PleaseConvinceMe Podcast 132

What is the Role Between Faith and Works?

In this post Christmas podcast, Jim answers listener email and addresses the role between faith and works? What's the danger in adding good works to the salvation equation? In addition, Jim further addresses the role that Christianity has played in shaping our culture, the existence of textual variations in the scriptures and the worldview contained within the movie "Avatar".

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PleaseConvinceMe Podcast 132

PCM television - The Problem of Moral Evil

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PCM television - The Problem of Moral Evil

PleaseConvinceMe Podcast 131

Does the New Testament Contain Fulfilled Prophecy?

In this podcast, Jim examines the role that fulfilled prophecy plays in confirming the reliability of the New Testament. In addition to the accurate prophecies uttered by Jesus himself, there are hundreds of Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled by the birth, life, death and burial of Jesus, the Messiah. Jim also discusses the theistic beliefs of America's founding fathers in response to listener email.

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PleaseConvinceMe Podcast 131

Powerful Emotions/Can We Trust Our Feelings?

The above video is featured here on the "Official Web site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints". I'd like to point out that the church is using Galatians 5:22-23 to 'prove' that a person will get feelings of peace, love and joy from the Holy Ghost when something is true and/or from God.

Firstly, that is a misapplication of the Galatians passage, as can be seen by simply reading the verses in context. What the Apostle Paul is doing in Galatians chapter 5 is making a comparison. If a person is living according to "the flesh", their life will manifest some of the fruits of the flesh: "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like" (Gal. 5:19-21). However, a person who has been "born again" should begin to produce "the fruits" of being led by the Holy Spirit. Their old nature shed, they will begin to develop godly characteristics like "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Gal. 5:22-23). The verses have nothing to do with how you "feel" after you have prayed.

Secondly, the idea that we can rely on our feelings when making major decisions is absolute folly. I hope to demonstrate this below, with a quick scenario comparison.

1- 'Feelings' are the Key to Truth:

A married woman finds herself attracted to a coworker who is frequently flirty with her.
She has a 'burning in her bosom' toward the man, meaning she has strong good emotions when he is around.
Having been taught that 'feelings' are the key thing to go by, she believes that the Holy Ghost is telling her that this man is for her.
At the same time, she is having worse and worse feelings around her husband. She decides that this is the Spirit telling her that she made the wrong choice in him, and she needs to get a divorce.
She goes on to get a divorce from her husband and marry the flirty guy at the office. However, neither of them have had any kind of heart-change experience, and continuing to be who they are, eventually she feels good about another man, especially since her new husband is always flirting with married women at the office.

2- God's Word is the Truth, and 'Feelings' Must Take a Backseat to His Authority.

A married woman feels good being around the guy at the office who acts attracted to her. She begins to experience negative feelings with her husband.
However, she knows that in the Bible, God tells us that our human/fleshly nature often tries to trip us up, and that we should not commit adultery.
She realizes that feelings/emotions come and go, and she trusts that God is right. She begins to understand that her "good feelings" can be accounted for because she likes to feel attractive; her bad feelings because she is feeling guilty about the wrong thoughts and feelings she's been allowing to divide her (mentally/emotionally) from her husband. She decides (and asks God to help her) to curtail her friendship with the guy at the office and recommit to her relationship with her husband.
There is no "rush" sensation, no powerful emotions, that the woman gets from trusting God instead of herself. Rather, she feels like she's made a solid decision, like her feet are firmly planted on unshakable ground. And, as the years go by and she sees how things have turned out, she is blessed again and again in her heart for having made the right choice. She has learned by experience that God is true and faithful, and knows inexpressible joy and gratefulness to Him for His wisdom and goodness.

The stories above are not entirely hypothetical, but actually composites of the stories of six women I know. The three LDS womens' stories proceeded like the first one above, all ending with broken homes and families but no lasting joy. The two Christian womens' experiences were like the second story. And the last, an LDS woman who decided to leave her "good feelings" out of it, is now, coincidentally, an ex-LDS, born-again believer.

Going back to the video. Can someone, should anyone, make any or all of the most important decisions of their life, going by their 'feelings'? Is that safe? Is it smart? Is it okay to not consider the evidence involved nor use logic? No, no, no, no.

TV commercials work in this way. Get us excited enough about a product, and we'll buy it. But if we stop and do a little research on the product, do some comparison shopping and the like, many times we won't.

There is so much information available these days, and sometimes it seems there is too much to dig through. But if our eternal soul is at stake, it's worth, at least, quite a bit of effort on our part, to look and study and figure it out.

I hope this woman on the LDS website (like I hope for every other LDS) shrugs off her Mormon thinking long enough to read the Bible with fresh eyes, and go on a serious search of it's history, it's teachings, and it's authority as God's Word on earth. And I hope she does the same research on Mormonism and its books of "scripture". She says she knows how to learn and that she has logically come to conclusions before. I hope she will again.

There are several articles on the Bible and Mormonism available on PleaseConvinceMe.com. Please feel free to check them out!

Powerful Emotions/Can We Trust Our Feelings?

A Blinding Commitment to Naturalism

We often talk about the scientific bias of philosophical naturalism and the way that this bias colors the conclusions that science draws and the manner in which science examines important issues. Well, thanks to one of our podcast listeners (Gerald) there is an excellent example of this over at the Nova Evolution website. They posted an article several years ago featuring an interview with paleontologist Andrew Knoll, a professor of biology at Harvard and the author of "Life on a Young Planet: The First Three Billion Years of Life." What's important about the interview is Knoll's obvious prior commitment to naturalism. It clearly forms the foundation for all of his conclusions related to the origin of life and precludes him from considering supernatural influences altogether. His most basic definitions ASSUME naturalism to be true. Take for example, his definition of "life":

"People have tried to find more general, more universal definitions of life. They're speculative, because we don't know about any life other than ourselves. But one definition that I kind of like says life is a system that's capable of Darwinian evolution. What does it require to have a system that evolves in a Darwinian fashion?"

