Is God merciful

[repentandbelieve]

Thanks Christi.

What you're saying is plain right by me. You feel that Jesus is your way and nothing else. You know that He is your savior and no one else. You commint yourself to His teachings knowing (or hoping) that at the end it'll prove to be the truth.
Do you think it's right to impose on the rest of the world the same idea, beating them to death untill then submit?
Cause that is exactly what church was doing for a long time.

I think it's sinfuly wrong. You can offer but not force. You can offer your religion to someone, or maybe suggest, but never force or throw statements like : unless you do, you go to hell forever. Cause in my heart I know that isn't the fact. God accepts anyone who worships Him with love and devotion, and I believe that God is not limited by only one way. That would be so inconsiderate of Him. There are different people on this planet who find other ways of worshiping and approaching God easier for them and they do it sincerely with devotion. God accepts that, He doesn't send them to hell!

And as I said before, Jesus came a little over 2000 yrs ago, but we find humanity exsiting long before that; civilized humans that is. City of Mohenjodaro is older than 6000 years. They had their ways of worshiping God. Do you think every soul before Jesus was simply punished to go to purgatory or hell? No, no and no.
We should stop preaching this nonsense.

As a Christian I say to people, I worship Jesus, He's my only way to God. What's your way?

Kristijan

Take the nation of Israel for example. In the Old Testament times of the Bible, before the birth of Jesus. Patriarchs and prophets, those who wrote the Old Testament held close communion with God.

Speaking to the Jews Jesus said, "your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day" and "Before Abraham was born, I am." (John 8:56 and 8:58)

Jesus is Christ. Christ is part of the Godhead. Jesus Christ has been with God the Father since the beginning of creation.

I have yet to meet anyone who is able to fully explain the Godhead. IMO, if someone could fully to set forth God, they would either be a god themself, or God Himself would cease to be God.


Christ represented His Father to the world, and He represents before God the chosen ones in whom He has restored the moral image of God. They are His heritage. To them He says, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." "No man knoweth . . . the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."

 

[repentandbelieve]

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Take a look at the Bible when Jesus walks by a man who was blind from his birth. Jesus's disciples asked Him: "Rabi, is reason for his blindness the sins of his parents or his own sins?"

Now, the first part of the question I can understand, if his parents were sinful, maybe their punishment was to get a blind child (although it is not fair towards the child, but let's forget about that for now), but what does that mean, "or is it due to his sins?" When did he get a chance to commint any sins if he didn't existed before this life?
Obvoiusly, they knew about the idea of past life, and Jesus didn't even corrected them like, what are you talking about, how can he sin before he was born, or something like that.

Seems like there's much more to the Jesus teachings than we know of today.
And it seems that might be the reason for so many holes in out philosophy.

Any comments,
Thanks
Kristijan

The effects of sin is so far reaching that it is hard to measure.

Rom 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Rom 5:19 says "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

The Bible sheds light on many of the questions your have. It is a trustworthy source of information, but faith in the bible as being a revelation from God has been undermined.

In the Bible there are many things which we cannot explain, or even understand, and Satan employs these things to shake our faith in the Scriptures as being a revelation from God.

In one of your earlier post I detected that the false doctrine of eternal torment has contributed to your skepticism toward the Bible.

Remember, it was by the word of God that Christ overcame Satan. Jesus relied heavely on the scriptures. So should we.

 

[kakudmi]

The effects of sin is so far reaching that it is hard to measure.

Rom 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Rom 5:19 says "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

The Bible sheds light on many of the questions your have. It is a trustworthy source of information, but faith in the bible as being a revelation from God has been undermined.

In the Bible there are many things which we cannot explain, or even understand, and Satan employs these things to shake our faith in the Scriptures as being a revelation from God.

In one of your earlier post I detected that the false doctrine of eternal torment has contributed to your skepticism toward the Bible.

Remember, it was by the word of God that Christ overcame Satan. Jesus relied heavely on the scriptures. So should we.

