Would you be a Christian if there was no afterlife?

Dkh587 said:

That’s not a proof verse. The manuscript doesn’t say “realm of the dead”, but Hades, which is the Greek word used for Sheol.

you can’t show a “realm of the dead” without a biased English translation.

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The NIV is a biased English translation? - lol
Are you KJO? (King James Only)
Do you have a definition of Sheol/Hades that proves it is not the realm of the dead?

hedrick said:

I would hope Christians value both. I’m finding in this thread that it seems not to be true.

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Yes. The majority "vote" on this subject is a bit shocking.
No offer of afterlife = no interest in Jesus

Saint Steven said:

Yes. The majority "vote" on this subject is a bit shocking.
No offer of afterlife = no interest in Jesus

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If you read Christian Advice and various other places where people talk about their daily lives, I can understand. I'm not convinced that for many (most?) Christians life as a Christian actually is better than life as a good humanist. I don't think Jesus is pleased.

Saint Steven said:

No. God could have just as well created a universe with no promise of an afterlife for that which was created physical. Granted, that is not what happened, though we would be hard-pressed to prove it. (these things are taken on faith)

And you seem to find this question so threatening and diabolical that you would attribute it to Satan himself. Wow. Are we unsettled that easily?

So, just for the sake of discussion, if God had indeed created a universe with no promise of an afterlife for that which was created physical, would you you choose to be a Christian based on the benefits in this life alone? It seems as if you would say, "No."

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Yes, brother, I would say no.

PS: I'm not threatened by the question, nor did I attribute it to Satan, but only pointed out that the term afterlife is convoluted.

Saint Steven said:

So, without an afterlife you would see no value in the Christian life in the here and now? Worthless on this side of "eternity"?

Like a gun held to your head with the threat of eternal conscious torment? Seems like spiritual extortion by a cosmic tyrant. Is that the God we have chosen?

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No, brother, to be in Christ has immediate benefits in the here and now, but especially in the hereafter.

Immortality belongs only to those born of God--no one can survive the fire, unless they are born of God: once the fire consumes all that can be destroyed, what will remain is what cannot die; and thus there will be a new heaven and a new earth, without anything that can die.

ParadiseMkX said:

I throw my hands up to being the latter, through necessity, but I'm trying my best to learn more from the born and bred Christians. Feel as out of my element as a peasant in a royal court lol. Feel it's necessary to try to help heal that divide that's grown up, and honestly, just really enjoy learning. Strange new culture, but familiar too.

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Some of us "born and bred" Christians see it as a bonus for others who can identify the definite point that they discovered Christ.

Religiot said:

Yes, brother, I would say no.

PS: I'm not threatened by the question, nor did I attribute it to Satan, but only pointed out that the term afterlife is convoluted.

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Hmm... this wasn't you in post #266 ?

Religiot said:

To use the term "afterlife" requires a network of presuppositions so confused, as to not be able to differentiate between actual life and actual death. --It is a deceptive term designed by Satan to promote the idea that death doesn't actually exist: this is his first lie.

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Religiot said:

No, brother, to be in Christ has immediate benefits in the here and now, but especially in the hereafter.

Immortality belongs only to those born of God--no one can survive the fire, unless they are born of God: once the fire consumes all that can be destroyed, what will remain is what cannot die; and thus there will be a new heaven and a new earth, without anything that can die.

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So, do you believe Jesus died to save us from God?

Saint Steven said:

Hmm... this wasn't you in post #266 ?

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Brother, convoluted terms are by Satan, the question however was not... Sorry if I wasn't clear about that, but that is what I mean.

Saint Steven said:

So, do you believe Jesus died to save us from God?

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Ultimately, to save us from death and reconcile us to God.

MMXX said:

I decided to reword this.

The Old Testament has very little to say about what happens in the afterlife. Yet throughout the OT many worshipped and served God, even to the point of execution. So hypothetically speaking if heaven and hell were put aside, would you still follow Jesus?

Answers could be something like "no way, I'm just in this because I don't want to fry" or "yes I would continue to follow Jesus no matter what" to "as long as the church serves coffee and doughnuts, I'm in"

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How would I KNOW there was no Afterlife?

Religiot said:

Ultimately, to save us from death and reconcile us to God.

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Did Jesus succeed, or fail?

1 John 4:14
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

Colossians 1:19-20
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Saint Steven said: ↑
So, do you believe Jesus died to save us from God?

MMXX said:

I agree the question has a huge plot hole. I should have just asked "why are you a Christian?" Or really more specifically, "why are you a disciple?". Or "what does being a disciple mean to you?"

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I think those questions are too broad and benign to be effective and thought-provoking. But hey, it's your topic... - lol

I prefer the more challenging versions, like:

Would you be a Christian if there were no consequences in the afterlife?
-- or --
Would you be a Christian if there were no hell in the afterlife?

Saint Steven said:

Did Jesus succeed, or fail?

1 John 4:14
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

Colossians 1:19-20
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Saint Steven said: ↑
So, do you believe Jesus died to save us from God?

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Question: What things in heaven did God reconcile to himself through Christ? (Colossians 1:19-20)
Answer: All things.

Saint Steven said:

Did Jesus succeed, or fail?

1 John 4:14
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

Colossians 1:19-20
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Saint Steven said: ↑
So, do you believe Jesus died to save us from God?

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Well, brother, judging from the very scripture you posted:

"For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; and, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister." --Colossians 1:19-23

Yes. Otherwise, why would our enmity against God require reconciliation?

Religiot said:

Yes. Otherwise, why would our enmity against God require reconciliation?

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Require reconciliation? He provided it.

Colossians 1:19-23
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.