THE HARBINGER

Israel was established the war through the guidance and sovereign will of God.  Lev ch. 18 tells them in order to keep the land would be contingent on their obedience to God's word.  America like wise was established through war by people who were seeking to establish a country based upon the word of God based upon the new testament and the teachings of Jesus Christ.  That being the case we seem to have strayed far away from our original commitment just as Israel did.  Israel lost their land because they wanted to be and live as the pagans who do not God lived.
Here are some thoughts about the book the harbinger that many people have and are deeply concerned about for America.

Question: "Does The Harbinger really predict America’s future?"

Answer: The book The Harbinger: the Ancient Mystery that holds the secret of America's Future by Messianic Jewish Rabbi Jonathan Cahn has been a best-seller and has sparked controversy and much discussion. There is no question as to Cahn’s passion about alerting his fellow countrymen to the spiritual, economic, and moral dangers that the United States faces. But is Cahn’s interpretation of the book of Isaiah correct, and are those Old Testament prophecies applicable to modern-day America?

The back cover of the book clearly labels the book as “FICTION / Suspense,” and the line following the copyright page says, “What you are about to read is presented in the form of a story…” The rest of that sentence is ambiguous: “… but what is contained within the story is real.” If the author is saying that the book’s content is a real message from God to the USA, then it is important to examine his view of the meaning of biblical prophecy.

The story’s opening dialogue reads, “An ancient mystery that holds the secret to America’s future.” This attention-getting assertion is made by the story’s narrator and lead character, journalist Nouriel Kaplan. Kaplan is attempting to persuade Ana Goren, a media executive, to publish information that Kaplan believes will affect the economic, political, military, moral, and spiritual future of the United States. Even though Cahn presents this information in a fictional vehicle, he asserts that it is “real.” Is it?

In the story, a nameless prophet meets Kaplan on a number of occasions, giving him information about how recent events, including the World Trade Center terrorist attacks of 9/11, the housing boom, the war in Iraq, the 2008 collapse of Wall Street, etc., were predicted specifically by the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. The prophet leads Kaplan to understand that Isaiah not only warned his own nation (Israel) about the danger of abandoning God but, in a mysterious way, also predicted America’s contemporary events.

In drawing parallels between Israel and America, Cahn asserts several things: first, that America was founded on a covenant with God as much as Israel was. Second, that America is being released from God’s protection to suffer the consequences of having marginalized Him. Third, that Isaiah predicted all of this.

Cahn’s prophet in the book tells Kaplan that each of the key American events since September 11, 2001, is a harbinger of America’s coming fall; each disaster is another warning from God for America to return to Him. Cahn’s point, couched as it is in a fictional narrative, is that, unless the U.S. changes course, it will suffer the same fate as the ancient nations. That is, God will allow America’s enemies, external and internal, to bring it down. Cahn sees evidence for his claim in the words of Isaiah 9.

Cahn identifies Isaiah 9:8–10 as revealing the main harbinger of coming disaster: “The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel. All the people will know it—Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—who say with pride and arrogance of heart, ‘The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.’” In the original context, God is expressing His anger at Israel over their refusal to repent from their idolatry. Even after receiving God’s discipline in the form of several disasters, the nation of Israel hurled their defiance at God Himself. To paraphrase Israel’s words, they said, “God, You may have allowed our enemies to damage our city, but we will rebuild it even stronger.” This was conscious and deliberate rebellion against God. The Israel of Isaiah’s day would not bow to God, not even under His rod.

Cahn’s prophet in The Harbinger quotes government leaders using similarly defiant words following the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Since U.S. leaders used the words, “We will rebuild” and expressed a “spirit of defiance,” Cahn applies God’s angry words in Isaiah 9 to America. The problem with this interpretation is that when America’s leaders vowed to rebuild the World Trade Center, they were not defying God but the terrorists who demolished it. Israel was defying both their human enemies and God. Cahn’s linking of the two nations with the same prophecy is unfair. The principle behind Isaiah’s prophecy—that judgment may befall any nation that forsakes God—could be applied to America. It may be a fascinating coincidence that Isaiah mentions fallen bricks. The book may be exciting to read. But it is faulty Bible interpretation to take a prophecy clearly meant for Israel and make the details pertain to modern-day America.

