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Question #165

Doesn’t ICR deserve more credit?

In class on Sunday there was reference that evolution was on the bubble and would eventually be exposed for what it is. I am looking forward to that day. Although and because ICR approaches these issues from a scientific standpoint, I think a lot of credit needs to be given to them because they have paved the way and have been dedicated whole-heartedly to the issues of creationist versus evolutionist and the all important issue of the age of the earth. They have from a physics point of view done a lot of work dispelling the myths and supposed facts that are professed by those that believe in the long ages of the earth and universe. I really feel we need to give them more credit than we do for the courage for standing up to the overbearing science community and praise them for the successes that have been achieved on this issue. I also realize these successes are through God’s will and guidance. This is my humble opinion and I needed to share it. Al! so I told Jess that ICR has moved to Dallas from Southern California. Their research will take place in Dallas and their graduate program has relocated there too.

The Answer:

Thanks for the comment. ICR (Institute for Christian Research) has certainly been a leader in opposing evolution and supporting the existence of a Creator God. It does deserve credit for what it has done in that area, although it has some serious doctrinal problems in other areas. Some proponents of intelligent design are separating themselves from ICR and “creationism” because they consider some aspects of it to be unscientific. They are seeking primarily to establish a scientific basis for the existence of an “Intelligent Designer” and avoid discussion of such issues as the age of the earth and whether the Genesis days of creation are literal 24 hour days. Both approaches are helpful to the support of the existence of Jehovah God, because whether they admit it or not, He is the only being who has the power to be the Intelligent Designer.

For those who wish to find out more about ICR, its website is: http://www.icr.org/.

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You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

You must believe and have faith in God because "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the "Sinner's Prayer" to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus "Lord of your life." Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just "accept Jesus as your personal savior." We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)