice, passivity and neutrality, neglect of God's Word and silence in the face of evil.
Wickedness and Weakness
God's Word makes it clear that it is not primarily the wickedness of the wicked, but the weakness, compromise and cowardice of religious leaders who purport to speak in God's Name that has led to the disastrous situation that confronts us today.
 
Strengthening the Hands of Evildoers
"'Therefore their way shall be to them like slippery ways; in the darkness they shall be driven on and fall in them; for I will bring disaster on them, the year of their punishment,' says the Lord. 'And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria: They prophesied by Baal and cause My people Israel to err. Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: They commit adultery and walk in lies; they also strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns back from his wickedness. All of them are like Sodom to Me and her inhabitants like Gomorrah.'" 
Jeremiah 23:12-14
 
Causing God's People to Err
We can see the slippery ways of those who walk in lies, strengthening the hand of evildoers and causing God's people to err. Foundational Biblical doctrines are undermined by the teaching of Evolution, even in theological seminaries. Even institutions which claim to be Christian Universities, teach Evolution and the tenants of secular humanism. Antinomianism, hostility to God's Law, further erodes the foundations of the Church. Many are distracted by Rapture fever, date setting, end times obsessions. As a result, many of our churches have become corrupted by cheap grace and easy believism. By failing to Evangelise and educate, many churches have become more like social clubs, failing to be salt and light, people-pleasers, sinner-friendly, non-confrontational and comfortable in compromise with the world. Many people live in comfortable homes, travel in comfortable cars, to air-conditioned shopping malls and to comfortable congregations, to hear comfortable messages. As Francis Schaefer observed: “The gospel of personal peace and affluence!”
 
Promoting Child Sacrifice
Prominent church leaders such as Bishop Desmond Tutu have gone on record promoting the largest abortion provider in South Africa: Marie Stopes Clinics. We have seen the large pull-out banner at the Marie Stopes Abortuary in Cape Town, with a picture of Bishop Tutu and his quote enthusiastically endorsing the work of this, the largest provider of abortion in the country! The May 2019 edition of JOY! Magazine published a full-page article entitled: “Mmusi Maimane’s Stance on Christian Values.” In this interview, Errol Naidoo described the DA leader as: “An outspoken Christian, with pastoral training and a history in ministry.” No mention of the pro-LGBTQ GayGB agenda, Pink Inquisition, pro-abortion policies of the DA in that article! Judas could have also been described as “an apostle of Christ, chosen to be Treasurer of the Twelve!” but that would be misleading.
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The Fruit of Failure
One can see the fruit of failure: "They also strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns back from his wickedness…" The fruit of a false prophet is that people fail to repent from their wickedness. Most Christians in South Africa voted for pro-abortion, pro-GayGB policies of the DANC, COPELESS, GOOD FOR NOTHING political parties. For more people attend Angus Buchan’s Mighty Men’s Conferences and prayer rallies than vote pro-life!
 
Worthless Words
"Therefore thus says the Lord of Hosts concerning the prophets: 'Behold, I will feed them with wormwood and make them drink the water of gall; for from the prophets of Jerusalem profaneness has gone out into all the land.' Thus says the Lord of Hosts: 'Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; they speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord. They continually say to those who despise Me, the Lord has said, 'You shall have peace'; and to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, 'No evil shall come upon you.'" Jeremiah 23:15-17
 
False Prophets Encourage the Immoral and Idolaters
Profaneness, drunkenness, blasphemy, immorality and idolatry have spread throughout the land. Yet how many religious leaders continually offer false security and say to those who despise the Lord: "The Lord has said you shall have peace and to everyone who walks according to the dictate of his own heart, they say, no evil shall come upon you!" A true servant of God comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable. People-pleasers make traitors. You cannot please God and man at the same time. We need to fear God, not man!
 
God's Servants Must Instruct, Correct and Rebuke
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17. For the servant of God to be thoroughly equipped for every good work, they need to be taught doctrine, reproved, corrected and instructed in righteousness.
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Our Solemn Duty Before Almighty God
"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom: Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." 2 Timothy 4:1-2. In the presence of God and our Lord Jesus Christ who will judge the living and the dead, we are commanded to preach the Word of God. The whole counsel of God. We need to be prepared, in season and out of season, whether well received or opposed, whether popular or politically incorrect, it is the duty of a servant of God to convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
 
Itching Ears
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. But you, be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an Evangelist, fulfil your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:3-5. There is a pervasive intolerance for sound Biblical teaching. Most choose fables over fact, myths instead of missions, ear-tickling over eye-opening, trivialities over truth, Hollywood instead of Holiness, Judaism instead of Justice, Evolutionism instead of Creation, politically correct instead of Biblically faithful, friendship with the world instead of faithfulness to God's Word, approval of man instead of approval from God.
 
Who Has Stood in the Counsel of the Lord?
The Word of the Lord comes to us today: "For who has stood in the counsel of the Lord and has perceived and heard His Word? Who has marked His Word and heard it?" Jeremiah 23:18. Have you stood attentive in the counsel of the Lord? Have you studied God's Word, clearly heard it, perceived its significance and marked it? Have you read through every Book, chapter and verse of the Bible? How can you know the will of God until you have studied the Word of God?
 
God Will Bring Judgement
"Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord has gone forth in fury - a violent whirlwind! It will fall violently on the head of the wicked. The anger of the Lord will not turn back until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly." Jeremiah 23:19-20. God is a Holy God. He is a God of Justice and Truth. He cannot bless that which is built upon lies, theft, deceit and perversion.
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The Word of God is Powerful
"For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
 
The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom
We dare not censor God's Word and lie to people in order to receive their approval. It is not loving to fail to warn people of imminent danger. God is a holy God. His Judgment will inevitably fall. Those who fail to repent will experience His wrath. What we sow is what we shall reap. Those who violate God's Laws and pervert His Word will experience His wrath in Judgement.
 
Presumption is Not Faith
"I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran. I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My counsel and had caused My people to hear My Words, then they would have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings." Jeremiah 23:21-22. It is a serious sin to claim to have 'a Word from God', to claim to speak for God and yet to effectively encourage people in the sinful desires of their own hearts. To fail to faithfully proclaim the Law of God is a serious sin.
 
