Tag Archive for: Christianity

In a previous article, I offered a simple reason why the Qur’an cannot possibly be the word of God, since the proposition that the Qur’an is the word of God entails a necessary contradiction. Here, I am going to present an equally compelling reason to reject the Qur’an as the word of God.

As I alluded to in my previous post, the Qur’an contends that the disciples of Jesus were Muslims. According to Surah 3:52,

“…when Isa [Jesus] sensed disbelief in them, he said: “Who are my helpers in the way of Allah?” The disciples said:“

If The Apostles were Muslim . . .

So according to the Qur’an, there is no question that the apostles were Muslims, under Jesus. But what if we could establish that the teaching of the apostles differed starkly from the teachings of Muhammad and the Qur’an? Here’s an argument to ponder:

Premise 1: If the original disciples of Jesus rejected core Islamic teachings, Islam is false.
Premise 2: The original disciples of Jesus rejected core Islamic teachings.
Conclusion: Therefore, Islam is false.

In order for a Muslim to escape the conclusion, he or she has to reject one of these two premises. What possible escape routes might be available? One escape route might be to say that the disciples of Jesus were fooled or somehow mistaken – or perhaps they corrupted the true message of Jesus sometime after this. Or maybe even the 12 disciples of Jesus are not even who is in mind here. This escape route, however, is blocked by Surah 61:14,

“O you who believe, be supporters of (the religion of) Allah, just as Isa, son of Maryam, said to the Disciples, ‘Who are my supporters towards Allah?’ The Disciples said, ‘We are the supporters of (the religion of) Allah.’ So a group from the children of Isra’il believed, and another group disbelieved. Then we supported those who believed against their enemy, and they became victors.”

Thus, such speculation runs into the following problem: Jesus’s apostles were victors who rose to dominance because of Allah’s support for them, indicating their message was approved by Allah. This becomes clear also when we read Surah 3:55:

“When Allah said: “O ‘Isa, I am to take you in full and to raise you towards Myself, and to cleanse you of those who disbelieve, and to place those who follow you above those who disbelieve up to the Day of Resurrection.”

In syllogistic form, the argument can be summarized as follows:

Premise 1: There were victors rising to dominance who Allah supported (Surah 3:55; 61:14).
Premise 2: The victors were either Jesus’s apostles or not Jesus’s apostles.
Premise 3: If they were not Jesus’s apostles, then we would see records of these non-apostle victors.
Premise 4: We do not see such records.
Premise 5: Therefore, it is false that the victors were non-apostles.
Conclusion: Therefore, the victors were Jesus’s apostles.

So, when we read Surah 3:52, we can be sure that it is referring to the disciples. Allah blessed these persons. It was the apostles whom Allah brought to dominance and vindicated. But now a Muslim might well ask, “How do you know the apostles rejected core Islamic teachings?” It is to this question that I now turn my attention.

Consider Paul the apostle. Now, I understand that the apostle Paul was not one of the original disciples of Jesus, but converted to Christianity following a vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. But I am going to argue that Paul was approved by the original disciples of Jesus. This strongly suggests that his view about the nature of God and identity and mission of Christ matched that of the disciples. In any case, even in the absence of the evidence I am about to present, if we take Surah 3:55 and Surah 61:14 seriously, then Paul’s teaching must have been consistent with the disciples, because the Christianity that prevailed is what Muslim polemicists would consider to be Pauline Christianity – and the Qur’an tells us that the true followers of Jesus were the ones who achieved dominance and became the victors.

Commentators

Am I completely off-the-wall with this contention? No; In fact, I am in good company. Consider the following quotations from respected Quranic commentators:

Renowned thirteenth-century commentator Al-Qurtubi, says of Surah 61:14:

“It was said that this verse was revealed about the apostles of Jesus, may peace and blessing be upon him. Ibn Ishaq stated that of the apostles and disciples that Jesus sent (to preach) there were Peter and Paul who went to Rome; Andrew and Matthew who went to the land of the cannibals; Thomas who went to Babel in the eastern lands; Philip who went to Africa; John went to Dac-sos which is the tribe to whom the sleepers of the cave belonged; Jacob went to Jerusalem; Bartholomew went to the lands of Arabia, specifically Al-Hijaz; Simon who went to the Barbarians; Judas and Barthas who went to Alexandria and its surrounding regions. Allah supported them (the apostles) with evidence so that they prevailed (thahirin) meaning they became the party with the upper hand. Just as it is said, ‘An object appeared on the wall’ meaning it is clearly visible (alu-wat) on the wall. Allah, who is glorified and exalted, knows the truth better and to Him is the return and retreat.”

Ibn Ishaq’s Sirat Rasul Allah (English translation, page 653), the earliest extant biography of Muhammad, says the following:

“Those whom Jesus son of Mary sent, both disciples and those who came after them, in the land were: Peter the disciple and Paul with him, (Paul belonged to the followers and was not a disciple) to Rome. Andrew and Matthew to the land of the cannibals; Thomas to the land of Babel, which is in the land of the east; Philip to Carthage and Africa; John to Ephesus the city of the young men of the cave; James to Jerusalem which is Aelia the city of the sanctuary; Bartholomew to Arabia which is the land of Hijaz; Simon to the land of Berbers; Judah who was not one of the disciples was put in place of Judas.”

Or consider Al Tabari’s History (Volume IV, p. 123):

Among the apostles, and the followers who came after them were the Apostle Peter and Paul who was a follower and not an apostle; they went to Rome. Andrew and Matthew were sent to the country whose people are man-eaters, a land of blacks, we think; Thomas was sent to Babylonia in the east, Philip to Qayrawan (and) Carthage, that is, North Africa. John went to Ephesus, the city of the youths of the cave, and James to Jerusalem, that is, Aelia. Bartholomew was sent to Arabia, namely, the Hijaz; Simeon to the land of the Berbers in Africa. Judas was not then an apostle, so his place was taken by Ariobus. He filled in for Judas Iscariot after the latter had perpetrated his deed.

