Jesus changed my life!!!!!

[ncdisneyfan]

In my opinion, sort of. As I see it, their God hasn't changed, and neither has their beliefs. Instead if was the messianic Jews and the gentiles who converted to Christianity that had a change in belief in their God. God still remained the same, but they accepted his gift of a savior. It was they who changed their belief.

But they chose to change their belief that what God says is true. God sent a Savior to the earth, told us it was Jesus, Jesus confirmed that and told us the same Himself, and some believed God (i.e. Gentiles and Messianic Jews). They simply continued to believe what God said to be true. The other Jews chose to ignore what God said, and instead believed what they wanted to, thereby believing in a god who wasn't what He said He was.

 

[ncdisneyfan]

I just wanted to point out that to Christians Messiah= savior(from sin)
To Jews Messah does NOT = savior...Our messiahs have different purposes .

And some will say that this is just THEIR personal path to God? Still amazes me...

 

[ncdisneyfan]

He must be ONLY human,as the idea of G-d as a man is idolatry to Jews .It's no different then worshiping a golden calf..And the Messiah must do all of this before he dies..Death precludes someone from being Messiah.

See how different this is? Judaism by its own definitions doesn't believe that God came as a man, as God said He did, and as Jesus said He was. They view worship of Jesus, in their own words, as "worshiping a golden calf." You can't worship God WITHOUT worshiping Jesus, b/c as the Trinity, they are one in the same!! It can't be the same God!!

 

[Buckalew11]

Well, He certainly WAS the same God when Abraham followed God, wasn't He?

 

[lovethattink]

But they chose to change their belief that what God says is true. God sent a Savior to the earth, told us it was Jesus, Jesus confirmed that and told us the same Himself, and some believed God (i.e. Gentiles and Messianic Jews). They simply continued to believe what God said to be true. The other Jews chose to ignore what God said, and instead believed what they wanted to, thereby believing in a god who wasn't what He said He was.

We could go back and forth 'til Christ's 2nd coming. It's obvious that you will not change my view on this and I will not change yours so I'm done with you about this.

 

[JennyMominRI]

See how different this is? Judaism by its own definitions doesn't believe that God came as a man, as God said He did, and as Jesus said He was. They view worship of Jesus, in their own words, as "worshiping a golden calf." You can't worship God WITHOUT worshiping Jesus, b/c as the Trinity, they are one in the same!! It can't be the same God!!

The thing is,you believe that G-d punishes people for not believing as you do..I don't..Judaism teaches that the righteous of all nations have a place in the world to come..I don't *need* to make you believe the way I do

 

[JennyMominRI]

Well, He certainly WAS the same God when Abraham followed God, wasn't He?

And I gues he lied when he told Abraham that he and his descendants had an everlasting covenant.

 

[ncdisneyfan]

ncdisneyfan- I don't want to sound like I'm pointing fingers or being harsh, but in some of your posts, you come off a little bit strong, perhaps with a bit of an angry tone . I know some of the others have shared their testimony and background and that has helped me to understand where they are coming from. For instance, Jenny was a Christian who has converted to Judiasim for reasons that she has shared with us and some others have either no affiliation to an organized religion or have gone away and have come back to a certain faith. I'm not trying to pressure you but, perhaps if you would be willing to share either your testimony and or background I could gain a better understanding of where it is that you're coming from in your posts.

Absolutely. I have been a Christian since the age of 6. Grew up in the Church of Christ until I was a teenager, then begain going to a Baptist church (girlfriend, later wife, went there). Was not close to God from about 16-28, then re-dedicated my life to Him, and now regret those years where I was not close, as I made so many mistakes with nobody to look to for guidance or help. I began reading the Bible again (though I'd read it before, I only had read it - I hadn't really READ it, if you know what I mean). Had a miscarriage, which is really what it took for God to grab ahold of my life and make me get it together. It's really unfortunate that that's what it took, especially for my wife, who had been a strong Christian all along, but God works in mysterious ways. I am now fully on track with a strong relationship with Jesus Christ.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when the gospel is diluted. Christianity is by its nature exclusive, b/c it preaches one way. When others claim there are other ways, it is really diluting the gospel, which is not our right, and not what the Bible says is correct.

I truly have a heart for the lost (whether they think they are or not), and desire to tell as many as possible. Other people choose to use life model as their witness, I choose to use words. At least when I stand before God, I can say that I was never silent about His word with others, and nobody will be able to look at me and say "Why didn't you tell me what you knew, so I could have it to?"

 

[Buckalew11]

See how different this is? Judaism by its own definitions doesn't believe that God came as a man, as God said He did, and as Jesus said He was. They view worship of Jesus, in their own words, as "worshiping a golden calf." You can't worship God WITHOUT worshiping Jesus, b/c as the Trinity, they are one in the same!! It can't be the same God!!

I read that and see how different the beliefs of who the Messiah will be, yes. I still think God is the same God. When I read that, I shuddered, because I think it sets it up perfectly for belief in the antichrist being the messiah. (sorry, I think that thought is probably offensive but I am just being honest because of what I think the antichrist is to be).

 

[ncdisneyfan]

I'm willing to bet that your bible is quite different from mine

Well yes, Jenny, I forgot yours, too. Heck, half of yours is missing!

