Steven Garofalo
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SHARING YOUR FAITH IN A MULTI-RELIGIOUS WORLD
By Steven Garofalo, December 11, 2023 (Copyright Steven Garofalo 2023)
December 11, 2023

We live in a multicultural-multi-religious world and culture. Today, I am going to show you why and how Christians today can and must become more biblically literate and more informed as to other world religions such as Islam in order to intelligibly show that Christianity is the Truth and that all other religions are false.

I was sharing my faith with a young Palestinian-Muslim man and his son Muhammed some years back when his son told me that the Bible is corrupt and that the Old Testament does not connect at all with the New Testament. I asked his son one simple question which was: “Have you read the Old or New Testaments to confirm that”? His answer was "NO! I WOULD NEVER READ THE BIBLE!" I kindly asked him how he knows that the OT and NT do not connect if he never read the Bible. Over the course of a month I took the time to show this young man that the Old Testament is not only spoken about in the New Testament, but that the two are intertwined, connected, prophesied over thousands of years and inseperable. His father was not happy that I was equipped to the point as to show his false assertions about the Bible to his son. You see, everything this young man was told about the Bible by his parents was false. As a consequence, everything he was told about the Quran then came into question. Let’s jump into today’s lesson by looking at the Old and New Testaments and see how the two are intertwined and inseparable.

Moses, the author of the Pentateuch (the first five Books of the Bible) was written by Moses. This includes the Book of Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy chapter 18, Moses wrote:

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—“(Deuteronomy 18:15). This was the foretelling of the birth of Jesus Christ-the same Jesus that is the centerpiece of the New Testament.

Deuteronomy 18 and numerous other biblical Scriptures unquestionably foretell of the birth of Christ and all human history through the intertwining of the Old and New Testament Scriptures. There are many Scritpures and observations we can make to show that the Old and New Testaments are intertwined to the point that they cannot be separated. Let’s take a look at some of these points:

FIRST: Deuteronomy was written in 1410 B.C. Jesus Christ wasn’t born until the start of our modern “Gregorian” calendar Starting with the birth of Christ). The two calendar systems that would have been prevalent prior the birth of Jesus Christ were the Hebrew calendar and the Julian calendar. The latter would have been in use throughout the ancient Mediterranean... The Gregorian Bible calendar is Luni - Solar, meaning it uses both the movements of the moon and the sun in its computations. Solar calendars. Hence, the Gregorian calendar is based on the time it takes the earth to make one complete orbit around the sun, that is, approximately 365 ¼ days. The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used calendar in the world. It uses the life of Jesus Christ to define year 0 (actually there is no year 0; the calendar goes straight from 1 BC to 1 AD).

This means that Moses wrote about the birth of baby Jesus 1410 years before Jesus was actually born in human form. From that perspective, Christmas was foretold almost 3,500 years ago!

SECOND: There are over 300 The Old Testament is not only intertwined by QUOTED in the New Testament. There are more than 300 prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament. These prophecies are specific enough that the mathematical probability of Jesus fulfilling even a handful of them, let alone all of them, is staggeringly improbable—if not impossible. And this includes prophecy about the coming of Jesus which started in Genesis! Let’s take a look at one example.

OT PROPHESY: God foretold the nations will be blessed with a Savior through Abraham’s lineage:

“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3).

NT FULFILLMENT:

“And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways” (Acts 3:25–26).

THIRD: Jesus is called a PROPHET 24 times in Old Testament. For example, Moses makes clear in Deuteronomy 18:15 that it is “THE LORD YOUR GOD”…who would raise up a prophet “LIKE ME” from “AMONG YOU”. Let’s pause to make a quick observation in that there are only two other persons that are “LIKE GOD THE FATHER”, and they are “GOD THE SON” and the “GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT”. In the Old Testament Moses writes about Jesus, the Son of God which comes to pass in the New Testament.

Deuteronomy 18 says, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—“(Deuteronomy 18:15).

In Acts 7:37, Paul says, “This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren.” Matthew wrote in Matthew 21:11:  “And the crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee.” And this is but one example of the Old Testament foretelling the coming of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

In total, there are a total 24 verses that speak to Jesus as Prophet (Jesus was both Prophet, High Priest, and God himself). For example, in Acts 3:22, the Moses’ words of Moses are proclaimed as follows: “THE LORD YOUR GOD”…who would raise up a prophet “LIKE ME” from “AMONG YOU”.

Let’s take this a step further compare the two verses to show the unquestionable connection between the Old and New Testament Scriptures.

OLD TESTAMENT: (AUTHOR MOSES, YEAR 1410 B.C.): “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—“(Deuteronomy 18:15).

