New Hope In The Lord
       International Ministries

Office Hours: M-F 9:30am-5:00pm
PO Box 418 Valhalla,
New York, USA 10595

brotherjoe@newhopeinthelord.com              Phone: (914) 948-4481

GOD & THE BIBLE VERSUS RELIGION & TRADITION (THE BATTLE OF THE AGES)


I wonder how many people who said the Bible was written by man and not inspired by God have actually read it. How can one have an opinion on something they've never read? Yet, millions have pierced themselves with many sorrows by denouncing the Bible and have no clue what's within its pages.

If the Bible is not truth then why are there so many nations that won't allow their people to have one? What are they afraid of it it's just another book or a bunch of fairy tales? Over centuries it has been burned, hidden and lied about. The Bible is the best selling book of all time. Maybe the Bible is the one book to all people from all different religions with the same message from the one true and living God.

Religion was never instituted by Almighty God. According to the Bible, God's will is for man/woman to recognize their sinful nature and repent of the acts of this nature. This is accomplished through accepting the blood sacrifice of his one and only son Jesus. This starts a personal relationship (through the Holy Spirit coming into one's life) with Almighty God. This act starts the process of a new life. Over a period of time, a person's life starts to bear fruit that resembles the character of God of the Bible. One's selfish nature, full of lust, greed and self-centeredness, gives way to giving and serving others which is called the Born Again experience which gets one into heaven. Jesus said in John 3:3, YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN IN ORDER TO SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD. 2 Corinthians 5:7 Old things pass away. Old things become new.

Religion, custom, traditions can't change a heart that is wicked and deceitful. Jeremiah 17:9 & 10 The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind to give every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doing.? So why did man create religion? What does religion accomplish? I believe it is man's way of trying to reach and please their gods (whoever they may be) by their custom and traditions. Also, religion controls people and puts fear in their hearts, maintaining that they are the one true religion and don't you leave for you'll be lost.

The Moslems pray 5 times a day at the same time. The Hindus in India won't kill cows for food. To them cows are sacred. The Jewish people fast once a year, asking God to weigh their good deeds over their bad ones. They believe that will get them into heaven. There are 3 different sects in Judaism, Reform, Conservative or Orthodox. All believe differently which one is correct. The Hindus worship thousands of gods.

God didn't even give the name Christianity to those who followed Jesus. In the beginning, Christian followers named themselves "The Way". I think it might have been due to what Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father but by me,"John 14:6. The disciples eventually called themselves Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26).

As it was during the time of Jesus, so it is today. Those who forgo their religion to follow Jesus and embrace the Bible (as God's word) are persecuted. In some countries they are made fun of on TV and laughed at. In other countries they are beaten and put in jail. Many have also lost their lives for not denying Jesus their Savior.

What religion in their sacred books has addressed the problem of sin? Outside of the Bible, I know of none. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him. (Romans 5:8-9)

The proof that the Bible is the inspired word of God through man is the accuracy of prophecy. The Bible says in 2 Peter 1: 20-21, Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. FOR PROPHECY CAME NOT IN OLD TIME BY THE WILL OF MAN but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. God spoke, man wrote. There are over 3800 verses directly or indirectly concern prophecies that were given in the Old Testament that came to pass in the New Testament. The Mormons, Buddhists and Moslems have their own sacred writings but the elements of proven prophecy is absent in them. It was impossible for so many people from all different backgrounds and education over thousands of years to put together the prophetic so that it would come out perfectly. Only God's hand could have done that. The Bible is like a hand that fits perfectly into a glove. No room for error.

For those of you who don't believe in God and believe in the theory of evolution, its not so. The 2 books in the Bible that the devil is out to discredit the most are the books of Genesis and Revelation. In the Book of Genesis, God established his sovereignty by saying, In the beginning, God created. Genesis goes on to tell of His Creation, fall of man, and forgiveness through the blood. Revelation is about God's judgment of mankind and the end of the world.

If there was no God, Israel wouldn't exist because she is surrounded by nations who want to wipe her out. But God's hand (from the time the 12 tribes of Israel were formed) has been protecting her. Although many times he has punished her as one would a wayward child because of her turning to strange gods and rebelling, God has always taken her back and still has a plan for Israel. The U.N. approved Israel as a nation in one day. That has never happened before and likely will not happen again. "Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. All those enemies of Israel are under a curse. I will bless those that bless thee and curse those that curse thee," Genesis 12:3.

Twenty five years ago I came to faith in Jesus as my Messiah. He came into my heart and is changing my life to produce the character and nature of God the father of or Lord Jesus Christ. I'm waiting for his second coming. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 -- "They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and wait for his son from heaven whom he raised from the dead, Jesus which delivered us from the coming wrath." "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many many mansions. If it were not so I would not have told you. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that were I am there you may be also... "

For those of you around the world from all different faiths, religions and traditions, the God who created you wants you to know him in a personal way. He wants to fill the void in your heart. He'll give you a deep inner peace that surpasses all human understanding. You'll know joy, contentment and true love like never before.

You now have control over your own eternal destination. Once you are dead, you have sealed your fate. There is no sin in heaven and God can't have a sin-stained soul in heaven , only through his son's shed blood can heaven be made your home. Eternal separation from God is one's home in hell, then the lake of fire after judgment day for those rejecting Jesus? death, burial and resurrection. Revelation 20:13-15 Religion and tradition are the biggest enemies that keep people from heaven. Wake up human race your sins are many and you must give an account of your life to God.