This is a rebuttal to the 2nd alleged Bible contradiction
Question #2: Is salvation through faith or works?
Question #2 rewritten: Is salvation through faith without works?
The answer is immediately: Salvation requires both. Why? Because true Christian
faith is always attended to by works; and works not done in proper faith don't count.
Okay, now for the verses Evans presented for him to make his claim.
In the 'yes' category (that is, by faith alone), we have
Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:28 (which are both Pauline)
and in the 'no' category, we have
Proverbs 24:12, Matthew 16:26, James 2:14-17, Revelation 20:12.
My answer
I do not intend to reply to each of these verses because I have my own writings on
this topic, which I will provide below. Besides, this is a well-known controversy
within Christendom that goes back, apparently, all the way to the First Century AD.
There are a lot of verses that can be given on each side. My number one hermeneutic
rule is this: The words of Jesus take precedence over whatever is written by or said
by the apostles. By the way, I do reply to James 2:14-17, even though I don't
explicitly quote the verse.
This is my explanation of the controversy. Paul had a 'unique' problem among the apostles
concerning his evangelization. He had to constantly contend with 'converted' Jews who
maintained that no one can be saved by Jesus unless they first submit to the Law of Moses.
Paul was adamantly against this doctrine. I will not spend a lot of time on this issue.
It will suffice for my purpose to quote a few verses out of Galatians and Ephesians. In any
case, there are a lot of verses that could be listed for each side. This is an important
issue that every believer has to deal with.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be
not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that
if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to
every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is
become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are
fallen from grace. -- Galatians 5:1-4
Paul is condemning those who are too cowardly to accept the reproach of nonbelievers,
so they seek to compromise by getting circumsized. Thus, it's not the mere act of
circumcision that Paul condemns, but the compromising motive by which they were
doing it or considering doing it. Grow a backbone, believers out there. If we refuse to
suffer with Jesus, we probably won't reign with Him, either [2 Timothy 2:12].
Beware of compromise. Thus, I interpret Paul to mean the 'works of the Law of Moses'
when he refers to 'works'.
And the well-known one from Ephesians:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. -- Ephesians 2:8-9
It seems to me that Peter, James, and John all thought that they should address the
apparently extremist writings of Paul, because they thought those writings were
leading the readers into antinomianism.
Jesus is very clear on this: Salvation is by works done in His name and the power
of the Holy Spirit (That which is born of flesh is flesh, that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit.) So, is this a matter of Jesus and the original eleven apostles
against Paul? Well, it's even more nuanced than that: It's about Paul against Paul.
Be patient and I'll prove it. By the way, patience is a virtue.
I do not consider myself a preacher. And I don't like to get my doctrines across to
others by argumentation. Rather, I prefer to get them across by the dialogue of
fictional characters. My main character Ilfinor will be seen in discussions with his two
friends Nils and Jara, and the angel Halimar. The traveling evangelist Tristan will
be seen in a discussion with his guardian angel (who has not revealed his name).
The following snippets are sections of dialog from two of my novels found at:
The Ilfinor novels (# 5) and the Tristan novel. .
There will be references to an acronym called MATCH. It will be explained in brief
in the Tristan section at the end.
The following is a snippet of a 'discussion' between Ilfinor and his Christian student Jara.
Jara starts off the discussion:
"You say that we are saved by a faith that brings forth works, don't you?"
"I say that frequently and loudly, that no man in earshot of me will get it wrong."
"But they say that grace is free and no man can do anything to be saved, but that is clearly
wrong. Every tree is known of its fruit. Therefore, except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven."
"Of course it's wrong, Jara. Even one of their own dear verses speaks against them. For they say:
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool [Isaiah 1:18].