Cahn does not claim in his book to be a prophet. Neither does he claim to have received the message of his story directly from God. He writes as a teacher, putting into the mouth of Kaplan what he understands to be both the original and the contemporary meanings of Isaiah’s prophecy. Cahn does not claim that Isaiah uses the name America or the United States in his prophecies. He does not even claim that Isaiah had a dual fulfillment of his prophecies in mind. Cahn’s apparent purpose in his book is to spin a convincing yarn and persuade readers of a real danger America faces in light of Cahn’s understanding of how Israel’s situation in 600–500 BC applies to America’s current situation.

In the book, Cahn creates a fictional means of revealing prophecy from God—clay seals, such as were used to hold impressed signatures on official documents. In The Harbinger, the prophet gives Kaplan a set of nine such seals. Each seal supposedly represents a national event in Israel’s history—a harbinger that warned of final collapse and dispersion into the surrounding pagan nations—as well as a current event in America, heralding ultimate doom if America does not repent.

Cahn connects each seal with a serious American event in the decade following September 11, 2001, and with an object or an event in Israel’s history. Since Cahn is writing fiction, he is free to manufacture not only clay seals but coincidences. His creative way of identifying the coincidences is both fascinating and convincing, as far as the story goes. He sees in the coincidences a pattern of God’s warnings to both His chosen nation, Israel, and the U.S. Each seal and its related dire event are harbingers of ultimate doom. America is being warned to turn back to God.

Persuasive preaching about a real need, yes; accurate interpretation of a Bible text, no. The problem is that Israel is the only nation with whom God has made a covenant, through Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3). America is not Israel.

If you read The Harbinger, remember that only time can reveal the validity of what claims to be prophecy from God (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). And, even though the book may use some faulty interpretations, do not close your heart to Cahn’s essential message. He is right that America needs to repent. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). The United States of America very likely will meet the same fate as ancient Israel if its people do not repent. Americans need to give their hearts to God and exercise faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. To that end we should pray.

Recommended Resources: The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery that Holds the Secret of America's Future by Jonathan Cahn and Logos Bible Software.

THE EFFECT OF ADAM’S FALL

                                                                   the effect of ADAM'S fall

   We only know the universe after the fall of man.

The federal view states that we are judged guilty for Adam’s SIN BECAUSE he was our fair and just representative. From another angle as our representative he simply carried out my wishes.  The first Adam was a man of earthly origin and represented man and did the will of man The second Adam was a man of heavenly origin who represented God and did the will of God. Jesus carried out God's wishes. on the other HAND, Adam carried out our wishes.

The whole world was imputed with Adam's sin and condemned to die.

Paul argues this in Romans 5 by demonstrating that people died from "Adam to MOSES, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come" (v. 14, ESV). They died, even though they lived before the law was given, and even though "sin is not counted where there is no law" (v. 13, ESV). In other words, they were condemned and died on the basis of one sin committed by one human being, Adam.  That being true, then the whole human race is either in Adam or in Christ there can be no other options I COR 15: 22.

Pelagian View; People incur death when they sin after Adam's example. Sin affected Adam alone. No one is affected by Adam's sin.

Augustinian View; Depravity is total; sin and guilt are imputed, Humanity sinned in Adam.

                                                              The myth theory of the Fall.

Holds that there was no factual, historical fall. Adam and Eve are not considered historical persons. They are mythological symbols drawn to explain or represent the problem of man’s corruption. The story of the fall in the Bible is a kind of parable; it teaches a moral lesson.

There never was an Adam; there never was an Eve. The very structure of the story suggests a parable or myth because it includes such elements as a talking serpent and such obviously symbolic objects as the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

The myth points to a higher reality: Every person has his own private fall. Sin is a universal human condition precisely because every person succumbs to his own private temptation. Everyone commits sin; no one is perfect it's that simple and reasonable or so they say. In this scheme, my fallenness is a direct result of my own fall, not of someone else’s.