The assumption here is that evolution is true, even before examining the nature of life (or its origin). Of course the problem with naturalism, when it comes to examining this issue, is that it fails to provide us with any answers. Knoll is openly honest about this, even if he is unable to understand that his naturalistic presupposition is the very thing that is limiting his conclusions:

"The short answer is we don't really know how life originated on this planet. There have been a variety of experiments that tell us some possible roads, but we remain in substantial ignorance."

In spite of having no clear historical pathway for life and no clear answers as to how life began, Knoll, like many other philosophical naturalists, is committed to the idea that it could all happen without Divine guidance or intervention. In other words, he knows THAT it all came about naturally, even before he begins to examine IF it all came about naturally:

"Well, we don't know how hard it is to go from the simplest bricks, if you will, in the wall of life to something that is complicated, like a living bacterium. We know that it happened, so it's possible. We don't really know whether it was unlikely and just happened to work out on Earth, or whether it's something that will happen again and again in the universe."

Still the article does reveal the difficulty that scientists committed to naturalism have had trying to explain the origin of life. The scenarios they have proposed in the past are clearly insufficient and lacking:

"The hard part, and the part that I think nobody has quite figured out yet, is how you get them (the building blocks of life) working together. How do you go from some warm, little pond on a primordial Earth that has amino acids, sugars, fatty acids just sort of floating around in the environment to something in which nucleic acids are actually directing proteins to make the membranes of the cell? ...I'm not sure we've gotten very far down the road to understanding how that really happens."

Knoll is comfortable with the idea that this part of life's equation (how life actually began) will remain a mystery. In other words, he will not abandon naturalism simply because there are still some unanswered questions. We Christians ought to understand this. We know that there are still some theological mysteries that we simply cannot understand in this life. We continue to believe in the existence of God (however scientifically or philosophically reasonable we may believe his existence to be), even though we have some unanswered questions. We call this continued belief "faith". Knoll's interview reveals that philosophical naturalists also exercise a measure of "faith" (trusting in something that cannot be known or understood fully) when they embrace the natural answers provided by science:

"We don't know how life started on this planet. We don't know exactly when it started, we don't know under what circumstances... I imagine my grandchildren will still be sitting around saying that it's a great mystery."

Both atheists and theists exercise a measure of "faith". But as time passes, the complexity and mystery of life's origin seems to require more faith on the part of naturalists than ever before.

A Blinding Commitment to Naturalism

PleaseConvinceMe Podcast 130

What Would Our World Be Like Without Faith?

In this podcast, Jim examines the impact that Christian believers have had on our world and the impact that theistic faith has on culture. While many "new atheists" argue that belief in God is "not good" for our society, the truth is just the opposite. Believers have contributed to our culture in ways that are often taken for granted and our country was founded in Christian principles held by theistic believers. Jim describes four central Christian beliefs that have helped to shape our society in a positive way as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Savior.

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PleaseConvinceMe Podcast 130

Are Santa & Jesus the Same?

Is Jesus just our wish-granter? A magical, whimsical figment of our imaginations that we can go to with a list of desires, but feel free to ignore when we're "fine"? Or is He the most beautiful and wonderful person we could ever hope to know, who wants us to get to know Him? Terrific little presentation.

Are Santa & Jesus the Same?

The Bible is About Jesus

"...and beginning at Moses and all the prophets, [Jesus] expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27)

Christmas season is here, and it is an issue that still bothers me. I know that there are businesses that survive only because of "Christmas". I know that Jesus wasn't born on Dec. 25th. I believe there is too much Santa, and not enough knowledge going around about what Christ was born to do. Can I feel good, as a Christian, about celebrating this holiday? Is Christ even in it at all? I really don't know.

But what I do know is where I can find Him. Christ is in the Bible.

The Tree of Life is a picture of Him. The sacrifice of Abel is about Him. The Old Testament temple, the Ark of Noah, Moses, Joseph of Egypt, the book of Ruth ... all are pictures of Jesus.

And then, of course, are all the prophecies. Today, since I stumbled across a list of these, I am going to share them.

Enjoy!

"313 Old Testament prophesies regarding Jesus Christ fulfilled in the New Testament"- compiled by Stefan Dennis.