That's their undeserved grace they revel in. But they have ignored the verses immediately before
it and after it. Let's consider the full text in context:
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do
evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for
the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be
willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall
be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
-- Isaiah 1:16-19
"Thus, I declare to you, my friend, that any claim to faith that is not demonstrated by acts of
love from a pure heart are false claims, and are a failing of God's grace. Jara, God has always looked
for a people who would obey Him. It's just that simple. In this dispensation, we learn how to obey
God through the words given to us of the Father by his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and also
through the words of His holy apostles." [Ephesians 2:20]
"So, there is no contradiction between Jesus and Paul?"
"No, Jara, there isn't. Paul does not contradict Jesus: We do not interpret the words of Jesus
by the writings of Paul. Instead, we interpret the writings of Paul by the words of Jesus.
Jara, one of the fastest ways to be a heretic is to forget that every text of the scriptures
has a context, defined by the book it's in and in particular by the verses immediately around
it. I just proved that conclusively to you by the verses in Isaiah 1:16-19."
"I need to study this a lot more, don't I?"
"I hope you are confident in yourself that you know the truth, Jara. But you will face all kinds
of opposition, from skeptics, from atheists, from false Christians, from heretics, and from all
those who wish to justify their evil ways, and addictions to the things of this present world.
But, you can't fight them all. It is a great weariness of mind and flesh. If they won't listen
to the truth, then walk away from them in peace. And he that will hear, let him hear what the
Spirit sayeth unto the pure of heart and the pursuers of Truth."
"Yes, sir. But where does that peace come from?"
"Concentrate the most on the words of Jesus. Does that sound reasonable?"
"Of course."
The following is a snippet of a 'discussion' between Ilfinor and his friend Nils:
After a few minutes of silence, Nils said, "I wonder if I could bring up a doctrine
with you to get your opinion?"
"Sure. I love to hear my opinions."
"Well, what do you believe about Once Saved, Always Saved?"
"Heresy. The invention of the lukewarm and hypocrites -- A doctrine of Devils."
"That's my thought on it, too. But what about scriptures? Those who preach it, say
that Jesus said that no one who is in the hand of the Father can be forced out of it."
"Well, dear Nils, that's true. But it totally misses the point!"
"Which is?"
"The point is that Jesus always told each of us to be responsible for our own salvations
to the very end. So, if we jump out of that hand, that's bad on us, and we'll go to hell.
Jesus said that He is the vine and we -- who are saved -- are the branches. We will continue
to live spiritually only so long as we keep ourselves connected to the vine. He that
endureth to the end shall be saved. That's the 'A' in MATCH: we have to be All-In, or we
insult the grace of God. He that doeth righteousness is righteous, Nils. [1 John 3:7]
Be ye doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves!" [James 1:22]
"Amen."
"Jesus said:
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept
my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
-- John 15:9-10
"Hence, salvation is contingent on each of us starting on the straight and narrow path,
and then continuing on that path to the bitter end, if God wills us to that fate. God will
help us, but He won't force us. How many times did we read in the Gospels that Jesus coldly
walked away from his weak-hearted disciples? Do not be deceived, Nils: True, there is no
lack of grace for our salvations, but God will not save the unholy or unrighteous, no matter
how many times he or she claims to be saved! It isn't by the lack of grace that we fail, but
by that lack of commitment and obedience on our parts that will keep us out of Heaven.
Without holiness, no man shall see God! [Hebrews 12:14]
"Jesus spoke directly to this evil heresy
when He said:
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
-- Luke 6:46
"God, as master and king over all, has always looked for a people who would obey Him.
Reported in the Gospel of John, Jesus presented His metaphor of the vine and the branches:
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not
fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring
forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in
me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine;
no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth
in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them,
and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
-- John 15:1-6
"I could give many more scriptures that clearly declare that salvation to the very end of our
lives is contingent on us staying in the faith. But for those evil servants who feel entitled
to the easy way of life, they may well awaken one day into eternal damnation!"
"Scary stuff. But they say that the Apostle Paul showed us the true meaning of salvation,
and that it is of faith only, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
"Then let us be obedient to the Lord, as He commanded us to be, and to do so to the bitter
end, yet not boast. Why would a true believer even think to boast? But more to the point is
that if we are to find the writings of Paul and the words of Jesus to be mutually consistent,
then something has to give. Do you know what?"
