One God One Message: Discover the Mystery, Take the Journey - Softcover

P. D. Bramsen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0979870607 ISBN 13: 9780979870606

Publisher: Rock International (US), 2009

Synopsis

With compelling clarity, this inviting and informed journey through the Bible offers hope for eternity. Drawing on the author's passion for the scriptures, his years in an Islamic nation, and thousands of conversations with Muslim friends, this journey offers insight into life's big picture and clarifies some of the primary differences between a biblical and an Islamic worldview. The guide's endnotes section clarifies terminology used throughout the text and furnishes background information on customs of the era. A chapter-by-chapter discussion guide provides 150 questions for further examination as well as an assortment of Bible verses to spur self-reflection.

About this title

About the Author

P. D. Bramsen is the president of Rock International, a nonprofit relief organization, and the author of The Way of Righteousness. He lives in Greenville, South Carolina.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

One God One Message

By P. D. Bramsen

Rock International

Copyright © 2009 ROCK International
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-9798706-0-6

Contents

Title Page, 
Copyright Page, 
PROLOGUE, 
PART I JOURNEY PREPARATION - FACING THE OBSTACLES, 
1 - BUY THE TRUTH, 
2 - OVERCOMING THE OBSTACLES, 
3 - CORRUPTED OR PRESERVED?, 
4 - SCIENCE AND THE BIBLE, 
5 - GOD'S SIGNATURE, 
6 - CONSISTENT WITNESS, 
7 - THE FOUNDATION, 
PART II THE JOURNEY - DISCOVERING THE MYSTERY, 
8 - WHAT GOD IS LIKE, 
9 - NONE LIKE HIM, 
10 - A SPECIAL CREATION, 
11 - EVIL'S ENTRANCE, 
12 - THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH, 
13 - MERCY AND JUSTICE, 
14 - THE CURSE, 
15 - DOUBLE TROUBLE, 
16 - THE SEED OF A WOMAN, 
17 - WHO CAN THIS BE?, 
18 - GOD'S ETERNAL PLAN, 
19 - THE LAW OF THE SACRIFICE, 
20 - A MOMENTOUS SACRIFICE, 
21 - MORE SHED BLOOD, 
22 - THE LAMB, 
23 - FULFILLING SCRIPTURE, 
24 - PAID IN FULL, 
25 - DEATH DEFEATED, 
26 - RELIGIOUS AND FAR FROM GOD, 
PART III JOURNEY'S END - REVERSING THE CURSE, 
27 - STAGE 1: GOD'S PAST PROGRAM, 
28 - STAGE 2: GOD' S PRESENT PROGRAM, 
29 - STAGE 3: GOD'S FUTURE PROGRAM, 
30 - A PREVIEW OF PARADISE, 
EPILOGUE, 
ENDNOTES, 
REFLECTING ON THE JOURNEY - DISCUSSION GUIDE CHAPTER REVIEW QUESTIONS, 
MORE RESOURCES, 

CHAPTER 1

BUY THE TRUTH

"Buy the truth, and do not sell it...."

— Prophet Solomon (Proverbs 23:23)

Imagine walking into a crowded marketplace packed with billions of people.

Yes, billions.

Stretching farther than the eye can see are ten thousand shops and booths. From every direction, zealous vendors are calling out, shouting, chanting, arguing, pleading, praying – some softly, some through loudspeakers, each claiming to offer exactly what you came to buy:

The Truth!

Don't laugh. Oxford University Press has published an encyclopedia identifying ten thousand distinct religions worldwide. And that doesn't include the thousands of sects and denominations found within those religions.

So what are we to buy? Who are we to believe?

If there is only one true God, and if He has revealed the truth about Himself and His plan for mankind, how can we possibly recognize it?

Four thousand years ago, the prophet Job raised a similar question:

"Where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value ... It cannot be purchased for gold, nor can silver be weighed for its price ... The price of wisdom is above rubies." (Job 28: 12-13,15,18)

Must we stumble through life confused and uncertain, or can we know the wisdom and truth of the one true God?

We are about to find out.

THE BOOK OF BOOKS

The word Bible comes from the Greek word Biblia, meaning "book of books" or "library."

After more than two millennia of communicating orally to and through men like Adam, Noah, and Abraham, God used about 40 men over more than 15 centuries to put His message in writing. These messengers were called prophets or apostles. The term prophet literally means "one who speaks out" and apostle means "messenger." Today we have what they wrote in one volume – the Bible. Terms such as the Holy Scriptures, the Writings of the Prophets, and the Word of God are also used in reference to the Bible. The Torah, Psalms, and Gospels refer to specific sections within the Bible. In Arabic, these Scriptures are called al-Kitab-al-Muqadas, meaning "the Holy Book."

Century after century, year after year, the Bible outsells every other book in the world. To date, in part or in whole, the Scriptures of the Bible have been translated into no less than 2,400 languages, with 1,940 languages in progress. No other book comes close.

Yet despite its unparalleled popularity, the Bible is the most despised and feared book in human history. Over the centuries, world governments and leaders, secular and religious alike, have declared the all-time best seller illegal, persecuting and even executing citizens caught in possession of it. To this day, some nations enforce this policy. Even in "Christian" countries, Bible reading is banned from public classrooms and institutions.