They Prophesy Lies in My Name
"'Am I a God near at hand,' says the Lord, 'and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?' says the Lord; 'do I not fill Heaven and earth?' says the Lord. 'I have heard what the prophets have said, who prophesy lies in My Name, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed!' How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, who try to make My people forget My Name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbour, as their fathers forgot My Name for Baal. 'The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?' says the Lord. 'Is not My Word like a fire?' says the Lord, 'and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?'" Jeremiah 23:23-29. Why give people poisoned popcorn when there is milk and meat of the Word of God? Why wield styrofoam when God's Word provides sharp steel for this spiritual world war of worldviews?
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Back to the Bible for Reformation and Revival
Many are feeding God's people sweetened sawdust and straw, instead of the Bread of Life. What is chaff to wheat? God's Word is like a fire and it is like a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces. We need to get back to the Bible. We need to work for Biblical Reformation and pray for Spiritual Revival. We need to invest in Christian education, Christian radio stations, Christian literature, Christian books and Christian magazines. We need to utilise social media and produce Christian films, supporting ministries that are faithful to the Word of God and effective in fulfilling the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.” Jeremiah 48:10
 
Where Your Loyalty is Proved
As Reformer Dr. Martin Luther declared: "If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition, every portion of the Truth of God, except precisely that point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, then I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Him. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battlefront besides is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point."
 
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand." Ephesians 6:10-13
 
Dr. Peter Hammond
Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74 Newlands 7725
Cape Town South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
www.livingstonefellowship.co.za
www.FrontlineMissionSA.org.za

This is a summary of the message preached at Livingstone Fellowship. The full message can be heard on our Sermon Audio page.
]]><![CDATA[The facts of the faith]]>Mon, 03 Sep 2018 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.livingstonefellowship.co.za/answering-skeptics/the-facts-of-the-faithPicture
The Bible is the Word of God
The Bible itself teaches its divine origin and authority:
"No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophets'own interpretation."
2 Peter 1:20

All Scripture was written as:
"Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
2 Peter 1:21
"God Spoke . . . through the prophets . . . and by His Son."
Hebrews 1:1-2
"All Scripture is God-breathed."
2 Timothy 3:16

The Word of God, once given and written, is exact in all details down to each letter and stroke of the pen. Matthew5:18
"The Scripture cannot be broken."
John 10:35
"The Word of the Lord stands forever."
1 Peter 1:25
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​The Gospel accounts are based on careful research, historical facts and eye-witness testimonies:
"They were handed down to us by those who from the first were eye-witnesses and servants of the Word. Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, to write an orderly account... so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught."
Luke 1:2-4

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life. The Life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it... We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard."
1 John 1:1-3

The Bible presents itself as God's revealed Word. On almost every page we find "The Lord said...", "God spoke...", "The Word of the Lord came... "The Apostles believed that they were speaking under the inspiration of The Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 2:4; 15:3; 1 Thess. 2:13; 4:15; 2 Peter 3:2; Gal. 1:6-12; Rev. 22:18, 19). Jesus regarded the Old Testament as the Authoritative Word of God (Matt. 4:4; Mark 14:27; Matt 19:4; Mark 7:11-13; John 10:34, 35; Luke24:25-27,44). Jesus also taught that His Words had a unique power and life (John 6:63; 15:3), that they would not pass away (Mark 13:31) and that they must be heard and obeyed (Matt. 5:17-48; 7:24; John 8:31-38; 14:23).
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​We cannot accept the authority of Jesus without accepting the authority of the Old Testament which He lived, taught, appealed to and fulfilled. We also have to recognise that Jesus deliberately chose and trained certain men to be His apostles (Luke 5:27; 6:12-16; John 17:6) and gave them a special anointing with the Holy Spirit (John 20:21; Acts 1:8), promising them the Holy Spirit to guide their teaching (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13). This compels one to also accept the authority of the New Testament.

We can also appeal to fulfilled prophecy, archaeological discoveries, manuscript evidence and historical records to support these internal evidences to the accuracy and uniqueness of the Bible. Most powerfully, however, we can point to the unique impact of the Bible on millions of lives throughout the centuries and on our own as well. Some sceptics may not believe that the Bible is the Word of God but they are choosing to ignore a lot of accumulative evidence to do this.
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Jesus is The Only Way to God
The Bible teaches that there is only one way of salvation:
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all men." 1 Timothy 2:5, 6

Our Lord Jesus Himself declared that there is only one way to God:
"Jesus answered, 'I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'." John 14:6

This has been the Apostolic Message from the very beginning:
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

​Jesus is God in Human Form
The first disciples of Christ, being Jews, had the highest regard for the Old Testament Scriptures. It was the Word of God. Yet it was definitely incomplete: it spoke of a day when God would judge the earth; of a king from David's line whose kingdom would never end. It spoke of all the families of mankind being blessed by Abraham's seed. It spoke of a prophet like Moses arising from among the people, whose teaching would be unparalleled. It spoke of a Servant of the Lord, whose death would atone for the sins of the people, of one who would make a New Covenant between God and men; one who would put the Spirit of the Lord into the hearts of men so that they could know God personally and have their sins wiped out. It spoke of a stone, despised by the builders, which would be come the keystone. It spoke of one like a Son of Man, who would receive authority, honour and royal power so that people of all nations, races and languages would serve Him. It spoke of a priest like the legendary Melchizedek, whom the Almighty would call Lord and welcome to His throne. It spoke of a coming Messiah, who would be born of the tribe of Judah, from David's line, in Bethlehem. He would be despised and rejected by the very people He came to rescue. He would die among wicked men and His tomb would be supplied by a rich man. Yet, He would live again, forever, and the Lord's purpose would succeed through Him.
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All of this was fulfilled by Jesus! Not some, or much, of it all of it! prophecies made by many prophets over a thousand years and more were all fulfilled by one historical person. And what mighty prophecies they were too.

