■ What should we believe ?（29th June 2023） ■
Due to the development of the Internet, modern society seems to be swept away by a "flood of information" every day. And as you know, there is a lot of false information. It is difficult to place trust in information that changes moment by moment due to changing circumstances, but there is also a "universal truth that never wavers".
As many of you know, the Bible is a prophetic book. (This “perfect fulfillment of prophecy” is the very reason why we can trust the Bible.)
For example, the book of Daniel in the Old Testament has been called a "pre-written history book" because the prophecies written in it have been so accurately fulfilled. These prophecies are not the usual "vague words that can be interpreted in any way", but they are very detailed and clear, such as successive dynasties.
The book of Daniel contains many prophecies made by the prophet Daniel while he was in exile in Babylon (New Babylonia). For example, "Grecia (= Greece) shall defeat the Media-Persia（＝Medo-Persian）empire, which is supposed to rise after Babylon (= accomplished in October 331 BC, at the battle of Gaugamela). But its first king (= Alexander III = Alexander the Great) will be broken, and in its place four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation". (Daniel chapter 8). The second chapter of Daniel describes the post-Babylon world powers in the form of the revelation of King Nebuchadnezzar's "vision of a great image", which has been perfectly fulfilled (save for the "final kingdom" that is to come).
In addition, Daniel chapter 9 prophesied about the timing of the arrival of "the Messiah the Prince". And also there were over 300 detailed prophecies about the Messiah in the Bible, that people could confirm that all these prophecies had been fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
Furthermore, the Bible also describes "things to come". Since every biblical prophecy has been so accurately fulfilled throughout history, it seems logical to assume that what is prophesied to happen in the future will also be fulfilled with the same accuracy.
The Bible also clearly describes the way of salvation for the souls of mankind, as ordained by the Almighty God, who is "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure". (Isaiah 46:10)
We often hear that "all religions end up in the same God", but the Bible, which contains the word of God who created the whole universe, does not say so. Then what should we believe to be saved ? Below are some excerpts of the message of salvation to humanity from God, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
(By the way, more than 20 years ago, two of the world's top evolutionists announced at an academic conference that the theory of evolution was wrong. After that, the theory of evolution was removed from school textbooks in some countries. Even today, with such "evolved" technology, the scientific basis for the theory of evolution still cannot be proven, and "missing link" is not discovered no matter how much excavation has been conducted.)
Then, as a scripture which sounds so obvious says, "For every house is built by some man; but he that built all things is God."(Hebrews 3:4), I think that "creation" by the One with superior wisdom is far more trustworthy, as it cannot be proven scientifically wrong, or rather has been shown to be scientific.
Of course, everyone is given free will, and it's up to you to believe or not.
♪♪♪ What should we believe to be saved ? ♪♪♪
The following verses, including the famous John 3:16, are key scriptures for the salvation of souls.
『 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.』
（Annotation：the Son of man ＝ the only begotten Son of God ＝ Jesus Christ）
And also;
Acts 4:10,12
『 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.』
Acts 16:30,31
『 30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved ?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.』
1 John 4:9
『 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.』
1 John 5:11,12
『 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.』
John 14:6
『 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.』
Romans 3:22
『 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith in Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:』
Bad News Romans 3:23
『 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;』
Good News Romans 6:23
『 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.』
Romans 3:26
『 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.』
John 6:28,29
『 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.』
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In other words, the Bible states that the key to salvation is the "faith in the Son" of God (＝ Jesus Christ）, as well as Almighty God, the Creator.
From another angle, James 2:19 says;
『 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.』
So we can see that salvation cannot be obtained simply by believing that "there is one God."
Then what exactly is "faith in the Son" ? It is to believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God sent as Savior, accomplished the atoning death on the cross for our sins, was buried, was raised on the third day, lives now and forever, and can save those who believe Him from sin (and the eternal hell that is the consequence of sin).
The biblical message is not "salvation by works" but "salvation by faith in the Son of God." ("good works" are the "result" of being saved.)
Repentance means changing from a "self-centred" life to a " (only true) God-centred" way of life. I hope that as many people as possible will receive the "eternal life through Jesus Christ" of Romans 6:23, the gift of God, through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mitsuko ITO
Postscript: To all my dear readers reading this page, I would like you to use the page 7 of "Invitation to 'Salvation'". I hope, dear ones, that in the future you may live happily and eternally in the Kingdom of Heaven, surrounded by God's abundant blessings.