NEW TESTAMENT: (AUTHOR APOSTLE PAUL). Paul wrote this: “Moses said ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to Him you shall give heed to everything He says to you” (Acts 7:37). And these are just but a few of the Christmas connections spoken about and prophesied in the Old Testament that were fulfilled in the New Testament.

A LESSON FOR SHARING OUR FAITH:

The young Muslim man’s Palestinian’s father was a bit upset that I spoke with his son and was able to show his son how the Old and New Testaments are inseparable and connected by biblically fulfilled prophesy. I think this Muslim father was also upset because he was seen by his son as either holding back the truth or being ignorant of the false accusations proclaimed from his Islamic perspective.e You see, this Muslim father had married a lady from the Bible Belt in North Carolina and together, they refused to speak about the Old and New Testaments outside of the false proclamation that both were flawed, distorted and false.

As I showed his son, nothing is further from the truth in that God’s Word is the truth. When I began to share that Truth with the son (Muhammad), the son he began to question his parents assertions that the Bible was flawed and that the Old and New Testament weren’t connected. This in turn caused his father to ask me not to speak to his son about the Bible any longer. Why was the father so scared about if the Bible is truly distorted, full of errors, incorrect, and false? The answer is that it’s not any of those things. It is the Truth and the infallible Word of God. The complete opposite of what this young man was told. And this is what modern day pre-evangelism and evangelism looks like in the 21st Century ladies and gentlemen. It’s very different than decades past in America.

CONCLUSION:

We as Christians must be not only biblically literate but also astute as to other religions such as Islam in order to intelligibly understand who we are speaking to in an effort to show non-Christians not only THAT but also WHY Christianity is TRUE and other religions and cults are false.

Two ways that you can do this is by having me come out and train up and equip your church, company or any other group to more intelligibly and effectively share the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ using apologetics in evangelism. You can do that by clicking the link below https://reasonfortruth.bible/contact or by going to our website at ReasonForTruth.Org or .Bible, selecting the “CONTACT” and filling out and submitting the “CONTACT” page. I promise to get back to you in a short period of time.

The other way to get equipped is by taking the EQUIPPED “BASICS” and “ADVANCED” Online Courses using my book, “EQUIPPED-Basic Training Using Apologetics for Evangelism”. You can use the course in your church, small group or company and I, Steven Garofalo can be available in person or via Video Link according to your needs. I put a link for that below: https://www.equippedacademy.com/certificate-courses

The birth of Christ was just the beginning. We can and should use the Old Testament and New Testament to validate that Jesus Christ is in fact the true salvific Savior for all mankind. It just takes a bit of time, effort and desire. I pray you will consider interacting with me more deeply in an effort to get EQUIPPED.

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When I was in seminary, the question was raised as to if pets or animals in general go to heaven. Our professor, Dr. Norman Geisler said this: “Jesus Christ came to earth and died on the Cross for the human race, not animals.” I was working out at the gym one day when one of the regulars, who had just moved to Charlotte, NC from California told me that one of her beloved dogs died; and would that dog go to heaven. I have her the same answer. But, was that the whole story? That’s what we are going to look at today.

In a peace by Michael Housman, Founder of GotQuestions.Org, Housman wrote that “The BIble does not give any explicit teaching on whether pets or animals in general have souls, or spirits, or whether pets and other animals will be in heaven.

His answer was short but the animals not having souls maybe up for debate.

We can use general biblical principles to develop some clarity on the subject though Housman wrote. The Bible states that both man (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 1:30; 6:17; 7:15 and 22) have the “BREATH OF LIFE” that is, both man and animals are living beings. Furthermore, the primary difference between human beings and animals is that humanity is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), while animals are not.

Being made in the image and likeness of God means that human beings are like God in some ways; they are capable of spirituality; they have a mind, emotion, and “will”; and part of their “being” continues after death.

If pets and other animals do have a “soul” (or spirit or immaterial aspect), it must therefore be of a different and lesser “quality”. This difference possibly means that pets and other animal “souls”  do not continue in existence after death.

Another factor to consider regarding whether pets will be in heaven is that animals are a port of God’s creative process in Genesis. God created the animals and said they were good (Genesis 1:25). Therefore, there is no reason why there could not be pets and animals on the NEW EARTH as described in (Revelation 21:1). 

In the end, there will most definitely be animals during the millennial kingdom (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25). It is impossible to say definitely whether some animals of these animals might be the pets we had here on earth. We do know that God is just and that when we get to heaven, we will find ourselves in complete agreement with His decision on this issue, whatever that turns out to be.

So, there you have it. I think that’s the best answer on the subject in all honest. Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to our channel and check out StevenGarofalo.Com for exclusive content and early release of our two weekly podcast.