TORTURED

When I was growing up, my father was a friend of Richard, a man who had spent fourteen years in communist prisons in Eastern Europe where he was regularly deprived of sleep, starved, hung upside down and beaten, locked in a refrigerated cell, burned with red hot pokers, and carved on with knives. With my own eyes I saw some of the deep and ugly scars on his body. Richard's wife was also arrested and sentenced to forced labor in a prison camp for the same "criminal activity" as her husband.

What was their crime against the atheistic state?

They were caught teaching the Bible to others.

OSTRACIZED

My friend Ali was in big trouble. His father had arranged a family meeting of the men.

The senior uncle was present.

The younger brothers were called in.

Finally, Ali the firstborn son was set in the middle.

Ali's father gave a passionate speech, which concluded something like this, "You have shamed our family! You have betrayed our religion! You must leave the house and never come back. I must never see your face again!"

The uncle interjected, "Yes, and if you are not out by tomorrow, I'll throw your belongings into the street!"

Why the anger?

After nearly a year of reading the Bible, Ali had chosen to believe it.

THE LIVING WORD

What makes the Bible such a controversial book?

What causes governments to forbid it and parents to disown their children for believing it?

What drives millions of monotheists to share common ground with atheists in their disdain for these ancient writings?

Could the Bible's claim to be the living, active, penetrating, and judging Word of God have something to do with it?

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

STANDING FAST BY THE BOOK

My wife and I, and our now-grown children, have spent most of the past twenty-five years in Senegal, West Africa. Nearly all of our neighbors follow the religion of Islam. Islam means surrender or submission, and Muslim means one who is submitted. The book revered by Muslims is the Qur'an (also spelled: Koran). What I write flows from thousands of personal dialogues with Muslim friends and acquaintances from Senegal and around the world.

Although I have invested considerable time studying both the Bible and the Qur'an, ONE GOD ONE MESSAGE will focus on the Bible. Years ago, a Senegalese friend and I produced a 100-program chronological radio series in the Wolof language of Senegal. Each broadcast features a story and a message from the prophets of the Bible. Some listeners have asked, "Why do you not also teach the Qur'an?" Here is my answer:

In this country, children begin to recite the Qur'an when they are three or four years old. Qur'anic teachers and schools can be found in every neighborhood, but who is able and willing to teach the stories and message contained in the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel? As you know, the Qur'an states that these books of the Bible have been given by God to all mankind as "guidance and light ... and an admonition." (Sura 5:46) The Qur'an also declares: 'If thou wert in doubt as to what We have revealed unto thee, then ask those who have been reading the Book [the Bible] from before thee." (Sura 10:94) And to those who believe the Bible, the Qur'an says: "O People of the Book! ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law [Torah], the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord." (Sura 5:71) As one of the People of the Book who has been reading the Book and standing fast by it for more than three decades, it is my privilege to make known the stories and message of the prophets you seldom hear. These Scriptures, some written more than 2,000 years prior to the Qur'an, contain truth not found anywhere else.

HIS STORY

Did your parents ever counsel you, "Never trust a stranger!"? They knew that before you can safely trust another person, you need to know something of his or her history.

Think of a few people you trust.

Why do you trust them?

You trust them because, over a period of time, you have learned they are trustworthy. They did you good, not evil. When they told you they would do something, they did it. When they promised to give you something, they gave it. You know them to be trustworthy because you know their history.

The Bible provides hundreds of historical narratives of God interacting with men, women and children. Each story offers a unique opportunity to meet the Creator of heaven and earth, to hear His words and observe His works in the context of thousands of years of human history. What is He like? Yes, He is great, but in what way is He great? Is He consistent? Does He ever contradict His own laws? Does He keep His promises? Would He deceive us? Should He be trusted?

His story answers all these questions and thousands more.

The Bible is God's history book which reveals not only the big picture of human history; it presents HIS story.

THE ULTIMATE DRAMA

Everyone loves a good story.

The Bible contains hundreds of stories which together make one story — the most captivating story ever told. The Bible's narrative about God and man is the ultimate mystery drama – a story of love and war, good and evil, conflict and triumph. From origins to endings, it provides logical, satisfying answers to life's big questions. It has a climax and conclusion like no other.

A few years ago, after I finished telling God's story to a group of men and women in our home in Senegal, one of the ladies, with tears in her eyes, commented, "What a story! Even if people don't believe God, at least they ought to admit that He is the best screenwriter of all time!" This lady had gotten a glimpse of how each part of Scripture fits together to present the drama of the ages, in which God Himself is both the Author and Hero.

THE GREATEST MESSAGE

The Bible contains more than the most captivating story ever told. Embedded in its narratives is a message from God – the most compelling message ever delivered.

Over the years, I have discussed the Bible's message with thousands of Muslims. Many are personal friends, others I know only by e-mail. In both contexts, most discussions can be distilled into a single question:

What is the message of the one true God?

E-MAIL FEEDBACK

This question comes packaged in many ways.

The following e-mail came to me from the Middle East, written by a man we'll call Ahmed.

