INFANT BAPTISM

From the Truth for the World webpage

There are some churches who sprinkle water on babies and call it baptism. Is infant baptism from heaven or from men? We will show in this article why infant baptism is wrong.

Before a person can be baptized, he must be taught. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19). A person must also believe before they are baptized. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). It is a command of God that everybody must repent to obey God. "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent" (Acts 17:30). We must confess Christ in order to be saved. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32,33).

Can an infant do any of these things? No! Neither does the infant have any sin which needs to be forgiven. Jesus said, "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). We become sinners when we break God's law. Paul said, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We do not have sin until after we transgress the law of God. The apostle John wrote, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4). Since sprinkling babies (infant baptism) is not from God, it is from man.

ORIGINAL SIN

Why do people want to baptize babies? It is because they believe babies are born with sin. The Bible does not teach this. Each person is responsible for his own sins. Ezekiel said, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him" (Ezekiel 18:20). Our spirit comes from God. God does not give people an evil spirit. "And the spirit shall return unto God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Those who go to heaven are to be like little children. If children were sinners, Jesus would not tell us to be like them. "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:14).

CONCLUSION

Since a person must hear and understand, believe, repent, and confess his faith in Christ before being baptized, this does not include infants. Also, until they reach the age where they are able to tell the difference between right and wrong, they are safe.

The practice of infant baptism is from man, not God. We do not have the authority to practice it.

For Further Information Contact:

Truth For The World
P.O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096-0065
e-mail: info@tftw.org  

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 2:49 AM EDT

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 HOMOSEXUALITY

From the Truth for the world webpage

There are those who want people to believe homosexuality is normal. Jesus tells us what is normal. And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them 'male and female', and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?' So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate" (Matthew 19:4-6).

Many religious leaders are defending this practice. The United Methodist Church recommended their members accept homosexuals as "persons of sacred worth" and welcome them into fellowship of that Church. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Netherlands made a report saying that homosexuality should not be something to keep a person from becoming a pastor in their Church. The United Church of Christ has ordained homosexuals into their ministry. There is even a homosexual denomination in the United States called the Metropolitan Community Church.

There is much confusion in our society, just as there was in the days of Isaiah. Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20). Just because some people say that homosexuality is right, does not make it so!

Some say we should not be talking about this issue, because it is a political issue. However, it was a moral issue long before it was a political issue. The Bible teaches us homosexuality is sin. If a person does not repent and stop the practice, they will be lost eternally.

THE BIBLE CONDEMNS THIS PRACTICE

The first example of homosexuality is found in the city of Sodom. The wickedness of the city is described in Genesis 19:4-7. Men, both young and old, wanted to have sexual relations with Lot's male visitors. The New Testament confirms this is a true account (cf. Matthew 11:23,24; Jude 7; 2 Peter 2:6-8).

Sodom and Gomorrah serve as the standard by which other sins are compared (Isaiah 3:9; 13:19; Jeremiah 23:14; Matthew 11:23,24).

THE LAW OF MOSES CONDEMNED HOMOSEXUALITY

Note three passages condemning this practice. You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.... Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you (Leviticus 18:22,24). If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them (Leviticus 20:13). There shall be no ritual harlot of the daughters of Israel, or a perverted one of the sons of Israel. You shall not bring the wages of a harlot or the price of a dog to the house of the LORD your God for any vowed offering, for both of these are an abomination to the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 23:17,18). The word dog here is a synonym for a homosexual. "Dogs" will not be in heaven (Revelation 22:14,15).

Israel's faithfulness was partly determined by the king's attitude toward the perverted persons (homosexuals) in the land (1 Kings 14:22-24; 22:46; 2 Kings 23:7).

THREE SIGNIFICANT NEW TESTAMENT PASSAGES

God, through Paul, makes it clear those who practice homosexuality will not go to heaven. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The word for "homosexuals" comes from the Greek phrase which means "men having sexual relations." For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due (Romans 1:26,27). Note the words Paul uses in this passage: "vile," "against nature," "shameful," "error." These are not words of approval. In the context, Paul is discussing the unrighteousness of the Gentiles (Romans 1:18). But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:8-10). In verse 10, Paul mentions the "sodomite." This is the same Greek word that is used in 1 Corinthians 6:9 translated "homosexual."

All of these passages show us the way God views this practice. It is not approved, but condemned.

CAN THE HOMOSEXUAL BE SAVED?

God loves all people and wants all to be saved (John 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:4). The homosexual can be saved the same way any other sinner can be saved. They must repent and be baptized (Acts 17:30; Acts 22:16).

Then, the practice must be stopped! And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

CONCLUSION

There is great pressure placed upon the Christian to ignore sin in our society. It is not popular to take a stand against sin today. Neither was it easy for the Old Testament prophets to take a stand against sin. It was not easy for Christians in the first century to preach the gospel to the heathen world. It will not be easy today, but we must obey God (Acts 5:29).

It may not be easy for the person who practices homosexuality to give up this sinful practice. But, if we want to go to heaven, we have to live our lives according to His will (Matthew 7:21-23). The most important thing in the world is to go to heaven!

For Further Information Contact:

Truth For The World
P.O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096-0065
e-mail: info@tftw.org 

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 2:58 PM EDT

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GOD'S PLACE FOR WOMEN
IN HIS CHURCH

From the Truth for the World webpage

Woman's place in society is something that is widely discussed in our time. The world has felt the force of the "Feminist" movement, or "Women's Liberation," as it is sometimes called. Most of us would agree that men and women should have the same rights under the law. Equal pay for equal work should be the expected and encouraged. However, what about woman's place in the church? In our lesson today, we'll examine what God has revealed concerning women in His church.

Our study today is entitled: "God's Place for Women in His Church." A tract by this same title has been distributed for some time now by Truth for the World. Rod Rutherford, who works with the literature phase of this mission effort, has written this excellent tract. We thought this subject worthy of our attention here on the program because of the developments in our society today concerning the woman's role as it affects the church of the Lord. Christians must realize that many of the ideas set forth in the feminist movement are contrary to God's will.

Some in the Lord's church today are questioning the place of the woman. They are saying she should be allowed to lead in public prayers, preach, and even serve as elders, or deacons in the church. The religious world as a whole has been influenced to think along these lines, in many instances. However, those who are concerned for truth cannot compromise it in any area. Does the Bible tell us that women should be allowed to do everything men do in the church? The answer to that question is clearly, "No." The Word of God is complete, furnishing us with all we need on every subject. The place of the woman in the church is no exception. God has revealed His will on this subject, as we shall see in this study.

First of all, we need to make clear that in some areas women and men are exactly the same in God's eyes. Certainly there is no distinction between men and women in salvation. God's love for all is seen in the giving of His Son, Jesus Christ for all people. Remember, in Acts 10:34,35, Peter at the house of Cornelius clearly stated this principle: Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." The "whoever" in this passage means just that. Every man or woman of accountable age who obeys God is loved and saved on the basis of obedient faith in response to God's grace. There is no difference in the blessings received through the gospel by men and women. Paul wrote in Galatians 3:26-28: "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Now that passage does not teach that in the church a woman can do everything a man does. Nor does it mean that God makes no distinction between the husband and wife in the family arrangement. God decrees that the husband is the head of the wife (Eph. 5:23). He is to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of his family, including those of his wife. The woman in the home is to be a helper to the husband, teacher of the children, a "keeper at home," as Titus 2, verses 4 and 5 point out. God recognizes certain physical and psychological differences between men and women. God created us all, and He knows us better than anyone. He has given the man and the woman roles best suited for them.

There are several passages in the New Testament which regulate woman's role in the church. In 1 Corinthians 11:3, Paul wrote, "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God." This is an important verse because it reveals that we are all in submission to someone. Even Christ, according to this passage, submits to God, the Father. Is Christ inferior to God because He submits? Certainly not. Neither is the woman inferior to the man simply because she is to submit to him. The difference God makes between the two is in His purpose for each. In fact, God has placed woman on a pedestal, teaching the husband in His Word to love his wife as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5). How much greater love could be given? If the husband takes seriously his God-given responsibilities to his wife, the wife has everything for which to be thankful, and nothing to regret.

