This book is about the human nature of Christ. Specifically about the moral or spiritual inheritance through His mother Mary—whether He took man’s nature like that of Adam before the Fall (prelapsarian) or like after the Fall (postlapsarian). These two seemingly, mutually-exclusive, versions of Christ have been a very controversial subject in Adventism for some sixty plus years (May 2015). Many have grown weary of the subject, and some have concluded that “it doesn’t really matter.” It is the purpose of this present book to develop more fully the concept of our new birth experience as a springboard to provide a framework of Christ’s nature that embraces all of the Scripture and Spirit of Prophecy statements on His humanity—the one true Christ. It will be found that both positions—pre-Fall and post-Fall—contain essential components to the complete picture. Spiritual truth is arrived at by harmonizing all of the inspired statements on a given subject. Through that method we have arrived at our commonly held beliefs—Saturday sacredness, state of the dead, second coming of Christ, etc. This can also be true regarding Christ’s humanity—regarding the true Christ. Knowing the complete attributes of the true Christ will add strength and credibility to the true gospel. We can then lay down our disputes among us and unite in promoting the “one Lord, one faith, and one baptism” so essential to the finishing of the Lord’s work in our hearts and on the earth. Preface Why another book about the human nature of Christ? Haven't we covered every aspect of His nature that is necessary for us to know? Well, perhaps not. This book endeavors to tie together some loose threads that have not really been solved yet. First, this subject is never just about the nature of Christ. The issue is much larger. It is about the whole plan of salvation, the gospel, righteousness by faith, and the great controversy between Christ and Satan. Differing views about Christ's human nature radically change our conclusions about how God is solving the problem of sin and rebellion in the universe.hy another book about the human nature of Christ? Haven't we covered every aspect of His nature that is necessary for us to know? Well, perhaps not. This book endeavors to tie together some loose threads that have not really been solved yet. Second, this book addresses the underlying issue in the ongoing debate—the nature of man. When Adam and Eve sinned, everything changed. Suffering and death began, man's nature changed so that rebellion was as natural as breathing, condemnation and annihilation were man's only future, and earth was cut off from heaven. Except for one thing—Christ stepped into the picture. And everything changed again. Mankind received a second chance, annihilation was not inevitable, and most importantly, God placed “enmity” toward Satan in man's nature. Man would not be a helpless slave of Satan, but would have an innate desire to resist him. Third, this book pulls together statements by Ellen White that seem to support opposite conclusions, and shows how they fit together perfectly if loose ends are properly tied off. Inspired statements have a way of harmonizing if we dig down beneath the surface. Fourth, the appendix collection of pioneer writings are valuable resources in this study. This is a significant contribution to a better understanding of God's great plan of salvation. Dennis Priebe Amazing Facts Revivalist

Through the centuries, thousands of books, stories, novels, television programs, and films about Jesus Christ have been written and produced. Hundreds of thousands of churches have been erected in His name. Millions have claimed to be His ministers. Billions have professed Him as "Lord and Savior." Today, Jesus is renowned the world over, commonly known in one way or another in every culture of the world, whether one professes to be Christian, atheist, or of any other religion. Many have positive comments about Him, regardless of their beliefs about who He was and what He taught. His name also stirs great controversy and debate. Yet, despite worldwide recognition-despite billions professing to be His followers-despite all the knowledge circulating about Him-Jesus Christ remains unknown-even to Christianity! Unlike anything ever produced, "The True Jesus Christ - Unknown to Christianity "accurately examines the life, ministry, and teachings of the most influential Person in the history of the world. Excluding popular tradition, theory, and opinion-the usual approach to His life-it takes you on an extraordinary and gripping journey through the corridors of the life and times of Jesus Christ, and correctly answers in plain language the greatest questions about Him-straight from the Bible and history. You will learn what only a tiny few have understood.

The diversity of the world's religions has come to the West, but believers are often ill-equipped for any kind of serious engagement with non-Christians. In Encountering World Religions, professor and author Irving Hexham introduces all the world's major religious traditions in a brief and understandable way. Hexham outlines key beliefs and practices in each religion, while also providing guidance on how to think critically about them from the standpoint of Christian theology. African, yogic, and Abrahamic traditions are all covered. Accessible and clear, Encountering World Religions will provide formal and lay students alike with a useful Christian introduction to the major faiths of our world.

