Case for Christ
December 2, 2008
This is a comment I attempted to post on this article. It didn’t go all the way through.
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If you are interested in looking at the ‘facts of history’ in a short, eye opening way, consider reading ‘The Case for Christ’. ‘Mere Christianity’ and the ‘Confessions’ of Saint Augustine are an honest look at the heart of a man.
You see, the problem with man is that he thinks he can attain the righteousness of G-d. In His most amazing grace, patience and long suffering, and because He is Love, He provided the perfect sacrifice of His own Son to atone for the sins that we cannot stop committing. It is not because we deserve it. It is precisely because it glorifies Him. Is there glory for G-d if you can save yourself through your own righteousness? G-d has His mind set on His glory, not that of man’s glory. What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous? (Job 15:14)
I do not understand – beyond my own pride and attachment to what I believe – what it is to consider leaving behind a culture, family, and the laws taught by your fathers, so I cannot call anyone who doesn’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the long awaited deliverer any kind of degrading name. I also cannot understand why there is not enough love for one’s own soul to discover for themselves whether the arguments of Jesus, Paul, Peter et. al. are reasonable – Jesus fulfilled the Law and the Prophets, a shadow of the things to come! Where there is no blood, there can be no remission of sins. Consider Abraham, who was willing to sacrifice his son. G-d did not allow him to – by providing the sacrifice in a nearby bush.
If you believe that you are good enough, that G-d will overlook the sins of your heart because of a few good deeds done for selfish reasons, then I suppose the idea that G-d would become a man, in every way tempted as are we yet without sin, making Himself the perfect sacrifice, is entirely foolishness. Are you willing to bet your soul? Are you willing to steal His glory? Shouldn’t you at least read for yourself the testimonies of those Jews who knew Jesus?
May G-d have mercy on us all.