A passage of great importance to the question of woman's role in the church is 1 Timothy 2. The context indicates Paul is writing about the public gatherings of the church as it assembles to worship. In verse one, Paul commands that prayers be made for all men. The word for "men" in this verse, in the original language of the New Testament, means "mankind." It is the general word for all human beings, both men and women. However, down in verse 8 of 1 Timothy 2, Paul is writing about the leading of public prayer in the assemblies of the church. Here he uses a different word for "men" which means only the males. It does not include females. This is a very important distinction. Had Paul meant for women to lead in public prayer, he certainly would not have used a word which can only mean the males. Therefore, the men only are to lead the public prayers of the church when men and women are present together.

Another clear contrast is seen between verse 8 of 1 Timothy 2, where men, that is, the males, are commanded to pray, and verse eleven, where women are commanded to learn in silence, or quietness, with all subjection. Then, in verse 12, Paul writes: And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence." A woman cannot "have authority over" a man in the church. Preaching and public teaching of classes where men are present are clearly forbidden by this passage. Leading public prayers where men are present is also prohibited by this passage. The woman is to learn in silence. In this case, the word translated "silence" in many versions, literally means "quietness". She is not required to be absolutely silent in the assemblies today. However, she cannot speak in any way which teaches, or usurps authority over the man.

Paul, here in 1 Timothy 2:13,14, gives the reasons why God has made men the leaders in the church. He writes: For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression." God created the woman for the man according to Genesis 2:18-25. In the deception of the Garden, it was Eve who succumbed to Satan. Adam sinned also by following Eve's lead, and thereafter God made it clear that man was to lead his wife and family. Again, we repeat that this arrangement in no way suggests the inferiority of the woman. It simply establishes God-given roles for her. And oh, how important those roles are, both in the home, and in the church. The importance and the influence of the mother in the home cannot be overstated. Women may also teach in accordance with God's will, as they instruct their children, and other women. Also, Priscilla, a fine Christian woman, privately assisted her husband Acquilla in teaching Apollos (Acts 18:24-26). And we must never overlook the power of example. Peter wrote: "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear." These verses speak volumes about the influence of a godly woman in the home. The non-Christian husband who will not obey the Word of God by direct teaching, may ultimately be won to the Savior by the sweet, submissive example of his Christian wife who demonstrates daily her love for God and her appreciation of her important God-given role. How totally tragic it is that today so many women are turning away from the greatest life there is --the life of the Christian woman who sees the value of living as God would have her live.

For Further Information Contact:

Truth For The World
P.O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096-0065
e-mail: info@tftw.org   
     

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 11:21 AM EDT

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 GOD HAS JOINED JESUS TO THE CHURCH

From the Truth for the World webpage:

The church is indestructible. We have already seen that in Matthew 16:18. Jesus said the gates of Hades would not prevail against the building of the kingdom, or the church. But, also there is a passage in Hebrews 12:28 where the writer declares, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." Notice: "...receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved." The church is an indestructible kingdom. In Luke 8:11, in the parable of the sower, the seed is the Word of God. Wherever the seed is planted—that is, wherever the Word of God is planted in the hearts of men and those hearts are good hearts, good soil, the kingdom comes forth.

The kingdom is always in existence, at least in seed form. It is an indestructible institution, and one day it will be delivered back to the Father. First Corinthians 15:24 clearly shows it will be delivered back to the Father when the Lord comes again. If we are to receive the crown of life, it is through the church.

The church is indivisible—the Lord built one church. Some passages in the book of Ephesians show clearly the Lord built one church, not a multiplicity of religious bodies teaching differing doctrines. In Ephesians 1:22,23, we read, "And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him [that is, Christ] to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." The church is called the body of Christ. He is the head over it. Christ is the spiritual head of His spiritual body, the church. Notice what Paul writes in Ephesians 4:4,5: "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism."

Just as there is one God and one Lord, there is one body, the church. The church is indivisible. The Lord built but one. In I Corinthians 1:10-13, the apostle Paul wrote to the brethren at Corinth and begged them to all be of the same mind and the same judgment, to speak the same things, because there was some division there. The very fact that Paul warned against that and begged them to be united shows that it was the Lord's intention that we be one, and speak the same thing. Notice: "Be of the same mind and the same judgment," that is, the doctrine is to be the same. In John 17:20,21, in His prayer to the Father in His last hours upon the earth, Jesus prayed for His apostles. Then He turned His attention to all of those who would believe on Christ through the word of the apostles: "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."

How are God and Christ one? They are one in doctrine, certainly, as well as in nature and purpose and so on. Are we one in doctrine in the religious world today? Tragically, no. But does that please God? Certainly not, because we have seen that He built one church that was to be one in doctrine.

The church is distinct —that is, it has clear identifying marks. We invite you to study further and think very soberly and carefully about these things, because they are of an eternal consequence.

(1) It has Christ as it's head, as we have seen in Ephesians 1:22,23.

(2) It has Scriptural names or designations. We saw "the church of God" was mentioned in Acts 20:28 and in 1 Corinthians 1:1,2, not as a denomination, but as an identifying, possessive, designation showing God is the author of all things that bring about salvation, even in the church. But, of course, it is done through Christ whom He made head of the church. In Romans 16:16 we see, "The churches of Christ salute you." Thus, we know "church of Christ" is a Scriptural designation.

(3) The mission of the church is to preach. In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul writes, "But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." The church is to be the pillar and ground of the truth. We are to edify each other. The church is to edify itself (Ephesians 4:16). We are to carry on benevolent work (Galatians 6:10, James 1:27). As we have opportunity, we are to work that which is good toward all men.

(4) The organization of the church: Elders are to oversee individual congregations. There is no central government the Lord gave to His church, but a plurality of elders are to oversee the flock of God in each location, in each congregation. First Timothy 3 and Titus 1 give us the qualifications. Deacons are to serve as special servants under the elders. In 1 Timothy 3, we have the qualifications of these special servants who are to carry out various works of the church. And, of course, all of the members are to be subject to the elders of the church. As we have mentioned, each congregation is to be autonomous, separate or independent.

(5) The terms of admission are also very clearly set forth. We are to believe in Christ as the Son of God. In John 8:24, Jesus said, "…if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." We are to repent (Luke 13:3,5). Jesus clearly makes repentance essential. We are to confess Christ. We are to be buried with Him in baptism (Mark 16:16 and other passages). Then we are added to the church, where we are to worship God in Spirit and in truth.

(6) The worship of the church: We are to worship God in Spirit and in Truth. The acts of worship are clearly set forth in the Scriptures. We are to partake of the Lord's supper every first day of the week (Acts 20:7). We are to sing and make melody with our hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19). Prayer is a part of our worship (Acts 2:42). As members of the church, we must give as we have been prospered (I Corinthians 16:1,2). Bible study, or the preaching of the Word, is an act of worship, authorized by Acts 20:7 in the New Testament.

If we are to enjoy the crown of life, if it is to be ours, it will be only as we come to Christ through the cross, being obedient to its terms, in order to reach the benefit of the blood. Then, we are added to the church where we must remain faithful to one day receive the crown of life.

For Further Information Contact:

Truth For The World
P.O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096-0065
e-mail: info@tftw.org

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 4:32 PM EDT

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Act 2: Scene 1

The UNSA Zeus meets with the Nrog ship commanded by Admiral Trill...unaware what the Admiral has inshore for the crew of the Zeus...

After the crew boards the ship they are escorted by the copy of the Nrog Ambassador, to the dining room which Trill waits his guess.

Admiral Trill: Please everyone have a seat. I am glad to have you here, please enjoy your meal I managed to procure some earth delicacies that you might enjoy after all your a long
way from your world, I'm sure you would enjoy a taste of home.

Ambassador Green: Admiral Trill I thought we would be taken immediately to the imperial cruiser to meet with the Emperor.

Admiral Trill: You will see the emperor very soon, but first a toast to the completion of our mission.

Narrator: After taking the drink the crew starts to doze off and falls asleep.

Admiral Trill: Bring in the metabots and transform them.

Guard: What about these humans?

Admiral Trill: Put them in the Brigg for safe keeping, we will bring them back to home world as guest of the Norg Empire.

Scene breaks to the Norg empiral cruiser in the Emperor suite where we see the Empress is in communication with a unseen
Receipt...

Empress Zagg: Yes my love, I think it's the only way...I have to sign off my husband is coming.

Enters the Emperor in the Emperor's Suite to join his wife.

Emperor Zagg: Hello my darling, we are under way to meet the humans, we will meet with them in a couple of days.

I just got off communicating with Trill, he said they met the humans and now escorting them to our position.

Empress Marta: Come my darling, you had a rough couple of days, that slug Lord Nagg got on your nerves what you need is a drink.

