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One Time Beginning

Throughout human history, man has gazed in awe at the stars, wondering what they are and how they got there. Although on a clear night we only see about 6,000 stars, trillions of them are spread out among billions of galaxies.

However, prior to the 20th century, most scientists believed our Milky Way galaxy was the entire universe, and that only about 100 million stars existed. The prevailing view even then was that our material universe had always existed.

But in the early 20th century, astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered the universe actually had a beginning. A beginning implies a “Beginner,” which the Bible had firmly revealed. Concerned materialists like Sir Fred Hoyle scoffed at the idea of a one-time beginning, sarcastically calling the explosion a “big bang.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Origins of Life Tagged With: Biblical accuracy, Big Bang, creation, origins, Origins of Life

What Did Jesus Mean When He Called Himself the “Son of God”?

Jesus claimed to be the “Son of God.” This title does not mean Jesus is God’s biological Son. Neither does the term “Son” imply inferiority anymore than a human son is inferior in essence to his father. A son shares his father’s DNA, and although he is different, they are both men. Scholars say that the term “Son of God” in the original languages refers to likeness, or “of the same order.” Jesus meant by it that he has divine essence, or in 21st century terms, the “DNA of God.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Claims of Jesus, Historical Jesus, Who is Jesus? Tagged With: divinity of Jesus, historical Jesus, is Jesus God, Jesus Christ, son of God, who is Jesus

Why Hasn’t Jesus Come Back Yet?

It has been around 2,000 years since Jesus left earth, and many wonder why he has taken so long to return. In his book, Why I Am Not a Christian, atheist Bertrand Russell accused Jesus of breaking his promise to return.¹ So is it possible that Russell is right, and Jesus did break his promise? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Claims of Jesus, End Times Prophecy, Historical Jesus, New Testament Reliability Tagged With: end times prophecy, Jesus Christ, return of Jesus

Did Constantine Invent the Christian Doctrine of Jesus’ Divinity?

In the centuries prior to Constantine’s reign over the Roman Empire, Christians had been severely persecuted. But then, while entrenched in warfare, Constantine reported to have seen a bright image of a cross in the sky inscribed with the words “Conquer by this.” He marched into battle under the sign of the cross and took control of the empire.

Constantine’s apparent conversion to Christianity was a watershed in church history. Rome became a Christian empire. For the first time in nearly 300 years it was relatively safe, and even cool, to be a Christian.

No longer were Christians persecuted for their faith. Constantine then sought to unify his Eastern and Western Empires, which had been badly divided by schisms, sects, and cults, centering mostly around the issue of Jesus Christ’s identity.

These are some of the kernels of truth author Dan Brown uses in The Da Vinci Code, and kernels of truth are a prerequisite for any successful conspiracy theory. But the book’s plot turns Constantine into a conspirator. So let’s address a key question raised by Brown’s theory: did Constantine invent the Christian doctrine of Jesus’ divinity? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Claims of Jesus, Da Vinci Code, Historical Jesus, Who is Jesus? Tagged With: apostles' testimony, conspiracy theory, Constantine, council at nicaea, Deity of Christ, Jesus Christ, Nicene creed, The Da Vinci Code

Was Jesus Created or The Creator?

In Genesis, the God of the Bible is revealed as Creator of everything from the tiny atom to the magnitude of space with its billions of galaxies. Thus, it would have been heresy for a Jew to think an angel or any other created being was the Creator. Isaiah confirms that God (Yahweh) is the Creator:

“This is what the Lord, the Creator and Holy One of Israel says…I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands I stretched out the heavens. All the millions of stars are at my command….I, the LORD Almighty, have spoken!” (Isaiah 45:11a, 12, 13b)

So, did the apostles view Jesus as part of creation, or as the Creator? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Claims of Jesus, Who is Jesus? Tagged With: apostles' testimony, creation, Jesus Christ, who is Jesus

Was the Supposed Resurrection Actually a Stolen Body?

The tomb was indeed empty. But it wasn’t the mere absence of a body that could have galvanized Jesus’ followers (especially if they had been the ones who had stolen it). Something extraordinary must have happened, for the followers of Jesus ceased mourning, ceased hiding, and began fearlessly proclaiming that they had seen Jesus alive. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Historical Jesus, Resurrection of Jesus Tagged With: apostles' testimony, appearances of Jesus, evidence, historical Jesus, Jesus Christ, life after death, resurrection

The Matter of an Empty Tomb

No serious historian really doubts Jesus was dead when he was taken down from the cross. However, many have questioned how Jesus’ body disappeared from the tomb. English journalist Dr. Frank Morison initially thought the resurrection was either a myth or a hoax, and he began research to write a book refuting it.¹ The book became famous–but for reasons other than its original intent! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crucifixion of Jesus, Historical Jesus, Resurrection of Jesus Tagged With: historical Jesus, Jesus Christ, resurrection

Was Jesus Actually Dead?

“Marley was deader than a doornail, of that there was no doubt.” So begins Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, the author not wanting anyone to be mistaken as to the supernatural character of what is soon to take place. In the same way, before we take on the role of CSI (crime scene investigator) and piece together evidence for a resurrection, we must first establish that there was, in fact, a corpse. After all, occasionally the newspapers will report on some “corpse” in a morgue who was found stirring and recovered. Could something like that have happened with Jesus? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crucifixion of Jesus, Historical Jesus, New Testament Reliability, Resurrection of Jesus Tagged With: crucifixion, historical Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus evidence, new testament reliability, resurrection

Why are Humans So Unique?

Why did we get these incredibly complex brains with both the hardware and software for language? And where did consciousness and acts of heroism come from? Is there any evolutionary explanation for these uniquely human qualities? [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Origins of Life Tagged With: Evolution, human consciousness, intelligent design, Origins of Life, Richard Dawkins

Dump the Myth?

Once again this year, the American Atheists launched a Christmastime campaign baselessly claiming that Jesus is no more than a mythical character. This year’s campaign placed a billboard in New York’s Times Square which urged people to “Keep the Merry! Dump the Myth!” A picture of a smiling Santa Claus appears above “Keep the Merry!” A picture of a statue of Jesus is then displayed with a caption underneath that reads, “Dump the Myth!”

The billboard speaks of Jesus as mythical, but no leading scholar, Christian or secular, believes Jesus didn’t exist. In fact, his life has influenced our planet more than any other person. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Historical Jesus, Who is Jesus? Tagged With: American atheists, Christ-myth theory, evidence for Jesus, Jesus evidence, Jesus Myth, keep the merry dump the myth