Need some help understanding god

[Steven Wood]

Hey guys I have a few questions about general life and how to stay on the right path.

I am 27 years old and don't go to church but I have done heaps of research and feel Christianity is the closest to being the right religion for me but I am a very skeptical person and just have so many questions about God and would love some feedback.

First off although I have never really gone to church or followed any certain religion i have always believed in something greater than us my problem is that there is so much trickery in this world and corruption starting from the top everything is just a lie the amount of starving children to innocent People dying in war zones and unable to escape rich wage war and poor people die it's so distracting and sad.! there's so many religions claiming to be true let's say Christianity is the one true religion does God not realise how hard it is to believe 100% in him and not be skeptical of the bible after I have been tricked and lied to so many times in my life is it not true that to get into heaven we have to give ourselves to Jesus like how do I even go about that is being a Christian mean I have to go to church And just believe without being skeptical at all ? I try to do the right thing by people and just generally be a good person I will help out anyone I can so let's say I keep going the way I am does that mean I will not get into heaven ? I feel so sad for humanity people are a product of there environment and I just don't see how God will not let a lot of these people into heaven like mentally ill patients for example how are they supposed to get into heaven surely a lot of them don't have the mental capacity to give themselves to Jesus ? What about Muslims ? If they are brought up from a young age being taught the Koran and living in Muslim communities how is it fair they have such a disadvantage by being brainwashed with the kuran ? Is there a certain cutoff age? Surely a 4 year old can't be sent to hell because their parents were Buddhists ? What happens to babies that have died ? Do they get a chance to make it into heaven ?

Hi patt, First of all. It's really good for you to ask these questions. God warns not to let ourselves be deceived. for the ones like the 4 year olds, the mentally ill, etc. There is an age of accountability. it's not a certain "cut-off" age by a certain number per say but an age of innocence. When Jesus says that we need to look upon Heaven like a child it's like that. God WILL NOT condemn someone that knows no better and has no choice. He makes sure that we are all given choice. Do we ask his forgiveness or not? If a person say a baby isn't given that choice or a mentally disabled person they're saved. It's said that all will hear the word of the Lord and be given the choice. That means no one will be left out. As for your question concerning people of a young age being brought up in a different faith. The people that the Lord has chosen will feel it impressed on their heart no matter what they were brought up believing. Like yourself feeling this way now. I have a few friends that grew up Muslim and Buddhist never hearing much about God. I've heard stories of people not even being able to talk to their family anymore because they became Christians and their family were still a different religion. When you are God's elect it doesn't matter where you're from. As for going to church, it doesn't matter if you not gone to church and doesn't really matter if you ever step foot in a church in your life. In all honestly I was "saved" in a church years ago, I fell out of church a couple of years later, I haven't gone back, I was truly FORGIVEN and redeemed again months ago, my church is wherever God's name and work is found and I would be better never going to "church" again. I have my churches where Jesus had his and I find God has more influence than man does that way. If you ever have any worry about not trusting the Bible or the Church or Christianity please just try to remember this. First of all before you try reading big chunks of the Old testament, read the New testament. Though they are really telling us the same thing, The Old testament had to teach us with a harsher hand and it's harder to learn from. Secondly The church and Christianity are 2 COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THINGS. The church is run by man, divided into different sects and denomination and destined to argue and fail. The Bible, The word of God is the truth, it tells us how to treat one another and is not only a guide but a BLUEPRINT on how to live our lives. I hope that some of this may help you. God bless you friend.

 

[zippy2006]

Thank you for the responses guys much appreciated I will look into getting a copy of that book.

There are free, online versions as well. Just google "Catechism of the Catholic Church."

I have read something saying that Catholics believe that getting the into heaven depends on the life we live as well as trusting and believing in god where as Christians believe following God and believing in God is enough to get into heaven, have I got this right ?

Catholics and Orthodox believe that one's salvation includes sanctification: good works, growing in love of God and neighbor, living the way that Jesus lived.

Christianity has three main branches: Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant. There are smaller branches within each; the most are within Protestant.

According to a recent Pew Research Study, Catholics make up 50.1% of Christians, Protestants make up 36.7% of Christians, and Orthodox make up 11.9%.

 

[LaSorcia]

Catholics and Orthodox believe that one's salvation includes sanctification: good works, growing in love of God and neighbor, living the way that Jesus lived.



According to a recent Pew Research Study, Catholics make up 50.1% of Christians, Protestants make up 36.7% of Christians, and Orthodox make up 11.9%.

I belong to a Protestant denomination and I believe that, too.