Emperor Zagg: Perhaps your right a little refreshment would be in order.

Empress Marta offers her husband a drink. After drinking, the emperor starts to choke.

Emperor Zagg looking surprised, gasping for air falls to the floor on his knees looks up to his wife asking. " Marta.. why?"

Empress Marta looking down on her dying husband smiles and says: " because my darling your weak."

The poison she gave to her husband acts fast, and leaves no traces after a few minutes of exposure.
The result is that it makes the victim appear to have a fatal heart failure.

The scene ends with Empress Marta walking to the computer and sends a message to her secret lover just two words.

Empress Marta: Computer send message to last receipt two words: It's done.

Act 2: Scene 2

Narrator: After she murdered her husband. The Empress Marta, stripped the body of her husband, and dragged his body in the bed.
She changed into her night attire, and called General Tagg and the High priest.
We find the scene opens with the empress sitting down by the bed where her dead husband is laying...

Empress Marta: Sniff....I don't know what happened, we were engaged in mating and all of a sudden he stopped breathing...sobbing

High priest: These things happens your majesty its not your fault.

General Tagg: Your majesty, since the reign of rule now falls to you, do you want to meet with the humans as scheduled?

Empress Marta: Yes General, my husband would have wanted it to continue despite what happens to him or me and in his memory we must complete what he started.

General Tagg: Very Well your majesty.

Empress Marta: Oh and General, please send word to Lord Nagg and dispatch him here at once.

General Tagg: Yes your Majesty.

Outside in the hallway of the Emperor   Suite the General and the High priest talks about what they just seen....

General Tagg: I want a complete autopsy preformed something don't look right here....

High priest: What are you suggesting General?

General Tagg: Your Eminence, It's my duty to investigate anything that happens on my ship.

High priest: But the Empress didn't request an autopsy and if we do one without her request, we will be turned into mutants!

General Tagg: Yes I know and that's just it, and do you fine it odd she didn't even requested it?

Scene breaks to see the UNSA Zeus which is now heading back to the Norg fleet.
On the way word reaches Admiral Trill that the Emperor is dead, and he also gets a message from Lord Nagg, when he arrives that he is to wait for new orders.
 
 
Act 2 Scene 3

The Scene opens finding the real crew and real earth ambassador Green in the Brigg waking up from the drug ed drink they took...
across from their cell is the real Norg Ambassador over hearing their discussion of their situation...

Ambassador Cynthia Green: Ambassador Xenn what is the meaning of this?!

Ambassador Xenn: That wasn't me ambassador, what assorted you on board was a metabot, it can transform itself to anything it is commanded to do..

Capitan Howard: What!? You mean to tell me we been cloned? And now our clones are manning my ship?

Ambassador Xenn: Yes, I'm sorry Admiral Trill is acting under orders from Lord Nagg, Gods knows what he has planned.

Commander Jons:  Says to Ambassador Green: Lady you just lead us right into a trap!

Captain Howard: That's enough commander, we can't start pointing fingers we need to escape that's our first priority.

Ambassador Xenn: There is no escape

Capitan Howard: With all do respect Ambassador, there's not such thing as an impossible escape.

Ambassador Green: Why are you in here Ambassador?

Ambassador Xenn: Admiral Trill didn't like the fact I oppose Lord Nagg's plan of ceasing your ship and using it to start a war.

Scene breaks when we see the captured UNSA Zeus now manned by clones of the crew, and the Norg ship commanded by Admiral Trill arriving meeting up
to the rest of the Norg fleet. The real crew of the Zeus along with the Norg Ambassador is transferred to the empiral Cruiser's Brigg.
We see the cloned crew and Ambassador Green clone standing in the passage way of the between airlocks, receiving new orders from Admiral Trill....

Admiral Trill: You have new orders you are to take the earth ship and attack all Norg outpost.
And has for you I have a special mission....

Enters General Tagg...
General Tagg: What is the meaning of this Admiral, why is the earth crew and our ambassador Xenn in my Brigg?
What? the?
Admiral Trill: No General you are not imaging you are seeing double, these are metabots, clones of the earth crew, and the lovely ambassador..I am under orders from Lord Nagg
and he out ranks both of us...Now if you don't mind General, let me do my duty and you do yours!

General Tagg: I intend to Admiral.

Act 2 Scene 4

Narrator: The Scene opens at the Universal Naval Space Alliance Command Center. Captain Peter Braddick Reports to Admiral of the Earth Star Fleet's office for some disturbing news. . .

Admiral Micheles: Come in Captain. I just gotten word that one of our destroyers the Zeus is attacking Norg military outposts.

Captain Braddick: That ship is commanded by Captain Howard, Admiral she is a up standing officer she wouldn't be attacking without orders from us.

Admiral Micheles: Exactly captain, and I need you to go and hunt down the Zeus and find out what is happening. We could be looking at a war we don't want if they aren't stopped.

Captain Braddick: Yes sir.

Admiral Micheles: Oh and Peter, I believe you know Ambassador Cynthia Green.

Captain Braddick: Sir?

Admiral Micheles: She is on board the Zeus, they were to meet with the emperor of the Norgs to negotiate a trade deal on energy technology, she was also on a mission of top level security I can't tell you anymore than that. I'm only telling you this because I know you are personally involved with her.

Captain Braddick: Sir?

Admiral Micheles:   Captain, not many things gets past me these days, it's a risk you took when becoming involved with a interstellar diplomat, she knew what she was getting into in accepting her mission, and you must clear your head and focus on finding the Zeus. 

Captain Braddick”: Yes sir.

 Admiral Micheles: I'm sure she's okay Pete, good luck.

Narrator: Scene breaks to see a shuttle pod from the UNSA Zeus flies away, while the mother ship sets off for it's next target.
Meanwhile on board the Norg Imperial Cruiser the Empress gets a visitor in the Emperor's Suite...

Empress Marta: Oh, am I glad to see you! The plan is under way my love.

Camera turns to see who she is talking to, it's Lord Nagg standing in the room.

Lord Nagg: Good, when we are home you will relinquish your rule to me.

Empress Marta: Yes dear, and the second phase of the plan is also underway.

Lord Nagg: (Kissing the Empress) Good soon we will get all we want.

Narrator: Scene breaks we see the High priest reporting his findings of the autopsy of the Emperor's body to General Tagg.

High Priest: General, I did the autopsy and found no traces of injury, or contaminants in his system.

General Tagg: I see, it doesn't make sense I knew him, he was in top physical condition and with no history of trouble of his hearts. Are you sure you explored all data?

High Priest: Matter of fact I did a little research on poisons, and there is a chemical known as Mask. It very effective and quick, once it kills you, traces of it quickly dissipates just as fast, leaving the hearts seeming like they just gave out.

General Tagg: Interesting, thank you, your Eminence.

Narrator: aboard the shuttle carrying Captain Peter Braddick to the UNSA Geronimo, Braddick remembers Cynthia and his last meeting.....

Peter Braddick: Cynthia, this is crazy! Going off meeting a alien race we know little about whose intentions are murky at best.

Cynthia Green: Pete, I met the Norgs and one of the only humans including the President met them, they want to trade with us energy technology, plus other technologies we can use in medical science, plus many other opportunities that can benefit us.

Peter Braddick: There's no way of me talking you out of this is there?

Cynthia Green: No there isn't, don't worry I'm sure it will be alright.

Narrator: Scene breaks back on board the Imperial Cruiser heading back with their prisoners to the Norg home world....where we see General Tagg and the High priest meeting privately.

General Tagg: Lord Nagg can't claim the throne until he is back on home world, after that he will have all the prisoners executed, we must get them off this ship before we reach back home.

High Priest Grill: You think the Empress will give up rule to him?

General Tagg: You think it's just a consequence that Nagg comes all the way here and then meets with the Empress in private?

General Tagg: I'll set off the fusion leak reactor alarm they will have no choice but to abandon ship for a brief period, and use escape pods, after the danger passes it will take sometime for the pods to come back, I'll see to it that one of the pods turns up missing.

High Priest Grill: I hope you know what your doing General.

Act 2 Scene 5:

Narrator: The Scene opens to fine the High Priest Grill confronted by two robot guard requesting him to accompany them to join Lord Nagg, Admiral Trill, and the Empress in the mutation chamber aboard the Imperial Cruiser heading back to the Nrog home world...

Robot1: Come with us your Eminence the Empress and Lord Nagg would like to ask you some questions.

Hight Priest Grill: Whats the meaning of this?