Thus, Al-Qurturbi, Al Tabari, and Ibn Ishaq all are led to praise the apostle Paul as a direct consequence of these verses.

Independent Reasons from History

There are several independent historiographical reasons for thinking that Paul’s teaching was approved by the original disciples of Jesus. Among them are the following:

Reason 1: Individuals in the early church, who are likely to be associated with the apostles (Polycarp, Clement, and Ignatius) speak approvingly of his letters.

Reason 2: Never do the early church show knowledge of a fundamental dissension between Paul and Peter on matters pertinent to Christology and the nature of God, even though they often mention him alongside the apostle Peter.

Reason 3: Paul tells us in Galatians 2 that he went up to Jerusalem with Barnabus to confirm that the gospel he was preaching to the gentiles was the same as theirs. It is unlikely that he made this story up in order to support his own apostolic authority – because in the same chapter he also mentions the dispute that happened between Paul and Peter regarding circumcision when Peter came to Antioch.

Reason 4: Paul makes a disinterested comment about the Apostle James in Galatians 1:18-19:

“Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.”

Notice the disinterested off the cuff remark from Paul about James. If Paul was a false Apostle inventing stories we would not expect him to just mention James in passing without making a point. The fact that Paul merely mentions James in this off the cuff way persuades historians that Paul was recalling real events about his association with the early church and Apostles.

Reason 5: Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:9-11,

“For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”

Paul thus appears to endorse the other apostles and even goes so far as to say that he considers himself less than the least of them. Paul seems to assume that the Corinthian Christians also believed his message to be consistent with the other apostles. This strongly suggests that Paul and the other apostles were generally in agreement on the core matters of the faith.

Paul’s theology was radically at odds with core Islamic teaching, since Paul affirmed not only the deity of Christ, but also the crucifixion and resurrection (all of which are expressly rejected by Islam).

Paul’s Words

For the purposes of argument, I will only appeal to the non-disputed works of Paul, works that all Christian and non-Christian historians unanimously grant were written by him.

In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul quotes what is likely an early Christian hymn:

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The crucifixion of Jesus is already starkly at odds with Islamic theology (see Surah 4:157-158). Furthermore, there are at least three reasons why this text teaches the deity of Christ:

1. It says that Christ was “in the form of God” and then “took the form of a servant” – he is thus putting the two in the same category, since he uses the greek word morphé (meaning “form”) in both clauses.
2. The context of the passage instructs us to emulate the humility of Christ. But it is no act of humility on the part of a creature to not seek to be God.
3. Verses 10 and 11 link with Isaiah 45:23: “To me [i.e. Yahweh] every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.”

To take one further example, Paul appears to expand upon the shema (from Deuteronomy 6:4) in 1 Corinthians 8:6, identifying Jesus Christ as Lord of the shema:

“Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.”

This suggests, by extension, that the disciples of Jesus likewise affirmed the deity of Christ. It also seems unlikely that they would have reached such a radical conclusion had Jesus not himself identified Himself in this way, especially given (1) the Jewish Messianic expectations; (2) The Jewish concept of God; and (3) the connotations of crucifixion to a Jew.

To conclude, there is no reason to think that Jesus’ disciples were Muslims as the Qur’an contends and every reason to think otherwise. This presents yet another formidable challenge to the Islamic religion and gives even more rational warrant for its rejection.

Recommended Resources:

How Can Jesus Be the Only Way? (mp4 Download) by Frank Turek

Can All Religions Be True? mp3 by Frank Turek

Jesus, You and the Essentials of Christianity by Frank Turek (INSTRUCTOR Study Guide), (STUDENT Study Guide), and (DVD)      

Person of Interest: Why Jesus Still Matters in a World that Rejects the Bible by J. Warner Wallace (Paperback), (Investigator’s Guide).

 


Dr. Jonathan McLatchie is a Christian writer, international speaker, and debater. He holds a Bachelor’s degree (with Honors) in forensic biology, a Masters’s (M.Res) degree in evolutionary biology, a second Master’s degree in medical and molecular bioscience, and a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology. Currently, he is an assistant professor of biology at Sattler College in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. McLatchie is a contributor to various apologetics websites and is the founder of the Apologetics Academy (Apologetics-Academy.org), a ministry that seeks to equip and train Christians to persuasively defend the faith through regular online webinars, as well as assist Christians who are wrestling with doubts. Dr. McLatchie has participated in more than thirty moderated debates around the world with representatives of atheism, Islam, and other alternative worldview perspectives. He has spoken internationally in Europe, North America, and South Africa promoting an intelligent, reflective, and evidence-based Christian faith.

Originally posted at: https://bit.ly/450zGNI

What makes a devout Muslim from Turkey walk away from Islam in the face of extreme hostility? This week, Frank sits down with Ridvan Aydemir (better known online as the Apostate Prophet) whose stunning journey took him from Islam, to atheism, to Christianity. AP opens up about escaping the grip of Islamic doctrine, confronting the violence embedded in its worldview, and discovering the evidence that finally led him to Christ. You’ll also hear how an unlikely friendship with Christian apologist David Wood helped reshape his search for truth. During their conversation, Frank and AP answer questions like:

  • What was the tipping point that broke Ridvan’s confidence in Islam?
  • Why is leaving Islam so dangerous, and why do so many ex-Muslims become outspoken activists?
  • How did Ridvan’s family react to his decision?
  • What’s one thought-provoking question Christians can ask Muslims to put a pebble in their shoe?
  • What are some of the key differences between the Quran and the Bible?
  • Why is Islam NOT a “religion of peace” like so many people claim?
  • What is the Islamic Dilemma and how can it be used to move Muslims closer to the truth of Christianity?
  • How do Muslims explain why there are so many different versions of the Quran?
  • Why did Ridvan call himself an agnostic-atheist for almost 10 years?

