To Make a Difference, Know the Difference

When it comes to the topic and truth of Biblical Christianity, it is important for believers in Jesus Christ to know and understand the various differences out there that are continually competing against the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, new cultic “churches” pop up every year, making the unsubstantiated claim that they are Christian.  The book of Jude warns us of this! Note this verse:

Jude 1:4

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God [fn] and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Just because such churches may have the term “Christian” in their name doesn’t always mean that their tenets agree with or adhere to the Bible.  So, how are we to determine the difference(s)?

Studying the Bible and attending a biblically based, Christ-centered church is the best way to determine truth from error.

I also recommend a newly updated and expanded edition of Fritz Ridenour’s book entitled, “So What’s The Difference?”  You can purchase the paperback on Amazon for under $14.00.  It makes a great stocking stuffer.  Use Amazon Prime for delivery by Dec. 21st.

Why do I recommend this book?  Several reasons.  There are so many lies floating around about what the Bible truly says and just who Jesus Christ is and why He came to this earth.  This book provides (in an easy-to-understand and non-judgmental way) the differences (some are very stark differences, other more subtle but still are lies) between Biblical Christianity, the major religions of the world, the major cults, new religions, and the occult.

One of the best benefits that I have found through reading this book is that you will learn why relative thinking–the idea that there is no objective, absolute truth–has become the predominant mindset in our culture.  This book will give you help in how to respond.

The back cover tells us that this bestselling guide will help you recognize the real differences between the Christian faith and other viewpoints.  It may make it easier for you to explain and share your faith with others.

I have had individuals ask me, “why do you believe what you believe?”  Have you ever had someone ask you that question?  Usually they want a short response.  I have found that they may cut me off when I start to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them.

My suggestion?

Give them this book!

They may read it right away or stick it on a shelf and read it later.  That’s OK, at least you are attempting to plant a seed in them to research their own beliefs about God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ.

The book contains many resources in the end notes that expand upon what is written in each chapter.  There is an appendix containing resources for further study and ministries for information on cults.  It is important that you should be aware of cults in order to avoid them!

Fellow believers, I pray that you will take the time to read The Peculiar Glory of the Incarnation. It will renew your joy in the Lord Jesus Christ!

Excerpt:

Dear Christian, does it still astonish you?

Can you slow down the holiday hustle and bustle long enough to let your mind ponder these astonishing truths? to let the eyes of your heart fix their gaze upon the glory of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ? My prayer for you this Christmas is that you would do just that. That you would take these truths and turn them over in your mind—like Mary, to treasure these things and ponder them in your heart (cf. Luke 2:19). And that your heart would be stirred to worship God in Christ for the peculiar glory of the incarnation. For then, and only then, are you truly celebrating Christmas.

Merry Christmas and God bless!

~ Christine

 

Rom 3:20

Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Rom 3:21

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

Rom 3:22

even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all [fn] who believe. For there is no difference;

Rom 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Rom 3:24

being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Rom 3:25

whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed

Rom 3:26

to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

 

Hat tips to all links.

So What’s the Difference Between the Christian and the Jew?

H/T for graphic: alifetimeofwisdom.com

Actually, Christians and Jews share a LOT of history together.  There are many things that we have in common than what we disagree about.  One thing that we have in common is the fact that our nation was built upon Judeo-Christian tradition of values, ethics, and faith!  Those who would wish to change or reject the values, freedom, justice, and liberty imbedded into our Founding documents; or would attempt to re-write history, are sadly and horribly misguided.  They are hopelessly mistaken, too.  But I digress.

Before I get to the topic, I wanted to state that due to the abandonment of signing in and posting at my former Talk Wisdom blog, many followers there are not aware that I have moved my blog over to Word Press.  It’s funny.  Back in the early days of posting over at blogger, I felt like I was “talking with myself” because no one knew that blog existed in the vast online world.  In a way, I feel like that today.  Ever since I came over to Word Press (since Oct. 2012) my blog has had few visitors.  But that’s OK.  Sharing God’s Word and reaching this fallen world with the truth is a passion of mine.  Perhaps this blog will be built up over the next few years.

However, I still can access the traffic at my former blog via the Hi Stats link I can still access and see what people are searching for online.  It’s amazing to see how previous posts there are still being researched and influencing people who visit.

Recently, Hi Stats revealed that a few people have been interested in reading Refuting Anti-Zionism

I decided to read through that post and the comments again, in order to refresh my memory about what was written.

It is interesting to note how views about Israel and the Jewish people vary according to one’s ideology.

Liberal Americans often reject Zionism (therefore, they are anti-Zionist about the position, influence and especially God’s Word regarding the land of Israel and Her place in the world); but are fiercely protective of Jewish people when it comes to anti-Semitism (discrimination against or prejudice or hostility toward Jews.) Still, there are liberals who support Islam above and beyond all other faiths, and therefore, they could be anti-Semitic as well as anti-Zionist. [Note: to understand the differences, it would help to read the link above for detailed information.]