Robot 1: They are waiting for you in the mutation chamber, and request your presence.

High Priest Grill: I won't go anywhere!

Robot 1: You will come freely or we will carry you there. Take him!

Narrator: The two robots grabs the high priest and brings him to the mutation chamber where Admiral Trill, Lord Nagg, and the Empress is waiting.

Lord Nagg: Ah, there you are your Eminence come in please.

High Priest Grill: What's the meaning of this Lord Nagg I was dragged down here....

Empress Marta: We understand you did an unauthorized autopsy on the Emperor, don't try and deny it your Eminence one of your assistants told us about it. We want to know who told you preform the autopsy?

High Priest Grill: I answer to a higher power, not any of you.

Admiral Trill: Oh but you will answer our questions, put him in the chair!

Empress Marta: One last chance, your Eminence who gave the order to do the autopsy?

High Priest: May the gods have mercy on you. I have nothing more to say.

Lord Nagg: Okay, if thats how you feel...Proceed Admiral Trill. (flips the switch of the mutation chair)

High Priest Grill: AHHHHHH!

Narrator: Scene breaks we see Captain Peter Braddick on board the UNSA Geronimo's cargo hold, where he is confronted by his second in command John Rivers shows him prototype armor and weapons just brought on board...

Captain Braddick: Hi John, what gifts we got from command today?

Commander Rivers: Hey Pete, we got these suits of armor to use for hand to hand combat if we ever need them, the big boys sent these while you were on Earth. And we got these gun robots equipped with laser cannons, and guns, they can pound through a bulk head or steel wall like paper.

Captain Braddick: Good, how many of these toys they sent?

Commander Rivers: Enough for the crew to use either wearing the armor or use the robot.

Captain Braddick: How soon we can get going.

Commander Rivers: The fusion reactor is charged and ready to depart on your orders.

Captain Braddick: Great, set course for the last known location of the Zeus.

 Commander Rivers: The Zeus?

Captain Braddick: Yes, she was on a routine diplomatic mission, apparently diplomacy failed. The Zeus has been attacking Norg outpost, and we need to investigate.

Commander River: Attacking? She' s a light armed scout ship, not meant for heavy combat, doesn't make sense.

Captain Braddick: Yeah I know, the Norgs are almost making it easy for them, this smells of a setup.

Commander Rivers: Setup? You think were heading for war?

Captain Braddick: Yeah looks like that John, set course.

Narrator: The Scene breaks back on board the Norg Imperial Cruiser where the now transformed High Priest into a mutant starts spilling the beans telling them about General Tagg's order to do the autopsy and his plans for freeing the prisoners...Just has he was done telling them the plan a fusion link warning alarms sounds, people start heading for the escape pods, and the guards escorting the prisoners to one of the escape pods are confronted by General Tagg and a few trusted crew members....

Shots rings out  killing the two serpent guards escorting the prisioners.

General Tagg: Come it won't take them long to realize its a false alarm we need to get to escape pods.
Take the guard weapons you might need them.

Narrator: The group reaches the launch bay of one of the escape pods, when suddenly they are confronted by Admiral Tagg.....Gives the order to one of  those accompanying him to kill the alarm.

Admiral Trill: Nice try General. Whats that human phrase? “Nice try but no cigar”.

General Tagg: I'm taking these prisoners Trill, don't get in my way.

Admiral Trill: I see a traitor standing in front of me, and a bunch of spies. Just in time for a firing squad.

Narrator: Fire fight erupts which only three survives and manages to escape on the pod and folds into space.

Admiral Trill: Track them!

Crewman: To late sir, their gone!

Narrator: On the bridge of the Imperial Cruiser Admiral Trill reports to Lord Nagg...

Admiral Trill: Three escape my lord, General Tagg, the earth ship's captain, and the earth ambassador.

Lord Nagg: Fine them Admiral! They are the only ones that can expose us!
Admiral Trill: At once my lord, I have someone who might be useful in tracking them down, let me handle it.

Lord Nagg: Good you do that while I go on with the rest of the fleet back home.

Narrator: Scene breaks on board the Norg ship commanded Admiral Trill, where he speaks to his newest prisoner an alien race known as the Knars,  a wolf like creature which the Norgs never defeated, and pose a threat to their empire. They are warriors, and good trackers, who are only interested in protecting what's theirs.

Admiral Trill: I see you are resting comfortably (smiles)

Trog: What you want lizard? I'm gonna make a roast out of you at the first opportunity!

Admiral Trill: No you won't do that, not at first before you hear my deal for releasing you and your ship.

Trog: Oh why should I hear anything you have to say?

Admiral Trill: Because I have your mate, and if you don't do what I say, I'll kill her, and if anything happens to me she will die.

Trog: Why you!

Admiral Trill: You have one chance to have her back, by tracking down a escape pod which some prisoners used to escape, and a traitor to our people was among them. Once they are apprehended you both will go free.

Trog: You betray this agreement lizard you will become that roast I swear it!

Admiral Trill: Your ship is ready for departure with all the information you need about the pod and people were looking for.

 Narrator: (After Trog's Ship leaves heading to fine the pod, Admiral Trill tells the guard, “She served her purpose, execute her”)

Narrator: The scene ends in the office of the Earth planet Alliance.

Secretary: He will see you now

Visitor: Mr. President

End of Act 2 Written by, Peter Ripley

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 9:54 PM EDT

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GOD HAS JOINED HIMSELF TO THE UNIVERSE

From the truth for the world webpage

In Matthew 19 we have recorded an exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning the marriage relationship, and in Matthew 19:6, Jesus said, "So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." This is true in the marriage relationship but it's also true in other relationships involving God.

We are going to look at the fact that God has joined himself to the universe. By that we mean we may see God in creation. We may know of the existence of God. The Bible affirms this. In Romans 1:18-20, the apostle Paul wrote, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse ..." Long ago the Psalmist declared in Psalm 19:1, "The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard." Acts 14:17 says, "Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."

The atheist tries to separate God from the universe by telling us this universe is here by mere chance, by organic evolution. But the universe cries out in response, saying, "God is!" There is abundant evidence of God's creation, or of God's existence in creation.

We are going to look at three valid arguments for the existence of God. The first is the argument from morality. What we mean by this is that man is a spiritual being with spiritual needs. He has a moral conscience which urges him to do that which he thinks is right. Mere matter is not moral. This desk is mere matter. It has absolutely no morality. Therefore, man's sense of right and wrong must have come from morality itself, from intelligence. It must have come from God.

All men have the urge to choose right and wrong. The conscience of man compels man to do what he thinks is right. When he doesn't follow his conscience, from whence does his capacity to feel guilt come? Where does it originate? It originates with God! Now, man's conscience may be wrongly trained, or wrongly educated, but that's not the point. The point is, there is a sense of morality. Man can lose that through hardening his conscience. His conscience can become seared (as the Bible says) as with a hot iron, or defiled. But, he was not created that way. There is a sense of morality.

The pure materialist cannot explain conscience. Animals do not have it. When a dog bites you he does not crawl off if scolded and spend time in remorse and grief over what he's done to you. In fact, chances are, if you don't get out of his way, he'll bite you again. Animals don't have the capacity to feel guilt, but man does. Thus, man is a moral being, created in the image of God. In Genesis 1:26, God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness", not a physical likeness, but a spiritual likeness, a moral likeness, with morality, with personality. We are different. God created us that way.

An easy way to remember this argument for God's existence is to just simply think of guilt. If we think of the name of God, the "G" might remind us of the guilt that God has given us the capacity to feel. That is a great blessing. Someone might ask, "Is it a blessing to feel guilt?" It is, indeed, if the guilt is based upon a knowledge of doing that which God has told us not to do. Thus, when we feel guilt, we have a way of escaping that guilt by turning to God through Jesus Christ. That produces gratitude. Once the guilt of sin has been removed, gratitude replaces it. Guilt is a blessing if it causes us indeed to do the right thing by turning to God.

A second argument for the existence of God is called the cosmological argument. The word "cosmos" is a word that means "order". When we talk about this cosmos we mean the universe. The cosmological argument is based upon the orderly arrangement of things and the fact that orderly arrangement is here. It is an effect which demands an adequate cause. Every effect demands an adequate cause. This desk again, using it as an illustration, is an effect. It demands a cause. What's an adequate cause for this effect? Did it just come into being by itself, perhaps, by an explosion that occurred and this was the result? That's not an adequate cause, that's not logical. Someone made it. So, there must be an adequate cause for this cosmos, this universe in which we live.

