FAQ's

1. How do you know that god exists?
A. Is there REALLY a God? How can anyone be sure that he exists? We believe that this - and other profound questions - can be answered intelligently. The reason that we know God exists is because He has told us so...and He has revealed himself to us.

God not only exists, but He has also communicated that fact to us. He has told us all about who he is, what He is like, and what his plans are for this planet. The amount of information that we have about God is staggering, and is available to anyone who wishes to know it.

God reveals this information through the Bible: the Bible is more than a mere book - it is the actual word of God. Though there have been sceptics down through the ages, nevertheless, countless millions of people have discovered that you can meet with God and discover all about Him in the pages of the Bible.

Another reason that we know God exists is that He has appeared in human flesh. Jesus Christ was God, and for a time, lived on this earth with us. The Bible says, "The word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1v14).

Jesus came to earth to reveal what God is like. So, if you want to know who God is, and what He is like, just look at Jesus Christ. As Lord Byron said, "If ever a man was God or God was man, Jesus Christ was both".

So, you have both in the Bible and the person of Jesus Christ, two very strong reasons for the existence of God.

2. Did jesus ever claim to be god?
A. Among all of the religious leaders who have ever lived and attained a large following, Jesus Christ is unique in the fact that He alone claimed to be God in human flesh. A common misconception is that some or many of the leaders of world religions made similar claims, but this simply is not the case.

Buddha did not claim to be God; Moses never said that he was Yahweh; Muhammad did not say that he was Allah ; and nowhere will you find Zoroaster claiming to be Ahura Mazda. Yet Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth, said that he who has seen Him (Jesus has seen the Father (God).

Jesus said that He existed before Abraham (John 8v 58) He said that He was equal with the Father (John 5 v 17);He said that He had the ability to forgive sins (a preposterous claim unless He REALLY was God).

The united testimony of the Bible is that Jesus was more than a mere man; He was God.

Further proof that Jesus was God is the account of the resurrection. He came back from the dead...and only God can do THAT...

3. How do we know that jesus rose from the dead? back to top
A. Firstly, the disciples all met with Jesus AFTER the resurrection. Within a week of Easter Sunday, all of the disciples had seen, spoken to, and in some cases, even eaten with Jesus. A number of women saw him also. Writing in A.D 56, the apostle Paul mentions the fact that more than 500 people witnessed the resurrected Christ at the same time (and most were still alive when he wrote that). Of course, Paul himself met with Christ on the road to Damascus.

The writer Frank Morrison wrote a book called "Who moved the stone?" In it he writes, "Jesus was publically crucified on Friday; He was publically buried in a tomb on Friday evening; But on Sunday morning, the body was missing. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then someone took the body. But who?

Only three groups could have taken the body. (1)THE ROMANS. The Romans however, had no reason to steal the body, since they wanted to keep the peace in Palastine. Stealing the body would not have achieved that objective. (2) THE JEWISH LEADERS .They would not have taken the body because the last thing they wanted was a proclamation of the resurrection. They asked for a guard on the tomb. AND, if they HAD have taken the body, they could have produced it later. But they NEVER did (3) THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS. They had no reason to steal the body either. Neither did they have the means to overcome the considerable Roman guard on the tomb. AND, all of the disciples would later be martyred...and no one gives their life for a lie.
The only other reasonable explanation is that Christ rose form the dead....as the eyewitnesses at the time state. And they knew the difference between someone who was dead and someone who wasn't.

4. Isn't the bible full of contradictions? back to top
A. This is an often- asked question which implies that the Bible is filled with obvious discrepancies which make it impossible to believe that the Bible has a divine origin. However, it is one thing to accuse the Bible of inaccuracies, but it is quite another matter to prove it.

So, what is a contradiction? Josh Mcdowell states, " The law of non- contradiction, which is the basis of all logical thinking, states that a thing cannot be a and non-a at the same time. In other words, it cannot be both raining and not raining at the same time. If you can demonstrate a violation of this principle in regard to the Bible, then and only then, can it be proved to be a contradiction? For example, if the Bible said that Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem and Nazareth at the same time that would be a provable error. But, of course, it doesn't say that. Also, when facing possible contradictions, it is of the highest importance to remember that two statements may differ from each other without being contradictory. Some fail to make a distinction between contradiction and difference.

For example, the case of the blind men at Jericho. Matthew relates how two blind men met Jesus, while both Mark and Luke mention only one. However, neither of these statements denies the other, but rather they are complimentary.

Suppose that you were talking to the Mayor of your city and the chief constable at the town hall. Later you see your friend, Jim and tell him you talked to the mayor today. An hour later you see your friend Bob and tell him you talked to both the mayor and the chief constable. When your friends compare notes, there is a seeming contradiction. BUT THERE IS NO CONTRADICTION. If you had told Jim you talked only to the mayor, you would have contradicted that statement by what you told Bob.

The statements that you actually made to Jim and Bob are different, but not contradictory. Likewise, many Biblical statements fall into this category. Many think they have found errors in the passages, but they have not correctly read the account" (Josh McDowell& Don Stewart - Answers to tough questions).

