Bible

15 Reasons Why This is The Most Important Idea in World History

The more I understand the Bible in comparison with all other religions and worldviews, the more I see the unique fingerprints of the Creator in its pages. An example of this is found in the first 5 books of the Bible (the Torah) where it introduces to us The God of the Torah. A massive paradigm shift in world history took place when this was written. I think you will see what I mean as you read the following article adopted from The Rational Bible by Dennis Prager.

1. The first God in history to be entirely above and beyond nature. (This liberated humanity from believing it was controlled by nature, a revolution that made moral and scientific progress possible)

2. The God of the Torah introduced universal morality to the world. (Only if God is universal, can morality be universal; it was no longer local or individual)

3. The moral God of the Torah means morality is real. (Good and evil are not societal opinions, but objectively real)

4. The God of the Torah morally judges every human being. (There had never been a concept like this. And is a major reason for Jew-hatred)

5. The just and good God of the Torah gives humanity hope. (One of those hopes is ultimate justice)

6. The God of the Torah introduces holiness. (This elevated humans above animals)

7. The God of the Torah gives every individual unprecedented self-worth. (Since we are created in God’s image, we are infinitely valuable)

8. The God of the Torah is necessary for human brotherhood. (Since we all have one father/creator, we all are brothers and sisters in a broad sense)

9. Belief in the God of the Torah started the long journey of equality. (Slavery was abolished in the West due to Christians who believed in the Torah’s statement that we are created in the image of God)

10. The God of the Torah is incorporeal, non-physical. (This enabled humans to think in terms of a reality beyond that which accessible to our senses)

11. The God of the Torah teaches us the physical is not the only reality. (Consequently, there can be realities beyond our senses, such as a soul, morality and the afterlife)

12. The God of the Torah teaches us there is ultimate meaning to the existence of each of our lives. (Without the Creator, life is random and purposeless)

13. The God of the Torah gives each of us freewill. (Only if we have a non-material soul can we rise above our genes and our environment and act autonomously)

14. The God of the Torah teaches might is not right. (It is God Who determines what is right, not those use force or power)

15. The God of the Torah made human progress possible. (The Torah broke the cycle of superstitious paganism and laid the foundation for western civilization)

The Greatest Verse In The Bible

Why is it, that out of 31,103 verses this one is the greatest? Before we explain why it is the greatest verse in the entire Bible, let’s stop to remember who is talking here. It’s Jesus Christ Himself; the greatest human to have ever lived. Even atheists and leaders from other religions concede that Jesus has no equal among men. He is the only human who split the calendar (B.C – Before Christ and A.D. – Anno Domni – The Year of our Lord).

Someone once said; “If God were to ever come to earth we would expect Him do great things like no other person has done; He would show Himself as master over the laws of physics and nature; He would speak the greatest words ever spoken; and His revelations would lead men to a life of higher meaning and purpose. Guess who fits that job description?

Who is Jesus talking to when He speaks this verse? He is talking to Nicodemus, a religious leader, an expert in the Scriptures who should know better, yet is completely perplexed by who Jesus was and what He was up to. Nicodemus came to Jesus in the middle of the night to avoid being seen seeking answers from such a controversial figure. Although He knew Jesus was from God because of all the signs and wonders Jesus was doing, he didn’t understand what this message that transcended the intellect and pierces the heart was all about. Just what would God say the meaning of life was?

Jesus told His nighttime visitor that he needed to be born again by the Spirit of God in order to be saved from his current condition and to understand spiritual things. He needed a new birth. Jesus explains the lengths God went through to make this possible. Thus we have the following words…

John 316If you haven’t already, I pray you will believe and receive this gift now before you do anything else. Simply pray something like this:

Dear God, I acknowledge that I have said and done things that violated your commandments. I did those things because I have lived my life independent of You. Please forgive me of my sins. I believe that Jesus lived a sinless life and died in my place, and then rose from the dead to provide a way for me to be forgiven. Today I receive Jesus into my heart and life, by faith, as my Lord and my Savior. Give me Your Holy Spirit so I can live the way You want me to live for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.