The cosmos is an effect produced by a primal cause, which from the very nature of the case must be a person. There's too much order here for anything else to be truth. Did order come from disorder? No. Thomas Aquinas was the first to formalize this argument in modern philosophy. Aquinas said: "That which does not exist begins to exist only through something already existing. Therefore, if at one time nothing was in existence, it would have been impossible for anything to have begun to exist. And, thus, even now nothing would be in existence, which is absurd." Simply stated, something cannot come from nothing but something exists; therefore, something has always existed. Now, can this something be mere matter? No. The cause of anything must have the qualities of that which is caused and more, even greater, qualities. What are these qualities then? They would have to be qualities of being, qualities of personality, not just qualities of mere substance or matter. God created rocks, does that mean that God is a rock? No, He has to have qualities greater than the rock. He created mind and personality and volition. He must have these qualities and He does.

This universe exhibits order. This is the very meaning of cosmos. But, can order come from disorder? Can a rational being come from an irrational being? But, a rational being exists, therefore, a rational being has always existed. That rational being is the Supreme being, God Almighty.

An easy way to remember this argument is to think of order. The "G" in "GOD," we're saying, represents "GUILT." The "O" now represents "ORDER." So, as we think of the name of God, thus far we have the guilt, the great blessing to feel guilt, a capacity to feel that animals do not have; then, order, the cause to effect argument, or the argument from order, the cosmological argument.

The third argument is the teleological argument. We might just call it the argument from design because that's what is involved. This argument compliments, really, and adds to the cosmological argument. It calls attention to the interrelation of the parts of the universe to produce something that is good. Remember, the cosmological argument, the argument from cause to effect, demands a cause for the order of things now in existence. The teleological argument, or the argument from design, simply says this order of things was so designed with some purpose. So, these two arguments go hand in hand. William Paley set forth this argument back in the 18th century.

The creation shows the glory of God. Hear what the Psalmist declares in Psalm 8:1, "O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!"

There are so many examples of design in this universe. The earth orbits around the sun. But in so doing, it departs from a straight line by only one ninth of an inch every 18 miles. Let's say that in it's orbit around the sun the earth deviated by one 10th of an inch or by one eighth of an inch - just that much either way, what would happen? We would burn to death because we would be that much closer in the orbit, or we would freeze to death because we'd be that much farther away. Just that much deviation would bring death by freezing or death by burning.

The distance of the sun from the earth is 93,000,000 miles. Let's say that we increase that distance by 10%, what happens? We freeze. Let's lessen that distance by 10%. We burn up. Just 10%! Chance? It shows design, doesn't it?

Look at the moon, 240,000 miles from earth. Move it in by one fifth of that distance, what would happen? Twice a day there would be tidal waves over most of the earth of between 35 and 50 feet high.

The human body is one of the most marvelous examples of design in existence. It is made up of some 100 trillion cells, some so small that it would take over 6,000 laid end to end to cover one inch, yet, each cell intricate and complex to the extreme. Each cell has 46 chromosomes, each containing DNA which determines the hereditary traits. These traits are locked into the DNA structure of every cell.

How do the cells in the human brain work? A man by the of W. Gray Walter, a British neurophysicist, stated that it would take 10 billion electronic cells, occupying the space of about one and a half million cubic feet, to build a facsimile of the human brain. There is no question that God is responsible for the design of the human brain.

Charles Darwin, the author of Origin of the Species, the evolutionist, said of the human eye, "The eye with all its inimitable contrivances could have been formed by natural selection, seems (I freely confess) absurd in the highest degree." He further stated, "If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed which could not possibly have been formed by numerous successive modification, my theory would absolutely break down." But his theory has absolutely broken down, and every other theory of evolution breaks down in the face of such intricacy of design. The eye has one hundred and seven million cells with seven million cones allowing sight in full color; one hundred million rods allowing sight in blacks, whites and grays. The eyes are connected to the brain by over 300,000 nerves and can detect light as dim as one, one-hundred trillionth of a watt. How could it have evolved? It could not.

What "intermediate state" between no eye at all and a perfect eye could nature have "selected" to be passed on to successive generations? It's an impossibility. As the Psalmist declared, "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well" (Palm 139:14).

If only every soul knew well the works of God, and if man would start attributing the works of creation to the Father above, rather than to some mythical mother nature! God the Father created all things. Design gives evidence of such. An easy way to remember this teleological argument is to think about design and let the "D" in "GOD" represent design.

God has joined himself to this universe and "what God has joined together, let not man separate." No wonder the Psalmist declared in Psalm 14:1, "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good." Yes, the writer of Job, says in Job 12:7-9, "But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; And the birds of the air, and they will tell you; Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; And the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know That the hand of the LORD has done this,"

We should see from creation itself that evolution is an impossibility, that creation is the only logical answer, and that truly the Bible is right when it tells us in its very first words, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

For Further Information Contact:

Truth For The World
P.O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096-0065
e-mail: info@tftw.org   
     

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 7:03 PM EDT

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Okay, I made a few spelling and grammor errors in the video, goes to show what happens when you don't use your word processor progam. Anyways here is the complete ACT 1 of 3560 AD with corrections.

3560AD act 1 Scene 1

Narrator: Our Story begins in the Palace of the Norg Empire a race of alien beings who built their empire through conquest,
and enslaving worlds they conquered..Now a new emperor emerges with new reforms which some in the empire aren't ready to accept...

General Tagg: The Cruiser is ready for departure your majesty.

Emperor Zagg: Very good General Tagg, the empress and I will accompany you shortly.

Lord Nagg: Your Majesty, I must protest! Entering into a trade agreement with a species we
only became aware of a year ago is foolishness!

It goes against our tradition of conquest, we conquer planets
and take the resources we need, and make slaves of those we conquer!

Not make trade deals!

Emperor Zagg: Enough! Lord Nagg, the decision is made if this empire is to join the interstellar
community we must change with the times. Besides they can more than just trading partners.

Lord Nagg: But we can get all of the salt water we need by conquest!

Emperor Zagg: Enough! General, we will be with you after the blessing of the High priest bless this trip.

The High Priest: May the God's guide you on your journey your majesty.

Act1 scene 2

Lord Nagg: Fool, he'll destroy everything we are, he must be stopped!

Lord Nagg: Get me Admiral Trill!

Robot1: Yes my lord (walks away)

Enters Admiral trill

Admiral Trill: You requested me Lord Nagg? I am about to depart with the fleet on our way to
meet the humans, so I don't have a lot of time.

Lord Nagg: Don't worry Admiral you'll catch up to them, we have a threat to the empire.
The emperor is leading us down a path that we as Nrogs can't accept.

Admiral Trill: I always thought conquest was the more easier way instead of trade deals.

Lord Nagg: He must be stopped at all cost.

Admiral Trill: What do you propose?

Lord Nagg: I want you to wait until you are in deep space, then with your crew board the empiral
cursier and arrest the emperor and empress and bring them back here to the mutant chamber, and wait for me.

While I take a battle cruiser and cease the earth ship they are going to meet.
Once the emperor and empress is in custody, Ill destroy the imperial cruiser using the earth ship so it will make it look
like the emperor and empress been killed while trying to make this trade deal.

Admiral Trill: What you suggesting would be considered Treason Lord Nagg.

Lord Nagg: Treason? or restoring order to this empire.

Admiral Trill: He has no heir to the throne, that would leave you to become emperor

Lord Nagg: We must do this or become weak and loose our power over the worlds we conquered over
the centuries.

Admiral Trill: I understand....Your Majesty!

Admiral Trill: But, may I suggest a better idea...Enter!

Enters Metamorphosis bot
Admiral Trill: I like to introduce this metamorphosis bot, he can become anything or one we choose to do, including a human.

Lord Nagg: This has possibilities, please do tell.

Admiral Trill: We can use these Meta bots short for metamorphosis, to search out the earth ship meeting the empiral cruiser,
and when they metamorphose into humans they can attack using the earth ship, capture the emperor and empress, and bring them on board their ship.
And then blast the imperial cruiser....making it look like the humans kidnap the emperor

Admiral Trill: Then we will bring the emperor's party on board our ship, and bring him back home and you'll meet us at the mutation chamber.
Then the metabots will fly the earth ship into the nearest star, the only records of what happen will be in our hands.
What the people of our world will see is the imperial cruiser being destroyed by the earthlings, paving the way for war.
The Emperor doesn't know these metabots exists, they were made covertly and kept for such occasions.