This view suffers no big problem from certain theories of evolution or from scientific disputes about the nature of creation.

Adam's sin brought out the nature of god IN A WAY that without it we never would have known god IN a personal way.  We never would have known that there was such a thing as sin.  We never would have known that forgiveness even existed.  We never would have understood what love is if we did not know what hate was.  Did our first parents do us a favor?  Was this great sin necessary?  Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery under the law of Moses demanded the death penalty see exodus 21: 16.  But didn't this just turn out to be a good thing years later?

The greatest most spectacular sin ever committed was the murder of Jesus BY HIS OWN PEOPLE

 what THIS SIN brought about WAS the most spectacular event in human history. ACTS 3: 14, 15

The greatest crime in the history of the world Brought about the greatest event that the world will ever know.

In the same way that all of Adam’s offspring would be condemned to death the offspring of the rejecting Jews would suffer the same fate as their forefathers rejection of him would also be their fate.

The question is how far Adam fell if he went over a cliff and fell halfway down was he still able to figure this thing out with his own mind?  Or did he fall the way down, meaning that He was not completely dead but badly injured.  Thomas Aquinas rejected total depravity in that it was still possible for man I think his way to god. 

BUT did he fall all the way to the bottom and BECOME completely dead in his mind and conscience AND defiled?

What we really need from God is more than just pardon, but a sense that God loves and accepts us and would never lose US even if he was not too impressed with what he had on his hands.

Romans 5; 16 what Paul wants us to know what Adam did to us cannot be compared to what Christ did for us.  Christ can wipe out what Adam did to us but Adam cannot reverse what Christ gives to us.  Adam is dead and has no power.

Luke10; 1 Matt 10; 5- Acts 10 acts 13; 46 

 “Easy believism” is a somewhat derogatory term used by opponents of the view that one needs only to believe in Jesus in order to be saved. From this they conclude that those who hold to sola fide (faith alone) are saying that no corresponding need exists for a committed life of Christian discipleship as proof of salvation, but this is not true. Those who use the term easy believism are confusing justification—the one-time act of being declared righteous by God—with sanctification—the lifelong process by which the justified believer is conformed to the image of Christ. Those who call salvation by faith "easy believism" miss the fact that true conversion will always result in sanctification and a life of good works. Much of this debate is unnecessary and is based on a misunderstanding of the Scriptures. The Bible is clear that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The essence of this doctrine is found in Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” this is a full understanding of the gospel. Adam did not ask to be born but after he was born or created he was put into a position to make a choice.  Why was this we may ask; one answer to that question is was TO PROVE that freedom of choice  will never choose god.  This is why when Adam was born or created he had no choice.  Now this being true it is STILL questionable to a lot of evangelicals.  After all we make choices every single day of our lives.                                   

                                                                                     What about free choice

Adam did not ASK to be born he had no choice.  After he was born he was HAD to make a choice, and surely was not caught by surprise when the ATE of the forbidden fruit HE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD the consequences. I TIM 2: 14.  Was free choice given to Adam to show that free choice will always choose the opposite of what God says?

Which is most correct I came to Christ or Christ came to me?  Or could it be both?  Lots of questions demands lots of answers. PERHAPS SETTLING FOR AN ANTINOMY IS THE BEST ANSWER.  This is my view, I have no choice (LOL).

HOW RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO BE?

To put it another way, how much truth do you need to satisfy God? When a crowd of people asked Jesus, "What shall we do that we may do the works of God," Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He sent." He said nothing about good citizenship, doing good works, or law-keeping. He made none of the important things above a requirement to be in a right relationship with God. (John 6:28, 29) Is trust in Him enough truth to satisfy God and give us an entrance into the presence of God and spend eternal bliss with Him? If that is all we need to be right at least from God's frame of reference, then the question that begs to be answered is why the Bible is filled with so many instructions and commands with no hint of any suggestions. It's do it or die; the Ten Commandments are not ten suggestions.