That was not the answer to my question.
Or, are you saying that the blind man was punished because of who knows who sinned?

If so, I don't want to be punished just becuase some Adam and Eve did the wrong thing. That's their business with God. I have nothing to do with that. If I'm to be labeled as a sinner for someone else's sins then I resent God and all His laws, for I'm not a sinner by my birth, for I didn't choose to be born, it was the will of God, my creator. If He labels me as a sinner from the beginnig and then offers me only ONE way to make it right, and then if I don't like it I have one short life to decide, but if I don't He sends me away, forever, to burn in the most terrifying place in the creation.

Hey brothers, show me God, my merciful father, who loves me beyond my understanding. I don't want to hear about this monster you're describing so far.

Use your inteligence, Bible has been interpreted so many times by so many people (I can't believe some of you don't even know that), who says you cannot use the God's voice withing your heart to see what is right or wrong.

 

[mamabear4]

Please understand that to uphold Jesus Christ as the only true Savior of mankind is not denouncing other religions, it is holding up the only Savior that qualifies as our redeemer. All other religions essentially hold up men who were not qualified to redeem mankind because they weren't 1.) Diety, 2.) Sinless, 3.) Loving enough to die for us in our place and 4.) not powerful enough to resurrect from the dead and ascend to the right hand of the Throne of God. Those are all qualifications of the Redeemer. Read about them in Isa 53 and see if you don't agree that those scriptures are prophesying the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who "was bruised for our iniquities, wounded for our transgressions, and the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. " I hope you find this the loving post that it is intended to be. I am not wishing to argue my point or position; only hoping to show you that Jesus is the Door to the Sheepfold, the Light of the World, the Bread of Life, the Lamb of God, and all the other titles that the Bible claims He is. I have always found Him to be exactly what He claims to be and so much more that I can't even begin to explain.

 

[kakudmi]

Please understand that to uphold Jesus Christ as the only true Savior of mankind is not denouncing other religions, it is holding up the only Savior that qualifies as our redeemer. All other religions essentially hold up men who were not qualified to redeem mankind because they weren't 1.) Diety, 2.) Sinless, 3.) Loving enough to die for us in our place and 4.) not powerful enough to resurrect from the dead and ascend to the right hand of the Throne of God. Those are all qualifications of the Redeemer. Read about them in Isa 53 and see if you don't agree that those scriptures are prophesying the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who "was bruised for our iniquities, wounded for our transgressions, and the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. " I hope you find this the loving post that it is intended to be. I am not wishing to argue my point or position; only hoping to show you that Jesus is the Door to the Sheepfold, the Light of the World, the Bread of Life, the Lamb of God, and all the other titles that the Bible claims He is. I have always found Him to be exactly what He claims to be and so much more that I can't even begin to explain.

What you're saying about other religions is first of all not true, or you don't have any proof that it is. You're simply going by what Bible says. You're not being fair and realistic. Of course, no fighting intended here, simply a discussion.
Others might argue in the same way, according to their teachings and standards, Christianity doesn't qualify to be a bonafide spiritual process.

Take for example some Hindus that are monoteists like we are, they believe that God, named Vishnu, or Krishna, is one, just like we do. They believe that He was personally here about 5000 years ago. I talked to one of them at the airport. He spoke their sacred scripture, something Gita, can't remember now, and they are convinced more that anything, that those are THE actual words of God, which is more than we have. We have whatever Jesus disciples left in writing, and some of them disagreed with each other.

So when I asked that guy what does his religion says about Christianity he replied that it is a religion also given by God, because we worship the same God (there's only one to worship anyway, there cannot be two) but, according to the philosophy we're preaching it is considered to be one of the sub-religions made for people who cannot follow the highest principles of religion. He said that this is why Jesus said, I have so much more to give you but you're not ready to take,.

Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't convert or anything. But there's so much to investigate, to do a major reality check and re-install our teachings to the right state.
Did anyone see the movie "Luther"?