In the Old Testament,Yahweh is the only Saviour there is -"I, even I, am the Lord and apart from Me there is no Saviour."   Isaiah 43:11
"And there is no God apart from Me, a righteous God and a Saviour; there is none but Me."  Isaiah 45:21
Yet in the New Testament, Jesus is hailed as - "Our Great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13
His very name, Jesus, means "Yahweh saves." "You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

Both God's role and His Name as Saviour are attributed to Jesus in the New Testament. Jesus claimed the power to forgive sins (Mark 2:7-10; Luke 7:48) and He is seen as the Saviour of sinners (John 3:17; Acts 4:12; Gal. 1:4; Heb. 9:26). He raised the dead (Mark 5: 35-43; Luke 7:11-17,22; John 11) and He gives eternal life to all who now believe in Him (Mark 10:21; John 3:16; 5:24; 1 John 5:11, 12).
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​​In the Old Testament Yahweh alone is the Judge (Dan. 7:9, 10; Psalm 99; Deut. 32). Yet Jesus claimed this uniquely divine function in the New Testament

 "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10That Yahweh alone is the Creator of all things is basic to the Old Testament (Genesis 1; Psalm 33:6-9; Isaiah 42:5). Yet the New Testament reveals that through Jesus all things came into being (John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:2; 1 John 1:1), and that Jesus is the sustainer and upholder of all things (Matthew28:18; 1 Corinthians 8:6).

Yahweh alone is worthy of worship, and to worship any other being than the Lord God would be the worst and most fundamental of all sins (Exodus 20:3-6; Deut. 6:4-15). Yet prayers are addressed to Christ (Acts 7:59; 9:13; 1 Cor. 16:22; Rev. 22-20); Doxologies are ascribed to Him Old Testament worship passages are transferred from Yahweh to Christ The disciples worshipped Jesus and when Thomas said to Him: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28 ), far from rebuking him, Jesus merely suggested that he should have believed earlier. The book of Revelation also presents the most unambiguous assertion of Deity when it records the great worship of Christ in heaven - "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!"Revelation 5:12
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Even the Name of Yahweh is ascribed to Christ. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek in the 2nd Century B.C. the Sacred Name of God, YHWH, usually rendered Yahweh, was translated into the Greek word Kyrios it is a clear statement of Christ's deity. The confession "Jesus is Lord" tells it all. Certainly the title "Lord of Lords" (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 17:14; 19:16) cannot be interpreted any other way than that Jesus is God incarnate.
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There are also many occasions where the New Testament applies Old Testament passages concerning Yahweh directly to Jesus - e.g. Psalm 110:1 in Acts 2:34,35; Rom. 8:38; Heb. 10:12,13; 1 Peter 3:22; Isaiah 6:10 in John 12:41; Isaiah 45:23 in Phil. 2:9-11; Joel 2:32 in Rom. 10:13 and Psalm 68:18 in Eph. 4:8). A supreme example of this is John the Baptist's ministry to "Prepare the way for the Lord (Yahweh)" Matthew 3:3, which is a direct quote from Isaiah 40:3, which unmistakably refers to God Himself.

Of great significance is Jesus' self-designations as the I AM (John 6:35; 8:12,24,58; 11:25; 14;6; 15:1, 5; 18:5). This is a deliberate identification with God's revelation of Himself in Exodus 3:14 as "I AM".

All this is conclusive and the accumulative proof of all these evidences of the Deity of Christ is overwhelming. Yet even further proof could be sought in the Resurrection (Rom. 1:4). The atheists have yet to explain away the hard historical facts of The empty tomb, The eye-witness accounts of those hundreds who saw Christ alive again (1 Cor. 15:4-8), The transformation of the disciples and even the existence of the Church (represented by over two million church buildings and 1 800 million members).
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The very Names of Jesus (Yahweh Saves), Messiah (God's Anointed One), Son of Man (the Lord and Judge of all revealed in Daniel 7:13, 14), Emmanuel (God with us), and The Son of God, point to His Deity. His uniquely perfect and sinless life, and His teaching - which are unsurpassed in authority, clarity, insight and power - all this can only support the Biblical claims for the Deity of Christ.

It is upon this solid foundation of accumulative evidence that the Church of Christ based its great ecumenical creed of Nicea:
"We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, only-begotten, that is of the substance of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father, through whom all things were made, things in heaven and things on the earth; who for us men and for our salvation came down and was made flesh and became man, suffered and rose on the third day, ascended into the heavens, is coming to judge the living and the dead."
What does this mean for us?
The glorious truth of the Incarnation is that God has made Himself known personally, specifically and fully by taking our human nature unto Himself, by coming amongst us as a particular man, yet without ceasing to be the infinite, transcendent and eternal God. God has in Christ taken upon Himself the responsibility and penalty for the sins of the world. God has borne the brunt of suffering and evil by subjecting Himself to its cruelty and horror. The Incarnation reveals the reality and depth and costly nature of His Love, Holiness, Justice and Mercy.

Jesus is the Eternal Son of God, who became incarnate to reveal God to us and to reconcile us to Himself. He is the second person of the Trinity, God revealed in human form. Jesus is God, and so we have a full and final revelation and redemption in and through Him.

Rev. Peter Hammond
Frontline Fellowship
P.O. Box 74
Newlands, 7725
CapeTown, South Africa.
Tel: (021) 689 4480.
Fax: (021) 685-5884.
E-mail:   frontfel@gem.co.za
]]><![CDATA[Confronting Atheists]]>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.livingstonefellowship.co.za/answering-skeptics/confronting-atheistsPicture
One of the great Church Fathers, Augustine of Hippo, in what is universally recognised as one of the greatest books in History Confessions, wrote concerning God: “You have made us for Yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.”

A God Shaped Vacuum
Millions of frustrated people are trying to fill their hearts, minds and souls with everything except God.  The resultant depression, disillusionment, despair, sense of meaninglessness and hopelessness, have become pervasive. Mental disorders and suicides are extreme examples of mankind’s failure to find meaning and purpose in life apart from God. It is a fact that there is a God shaped vacuum in each one of us. We are created by God and we are created for God. Nothing and no one can fill that void, except the eternal Creator.

Frustration
You cannot substitute coca cola for petrol and expect your motor vehicle to still function effectively. Many people try to find fulfillment in fame, fortune and fun but the end result is always frustration.

God and the Astronomers
Astronomer Dr. Robert Jastrow, a former Director for space studies at NASA, wrote in God and the Astronomers: “Strange developments are going on in astronomy. They are fascinating, partly because of their theological implications, and partly because of the peculiar reactions of scientists.”
Emotional Reaction
The discovery that the universe had a beginning has been most shocking for Darwinian evolutionists. As English astronomer Arthur Stanley Eddington declared early in the 20 th century: “The notion of a beginning is repugnant.” That is hardly an intellectual reaction, but rather an emotional one.