Adam had one chance to get one command right; his eating of the forbidden fruit plunged the human race into sin and death. (ROM 5: 12) Adam was not deceived; he knew the consequences and chose death. (I TIM 2: 14) Adam chose to not keep the command given him and died in spirit that same day. Even though he being dead in spirit lived in the flesh for 935 years, he was a dead man walking and producing spiritually dead offspring. Paul compares Adam's disobedience with the obedience of Christ to keep perfectly all that God commanded us. (ROM 5: 18) Paul put it this way in I COR 15: 22, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive." A reading of Romans chapter five is essential to understanding that there are only two races of people that populate the earth; one to everlasting life, the other to everlasting shame and contempt. (Daniel 12: 2)

To be in Christ is to have His righteousness imputed to us. Christ fulfilled the requirements of the law, so through faith in Him we have met the demands of the law. (Romans 10: 4)

MARTIN LUTHER
Luther held that all good works of man are sin. Those who are regenerate still sin constantly.

Faith in Christ is identical with entire devotion and renunciation of all self-righteousness and surrender of all self-will. From faith are the strength, impulse, and delight to do good.

WHO FIRES THE FIRST SHOT?
The real truth of who fires the first shot has long been and will forever be debated. Is it God who first seeks out His elect, or do we become elect upon an action our of free-will? The question remains, "Who is the chooser and who is the choosey?" The term elect is synonymous with "choose and chosen." These terms always imply differentiation whether the action is taken on God's part or granted as a privilege on the part of men. That God initiates a response (fires the first shot) through the presenting of the Gospel should not come into question. The mission of the church is to preach the gospel to all people in all parts of the world without prejudice to race or gender. Who fires the first shot in some portions of scripture is clear that God's sovereignty is absolute. Still we find in other portions of scripture that the preponderance of free-will is self evident.

The combination of divine intervention and the responsibility of all men to accept or reject Him are clearly seen in John 6: 37-44. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, it is clear that God's rule over all His creation is supreme. If God is supreme, then we must not limit Him in believing that He cannot grant "whosoever will may come." The last chapter in the last book of the Bible closes with, "whoever wishes let him take the free gift of the water of life." (Rev 22:17b)

HOW RIGHT DO WE HAVE TO BE ON THIS CONTROVERSY?
This is a centuries old debate that many great Bible scholars past and present have taken opposite positions on. The subject of God's sovereign choice and man's responsibility to respond to salvation through Jesus Christ is designed for study, debate, and discussion. It is through this process that we learn more about the sovereignty of God and His never-ending love for us. The Bible is filled with the knowledge of God's selection and His supreme authority over His creation. On the other hand, the Bible has lot of "whosoever" and" if anyone" in it. This points to free-will choice not to just some, but to all of God's creation. How right do we have to be on this controversy starts with the church obeying the command to take the gospel to all of God's creation and let God convict the hearts of the hearers of His Word.

The study of the sovereignty of God should never be entered into as a curiosity, but as a means of building a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father. Whatever you conclude on this subject starts with knowing where to begin. This subject requires a lot of time and study in both the Old and New Testament, so don't look for quick easy answers. Discovering the role that God has given us in His plan of redemption is what we need to be right about.

PSALM 119: 96, "I HAVE SEEN AN END OF ALL PERFECTION BUT THY COMMANDMENT IS EXCEEDINGLY BROAD."

I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE

Did you ever wish that you lived in a different time - in history past?  Did you ever think you would like to have been there when dinosaurs walked the earth?  Or have you wished you were part of the great reformation that took place in Europe?  Maybe you wish you could have been there when Jesus walked the earth.  Then this is just for you!

Matt 13:16, 17, “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many Prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” Old Testament saints looked to the future, knowing that at some time in the future the Messiah would come. They wished they could have been there. I look back to the past and say, “I wish I could have been there.”

Acts 17: 26, 27, “From one man He made every nation of men, that should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out to Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.”

GOD’S TIMING IS A MYSTERY (Rom 11: 33)
Why am I a twenty-first century man? I did not choose to be here at this time. I am not overly excited about living in the twenty-first century, even though I know God put me here for this time. Still I have a lot of “I wish I could have been theres.”

