Pointless to Focus on Sin

Thomas White

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My advice: Try to quote the ENTIRE passage instead of random verses, preferably with links to the sources. Context is EVERYTHING. Otherwise, it WILL be taken as cherry-picking,[1][2] especially in the face of overwhelming evidence against your claim. If one must resort to dishonesty to spread God's truth, that only amounts to Pious Fraud[6][7] and is condemned by Scripture (Luke 16:1-15, Proverbs 6:16-19, Romans 3:7-8).

REMEMBER: Everyone on this website has access to Bibles too.[3][4][5] Please respect their intelligence.



~John 3:1-21 (ICB)

Bible Gateway passage: John 3 - King James Version
Bible Gateway passage: John 3 - New King James Version
Bible Gateway passage: John 3 - New International Version
Bible Gateway passage: John 3 - International Children’s Bible

Based on the ENTIRE CONTEXT of this passage, why did God send His only Begotten Son to die on the cross for us? Why or why not?

What makes us guilty and evil? Why or why not?

Again, please back up your claims with at least two or three pieces of Scripture. Otherwise, I am going to walk away from this conversation. Please and thank you.
  1. Cherry Picking
  2. Cherry Picking Data | Science Exposed
  3. BibleGateway.com: A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages.
  4. Christian Forums
  5. Online Bible
  6. What does pious fraud mean?
  7. Pious fraud

You can try to justify your views however you like, but Jesus clearly stated why He came: "For God so loved the world..." Love is the central to the Gospel. If you cannot see that, then you likely miss the meaning of the Gospel.
 
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Dave L

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I'm not sure why you believe that to be counter to what Jesus taught.

Matthew 22:36-40: 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Love speaks the truth and exposes people's sin. It got all but one of the Apostles and Jesus killed. How can anyone repent and be saved apart from that?
 
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Dave L

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Where have I argued against that?
"So many churches spend all their time focusing on sin and believers shouldn't sin. It's a pointless focus.

Jesus didn't focus on sin and what sins not to commit. Why do we focus on it?

Our ministry should have one focus: love. Let the world know we are Christians by our love, not our rulebooks. If we love God and love one another, we will detest sin and be a lot happier.

Jesus didn't condemn the world and neither should we. Stop focusing on sin, and start loving like Jesus."
 
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Thomas White

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"So many churches spend all their time focusing on sin and believers shouldn't sin. It's a pointless focus.

Jesus didn't focus on sin and what sins not to commit. Why do we focus on it?

Our ministry should have one focus: love. Let the world know we are Christians by our love, not our rulebooks. If we love God and love one another, we will detest sin and be a lot happier.

Jesus didn't condemn the world and neither should we. Stop focusing on sin, and start loving like Jesus."

Does that say that love does not save us from sin? Does that say we should never mention sin?
 
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Rene Loup

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You can try to justify your views however you like, but Jesus clearly stated why He came: "For God so loved the world..." Love is the central to the Gospel. If you cannot see that, then you likely miss the meaning of the Gospel.

Simple questions require simple answers. Evidence gives credibility to claims.

I forgive you for that accusation. I will now walk away from this conversation.

Graham's Pyramid of Debate:[1][2]

Pyramid of Debate.jpg


Take care, stay safe, and God bless!
  1. http://www.paulgraham [dot] com/disagree.html - STRONG LANGUAGE WARNING!!!
  2. https://bigthink [dot] com/paul-ratner/how-to-disagree-well-7-of-the-best-and-worst-ways-to-argue - STRONG LANGUAGE WARNING!!!
 
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Thomas White

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Simple questions require simple answers. Evidence gives credibility to claims.

I forgive you for that accusation. I will now walk away from this conversation.

Graham's Pyramid of Debate:[1][2]

View attachment 297562

Take care, stay safe, and God bless!
  1. http://www.paulgraham [dot] com/disagree.html - STRONG LANGUAGE WARNING!!!
  2. https://bigthink [dot] com/paul-ratner/how-to-disagree-well-7-of-the-best-and-worst-ways-to-argue - STRONG LANGUAGE WARNING!!!

What accusation? Do you believe that love is central to the Gospel? If you do, I do not see how what I said can be considered an accusation. If you don't think love is central to the Gospel, then I am glad we are having this conversation. I would love to tell you about that love.
 
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bling

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The same way you and I did. We obtained by first accepting it from Christ. Jesus did the rest.
OK, but was looking for more.
The only way I know for a nonbelieving sinner to itially obtain Godly type Love is through the process Jesus discribes "He that is forgiven much Loves much", but to obtain an unbelievable huge Love (Godly type Love) you first have to realize you have been forgiveness of an unbelievable huge debt created by your sins. We need to know how bad sin is and believe God's Love is great enough to forgive those sins.
 
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Thomas White

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OK, but was looking for more.
The only way I know for a nonbelieving sinner to itially obtain Godly type Love is through the process Jesus discribes "He that is forgiven much Loves much", but to obtain an unbelievable huge Love (Godly type Love) you first have to realize you have been forgiveness of an unbelievable huge debt created by your sins. We need to know how bad sin is and believe God's Love is great enough to forgive those sins.

I do not disagree, but most people are aware that they are flawed people. Our focus should be that we are forgiven of those flaws because of Love, not that we have no hope because of those flaws.
 
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bling

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I do not disagree, but most people are aware that they are flawed people. Our focus should be that we are forgiven of those flaws because of Love, not that we have no hope because of those flaws.
The masses go to whom they want to hear. Each individual is different and needs Jesus differently at different times. The nonbeleiver needs to see Christ, have Christ spend time with him/her, witness Christ helping others, experience Christ, let Christ teach them, have Christ mentor him/her and allow Christ to Love on them, which is all done through Christians allowing Christ to live in them and through them. The "sermons" are to help existing Christians be Christ in the world and not some outreach program on Sunday morning.
 
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Dave L

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Personally, I lit up and experienced some of the best news I ever heard when someone pointed out how sinful we are. The doctrine of Total Depravity. I said "that's me" and this is the solution. "Good people" made me sick at the time knowing it was all an act. Now, because of Christ, I can be sincerely good without acting.
 
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Thomas White

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The masses go to whom they want to hear. Each individual is different and needs Jesus differently at different times. The nonbeleiver needs to see Christ, have Christ spend time with him/her, witness Christ helping others, experience Christ, let Christ teach them, have Christ mentor him/her and allow Christ to Love on them, which is all done through Christians allowing Christ to live in them and through them. The "sermons" are to help existing Christians be Christ in the world and not some outreach program on Sunday morning.

I do not disagree.
 
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Dave L

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If I don't say it, why would I need to say otherwise?
Again, here's what you said. "So many churches spend all their time focusing on sin and believers shouldn't sin. It's a pointless focus.

Jesus didn't focus on sin and what sins not to commit. Why do we focus on it?

Our ministry should have one focus: love. Let the world know we are Christians by our love, not our rulebooks. If we love God and love one another, we will detest sin and be a lot happier.

Jesus didn't condemn the world and neither should we. Stop focusing on sin, and start loving like Jesus."
 
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Thomas White

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Again, here's what you said. "So many churches spend all their time focusing on sin and believers shouldn't sin. It's a pointless focus.

Jesus didn't focus on sin and what sins not to commit. Why do we focus on it?

Our ministry should have one focus: love. Let the world know we are Christians by our love, not our rulebooks. If we love God and love one another, we will detest sin and be a lot happier.

Jesus didn't condemn the world and neither should we. Stop focusing on sin, and start loving like Jesus."

And again, that does not say that love does not save or sin should never be mentioned.
 
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