EvangelismRSA: CHRISTIANITY: THE INVITATION STILL STANDS

Saturday, 12 November 2022

CHRISTIANITY: THE INVITATION STILL STANDS

PUBLISHING DETAILS

TITLE: Christianity: The Invitation Still Stands

FORMAT: Paperback

CHAPTERS: 66

PAGES: 272

WORD COUNT: 61 215

PUBLISHER: Amazon: PJ Stassen Author Page

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CHRISTIANITY

THE INVITATION STILL STANDS

An Easy Reader for Busy People on the Run

P.J. Stassen

Centurion

SOUTH AFRICA

CONTENTS

PART ONE: BIBLE AUTHORITY

1. Introduction to the Bible for Non-Christian Students of the Bible

2. The Case for Doctrinal Integrity

3. The Bible in Africa

4. The Bible: A Refuge for the Soul

5. The Bible: The Book of Book by the King of Kings

6. Why the Bible Survives

7. Bible: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

8. Messianic Prophecies from the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament: Some Examples)

9. Myths That Still Confuse People Today

10. The Bible: Word of God or Just a Guide on Morality and Ethics?

11. The Holy Bible: Can it Still Be Trusted?

12. The Holy Symbiosis Between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Law of Moses

13. In Search of Man’s Ultimate Source of Moral Authority

14. The Free Moral Agent

15. The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached: Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)

16. The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached: New Testament

17. Because the Bible Says So

PART TWO: FAITH

18. Questions Science Cannot Answer

19. Nature Abhors a Vacuum

20. In Defence of Absolute Truth

21. A Matter of Life and Death

22. Be Still and Know That I Am God

23. Faith Like a Child

24. Why God Is Invisible

25. It Is No Secret What God Can Do

26. More Faith

27. Anatomy of a Miracle

28. The Christian’s Blessed Hope!

29. The Anchor Holds!

30. Come into the Ark!

31. Discretion the Better Part of Valour

32. For Whom the Bell Tolls

33. God’s Wonderful Book of Remembrance

PART THREE: SALVATION

34. Good News for Gamblers!

35. Good News!

36. G.R.A.C.E.: God’s Redemption at Christ’s Expense

37. Hope for Man

38. How to Choose Life

39. Jesus Christ Saves from the ‘Guttermost’ to the Uttermost

40. Jesus Christ Still Saves!

41. Let There Be Light!

42. Do You Have a Gospel Footprint in Missions?

43. Why Members of All Faiths are Allowed to Accept Jesus Christ as Saviour

44. Joy in Repentance

45. The Grave Error of Delayed Repentance

46. Life Is About Choices.

PART FOUR: POLITICS

47. Why Christians Should Have a Footprint in Politics

48. Why Christians Should Speak Out Against Public Violence

49. The Myth of Political and Religious Unity

50. Christianity: Top 50 Persecution Hotspots in the World

PART FIVE: CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY

51. God Is Faithful

52. Rescued by the Saviours Lightning

53. King Protea: The Genuine Article

54. All Lives Matter

PART SIX: PROVIDENCE

55. The Law of Abundance

56. The True Wealth

57. It Is No Sin to Be Wealthy

58. Blind Justice

59. Fact vs. Theory

60. Why Does Evil Have to Exist?

61. Why So Many Rules?

62. Stained Glass: A Hymn to Its Creator

PART SEVEN: JUDGMENT

63. The Greatest Embarrassment Ever?

64. The Horror of Unintended Consequences

65. The Last Enemy Is Death

66. Is There Life After Death?

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

Invitation

Recommended Sources

Author Profile

Acknowledgements

Grateful for/to:

1. Bible translations interchangeably consulted:

King James Version (KJV/KJV+) & Modern King James Version (MKJV) unless otherwise indicated e.g., Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) & Hebraic Roots Bible (HRB). The reader may find that, occasionally, I have inserted capitals (in brackets) into Scripture references for the purpose of clarity.

2. E-Sword.net: The Sword of the Lord with an Electronic Edge (Free Bible Study for the PC). Online 2021.

3. All the sources, scholars, historical figures and authors I have been allowed to mention, quote or use as examples in the course of writing.