"No, what?"
"Simple: We do not interpret the words of Jesus by the writings of Paul; rather, we
interpret the writings of Paul by the words of Jesus."
"I get it. It's that simple."
"Am I really to be concerned now that when I stand before Jesus someday to be judged of
Him, that I faithfully tried to obey His commandments? I think not, Nils!"
"Amen!"
"Nils, we either get control of our lusts and feelings of entitlement or they will get control
of us. Jesus spoke of the servants who did not get control of their wicked thoughts:
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man
cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over
his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his
lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make
him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart,
My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat
and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he
looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder,
and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing
of teeth.
-- Matthew 24:44-51
"Wow!"
"It's obvious that Jesus was referring to a fate of hell fire for those hypocrites,
Nils. Jesus said:
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
-- Matthew 24:13
"And that's why the author of Hebrews so stressed our need for patience and long endurance:
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might
receive the promise.
-- Hebrews 10:36
"My goodness, Ilfi. Never a preacher before said it that way to me."
The following is a snippet of a 'discussion' between Ilfinor and the fictitious angel
Halimar. Ilfinor starts it off:
"To Jesus, legalism was to override acting on a heartfelt compassion to help
man or beast just to keep strictly to a secular rule or to the Law of Moses. He
condemned this and presented many examples to explain it. But in modernity, people
adopt the name of legalism as an excuse to not follow rules, generally, often for
the purpose of getting them out of their obligation to help others in need. They say
that they do not frustrate grace by doing works."
"And what do you feel about that?"
"You know how I feel about that, Halimar! They risk eternal hell fire for that
kind of thinking! Jesus warned us:
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness
of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
-- Matthew 5:20
"And
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying The scribes and
the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe,
that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's
shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries,
and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts,
and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called
of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
-- Matthew 23:1-7
"Likewise, these modern-day heretics refuse to do good works. They declare that
the signs and wonders of God are over, so that they don't have to trouble themselves
with speaking in tongues and performing miracles. They have absolved themselves
from having to do anything that inconveniences, embarrasses, or humbles them."
"But don't many believers protest that interpretation of the Pauline epistles declare
that Christians ought not to do works, so as not to insult the work that Jesus did on
the cross?"
"Oh, yes, some do, perhaps to their own damnation! Such heresies! I do not interpret
the words of Jesus by the writings of Paul! Instead, I interpret the writings of Paul
by the words of Jesus. I find no contradiction in doing it that way! It is by not doing
the works God gave each of us to do that we are frustrating the grace of God in our lives,
and that is why so many do not have the victory over the flesh nature that God promised
them. Wisdom of interpretation is justified of her children, Halimar! And that is what
Tristan found out the hard way."
"You mean that these protestors are effectively proclaiming Antinomianism? They've
turned the words of the Lord 180 degrees around!" [Luke 11:41]
"Yes. That's what I meant by name appropriation. It's an express ride to the Lake of Fire
to those who adhere to it! Where do these anarchists come off to declare that Jesus
left us no rules to follow?! They disgust me!"
"I did rile you up, didn't I?"
"Yes. Halimar, 'salvation by works' means to do an end run around Jesus to get
to the Father. That is also heresy. But true salvation is to go to Jesus, and then
He will assign you your works for salvation. To accomplish that assignment we'll
need faith, love, truth, long-endurance, and grace."
The following is a snippet of a 'discussion' between the young evangelist Tristan Rivers
and his guardian angel by a creek in the wilderness. The angel speaks first.
"But there's much more to it. It goes deeper than just one lie."
"What?"
"You have always been incensed by lies of any type."
Tristan paused to think back on his life to decide the truthfulness of that claim.
"I guess you're right. I never thought of it that way. I have always hated conspiracy
theories too. But what's your point?"