Be sure to check out AP’s YouTube channel which is packed with eye-opening videos that break down the Islamic worldview, expose its dangers, and equip Christians to reach Muslims with the truth. And stay tuned for the next episode where Ridvan explains more in depth his journey from atheism to Christianity!

If you enjoyed this podcast episode PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY BY SUPPORTING OUR MINISTRY USING THE LINK BELOW. 100% of your donation goes to ministry, 0% to buildings!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Donate to CrossExamined
Charlie Kirk & Apostate Prophet on Islam
The Islamic Dilemma from David Wood
43 Scientific Mistakes in the Quran
Mohammed Hijab DESTROYS the Islamic Dilemma!! with David Wood & Michael Jones
ApostateProphet.com
The Apostate Prophet YouTube Channel
Follow the Apostate Prophet on X

Download Transcript

Do you have locks on your doors? What about a fence so your kids can play safely in the yard? The truth is, everyone believes in secure borders and as long as human nature is bent towards evil, borders will be necessary.

This week, Frank picks up where he left off from the last episode as he explains what the Bible really says about immigration, borders, and deportations while answering questions like:

  • What are the important distinctions between legal and illegal immigration?
  • How does stopping illegal immigration protect innocent people from evil?
  • What happens when a country becomes too “soft” on enforcing its laws?
  • What’s the difference between imposing religion vs. imposing morality?
  • What is the #1 purpose of government?
  • Isn’t it compassionate to have open borders?
  • How can America help the most people both inside and outside our borders?

The best way to protect America and help people outside of our country is to control immigration at a sustainable level while exporting our ideas of economic and political liberty to other nations. We can’t bring everyone to America, but we should try to bring America to everyone.

If you enjoyed this podcast episode PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY BY SUPPORTING OUR MINISTRY USING THE LINK BELOW. 100% of your donation goes to ministry, 0% to buildings!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Donate to CrossExamined
Top 10 Reasons Why Borders Are Biblical – Part 1
Trump’s Border Wall ‘Morally Good’ Because Bible Cities Had Walls by Wayne Grudem
Why Everyone Believes in Secure Borders and Why America Needs Them by Frank Turek

Download Transcript

Immigration is one of the most emotionally charged issues of our time, but what does the Bible really say about borders and deportations? Are borders unbiblical, or do they play a necessary role in human flourishing? And can governments enforce laws without violating Jesus’ teachings? In this episode, Frank goes straight to Scripture to discuss one of today’s most heated cultural debates, exposing how key Bible passages are often taken out of context to support mass immigration narratives that the text itself does not teach.

Tune in as Frank lays out why the Bible consistently affirms borders and answers questions like:

  • Was Jesus an illegal immigrant?
  • What are four simple rules for interpreting the Bible correctly?
  • Why do people confuse biblical commands to individuals with commands to governments?
  • How can misplaced empathy–Toxic Empathy–lead to unintended negative consequences?
  • What role does the government play according to Romans 13?
  • Why are borders necessary for civilization to function?
  • Is religion the cause of most wars?
  • Does biblical love mean unconditional approval?
  • What are Augustine’s order of loves and how do they help stabilize society?
  • Why are global governments so dangerous?

If you’ve ever felt confused by how Scripture is used in the immigration debate, this episode is for you! Tune in as Frank explains why borders and justice aren’t opposed to compassion, but work together when Scripture is understood correctly. And because all ten biblical reasons for borders can’t fit into one program, this conversation sets the stage for a follow-up episode you won’t want to miss!

If you enjoyed this podcast episode PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY BY SUPPORTING OUR MINISTRY USING THE LINK BELOW. 100% of your donation goes to ministry, 0% to buildings!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Donate to CrossExamined

How to Interpret Your Bible – self-paced online course

Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion by Allie Beth Stuckey

The Unseen Realm with Dr. Michael Heiser

Trump’s Border Wall ‘Morally Good’ Because Bible Cities Had Walls by Wayne Grudem

Why Everyone Believes in Secure Borders and Why America Needs Them by Frank Turek

Download Transcript

One of the most common objections skeptics raise to the deity of Christ is the idea that Jesus never actually claimed to be God. Sure the church ended up worshiping Him as such, but this was a later development that was projected onto Jesus but wasn’t something He intended to claim for Himself . . . or so the argument goes.

If you are expecting to find a Bible verse in which Jesus stands on the Mount of Olives and proclaims in English, and every other known language, “I am God!” You won’t find it. He actually did one better . . . but we’ll save that for the end.

Biblically, there are several ways to know that Jesus is God. He accepted worship, possessed all the eternal attributes of God, did things only God can do, and was given titles of deity. (Those are all great subjects for future blog posts.)

But Jesus did also CLAIM to be God, and here are three times He did just that:

#1 Mark 14:61-62

After His arrest, Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish court. The high priest asked him point blank: “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus replied, “I am…and all of you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Reading with modern eyes, it looks as if Jesus is simply claiming to be a “son of man”—not God Himself. But when set within its cultural and biblical context, Jesus was making a reference to a prophecy in the book of Daniel. This not only identified Him as the “Son of Man” predicted in chapter 7, but the eternal Sovereign Lord of all, who will return to judge the very court in which He now stood trial. When seen in the light of Psalm 110, Jesus was claiming to sit on the very throne of Israel’s God.