1. Gen 3:15 Fulfilled in Heb. 2:14, 1 John 3:18 (He will bruise Satan's head).
2. Gen 9:26,27 Fulfilled in Luke 3:36 (The God of Shem will also be the Son of Shem)
3. Gen. 12:3 Fulfilled in Acts 3:25-26 (As Abraham's seed, will bless all nations)
4. Gen. 12:7 Fulfilled in Gal. 3:16 (The Promise made to Abraham's Seed)
5. Gen. 14:18 Fulfilled in Heb. 6:20 (A priest after Melchizedek)
6. Gen. 14:18 Fulfilled in Heb. 7:2 (Jesus Christ is a King also as well as literally Melchizedek)
7. Gen. 14:18 Fulfilled in Mt. 26:26-29 (The Last Supper foreshadowed)
8. Gen. 17:19 Fulfilled in Rom. 9:7 (The Seed of Isaac)
9. Gen. 22:8 Fulfilled in John 1:29 (The Lamb of God promised)
10. Gen. 22:18 Fulfilled in Gal. 3:16 (As Isaac's seed, will bless all nations)
11. Gen. 26:2-5 Fulfilled in Heb. 11:18 (The Seed of Isaac promised as the Redeemer)
12. Gen. 49:10 Fulfilled in Luke 2:1-7; Gal. 4:4 (The coming of the Messiah)
13. Gen. 49:10 Fulfilled in Luke 3:33 (The Seed of Judah)
14. Gen. 49:10 Fulfilled in John 17:3 (Called Shiloh or “One Sent”)
15. Gen. 49:10 Fulfilled in John 11:47-52 (To come before Judah lost their true identity)
16. Gen. 49:10 Fulfilled in John 10:16 (To Him shall the people be obedient to)
17. Ex. 3:13-14 Fulfilled in John 4:26 (God declares himself as The Great "I Am" through Christ)
18. Ex. 12:5 Fulfilled in 1 Peter 1:19 (A Lamb without blemish (Christ))
19. Ex. 12:13 Fulfilled in Romans 5:8 (The blood of the Lamb saves his followers from God’s wrath)
20. Ex. 12:21-27 Fulfilled in 1 Cor. 5:7 (Christ is our Passover)
21. Ex. 12:46 Fulfilled in John 19:31-36 (Not a bone of the Lamb to be broken)
22. Ex. 15:2 Fulfilled in Acts 7:55-56 (Christ’s exaltation predicted as Yeshua (Jesus in Hebrew))
23. Ex. 15:11 Fulfilled in Luke 1:35; Acts 4:27 (His character is holy)
24. Ex. 17:6 Fulfilled in 1 Cor. 10:4 (The Spiritual Rock of Israel) Also see John chapter 4.
25. Ex. 33:19 Fulfilled in Luke 1:72 19 (His Character is merciful)
26. Lev. 14:11 Fulfilled in Luke 5:12-14; Acts 6:7 (The leper cleansed-Sign to priesthood)
27. Lev.16:15-17 Fulfilled in Heb. 9:7-14 (Prefigures Christ's once-and-for-all death)
28. Lev. 16:27 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:33; Heb. 13:11-12 (Suffering outside the Camp, place of crucifixion)
29. Lev. 17:11 Fulfilled in Mt. 26:28; Mark 10:45 (The Blood-the life of the flesh)
30. Lev. 17: Fulfilled in 1 John 3:14-18 (It is the blood that makes atonement)
31. Lev. 23:36-37 Fulfilled in John 19:31-36 (The Drink-offering: "If any man thirst")
32. Num. 9:12 Fulfilled in John 19:31-36 (Not a bone of Him broken)
33. Num. 21:9 Fulfilled in John 3:14-18 (The serpent on a pole-Christ lifted up on the cross)
34. Num. 24:17 Fulfilled in Gal. 4:4 (Time: "I shall see him, but not now.")
35. Deut. 18:15 Fulfilled in John 6:14 ("This is of a truth that prophet.")
36. Deut. 18:15-16 Fulfilled in John 5:45-47 ("Had ye believed Moses, ye would believe me.")
37. Deut. 18:18 Fulfilled in John 8:28-29 (Sent by the Father to speak His word)
38. Deut. 18:19 Fulfilled in John 12:15 (Whoever will not hear must bear his sin)
39. Deut. 21:23 Fulfilled in Gal. 3:10-13 (Cursed is he that hangs on a tree/sin put to death on cross)
40. Ruth 4:4-9 Fulfilled in Eph. 1:3-7 (Christ, our kinsman, has redeemed us)
41. 1 Sam. 2:10 Fulfilled in Mt. 28:18; John 12:15 (Shall be an anointed King to the Lord)
42. 2 Sam. 7:12 Fulfilled in Mt. 1:1 (Christ is from David's seed)
43. 2 Sam. 7:14 Fulfilled in Luke 1:32 (Christ is the Son of God)
44. 2 Sam. 7:16 Fulfilled in Luke 3:31; Rev. 22:16 (David's house established forever)
45. 2 Kings 2:11 Fulfilled in Luke 24:51 (The bodily ascension to heaven illustrated in Elijah)
46. 1 Chr. 17:11 Fulfilled in Mt. 1:1; 9:27 (Christ is from David's seed)
47. 1 Chr. 17:12-13 Fulfilled in Luke 1:32, 33 (To reign on David's throne forever)
48. 1 Chr. 17:13 Fulfilled in Heb. 1:5 ("I will be His Father, He will be/is my Son.")
49. Job 19:23-27 Fulfilled in John 5:24-29 (The Resurrection predicted)
50. Psa. 2:1-3 Fulfilled in Acts 4:25-28 (The enmity of kings foreordained)
51. Psa. 2:2 Fulfilled in Acts 2:36 (To own the title, Anointed (Christ))
52. Psa. 2:6 Fulfilled in John 8:46; Rev. 3:7 (His character is holy)
53. Psa. 2:6 Fulfilled in Mt. 2:2 (To have the title King)
54. Psa. 2:7 Fulfilled in Mt. 3:17 (Declared the Beloved Son)
55. Psa. 2:7, 8 Fulfilled in Acts 13:29-33 (The Crucifixion and Resurrection intimated)
56. Psa. 2:12 Fulfilled in John 20:31 (Life comes through faith in Him)
57. Psa. 8:2 Fulfilled in Mt. 21:16 (The mouths of babes perfect His praise)
58. Psa. 8:5-6 Fulfilled in Luke 24:50-53; 1 Cor. 15:27 (His humiliation and exaltation)
59. Psa. 16:10 Fulfilled in Acts 2:31 (Was not to see corruption)
60. Psa. 16:9-11 Fulfilled in John 20:9 (Was to arise from the dead)
61. Psa. 17:15 Fulfilled in Luke 24:6 (The resurrection predicted)