4. Cecilia Stassen, for her ongoing assistance, encouragement and invaluable help.

Foreword

An informative book, I believe, should be like a sumptuous dinner … lavish, interesting, easily digestible and to be remembered for years afterwards, and with this book I have aimed to accomplish exactly that, for what could be more interesting and memorable than the persona, life and ministry of a man who has changed the history of the world to the matchless extent that Jesus of Nazareth (the Christ) had done?

Unlike many postmodernists, who have so superficially dismissed the historical Jesus (for all intents and purposes) as nothing more than a deluded first-century religious fanatic and rabble rouser of a charlatan who was arrested by the authorities, not as political zealot or aspiring messiah, but as a common, albeit charismatic public nuisance who disingenuously passed off cheap street magicians’ illusions as Biblical quality miracles, i.e., postmodernists who today, like pagan sorcerers and derelict, toothless oriental mystics, dare to determine the measure of a man and his words by (of all things!) the application of coloured beads.

I, instead, insist that only a carpenter-rabbi of His divine origin, moral stature and matchless wisdom could have transformed this 1970s runaway freight-train and weirds-mobile of a cynical, suburban hedonist and amoral agnostic into a person so enamoured with this Messiah that I, in the sunset season of my life, have aspired to write not only one book about His sacred cause and merciful gospel, but several.

Today, when I read the popular atheists of our times, or debate a seasoned agnostic about the existence of God, I can only heartily agree with the wise theologians who, upon hearing people say that the character of the first-century Jesus of history was so remarkable that He must have been ‘forged’ (and should be considered a ‘fake’) instead have so aptly retorted (among others) as follows (my paraphrasing):

“The man Jesus of Nazareth was so unique, gifted, remarkable and special that only a real Jesus Christ could have forged a Jesus Christ; furthermore, if the Bible really were only a collection of fairy tales, then why is it either banned or severely persecuted in at least 52 countries?”

PJ Stassen

Centurion, South Africa.

December 2021.

Introduction

I wrote this book, not as a theologian (which I am not), but as a sinner saved by grace and a social commentator concerned with the cause and future of Christianity in the world.

Part 1. Bible Authority: Introducing the sacrosanct Judeo-Christian tradition of unshakeable, non-negotiable trust in the sacred promises and unfathomable providence of God as presented in the Holy Scriptures as penned over millennia by fallible but devout scribes inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Part 2. Faith: Introducing the prerequisite for Salvation and the blessing of God, i.e., faith, the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things not seen without which, as the Bible admonishes, it is impossible to please God.

Part 3. Salvation: Discussing the incomparable message of the idea and gift of Salvation for man, not by virtue of personal merit or an exemplary life but wrought on the cross of Calvary (Golgotha) by the sacrifice, blood, death, resurrection and righteousness of Jesus Christ, Messiah of the Jews and Saviour of the world.

Part 4. Politics: Introducing the principle of the Christian’s moral obligation to, depending on temperament and natural or acquired gifts and talents, strive to infuse the murky world of politics and society at large with the time-tested Judeo-Christian values of the Bible.

Part 5. Christian Testimony: Sharing some testimonies about the delightful ways and blessings of the Heavenly Father in the Christian’s daily walk; His mercies are indeed new every morning.

Part 6. Providence: Introducing the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not only as the Creator of the world but also as our Heavenly Father and Holy Provider of choice, hence the epithet, ‘Jehovah-Jireh’: God will provide. As the saying goes, “Behind a stern countenance, God hides a smiling face.”

Part 7. Judgment. Reminding the world of impending Judgment at the end of the age and man’s moral obligation to make his peace with God today while there is still time; tomorrow may be too late.

The story of the Bible and God’s designs for man; the Commandments of Moses and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, can, for all intents and purposes, miraculously integrated to be summarised by a single Scripture reference:

“For as by one man's disobedience [THE FIRST ADAM] many were made sinners, so by the obedience of One [THE LAST ADAM, JESUS CHRIST] shall many be made righteous.”

[Romans5:19MKJV].

I am reminded of what C.S. Lewis has said (my paraphrasing):

“There are only two kinds of people, i.e., those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done!’ and those to whom God must say, “Okay then … have it your way!”