Still fuzzy? It wasn’t to the biblically literate Jews who heard him make these claims. In fact, Jesus’ claim to be God was considered blasphemy, and according to Leviticus 24:16, blasphemy was punishable by death. The high priest acknowledged his understanding of this by tearing his robes and calling for Jesus’ execution (Mark 14:63-65).

#2 John 10:30

One day, Jesus was walking around the temple complex and was surrounded by some Jews who wanted to know if He was the Messiah. After identifying God the Father as “greater than all,” He said, “The Father and I are one.”

Through modern eyes, this could look like Jesus was simply saying that He and God had some kind of special connection—that they were really “in sync.” But when seen through the eyes of ancient Jews, Jesus was actually claiming to be of the same essence and nature as God Himself.

We only need to look at the reaction of the Jews to know that they understood what Jesus was saying. They immediately picked up stones to stone Him for “blasphemy,” saying, “because you, a mere man, claim to be God!”

#3 John 8:58

While having a heated argument with some Judeans about their relationship to Abraham, they asked Jesus in verse 53, “Who do you think you are?” To this Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” I AM. This is Jesus’ most explicit claim to deity.

Modern eyes might read this and think, I am . . . what? Rewind over a thousand years to Exodus 3, where we find Moses standing face to face with a bush engulfed in flames. From within the bush, God calls Moses and unmistakably identifies Himself: “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses asks for God’s actual name, God answers, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘ I AM has sent me to you.’”

​When Jesus identified Himself as “I am,” He was not only claiming to be God, but the very God of the Old Testament: The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Of course, the Jews understood exactly what He was claiming, and once again, picked up stones to execute Him for blasphemy.

Jesus was an intentional and articulate communicator and there was no ambiguous language in His claims to deity. The people to whom he was speaking were not confused—they got the message.

​Three times He claimed to be God, and three times they wanted Him dead for it.

Recommended Resources: 

Jesus, You and the Essentials of Christianity by Frank Turek (INSTRUCTOR Study Guide), (STUDENT Study Guide), and (DVD)

Early Evidence for the Resurrection by Dr. Gary Habermas (DVD), (Mp3) and (Mp4)

How Can Jesus be the Only Way? Mp4Mp3, and DVD by Frank Turek

Person of Interest: Why Jesus Still Matters in a World that Rejects the Bible by J. Warner Wallace (Paperback), (Investigator’s Guide).

 


Alisa Childers is an American singer and songwriter, best known for being in the all-female Christian music group ZOEgirl. She has had a string of top ten radio singles, four studio releases, and received the Dove Award during her time with ZOEgirl. In later years, Alisa found her life-long faith deeply challenged when she started attending what would later identify as a Progressive Christian church. This challenge pushed Alisa toward Christian Apologetics. Today you can read, listen and watch Alisa’s work online as well as purchase her recently published book on Progressive Christianity titled  Another Gospel.

Originally posted at: https://bit.ly/4p82ACG

 

Merry Christmas everyone! In this very special episode of ‘I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist’, Frank shares his personal thoughts and experiences from his time at America Fest 2025 last weekend, including who he met for the first time, what’s coming next for TPUSA, and what new guests you might be seeing on the podcast soon!

Then, we share a “blast from the past” fan-favorite episode with the great Bill Federer, where he talks about the TRUE history of our Christmas traditions and debunks some of the popular myths and questions circulating online including:

  • Is there any CHRISTIAN truth to our Christmas traditions or are they rooted in paganism?
  • What’s the deal with Santa Claus and where did he come from?
  • Was Jesus REALLY born on December 25th?
  • Is Christmas a copycat of Sol Invictus?
  • What role did St. Nicholas play at the Council of Nicaea?
  • Where did the Christmas tree come from?
  • How did Martin Luther change Germany’s Christmas traditions?
  • Is it ok for Christians to use the term X-mas and where did it come from?
  • Should Christians teach their kids that the mythical Santa Claus is real?
  • What is the true meaning of Christmas?

And so much more! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out Bill’s book, ‘There Really Is a Santa Claus’, and sign-up for his popular newsletter, American Minute.

If you enjoyed this podcast episode PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY BY SUPPORTING OUR MINISTRY USING THE LINK BELOW. 100% of your donation goes to ministry, 0% to buildings!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Donate to CrossExamined
Truth at the Table: A Holiday Conversation Toolkit
Frank’s full speech at AmFest 2025
Saturate USA panel with Lucas Miles
Daily Wire interview at AmFest 2025
More AmFest 2025 highlights & speeches
Bill’s website & newsletter
There Really Is a Santa Claus by Bill Federer
Hope One Throwback Christmas Episode (2021) with Bill Federer

Download Transcript

I sat down with some Jehovah’s Witnesses who were visiting with me. The elder who was leading our study stated that Jesus never claimed to be God. Jehovah’s Witnesses argue that Jesus is a created being. Liberal “Christians” argue that Jesus never claimed to be God. Many other groups say the same. If such is the case, then Christians have some explaining to do as they teach that Jesus is God. But did he ever claim this title for himself? Let’s look at what he actually said.

I am going to argue that, yes, Jesus in fact did claim to be God. This can be seen by the fact that he claimed to be identical with God in various ways.

Jesus Claimed to Be Identical with God

Jesus made statements about himself that were expressly made of Yahweh in the Old Testament. Let’s look at the OT claims and then Jesus’ claims.

“I AM”

One of the clearest passages of Jesus claiming to be God is his claiming to be Yahweh as being the great I AM of Exodus 3:14.

OT Claim: “God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’” The designation “I am” was solely reserved for Yahweh and was recognizes by the Jews as such. (Exodus 3:14)

Jesus Claim: “Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.‘ 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple” (John 8:58-58). Clearly the Jews understood Jesus to be making himself equal with God. That’s why they wanted to kill him.

