Take a moment to discuss each example. What affects your evaluation of reality?

1) The word of the Lord came to me: 2) "Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see, but see not, who have ears to hear, but hear not, for they are a rebellious house. (Ezek 12:1-2, LSB)

He who has ears, let him hear. (Matt 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23; Luke 8:8; 14:35; Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; 13:9)

22) All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
23) Then turning to the disciples he said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! 24) For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it." (Luke 10:22-24, LSB)

35) Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 36) He answered, "And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?" 37) Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you." 38) He said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him. 39) Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind." (John 9:35-38, LSB)

24) This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
25) Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. (John 21:24-25, ESV)

1) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2) the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3) that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1-3, ESV)

The Law of Identity means that anything is identical to itself and that its nature remains consistent over time. Your coffee cup is a coffee cup affirms the Law of Identity, because you recognize the coffee cup doesn't change over time.

The Law of Identity applies to what is objectively true - the quality or state of being absolutely true. Does that which is true in accordance with fact or reality?

Consider the question: is God's word true? Take some time to discuss your observations of the text.

And the Lord said to Moses, "Is the Lord's hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not." (Num 11:23, ESV)

20) But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.' 21) And if you say in your heart, 'How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?'— 22) when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him. (Deut 18:20-22, ESV)

1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2) He was in the beginning with God. 3) All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4) In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4, ESV)

1) "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2) In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4) And you know the way to where I am going." 5) Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7) If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:1-7, ESV)

The logic of the Law of Identity

Premise: God's word is true.

Premise: The historical existence of Jesus Christ connects the Word of God as the Act of God.

Therefore, God's word is the Truth.

The Law of Non-Contradiction means that contradictory statements cannot both be true at the same time. This is necessary to determine what is objectively true or not and develop a reliable understanding of reality absent of contradiction.

This law is foundational for distinguishing truth from falsehood, as it ensures that statements about reality are consistent and do not contradict one another.

Consider the question: Can God's word be both true and false at the same time? Take some time to discuss your observations of the text.

God is not man, that he should lie,
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.Has he said, and will he not do it?
Orhas he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? (Num 23:19, ESV)

42) Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43) Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44) You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45) But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. (John 8:42-45, ESV)

22) Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23) and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24) Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25) because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Rom 1:22-25, ESV)

9) The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10) and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11) Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12) in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thes 2:9-12, ESV)

17) So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18) so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. (Heb 6:17-18, ESV)

20) But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21) I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22) Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. (1 John 2:20-22, ESV)

The logic of the Law of Non-Contradiction

Premise: God's word is true.

Premise: It is impossible for God to lie.

Therefore, God's word is not false.

The Law of Excluded Middle, states that "A statement is either true or false; there is no middle ground." Truth is objective and absolute; it is not subjective according to a personal view and relative in accommodating all views.

Although this example is subjective and about a person's choice, it does exemplify this concept:

33) "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' 34) But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35) or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36) And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37) Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil. (Matt 5:33-37, ESV)

When examining what God says, observe carefully the options available to you. Is there a middle choice?

3) while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4) 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5) Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6) and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel." (Ex 19:3-6, ESV)

16) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:16-18, ESV)

The logic of the Law of Excluded Middle

Premise: If you obey God and keep His covenant, you will be God's treasured possession among all peoples is a true statement.

Premise: If you disobey God and don't keep His covenant, you will not be God's treasured possession among all peoples is a true statement.

Therefore, whoever believes in God's Son is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already is a true statement.

The Three Laws of Logic form the foundation of reason and work together to provide the means to understand reality and communicate with others. Observe and discuss these passages.

Can you see how God's word utilizes the Law of Identity – a statement that identifies and is consistent with itself?

Can you see how God's word utilizes the Law of Non-Contradiction – an idea that is free of contradiction?

Can you see how God's word utilizes the Law of Excluded Middle – a concept that is objective and absolute and cannot be relative?

Can you see how God Himself utilizes all three laws to help you determine the truth of life? Do you perceive the beauty of God's logic?

1) And God spoke all these words, saying,
2) "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
3) "You shall have no other gods before me.
4) "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5) You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6) but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Ex 20:1-6, ESV)

9) For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10) and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thes 1:9-10, ESV)

1) "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2) In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4) And you know the way to where I am going." 5) Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 6) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7) If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:1-7, ESV)

8) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, 9) if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10) let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11) This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12) And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:8-12, ESV)

1) When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2) since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3) And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:1-3, ESV)

Carefully observe this passage. How many pieces of evidence does Jesus provide from which to logically deduce whether Jesus is the Messiah or not?