The lot and final destiny of every (fully informed & evangelised) person that ever lived will, in other words, be decided on this, i.e., a choice between Good and Evil, Light and Darkness, Jesus and Barabbas, Christ and Satan.

With those who object that anyone could exercise such a critical choice still wrongly from pure ignorance, or from cultural and/or religious biases, I can only in sympathy say that I fully concur, and although I insist that there is no other name but the Name of Jesus Christ by which we are saved, we probably should leave such metaphysical judgments (i.e., in respect of the ‘inadequately informed and poorly evangelised’) for God to decide and deal with.

There is a huge difference between being a ‘sinner’ and being ‘ungodly’/’wicked’. All the ‘ungodly’ and ‘wicked’ are sinners, but not all ‘sinners’ are necessarily ‘ungodly or ‘wicked’ … they are simply lost and must be found. God has said:

“And He [GOD] said, I will make all My goodness pass before you [MOSES], and I will proclaim the name of Jehovah before you. And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will have mercy on whom I will have mercy.”

[Exodus33:10MKJV].

Bon voyage!

Chapter 1

Introduction to the Bible for Non-Christian Students of the Bible

Introducing the basic architecture of the Hebrew Bible & New Testament

1. The Christian Bible. The Christian Bible comprises two parts, i.e., the Old Testament (known as the ‘Hebrew Bible’ in the Jewish community) and the New Testament (the story of Jesus of Nazareth and how Christianity was founded).

The Old Testament (comprising 39 books) is often described among Christians as ‘Jesus Christ concealed’ and the New Testament (comprising 27 books) as ‘Jesus Christ revealed’. The word ‘Bible’ comes from the Greek, ‘Biblos’, hence such words as ‘Bibliothèque’ (French) and ‘Biblioteek’ (Afrikaans), a library or collection of books. In total what is known as the Christian Bible thus comprises 66 (39 +27) books.

Together the historical, cultural and moral influence of the Hebrew Bible in the Jewish community (known as ‘Judaism’) and the influence of the Christian Bible (‘Christianity’) is affectionately referred to as the Judeo-Christian influence or values.

2. The Old Testament (Hebrew Bible). The Old Testament or Hebrew Bible comprises the following books:

2.1 The Torah or Pentateuch. Genesis; Exodus; Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy.

2.2 The Historical Books. Joshua; Judges, Ruth; 1 & 2 Samuel; 1 & 2 Kings; 1 & 2 Chronicles; Ezra; Nehemiah & Esther.

2.3 Books of Wisdom. Job; Psalms; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Solomon.

2.4 The Major Prophets. Isaiah; Jeremiah; Lamentations of Jeremiah; Ezekiel & Daniel.

2.5 The Minor Prophets. Hosea; Joel; Amos; Obadiah; Jonah; Mica; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah; Haggai; Zechariah & Malachi.

3. The New Testament. The New Testament comprises the following books:

3.1 The Four Gospels. Matthew; Mark; Luke & John*.

*John the Beloved, not John the Baptist.

3.2 Synoptic Gospels. Matthew, Mark & Luke (‘Synoptic’, meaning presenting many similarities between these gospels).

3.3 Acts of the Apostles. Early Church, Historical.

3.4 The Epistles (NT Letters from Apostles to Churches). Romans; 1 & 2 Corinthians; Galatians; Ephesians; Philippians; Colossians; 1 & 2 Thessalonians; 1 & 2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon; Hebrews; James (Jacob); 1 & 2 Peter; 1, 2 & 3 John; Jude.

3.5 The Book of Revelation. Apocalyptic, Eschatological.

“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it … The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”

[Psalm68:11; 12:6-7KJV].

Chapter 2

The Case for Doctrinal Integrity

Protecting the honour of God’s Word

1. Proposition #1. The Bible admonishes Christians to shun ‘seducing spirits’ or ‘doctrines of devils’, ‘doctrines of men’ and ‘strange doctrines’:

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils’

[1Timothy4:1KJV].

“Which all are to perish with the using; after the commandments and doctrines of men?”

[Colossians2:22KJV].

“Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.”

[Hebrews13:9KJV].