62. Psa. 22:1 Fulfilled in 2 Cor. 5:21 (Forsaken because of sins of others)
63. Psa. 22:1 Fulfilled in Mark. 15:34 (Words spoken from Calvary, "My God...")
64. Psa. 22:2 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:45 (Darkness upon Calvary)
65. Psa. 22:7 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:39 (They shake their heads at Him)
66. Psa. 22:8 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:43 ("He trusted in God, let God deliver Him")
67. Psa. 22:9 Fulfilled in Luke 2:7 (Born the Savior)
68. Psa. 22:14 Fulfilled in John 19:34 (Died of a broken (ruptured) heart)
69. Psa. 22:14-15 Fulfilled in Mark 15:34-37 (Suffered agony on Calvary)
70. Psa. 22:15 Fulfilled in John 19:28 (He thirsted)
71. Psa. 22:16 Fulfilled in John 19:34,37;20:27 (They pierced His hands and His feet)
72. Psa. 22:17-18 Fulfilled in Luke 23:34,35 (Stripped Him before the sight of men)
73. Psa. 22:18 Fulfilled in John 19:23-24 (They parted His garments among each other)
74. Psa. 22:20-21 Fulfilled in Luke 23:46 (He submitted Himself to the will of God)
75. Psa. 22:20-21 Fulfilled in Heb. 2:14 (Satanic power bruising the Redeemer's heel)
76. Psa. 22:22 Fulfilled in John 20:17 (His Resurrection declared)
77. Psa. 22:27 Fulfilled in Col 1:16 (He shall be the governor of the nations)
78. Psa. 22:31 Fulfilled in John 19:30 ("It is finished")
79. Psa. 23:1 Fulfilled in John 10:11 ("I am the Good Shepherd")
80. Psa. 24:3 Fulfilled in Acts 1:11; Phil. 2:9 (His exaltation predicted)
81. Psa. 30:3 Fulfilled in Acts 2:32 (His resurrection predicted)
82. Psa. 31:5 Fulfilled in Luke 23:46 ("Into thy hands I commit my spirit")
83. Psa. 31:11 Fulfilled in Mark 14:50 (His acquaintances fled from Him)
84. Psa. 31:13 Fulfilled in John 11:53 (They took counsel to put Him to death)
85. Psa. 31:14,15 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:43 15 ("He trusted in God, let Him deliver him")
86. Psa. 34:20 Fulfilled in John 19:31-36 (Not a bone of Him broken)
87. Psa. 35:11 Fulfilled in Mt. 26:59 (False witnesses rose up against Him)
88. Psa. 35:19 Fulfilled in John 15:25 (He was hated without cause)
89. Psa. 38:11 Fulfilled in Luke 23:49 (His friends stood afar off)
90. Psa. 40:2-5 Fulfilled in John 20:20 (The joy of His resurrection predicted)
91. Psa. 40:6-8 Fulfilled in John 4:34 (His delight-the will of the Father)
92. Psa. 40:9 Fulfilled in Mt. 4:17 (He was to preach righteousness in Israel)
93. Psa. 40:14 Fulfilled in John 18:4-6 (Confronted by adversaries in the Garden)
94. Psa. 41:9 Fulfilled in John 13:18 (Betrayed by a familiar friend)
95. Psa. 45:2 Fulfilled in Luke 4:22 (Words of Grace come from His lips)
96. Psa. 45:6 Fulfilled in Heb. 1:8 (To own the title, God or Elohim)
97. Psa. 45:7 Fulfilled in Mt.3:16; Heb.1:9 (A special anointing by the Holy Spirit)
98. Psa. 45:7-8 Fulfilled in Luke 2:11 (Called the Christ [Messiah or Anointed])
99. Psa. 55:12-14 Fulfilled in John 13:18 (Betrayed by a friend, not an enemy)
100. Psa. 55:15 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:3-5; Acts 1:16-19 (Unrepentant death of the betrayer, Judas)
101. Psa. 68:18 Fulfilled in Eph. 4:7-16 (To give gifts to men)
102. Psa. 68:18 Fulfilled in Luke 24:51 (Ascended into Heaven, see also 2 Kings 2:11)
103. Psa. 69:4 Fulfilled in John 15:25 (Hated without a cause)
104. Psa. 69:8 Fulfilled in Luke 8:20-21 (A stranger to own brethren)
105. Psa. 69:9 Fulfilled in John 2:17 (Zealous for the Lord's House)
106. Psa. 69:14-20 Fulfilled in Mt. 26:36-45 (Christ's anguish of soul before the crucifixion)
107. Psa. 69:20 Fulfilled in Mt. 26:38 ("My soul is exceeding sorrowful.")
108. Psa. 69:21 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:34 (Given vinegar in thirst)
109. Psa. 69:26 Fulfilled in John 17:4; 18:11 (The Savior given and smitten)
110. Psa. 72:10-11 Fulfilled in Mt. 2:1-11 (Great persons were to visit Him)
111. Psa. 72:16 Fulfilled in John 12:24 (The corn of wheat to fall into the ground)
112. Psa. 72:17 Fulfilled in John 1:12-13 (His name will produce offspring, those born of God)
113. Psa. 72:17 Fulfilled in Acts 2:11-12, 41 (All nations shall be blessed by Him)
114. Psa. 78:1-2 Fulfilled in Mt. 13:34-35 (He would teach in parables)
115. Psa. 78:2 Fulfilled in Mt. 7:29 (To speak the Wisdom of God with authority)
116. Psa. 88:8 Fulfilled in Luke 23:49 (Disciples stood afar off and watched)
117. Psa. 89:27 Fulfilled in Luke 1:32-33 (Emmanuel to be higher than earthly kings)
118. Psa. 89:35-37 Fulfilled in Luke 1:32-33 (David's Seed, throne, kingdom endure forever)
119. Psa. 89:36-37 Fulfilled in Rev. 1:5 (His character is faithfulness manifest)
120. Psa. 90:2 Fulfilled in John 1:1 (He is from everlasting [Micah 5:2])
121. Psa. 91:11-12 Fulfilled in Luke 4:10-11 (Identified as Messianic; used to tempt Christ)
122. Psa. 97:9 Fulfilled in Acts 1:11; Eph. 1:20 (His exaltation predicted)