Just see what was church doing in the name of God, and it took the devotion of only one sincere follower to make a breakthrough and expose the false practice.

Furthermore, that guy at the airport, he said that he believed Jesus never eat meat, he cannot picture a merciful sheapherd slaughtering animals just to satisfy his hunger for meat.
Also he noted that he's convinced Jesus was sent by God at the particular time in the history to preach to the certain people and for them he had set certain list of rules they have to follow in order to reach kingdom of God. For THEM, he was the only way and no one else. But we're not them and for us we have a choice of many different paths, according to our own ability to approach God. God would't be fair if He had given only one way, because people around the world are SO MUCH different that they need different options. That is called mercy.
Not only that, he continues, he said that Jesus was actually preaching reincarnation as the only way to show God's mercy. If one is not able or willing to reach perfection in this life, he is given another chance in the next.
Jesus is talking about it in the Bible by describing some prophets coming back againg in different bodies as different prophets to preach again. I think one of our Bible experts will find that quotes easy...

I'm not saying that we should believe what he says, after all, he's coming from a different religion and we should be careful before embracing such philosophies, but just think about it. How much more sense does that make?

 

[mamabear4]

I know it sounds unloving and irrational to believe that Jesus Christ is our only Messiah, our only Redeemer, our only Doorway to Heaven, but when we think of the sin problem and the holiness of God, what could He do about our sins? Forgive them without any remission being made? That would have made him unholy. Only a sinless, perfect blood sacrifice could turn our stony hearts, our painful pasts, our pride and hate into pure and guiltfree hearts, free from our pasts that would otherwise haunt us, even in our sleep. (I know, I've been there.) Anything less would have restricted the power of God. I'm sorry, but when there is only one Redeemer, there is no other. It is not a merciless God who provides only one Doorway into His Kingdom. He provided it and equipped us all the tools we need to attain it, then someone else came along and held out counterfeit doors and people said, "Surely, this must be as good as that one," and took it. Soon there were doors everywhere, each painted a different color and people are as confused today as can be and many never find the correct and bonafide Door. That is so sad because Jesus Christ is able to set the captives free - to give Living Water (Word of God) to the thirsty (questioner) and to heal the broken hearted. His power is so awesome its hard to describe unless you've experienced it personally.

I'm not being hateful or unmerciful at all. Quite the opposite. If I didn't care about your questions I certianly wouldn't take the time to explain the Scriptures. I sincerely hope that you can experience the power of the Holy Spirit in your life and have your questions answered.

 

[kakudmi]

I know it sounds unloving and irrational to believe that Jesus Christ is our only Messiah, our only Redeemer, our only Doorway to Heaven, but when we think of the sin problem and the holiness of God, what could He do about our sins? Forgive them without any remission being made? That would have made him unholy. Only a sinless, perfect blood sacrifice could turn our stony hearts, our painful pasts, our pride and hate into pure and guiltfree hearts, free from our pasts that would otherwise haunt us, even in our sleep.

Thanks for taking time to answer my questions.
God does not have to simply forgive our sins. The idea of having to take another birth is scary enough. Imagine a sinner, living in the US, lusty, greedy, crazy demonized killer, dies and takes another birth in Kuwait, as a girl, in the middle of the desert, hungry and poor, born in the war, living through it and finally dies in the midst of it. Never had a soft bed, loving father or soothing God to believe in. See, no need for eternal hell, just take another birth in God forsaken place and that's it. Then again, God can give that soul a chance to get it touch with Him one way or another and sober up.
And what are you talking about, God is a blood hungry guy who needs to see someone get torchured, bleed, burn and die to get His satisfaction?
You keep talking about sin being spread all over our lives like we're born with it and I'm telling you I don't accept the sin I haven't commited. I refuse to believe in that. It's a trick that someone in our history implemented in our holy scripture to keep us in the cage.