31) "If I alone bear witness about Myself, My witness is not true. 32) There is another who bears witness about Me, and I know that the witness which He gives about Me is true. 33) You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34) But the witness I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35) He was the lamp that was burning and shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36) But the witness I have is greater than the witness of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness about Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37) And the Father who sent Me, He has borne witness about Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. 38) And you do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. 39) You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that bear witness about Me; 40) and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41) I do not receive glory from men; 42) but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43) I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44) How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the only God? 45) Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. 46) For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. 47) But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" (John 5:31-47, LSB)

Carefully observe this passage. Based on what does Jesus says about Himself, what do you logically deduce about the Messiah?

18) This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19) So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21) For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22) For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23) that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24) Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:18-24, ESV)

In our culture today, there are a variety of standards that define what a good person is. These standards often come in conflict with each other. Which standard is right all the time?

What does Jesus say about Himself that causes you to logically consider the definition and basis of being good?

16) 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. If you would enter life, keep the commandments."
18) He said to him, "Which ones?"
And Jesus said, "You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19) Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
20) The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?"
21) Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22) When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23) And Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24) Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 25) When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" 26) But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matt 19:16-26, ESV; Mark 10:17-27; Luke 18:18-27)

Now consider the implications of Jesus' statements.

Is an act good because God commands it?

If God is sovereign and all-powerful, then morality is subject to God's whim as He is capable of enforcing His commands. An act is good because God simply says so, not because it is inherently good; the difference between good and evil does not matter to God. But Is morality based on whim?

This view conflicts with the character of God. God is not inconsistent, and He does not lie. For example:

For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face. (Ps 11:7, ESV)

Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. (Ps 25:8, ESV)

Or does God command an act because it's good?

Is there is a moral law that is external to and higher than God? This means that God is not sovereign.

This view conflicts with the character of God.

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb:
"I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, (Isa 44:24, ESV)

20) Daniel answered and said:
"Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might.
21) He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; 22) he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
23) To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter." (Dan 2:20-22, ESV)

What does God say about Himself that causes you to logically consider the definition and basis of good? How is this visibly seen?

17) And the Lord said to Moses, "This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." 18) Moses said, "Please show me your glory." 19) And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The Lord.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20) But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live." (Ex 33:17-20, ESV)

The previous questions, is an act good because God commands it or does God command an act because it's good, assume a distorted biblical view of God. Careful reading of the Bible reveals that:

1) There is an objective and absolute moral standard; it is not capricious and a discretionary whim of God.

2) This objective and absolute moral standard is rooted and embedded internally in God; there is no moral standard that is external to and higher than God.

Morality is based on God's character and nature. The moral standard is neither above God nor merely willed by Him. With morality grounded in His holy and immutable character, the moral standard is fixed, absolute, and timeless. And this all encompassing goodness is seen as God's glory.

If Gods says something is good, then it is good because it is intrinsically good.

Enabled to be scholars of the Old Testament, the apostles used this knowledge to form the basis of their arguments and logic.

44) Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." 45) Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46) and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47) and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48) You are witnesses of these things. 49) And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:44-49, ESV)

The Hebrew Bible, the Old Testament, was the authority of the synagogue. Citing Scripture supported the arguments of the apostles and writers of the New Testament, and they taught that God's word was continuous, from the very beginning Genesis through Jesus Christ and the new church including Gentiles.

The apostles understood the Abrahamic Covenant:

3) Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4) "Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5) No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6) I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7) And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8) And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God." (Gen 17:3-8, ESV)

The apostles understood Passover:

21) Then Moses called all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. 22) Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23) For the Lord will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you. 24) You shall observe this rite as a statute for you and for your sons forever. (Ex 12:21-24, ESV)

The apostles understood the Mosaic Covenant:

3) while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4) 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5) Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6) and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel." (Ex 19:3-6, ESV)

The apostles understood the Davidic Covenant:

8) Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. 9) And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10) And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11) from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 12) When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13) He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14) I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15) but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16) And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'" (2 Sam 7:8-16, ESV)

The apostles understood the New Covenant:

22) "Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. 23) And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. 24) I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25) I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26) And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27) And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. 28) You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. (Ezek 36:22-28, ESV)

The apostles understood how Jesus Christ fulfilled the Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and New Covenant:

17) "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18) For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. (Matt 5:17-18, ESV)

How are the arguments presented and justified in an attempt to sway the listener to seek salvation from the penalty of sin? Carefully examine and discuss the various passages that follow. Besides using reason, did you observe how some arguments appeal to your emotion?