123. Psa. 100:5 Fulfilled in Mt. 19:16-17 (His character is goodness manifest)
124. Psa. 102:1-11 Fulfilled in John 21:16-30 (The suffering and reproach of Calvary)
125. Psa. 102:25-27 Fulfilled in Heb. 1:10-12 (Messiah is the pre-existent Son)
126. Psa. 109:25 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:39 (Ridiculed)
127. Psa. 110:1 Fulfilled in Mt. 22:43-44 (Son of David)
128. Psa. 110:1 Fulfilled in Mark 16:19 (To ascend to the right-hand of the Father)
129. Psa. 110:1 Fulfilled in Mt. 22:44-45 (David's son called Lord)
130. Psa. 110:4 Fulfilled in Heb. 6:20 (A priest after Melchizedek's order)
131. Psa. 112:4 Fulfilled in Mt. 9:36 (His character is compassionate and gracious)
132. Psa. 118:17-18 Fulfilled in Luke 24:5-7; 1 Cor. 15:20 (Messiah's Resurrection assured)
133. Psa. 118:22-23 Fulfilled in Mt. 21:42-43 (The rejected stone is Head of the corner)
134. Psa. 118:26 Fulfilled in Mt. 21:9 (The Blessed One presented to Israel)
135. Psa. 118:26 Fulfilled in Mt. 21:12-15 (To come a while Temple is standing)
136. Psa. 132:11 Fulfilled in Luke 1:32 (The Seed of David [the fruit of His Body])
137. Psa. 138:1-6 Fulfilled in Mt. 2:2-6 (The supremacy of David's Seed amazes kings)
138. Psa. 147:3,6 Fulfilled in Luke 4:18 (The earthly ministry of Christ described)
139. Psa. 149:6 Fulfilled in Heb. 4:12 (Word of God sharper than a two edged sword)
140. Song. 5:16 Fulfilled in John 1:17 (The altogether lovely One)
141. Isa. 6:1 Fulfilled in John 12:40-41 (When Isaiah saw His glory)
142. Isa. 6:9-10 Fulfilled in Mt. 13:13-15 (Parables fall on deaf ears)
143. Isa. 6:9-12 Fulfilled in Acts 28:23-29 (Blinded to Christ and deaf to His words)
144. Isa. 7:14 Fulfilled in Luke 1:35 (Christ born of a virgin)
145. Isa. 7:14 Fulfilled in Mt. 1:18-23 (To be Emmanuel-God with us)
146. Isa. 8:8 Fulfilled in Mt. 28:20 (Called Emmanuel)
147. Isa. 8:14 Fulfilled in 1 Pet. 2:8 (A stone of stumbling, a Rock of offense)
148. Isa. 9:1-2 Fulfilled in Mt. 4:12-17 (His ministry to begin in Galilee)
149. Isa. 9:6 Fulfilled in Luke 1:31 (A child born-Humanity)
150. Isa. 9:6 Fulfilled in Luke 1:32; John 1:14; 1 Tim. 3:16 (A Son given-Deity)
151. Isa. 9:6 Fulfilled in Rom. 1:3-4 (Declared to be the Son of God with power)
152. Isa. 9:6 Fulfilled in Luke 4:22 (The Wonderful One)
153. Isa. 9:6 Fulfilled in Mt. 13:54 (The Counsellor)
154. Isa. 9:6 Fulfilled in Mt. 11:20 (The Mighty God)
155. Isa. 9:6 Fulfilled in John 8:58 (The Everlasting Father)
156. Isa. 9:6 Fulfilled in John 16:33 (The Prince of Peace, “Salem”)
157. Isa. 9:7 Fulfilled in Luke 1:32-33 (To establish an everlasting kingdom)
158. Isa. 9:7 Fulfilled in John 5:30 (His character is Justice manifested)
159. Isa. 9:7 Fulfilled in Luke 1:32-33 (No end to his Government, Throne, and Peace)
160. Isa. 11:1 Fulfilled in Mt. 2:23 (Called a Nazarene-the “Branch”)
161. Isa. 11:1 Fulfilled in Luke 3:23,32 (A rod out of Jesse-Son of Jesse)
162. Isa. 11:2 Fulfilled in Mt. 3:16-17 (The anointed One by the Spirit)
163. Isa. 11:2 Fulfilled in John 4:4-26 (His character is wisdom and understanding manifest)
164. Isa. 11:4 Fulfilled in John 14:6 (His character is Truth manifest)
165. Isa. 11:10 Fulfilled in John 12:18-21 (The Gentiles seek Him)
166. Isa. 12:2 Fulfilled in Mt. 1:21 (Called Jesus/Yeshua “phonic transference of Jehovah” in Hebrew)
167. Isa. 25:8 Fulfilled in I Cor. 15:54 (The Resurrection predicted)
168. Isa. 26:19 Fulfilled in John 11:43-44 (His power of Resurrection predicted)
169. Isa. 28:16 Fulfilled in Acts 4:11-12 (The Messiah is the precious corner stone)
170. Isa. 29:13 Fulfilled in Mt. 15:7-9 (He indicated hypocritical obedience to His Word)
171. Isa. 29:14 Fulfilled in I Cor. 1:18-31 (The wise are confounded by the Word)
172. Isa. 32:2 Fulfilled in Mt. 23:37 (A Refuge-A man shall be a hiding place)
173. Isa. 35:4 Fulfilled in Mt. 1:21 (He will come and save you)
174. Isa. 35:5 Fulfilled in Mt. 11:4-6 (To have a ministry of miracles)
175. Isa. 40:3-4 Fulfilled in John 1:23 (Preceded by forerunner)
176. Isa. 40:9 Fulfilled in John 1:36; 19:14 ("Behold your God.")
177. Isa. 40:11 Fulfilled in John 10:10-18 (A shepherd-compassionate-life-giver)
178. Isa. 42:1-4 Fulfilled in Mt.12:18-21 (The servant-as a faithful, patient redeemer)
179. Isa. 42:2 Fulfilled in Mt. 11:28-30 (Meek and lowly)
180. Isa. 42:3 Fulfilled in John 4 (He brings hope for the hopeless)
181. Isa. 42:4 Fulfilled in John 12:20-26 (The nations shall wait on His teachings)
182. Isa. 42:6 Fulfilled in Luke 2:32 (The Light (salvation) of the Gentiles)
183. Isa. 42:1,6 Fulfilled in Mt. 28:19,20 (His is a Worldwide compassion)
184. Isa. 42:7 Fulfilled in John 9:25-38 (Blind eyes opened)
185. Isa. 43:11 Fulfilled in Acts. 4:12 (He is the only Savior)
186. Isa. 44:3 Fulfilled in John 16:7,13 (He will send the Spirit of God)
187. Isa. 45:23 Fulfilled in John 5:22; Rom. 14:11 (He will be the Judge)