First and the Last

OT Claim: “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.’” (Isaiah 44:6)

Jesus’ Claim: “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.’” (Note for Jehovah’s Witnesses: This can’t be Jehovah since for them Jehovah never died.)

Having the Glory of God

Jesus claimed to have the glory that only God had.

OT Claim: “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”

Jesus’ Claim: “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

His Acceptance of Worship

The OT and NT also forbade the worship of any other being, idol or otherwise (Exodus 20:1-4; Deut. 5:6-9; Acts 14:15; Rev. 22:8-9). Jesus, however, worship on several occasions and never reprimanded anyone else for it (Matt. 14:33; Matt. 20:28; John 9:38; John 20:28). In this last example Thomas explicitly calls Jesus God and Jesus didn’t correct him.

He Claimed to Have Authority and Equality with God

Throughout Matthew 5 Jesus claims his words have the same authority as God. Repeatedly he says regarding the OT, “You have heard it said, but I say to you . . .” (See 5:22, 28, 32)

In the baptismal formula he gave at the Great Commission, he claimed equality with the Father and Spirit: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20)

He claimed to be able to forgive sins, which only God could do: “And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 ‘Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” (Mark 2:5-7)

Perhaps the clearest passage is John 10:30-33: Jesus claimed to be one with the Father. “I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

Objections to Jesus Being God

Objection: Some will object that Jesus can’t be God. God, they say, is infinite and unlimited; however, Jesus claimed to be limited in various ways. For example, in Matthew 24:36 Jesus said, referring to his second coming, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

Response: We have to understand that Jesus did in fact claim (and prove) to be God. The traditional Christian teaching is that Jesus had two natures even though he was just one person. One nature was his divine nature that he shares with the Father and Spirit. The other is his human nature. Sometimes he refers to his divine nature, such as having glory with God, being the first and the last, etc. However, sometimes he refers to his human nature. When we ask questions about his ability to do something or know something we have to be clear as to whether we are talking about his divine or human nature. In this verse Jesus is referring to his limited human nature. This does not deny his divine nature.

Objection: Jesus also said “The Father is greater than I.” (John 14:28)
Response: The same basic answer is used here. The Father is greater in office while not being greater in nature, that is, in Jesus’ divine nature. Of course, the Father is greater than Jesus’ human nature. An illustration may make this clearer. The President of the United States is greater than me. However, he is only greater in office. We are both of the same nature.

Objection: in Matthew 19:17 we read: “And behold, a man came up to him, saying, ‘Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?’ 17 And he said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good.’” In other words, only God is good, so why are you calling me good?
Response: Notice there is no explicit denial of his deity. He is likely saying, “Do you realize that in calling me good you are calling me God?” However, even if this is not what he is saying, there is no explicit denial of being God, and we have already seen several (select) examples of him claiming to be God.

Conclusion

Above are a few of the many passages where Jesus claims to be equal with God in various ways. The notion that he didn’t claim to be God is simply false. He was also understood to be God by his followers and the Church. Objections to this idea fail when properly examined. Jesus in fact claimed to be God.

*I am indebted as a student of Dr. Norman L. Geisler for the above connections and general thought. See for example his Christian Apologetics.

 

Recommended Resources: 

Jesus, You and the Essentials of Christianity by Frank Turek (INSTRUCTOR Study Guide), (STUDENT Study Guide), and (DVD)      

Early Evidence for the Resurrection by Dr. Gary Habermas (DVD), (Mp3) and (Mp4)

How Can Jesus be the Only Way? Mp4, Mp3, and DVD by Frank Turek

Person of Interest: Why Jesus Still Matters in a World that Rejects the Bible by J. Warner Wallace (Paperback), (Investigator’s Guide).

 


J. Brian Huffling, PH.D. has a BA in History from Lee University, an MA in (3 majors) Apologetics, Philosophy, and Biblical Studies from Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES), and a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion from SES. He is the Director of the Ph.D. Program and Associate Professor of Philosophy and Theology at SES. He also teaches courses for Apologia Online Academy. He has previously taught at The Art Institute of Charlotte. He has served in the Marines, Navy, and is currently a reserve chaplain in the Air Force at Maxwell Air Force Base. His hobbies include golf, backyard astronomy, martial arts, and guitar.

Originally posted at: https://bit.ly/44J7ONY

What happens to a society when trust in law enforcement collapses? Can a culture survive when those sworn to protect it are constantly vilified? In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death and the tragic murder of Charlie Kirk, skepticism and cynicism toward law enforcement has surged, reshaping public trust and public safety. Former cold-case homicide detective, J. Warner Wallace, joins Frank to examine how we arrived at this moment and what’s at stake if the trend continues. Together, Frank and Jim answer questions like:

  • What is the primary role of government according to God?
  • Why is local law enforcement considered the #1 essential service of any functional society?
  • How does public skepticism and cynicism toward law enforcement directly impact crime and safety?
  • Why is it so important for police officers to proactively suppress crime?
  • How do first responders reflect God’s nature and design for authority?
  • Why is it better for local agencies to handle local crimes?
  • Are “viral” police encounters distorting reality?
  • What is the observer effect and what does it have to do with “the weirdest claim of all Christianity”?
  • Why does law enforcement attract so much criticism compared to other professions?
  • Why do so many police officers face difficulty in marriage and what’s the solution?

Drawing from real-world experience, Jim exposes the cultural forces undermining police authority and explains why a biblical worldview is essential for justice, accountability, and social stability. As Christians, let’s lead the way in Gospel-centered engagement with those in uniform. Do you love your freedom? Thank a police officer!