"At the age of ten, you had a vision of the world in which it is never okay for you
or for anyone else to lie, but at the same time your friends had a collective vision
of the world in which lying is acceptable."
"I guess I always did live in a different mental world than my peers, angel."
"I suppose your parents forced that belief on you."
"I love the training I got as a child from my parents, but you can't force that kind
of value system into a person, not so deeply as it was in me!"
"Oh really?"
"Yes, really! A fella's either got it in him naturally or he doesn't!"
"And if he has it in him naturally, Tristan, where do you think that came from?"
Tristan paused to consider his answer. "From God?"
"Yes. It's from the same place that everyone's conscience comes from."
"Then it is from God."
"Yes, but more specifically, from God the Father."
"Really?" replied a stunned Tristan.
"Remember when Jesus told those around him who doubted Him that they had an internal
way to vet Him as the true messiah, the Prophet that was to come as prophesied by
Moses in Deuteronomy [18:15,18], by Malachi in Malachi 3: He who is like a refiner's fire!"
"That happened a lot. So, where?"
"In particular, in the Gospel of John, Chapter 8."
"Oh, oh! Don't tell me. You mean that verse where Jesus said that those who had heard
the voice of the Father would know if He were telling the truth or not?"
"Correct. Let me quote it for you, for it has perhaps one of the deepest Truths
in all the Gospels about who will believe on Jesus and who will not. Who will
ultimately be saved, and who will not. The following is a bit of the controversy
that existed between Jesus and the Pharisees, Jesus speaking first:
Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of
fornication; we have one Father, even God. Jesus said unto them, If God were
your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither
came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even
because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts
of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not
in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he
speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I
tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And
if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's
words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
-- John 8:41-47
The angel continued: "So, those who were of the Father, even before Jesus started
his public ministry, had already heard the voice of the Father in their hearts and
had received His vision for how people should live their lives, adoring morality,
truth, humility, charity to their fellow men, and being all-in in commitment to God's
vision of how to behave oneself in this life. Therefore, when Jesus came along
preaching the Kingdom, they received it intuitively as the vision they had internalized
from God from their childhoods. That's why they believed in Jesus, the very
few that did. This ability to possess the love of the Truth is key to pursuing the truth,
and thus is key to finding Jesus as messiah and holding on to Him to the end, despite
all the voices in the world that rise up against this ultimate truth. For people
naturally seek after those things that they love."
"So, that's what it must mean for his followers to abide in truth. Truth isn't just
something we say; it's also something that constrains all that we say and do, isn't it?"
"Correct. And for further proof:
Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
If any man will do his will [the Father's will John 8:16], he shall know of
the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
-- John 7:16-17
Then Tristan said: "That's what you meant by a means to vet Jesus that is far
beyond the theories and facts of science, right? If we have the doctrines of the Father
living in us, then when we hear the words of Jesus, we just know it to be true by
intuition, no matter what comes against it!"
"That is right, Tristan. Now you finally understand why you believe so strongly in Jesus.
And you now understand why those who demand that every one of their Biblical
'contradictions' be resolved first before they believe will almost certainly not
find the salvation being offered to them. And you can now see why everyone who
waits to have all their scientific facts be accounted for first by the Gospel, before they
believe, will likely never choose Jesus. These will never believe and will fail the
forbearance and patience of God through the Gospel. Today is the day of salvation.
If you die today, then tomorrow will be too late to repent. Salvation will have moved
on and left you forever behind. That is why those who spend their lives to build
bigger barns merely to fill them with their surplus, will never be saved."
"There is a verse I will quote to support what you just said, angel."
"Then quote it."
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they
received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God
shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might
be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
-- 2 Thessalonians 2:10--12
"Tristan."
"What?"
"I order you to tell me a lie -- any lie!"
"I will not! You can't order me to do anything! I will not tell a lie!!"
Tristan heard the sound of his last statement reverberated throughout the creek
bed unnaturally loud, and it scared him. "What just happened?"
