Complete in Thee: A Witnessing Opportunity! Woohoo! :-D

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

A Witnessing Opportunity! Woohoo! :-D

Do you ever feel like you have no chance to witness?

If so, start an open, anonymous blog and post something about religion.

Some of you may have seen that I posted my "investments" post on Hooks and Needles, and one girl (whom I don't know) way reeacted to my comment about Judaism (above the picture of the Rebecca doll). This is what she said:

"'Judaism is an incomplete religion without Jesus Christ, definitely, and has really strayed from God'

"I find this very offensive. You are no one to judge a religion. You may have 'apologized' for your words by saying that "the Jews are still God's chosen people" and commend AG for supporting them but I do not think that makes up for what you wrote."

Whew! At first I was shocked! Like, okay! But then I began to get hopping excited-- Here is an opportunity to share Christ!!!

So I wrote a long answer but I haven't posted it yet. I am going to bring it to the Rings this evening for Pastor Greenfield to read, since he'll be there, and Lord willing post it tomorrow. So, you all have to assignments.

Tell me what you think of my answer (posted below) and let me know if you see anything incorrect or something I can add.
Pray that the Spirit will move and that God will work in this girl's heart!

So here it is:

Hi Jessica,

Thank you for your comment! I appreciate your thoughts, and am glad you felt free to share.

I am not sure what religion you follow, and if you do follow Judaism, please accept my apology if I have caused offence! My words were in no way meant to bash Judasim.

I love the Jews and believe they are God’s chosen people. Judaism in the Old Testament (the Torah) pointed forward to Christ, but throughout the Torah, they, as a nation, turned to the world and began to mix with the other nations, disregarding God's ways. They had religion, but not relationship with God or a pure heart before God (collectively).

As well as making the Jews His chosen people, God also ordained the sacrifices and laws in the Old Testament. These sacrifices and laws pointed forward to Jesus Christ, God's Son (Hebrews 8:5), who came in the form of human flesh to redeem His people-- both Jews and Gentiles-- from their sins (Matthew 1:21). According to the Bible, which is the inspired words of the God who created and sustains us, Jesus is the only way to heaven. Any religion that does not preach that our only hope is in Jesus Christ is incomplete. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

The goal of religion is, basically, to reach perfection or heaven (though religions vary on their beliefs regarding that). The only way we can get to heaven, though, is to have a clean conscience and a pure heart before God. Tragically, each of us has sinned and therefore are at enmity with God, who, because He is so pure and holy, cannot look upon sin. According to the Bible, in other religions “gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshipper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. But when Christ appeared as High Priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tabernacle (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God.” (Hebrews 9:9-14) In short, Jesus, who is perfect and sinless because He is God, is the only one who could qualify to take the punishment of our sins upon Himself once and for all (instead of repeatedly like the sacrifices of the Old Testament) and to make us right with God.

It is not I who say that Jesus Christ is the only way; neither am I judging any religion. Jesus Himself, who made you and formed you for His glory and loves you, said it. "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6)

Again, Jessica, I am glad you commented! It was a joy to share with you. God is so great and good and I am glad I could share with you His message to all—that our hope is in Him! May the Lord richly bless you!

In Christ,

“Elinor”

4 comments:

Pure Little Ladies Ministry said...: However, I can see Jessica's point. What about Abraham? Moses? The were saved by faith in the promise Messiah (Jesus). I think this is mentioned in Hebrews 12.

Please don't think I'm arguing at all!! I'm just mentioning another point. Jews today are mainly athiests, however we can't throw the "baby out with the bath water", you know? There are a lot of Jews waiting in faith for the Messiah, just like we are.

It's a tough call. Are they "saved"? I don't know. Some may be, some may not. It's a touchy subject...I know someone who called the jews the "anti-christ" which I was COMPLETELY shocked to hear. They are the Most High's chosen people- always. Until sky and earth disapear, He will never forget Jacob His servant (isn't there a verse that says that?)

Anyhow, again, I'm NOT arguing with you in any way- you know me, always gabbing and rambling. ;)

Hugs!; January 20, 2010 at 9:54 PM
Melanie said...: Toria,

You are right, Abraham, Moses, and others were saved by faith in the promise of the Messiah. They believed God and it was counted to them for righteousness. But Messiah has come now. And the majority of the Jews reject that. The Bible is crystal clear that no other name but the name of Jesus can save, that He IS the Messiah, and to reject the Son is to reject the Father, because they are one. It also says "if you confess with your mouth that ~JESUS is LORD~ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved..." There is no salvation apart from Jesus Christ, the Messiah. When the Jews reject the Messiah that has come, THE Promised One, and look to "another", they are rejecting God and putting their faith in something that is not.