Some of us turned to God because we had enough of this world, realizing what Jesus was teaching us; what's the use of the wealth of this world, where thieves can steal it and rust can spoil it. Other people never realize that. I think they just need a little more beating to get it in their heads. Others kinda remember from their past experiences.

But to blame us for nothing, just because we took birth without being asked...no, I can see that kind of personality in God. My Lord isn't like that.

It is not a merciless God who provides only one Doorway into His Kingdom. He provided it and equipped us all the tools we need to attain it, then someone else came along and held out counterfeit doors and people said, "Surely, this must be as good as that one," and took it. Soon there were doors everywhere, each painted a different color and people are as confused today as can be and many never find the correct and bonafide Door.

Again, you cannot say for sure that our way is the only way.
Other religions speak strongly about their experiences with God. Very convincing I can tell you that.
But what we usualy comment is that it is all satan's work.
Critisizing and blaspheming others believes and religins, saying they are going nowhere...How do we know that?
For us, to tell you frankly, untill we actually die, we'll never know for sure.
No one has seen God so no one can say for sure. That's why it's called faith.
That's why we say I believe, not I've seen and therefore I know.
So we should be more carefull when be bash others cause we just might get a surprise at the time of death, when we hear His voice saying, "Because of your vanity, go back and suffer more."

We tend to do that, we westeners. We're very intolerant of others. Ours is the best, the best nation, the best religion, the best army, the best God...
And we have a history of that. Unless others accept and submit to our supermacy, we kill, we rape, we capture, we enslave...
Take a look and the India, they have a culture and civilization more than 6000 years old. They've known God before we even existed on this planet. But we came there to teach them a lesson of who is really God and how to worship Him. We had to kill to convince. And they have tolerated us and they have seen who we really are.

We did it to the blacks in Africa, to the natives here in America, hell, if we find a living freak on Mars we'll beat the jelly our of his head untill he confess his sins.


When I watch these movies that talk about that, the history of westeners, Christians, running around the globe and imposing our faith like that, I'm so ashamed.
And yet, we don't learn much from it. we still go around saying; yep, it's the only way. You either accept or burn. And call yourself lucky if we burn you before.

 

[Emmy]

Dear kakudmi,you had some very good replies,I can only repeat most of it.Yes,God is merciful and forgiving and He loves and wants us to be His own again,as we were before Adam lost our heritage.Jesus has died to show us the way back again,follow Him kakudmi,and love God and love all fellow-men and fellow-women.Sincere greetings from Emmy,a sister in Christ.

 

[kakudmi]

Dear kakudmi,you had some very good replies,I can only repeat most of it.Yes,God is merciful and forgiving and He loves and wants us to be His own again,as we were before Adam lost our heritage.Jesus has died to show us the way back again,follow Him kakudmi,and love God and love all fellow-men and fellow-women.Sincere greetings from Emmy,a sister in Christ.

Thank you sister. Your words feel like a balsam on a wound. Good be with you.

 

[repentandbelieve]

That was not the answer to my question.
Or, are you saying that the blind man was punished because of who knows who sinned?

If so, I don't want to be punished just becuase some Adam and Eve did the wrong thing. That's their business with God. I have nothing to do with that. If I'm to be labeled as a sinner for someone else's sins then I resent God and all His laws, for I'm not a sinner by my birth, for I didn't choose to be born, it was the will of God, my creator. If He labels me as a sinner from the beginnig and then offers me only ONE way to make it right, and then if I don't like it I have one short life to decide, but if I don't He sends me away, forever, to burn in the most terrifying place in the creation.

Hey brothers, show me God, my merciful father, who loves me beyond my understanding. I don't want to hear about this monster you're describing so far.

Use your inteligence, Bible has been interpreted so many times by so many people (I can't believe some of you don't even know that), who says you cannot use the God's voice withing your heart to see what is right or wrong.

A root of bitterness has sprung up. Unbelief is making an inroad into your ranks and giving place to skepticism. Do not, repeat, do not, depart from Christ because you love your own way more.