188. Isa. 48:12 Fulfilled in John 1:30; Rev. 1:8,17 (The First and the Last)
189. Isa. 48:17 Fulfilled in John 3:2 17 (He came as a Teacher)
190. Isa. 49:1 Fulfilled in Mt. 1:18 (Called from the womb-His humanity)
191. Isa. 49:5 Fulfilled in Luke 1:31; Phil. 2:7 (A Servant from the womb)
192. Isa. 49:6 Fulfilled in Luke 2:29-32 (He is Salvation for Israel)
193. Isa. 49:6 Fulfilled in Acts 13:47 (He is the Light of the Gentiles)
194. Isa. 49:6 Fulfilled in Acts 15:7-18 (He is Salvation unto the ends of the earth)
195. Isa. 49:7 Fulfilled in John 8:48-49 (He is despised of the Nation of Israel)
196. Isa. 50:3 Fulfilled in Luke 23:44-45 (Heaven is clothed in black at His humiliation)
197. Isa. 50:4 Fulfilled in Mt. 11:28-29 (He is a learned counselor for the weary of heart)
198. Isa. 50:5 Fulfilled in Mt. 26:39 (The Servant bound willingly to obedience)
199. Isa. 50:6 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:26 ("I gave my back to the smiters.")
200. Isa. 50:6 Fulfilled in Mt. 26:67 (He was smitten on the cheeks)
201. Isa. 50:6 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:30 (He was spat upon)
202. Isa. 52:7 Fulfilled in Luke 4:14-15 (To publish good tidings of peace)
203. Isa. 52:13 Fulfilled in Acts 1:8-11; Eph. 1:19-22 (The Servant exalted)
204. Isa. 52:13 Fulfilled in Mt. 17:5; Phil. 2:5-8 (Behold, My Servant)
205. Isa. 52:14 Fulfilled in Luke 18:31-34; Mt. 26:67-68 (The Servant shockingly abused)
206. Isa. 52:15 Fulfilled in Rom. 15:18-21 (Nations startled by message of the Servant)
207. Isa. 52:15 Fulfilled in Rev. 1:5 (The sprinkling and shedding His blood to make intersession for all)
208. Isa. 53:1 Fulfilled in John 12:37-38 (His people would not believe Him)
209. Isa. 53:2 Fulfilled in Luke 2:7 (He would grow up in a poor family)
210. Isa. 53:2 Fulfilled in Phil. 2:7-8 (Appearance of an ordinary man)
211. Isa. 53:3 Fulfilled in Luke 4:28-29 (Despised)
212. Isa. 53:3 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:21-23 (Rejected)
213. Isa. 53:3 Fulfilled in Luke 19:41-42 (Great sorrow and grief)
214. Isa. 53:3 Fulfilled in Mark 14:50-52 (Men hide from being associated with Him)
215. Isa. 53:4 Fulfilled in Luke 6:17-19 (He would have a healing ministry)
216. Isa. 53:4 Fulfilled in 1 Pet. 2:24 (He would bear the sins of the world)
217. Isa. 53:4 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:41-43 (Thought to be cursed by God)
218. Isa. 53:5 Fulfilled in Luke 23:33 (Bears penalty for mankind's transgressions)
219. Isa. 53:5 Fulfilled in Col. 1:20 (His sacrifice would provide peace between man and God)
220. Isa. 53:5 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:26 (His back would be whipped)
221. Isa. 53:6 Fulfilled in Gal. 1:4 (He would be the sin-bearer for all mankind)
222. Isa. 53:6 Fulfilled in 1 Jn. 4:10 (God's will that He bear sin for all mankind)
223. Isa. 53:7 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:27-31 (Oppressed and afflicted)
224. Isa. 53:7 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:12-14 (Silent before his accusers)
225. Isa. 53:7 Fulfilled in John 1:29 (Sacrificial lamb)
226. Isa. 53:8 Fulfilled in Mt. 26:47-27:31 (Confined and persecuted)
227. Isa. 53:8 Fulfilled in Jn. 18:13-22 (He would be judged)
228. Isa. 53:8 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:35 (Killed)
229. Isa. 53:8 Fulfilled in 1 John 2:2 (Dies for the sins of the world)
230. Isa. 53:9 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:57 (Buried in a rich man's grave)
231. Isa. 53:9 Fulfilled in Mk. 15:3 (Innocent and had done no violence)
232. Isa. 53:9 Fulfilled in John 18:38 (No deceit in his mouth)
233. Isa. 53:10 Fulfilled in John 18:11 (God's will that He die for mankind)
234. Isa. 53:10 Fulfilled in Mt. 20:28 (An offering for sin)
235. Isa. 53:10 Fulfilled in Mk. 16:16 (Resurrected and live forever)
236. Isa. 53:10 Fulfilled in John 17:1-5 (He would prosper)
237. Isa. 53:11 Fulfilled in John 12:27 (God fully satisfied debt of sin with His suffering)
238. Isa. 53:11 Fulfilled in Rom. 5:18-19 (God's servant)
239. Isa. 53:11 Fulfilled in Rom. 5:8-9 (He would justify man before God)
240. Isa. 53:11 Fulfilled in Heb. 9:28 (The sin-bearer for all mankind)
241. Isa. 53:12 Fulfilled in Mt. 28:18 (Exalted by God because of his sacrifice)
242. Isa. 53:12 Fulfilled in Luke 23:46 (He would give up his life to save mankind)
243. Isa. 53:12 Fulfilled in Luke 23:32 (Grouped with criminals)
244. Isa. 53:12 Fulfilled in 2 Cor. 5:21 (Sin-bearer for all mankind)
245. Isa. 53:12 Fulfilled in Luke 23:34 (Intercede to God in behalf of mankind)
246. Isa. 55:3 Fulfilled in Acts 13:34 (Resurrected by God)
247. Isa. 55:4 Fulfilled in John 18:37 (A witness)
248. Isa. 59:15-16 Fulfilled in John 6:40 (He would come to provide salvation)
249. Isa. 59:15-16 Fulfilled in Mt. 10:32 (Intercessor between man and God)