Lord Nagg: Very well Admiral...proceed.

Act 1 Scene 3

Emperor Grogg & Ambassador Tenn awaits Admiral Trill at the Nrog Space Port.

Enters Admiral Trill

Emperor Grogg: Ah Admiral there you are, Have you met Ambassador Tenn?

Ambassador Tenn: Admiral nice to meet you.

Admiral Trill: Pleasure sir.

Emperor Grogg: Admiral, I would like you to accompany us on the empiral cruiser.

Admiral Trill: I be honored your majesty, but I think it would be best I go on my ship, ahead and how does that human
phrase goes, "blaze the trail" after all we don't want to be going into an ambush or trying to start a conflict...ha. ha.

Emperor Grogg: Very well Admiral, that might be wise, take the ambassador with you, he can meet with the humans and help make the meeting go
smoothly. Then you assort their ship to the meeting place.

Admiral Trill: Very good your Majesty, Ambassador, if you will come with me.

Emperor Grogg: Good luck gentlemen

Act 1 Scene 4

Narrator: Aboard the UNSA Destroyer Zeus Captain Gill Howard commanding...

Capitan Howard: We are transporting the Earth Ambassador to meet with the Norg delegates.
They say the Emperor himself will be one of them. Of course I never met a Norg but nevertheless were three days away to the meeting the Emperor's Cruiser
I am apprehensive at the true natural of this meeting, has to more than just a window dressing trade deal.

Capitan Howard: Perhaps the good Ambassador can provide answers to my questions.

Walks to the Ambassador's Quarters.

Capitan Howard: I hope the accommodations are acceptable  Ambassador Green.

Ambassador Green: Yes Capitan I realize space is limited on a Star Destroyer. However I do
appreciate you giving up your quarters for this mission Captain.

Capitan Howard: Not at all Mame,I'm used to sharing bunks, but I do have a question on the real nature of our mission, it cant be just
an exchange of technology on energy.

Ambassador Green: Captain you should know not to listen to rumors, besides if it were anything else other than a trade agreement,
you should also know I am not a liberty to discuss it with anyone except to the Nrog Emperor.

Capitan Howard: I understand Ambassador, I am responsible to this crew safety and yours, I just want to make sure we will be ready for a fight if need be.

Ambassador Green: I'm sure there's need for concern Captain, now if there's nothing further.

Captain Howard: Have a good trip Ambassador the galley is open around the clock.

Ambassador Green: Thank you Captain.

Howard walks away into the bridge.

Act 1 Scene 4b

Narrator:  Aboard the Norg space craft carrying Ambassador Xenn to meet the humans, Admiral Trill announces their true mission to the crew.

Admiral Trill: You are all here to obey my commands without question.

Admiral Trill: When we meet with the human ship, we are going to invite them aboard. And when I give the word
cease them, understood?!

Crew: Yes sir!

Admiral Trill: The Emperor don't trust these humans, and has no intention honoring any agreement with those are inferior to us!

Enters Ambassador Xenn

Ambassador Xenn: What!? Admiral that isn't what the Emperor said!

Admiral Trill: A change of plans Ambassador, goes with a change of leaders.

Ambassador Xenn: This is treason! Who gave the order to cease these humans?

Admiral Trill: Emperor Nagg of course, well soon to be emperor, and you will go along with this plan or you'll or face the humans same fate!

Ambassador Xenn: Lord Nagg?!

Admiral Trill: Yes, he see the ways of our culture being corrupted by a weak emperor who seeks trade deals to inferior beings like the humans rather than
honoring our traditions,by conquering them!  He is the traitor!

Admiral Trill: Now you have a choice Ambassador, comply or we will have a metabot transformed into you, so we will have a more compliant ambassador, and you
will be put in the Brigg until we are done. Then we will eject you into space! What will it be ambassador?

Ambassador Xenn: One of these days Trill you and Nagg will pay!

Admiral Trill: Id hope you be more willing to cooperate but since you are not in the spirit of compliance at least you will be in body.

Admiral Trill: Cease him!

two guards take hold of Ambassador Xenn, while a metabot enters the room and walks up to him.
and transform itself into the likeness of Ambassador Xenn.

Admiral Trill: See Ambassador, a more cooperative Ambassador. Guards take him to the Brigg until were done.

Two serpent dragon like guards assorts the real Ambassador Xenn to the Brigg..

Ambassador Xenn: You wont get away with this Trill! Or Nagg that matter!

Scene 5

Captain Howard: Nothing to worry about huh? Wonder if she ever heard of the expression beware of Greeks bearing gift.

Ambassador Green enters the bridge in time to over hear the captains comments.

Ambassador Green: Yes I have actually Captain. And I don't think that comment appropriate do you captain?

Communication Officer: Sirs! We just got a hail from the Nrog vessel, they say their carrying the Norg Ambassador, and are inviting us to join them aboard their ship
for dinner.

Ambassador Green: Well now captain nothing to worry about a simple meet and greet, and we are on our way to meet the empire.

Captain Howard: Mame, I don't like it, it just don't feel right, its sort of like being asked out to dinner from someone you just met.

Ambassador Green: Capitan you have to learn not all living things in this galaxy acts like we humans. The Norgs treat having dinner is like a hand shake, to refuse would be an insult.

Capitan Howard: I just hope we wont end up being dinner, ensign tell them we will be glad to attend.

End of Act 1: Written by Peter Ripley

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 3:06 AM EDT

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GOD HAS JOINED HIMSELF TO THE BIBLE

From the Truth for the World webpage

Many people deny the Bible is the Word of God, God's revelation of Himself to us, but many others have clearly seen the overwhelming evidence. We must respect it, obey it, and see it as the singular standard of authority for our lives. As we apply it to our lives and live it as we should, then we enjoy peace, comfort, and the hope of eternal life.

Everything depends upon our attitude toward the Word of God. Do we view it as the Word of Almighty God? Clearly there are passages that tell us Jesus intended for His Word, the Word of God, to endure for all time to come. In Matthew 24:35, Jesus says, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." Peter writes in I Peter 1:25, ""Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." In 2 Tim. 3:16,17, the apostle Paul affirms, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." Nothing is left out; everything we need is furnished through the Word of God.

There really is no comparison between the Bible and other writings. The works of Homer have come down to us in 20 modern languages, Tolstoy's work in 40 languages, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress lives today in 118 languages. But, the Bible, in whole or in part, has been translated in over 1300 languages and dialects. The French philosopher, Voltaire, predicted that, in less than 100 years from his time, Christianity itself would have passed into history. Well, the house in which he lived was later a depot for the Geneva Bible Society, and it was said that his old printing press was actually used to print Bibles. Voltaire was wrong, because Jesus was right when He said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."

These words have been written about the Bible: "It has weathered all the storms of hate. It has withstood all the thunderbolts of wrath. It has triumphed over the edicts of tyranny. It has endured all the anathemas of infidelity. It has conquered all the gnawing teeth of time. It has outlived, out-lifted, out-looked, out-loved, out reached, out ranked, and out-blessed all other books."

But the Bible has it's critics—those who have leveled, and continue to level, attacks against it, yet, without foundation. Let us look at some of the great truths of the inspiration of the Word of God, the inspiration of the Bible. Each of these points will begin with a "P" and, hopefully, will be easy for us to remember. The arguments will clearly tell us God has joined Himself to this book. It's His book, His word. He inspired the writing of it through His Holy Spirit.

PREPARATION. How can there be such unity and harmony in the word of God, considering that it was written over a period of some 1500 years by more than 40 different men? Well, it was all orchestrated or directed by the inspiration of Almighty God.

We might liken that to a block of stone from which 40 different sculptors each took away a piece. Each would work on his piece for a time; and, then, when all the pieces were brought back together, they formed a beautiful statue, a great work of art. How could that be done? The only way would be to have someone masterminding it, according to a pattern or a plan that had been given them.

That's exactly what we have with the Bible. We have Someone masterminding its preparation. We have the Master of the Universe, the God of Heaven, through the Holy Spirit, inspiring the 40 or so writers of this book over a period of 1500 years to write it just as God wanted it written, with perfect harmony, absolute unity, and with a great theme of redemption, or the salvation, of mankind, through, ultimately, the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Oh, what preparation has gone into the producing of this book, and how it speaks to the inspiration of every page, of every word, recorded by the inspiration of God, thus, completely accurate in every way!