The Summit
As Jastrow observed: “The scientists have scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.”

Life and Laws in the Universe
Cosmos, Bios, Theos (these are the Greek words for universe, life and God) is a monumental book from 60 respected scientists, including 24 Nobel Prize winners. The co-editor of the book, Yale Physicist, Henry Margenau, concluded that there was “only one convincing answer” for the intricate laws existing in nature. And that one convincing answer is: “Creation by an omnipotent – omniscient God.”

Irrational and Unprovable
Atheism is irrational. Atheism is a universal negative. It is impossible to prove. No one can possibly prove that there is no God in the universe. To do that they would have to be all-knowing and everywhere present.

Cause and Effect
Every effect must have a sufficient cause to account for that effect.

Intelligent Design
We see proof of intelligent design everywhere. Every day and every night.

“The Heavens declare the Glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day they utter speech, and night unto night reveal knowledge.” 
Psalm 19:1-2

The Eye
We see evidence of the Creator’s design everywhere. For example, the human eye contains 400 million cones, 300 million minute fibers and 50 million tiny nerves called rods. Every one of these millions of cones, minute fibers and rods adjust themselves automatically so that we can see a full range of colours, in intricate detail from both near and far.

Prophecies
The Bible contains more than 2,000 specific prophecies which predicted events which have already been fulfilled in detail. There is no close parallel in any other writings on the face of the earth
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Pascal’s Wager
French scientist Blaise Pascal proposed what has become known as Pascal’s Wager. Pascal logically demonstrated that it is more intelligent to risk your life on God’s existence than to bet against it. For, if there is no God, or eternal life, and we simply cease to exist when we die, then we have lost nothing by having believed in God. However, if there is a God, so that at death, Believers go to Heaven and unbelievers go to hell, then there is absolutely everything to lose, from gambling that God does not exist. Pascal concluded that no intelligent person should fail to see this. Christians have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Atheists have everything to lose and nothing to gain.

The Philosophy of Meaninglessness
Aldous Huxley, the famous 20 th century humanist and evolutionist declared that atheism allowed for sexual liberation. By rejecting belief in God unbelievers could embrace “the philosophy of meaninglessness” and be freed from the old moral restraints. In Ends and Means, published in 1937, Aldous Huxley wrote: “For myself as, no doubt, for most of my contemporaries, the philosophy of meaninglessness was essentially an instrument of liberation … liberation from a certain system of morality. We objected to the morality because it interfered with our sexual freedom; …the supporters of this system claimed that they embodied the meaning (a Christian meaning they insisted) of the world. There was one admirably simple method of confuting these people and at the same time justifying ourselves in our political and erotic revolt: we could deny that the world had any meaning whatsoever!”

Justifying Immorality
Those who reject God often have a very selfish reason for doing so. Normally to justify their sinful lifestyle. Bertrand Russell, one of the most prominent advocates of atheism in the 20 th century, was also a flagrant adulterer. He said that his atheism freed him up to his erotic desires.

The Lord Jesus declared:

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Matthew 18:6

Hostility to God and His Law
It would appear that many who are fighting against God, against the Bible and against any public expression of Biblical ethics, such as public displays of the Ten Commandments, are doing so because they themselves are living in sin and breaking many of these Commandments.

Foolishness and Corruption

“The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God’. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.”
Psalm 14:1

Darkened Hearts
Romans 1:18-32 summarises today’s cultural war and the emotional reactions it evokes. Those who reject the knowledge of God and are not thankful to God, evidence darkened hearts and turn to idolatry, immorality and perversion.

Rejecting the Facts
For most people, their passionate rejection of Christianity and embracing of atheism has nothing at all to do with facts of science or history. Rather, it is often an emotional reaction to justify something in their own lives.

Without God
As Russian author, Dostoevsky wrote; if God did not exist then everything could be permitted. Historian Will Durant wrote: “The greatest question of our time is not communism versus individualism, nor Europe versus America, nor even the East versus the West; it is whether men can bear to live without God.”

Excluding God
And that, of course, is exactly what secularists are trying to achieve. They are trying to exclude God and His Word from educational institutions, from political institutions, from the judiciary and from the national news media.

Cheapening Life
However, atheism makes life cheap and it deprives life of any meaning or significance. Atheism also deprives life of freedom. Those who declare that there is no God also teach that there is no such thing as your mind. It is just the brain that secretes thoughts like the liver secretes bile. They teach that you have no real control over the brain bile that you ooze out. In Beyond Freedom and Dignity B.F. Skinner concluded that we are biologically determined in absolutely all that we do, we therefore have no dignity and no freedom, and we are not responsible. As we have no real freedom, we have no real guilt. Richard Dawkins suggests that Christianity is a “mind virus.”
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The God Who Would Not Die
However, in historian Paul Johnson’s book The Quest for God, he writes of “The God who would not die”: “From one perspective – the perspective of human spirituality – the most extraordinary thing about the 20 th century was the failure of God to die. The collapse of mass religious belief, especially among the educated and prosperous, had been widely and confidentially predicted. It did not take place. Somehow, God survived, flourished even. At the end of the 20 th century the idea of a personal, living God is as lively and real as ever, in the minds and hearts of countless millions of men and women throughout our planet.”

“He has put eternity in their heart.” 
Ecclesiastes 3:11

The Country of the Blind
H.G. Wells is best known for his science fiction books such as The War of the Worlds and his history book: A History of the World. In his classic short story The Country of the Blind, he writes about a tribe of people living in a large valley. A plague had rendered them all blind and this blindness was passed onto their children, to their children’s children, to their great-grand children, for generations. For centuries the tribe had lived in perpetual darkness so that even the very concept and memory of sight had disappeared. They were cut off from the surrounding world by high mountains. But one day, an adventurous member of the tribe tried to find his way over a high pass in the mountains. He slipped and fell a long way until at last he lay unconscious on the valley floor. Because the hearing of the people in the valley was most acute, they heard his landing and hurried toward the sound.