"Tristan Rivers, you passed the test."
"That was a test? Why? Don't you think I'm honest?"
"Of course I think you are honest, Tristan. If I didn't, I wouldn't be wasting
your time or mine in this conversation."
"It has an object lesson to it, then, right?"
"Right. Talk is cheap. Anyone can claim to be a 'lover of the truth', but who is willing
to really live up to it?"
"Very few, I'd say. So, you mean that the test of being a lover of the truth is
to never tell a lie?"
"Yes, or to knowingly believe a lie!"
"So, you tried to provoke me into lying?"
"You had to be tested. Tristan, when the Lord was first introduced to Nathanael,
what high praise did he give the man?"
"Something like, Behold, an Israelite in whom there is no guile!" [John 1:47]
"Exactly, But what troubles you, young man?"
"I've been in an argument with someone who calls this praise mere sarcasm!"
"Why? Because he could not believe that people on earth would actually commit
to living godly in the times of their flesh?"
"I suppose so. It made me furious."
"Of course it would. That is why few shall be saved. Most people lie and take it
for granted that everybody lies. That is why unbelievers approach the Gospel with
a jaundiced eye, ready to disbelieve it all from the start and then to mock it as myth."
"Well, we shall see in the end who is believing the truth and who is believing a myth, angel!"
"True. And that is why John begins his gospel this way:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without
him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the
light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended
it not.
--- John 1:1-5
Tristan then went deep into thought.
"Tristan, are you still with me?"
"Yes. You mean MATCH!"
"What is that?"
"You have your acronyms; I have mine. I just made it up! It stands for Morality,
Truth, Charity, Humility, and lastly, being All-In!"
"Then live by them."
"If I were a false believer, I would tell you to take your list of good deeds and shove it!"
"So, are you a false Christian, Tristan?"
"Heavens no! To which of these godly virtues am I released from doing just because
I am a believer in Jesus? In fact, isn't it quite the opposite!?"
"You tell me, human!"
"You gave me your quote from John, I'll give you mine!
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the
graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good,
unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection
of damnation.
-- John 5:28-29
"And what of grace, Tristan, that the Protestors preach?!"
"Your tone has definitely changed, angel."
"I await your reply."
"Grace does not absolve us from doing righteousness and living holy lives, for
without holiness, no man shall see God! [Hebrews 12:14]."
"Doesn't it?!"
"Indeed not! Rather, it empowers us to live out those things, angel!"
"Tristan, your tone has definitely changed."
"Well, you got me riled up, you did!"
"And what of the writings of the Apostle Paul?"
"You mean that we are saved by grace and not the works of the Law?"
"Yes."
"Well, for starters, I do not preach the works of the Law! I preach loving God
through Jesus and loving one's neighbor!"
"Then there is a contradiction between them?"
"Really?! Did Paul die for me on that cross, or did Jesus?"
No reply.
"Jesus Himself said to the Pharisees, and by implication, to all of his followers,
to give alms of such as you have and behold all is clean to you!" [Luke 11:41]
"And what does that mean to you?"
"It means to me what Ilfinor taught me in my Brenjah-dar -- that to be clean on both
the inside and the outside, one must commit intentional acts of love and caring (also
referred to as charity) toward others, especially those who need it the most. For in
such a person the Holy Spirit dwells -- for God is Love and love is an action verb;
and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
"What kind of freedom, Tristan?"
"Freedom from the domination of sin over me. Freedom from the torrent of lies that
fill the ether. Freedom from idolatry of false visions and false priorities. Freedom
from conspiracy theories and similar blasphemies. And freedom from an unsound mind."
"So, according to the theory of the Brenjah-dar he taught you, mere mental assent will
not save or deliver?"
"Correct. It's the doers, not merely the hearers, that are saved. [James 1:22] The
great lie of false Christianity is the doctrine of devils that mere mental assent can save."
"Then, there is no contradiction between the words of Jesus and the writings of Paul?"
