Question: Is it true that Esther was betrothed to Mordecai rather than simply related to him as the Old Testament text says in English?
When someone claims that there is a major difference between the original Hebrew and the modern English translations, this is usually the best they have to offer when asked to give an example. There is no passage in scripture that couldn’t be understood in its proper context without an understanding of the original languages. With that said, the claim that Esther was bethrothed to Mordecai rather than simply adopted by him is an assumption made by the tradition that since Esther was orphaned, it would have been possible that Mordecai took him into his family through marriage. This however, is not a detail we are given or conclusion we’d come to from the text alone. It is nothing more than a deviation from the main point. The Amalekites continued to be a threat to Israel going all the way back to Exodus, and now they were going to be dealt with forever through Esther. Looking beyond the bible for rabbit trails that lead to shaky, if not outright false, conclusions are only going to end up wasting your time.
Who Raised Jesus from the Dead?
Question: Who raised Jesus from the dead?
The topic of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is not only the historical foundation of the Christian faith, but the doctrinal demonstration of the Trinity in action apart from Creation itself. When the Bible describes God’s nature, we are told that there is one and only one God. Yet within this one God, there are three and only three unique centers of consciousness known as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We recognize these persons within the one being that is God because they all share the traits and make the claims that are exclusive to God alone. The power to give life is within those prerogatives that are exclusive to God alone. Scripture tells us in Romans 6:4 that the glory of the Father raised Jesus from the dead. Yet on the same authority Jesus Himself said in John 10:17-18 that He had the power to lay down His life and take it up again. He even goes on to claim that He, God the Son, is the Resurrection and the Life in Revelation 1 and John 11. And yet the facts don’t end there. Romans 8:11 states that the Spirit also raised Jesus from the dead and now lives in those who believe His promises. This is important to understand because the Spirit is not the Son nor the Father. Likewise, the Son is not the Father or the Spirit. All members of the Godhead were involved in Jesus’ resurrection, and thus the Trinity in all its fullness was the one that made our salvation from sin possible.
A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson
Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio
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How do you Minister to Muslims?
Question: What is the most effective way to minister to Muslims?
Muslims, human beings made in the image of God who have been deceived by Islam, need the gospel like everyone else. Fortunately for those of us trying to share the gospel with them, their belief system is little more than an intellectual attack on their founder’s misunderstanding of our faith. Muslims who genuinely care about the truth don’t need any more coaxing into a worthwhile conversation than a single sincere statement. “I believe Jesus is God and the Bible is the Word of God. Do you have an opinion?” Their faith not only instructs, but demands of them to object to this vehemently. This will then lead you to one of seven objections their apologists have trained them to ask in order to lead us to their faith. With brief and direct responses to each of these objections, you will not only shore up your own faith against the claims of multiple cults at once, but turn aside what they’ve been assured are unanswerable objections to our faith. Study and know how to respond to the following objections, and you can walk into a conversation with your Muslim friends completely prepared and able to stay on the topic that will make all the difference in eternity.
1. The Bible has been corrupted.
2. Where did Jesus say “I am God” or “Worship Me”?
3. We respect Jesus. Why don’t you respect Muhammad?
4. How can God die? (Eat food, sleep, etc)
5. The crucifixion is unjust.
6. The Trinity is a contradiction.
7. Muhammad is prophesied in the Bible.
With a direct and biblical response to each of these claims, 90% of he work has already been done. Give to every one an answer who asks us a reason for the hope that is within you, and continue to make yourself available to them as friends.
A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson
Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio
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Follow Twitter: @ScottR4H
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Watch our Frequently Asked Questions on GodTube or YouTube.
A Reason for Hope Question of the Week, March 1st, 2019
What evidence supports the Gospels as reliable history?
This question is one worth answering because the evidence is not only readily available, but also because the majority of skeptical scholars have to acknowledge it even if it goes against their assumptions. First, we need to clarify what evidence is. Simply put, it is something that makes something else more likely to be true. If that’s what we’re looking for, what counts as historical evidence? People, places, and things that fall in line with the history someone is trying to prove would fall into this category. With the names we are given in the gospels, we can conclude it was written during the time Jesus is claimed to have lived in history. Their names would include; Herod the Great, Caesar Augustus, Quirinius, Herod Agrippa, Pontius Pilate, Caesar Tiberius, Ananias, and Caiphas. All of these people are verifiable historical figures that are all mentioned in the Gospels to help set the date. Likewise, the places mentioned aren’t fictional at all. Judea, the Roman Empire, Samaria, Galilee, Jerusalem, Asia Minor, and geographical details that fall in line with other 1st century writings about these areas also fall in line to make the gospels more believable based on the evidence we have available. But most significantly, we also are told a lot about when it was written in history because of what isn’t mentioned. According to Jewish historians, the destruction of Jerusalem was the most horrific event for a Jew, Christian or otherwise, to ever imagine. This took place in 70 AD. Since the authors of the gospels were all Jews or came from Jewish sources, the fact that they never record the Temple’s destruction says a lot about when it was written. Based on this we can conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that the Gospels were written during the lifetimes of the people who saw Jesus firsthand. That is the next salvo of evidence to prove the Gospels as reliable. They identify themselves all as eyewitnesses of everything they recorded. And these same people all endured lives of torture, persecution, and death showing their sincerity. To dismiss this as deception would only hold water if the writers of the Gospels weren’t the eyewitnesses themselves. Unfortunately for the skeptic, we also have the writings of early church fathers like Polycarp, Clement, and Ignatius who knew one or more of the eyewitnesses and affirm/quote/treat the four Gospels all as history given by the eyewitnesses themselves. This is just the tip of the iceberg, but handled properly would lead anyone to conclude the gospels are historically reliable.
A Reason For Hope is a ministry of Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson
Listen: Monday – Friday 5-6pm, on 106.3FM Reach Radio
Email your questions:
Follow Twitter: @ScottR4H
Follow on CCF Facebook: facebook.com/ccftucson
Why and how did Paul raise Eutychus from the dead in Acts 20?
Question: Why and how did Paul raise Eutychus from the dead in Acts 20?
Miracles in scripture always happen for a specific reason. It’s worth mentioning first and foremost that Paul wasn’t the only one to raise someone back to life. When the disciples were still with Jesus during His earthly ministry, they were all given the authority to do the following; 1. Heal the sick. 2. Cleanse the lepers. 3. Cast out demons. And 4. Raise the dead. These would be signs done in the name of Jesus so that those who saw them would listen to what Jesus and those following Him had to say. When God backs up your words with deeds, it gives them reasons to trust it. That is the very definition of faith. So when Paul raised Eutychus from the dead, we need to keep in mind some facts. Paul wasn’t the first/only Apostle to do this. He did it in the name of Jesus. He did it for a reason. And that reason was to show everyone there that the words Paul was teaching weren’t his, but God’s. Miracles in scripture, Old and New Testament, were always done to confirm and verify the messages of those speaking in His name.
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