A New York Times Bestseller! "Who do you say that I am?" Uttered by Jesus Christ, this profound question has presented an age-old challenge to believers, skeptics, scholars, and rulers. In attempting to answer this question, The True Jesus goes straight to the unimpeachable source: the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Only in the Gospels, says #1 New York Times bestselling author David Limbaugh, do we come face-to-face with the Son of God, Whose sublime teachings, miraculous actions, and divine essence leap off every page and into our hearts. In this book, Limbaugh combines the four Gospel stories into a unified account (though not, he humbly admits, a perfect harmony) and guides readers on a faith journey through the Four Evangelists' testimonies of the life of Jesus Christ. Along the way, Limbaugh shares his insights on Jesus' words and deeds as well as His unique nature as fully human and fully divine. In The True Jesus, you will learn: - Why even the apostles failed to completely understand Jesus' true identity and mission until after His crucifixion - The real basis for the rejection of Jesus' message by skeptics in His hometown and elsewhere - The historical events preceding Jesus' birth that providentially paved the way for Christianity - How Jesus' message utterly contradicted modern attempts to portray Him as being non-judgmental Limbaugh's passion for the Gospels infuses the pages of The True Jesus, which is both a primer for new Bible readers and an outstanding guide to the Gospels for long-time believers. Who really is the true Jesus? Open this book and begin your odyssey toward the answer.

Western history would be unrecognizable had it not been for people who believed in One True God. There would have been wars, but no religious wars. There would have been moral codes, but no Commandments. Had the Jews been polytheists, they would today be only another barely remembered people, less important, but just as extinct as the Babylonians. Had Christians presented Jesus to the Greco-Roman world as ''another'' God, their faith would long since have gone the way of Mithraism. And surely Islam would never have made it out of the desert had Muhammad not removed Allah from the context of Arab paganism and proclaimed him as the only God. The three great monotheisms changed everything. With his customary clarity and vigor, Rodney Stark explains how and why monotheism has such immense power both to unite and to divide. Why and how did Jews, Christians, and Muslims missionize, and when and why did their efforts falter? Why did both Christianity and Islam suddenly become less tolerant of Jews late in the eleventh century, prompting outbursts of mass murder? Why were the Jewish massacres by Christians concentrated in the cities along the Rhine River, and why did the pogroms by Muslims take place mainly in Granada? How could the Jews persist so long as a minority faith, able to withstand intense pressures to convert? Why did they sometimes assimilate? In the final chapter, Stark also examines the American experience to show that it is possible for committed monotheists to sustain norms of civility toward one another. A sweeping social history of religion, One True God shows how the great monotheisms shaped the past and created the modern world.

God has provided a way for all people, not just scholars, to know that the Bible is the Word of God. John Piper has devoted his life to showing us that the glory of God is object of the soul’s happiness. Now, his burden in this book is to demonstrate that this same glory is the ground of the mind’s certainty. God’s peculiar glory shines through his Word. The Spirit of God enlightens the eyes of our hearts. And in one self-authenticating sight, our minds are sure and our hearts are satisfied. Justified certainty and solid joy meet in the peculiar glory of God.

Finding a proper balance between freedom and responsibility is a problem that has faced every serious Christian. For those raised in a highly structured religious environment, balancing loyalties to a religious organization, family, and personal conscience may raise difficult issues. Raymond Franz's first-hand account of the issues with which he struggled forms the theme of his first book, Crisis of Conscience. In Search of Christian Freedom, the sequel to Crisis of Conscience, provides even more comprehensive study. The issues and options discussed herein, although relating particularly to the structure of Jehovah's Witnesses, are not so very different from issues other Christians have faced and continue to face when they seek to reconcile considerations for conscience, loyalty, responsibility and freedom. This work will mover readers — of any religion — to consider seriously how much they value Christian freedom and to ask how genuine their own freedom is.