Delusional
When they found the man and revived him they were astonished to hear him babbling about sight and colours. Something must have happened to his head when he fell because he was talking about things that obviously didn’t exist such as blue skies and colourful flowers. What on earth is ‘blue’? What is a ‘colour’? As he talked about his eyes, his vision, and what he could see, the people concluded that he was obviously out of his mind. He was delusional and the people learnt to put up with his continual babblings. He was treated as the village idiot.

Removing the Source of the Problem
As months passed the one seeing member of the community was much affected by the beauty of the chief’s daughter and asked for her hand in marriage. Of course the request was denied. It just wasn’t right for the daughter of the chief to marry the village idiot. Nor did she understand what he could be talking about by beautiful. However, as the daughter felt sincere love for him it was decided that they could get married, as long as the man’s eyes were gouged out. As the man’s eyes were the cause of his problem, they could restore him to his right mind by removing them. Then he could marry the chief’s daughter. Incredibly, he agreed.

When the day approached for the surgery on his eyes and he lay on the operating table, the man came to his senses, jumped up, ran out, climbed the mountain and disappeared.

Now, of course, this story is fictional. H.G. Wells was by no means a Christian. However, this story appears to be a most remarkable parable reflecting the reality of the world in which we live.

Spiritual Blindness
Because of the Fall and the depravity of man, the whole human race has tumbled into a valley of the spiritually blind. Because of sin, the natural mind is darkened, the will corrupted. Through sin we have lost our spiritual sight and our spiritual hearing.

“The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
1 Corinthians 2:14

Psychosis or Neurosis
So Sigmund Freud declared that all religions are either “psychosis or neurosis”. Secular humanists have worked hard to exclude spiritual reality from textbooks, films and news media, and to ridicule those who believe in God.

Generation, Degeneration and Regeneration
The natural man is degenerate, depraved, sinful, lost, deaf, blind and spiritually dead. In a nutshell, the Bible tells us of generation (Creation), degeneration (the Fall), and regeneration (Redemption and Restoration). Jesus Christ makes all things new (Revelation 21:5).

Disguised and Rejected
Author C.S. Lewis wrote that Christianity is the story of how the real King of the universe came to earth in disguise.

“He came unto His own and His own received Him not.”
John 1:11

Where is God?
Those who reject God do so despite the witness of Creation. They reject Christ despite the witness of His Resurrection. They reject the Holy Spirit even when He convicts them of their sin. And then they protest: Where is God?

Rejecting God
Jeremiah the Prophet declared that the people had apostatised from God. They worshiped false God’s, defied the Laws of God, ignored the Revelations from God, and when His Judgment inevitably fell they asked where God was!

Vain Hope
The Prophet Jeremiah’s response was:

“Let the idols you worship come and save you.” 
Jeremiah 2:28

“A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord.” 
Proverbs 19:3

Sin Separates us from God
God is not hidden. He has been revealing Himself in Creation, through our conscience, and in and through our Lord Jesus Christ. Our sin makes God seem hidden. However, just because a blind man doesn’t see something doesn’t mean it isn't there.

Dr. Peter Hammond

Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74
Newlands 7725
Cape Town
South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Email: info@ReformationSA.org

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]]><![CDATA[Always Ready to Defend the Faith]]>Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.livingstonefellowship.co.za/answering-skeptics/always-ready-to-defend-the-faithPicture
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”
1 Peter 3:15

Be Prepared
The motto of the Scouts is: “Be prepared.” Similarly, we as Christians must be prepared to answer those who would ask us to explain what we believe, and why we believe.
We are exhorted to:

“Contend earnestly for the Faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Jude 3

The apostle Paul declared that he had been appointed: “for the defense of the Gospel.”
Philippians 1:17

“But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And the servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”
2 Timothy 2:24-26
​Be Not Deceived
In the book of Revelation we are told that an angel will be sent to cast satan into a bottomless pit where he will be shut up and sealed

“so that he should deceive the nations no more…”
Revelation 20:3

We are constantly warned throughout Scripture not to be deceived. The Scriptures make clear that satan is deceiving the nations. We are commanded to study to show ourselves approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15). To contend for the Faith, and to patiently teach and correct those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

The Battle for the Mind
We are involved in a world war of worldviews. The battle for the mind is at the heart of this war. It is a battle for truth. We need to know God’s Word and God’s work so that we can give carefully reasoned answers to those who are challenging the Christian Faith. Some of them are honest skeptics who are genuinely looking for answers. We need to patiently answer them, remembering that we sometimes took many years to come to the convictions that we now hold.

How Can a Loving God Send Anyone to Hell?
One of the common objections that are thrown at Christians can be summarised in these words:

How can a loving God send anyone to hell? What about the Eskimos and Pygmies and other primitive, remote tribes who have never heard the Gospel? Would God condemn them just because they haven’t believed in someone they have not yet heard of?

The short answer to that last most emotionally laden question is: No! Of course nobody is going to be condemned for not believing in whom they have never heard. We are all judged according to the light that we have received.
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Those Who Suppress the Truth
“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to Salvation for everyone who believes… For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the Creation of the world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His Eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God; they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened…” Romans 1:16-21

General Revelation
Everyone has the benefit of General Revelation in nature. We can see something of the Creator in His Creation. “The Heavens declare the Glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork…” The existence of God is revealed and clearly perceived through the things that He has made. The invisible qualities of God can be understood by looking at the visible things of Creation. In the light of this General Revelation, the whole world is without excuse if they reject God. No one can claim ignorance of God as an excuse for refusing to honour Him, or to be grateful to Him. That is the main emphasis of Romans chapter one. We all have the light of Creation and the light of our conscience.

Eternity in Their Hearts
Perhaps you have read Don Richardson’s book: “Eternity in Their Hearts.” Don Richardson documents in case after case how even the most primitive tribes, in the most remote regions of the world, have basic understandings of the Creator, Creation, right and wrong, and the need for Redemption.

More Than Dreams
Perhaps you have seen the film: More Than Dreams. In these and many other testimonies we hear of Muslims who had no access to missionaries or formal evangelistic work. They had no access to the Scriptures. However, (no doubt in answer to the prayers of God’s people) they came to great conviction of sin, and were confronted by the reality of Jesus Christ in vivid dreams. Their visions of the man with nail pierced hands and feet, with the spear thrust in His side, led them to seek Christian missionaries and the Scriptures and they came to full Salvation. Of course, these examples are rare. Even though all people have access to the light of Creation and conscience, the vast majority still live in rebellion to Almighty God.