If you enjoyed this podcast episode PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY BY SUPPORTING OUR MINISTRY USING THE LINK BELOW. 100% of your donation goes to ministry, 0% to buildings!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Donate to CrossExamined
Upcoming Online Courses – Starting in January!
Charlie Kirk Conspiracy Theories? Homicide Detective Speaks Out
Operation Heal Our Patriots
ColdCaseChristianity.com
ThinBlueLife.com

Download Transcript

Thousands of amateur investigators across the interwebs are scouring the Charlie Kirk assassination case. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Many of them pose sincere questions and innocent curiosity. There should be no problem with a healthy exercise of free speech, free inquiry, and the marketplace of ideas. Mainstream narratives deserve a fair share of testing since they can’t all be trusted. But being popular, mainstream, or conventional never made anything false. Sometimes the truth is so widely recognized it becomes the majority view. Truth isn’t always sensationalistic. Sometimes it’s boring and predictable. Truth doesn’t care to entertain anyone. It just is what it is.

But not every question is a fair question either. Sometimes questions are cloaked accusation, mean-spirited insinuation, manipulative suggestion, and trick questions designed not to reveal truth but to reinforce one’s bias, or worse, they are catty attempts to flex one’s “mean girl” credentials in a veritable coupe de tat against a prettier rival. Of course, the analogy of feminine aggression in the school yard is just an analogy here, but it does point out that we cannot safely assume that everyone who’s asking questions is “just asking questions.” We can’t assume everyone posing as a sincere investigator is acting in good faith.

Apart from thoughtful questions and good faith debate, there’s this other level of questioning. It’s not “just” questions, but more like manipulative inquisition. It’s riddled with gossip, reckless conjecture, cynicism, mean-spirited guess-work, paranoid conspiracies, and even exploitation. This manipulative posture does not reflect the grace, sincerity, love, humility, or restraint we should expect from Christians engaged in sincere investigation. Rather it operates more opportunistically, seizing upon crises as a chance to vault oneself into new levels of influence, authority, popularity, power, or to just get rich at someone else’s expense.

Christians do well to stay above the fray where possible. And if we must weigh in, we need to be gracious, discerning, truth-seekers with an eye for redeeming situations as far as we are able. That takes a lot of love and a lot of wisdom. If you’re short on wisdom and lacking love right now, then you might not be in the right head space to delve into the Candace Owens situation. Jesus summarized the right disposition as “shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). That’s a good goal to aim for.

Rather than address Candace Owens directly, we can address the evidence for Tyler Robinson. If he is indeed the shooter then 99% of Candace Owen’s most popular conspiracy claims evaporate.

Regarding Tyler Robinson, when you stack up the evidence, it’s pretty impressive. Nevertheless, a lot of people have been tainted with reckless conjecture, cynicism, conspiricism, or they just enjoy gossipy guesswork a bit too much. Setting all that aside, the evidence available to the public is pretty strong on it’s own.

From some of the reports I’ve read, Tyler Robinson’s DNA was found on the purported murder weapon. The weapon was owned by Tyler’s grandfather, so Tyler had access to it and might have practiced shooting with it before. It had been fired recently. It uses reduced recoil 30-06 ammunition because of the age of the rifle and gun restrictions for Tyler’s age. That type of round would be consistent with a shot at about 150 yards, with or without an exit wound. Multiple witnesses testify to a single, and very loud, gunshot (suggesting it wasn’t from a mile away, for example, but was fairly nearby). The shot was within range to where a relatively amateur shooter could have made that shot. The shooter’s actions in staking out a spot, staging the shot, and his escape route – all visible to several cameras – is consisted with an amateur shooter and not very consistent with a professional assassin. Tyler had a known motive for murder – assassinating one of the most influential conservative figures in the country for preaching alleged “transphobia” to millions of people. Tyler confessed to the shooting. He confessed not just once, but at least twice, and to different people. His own family believed he was suspicious and/or guilty enough to where they turned him in, even negotiating with the police for a peaceful surrender so Tyler wouldn’t get harmed in the process. Video footage shows the approximate location of the shooter at the time of firing. Footage places Tyler at the scene, and along the escape path fleeing from the rooftop and into the woods. Video footage, police officers, and police dogs have retraced his approximate ‘escape’ route and his actions for the next 1-2 hours after the shooting including his vehicle, clothing, shoes, lunch, and where he stashed the weapon. To my knowledge there is no reported exit wound, so the bullet would have likely been recovered in the autopsy. If it matches the weapon then this seems to be an open and shut case. If there are any legal experts or experienced criminal investigators out there who care to comment I’d be interested to hear your opinions in the comments below.

There’s an additional question of whether Tyler was working alone or had help. Either way, if he pulled the trigger he is still guilty so the case against him remains relatively unchanged. Then the question is whether there is enough evidence to convict anyone else as an accomplice – when said “accomplice” has the same presumption of innocence that Tyler has in this case. If some reddit trolls egged him on, or someone said they’d help stash his gun, that sort of “accomplice” wouldn’t substantially change the single shooter narrative. Ockham’s Razor suggests that a single shooter, with the weapon, motive, and multiple confessions, is a sufficient explanation for what happened that fateful day.

I pray that justice wins out, and the gossipy conspiracists are humble enough and self-aware enough to let the truth win in the end, whether it’s boring or sensationalistic, mundane and predictable, or entertaining and surprising. We need no bias for or against Tyler Robinson to take a stand for truth. We can however pray for everyone involved. I know at least one grieving widow and some orphans who need our prayers. Scripture says in this regard,

“Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry” Exodus 22:22-23.