I love history! The past is my passion, even to the point of obsession. How did I end up in a century that is filled with gadgets, computers, television, along with a mile-long list of other idle distractions? Except for watching the Super Bowl, I have no interest in twenty-first century entertainment.

I am an unpublished writer, not by trade, but by passion. I began writing for a company paper at work with the offer of total autonomy. It was an offer I could not refuse. I write about the past, seldom about the present or the future. Writing requires a lot of time; you live in world of solitude, a lot of coffee, and spending time pacing the floor. My interest in the past is what happened, who made it happen, and how it affected the future. God determined the time and exact places for all generations, so I acquiesce to His wisdom.

One way or another in our appointed century, we all play a role that affects the future; therefore, no one should be considered meaningless. Still as I look back in history, I think "I wish I could have been there" when God brought Eve to Adam. He had never seen a woman before because there was no such thing. I would love to have seen his initial reaction; she was a gift from God. I wonder if he said what is it, or did he think she was the most beautiful woman in the world?

I wish I could have been there when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, just to see the shock and terror that left them speechless. (Genesis 45: 4) His brothers' treachery in selling him into slavery in the past caught up to them in the future.

Most of all, I wish I could have been there during the time Jesus walked the earth. Thank God, we have the New Testament to take us back in time; a journey back to the time of Jesus. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell us what happened, and who made it happen. The Bible, like no other book, puts us at the scene of history in the making. His crucifixion, His death, His burial and His resurrection were events that changed and shaped the future of the world.

Reading the Bible takes us from the twenty-first century on a journey back through the centuries to the time of what happened and who made it happen. We're all headed toward the future; the past keeps getting further away, while the future keeps getting closer and closer. The future is a race toward the end of our appointed time on earth.

The uniqueness of the Bible is that it was written to all generations, and therefore cannot be outdated or cast off as a relic of the past. (Ps 119:89, 90)
What Jesus Christ did in the past secures eternal life for all who put their trust in Him. For Old Testament believers, Messiah would come in the future. (Heb 11:13-16) For New Testament believers, that Messiah came in the past to save sinners past, present, and future. (I Tim 1: 15)

I was not there when God brought Eve to Adam, nor was I there when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. Walking and talking with Jesus during His earthly ministry was given to only one generation. True, I was not there, but reading the Gospel account of the life of Christ allows me to take a journey that goes back two thousand years to a place called, “I wish I could have been there.”

WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER
Because of the saving grace of Jesus Christ that was extended to me, I can say with certainty that when the roll is called up yonder, I know I will be there.John 20: 29, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

GETTING IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME - Part 1

Deut. 4:1 - Introduces the subject of taking possession of the promise land. Moses instructs the people on how to live. This was imperative that they understand God's final instructions that Moses had given them. They must get this right as the first generation so future generations could look back to reference their faithfulness to God's commands.

Deut. 4:2 - "Do not add to what I command you, and do not subject from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you."

ADDING AND SUBTRACTING

Right is conforming to the truth. Right can also be defined as correct. Math, for example, is defined as the science of numbers.

If I add 2+2, how close would I have to come to 4 before I can get a smiley face on my report card? Suppose I overshot by just one digit and answered 5? Then, again, if I answer 3 and come up one digit short, it would still be incorrect, but would that be better? Would one wrong answer be better than another wrong answer? Now if I answer that 2+2=10, I would immediately stand out as someone who does not have an understanding of math. Would anyone say, "Well, answering 2+2=3 or 5 is a lot better than 10?" All three answers are still wrong. Now before I am accused of being over simplistic with this illustration, stop and consider this. If we do not get 2+2=4 right, all mathematical equations are wrong. Would you want your house built by people who cannot get 2+2 right, or board an airplane designed by those who are off only one digit off on the infrastructure? Mathematics is so important to all developing countries that societies insist that we get it right. Coming close will only take you as far as the carwash.

