Tonight on The Hal Lindsey Report

This week, I'll continue my discussion of "The Man God Became." 

As I mentioned in this space last week, as we see the demonic spirit of "political correctness" take firmer hold on all areas of our society, I'm convinced that the decision by true Christians to stand up for Jesus on certain issues and claims will spark an onslaught of derision and discrimination against us. I think those defining issues will include abortion, same sex marriage, parental rights, and the role of God in our national life. 

Already, our military, our schools, our courts, our media, and our governments are in a mad dash to eliminate any vestige of religious freedom. Todd Starnes at FoxNews.com reported that on October 17, 2013, U.S. Army soldiers at a briefing at Fort Hood, Texas, were told that "evangelical Christians and members of the Tea Party were a threat to the nation and that any soldier donating to those groups would be subjected to punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice." 

Though a Pentagon spokesman denied this incident happened, it was corroborated by other witnesses. 

I believe it will ultimately come down to the declaration by Jesus Christ that He alone is the way to heaven. Jesus Himself said that because the world hated Him, it will hate us. He cautioned that true, and faithful, believers will be persecuted "for My name's sake." (John 15:21) 

It now appears that the men and women of our armed forces -- the very ones who have volunteered their lives to defend our Constitution and our nation -- may be among the first who will have to decide whether to deny Christ or face criminal prosecution. 

Folks, as a former member of our nation's armed services, the Coast Guard, I am incredulous as I write these words. President Dwight Eisenhower once admonished the nation that "there are no atheists in foxholes." If he were alive today, I wonder how that great soldier would respond to the prospect that soon there may be no Christians in foxholes! 

I have often told you that if we are to remain strong in the coming days, months, and years, we must be planted on a firm foundation. To be able to unflinchingly press the claims of Christ in this hostile world, we must first understand the man who made those claims. 

On the last Report, we looked at some of the reasons "Why God Had to Become a Man." This week, I'll continue my examination of "The Man God Became." 

I'll share with you seven reasons why God had to become a man. I'll tell you about the claims that Jesus made. Claims that leave no wiggle room for doubt. Either He is the Messiah -- or He is a lunatic. As C.S. Lewis observed, "...let us not come up with that patronizing nonsense about His being just a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." 

You'll learn about His two distinct natures that are inseparably united -- total deity and true humanity. These two natures are united in one person, without confusion or mixture of attributes and function. The Lord Jesus is equal to God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, yet different in that He is also a true man. As we will see, this is the reason why He, and He alone, can be the Mediator between God and Man. 

Without Jesus, there could be no reconciliation between God and man. Without Jesus, there would be no redemption for us. 

As I said previously, the majesty, the beauty, and the sheer complexity of the concept of the God-Man Jesus Christ is almost overwhelming. But it was all necessary to redeem the creation lost to sin at the fall of Adam. Thank God that He loved us so much He provided a "second Adam" to unselfishly take our place and become our "kinsman redeemer." 

Don't miss this week's Report here Sunday.

God Bless,

Hal Lindsey