There are also some opportunistic evil-doers hoping to sow chaos and confusion now that one of the gate keepers of the conservative movement has been shot down. That gate, arguably, remains unmanned. So, it’s no surprise to see eager ideological arsonists sneaking in trying to set fire to the powder keg that is US politics. It never took very much effort to ignite it, setting the country ablaze. And for those who expect a woke left or woke right Phoenix to rise from the ashes, they are liable to set it all ablaze on purpose believing (against all reason) that the key to improving the country is to tear it to the ground first. We do well to pray against opportunistic evil-doers from whichever direction they may come. We need a lot of God-fearing, Jesus-loving, Spirit-led prayer followed-up with level-headed wisdom if we’re going to avoid reactionary and alarmist errors amidst the fog of ideological war.

Even Tyler Robinson could use some prayer right now. We can pray for justice to be served and for everyone involved in that awful day to come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Let truth and love ring out louder than all the gossip, conspiracies, and rage-bait.

Recommended Resources: 

If God, Why Evil? (DVD Set), (MP3 Set), and (mp4 Download Set) by Frank Turek 

Correct not Politically Correct: About Same-Sex Marriage and Transgenderism by Frank Turek (Book, MP4, )

Stealing From God by Dr. Frank Turek (Book, 10-Part DVD Set, STUDENT Study Guide, TEACHER Study Guide)

Jesus vs. The Culture by Dr. Frank Turek DVD, Mp4 Download, and Mp3

 


Dr. John D. Ferrer is a speaker and content creator with Crossexamined. He’s also a graduate from the very first class of Crossexamined Instructors Academy. Having earned degrees from Southern Evangelical Seminary (MDiv) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (ThM, PhD), he’s now active in the pro-life community and in his home church in Pella Iowa. When he’s not helping his wife Hillary Ferrer with her ministry Mama Bear Apologetics, you can usually find John writing, researching, and teaching cultural apologetics.

Recent events have shaken the world. The various murders, and specifically the assassination of Charlie Kirk, have left many Americans with questions of justice, the future, and truth. Our world has never seemed so dark, and the divide in America has never seemed so wide. Yet despite the horror and darkness of the past few weeks, hope is on the horizon. Revival. Never, in recent years, has the Church had such a potential harvest laid at our feet. God is truly turning evil to good with millions of Americans returning to church for the first time (Gen 50:20).

If revival is coming, we must be ready. We need to be prepared for the harvest (Luke 10:2). But how do we prepare? What is our greatest tool? The Gospel. Why is the Gospel so important? “It is the power of God for salvation” (Rom 1:16; ESV)

Hearing and responding to the Gospel in faith is how we enter God’s kingdom, making it the most important message one can hear. If we want to fan the flames of revival, it is vital that we know the Gospel fully so that we can share it with those who need it.

So, what exactly is the Gospel? I argue that, in general, the Gospel has eight essential parts, nine if you include the foundation; that the subject of the Gospel is Jesus and the Kingdom of God. [1]

The Gospel

Jesus:
Jesus is the foundation of the Gospel. The entire Gospel revolves around him. The four gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are centered around the man who is Jesus of Nazareth.[2]

Is the Christ (Messiah-King)
The first fact that must be understood about Jesus is that he is the Christ. Christ is not a last name, but rather a title. The title Christ labels Jesus as the Jewish Messiah, the anointed one, the long-awaited King. In his gospel, John tells his readers that this gospel was written to convince them that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31). Each gospel labels Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah.[3]

Jesus being the Christ is essential to the Gospel. Jesus himself proclaimed the Gospel that the kingdom of God is near.[4] If there is a kingdom, there is a king. That king is the Christ, the Messiah, making Jesus the king of the kingdom of God (1 Timothy 1:10). We can also know his title as Christ is important because in every Gospel presentation, he is named as Jesus Christ, or Christ Jesus.

Was sent by God the Father
Jesus’s close connection to God the Father is found in every gospel and is what gives authority to Jesus’s ministry. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus states,

“All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Matt 11:25).[5]

Jesus makes several statements indicating that he was sent by God for a purpose. John 3:16, “that he gave his only Son,” is a clear example. Jesus mentions the Father sending him again in John 5:24, “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.”

Took On Human Flesh           
How was Jesus sent? What was his arrival like? Jesus came through the virgin birth, taking on the form of a man. John gives one of the clearest statements of God becoming man in John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”. As John clearly states at the beginning of the chapter, “the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). The Word is later identified as Jesus. One only needs to look at the birth stories found in the other gospels to see a clear image of Christ coming in human flesh.

Looking beyond the four gospels, Paul also confirms that God, the Son, took on humanity. Paul writes in a hymn that Christ took on “the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Phi 2:6-7). In having Christ take on human form, God has revealed himself to us. Christ is the ultimate image bearer of God.[6] We cannot perfectly bear God’s image as Christ can.

Willingly Died for the Sins of Mankind
There are three important parts of Christ’s death. One is that Christ willingly died for mankind. Matthew writes that Jesus, though asking the Father if there was another way, was willing to obey the Father’s will to go to the cross (Matt 26:39).[7] In John’s gospel, Jesus mentions his upcoming death many times. He even states that his soul is troubled, but because he came for this purpose, he will not turn away from it (John 12:27).

The second part is that Christ actually died. Every gospel mentions his death on the cross in clear terms.[8] Every time the Gospel is preached, Christ’s death is mentioned.[9] In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul retells the Gospel, and the first part he mentions is that “Christ died” (1 Cor 15:3). We find this also in Acts during Peter’s first sermon after the ascension of Christ, after Pentecost. Peter tells the crowd that Jesus was crucified and killed as part of the plan of God (Acts 2:23).