By What Standard?
When we have been engaged in personal evangelism in the streets and in the market places, we sometimes come across those who say that they do not believe in the Bible, or in the Law of God, or in the Lord Jesus Christ. At this point, I normally ask them by what standard they live? Generally these people will present some high standards of ideal conduct, often a variation on the golden rule of Christ found in the Sermon on the Mount.

Condemned Even by Their Own Standards
Then when I ask them if they have always lived up to these standards, they invariably answer: No! On no occasion have I ever found someone who dared to claim that they had never violated their own standards! So, while all people have the light of Creation and conscience, no one even lives up to this light.

Special Revelation
We need Special Revelation in Holy Scripture. The Bible is the Book of God’s Words, just as Creation in the Book of God’s Works. General Revelation leaves all men without excuse. We are guilty law breakers.

The Depravity of Man

“As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no not one. Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Romans 3:10-18

This is reality. The presupposition underlying the question of “how can a loving God send anyone to Hell?” is a misunderstanding about the nature of God and man. It portrays a lack of understanding of the holiness and justice of God and the sinfulness and depravity of man.

The Holiness of God
Unfortunately, many Christian ministers have presented such a consistently unbalanced portrayal of the attributes of God that most people only think of God as merciful and loving. However, the angels in Heaven are singing: “Holy! Holy! Holy!” The Holiness and the Justice of God demands that unrepentant murderers, blasphemers, rapists, thieves, liars and persecutors of the church be dealt with.

What do you Think God Should do With the Wicked?
Perhaps we should turn the tables and ask our enquirer: What do you think God should do about unrepentant murderers? Baby killers? Rapists? Blasphemers? Persecutors of the Church? Marxist mass murderers? Muslim terrorists? Wife beaters? Poachers? Cruel vivasectionists? Liars? Thieves? Hate mongerers? Gossips? Two-timing hypocrites and deceivers?
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The Wrath of God
How can a Holy and living God not punish evil? God is a God of love and light. He is a God of mercy and a God of justice. God is gracious, but He is also a God of wrath.

“… For great is the wrath of the Lord that has been aroused against us, because our Fathers have not obeyed the Words of this Book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” 
2 Kings 22:13

“Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little.” 
Psalm 2:12

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” 
John 3:36

“… but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness – indignation and wrath.” 
Romans 2:8

“Let no one deceive you with empty words because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” 
Ephesians 5:6

But Doesn’t God Love Everyone Equally?
Not only do most who question how God can send anyone to hell presuppose the goodness of man and fail to understand the Holiness and justice of God, but most tend to presuppose the egalitarian heresy expressed in these words: But doesn’t God love everyone, equally?

The answer is clearly, No! The Bible is quite clear that there are actually many whom God hates.

“These six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abomination to Him; a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.” 
Proverbs 6:16-19

Does God Hate You?
The proud, liars, murderers, the wicked, those who rush to do evil, false witnesses and those who sow discord among brethren are among those who God declares that He hates.

The Fear of God is the Beginning of Wisdom

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”
Proverbs 8:13

“I hate the double minded, but I love Your Law.” 
Psalm 119:113

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.” 
Romans 12:9

“Who will rise up for Me against evildoers? Who will stand up for Me against the workers of iniquity?” 
Psalm 94:16

The Love of God
Of course:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 
John 3:16

Common Grace
God does love the world in the sense that He sends common grace, He makes the sun shine on the righteous and on the unrighteous. He causes the rain to fall on the fields of the wicked and of the just. He loves the world so much that He came in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ and whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Everyone has benefited because of the coming of Christ and all the tremendous blessings that have come from the Word of God and the work of God’s Holy Spirit. Hospitals, schools, the abolition of slavery, the rule of law, Christian charity, missions and so much more have immeasurable improved the life of everyone on earth.

Egalitarianism is Unbiblical
However, common grace does not mean that God loves everybody equally. Not even a declaration from the United Nations could enforce egalitarianism on God! Nothing in all of creation is equal. Pigeons are not equal to eagles and zebras are not equal to lions. No one is equal. Not in opportunity, nor in skills, nor in talents, nor in gifts. People are not equal in their abilities, in their energy, or in their motivation. Some people work hard and sacrifice much. Others squander their resources and energy in gambling and vices.

Forcing Everyone to be Equal is Unworkable
Secular humanist philosophers may wish that everyone be forced to be equal, but it has proven to be unworkable. As Winston Churchill declared: “Socialism could only work in Heaven, where it is not needed, or in Hell, where they already have it.”

Socialism is Legalised Theft
As Margaret Thatcher observed: “The problem with Socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people’s money.”

Rewards and Punishments
Those who work hard are rewarded. Those who are unprofitable servants are cast into outer darkness. In the parable of the talents (Luke 19:12-27), our Lord taught that He would generously reward those who were faithful and wise in serving Him, but the unproductive, He condemned.

“For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.” 
Luke 19: 26

Freedom to Fail or Succeed
There is nothing egalitarian about the Bible. Equality before the law is commanded (Numbers 15:15-16). However no one can enforce equality of effort, nor equality of results.

Inequality in Scripture
In the Scriptures we read that Enoch walked with God, that Abraham was chosen to be the Father of God’s people. Abraham is described as the friend of God. Moses spoke to God face to face. David was described as “a man after God’s own heart”. John, the Apostle is described as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. The Lord made it clear that there would be different degrees of judgment. He warned that it would be better for the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah than for Caperneum on the Day of Judgment. How could that be? Because, evil as Sodom and Gomorrah were, they never had a Bible. Nor did the Messiah walk their streets. However, Caperneum had the Lord Jesus Christ and His Apostles working miracles in their streets and yet they rejected His grace and mercy.
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The Day of Judgment
We will be judged according to the light that we have received. To whom much is given, much is required. To whom much more is given, much more is required. The Scriptures also make clear that there will be different degrees of rewards in Heaven.

“Each one’s work will become clear for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” 
1 Corinthians 3:13-15

What About the Eskimos and Pygmies?
So, back to the question of what about the Eskimos and Pygmies and other primitive, remote tribes that have never heard the Gospel?