Don't make the same mistake of apostate Israel who said "We will not have this man to reign over us.' Baal, Baal, is our choice" and forsake the way of the Lord.

A lack of proper understanding is causing you to speak perverse things, and cherish roots of bitterness. The frown of God will certainly be upon every soul who cherishes these roots of dissension, and possesses a spirit so unlike the Spirit of Christ.

I exort you to do what we all need to do. Cultivate your religious faculties, that you may have a right discernment of religious things.

Make the Bible your constant companion. Bring your heart into harmony with the word and a new life will spring up within you, a new light will shine upon every line of the word, and it will become the voice of God to your soul.

 

[repentandbelieve]

That was not the answer to my question.
Or, are you saying that the blind man was punished because of who knows who sinned?

If so, I don't want to be punished just becuase some Adam and Eve did the wrong thing. That's their business with God. I have nothing to do with that. If I'm to be labeled as a sinner for someone else's sins then I resent God and all His laws, for I'm not a sinner by my birth, for I didn't choose to be born, it was the will of God, my creator. If He labels me as a sinner from the beginnig and then offers me only ONE way to make it right, and then if I don't like it I have one short life to decide, but if I don't He sends me away, forever, to burn in the most terrifying place in the creation.

Hey brothers, show me God, my merciful father, who loves me beyond my understanding. I don't want to hear about this monster you're describing so far.

Use your inteligence, Bible has been interpreted so many times by so many people (I can't believe some of you don't even know that), who says you cannot use the God's voice withing your heart to see what is right or wrong.

Self pride is interfering with your exceptance of a fundametal Bible truth.
You refuse be labeled as sinner because of someone elses sin. Friend, do not you understand that the only way we can be labeled righteous is through someone elses obedience.

"Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips." (Job 2:10)

 

[kakudmi]

A root of bitterness has sprung up. Unbelief is making an inroad into your ranks and giving place to skepticism. Do not, repeat, do not, depart from Christ because you love your own way more.

Don't make the same mistake of apostate Israel who said "We will not have this man to reign over us.' Baal, Baal, is our choice" and forsake the way of the Lord.

A lack of proper understanding is causing you to speak perverse things, and cherish roots of bitterness. The frown of God will certainly be upon every soul who cherishes these roots of dissension, and possesses a spirit so unlike the Spirit of Christ.

I exort you to do what we all need to do. Cultivate your religious faculties, that you may have a right discernment of religious things.

Make the Bible your constant companion. Bring your heart into harmony with the word and a new life will spring up within you, a new light will shine upon every line of the word, and it will become the voice of God to your soul.

Hello, the man of the medeval times. We, the people of the 21st century do not understand what you're taking about.
Speak the wisdom of logic, not that sentimental sectarianism.

 

[repentandbelieve]

Hello, the man of the medeval times. We, the people of the 21st century do not understand what you're taking about.
Speak the wisdom of logic, not that sentimental sectarianism.

The people of the 21st century need to make an effort to understand the truth about God the way it is written by the prophets of old. These truths about God have remained unchanged, and their principals are for all generations.

The Bible is not written in 21st century lingo. It's ways, like my style of writing, may seem old fashioned to you and obsolet.

Human wisdom and human logic have nearly quenched the light that God has provided. The wisdom you are seeking must be received from Christ. Human logic is unable to reach the soul so that it can be convicted or coverted.

When those who have received the false interpretation of the word search the Scriptures with determined effort to know what is truth, the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of their understanding, and the word is to them a new revelation. Their hearts are quickened with a new and living faith, and they behold wondrous things out of His law.

 

[kakudmi]

The people of the 21st century need to make an effort to understand the truth about God the way it is written by the prophets of old. These truths about God have remained unchanged, and their principals are for all generations.

Not true !

Bible has been altered at least 8 times throughout the history.