Until next time, I’m your host Steven Garofalo, and this is your reason for truth for today.

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AN ETHICAL ECONOMY IS GOOD FOR ALL
By Steven Garofalo, May 2, 2025

WHAT MAKES A GOOD ECONOMY

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Today, I am going to show you through Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 that vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, will devour one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Let’s get started.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor is an interesting subject in light of wealth, corruption, and the human heart. This subject effects many things, including what makes a good economy. 

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, verses eight to nine, Solomon says the following:

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9
“8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

COMMENTARY: There are two things king Solomon is saying here within the theme of the vanity of WEALTH and HONOR. Wealth and honor are two different things, as one can have wealth with or without honor or honor with or without wealth. That being said, let’s look at verses 8 and 9 independently to see the simple message God provides us today through Solomon.

BREAK DOWN
Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY & WEALTH
 “8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them." 

COMMENTARY: Verse 8 clearly illustrates that there is a corruption at every level of government, with higher level oppressors plundering the equally oppressive lower-level magistrates. This perhaps explains the st state of America and the world. With blackmail running. Rampant and the public sector unchecked, they have been robbing the everyday citizen of their hard earned money. As a result, the system became insulated and division between the haves and have nots became more defined. When the high level government officials rob and abuse those below them, someone above that person robs and abuses the higher level person himself.

In America, where we print money out of thin air for the world, in this short period of history, there is little need to plunder those under one authority because there is so much to steal that those in authority can simply pay them off or blackmail them; whichever is most convenient. Either way, Solomon makes abundantly clear that when there is nobody minding the ship, evil perpetuates to the point of overtaking the government in whole. As a result, we end up with a 2024 government, riddles with corruption, immorality, blackmail, lawlessness, and all other things evil due to the lack of God-ness which equates to “goodness”. 

Economically speaking, when this happens to a country, its own economy begins to decline into debt due to their insatiable desire and emotional need for more money and resources. When resources are stripped and money is squandered, the elite few are smart enough to collect those resources and money and we end up with a U.S. Stock Market where only 5% holds up to 80%  of the entire market wealth. 

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?
The answer and solution is to keep to return to the system we created in the first place which is free market capitalism that allows those who desire to work hard, to have a fair chance at success, making money and turning a fair profit. This is called “honor for everyone”.

HONOR FOR EVERYONE
"9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

CONCLUSION:

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, devours one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Solomon (Qohelet) considered goverment to be frustrating becuase it was a necessary evil, something deply flawed but indespsnsible. On the one hand people sould "not be shocked" when they see OPPRESSION and injustice in a governmental province (v.8). After all, bloated government bureaucracy tends to frustrate justice (v.8b). On the other hand, government has it advantages (v.9). Many hold to the belief that this verse continues the negeative assessment of government. Others see this passage better understood more positively since it fits with Qohelet's normal pattern of "on the one hand, on the other.." way of teaching. 

Even a corrupt government is better than anarchy, which devastates a country, it's culture and in Solomon's time, an agrarian economy that would lead to starvation. Keeping to God's ways is the only solution to man's sinful nature; especially in governmental rule. In the end, a king who devotes himself to developing the resources of the land ushers in a systems that brings the opportunity for profit to all, not just the corrupt few.

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SOLA SCRIPTURA
A Protestant & Catholic View Comparison

I grew up Catholic and now go to a Protestant or non-Catholic church in Charlotte, NC. Michael Houdmann, Founder and CEO of GotQuestions.Org writes that a major difference between the two boils down to believing in the Bible alone as God's word verses believing that God's word plus man's input as the divine inspired word of God.

WHAT DO PROTESTANTS BELIEVE?

A major difference is the issue of sufficiency and authority of Scripture. While Protestants believe that the Bible alone is the source of God's special revelation to mankind, it also speaks to everything we need to understand as necessary for our salvation from sin.

Protestants view the Bible as the STANDARD for Christian morality and ethics which governs our behavior. This is called sola scripture and is one of the five Solas in Christianity. (Solas meaning "alone" in Latin. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes clear that "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV).

WHAT DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE?

Catholics do not believe in sola scriptura hence do not believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. They see both the Bible and sacred Roman Catholic tradition as equally authoritative and binding on the Christian. While not all Catholics hold to doctrines such as purgatory, praying to the saints, worship or veneration of Mary, etc., the Catholic doctrine hold to them even though they have little or no mention or basis in the Bible. In truth, these doctrines are based on Roman Catholic traditions based on the Catholic Church's insistence that the Bible and tradition are equal in authority. The problem with this is that it undermines the sufficiency, authority, and completeness of the Bible. The view of Scripture is at the root of many, if not all, of the differences between Catholics and Protestants.

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