Actually there are many Pygmies in the Congo who have come to Christ. We’ve even had one at one of our Biblical Worldview Summits in Cape Town. There are many millions of Christians in the Congo. There are, in fact, many hundreds of times more Evangelical, Bible-believing Christians in the Congo than there are in Belgium, which once ruled this territory.
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The Reality of Heathenism
If any one doubts the depravity of man they need to read David Livingstone’s accounts of what central Africa was prior to the advent of the Gospel, as well as Henry Morton Stanley’s writings: Through the Dark Continent (1878) and In Darkest Africa (1890). The reality of heathenism before the advent of the Gospel and civilisation is clearly portrayed in the works by these pioneer explorers. Treachery, cannibalism and slavery were rife. In village after village down the original heart of darkness, the Congo River, Stanley and his companions saw villages decorated with the skulls and bones of tens of thousands of victims of cannibalism.

Hearts in Darkness
No, there are no sincere, good people, earnestly seeking God, who will be condemned just because they haven’t heard the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has plainly manifested His eternal power and being and character to every human being on the planet. Through General Revelation in Creation, and through their conscience, every human being knows that there is a God and that he is accountable to God. Yet every human being disobeys God. Jesus Christ came into a world that was already condemned, lost, on its way to Hell. Christ came to redeem a world that was already guilty of rejecting the Creator and of violating His Holy Laws.

A Call to Action
The best form of defence is attack. The Gospel is under attack. We need to counter attack. We dare not be passive, neutral or inactive. The situation is desperate. The needs are urgent. Christian civilisation itself is under attack. The essential foundations for faith and freedom are being undermined.

War Against God
Everywhere we see evidence of the paganisation of society and of the criminalisation of our communities. In this battle for the mind, it is the battle for truth itself that is at stake. The war against the family includes attacks on the institution of marriage itself. There is a war against the unborn. Ultimately, all of these are symptoms of a greater war against God Himself.

The First Battlefield
Karl Marx declared: “The first battlefield is the re-writing of history.” Secular humanist textbooks and Hollywood films are trying to rearrange reality and discredit our Christian ancestors. We need to know the Word of God and we need to know the Works of God in history. Study to show yourself approved unto God and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.

Contend For the Faith
May God grant them repentance so that they may know the Truth, come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil. Contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the saints.

Dr. Peter Hammond

Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74
Newlands 7725
Cape Town
South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Email: info@ReformationSA.org

Books, Audios,Data Disks and boxsets are available from
Christian Liberty Books, 
PO Box 358,
Howard Place
7450,
Cape Town,
South Africa,
tel: 021-689-7478,
fax: 086-551-7490,
email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za 
and
website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za
Prices exclude postage.
]]><![CDATA[Why Does God not Stop all the Suffering?]]>Mon, 23 May 2011 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.livingstonefellowship.co.za/answering-skeptics/why-does-god-not-stop-all-the-sufferingPicture
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to Repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9

Oscar Wilde claimed that suffering proved that a good God does not govern the world. If God cannot stop the suffering, then He is not all powerful. If God will not stop the suffering then He cannot be good and loving.

The faulty logic and wrong conclusion evidenced by Oscar Wilde is quite common. Many question God’s goodness, power, or even existence, because of suffering in the world. Poverty, disease, war, natural and man-made disasters – why does God not bring it all to an end?

​Zimbabwe
Even those who love God and do not doubt His Word, are often grieved and puzzled about why the Lord will not intervene, for example, to put an end to the tyrannical government in Zimbabwe which has caused so much havoc to the economy and widespread suffering amongst the Zimbabwean people, more than half of whom have fled the country.

What is the Cause?
So much of the world’s news media focuses on the effects of suffering, but seldom attempts to explore and explain the causes. What is the true meaning and purpose behind all of the world’s calamities and catastrophes?
Creation and the Fall
The Bible teaches that God is a good, Holy and loving Creator who has provided us with a magnificent world. However, man’s conscious, deliberate choice to rebel against God and violate His Laws led to the Fall of man and the corruption of all Creation. Death and suffering entered the world because of sin.

Everything has Consequences
Much of the suffering in the world today is a direct consequence of personal human choices. God has not made us immune from the consequences of our own and others choices. Most of the suffering in the world today is a consequence of the sinful choices of others where evil people and destructive ideologies cause untold misery
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National Suicide
The humanitarian disaster in Zimbabwe is a classic case in point. What was once a peaceful, stable paradise, the bread basket of Africa, with the highest standards of literacy and education in the continent, has been destroyed by a communist dictatorship, socialist economics, rampant greed and corruption, Darwinian social engineering, all orchestrated by a brutal and malicious regime.

Communist Catastrophe
This ZANU-PF government of Robert Mugabe, which has caused the greatest unemployment and highest inflation ever experienced in the history of the world, was brought to power by an unprecedented international campaign. The Organisation of African Unity, the Commonwealth, the United Nations, the US State Department and British Foreign Office co-operated together to sanction, isolate and wage economic warfare and support terrorist warfare to bludgeon the people of Rhodesia to accept Mugabe’s one man – one vote government. Very soon Mugabe turned that into a one party dictatorship, complete with ethnic cleansing, massacres of the Matabele, raids on churches, farm invasions and the destruction of the homes of more than a million people.

Accessories to Tyranny
The man-made disaster in Zimbabwe is not only the product of Mugabe’s Marxist, ZANU-PF. Most of the world’s mass media campaigned to bring him to power. Most of the governments represented at the OAU and UN voted for economic warfare to bring down Rhodesia and to make possible Mugabe’s seizure of power. Apparently most of the citizens of Zimbabwe even voted for Mugabe, time and again, despite its abysmal human rights record, blatant corruption and racist brutality.

Reaping What was Sown
The question could be asked: Why should God undo all the natural Laws of Creation to protect people from reaping the consequences of what they have sown? (Isaiah 59:1-2). Ideas have consequences. If we want God to heal Zimbabwe, then we need to mobilise God’s people to humble themselves and pray and seek God’s face and turn from their wicked ways (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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Law Violated
God gave us the Ten Commandments, not the ten suggestions: “Thou shalt not steal” and “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s goods” establishes the principles of private ownership of property. Socialism is institutionalised envy. It is legalised theft and it just doesn’t work.