PEOPLE The people depicted in the Word say something about the inspiration of this Book. When man is writing about a great person, he tends to gloss over the inadequacies or the wrongs of that great man, but not the Bible. It depicts both the good and the bad qualities of its characters with complete and absolute fairness and objectivity, as no other book would do. Think of the great king of old, David, one who was called "the man after God's own heart." He was a great man, yet, he sinned. His sins are pointed out. His shortcomings are set forth in fairness and objectivity. Such is the case with every character depicted in the Bible. Man would not write a book in this way, but the people depicted in the Bible show it is written by the inspiration of God.

PROPHECIES How many prophecies there are that are fulfilled in the greatest detail in the Bible! Many Old Testament prophesies are fulfilled in complete detail in the New Testament. We see the principle of the fulfillment of prophesy and that it shows God is the author of the book in Isaiah 41:21-23. God, writing through the prophet, says, "Present your case," says the LORD. "Bring forth your strong reasons," says the King of Jacob. "Let them bring forth and show us what will happen; Let them show the former things, what they were, That we may consider them, And know the latter end of them; Or declare to us things to come. Show the things that are to come hereafter, That we may know that you are gods; Yes, do good or do evil, That we may be dismayed and see it together."

In other words, in challenging false prophets, or false gods, God says through His prophet Isaiah, "You predict the future. You show us the things that are to come. Let this be clear evidence that you have divine power." They could not do so, but God has done so. Prophecy is a tremendously powerful proof of the inspiration of the Word of God. It's interesting this same prophet Isaiah could mention a man by the name of Cyrus, King of Persia, call him by name as the one who would ultimately issue the decree that would allow God's people to return from Babylonian Captivity under the Persian reign. When did he mention Cyrus by name? More than 100 years before Cyrus was ever born! How could it have been done? Only by the inspiration of God. Hundreds of prophecies relating to Jesus Christ are made in the Old Testament and fulfilled in minute detail in the New.

The Bible makes statements concerning science, geography, or medicine that could not have been made, other than by the inspiration of God, because these statements reveal things not known until hundreds or thousands of years later. This is called scientific foreknowledge. In Leviticus 17:11, Moses says, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul." Blood has always been important in God's scheme of redemption. There were animal sacrifices made under the old covenant that pointed to the ultimate shedding of the precious blood of Jesus Christ, which would take away the sins of the world [as we respond and are obedient to the teachings of the Gospel].

How could Moses have known the life of the flesh is in the blood? Haven't we always known the life of the flesh is in the blood, that if we drain the blood from the body we die? No. In fact, in one point in our history, during the time George Washington, the "father of our country," lived, bloodletting was still practiced. It was believed that by letting out the blood, one let out the disease. Of course, this was not true, but George Washington was bled to death in the process. It was not helpful, but harmful. How, did Moses say "the life of the flesh is in the blood," when we really didn't understand that concept for hundreds upon hundreds of years thereafter? By the inspiration of God.

In Job 26:7, the writer says, "He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing." How did the ancient writer of Job know that God has hung the earth upon nothing, that it is suspended by gravitational forces? Have we always known that? Certainly not. We have had fanciful ideas such as Atlas' supporting this earth on his strong shoulders, or the earth's swimming in a cosmic sea on the back of a giant turtle—neither idea very scientific and both certainly false. How did the writer of Job so long ago say the Lord hangs the earth upon nothing? By inspiration, and only by inspiration.

PRESERVATION. The fact the Bible has been preserved down through time, despite it's attackers and critics, despite those who would have set it aside, despite those who predicted it would never last, is a proof of its inspiration. How has it survived? How has it been preserved? Through the providence of Almighty God. We don't have the original manuscripts of the Bible, but we don't need the original manuscripts. More than 5,000 copies of the New Testament are available and have been compared, so that we can know with absolute certainty the text we have of the Word of God is truly accurate.

Why was it preserved as it was? Why has it come down through generation after generation as it has? Because, Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but my word shall not pass away." God, in His providence, has preserved for us down through time accurate translations of His inspired Word given to the original writers, that we might know with certainty there is abundant proof for the validity, the accuracy, the genuineness of the Bible text we have. Without question, there is more manuscript evidence for this book than any other great book written by mere man.

PRODUCT The product of the Word is a pure life of peace, the result of a complete transformation that can only come through obedience to the inherently powerful, inspired Word. Paul urged the Roman Christians to continue to transform their lives by feeding upon the Word of God. He commended the Ephesian elders to the Word of God, which is "able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."

As H. L. Hastings put it, "There are men who study philosophy, astronomy, geology, geography, and mathematics. But, did you ever hear a man say 'I was an outcast, a wretched inebriate, a disgrace to my race, and a nuisance in the world, until I began to study mathematics, and learned the multiplication tables...since that time I have been happy as the day is long. I feel like singing all the time. My soul is full of triumph, and peace and health and blessing have come to my desolate home once more'?"

The Word of God will cause one to say, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).The word of God will cause me to say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7,8). The Word of God will cause me to say that I look forward to the heavenly home of the soul as a result of my sweet and continual obedience to the word of God, which is able to build me up and to give me an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

For Further Information Contact:

Truth For The World
P.O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096-0065
e-mail: info@tftw.org 

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 11:46 AM EDT

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The following article is taken from the Truth for the World:

GOD HAS JOINED HIMSELF TO JESUS

Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. He came forth from Heaven itself. He was equal with God but came to earth as the Son of God, lived, died, and was raised from the dead for the salvation of all mankind.

Many believe in God but deny that Jesus is His Son. We cannot accept the fact that God is, but at the same time deny Christ is His Son. One cannot come to God and be pleasing to God, except by Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." We cannot come to God in obedience without coming through Jesus Christ.

The PROMISE of God. The fact that Jesus came to this earth was not an after-thought. It was not an accident. God promised to send His Son to bring about the forgiveness of sins for all who will avail themselves of the Gospel plan. Many of the Old Testament writers prophesied of His coming, clearly showing that God always intended to join Himself to Christ, that Christ was to be the culmination of God's plan for saving man.

In Genesis 3, we read that Satan, who had taken the form of the serpent, deceived Eve, who, in turn, caused her husband to eat of the forbidden fruit. Thus, man fell into sin and, by doing so, separated Himself from fellowship with God. But, God, in His mercy and love, began a plan and set forth a promise in Genesis 3:15, ultimately to be fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the one who would make possible the reconciliation of man to God. He said to the serpent, "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel." That was the first promise that God would send Jesus Christ. He would come forth from the tomb after His crucifixion, and, in doing so, He would deal a fatal blow to Satan. The minor blow (the bruise to the heel) Satan would give Christ would be the crucifixion. Satan would think that, in bringing about the crucifixion of Christ, he had won the victory, but that would only be a minor blow. In coming forth from the grave, Jesus would foil Satan's plan and would deliver a fatal head wound to Satan.

In Genesis 4 is recorded the first worship experience seen with Cain and Abel. In that worship to God, the sacrifice was to be a lamb, the firstling of the flock, and Abel pleased God by making that offering. In that offering we have a picture of Christ, who would ultimately be "the Lamb of God," as John said in John 1:29, "who takes away the sins of the world." God was unfolding His plan. He set it in motion by requiring the animal sacrifices, the firstlings of the flock. The lamb Abel offered prefigured, or pointed toward the time when the ultimate Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, would shed His blood to bring about forgiveness of sins. The blood of bulls and goats in animal sacrifices was only typical of the blood that had to be shed ultimately on the cross to save us from sin, the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God.

In Genesis 5, we see the genealogy of Christ, the line of people through which Jesus ultimately would come. In Genesis 6 God reveals to us the principles of redemption that would ultimately be realized in Christ. When God would destroy the world by flood because of the wickedness of mankind, God showed grace to Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous, obedient man. We see Noah's faith, and the principles by which God would save man are seen way back in Genesis—grace coupled with man's obedient faith.

In Genesis 12 we find God's making a promise to Abraham who was a part of the line through which the Christ would ultimately be born. We read in Genesis 12:1-3, "Now the LORD had said to Abram: 'Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'" This was not only a promise to Abraham to make of his seed, or his descendants, a great nation (the nation of Israel), but it also contained the promise of a Savior Who would ultimately come and through Whom all nations of the earth would be blessed spiritually, because of the sacrifice of the sinless Son of God.