5. Isn't the church full of hypocrites? back to top
A. This is a fairly common statement often used by people as a reason why they don't attend any church. They hear about some problem in a church, or more often than not, know someone who goes to church, yet acts in an uncharitable way, and conclude that everyone in the church is like that. " If that's what Christianity is all about, then I want no part of it", they say.

Now, it has to be admitted that there has been hypocrisy in the church (there was in Jesus' day), and if you look carefully enough you can probably still find examples of it today.

That said, however, just because the church contains hypocrites does not mean that all Christians are hypocrites. For every example of a hypocrite, other examples could be shown of people living out their life of faith in a loving, God - honouring way.

Josh McDowell puts it well when he writes, "It is important NOT to confuse hypocrisy with sin. All Christians are sinners, but not all Christians are hypocrites. There is a misconception that a Christian is a person who claims he does not sin, but the truth is that to call oneself a Christian is to admit to being a sinner (1 John 1v 5 - 2:2) All believers, including the clergy, are fallible human beings who are prone to all types of sin. Just because a person is not perfect does not mean he is a phoney. The distinction between the two is very important. The failures of the believers do not invalidate the truth."

Whatever your experience of Christians, Christianity does not stand or fall on the way believers have acted. Christianity stands or falls on the person of Jesus Christ. AND HE WAS NOT A HYPOCRITE. He lived a transparent life, and lived out that what he taught. So even if the church was full of hypocrites - and it isn't - Jesus Christ is the one on whom to base your faith.

6. Is jesus the only way to god? back to top
A. According to Jesus' own words, the answer quite simply is "Yes". He said “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by me” (John 14 v 6).

7. Does the devil exist? back to top
A. As far as the Bible is concerned, the answer is “yes". In Genesis chapter 3 the Devil (“the serpent"), tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden. In the New Testament, Jesus had an encounter with the Devil when He was tempted in the wilderness. According to the Bible, he is a personal being - not just some "evil force "Jesus spoke to him, and called him "a liar”. Only a term you would use of a personal being.

8. Is there such a place as heaven? back to top
A. Yes there is, Jesus spoke about such a place many times. He said "In my Fathers house (Heaven) are many rooms" (John 14 v 2) Jesus talked about having "Treasures in Heaven" (Mark 10 v 21). The Bible says that Heaven is God's home and throne room (Isaiah 66 v 1). When Jesus left this earth, He went to Heaven (Acts 1 v 11). Jesus said that Heaven was a real place.

9. Is there such a place as hell? back to top
A. Whilst acknowledging that this is a difficult - and uncomfortable - subject for many, the answer to the question, as far as Jesus is concerned is "Yes, there is such a place as Hell "He spoke of such a place on a number of occasions. He spoke of "The fire of Hell" (Matthew 5 v 22) He spoke of "the torment of Hell" (Luke 16 v 23) He spoke about real people being sent there, and about the agony they suffer (Luke 16 v 23) He warned about the danger of ending up there Matthew 18 v 9). When talking about Hell, Jesus always insisted that it was a real place.

10. what does it mean to be a christian? back to top
A. Quite simply, a Christian is someone who has come to God and admitted their need for forgiveness. The Bible says that we are all sinners and we all stand in need of forgiveness (Romans 3 v 23 - "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God") And that sin has separated us from God, and has helped to cause the evil that is so evident in the world today. God is very specific - we are all guilty, He says.

So we need to come to God, confess our sins, ask for His forgiveness, and if we do that He WILL forgive us. And will then come and live within us and give us power to live for Him. A Christian is someone who has been forgiven, and in whom god now lives.

PRAYER
Lord, I ask that you take away my sin, I know that I have done wrong, but I believe that Jesus came and died for my sins on the cross, help me to live a life that is pleasing to you, I pray this in the name of Jesus Amen.

3 reasons why you need Jesus

Jesus loves you! He desires to have a relationship with you, and to give a life full of joy and purpose.

1. Because you have a past
You can't go back, but He can. The Bible says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8). He can walk into those places of sin and failure, wipe the slate clean and give you a new beginning.

2. Because you need a friend
Jesus knows the worst about you, yet He believes the best. Why? Because He sees you not as you are, but as you will be when He gets through with you. What a friend!

3. Because He holds the future
Who else are you going to trust? In His hands you are safe and secure - today, tomorrow, and for eternity. His Word says, 'For I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray I will listen' (Jeremiah 29:11-13 TLB).

If you would like to begin a personal relationship with Jesus today, please pray this prayer:

'Lord Jesus Christ,
I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. I ask for forgiveness and now turn from everything which I know is wrong. Thank you for dying on the cross for me to set me free from my sins. Please come into my life and fill me with your Holy Spirit and be with me forever. Thank you Lord Jesus, Amen.'

If you have further questions, we would highly recommend the book; "Answers to tough questions about the Christian faith" by Josh McDowell & Don Stewart. Available in paperback; alpha press ISBNno. 0946515514. back to top