Ahmed's challenge and comments must not be ignored.

Our Creator does not treat such matters lightly, and neither should we. In the ancient Scriptures of the prophets, God has provided clear answers for every issue raised by Ahmed because each issue relates to the eternally-significant question:

What is the message of the one true God?

The prophet Job raised a couple of similar questions:

"Where can wisdom be found?" (Job 28:12)

"How can a man be righteous before God?" (Job 9:2)

THE JOURNEY

In a confused world with thousands of conflicting responses, it is not my purpose to add my ideas or answers to the mix. Instead, I invite you to join me with mind and heart on a journey through the Book of Books to discover its embedded answers to life's ultimate questions. As we travel together, we will observe what is true according to the Scriptures and we will reflect on the prophets' responses to the challenges raised by Ahmed and others.

Following a time of orientation (Part I: chapters 1-7), our journey will officially begin where the Bible begins: at the dawn of world history. From there we will travel through time and into eternity (Parts II & III: chapters 830).

The journey will conclude with a visit to Paradise itself.

TRAVEL OPTIONS

ONE GOD ONE MESSAGE can be viewed as three books in one. Part I confronts the obstacles that prevent most people from ever exploring the Bible. Part II unveils the central message of the best story ever told. Part III goes behind the scenes for a closer look at God's awesome purposes for people.

Most travelers will find the first part extremely beneficial in preparing for the journey. Nonetheless, if you already know the Scriptures of the prophets to be trustworthy, or if you are simply anxious to hear God's story and understand His message without delay, feel free to go directly to Part II. Once you have completed the entire journey, you can return to Part I.

If you prefer to travel at an unhurried pace, you may choose to spread the book's 30 chapters over a month-long period, reflecting on one chapter per day.

If you are a Muslim, you may want to take this pilgrimage during the 30 days of Ramadan. You should be able to proceed with confidence since the Qur'an says: "There is no compulsion in religion. The right direction is henceforth distinct from error," and: "Say O Muslims: We believe in Allah and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered." (Qur'an, Sura 2:256,136 Pickthall)

Whichever route you choose, here is one vital travel tip: Once you begin, do not skip any part of the journey.

Each new stage builds on a previous stage. Even if you don't instantly understand all you see, keep reading and reflecting until the final page. Some parts of the journey will be strange and challenging, but there will be oases of refreshment along the way.

No matter how many obstacles you encounter, travel on.

THE TRUTH

Multitudes around the world hold the opinion that no one can know what is true or false concerning life's big questions, such as: Where did the human race originate? Why am I on earth? Where will I end up? What is right and what is wrong?

In the West today it is popular to make statements such as: "Everything is relative," or: "It is wrong to think that a person can know absolute truth!" One does not need a PhD in logic to recognize the self-contradictory nature of such declarations. If there is no absolute truth, how can those who hold such a view make assertions about "everything" or insist that anything is "wrong"?

Thankfully, the Creator of the universe, who has revealed His life-transforming truth to mankind, does not share popular opinion. To all who seek Him with an honest heart, He says:

"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)

THE RIGHT CHOICE

A couple of years ago, Musa, a 79-year-old neighbor in poor health, asked me to visit him three days a week in order to read to him from the Bible. Musa had studied the Qur'an all his life, but had never taken time to consider the Torah of Moses, the Psalms of David, and the Gospel about Jesus – books which the Qur'an sternly admonishes all Muslims to receive and believe.

Musa listened intently as we explored key stories in chronological order and learned how defiled sinners can be declared righteous by their Creator and Judge. On more than one occasion Musa told me, "After each session, I don't just think about the things we have studied, I meditate on them!"

One day, after learning another important truth revealed in the Scriptures, Musa, with obvious frustration, exclaimed to his wife and daughter who were sitting nearby, "Why has no one ever taught us these things?"

Later, when Musa's neighbors learned he was "studying the Bible with a foreigner," the gossip began. The pressure became so intense that my elderly friend asked me to stop coming for a time, explaining, "I am not rejecting the truth, but the strain on my family is too much."

After waiting about six weeks (to let the gossip die down), my wife and I paid Musa and his family a visit. He welcomed us warmly and asked some well thought-out questions. Before we left, he commented, "The important thing is that I make the right choice before I die!"

Musa understood just how important it is to "buy the truth and... not sell it." Four months later, our dear friend died.

In recalling the times we spent together, I will never forget his response to my question, "Musa, if you were to die tonight, where will you spend eternity?"

After some hesitation, he responded, "I will go to Paradise."

"How do you know?" I asked.

Grasping the Scriptures with both hands, he replied, "Because I believe this!"

THE PROMISE

I dedicate this journey of discovery to those of you who, like Musa, want to make the right choice before you die. May the one true God take you by the hand, help you over all the obstacles, and lead you into a clear and accurate understanding of who He is and what He has done for you.

"You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)

That is God's sure promise to you.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from One God One Message by P. D. Bramsen. Copyright © 2009 ROCK International. Excerpted by permission of Rock International.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Edition details

• Publisher: Rock International (US)
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0979870607
• ISBN 13: 9780979870606
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 432