As part of this plan and the unfolding of it ,God gave Israel a law—the Law of Moses, also at times called the Law of God, or just the Law. But this law was to point the way to Jesus Christ. It was not intended to be a permanent covenant but a temporary covenant. It had its specific purpose and design. It was to point out the sinfulness of sin and to show how much man needed a savior, so that he would be prepared, hopefully, to receive Christ when He ultimately came. Many of the Jews took the Law and cherished it to the point that they refused to see it was simply a temporary law to be changed when Christ came. They changed its purpose. They added their traditions to it and became so tied to the Law they would not give it up when Christ came to give the new Law, His law. But we must keep in mind that this Law of Moses which God gave to Israel was simply to show the need for a perfect sacrifice to redeem, or to save the people. The Law of Moses was temporary.

In Romans 10:4, the apostle Paul tells us that Christ was the very purpose for the Law, the end of the law. The very purpose of the law, in other words, was to point men to the Savior, Jesus Christ. Colossians 2:14 also shows the law was temporary and that it was to last only until Christ came to die on Calvary and give us His new Law, the New Testament. There Paul writes, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross." We could not be perfectly justified by the law of Moses. It was necessary that Christ shed His blood and bring into existence His Law, the Law of faith, by which man, by the grace of God, through his obedient faith in Christ, could be saved.

Many other passages show the contrast between the Law of Moses (which was temporary and to lead us to Christ) and the Law of Christ which is also called "faith", or "the system of faith". In Galatians 3:23-25, we have another passage that is a critical passage to this point: "But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor." The law of Christ went into effect after the death of the one who made the testament, and that is Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews makes that argument in Hebrews 9:15-17.

Another key passage is Hebrews 1:1-3. There the writer clearly shows that it is Christ to Whom we give our obedience now: "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," The writer clearly says that in time past God spoke by the prophets in various ways; but now, at the end of this time, in the last days, the Christian dispensation, He has spoken unto us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The Old Testament, the Law of Moses, is not the law under which we live today. We live under the Law of Christ, the system of faith. But one might ask, "What then is the value of the Old Testament?" The Old Testament is inspired of God, and it contains more than just the Law of Moses, so its value is tremendous to us. We really could not understand the New Testament if it were not for the Old Testament.

What we need to appreciate is that the Law of Moses itself has been taken out of the way, nailed to the cross, and we serve under the law of Christ. We can't serve under two laws at the same time. When a constitution of a nation, for example, is changed (the system of government is changed), then that newer system obviously takes precedence over the old. The same is true with the law of Christ. It takes precedence over the old law, which served its purpose and then was taken out of the way.

The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 15:4, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope." The Old Testament writings are of tremendous value. Many of the principles contained in the Old Testament writings are eternal principles, and the examples recorded there are valuable to us today. Where do we learn of God's creation? In the book of Genesis, a part of the Old Testament. There are examples of obedience and disobedience, prophecies pointing to Christ—all of these are in the Old Testament and are of tremendous importance and value. They are inspired of God.

The Law of Moses given to Israel was for a temporary period of time throughout their generation. It does not have application to us today because Jesus came to fulfill that Law, to take it out of the way, nailing it to His cross. Thus, we are no longer under that Law.

PROPHECIES clearly tell us that God has joined Himself to Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet says, "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." In Isaiah 9:6,7, the prophet tells us, "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." Isaiah 53 prophesies of Christ's suffering, of His humiliation and death upon the cross. Micah 5:2 prophesies Christ's birth in Bethlehem Ephrathah. There were two Bethlehems in Christ's time and the prophet specified one, exactly where Christ was born. John the baptizer is spoken of as the forerunner of Christ by the prophet Malachi, in Malachi 3:1. The resurrection of Christ is clearly foretold in passages such as Psalms 16:10. In fact, there are over 300 prophecies about the birth, life, the ministry, the death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The PERSON of Christ . God and Christ were joined. Jesus was on earth carrying out the mission of the Father. In John 1:2-34, Jesus is described as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." John 1:1 tells us Christ was with the Father before the world began. In John 2, we see the all-knowing nature of Christ. John 3:16 gives the golden text of the Bible, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." In John 8:41, 42, 56-58, it is clear that Jesus came from God, that He was eternally present with God the Father. John 10:30 simply states, "I and my Father are one."

We must become one with God and Christ to have hope of eternal life. We become one with God and Christ, and we are added to the one church, the New Testament church, by belief in Christ, repentance of sin, confession of the name of Christ, and burial in baptism for the forgiveness of our sins.

For Further Information Contact:

Truth For The World
P.O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096-0065
e-mail: info@tftw.org

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 11:04 AM EDT

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CHRIST: OUR HOPE

From the Truth for the World webpage

The world places hope in the wrong things. Jesus is our hope to overcome our sins. He is also our hope to overcome worry and anxiety. He is the central figure of the Bible. It is amazing that preachers spend so little time preaching about Jesus Christ. Some hardly mention Him. Week after week, they attempt to correct the problems of the church, and often it is the case that Christ is not mentioned. As one good man said, "The members take their beating and go home." But, please consider that Christ is our only hope.

CHRIST IS OUR HOPE FOR SALVATION. The angel said: "You shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Nobody can save himself. After we have done all things commanded, we are still unprofitable servants (Luke 17:10). Paul wrote, "Salvation is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (2 Timothy 2:10). Jesus said, "The Son of man came to seek and save that which is lost" (Luke 19:10). "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).

What is Christ to you? An old preacher once said: "This audience is too generous. Those on the front pews pass the message back to those on the next pew, and so on to the back row, and they pass it out the door." But someone says: "Christ is all the world to me," or "He is my Saviour," or "He is my everything." Others feel that "Christ means nothing to me; I have no part or lot with Him; or I am not interested."

Christ must first be our Saviour. The gift of God is eternal life through Christ (Romans 6:23b). This was never said before of any prophet, priest, or king. He is our Saviour because He is willing to save and desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). He came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) and invites all men to come unto Him (Matthew 11:28-30).

Christ can save to the uttermost those who come to God by Him (Hebrews 7:25). He is not our Saviour simply because He can save, but the sinner must come to Him in order to be saved. He stands at the door and knocks, but everyone must open to Him (Revelation 3:20). There is salvation in no other name than that of Christ, but all must accept Him (Acts 4:12). Each one is responsible for his own salvation (Acts 2:40).

CHRIST IS OUR DELIVERER FROM SIN AND DEATH. Without Him we can do nothing. He knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and provides the way of escape (2 Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 10:13). Everyone desiring salvation should feel as the apostle Paul. Temptations to him were strong, but he said: "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God--through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 7:18-25)! Have we felt the same? Can we answer as did Paul? Christ died to deliver here and hereafter (Galatians 1:4).

Nobody can deliver himself alone. God took thousands of years to teach the Jews and the world that they could not save themselves. When David defeated Goliath, he did not depend upon himself, but upon the living God (1 Samuel 17:32). We can overcome the giants of temptation with the Lord's help (Philippians 4:13). Thus, Jesus is our Saviour from the bondage of sin.

JESUS IS OUR HOPE FOR ETERNITY. This should give great comfort to those who believe in Him. Jesus told His sorrowing disciples: "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:1-3). Some day He will come in the clouds of Heaven and gather His faithful home with Him to be in Heaven forevermore (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Peter 1:4). Paul said that "if our earthly tabernacle is dissolved, we have a building from God, eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1).

Christ is the Way, and any who go to the Father must go through Him (John 14:6). In order to know how to be a real Christian, look at Him. Philippians 2:5 says, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." This means to have the same spirit or disposition of heart that characterized the Christ, Who never sought to please Himself, but always sought to do the will of the Father (Romans 15:3; John 4:34; John 6:38).

Some object, saying: "But one preacher differs from another in what the way is, so how can I know the way?" The Bible does not say to follow the preacher, unless he follows Christ as Paul did (1 Corinthians 11:1). Christ went through the world and made the way and sent the apostles to reveal all things and record them (John 16:13-15; 1 Corinthians 2:9-13; 2 Timothy 2:2). One is a Christian only to the extent he follows the instructions of the Christ recorded in the New Testament. Besides the accounts of the life of Christ, there are fourteen books that teach us how to follow Him. Someone correctly said: "Christianity is the life of Jesus Christ, so that our thoughts, feelings, purposes, words, and deeds are like His." Christ is the light of life, and those that follow Him shall not walk in darkness (John 8:12).

For Further Information Contact:

Truth For The World
P.O. Box 5048
Duluth, GA 30096-0065
e-mail: info@tftw.org   
     

Posted by blacksvirtualplanet at 10:41 AM EDT

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