2. Proposition #2. The Bible warns against those preaching (i) ‘another Jesus’, (ii) ‘another spirit’ and/or (iii) ‘another gospel’ and warns us not to (iv) ‘pervert the gospel’:

“For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him … I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”

[2Corinthians11:4; Galatians1:6,7KJV].

3. Proposition #3. The Apostle Paul took a strong stance against ‘preaching’ any ‘other gospel’. Bear in mind that Paul has met Christ face to face (on the road to Damascus) and (probably) was the person who was caught up to the ‘Third Heaven’; today he is revered as the top authority on first century missions and Christian apologetics. He has said:

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

[Galatians1:8KJV]

4. Proposition #4. Jesus Christ has made provision for Christians to differ in opinion on peripheral matters i.r.o. doctrine.

“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

[Matthew5:19KJV].

5. Proposition #5. Christians should, however, always tread cautiously when interpreting Biblical prophecy. Most Christians cherish the idea of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and are well-versed in Scripture pertaining to issues and events surrounding the Rapture and the Second Coming.

When interpreting prophecy, however, although it may be good and well to make forecasts about prophetic events (and even make mistakes) in terms of the mandate given by Jesus Christ Himself in Matthew5:19 (for the simple reason that we only ‘see-in-part’) but issuing all kinds of guarantees about exact dates i.r.o. certain anticipated prophetic events can be risky.

There is a big difference, for instance, between making a ‘forecast’ and issuing ‘guarantees’. We can, for instance, issue a guarantee about the Second Coming (and perhaps even forecast a period or an era to look out for) because it is founded on Scripture as corroborated almost daily by the news and world events, although we cannot guarantee an exact date.

We cannot, however, issue all kinds of futuristic guarantees i.r.o. Biblical prophecy, especially in terms of dates and eras. For instance, the four most popular Rapture theories currently in vogue are (i) the ‘Pre-Tribulation Rapture Theory’ (‘Pre-Trib’); (ii) the ‘Mid-Tribulation Rapture Theory’ (‘Mid-Trib’); (iii) the ‘Post-Tribulation Rapture Theory’ (‘Post-Trib’) and (iv) the ‘No-Tribulation Rapture Theory’ (‘No-Trib’).

Bear in mind that to interpret Scripture historically is easy, but once we start issuing guarantees about our own favourite (‘pet’) Rapture Theory we have crossed over from ordinary Scripture exegesis (a right guaranteed & protected by Jesus Himself in Matthew5:19) into the arena of Biblical prophecy where the gold standard for accuracy and truthfulness is an absolute 100%.

Do the math: Disregarding for now any theories pertaining to Eschatological studies for the sake of brevity, bear in mind that, of the four Rapture Theories currently in vogue only one can ever be correct. The other three theories will thus have proponents and followers preaching and teaching incorrect (untruthful and invalid) versions of Rapture Theory, thus such possibly catapulting them into the risky category of ‘false prophets’. Scripture teaches that God, to put it lightly, takes a dim view of false prophets:

“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”

[Deuteronomy18:18-22KJV].

6. Proposition #6. Denying the Authority of the Father and Divinity of Christ is considered the ultimate dividing line or theological ‘Rubicon’ between the true and the false Gospel.

“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.”

[1John2:22KJV].

Author Profile

P. J. Stassen, born in 1947 in Randgate, South Africa, holds a B.A. degree in Industrial Psychology & Sociology (Industrial) from the University of South Africa. A former businessman who, after mandatory military conscription, spent the first 12 years of his life in 1966 in the field of retail (Textiles & General Dealer) in a family business begun by his father in 1964, thereafter worked at various other jobs eventually arriving in the fulfilling position of a corporate trainer with Kumba Resources (formerly Iscor Iron Ore Mine) in the Bushveldt region of South Africa during the years 1986 and 1997. At the time of his retirement in 2013 he was engaged in Occupational Health & Safety Training in the corporate environment on a contract basis for a Johannesburg company.

P.J. Stassen and his wife are both retired and live in Centurion, South Africa after having also served in their capacities as gospel musicians (pianist & organist respectively) in churches in some of South Africa’s nine provinces, e.g., in places like Vanderbijlpark, Bloemfontein, Thabazimbi, Sinoville and Centurion.