ISRAEL THE LAND AND 613 LAWS

"Hey man, keeping all 613 laws under this system is a whole lot harder than doing math problems. What if I mess up and just do one wrong thing? What happens? Is it off with my head?"

"No, don't get too excited - not all the laws require the death penalty. For instance, if you steal an ox or a sheep and sell it, all you have to do is pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the one you stole. Do that, and you're back on the street."

"Yeah, the math is easy enough, but what if I don't have that kind of cash? What happens then?"

"Relax, man, you're still covered, it's not off with your head. All you have to do if you don't have the resources is sell yourself into slavery. Seven years is the most you can get; you know it's not like it's a life sentence."

"Well, I'm not a cattle rustler, so that is not a problem for me. But, I do have another problem that I am really nervous about. My girlfriend told me that her Father wants to see me this afternoon, and she said a couple of the Elders will also be there."

"So why are you nervous? You haven't done anything wrong, have you?"

"Well, her Father found out we had sex out in the cornfield last week, and I think he wants to kill me. With those two Elders there, it sounds pretty official."

"Nothing to worry about, as long as she is not married or engaged the law says he can't kill you. If he did, then he would be breaking one of the 613 commandments."

"That is really a big relief! So, I guess they will look at this as something done between consenting adults, and I'm home free, right?"

"Not exactly! This is not an 'if it feels good, do it' Democracy. Israel is a Theocracy with laws built on mutual respect for God and those around us."

"OK, so give me the bottom line, what can I expect when I get over there?"

"You better hope her Father is a nice guy, because right now he is holding all the cards. Her Father has two options. If he says that you must marry her, pay the dowry of 50 pieces of silver and you can never divorce her. That is what the Law of Moses says you must do. So you are looking at a bow-n-arrow wedding, with a lifetime bride at a cost of 50 pieces of silver.

"Do I have any options or anything to say about this?"

"No, unfortunately you left all your options in the cornfield. The whole thing is now in her Father's hands."

"So what is the second option he might choose?"

"Her Father can refuse to let her marry you, but you still have to pay the 50 pieces of silver."

"OK, what if I can't get the 50 pieces of silver, what happens then? Will I be stoned to death?"

"Not to worry, you can always go the slavery route; you would be surprised how quickly seven years go by when you are shoveling cow manure from dawn to dusk."

"There you go again with this 'you can always sell yourself into slavery' stuff. I thought Moses lead our people out of slavery. How come we still practice this barbarism?"

"Hey, man, you need to stop and think about this. In Egypt, slavery was imposed on us. Our people didn't break any laws or give cause for the Egyptians to throw us into slavery. The only way you go into slavery in Israel is to sell yourself into it. I think the idea is that it acts as a deterrent to make knuckleheads like you to stop and think about the consequences of breaking God's law."

"OK, I get the message, but it seems to me we are still slaves to Moses' Law. I thought he set us free from slavery. I just don't get it!"

"Let me see if this makes any sense to you. Moses delivered our people from slavery in Egypt and put us under strict obedience to the law. What Moses did only takes us from here to the grave, and until then we are shackled to the Law of Moses."

"Alright, Mr. Know-It-All, then we are still slaves, so what did Moses accomplish? It seems to me all he did was change the rules of slavery."

"Think about this. Our people were already slaves long before Moses came on the scene to lead us out of Egypt. It was only after the Exodus from Egypt that he gave us the law. Listen up, the law points out our disobedience to God and tells us that we are still slaves. So we are not set free by the law, but it is through the law that we are set free."

"Now let me see if I got this straight. The law was not instituted until after our people were freed from Egypt. Therefore, the law did not save them from slavery. So does that mean that the Law of Moses points to freedom?"

"Hey, you're not as dumb as you look! Moses' job does not complete God's plan of redemption. Moses tells us that a Prophet will come after him, and by one perfect sacrifice he will fulfill all the demands of the law and complete our final Emancipation."

"That's sure a lot to think about. Well, I guess I better get going over to my girlfriend's house. It's been nice talking to you. By the way, what's your name?"

"Tola, and yours?"