You have NEVER read the original Bible not has any of us. We are gambling by accepting today's Bible as the inspired word of God for many changes have been applied to It.
And we're talking about the changes inspired by the lusty politicians in the past.
Try to read some of the books that explain what happened.

I know you'll probably say that this is all work of Satan just to test your faith in the perfect teachings of Christ and Bible and we should never pay any attention nor hear or read about such things, otherwise we might fall prey to the foregin doctrines that don't lead to salvation but our eternal damnation.
I've heard that way too many times.
But that kind of mentality is sectarian and hardens our hearts and narrows our minds making us very selfish and full of vanity, unabled to recognize the real truth.

Do you think the Bible is perfect just because it is the head scripture or our religion? Do you think that no alterations can contaminate it?

 

[mamabear4]

I dont' know where you've heard that the Bible has been altered at least 8 times, but even if it has, that is no reason to despair. God has not left us here alone, you can count on that. We have the Holy Spirit to lead us to all truth, to give us peace, joy, love, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith, and all of the bounties of Heaven that God wishes to grant us. Bless you for searching for the truth. I am praying that God will lead someone in to your life that will show you in shoe leather what God is actually like.

 

[kakudmi]

I dont' know where you've heard that the Bible has been altered at least 8 times, but even if it has, that is no reason to despair. God has not left us here alone, you can count on that. We have the Holy Spirit to lead us to all truth, to give us peace, joy, love, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith, and all of the bounties of Heaven that God wishes to grant us. Bless you for searching for the truth. I am praying that God will lead someone in to your life that will show you in shoe leather what God is actually like.

Thank you.

 

[repentandbelieve]

Do you think the Bible is perfect just because it is the head scripture or our religion? Do you think that no alterations can contaminate it?

It is true that many theories and doctrines popularly supposed to be derived from the Bible have no foundation in its teaching, and indeed are contrary to the whole tenor of inspiration. These things have been a cause of doubt and perplexity to many minds. They are not, however, chargeable to God's word, but to man's perversion of it.

I know your danger. If you lose confidence in the scriptures, you will drift away from Bible truth. As you now regard the Bible, do you feel at perfect liberty to accept or reject any part or the whole of it? The piece of scripture you may be least inclined to receive may be the very part you need the most.

Would all professed Christians use their investigative powers to see what evils needed to be corrected in themselves, instead of talking of how others have altered the bible, there would be a more healthy condition in the church today.

The apostle Peter says that there are in Scripture "things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest . . . unto their own destruction." 2 Peter 3:16.

Do you ask why I believe in Jesus? Because He is to me a divine Saviour. Why do I believe the Bible? Because I have found it to be the voice of God to my soul."

 

[mamabear4]

. Do you ask why I believe in Jesus? Because He is to me a divine Saviour. Why do I believe the Bible? Because I have found it to be the voice of God to my soul."

Well said.

 

[kakudmi]

It is true that many theories and doctrines popularly supposed to be derived from the Bible have no foundation in its teaching, and indeed are contrary to the whole tenor of inspiration. These things have been a cause of doubt and perplexity to many minds. They are not, however, chargeable to God's word, but to man's perversion of it.

I know your danger. If you lose confidence in the scriptures, you will drift away from Bible truth. As you now regard the Bible, do you feel at perfect liberty to accept or reject any part or the whole of it? The piece of scripture you may be least inclined to receive may be the very part you need the most.

Would all professed Christians use their investigative powers to see what evils needed to be corrected in themselves, instead of talking of how others have altered the bible, there would be a more healthy condition in the church today.

The apostle Peter says that there are in Scripture "things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest . . . unto their own destruction." 2 Peter 3:16.

Do you ask why I believe in Jesus? Because He is to me a divine Saviour. Why do I believe the Bible? Because I have found it to be the voice of God to my soul."

Can you please tell me what was the very fist instruction God had given to the man after he created the world? The very first one.

 

[mamabear4]

Not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good & evil.And I bet I know what you're going to say.