Failure of Socialism
Historically, socialism has produced nothing but poverty, bureaucracy and corruption. Free enterprise, honest money and the Christian work ethic are essential to restore the economy in Zimbabwe. The Bible forbids unjust weights and measures/inflation (Leviticus 19:35-36). The devastating impact of unbacked currency/inflation on pensions and savings is criminal.

Every aspect of Zimbabwe has been undermined and ruined by secular humanism, Atheism, Marxism, greed, covetousness, malice, hatred, violating all the Laws of God and nature. As the Zimbabwean government so clearly illustrates: “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Zimbabwe provides an object lesson of everything that one should not do if one wants to build a stable, prosperous and peaceful society.

Hope for the Future
Zimbabweans need to learn to respect people, respect property, respect God’s Creation and respect God’s Law. Biblical Law requires that we have honest money backed by real constant value (Proverbs 20:10; Micah 6:11-12). The only hope for Zimbabwe is to return in Repentance to God, rediscover the Biblical agenda and restore Biblical principles into every area of economic and community life, education, public ethics, the judiciary and public policy.

Foundations for Freedom
Nations need to be built on the unchangeable Law of God’s Word. Instead of rulers, we must elect servants – civil servants, bound down with the chains of the Constitution. We need a system of checks and balances to divide power and responsibility between executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. For our nations to be strong, the families need to be strong. For governments to be good, their citizens need to be good. Those who cannot control themselves are not capable of ruling over a city (Proverbs 16:32). Those who cannot manage their household well are not qualified to lead others (1Timothy 3:4-5).

“You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” 
Nehemiah 2:17

Can God Stop Suffering?
Can God stop all the suffering in the world? Yes. Why does God not stop all the suffering in the world?
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The Day Will Come
The Bible tells us that one day God will bring all human suffering to an end.

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 
Revelation 21:4

Why Not Now?
So why does God not do that immediately?
To end all suffering in the world God would have to remove all people from the world. He would have to end free choice and independent thought and actions. Human sinfulness is the cause for most of the suffering in the world. Pride, greed, lust, envy, hatred, selfishness – these are what causes most of the grief and suffering in the world.

What Purpose?
We need to ask: what is God’s purpose for mankind? We know that God cares. The Scripture tells us how God’s heart was “grieved” at the sinfulness of mankind (Genesis 6:6). The Lord is “longsuffering” (Numbers 14:18). In Jesus we see that God entered our fallen and suffering world. He was not immune to the pain and grief which we ourselves experience. Jesus suffered even greater pain than any of us could ever know. He knew what it was to be destitute and homeless, He knew what it was to be hated, rejected and despised by His own people. He knew the heartache of betrayal. He experienced injustice and trial by the mob. He was scourged and tortured by cruel men. More than all of that, He bore our sins upon Himself and suffered the torments of hell that we might go to Heaven.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8

There can be no question that God cares. Christ’s death on the Cross proves that. But what possible purpose could be served by our following in His footsteps of suffering?

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” 
1 Peter 2:21
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The School of Character
Suffering is directly linked to character building. Mankind’s suffering is not an accident. The purpose for every human being’s life is to teach us the terrible consequences of sinful rebellion against the Laws of Almighty God and to build in us the character of children of God.

Since God Himself is longsuffering, this is one of the Fruit of the Spirit which needs to be developed into our life (Galatians 5:22-23). God permits suffering because it is the school of character. In fact some of the most outstanding heroes of the Faith have endured tremendous suffering. The Old Testament prophets, all the apostles of Christ, the early Christian Believers who suffered in the arenas of Rome, the martyrs and missionaries through the ages, have all demonstrated that suffering can be used by God to strengthen our Faith and refine our character.

The Advantage of Adversity
There is no quick fix to the problem of sin and suffering . On the Cross our Lord Jesus Christ paid the ultimate penalty for sin – which is death (Romans 3:23). God is patiently using both the “day of prosperity” and the “day of adversity” (Ecclesiastes 7:14) to teach us vital eternal spiritual truths and to direct us away from the self-destructive paths of sin and rebellion. To refine and shape our characters to be God-honouring, unselfish, good neighbours who seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.

Time and Experience
Suffering is absolutely essential to character building because it is a process. Time and experience are a vital part of renewing minds and transforming behaviour. The Scripture even says that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ “learned obedience by the things which He suffered” Hebrews 5:8. If the only perfect Person who ever lived learned through suffering, how much more essential is it for each one of us to learn obedience by the things which we suffer?

“For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Captain of their Salvation perfect through sufferings.” 
Hebrews 2:10

National Repentance
When a whole nation suffers to the extremes that Zimbabwe has been plummeted to it is an eloquent call to national repentance. In accordance with 2 Chronicles 7:14, Zimbabweans need to carefully, systematically work through the Ten Commandments and all the Biblical principles that have been violated. They must Repent, do restitution, rebuild and restore
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In the Light of Eternity
There is no shortcut in the process of Discipleship and Sanctification. We need to live in the light of eternity, understanding that God can work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the Creation eagerly waits…”
Romans 8:18-19

Listen to God
God is a holy God. Sin is serious. Everything has consequences. Are you listening to the Word of God? C.S. Lewis wrote that pain is God’s megaphone to arouse a slumbering world. What is God saying to you?

“King David wrote: It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.”
Psalm 119:71

“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your Word.”
Psalm 119:67

Purpose in Pain
Physical pain of sufficient intensity stops us in our tracks. We begin searching for the cause of pain. This often leads us to change destructive behaviour in order to alleviate the pain and to avoid it in future.

“That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I the Lord, do all these things.”
Isaiah 45:6-7

God has a great purpose and plan that extends beyond this life. Suffering certainly never feels good. But it can still be used by God for good purposes.

Ultimately, thousands of years of human suffering will eventually teach mankind the crucial lesson that we cannot ignore God, break His Laws and still be blessed.

Dr. Peter Hammond

Livingstone Fellowship
P.O. Box 74
Newlands 7725
Cape Town
South Africa
Tel: 021-689-4480
Email: mission@frontline.org.za
Email: info@ReformationSA.org

Books, Audios,Data Disks and boxsets are available from
Christian Liberty Books, 
PO Box 358,
Howard Place
7450,
Cape Town,
South Africa,
tel: 021-689-7478,
fax: 086-551-7490,
email: admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za 
and
website: www.christianlibertybooks.co.za
Prices exclude postage.
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