I’m not exactly sure of where the BHO BADministration fits into this scenario. They have many leftist Jews on their side, yet the BADministration’s terrible treatment and disrespect of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and their coddling of Iran’ Mullahs shows how they disregard God’s Word and plan for the nation of Israel. Within that previous post, you will read about a devout Jewish group who are also anti-Zionist, plus, they even visited with the former Muslim fanatical leader of Iran, Ahmadinijad, in support of Iran’s maniacal views of Israel!! When I read that and saw the video, I couldn’t believe my eyes! Here’s the excerpt and link to video:

Pam, I recently learned about a devout Jewish group that gave Ahmadinijad of Iran some kind of “award” back in September, 2007for his efforts in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict!  If you want to read about it, here’s the link:

Talk Wisdom:  Banned Video! MSM Won’t Show This!

Learning about these particular Jews helped me understand why so many of them supported Obama and the leftist Democrats!  Jews can be anti-Zionist too.

Here is a direct link to the video at Before It’s News:

Banned Video! MSM Won’t Show This! This Is How Peace Is Achieved!

Now, the Rabbi in the video who totally believes what he is preaching, makes a distinction between Judaism vs. Zionism.  It is his desire for peace in the land.  We all want peace, of course.  Isn’t it every beauty pageant contestant’s dream (and answer)  in response to “what they want  most in life”  – world peace?   Nothing wrong with that.  However, the Bible is clear about just when, and ultimately, how peace shall come to Jerusalem.  It is when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – Jesus Christ – returns to establish His kingdom on earth for 1,000 years!  Of course, no Jewish person would agree with that.  However, the Zionist Jews DO appreciate the friendship, love, loyalty, and support for their nation Israel, and our Christian REASONS for doing so – even if they don’t believe that Jesus Christ was, is, and always will be the Son of God.

In Fritz Ridenour’s book entitled, “What’s the Difference,” he has an entire chapter on explaining the differences between not only the three main Jewish levels of faith (namely, Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform) but he also shows how Christianity is eternity connected to the Jewish roots of the Bible.

In the remainder of this post I will include a few excerpts from the book:

Judaism, the religion of the Jews, is built firmly on the Torah or Law.  This Law had been given by God to Moses.  At that time God promised that if the people would obey the Law they would be blessed.

After the Law came the prophets.  These spokesmen for God stressed the importance of justice and love.  They placed this far above keeping petty rules and regulations.  Micah expressed it in these words, “What does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  (Micah 6:8)

Both Jews and Christians can agree with that.  In fact, Christians believe in everything as it is recorded in the Old Testament.  The one point that is disagreed upon is just who is the Messiah?

Before I share more about that question, here is another excerpt from Ridenour’s book:

Christians share a great deal with these Jewish people.  To begin with, we share the Old Testament and its teachings.  We share a belief in the same God – a God of holiness, justice, purity, righteousness and unity.  Both faiths gladly proclaim, “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength”  (Deut. 6:4,5).

The moral and ethical teachings of the Bible are part of the Jewish and the Christian heritage.  Both accept the Law as given by the living God who created the world and is still the Lord of creation.

There are many more similarities between Judaism and Christianity:  the need to worship Godm the importance of the family, the obligation to love others.  Many Jews accept Jesus as a great prophet and find good things in His teachings.  But this is as far as they will go.

There is SO MUCH MORE that I could write about Jesus being the “great divide” between Judaism and Christianity. But there is one big reason why some Jews at the time of Christ’s ministry on earth, rejected Him.

It is a fact that the Old Testament prophets spoke of the coming Messiah (literally an “Anointed One”) or Christ. Ridenour writes:

He (the Messiah) was spoken of by the Old Testament prophets as one who would redeem His people from their sins. But by the time of Jesus, tradition and petty legalistic interpretation of the Scripture had watered down belief in original sin and man’s need for personal salvation. As a result, many Jews were looking for a national deliverer. They looked for a warrior-king like David who would drive out the hated Romans and restore the nation of Israel to its ancient glory. When we realize this, it’s easy to see why many were disappointed by the humble Man of Galilee.

Jesus claimed to be the Messiah – the Son of God. Christians see the Old Testament prophecies (over 300 of them!) as being fulfilled in Jesus – especially the “suffering servant” written about in the book of Isaiah chapter 53. Many of the 300 prophecies about the coming Messiah of the Old Testament were fulfilled by Jesus Christ. The rest will be fulfilled at His Second Coming.

Ridenour wisely states:

So what’s the difference between the Christian and the Jew?

The question of Jesus: Was He the Messiah as He claimed, or was He an impostor? Argument cannot settle this question. Each of us (whether Jew or Gentile) must look carefully at Jesus and answer the question for ourselves. Should we accept Him as Messiah, as the Savior and Lord who was promised by the Old Testament prophets? As the Christ of prophecy, He stands ready to receive all who believe in Him. “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him” (Romans 10:12).