"Was it not Paul who told us that spiritual liberty comes to us as the result of our walking
in the Spirit [Galatians 5:16]?"
"It was."
"But how can I walk in the Spirit but not obey God? How can I walk in the Spirit yet
withhold charity to my neighbors?"
"You cannot. But what of the contradiction?"
"No! There is no contradiction! I do not interpret the words of Jesus by the writings
of Paul; rather, I interpret the writings of Paul through the words of Jesus!"
"But, is not grace the forgiveness of sins?"
"What flower has but a single petal?"
Again, no reply.
"Grace is every good thing that God gives Man: It's the beauty of the earth; it's the
rain in due season; it's the knowledge of God through scriptures and through conscience;
it's the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, and the knowledge of that sacrifice through the
New Testament; it's food on the table and healing in our bodies; it's love people give us
as children and hard work we must do to mature properly; it's the power of God,
working in us, for us to stop sinning and the power to live righteously, by the good
things we have been given us from God; it's the goodness of God; it's the inner sense
that truth, justice, and charity are virtues to live by; it's patience to endure afflictions;
it's wisdom to make good choices in my life; it's discernment to know right from
wrong and to know truth from error; it's the power to live patiently as God works out
His timetable to bring Heaven onto the earth; it's the ability to work to earn money
to give to those who really need it; and, yes, grace is, without a doubt, also the
forgiveness of sins. I've never denied that."
"Then, can you see, Tristan, that the love of the Truth is an early predictor of who
will believe deep done in their hearts the gospel message when it is preached to them?"
"I see it now for the first time. But, again, how does this relate to deception
and to those near-death experiences you claim I had?"
"We are almost to it, lad."
"I suppose you want to ask me about that bear again, right?"
"No, I want to ask you to think about why the Apostles did so little effort in
technical apologetics?"
"Yeah, they didn't. And why did Jesus bother to vet Himself as Messiah by miracles
if the love of the Truth is the real predictor?"
"The healing miracles He did, did indeed vet Him as the prophesied Messiah according
to the prophecies in Isaiah -- and that too is truth. But to those who had a vision of their
lives that was contrary to the vision of life presented by the Lord Jesus, like the
religious leaders of his day, they didn't want to believe in Him or in His vision of the future."
"His vision certainly contradicted the visions of the rich and politically powerful in
his time, didn't it?"
"Tristan, there is something in you by which you have always loved the truth
-- in principle, I mean."
"I suppose you're right."
"Jesus said that I am the way, the Truth, and the life, right?"
"Right, in John 14:6."
"Then, to serve Jesus, one must serve the truth, right?"
"Of course, I guess."
"You disagree with that?"
"No. I just never thought of it quite that way before -- I mean, quite that
broadly before. And the point is?"
"If you serve lies, whom do you serve?"
"Well, obviously not Jesus, then. Hey!"
"What?"
"I just realized why telling or believing lies is so wrong!"
"Why?"
"Because it's idolatry!"
"Then I ask you again, Tristan, if you serve lies, whom do you serve spiritually?"
"I get you now. You would be serving the Devil -- the Father of all Lies!"
"Yes. Tristan, let this sink deep into your brain: Wherever the truth is, Jesus is;
wherever a lie is, the Devil is, spiritually speaking."
"Then the people who make up or believe conspiracy theories are ... "
"Damned liars. They who loveth and maketh a lie, Tristan, as is says in Revelation 22:15,
shall be cast out with all the other unrepentant sinners of the ages."
"But don't all people start off in life loving the truth equally?"
"Was that your experience when you were a child?"
"Well, let me think back." After a moment, he replied, "No. Most of my friends
back then when I was ten were petty thieves and liars and disrespectful to adults."
Question 3: Will those who worship God suffer?
Remember this: The righteous are mindful of the poor and help them; the wicked do not! (Proverbs 29:7)
You either get control of your lusts and feelings of entitlements or they will get control of you. -- Ilfinor