It's not that any Jews (nationality) aren't saved. But only those who have believed in their heart and agreed that Jesus is the Messiah and Lord.

There is way more but there's no need for me to copy it all here. I'd encourage you to read Romans 9-11 and the book of Hebrews for a much better commentary on this than I could ever give. :-) The Romans passage talks about God's promise, Israel's unbelief, the Gentiles being grafted in, et cetera.; January 21, 2010 at 2:53 PM
Pure Little Ladies Ministry said...: I've read both. ;); January 22, 2010 at 1:43 PM
Melanie said...: I know! Read 'em again. :-); January 23, 2010 at 9:34 AM

PRAYER REQUESTS

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Ephesians 6:18)

PLEASE PRAY...

* That I would draw nearer to God every day and never allow my relationship to become stagnant ritual; particularly that I would grow in the area of submission, patience, 1 Corinthians 13 love, and wholehearted devotion

* That I might have wisdom as I edit "The Marquis' Daughter"; that the Lord would bless and work through it; and that I might find just the right publisher for it.

* That I would submit to the Lord's work in my life, whatever it may be; that I would take each opportunity He brings me (even the seemingly hard ones) to draw closer to Him and point others to Him

*That our Etsy shop might be successful and that it would be a means by which we can glorify God and share the Gospel

Ephesians 2:1-10

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

"The heart set to do the Father's will need never fear defeat. His promises of guidance may be fully counted upon. Does it make sense to believe that the Shepherd would care less about getting His sheep where He wants them to go than they care about getting there?"

"God is God. Because He is God, He is worthy of my trust and obedience. I will find rest nowhere but in His holy will, a will that is unspeakably beyond my largest notions of what He is up to."

"If God, like a father, denies us what we want now it is in order to give us some far better thing later on. The will of God, we can rest assured, is invariably a better thing."

"Obedience to God's will is the secret of spiritual knowledge and insight. It is not willingness to know, but willingness to DO (obey) God's will that brings certainty."

"Victory over all the circumstances of life comes not by might, nor by power, but by a practical confidence in God and by allowing His Spirit to dwell in our hearts and control our actions and emotions. Learn in the days of ease and comfort, to think in terms of the prayer that follows, so that when the days of hardship come you will be fully prepared and equipped to meet them."

"And shall I pray, Oh, change Thy will, my Father,
Until it be according unto mine?
Ah no, Lord, no, that never could be, rather
I pray Thee, Blend my human will with Thine."

"A crucified life cannot be self-assertive. It cannot protect itself. It cannot be startled into resentful words. The cup that is full of sweet water cannot spill bitter-tasting drops, however sharply it is knocked."

"And as we rest our hearts upon what we know (the certainty of the ultimate triumph of good), leaving what we do not know to the Love that has led us all our life long, the peace of God enters into us and abides. And then we see our light."

[A Practicing Christian]...it means that every single act and feeling, every experience, whether pleasant or unpleasant, must be referred to God. It means looking at everything as something that comes from Him, and always looking to Him and asking His will first, and saying, "How would he wish me to deal with this?"

Christ says: "Give me all. I don't want so much of your time and so much of your money and so much of your work. I want you."

"I was not born to be free. I was born to adore and to obey."

"What is saving but taking us out of the dark into the light? There is no salvation but to know God and grow like Him."

"I will not try to convince you of anything about God. I cannot. You must know Him. I only tell you I believe in Him with all my heart. You must ask Him to explain Himself to you, and not take it for granted that He has done you a wrong because He has done what you do not like. Whether you seek Him or not, He will do you justice. But He cannot explain Himself unless you seek Him."

"Sometimes a thunderbolt will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes into the life of a peaceful individual, without warning of gathered storm, something terrible will fall. And from that moment everything is changed. That life is no more what it was. Better it ought to be, worse it may be. The result depends on the life itself and it's response to the invading storm of trouble. Forever after, it's spiritual weather is altered. But for the one who believes in God, such rending and frightful catastrophies never come but where they are turned around for good in his own life and in other lives he touches."