Tough To Believe *

      The Bible does have many tough & hard to believe teachings. Now I don’t claim to have all the answers, neither do I know all the questions. But the teachings below are some that just challenge the mind & appear to be most incredible to many normal folks:
** 6-day creation – Science today is about unanimous on theories of the deep time origin of this planet.
** Noah’s flood, then fire from the sky on Sodom & Gomorrah as judgments.
** Virgin birth of J.C. – I’ve heard atheists refer to this tough teaching & all Christian doctrine as “immaculate                  deception”. “. . . Their condemnation is just.” (Romans 3:8)
** Resurrection & ascension to heaven of Jesus Christ
** Heaven & HELL
** Strong Delusion – God blocking folks after they frustrate Him too much & too long (see S.D. link 173)
** Rapture of saved believers, then 2nd coming of Jesus Christ at the end.
      Many people refuse to intellectually commit to the above for fear of ridicule, rejection, etc. and wax liberal with friends & colleagues, then create alternate interpretations/philosophies that forsake most Bible doctrine and the Lord Himself. But maybe God has put hard to believe material in the Book as an affiliation test or screening device? (He does test people . . .) At any rate, I personally believe my best chance of being in good standing with the Author of the Book is by just accepting it as it is. I lose nothing in this life (except a few false friends), and if those “Tough To Believe” teachings are “spot on” or not, my identifying w/them should be a credit to me at my judgment.  And it’s easier for me to believe the Biblical accounts than the big bang & deep time theories of atheists. Our world is not balanced in a space orbit around the sun, mostly covered w/water, & abounding w/marine, plant, & animal LIFE by a grand accident. 
      While most of the above T.T.B. are “bold as a lion”, in our day we are mostly dealing with a hidden God that requires FAITH to find Him. The contrast between the active/aggressive Bible accounts, and the hidden God concept is also a blocker for many. We must SEEK God by accepting the T.T.B. (which includes repent, pray through, baptism, attend church, & gather arguments FOR belief, etc.)   Then the Nature of God can be seen in those tough teachings we find in the Bible from cover to cover. And He is the kind of Character that can and does give more faith, hope, life victory, healing, guidance, perspective, etc.. But some folks build their own gallows by gathering false arguments & sin, then stubbornly living w/backs to God.  See link 66 ”The Blessing and The Curse”.
-- 2 Chronicles 15:2b “The Lord is with you, while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you       forsake him, he will forsake you.” (I believe this is an early hint of “Strong Delusion”.)
-- Psalms 77:11 “I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; yea, I will remember thy wonders of old.”
-- Isaiah 45:15 “Truly, thou art a God who hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior.”
-- Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest       for your souls.” Jesus Christ (The hidden God concept is seen in the above 2 refs.)
-- Acts 17:26-27 “And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined           allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel       after him and find him.” 
-- Hebrews 3:12 “Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away           from the living God.”
      From the beginning of the Bible record it has been a challenge for some to believe God’s “Tough Teachings”. So it is in our day. In my case, as soon as I decided to just “deal with it”, God began to reveal the rewards of FAITH. And as I faced God and the teachings of the Book, His presence & blessing became more clear in my life. I write “Gospel notes” to share the good news. Have you connected?? “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Jesus, Revelation 3:20   Choose Jesus, He is Alive. See also “Why The Bible?” link 65.

* Besides T.T.B. Teachings, there are "Tough To LIVE" Teachings which may be the greater challenge.  See link #178.

Many other Titles:  www.gospelnotes.org                                                                                              * * F. J. Stone * * 
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