 

[JennyMominRI]

Well yes, Jenny, I forgot yours, too. Heck, half of yours is missing!

LOL,I could say the same as you are missing the Oral Torah(Talmud)

 

[ncdisneyfan]

Well, He certainly WAS the same God when Abraham followed God, wasn't He?

But what did Abraham believe about God? Who was Abraham following? What does the Bible say about it - "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to Him as righteousness." Were the non-believing Jews believing the same as Abraham? Nope.

 

[BelleMcNally]

There's either absolute truth, or there's not. To believe otherwise is relativism. If you believe in absolute truth, then there are some who will go to Heaven for their beliefs, and some who will go to hell. And the Bible clearly outlines the beliefs one must have in order to go to Heaven.

Do you believe in absolute truth?

Joseph Campbell, the great anthropological scholar, had a fascinating take on truth (mostly as it relates to religious doctrine).

He was doing a radio interview and the interviewer asked him if he believed in the Bible (I think it was the Bible, at least...it might have been a different religious text) and he said "Yes".

The interviewer then said, "So you believe it's the literal truth?" And Campbell said, "No, I believe it's metaphor."

And the interviewer said, "So you don't think it's true?"

And Campbell said, "Yes, of course I think it's true. Just because something is metaphor doesn't make it false."

I guess this is the way I feel about most religious texts...I believe they are metaphor and they are true. I see no discrepancy in this. Jesus Himself used metaphor all of the time.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

Absolutely. I have been a Christian since the age of 6. Grew up in the Church of Christ until I was a teenager, then begain going to a Baptist church (girlfriend, later wife, went there). Was not close to God from about 16-28, then re-dedicated my life to Him, and now regret those years where I was not close, as I made so many mistakes with nobody to look to for guidance or help. I began reading the Bible again (though I'd read it before, I only had read it - I hadn't really READ it, if you know what I mean). Had a miscarriage, which is really what it took for God to grab ahold of my life and make me get it together. It's really unfortunate that that's what it took, especially for my wife, who had been a strong Christian all along, but God works in mysterious ways. I am now fully on track with a strong relationship with Jesus Christ.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when the gospel is diluted. Christianity is by its nature exclusive, b/c it preaches one way. When others claim there are other ways, it is really diluting the gospel, which is not our right, and not what the Bible says is correct.

I truly have a heart for the lost (whether they think they are or not), and desire to tell as many as possible. Other people choose to use life model as their witness, I choose to use words. At least when I stand before God, I can say that I was never silent about His word with others, and nobody will be able to look at me and say "Why didn't you tell me what you knew, so I could have it to?"

Thank you for sharing.

 

[ncdisneyfan]

And I gues he lied when he told Abraham that he and his descendants had an everlasting covenant.

Nope, b/c it's impossible for God to lie. Who was the covenant with? What exactly WAS the covenant? Are ALL Jews included? What do you think?

 

[JennyMominRI]

But what did Abraham believe about God? Who was Abraham following? What does the Bible say about it - "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to Him as righteousness." Were the non-believing Jews believing the same as Abraham? Nope.

Actually,yes..Being a good Jew is really not about what you believe,but by what you do

 

[BelleMcNally]

Well yes, Jenny, I forgot yours, too. Heck, half of yours is missing!

Well, if you aren't Catholic, you seem to be missing a few parts as well...

 

[JennyMominRI]

I guess this is the way I feel about most religious texts...I believe they are metaphor and they are true. I see no discrepancy in this. Jesus Himself used metaphor all of the time.

Of course he did..He was Jewish!

 

[ncdisneyfan]

I read that and see how different the beliefs of who the Messiah will be, yes. I still think God is the same God. When I read that, I shuddered, because I think it sets it up perfectly for belief in the antichrist being the messiah. (sorry, I think that thought is probably offensive but I am just being honest because of what I think the antichrist is to be).

That's not offensive, it's Biblical! That ABSOLUTELY sets itself up for that. What will one of the defining characteristics of the antichrist be? A peace treaty in the Middle East, and setting up the Jewish temple again (on top of an existing mosque, mind you!). A political person, just as Judaism wants.

Scary.

 

[Aidensmom]

I know I am jumping in a little late to this particular discussion...

As far as if all religions believe in the same God, this is my feeling. For Christians, God is God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit. That does make the definition of God different from other religions, and so to me I can't see how all religions could have the same God. However, I do believe that the God of the Jewish religion is who Christians consider God the Father, so by that it is the same God, though, well, not God in the way that I as a Christian understand Him. Really clarifies things, doesn't it?

I really don't believe we all (all world religions) have a common God and are on different paths. If I did, I wouldn't identify myself with a particular religion. Do I think I made the right choice? Of course I do, or I would not have chosen it. Do I think there is the possibility I made the wrong choice? Sure, I'm not God, I can make mistakes. I do believe that everyone of each religion believes they have made the right choice, but I don't think that means that everyone who claims to believe their religion is the right one in turn has no respect for anyone else's choice of religion (or non-religion) or beliefs, as is sometimes implied in some of the discussions I have been part of.

I love having discussions about various faiths, such as this thread. It is very interesting to learn so many varying points of view.