22) "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23) this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24) God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25) For David says concerning him,
"'I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26) therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27) For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
28) You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'
29) "Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30) Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31) he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32) This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33) Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34) For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
"'The Lord said to my Lord,
"Sit at my right hand,
35) until I make your enemies your footstool."'
36) Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." (Acts 2:22-36, ESV)

12) And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13) The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14) But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15) and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16) And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17) "And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18) But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19) Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20) that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21) whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22) Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23) And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.' 24) And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25) You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' 26) God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness." (Acts 3:12-26, ESV)

21) But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22) the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24) and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25) whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26) It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27) Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28) For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Rom 3:21-28, ESV)

8) But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9) because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10) For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11) For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." 12) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13) For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Rom 10:8-13, ESV)

24) So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25) But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26) for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29) And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (Gal 3:24-29, ESV)

11) But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13) For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
15) Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. (Heb 9:11-15, ESV)

Throughout the New Testament, there is an emphasis on Christian ethics by being "in Christ" or abiding in the "indwelling Holy Spirit" in the process of salvation from the power of sin. Observe how these passages use logic to teach a new concept in living by transforming one's mind.

16) But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17) For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19) Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20) idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21) envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23) gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24) And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal 5:16-24, ESV)

3) Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4) Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5) 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.
12) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13) for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Phil 2:3-13, ESV)

9) No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10) By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
11) For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12) We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13) Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14) We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15) Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16) By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17) But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 18) Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19) By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20) for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. (1 John 3:9-20, ESV)

14) As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15) but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16) since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 17) And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18) knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19) but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20) He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21) who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22) Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23) since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (1 Pet 1:14-23, ESV)

4) As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5) you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6) For it stands in Scripture:
"Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
7) So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
"The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone," 8) and
"A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense."
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
9) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10) Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11) Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12) Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. (1 Pet 2:4-12, ESV)

Carefully examine how prophetic information is presented and argued. How do inspired writers of the New Testament persuade one about the future when the process of salvation is completed – salvation from the presence of sin?

6) He will render to each one according to his works: 7) to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8) but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9) There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10) but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11) For God shows no partiality. (Rom 2:6-11, ESV)

12) Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13) But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14) And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15) We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16) For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17) And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18) Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19) If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20) But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21) For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Cor 15:12-22, ESV)

35) But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" 36) You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37) And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38) But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39) For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40) There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. 41) There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.
42) So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43) It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44) It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45) Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46) But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47) The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48) As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49) Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
50) I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51) Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53) For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54) When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
"Death is swallowed up in victory."
55) "O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?" (1 Cor 15:35-55, ESV)

13) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14) For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15) For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16) For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17) Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18) Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thes 4:13-18, ESV)

God instructs Moses on the Law so that His people would recognize sin and learn the proper way to make amends and reconcile with God. Do you perceive God's logic in the legal process He restores the image of God and fulfills His covenant promises?

5) Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6) and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."
7) So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8) All the people answered together and said, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord. (Ex 19:5-8, ESV)

When the unfaithfulness of God's people broke the Mosaic Covenant (Jer 31:31-34) and profaned the holiness of God's great name (Ezek 36:22-25), God, in keeping with His commitment to the blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant, made the New Covenant for the atonement of sin and means by which one can be holy. There is a certain beauty and elegance to God's logic.

To avoid His wrathful judgment of sin upon mankind, God provided a substitute (John 3:16), which Isaiah had prophesied earlier within the context of the Law of Moses: a Servant in substitution of human beings, bearing their iniquity, transgressions and sins as a guilt offering (Isa 53:5-12). The apostles would elaborate further and describe Jesus, God's only Son, as the unblemished animal (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 2:22-24; 3:18).

Furthermore, Jesus Christ is portrayed as the place of propitiation, a figurative Mercy Seat, where God receives payment for the sins of mankind (Rom 3:21-26; Heb 9:1-28). Jesus Christ provides the blood sacrifice and is simultaneously the place where God receives payment.

As the "propitiation of our sins" (1 John 2:2), Jesus Christ substituted Himself for mankind and He alone bore the wrath of God's judgment (Matt 27:46; Mark 15:34). This judgment of God is unique. God had to judge His only Son so that Jesus could fulfill the Law of Moses, inaugurate the New Covenant and initiate the recovery of the image of God.

16) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19) And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20) For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21) But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." (John 3:16-21, ESV)