"Sami. I hope we can talk again sometime."

References:

Exodus 22:16-17

Deut. 18:15

Deut. 22:16-17

John 1:45

John 8:36

Rom. 3:20

Rom. 6:14

Rom. 7:1

Rom. 10:4

Gal. 2:16

Gal. 3:24-25

Heb. 10:14

CALVIN – THE INSTITUTES
"In order to remove our condemnation, it was not enough for Christ to endure just any kind of death. To obtain our ransom, it was essential to choose a type of death in which He could deliver us, both by undertaking our expiation and also by giving Himself up to condemnation.”

THE LAW, NOT LAWLESSNESS, HAD JESUS EXECUTED
“If Christ had been cut down by assassins or killed in a rebellion, there could have been no satisfaction. But when He stands as a criminal at the bar of justice and witnesses are brought to give evidence against Him, and the judge condemns Him to death, we see Him taking on the character of an offender. When Christ was led away from the judgment seat to execution and was crucified between two criminals, we have a fulfillment of the prophecy. He was numbered with the transgressors.” (Isa 53:12, Mark 15:27, 28)

WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY
“Why did it have to be this way? So that He might bear the character of a sinner, not a just or innocent person who was cut down by an assassin. The trial demonstrates the guilt that was heaped on Him. On the other hand, Pilate, who condemned Him, was forced to bear public testimony to His innocence. The same judge who condemned also declared Him innocent. So we see Christ taking on the character of a sinner and a criminal, while at the same time His innocence shines out. It becomes obvious that He is suffering for another’s crime and not His own. It is really important to remember that Christ has taken our place, so that we may not spend all our lives in trepidation and anxiety, as if the punishment we deserve, but which the Son of God took to Himself, was still hanging over us.”

TRUTH

Prior to knowledge, truth is what really happened; the way it is; who did it; was the universe created, or was it just always here;what is the truth? Knowledge is finding the truth, without truth there can be no knowledge. If truth does not exist, the only knowledge you need is how you feel about what is right or wrong for you. "truth" can be heart breaking, or the greatest news you have ever heard. "truth" the way it is, this implies "absolute" - what is true for one is true for all. This is known as absolute truth, unconditional, never changes, not dependant on whether it is believed or not. Truth is the source of knowledge. The source of truth is the Bible. The source of the bible is God, we can go back no further than Genesis 1:1.

Jesus before Pilate
When Pilate said, "I find no fault in this man," Pilate was telling it like it is. (John 18:38). He was telling the truth. We can't make something true because we believe it to be so (Proverbs 3:5, 19:21,). Contrary beliefs are possible but contrary truths are not possible. An unexamined faith is not worth believing. Christians believe Christ rose from the dead, while Muslims believe He never even died. Muslims believe Christ was the Son of Heaven and taken up bodily to Heaven by God; thus rejecting His atoning death.
If you were on a jury to determine the guilt or innocence of a man, even though you did not see the crime of which he is accused, after listening to the evidence could you come to a verdict as to his guilt or innocence? Truth is found by looking at the evidence. John 14:8-11 - Jesus said to a sceptical Phillip, look at the evidence and you will believe.

Absolute Truth Implies At Least Two Things

1. That whatever is true at one time and in one place is true at all times and in all places.

2. That whatever is true for one person is true for all persons.

Absolute truth never changes, relativists say what is true for me may not be true for you.

The Bible was written to people of the time which they lived, absolute truth means if it was true for them, it is also true for us; it is never outdated. (Isaiah 40:8)

Truth is Discovered

truth is not invented or voted on, but is discovered. It exists independent of anyone's knowledge of it.

We cannot make something true because we wish it that way or believe it so.

contrary Beliefs
Contrary beliefs are possible, but contrary truths are not possible.

Jesus Said
"I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME" (John 14:6). When Jesus says no one comes to the Father except through me, He is defining the word "truth." It has one meaning, truth cannot mean one thing today and something else in the future. His statement is international and just as true to future generations as when He said it. (See Psalm 119:89,90 and I Timothy 1:15.)