[J.R. Neumiller]

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Cor 1:18

Its easy to disbelieve something because its not understood. For years, I stood apart from the Gospel because I didn't think it made sense to me. It was intellectually incomprehensible to.

Now, I understand it rightly because God has given me His Holy Spirit, so that I can interpret and gain the truth from it. Without that supernatural enablement, it would remain as dark and mysterious as it ever was.

The point of a relationship with Jesus Christ is truth. Nothing else will do. The bar to fellowship with Him is sin, and prideful reactions to it.

Jesus Christ plainly declared, "No one can come to me unless the Father which sent me draws him." He accomplishes this via the ministry of the Holy Spirit, Who has been sent into the world specifically to convict its inhabitants of sin, of righteousness, and judgment.

Do you feel clean and holy before God? Do you have a clear conscience before man? Does your heart condemn or commend your daily actions?

Sin is an ever-present part of man. It manifests itself in every part, and is found under every green tree. It is universal, insidious, and results in the death of every man. "The wages of sin is death." Want to live? Don't sin.

To prove that sin is the bar to fellowship, God raised Christ from the dead, and has seated Him at His right side in heaven to this very moment, (from whence He will come to judge both the living and the dead.)

Lest you think the resurection is just some earthly fable, I challenge you this: Disprove the resurection and you will utterly destroy Christianity completely, for it is founded not on some command or teaching, but upon Jesus Christ Himself. "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. NO man comes to the father but by ME."

This is naturally quite offensive to proud, boastful man. He despises the thought he is in any way indebted to God, and naturally, he determines to cut God off in his heart. And here is God's response to this notion:

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

(Where, God? Where?)

20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

(You mean, if I deny God I don't really make Him disappear?)

21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

(Otherwise known as idolatry.)

24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

(And now you know the real source of a sodomites affections.)

28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Q. If this is so, why don't more people believe it?
A. Truth is not a popularity contest. Yea, "Let God be true and every man a liar."

Q. But if I disbelieve it, God can't condemn me because He hasn't given me enough evidence to believe it, can He?
A. And who are you to answer back to God? If God choses to remain visibly apart from His creation, who are you to judge Him? Shall that which is formed say to that which formed it, "what have you done?" The reasoning faculties of a creation are utterly insufficient to judge the actions of Him Who created them. No?

Q. But all I have to do is disbelieve and the threat goes away. God can't do anything to me as long as I can reasonably say He didn't give me enough evidence to convince me. The onus is on Him to provide reasonable evidence that is satisfactory to me. "Unless I see for myself, I will not believe"
A. "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."

Q. But I DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE IN god! Can't you understand that? The last thing in the world I want to become is accountable to a sinless, holy god, who has the power to send me to hell. To believe in Him is to become accountable to Him, and that's not going to be happening.
A. But that's a different matter entirely, and is utter proof of a proud and sin-darkened heart, whom the Creator loves dearly, and has given His Only Begotten Son to become the very sins of those creatures, dying in their place, and offering peace to those humble enough to receive it.

21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Salvation is a mystery to us, but not to God! He has mercy on Whom He will, and hardens Whom He wills. To stand arrogantly apart from this Omnipotent Being is literally to play with eternal hell fire. (But, even that happens according to His will.)

I don't know why God chose to save me, but I do know it wasn't because of my intellect, wisdom, strength, or bearing. Indeed, all those things were in the way of my conversion. They are most decidedly in the way of yours.