250. Isa. 59:20 Fulfilled in Luke 2:38 (He would come to Zion as their Redeemer)
251. Isa. 61:1-2 Fulfilled in Mt. 3:16-17 (The Spirit of God upon Him)
252. Isa. 61:1-2 Fulfilled in Luke 4:17-21 (The Messiah would preach the good news)
253. Isa. 61:1-2 Fulfilled in John 8:31-32 (Provide freedom from the bondage of sin and death)
254. Isa. 61:1-2 Fulfilled in John 5:24 (Proclaim a period of grace)
255. Jer.23:5-6 Fulfilled in Luke 3:23-31 (Descendant of David)
256. Jer. 23:5-6 Fulfilled in John 13:13 (The Messiah would be God)
257. Jer. 23:5-6 Fulfilled in 1 Tim. 3:16 (The Messiah would be both God and Man)
258. Jer. 31:22 Fulfilled in Mt. 1:18-20 (Born of a virgin)
259. Jer. 31:31 Fulfilled in Mt. 26:28 (The Messiah would be the new covenant)
260. Jer. 33:14-15 Fulfilled in Luke 3:23-31 (Descendant of David)
261. Eze.17:22-24 Fulfilled in Luke 3:23-31 (Descendant of David)
262. Eze.34:23-24 Fulfilled in Mt. 1:1 (Descendant of David)
263. Dan. 7:13-14 Fulfilled in Acts 1:9-11 (He would ascend into heaven)
264. Dan. 7:13-14 Fulfilled in Eph. 1:20-22 (Highly exalted)
265. Dan. 7:13-14 Fulfilled in Luke 1:31-33 (His dominion would be everlasting)
266. Dan. 9:24 Fulfilled in Gal. 1:3-5 (To make an end to sins)
267. Dan. 9:24 Fulfilled in Luke 1:35 (He would be holy)
268. Dan. 9:25 Fulfilled in John 12:12-13 (Announced to his people 483 years, to the exact day, after the decree to rebuild the city of Jerusalem)
269. Dan. 9:26 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:35 (Killed)
270. Dan. 9:26 Fulfilled in Heb. 2:9 (Die for the sins of the world)
271. Dan. 9:26 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:50-51 (Killed before the destruction of the temple)
272. Dan. 10:5-6 Fulfilled in Rev. 1:13-16 (Messiah in a glorified state)
273. Hos. 13:14 Fulfilled in 1 Cor. 15:55-57 (He would defeat death)
274. Joel 2:32 Fulfilled in Rom. 10:12-13 (Offer salvation to all mankind)
275. Mic. 5:2 Fulfilled in Mt. 2:1-2 (Born in Bethlehem)
276. Mic. 5:2 Fulfilled in John 15:10 (God's servant)
277. Mic. 5:2 Fulfilled in John 8:58 (From everlasting)
278. Hag. 2:6-9 Fulfilled in Luke 2:27-32 (He would visit the second Temple)
279. Hag. 2:23 Fulfilled in Luke 3:23-27 (Descendant of Zerubbabel)
280. Zech. 3:8 Fulfilled in John 17:4 (God's servant)
281. Zech. 6:12-13 Fulfilled in Heb. 8:1 (Priest and King)
282. Zech. 9:9 Fulfilled in Mt. 21:8-10 (Greeted with rejoicing in Jerusalem)
283. Zech. 9:9 Fulfilled in John 12:12-13 (Beheld as King)
284. Zech. 9:9 Fulfilled in John 5:30 (The Messiah would be just)
285. Zech. 9:9 Fulfilled in Luke 19:10 (The Messiah would bring salvation)
286. Zech. 9:9 Fulfilled in Mt. 11:29 (The Messiah would be humble)
287. Zech. 9:9 Fulfilled in Mt. 21:6-9 (Presented to Jerusalem riding on a donkey)
288. Zech. 10:4 Fulfilled in Eph. 2:20 (The cornerstone)
289. Zech. 11:4-6 Fulfilled in Mt. 23:1-4 (At His coming, Israel will have unfit leaders)
290. Zech. 11:4-6 Fulfilled in Luke 19:41-44 (Rejection causes God to remove His protection)
291. Zech. 11:4-6 Fulfilled in John 19:13-15 (Rejected in favor of another king)
292. Zech. 11:7 Fulfilled in Mt. 9:35-36 (Ministry to "poor," the believing remnant)
293. Zech. 11:8 Fulfilled in Mt. 23:33 (Unbelief forces Messiah to reject them)
294. Zech. 11:8 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:20 (Despised)
295. Zech. 11:9 Fulfilled in Mt. 13:10-11 (Stops ministering to those who rejected Him)
296. Zech. 11:10-11 Fulfilled in Luke 19:41-44 (Rejection causes God to remove protection)
297. Zech. 11:10-11 Fulfilled in John 14:7 (The Messiah would be God)
298. Zech. 11:12-13 Fulfilled in Mt. 26:14-15 (Betrayed for thirty pieces of silver)
299. Zech. 11:12-13 Fulfilled in Mt. 26:14-15 (Rejected)
300. Zech. 11:12-13 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:3-5 (Thirty pieces of silver thrown into the house of the Lord)
301. Zech. 11:12-13 Fulfilled in John 12:45 (The Messiah would be God)
302. Zech. 12:10 Fulfilled in John 19:34-37 (The Messiah's body would be pierced)
303. Zech. 12:10 Fulfilled in John 10:30 (The Messiah would be both God and man)
304. Zech. 12:10 Fulfilled in John 1:11 (The Messiah would be rejected)
305. Zech. 13:7 Fulfilled in John 18:11 (It is God's will that He die for mankind)
306. Zech. 13:7 Fulfilled in Mt. 27:35 (A violent death)
307. Zech. 13:7 Fulfilled in John 14:9 (Both God and man)
308. Zech. 13:7 Fulfilled in Mt. 26:31-56 (Israel scattered as a result of rejecting Him)
309. Mal. 3:1 Fulfilled in Mt. 11:10 (Messenger to prepare the way for Messiah)
310. Mal. 3:1 Fulfilled in Mk. 11:15-16 (Sudden appearance at the temple)
311. Mal. 3:1 Fulfilled in Luke 4:43 (Messenger of the new covenant)
312. Mal. 4:5 Fulfilled in Mt. 3:1-2 (Forerunner in the spirit of Elijah)
313. Mal. 4:6 Fulfilled in Luke 1:16-17 (Forerunner would turn many to righteousness)

