So, really, it doesn't matter how you live your life and how many vile immoral acts you engage in... as long as you are a member of the christian club, you're safe?
Wasn't your deity supposed to be "the perfect judge" or something?
Doesn't sound like it.
Yes and no. I am sorry if that sounds vague, but allow me to explain.
Is God the perfect judge? Yes, He is. And according to Him, no-one lived perfectly according to His laws, so everyone deserved to go to hell. If you are guilty of any sin, you are guilty of all. It matters not. So therefore God is righteous to judge us all as guilty.
Then, circa 2000 years ago (please let's not get into the debate on the exact amount of time), Jesus, who was and is God Himself, came to earth, was born a human man, lived a perfect life, and then was crucified as as propitiation (payment) for all of our sins (
1 John 2:2: He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.) He did this, because none of us could ever do it. Now there was an eternal payment for all sin. OK, so since everybody's sin is paid for everyone goes to heaven, right? No. Why you ask? Read on.
It is very simple: you have to accept this payment for your sin. I once heard a wonderfully simple story that serves as an excellent explanation of this. I cannot take the credit for it, but I cannot remember where I heard it. Even so, let me share it with you:
The once was a reckless young man who did not heed what his father said to him. He did as he pleased, when he pleased. One night, wishing to go out with his friends, he stole his father's car out of the garage and went partying. He got totally drunk and on the way back home caused and was involved in a huge accident. There was no loss of life, but the extent of the damage caused was severe.
Because he was drunk he was immediately taken into custody on a DUI (driving under the influence) charge and jailed until his trial the following day. He was furthermore charged with theft of his father's vehicle and malicious damage to property.
When he came before the court, he saw that the presiding judge was his father. This gave him no hope as his father was a very righteous and fair judge, and would not be lenient in any way just because it was his son standing before him. The judge sat silently listening to all the evidence (this was a bench trial- no jury involved) and after listening to all the evidence, the judge turned towards the accused, his son, and said: "Young man, you are facing very severe charges, and after reviewing all the evidence, I find you guilty on all charges. It is therefore the judgement of this court that you be sentenced to a fine of $100 000 or, if you are unable to pay the fine, a term of 25 years in jail."
The young man burst out in tears when he heard this. There was no way that we would be able to pay that amount of money, so basically his life was over. Then his father got off of his seat, took off his judges robes, and came down to his son. He said: "Son, the sentence I gave you was a fair one considering all the evidence. Nevertheless, here is a check for $100 000. Go pay your fine and let's go home."
OK, let's just stop the story there. The young man now has two choices:
1. he can accept the payment his dad is offering him, pay the fine and go home scot free; or
2. he can refuse the payment and go to jail, and serve the sentence his rash actions deserve.
You see, it is the same with the payment Jesus made for us- we do not deserve it, it is made out of grace. Grace from an awesome God that loves us,
ALL of us, despite the fact that often reject Him and ignore Him. So you see, you stand before a choice: accept the payment Jesus made and spend and eternity with Him in heaven, or do not accept it and God, who is a righteous judge, will have to judge you for your sin and send you to an eternity in hell.
But here I also have to add something- fear of an eternity in hell is NOT a good reason to accept this payment. Rather, the possibility of sharing a relationship with Someone who loves you more than you even love yourself. Someone who loves you more than you can possible comprehend, and wants to share with you His love, and bless you more than you can imagine. That is the real reason to accept His sacrifice.
OK, so now that that is said, I want to answer another part of your question: does this mean we can just sin as much as we like?
NO! Go read the book of Romans in the New Testament, especially chapters 5 and 6.
But let me add to that and also answer this in a different way. Let's read
Romans 10:9: ...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. So, if you confess with you mouth
AND believe in your heart, you will be saved. Let me explain.
So many people these days call themselves Christians, but they will stand ashamed and accused before the throne of God. The Bible calls these people goats, and the true followers of God are called sheep. They confessed with their mouths, but never really believed in their hearts. Now I will tell you how to see the difference.
If you want to know what tree you are looking at, the easiest way to know is to look at it's fruit. An apple tree cannot bear figs, and a fig tree cannot bear grapes. So if you want if you are facing a real christian, look at the fruit in their lives. Let me quote to you:
Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Similarly is says just before that:
Gal 5:19-21: Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 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. Christians are not perfect, but if you are in a real relationship with God, the fruit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23 will start being evident in your life. It is inevitable.
I realize my answer is still very lacking in many ways, but feel free to ask more questions and I will answer them as best I can. I do not claim to have all knowledge, but I will try my best.
