Question for Christians...theological stuff...kinda long

[manchurianbrownbear]

John 3:36 is John talking not Jesus or God. Read the whole chapter

Pembo, please forgive me if I'm coming off as obnoxious, I'm definitely not trying to! Earlier in John chapter 3, in verses 3 and 18, Jesus explains that faith in, and rebirth through God's Son are required to gain entrance to Heaven.

My interpretation is that God loved us so much He was willing to pay an incredible price to redeem us. It is up to us acknowledge our need and accept the gift. And there is a penalty for rejecting the gift.

Keep responding and you'll probably stump me pretty soon!

 

[KristaTX]

Originally posted by firecracker

Here's my philosophy in a nutshell...Jesus said that the 2 greatest commandments are to love God w/your whole heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. (See Matthew 22:37 ff) I figure that once I have mastered the 2 greatest commandments, THEN I can argue semantics of divine inspiration, baptism, communion, etc. It seems that no matter how hard I try, I can't even get the 2 most important things right for very long!

I'm so glad He loves me despite my failures...such a neat God! What other god/deity/religion loves like our grace-giving Father? NONE!

Well said, firecracker. That about sums it up for me right now, too .

Krista

 

[CRB#33]

Pembo, I see your point and always have.

What I do hear is that Jesus very clearly states, many times, that no one can come to the Father except through Him. He is very clear on this point. That for me says it all about heaven or hell.

There is so much wonderful discussion on this thread!!!!

One thing that hasn't been touched on about Jesus' death and the way it took place, was that God needed to suffer, for
how can He love us completely and have empathy with us if He never suffered?

When I have turned to him in my worst times, I know that He too has suffered and He aches for me and knows exactly how I feel.

 

[Zurg]

Originally posted by firecracker
Here's my philosophy in a nutshell... I figure that once I have mastered the 2 greatest commandments, THEN I can argue semantics..

LOL Very good - funny and true.

 

[KingsFanInRI]

Originally posted by Pembo
Um......just read over Ephesians 2, in 3 different Bibles, I didn't see anything about the "rejection of this gift as a determining faction in spending eternity in Hell."

By quoting Ephesians 2:9 I was trying to indicate that faith, and not works, are what save you. Perhaps this was too much of a run-on sentence and my thoughts spilled over into one another.

 

[BHFan25]

wuv Tigger, I thought your post was fantasic!

EAD79 as was yours.

The shedding of blood even happened earlier than sacrifices. After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God shed the blood of an animal and clothed Adam and Eve in the skin of that animal as a covering of their sins.

 

[jimmytammy]

I am 39 yrs old and became a Christian at 10. As a Christian God wants me to witness to those who dont know Jesus as their personal Saviour. I am not a well versed person of the Bible although I should be. But I have seen more people come to know Jesus just by simple faith and trust than any other way. I dont mean this to sound demeaning to anyone, but simple minded people are usually the ones to accept Christ as Saviour without as much questioning. Children are smarter than we sometimes give them credit for, and they accept Jesus at a younger age because their hearts havent become hardened by the world.

If you can put all things aside and truly seek God through His word, especially through the Gospels it may pose questions in your heart, which is where Jesus wants to reside.

I feel you may be seeking something, otherwise you wouldnt be on this post. And thats good. I hope I didnt preach here and if you blast me, well thats OK too cause Jesus told His followers they would be persecuted if they spoke His name. I have been before so it wont be anything new.

I have read all the posts here with lots of Truth. And it is nice to see it hasnt got heated. I hope I didnt turn it the other way with my comments

Jimmy

 

[chadfromdallas]

Originally posted by jimmytammy
I feel you may be seeking something, otherwise you wouldnt be on this post. And thats good.

Was just wondering, nothing more, nothing less.

Christianity just turns me off. I see no reason to warship one man, because he was tortured back in times that many were. What I am seeking though is to enjoy life to its fullest

 

[Pembo]

chadfromdallas - What you believe is your business. I sincerely hope you do live life to the fullest.

jimmytammy - Your comments have offended me. But I'll say no more because it does not relate to the OP.

 

[jimmytammy]

Fair enough
Jimmy

 

[Aurora63]

Originally posted by chadfromdallas


Christianity just turns me off. I see no reason to warship one man, because he was tortured back in times that many were. What I am seeking though is to enjoy life to its fullest

Chad, just wanted to say, we are not worshiping a man, we are worshiping God.

Anyway, just wanted to thank everyone for their replys, and bump this back up.

 

[Pembo]

to be equally fair chad, some would say Believe in a Higher Power

God isn't necessarily male or female....... but that's a whole other debate.