The Bible is About Jesus

PleaseConvinceMe Podcast 129

Has the New Testament Been Faithfully Transmitted?

In this podcast, Jim continues examining the reliability of the Bible by studying the manner in which the New Testament was collected and canonized. Can we trust that the New Testament we have today is the same New Testament that first century believers had? How was the New Testament collected? What was the standard used to decide if a text should be included in the canon? Does the New Testament contain errors of transmission? Do these errors compromise the text? Jim also talks about the difference between dialogue and debate and discusses the recent headlines related to Tiger Woods.

Listen to the podcast and then leave your comments and interact with other listeners here.

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PleaseConvinceMe Podcast 129

Debate vs. Dialogue

I've recently been asked to participate in a couple of debates and I've turned down the offers. In both circumstances I've been asked to explain why I would not care to get involved in a healthy debate, particularly if I am so convinced that my worldview is true and can withstand the scrutiny. So, I thought it might make sense to explain we I prefer dialogue to debate.


I've been to a number of debates between atheists and theists and listened to hundreds more online. You probably have as well. Let me say something controversial: debates certainly help us to sharpen our rhetorical skills and they may even provide us with additional ammunition to strengthen our position, but from my perspective as a 35 year atheist and 13 year theist, they do more to entrench than they do to influence. I'm sure that many people come to debates with an open mind and may be encouraged to think about the opposing view, but far more come as representatives of one side or another simply hoping to see a good fight and victory for their side.

I liken it to watching a football game or a boxing match. I attended UCLA for graduate school. My son attends UCLA as an undergraduate. We are, needless to say, UCLA fans. Last weekend we played USC and got killed. It was hard to watch. But every year we head into that game as UCLA fans and we leave as UCLA fans. We head in believing that UCLA can win, and on those occasions that we leave the game as losers (far too often I will admit) we are still convinced that if we would have done this or that differently, we would have won. We are, after all, the better team and we represent what is good on earth, while USC represents everything that is vile and awful :)

The game did nothing to change our opinion.

Debates are often like this. Each side comes to the debate, certain that their side holds the truth and will dominate. In fact, we are looking forward to the public spanking we are about to give the other side. When our side does well, we gloat. When our side does not do well, we simply attribute the loss to a poor performance on the part of the debater. We still think we were right; we just had a poor representative on this particular night.

I much prefer a simple dialogue between two honest people who believe something is true but who are humble enough to know that we don't hold all the answer ( just enough of the answers to come to a conclusion). I have participated in public dialogues and have even created a couple of them when asked to speak at particular venues. Dialogues allow us to simply interact and get into the conversation with short statements from the heart, rather than prepared tactical responses designed to maneuver the opposing side into an awkward position.

Maybe I'm just an old man now and I'm tiring of the rhetoric. Maybe I'm just ready to bring the volume down. I am certainly no less certain of my own views; I'm just more inclined to talk with people than at them.

Debate vs. Dialogue

Problems with the "New Gospel"

Kevin DeYoung does a great job of dissecting the "New Gospel" or a new presentation of the gospel that we see creeping into Christianity. While partially true and ultimately misleading, the "New Gospel" usually contains some or all of the following:

It usually starts with an apology: “I’m sorry for my fellow Christians. I understand why you hate Christianity. It’s like that thing Ghandi said, ‘why can’t the Christians be more like their Christ?’ Christians are hypocritical, judgmental, and self-righteous. I know we screwed up with the Crusades, slavery, and the Witch Trials. All I can say is: I apologize. We’ve not give you a reason to believe.”

Then there is an appeal to God as love: “I know you’ve seen the preachers with the sandwich boards and bullhorns saying ‘Repent or Die.’ But I’m here to tell you God is love. Look at Jesus. He hung out with prostitutes and tax collectors. He loved unconditionally. There is so much brokenness in the world, but the good news of the Bible is that God came to live right in the middle of our brokenness. He’s a messy God and his mission is love. ‘I did not come into the world to condemn the world,’ that’s what Jesus said (John 3:17). He loved everyone, no matter who you were or what you had done. That’s what got him killed.”

The third part of the New Gospel is an invitation to join God on his mission in the world: “It’s a shame that Christians haven’t shown the world this God. But that’s what we are called to do. God’s kingdom is being established on earth. On earth! Not in some distant heaven after we die, but right here, right now. Even though we all mess up, we are God’s agents to show his love and bring this kingdom. And we don’t do that by scaring people with religious language or by forcing them into some religious mold. We do it by love. That’s the way of Jesus. That’s what it means to follow him. We love our neighbor and work for peace and justice. God wants us to become the good news for a troubled planet.”

And finally, there is a studied ambivalence about eternity: “Don’t get me wrong, I still believe in life after death. But our focus should be on what kind of life we can live right now. Will some people go to hell when they die? Who am I to say? Does God really require the right prayer or the right statement of faith to get into heaven? I don’t know, but I guess I can leave that in his hands. My job is not to judge people, but to bless. In the end, God’s amazing grace may surprise us all. That’s certainly what I hope for.”

Sound familiar? While I can never get past the fact that there is no actual gospel (1 Cor. 15) in the "New Gospel" when talking to Christians who want to change the way we spread the gospel, DeYoung also points out that, among other problems, the approach is Used Car salesmanship.

The New Gospel leads people to believe wrong things without explicitly stating those wrong things. That is, Christians who espouse the New Gospel feel safe from criticism because they never actually said belief is unimportant, or there is no hell, or that Jesus isn’t the only way, or that God has no wrath, or that there is no need for repentance. These distortions are not explicitly stated, but the New Gospel is presented in such a way that non-believers could, and by design should, come to these conclusions. In other words, the New Gospel allows the non-Christian to hear what he wants, while still providing an out against criticism from other Christians. The preacher of the New Gospel can always say when challenged, “But I never said I don’t believe those things.”

Problems with the "New Gospel"