The third part pertaining to Christ’s death is that he died for the sins of mankind. His sacrifice for sins is typically mentioned in tandem with his death. Paul writes that “Christ died for our sins” (1 Cor 15:3). Though sins are not explicitly mentioned, Jesus says in two of the gospels that he is dying for mankind. Matthew quotes Jesus as saying that he came “to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt 20:28).[10]

Was Buried
At first glance, his burial may look like a minor point, but it gives evidence of his physical death. His burial is mentioned in every gospel after the crucifixion narratives.[11] Paul mentions it when he retells the Gospel to the Corinthians, “that he was buried” (1 Cor 15:4). Paul also mentions Christ’s burial in Colossians to show the connection between our baptism with the form of Christ’s life (Col 2:12).

Was Resurrected by God
Just as the death of Christ is essential to the Gospel, so also is his resurrection. After all, as Paul wrote, “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Cor 15:14). If Christ was not raised from the dead, then our faith is false. Christianity is false. This is a major reason why his resurrection is so important.

All four gospels write about his resurrection, with John’s gospel giving the most information about his post-resurrection appearances.[12] Christ’s resurrection is actually mentioned more than his death, demonstrating the importance of his resurrection to the Gospel.[13]

Ascended Into Heaven at the Right Hand of the Father
The ascension, though important, is an often-neglected part of the Gospel. Many often end the Gospel message at the resurrection, but the importance of the ascension cannot be emphasized enough. Two of the gospels mention his ascension at the end of their narrative, often after he gives a commission to his disciples.[14] Luke also describes the ascension of Christ in Acts, just before the event at Pentecost (Acts 1:6-11).

During his earthly ministry, Jesus himself foretells his ascension back into heaven at the Father’s side.[15] Paul also mentions the ascension of Christ. He writes, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name” (Phi 2:9). His ascension back into heaven is his exaltation. God exalted him and gave him the throne (Matt 26:64). His ascension indicates the success of his work on earth, and it inaugurates his kingly reign. When Paul retells the Gospel in Romans 1:3-4, Christ’s ascension, that is, his enthronement and declaration as the Son of God, is the climax.[16]

The apostles emphasize this in their sermons in Acts. Peter mentions several times within the first several chapters.[17] What is also neglected about the ascension is that it is only because Jesus is now king that he can “give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). As king and Lord, Jesus has the ultimate authority to forgive sins.

Will Return as Judge 
Now that Christ is the reigning king, the final part of the Gospel is his second coming as Judge. Jesus tells of his second coming and the future judgment. Matthew writes,

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left” (Matt 25:31-34).

The end of the book of Revelation speaks of this judgment. John quotes Christ as saying, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done” (Rev 22:12).

Peter also preaches about this. In teaching Cornelius, he tells him that Jesus has been appointed by God to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42). As the reigning king, Jesus has the authority to judge all of mankind. It is this judgment that will result in the final destination of every person. Those who are in Christ will be with him forever, and those who oppose him will be cast into the lake of fire.

Conclusion

The Gospel is all about King Jesus and the work he has done and will do. King Jesus has come, by the Father’s will, to die for the sins of mankind. He was raised back to life from God, as vindication of his ministry, ascended back into heaven, and is now reigning on the throne of God as our King and Judge.

There is a revival coming. We need to know the Gospel. Whether you use this summary of the Gospel or read the gospels until you know the story by heart, we need to be able to teach it at a moment’s notice. For it is not only our responsibility to give our allegiance to King Jesus, but to spread his Gospel far and wide, giving all people the chance to give their allegiance.

Thomas Moller writes for FreeThinking Ministries on topics including suffering, theology, and cultural engagement. He brings a thoughtful perspective to difficult questions and helps believers think more deeply about faith and life.

References: 

[1] My work here was inspired by Matthew Bates’s work in his book Gospel Allegiance. Though my parts do not conform exactly with his own summation of the Gospel, his structure did influence mine. Matthew W. Bates. Gospel Allegiance (Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group, 2019), 86-87.

[2] Matt 1:1; Mark 1:1; Acts 1:1; John 20:30-31

[3] Matt 1:1, Mark 1:1, Luke 4:41

[4] Matt 4:23; Mark 1:15

[5] Also found in Luke 10:22

[6] 2 Cor. 4:4; Col 1:15

[7] This same prayer is mentioned in both Mark and Luke (Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42).

[8] Matt 27:45-50; Mark 15:33-37; Luke 23:44-46; John 19:28-30

[9] Rom 1:4; Col 1:18, 2:13-14; Phi 2:8; Heb 2:14-17

[10] This saying is also found in Mark (Mark 10:45).

[11] Matt 27:57-61; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23: 50-56; John 19:38-42

[12] Matt 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:11-18

[13] Bates, 95.

[14] Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:50-53.

[15] John 6:62, 7:33-34, 20:17; Luke 24:49

[16] Bates, 97.

[17] Act 2:33, 5:31, 7:56

Recommended Resources:

The Great Book of Romans by Dr. Frank Turek (Mp4, Mp3, DVD Complete series, STUDENT & INSTRUCTOR Study Guide, COMPLETE Instructor Set)

Jesus, You and the Essentials of Christianity by Frank Turek (INSTRUCTOR Study Guide), (STUDENT Study Guide), and (DVD)      

How to Interpret Your Bible by Dr. Frank Turek DVD Complete Series, INSTRUCTOR Study Guide, and STUDENT Study Guide

Reflecting Jesus into a Dark World by Dr. Frank Turek – DVD Complete Series, Video mp4 DOWNLOAD Complete Series, and mp3 audio DOWNLOAD Complete Series

 


Thomas Moller writes for FreeThinking Ministries on topics including suffering, theology, and cultural engagement. He brings a thoughtful perspective to difficult questions and helps believers think more deeply about faith and life.

Originally posted at: https://bit.ly/4aGhtIG