I meant Protestants have the most subsets lol, not members.

 

[buryacorns]

hi brisbane patt,

god is love and love is truth. loving is a state of being i think. we can't put it on... well we can, but if it's a role then its not truth.. to know god, to be aware of god is to love.. the gospel is love god, love yourself and love others.. that's the whole gospel.. it's all about love.. christ came to free us from suffering. when i am not walking in love (for myself or others) i am suffering. don't worry about anything you feel you need to know about such as hell and the why's of things.. look at jesus and love as jesus loved.. that's the gospel.. take care.

 

[orangeness365]

John the Baptist was considered the greatest man to live Matthew 11:11. John the Baptist lived a hard life out in the wilderness, eating locusts and honey, and was beheaded, but he suffered for God. Blessed are those that suffer on behalf of Jesus, Matthew 5:11. The Bible tells people to rejoice in their sufferings Romans 5:3-5. I'm not really one to talk, I haven't really suffered, but the Bible talks about suffering quite a bit. The Bible also talks about how suffering can purify people, Malachi 3:2-4, and 1 Peter 1:7. The Bible explains that the current suffering is as nothing to the glory that will be revealed, Romans 8:18. As for who goes to Heaven and who doesn't, only God knows, I certainly don't. God will judge justly. I'm not concerned that God will make a single mistake. There are a lot of Muslims coming to Christ through dreams and visions, even when people are unable to. http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/April/Revival-in-Land-Once-Hostile-to-Christ/

 

[AlexDTX]

Hey guys I have a few questions about general life and how to stay on the right path.

I am 27 years old and don't go to church but I have done heaps of research and feel Christianity is the closest to being the right religion for me but I am a very skeptical person and just have so many questions about God and would love some feedback.

First off although I have never really gone to church or followed any certain religion i have always believed in something greater than us my problem is that there is so much trickery in this world and corruption starting from the top everything is just a lie the amount of starving children to innocent People dying in war zones and unable to escape rich wage war and poor people die it's so distracting and sad.! there's so many religions claiming to be true let's say Christianity is the one true religion does God not realise how hard it is to believe 100% in him and not be skeptical of the bible after I have been tricked and lied to so many times in my life is it not true that to get into heaven we have to give ourselves to Jesus like how do I even go about that is being a Christian mean I have to go to church And just believe without being skeptical at all ? I try to do the right thing by people and just generally be a good person I will help out anyone I can so let's say I keep going the way I am does that mean I will not get into heaven ? I feel so sad for humanity people are a product of there environment and I just don't see how God will not let a lot of these people into heaven like mentally ill patients for example how are they supposed to get into heaven surely a lot of them don't have the mental capacity to give themselves to Jesus ? What about Muslims ? If they are brought up from a young age being taught the Koran and living in Muslim communities how is it fair they have such a disadvantage by being brainwashed with the kuran ? Is there a certain cutoff age? Surely a 4 year old can't be sent to hell because their parents were Buddhists ? What happens to babies that have died ? Do they get a chance to make it into heaven ?

You err in thinking Christianity is a religion. It is physics and biology. It is the beginning of a new heaven and new earth. God is perfect and made His creation perfect with one wild card: free will. That means a will that can reject God and life. This wild card, however, is also the proof of independent life so that we are not just figments of His imagination, nor puppets that He manipulates for His entertainment.

But He also counted the cost. He knew what He would have to do to get a family that was independent and alive, yet who wanted to be His family. Christ was foreordained to die before creation and was slain from the foundation of the Earth. How was He slain at the foundation when historically it was 4,000 years later? In the will and spirit of God it was already done the moment Adam and Eve erred. The error in judgement regarding the character of God through disbelieving Him and believing the serpent brought entropy into creation, so all creation became corrupted.

The death and resurrection of Jesus is the redemption of creation because Jesus, as a created man (although He was God in His Spirit), lived perfectly without error. So when He voluntarily gave up His life to become sin on the cross, because He did so as a member of creation, He justified all creation. His resurrection made Him the seed to the new creation so that all who will trust in Him then become partakers of the new perfect creation, by faith now, but in manifest reality at His return.

Religion in the world is man's attempt to justify his life without God. Religion by a Christian is a Christians response to God who has already justified us. This is why James (Yaakov) said:

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (1:27).​

The depth of a Christian's response in this manner depends on the depth of his or her relationship with Christ. Those who have a shallow relationship in the new birth will remain more carnal. But those whose love for Jesus is deep will choose to behave more like Jesus.

BTW, please use more punctuation and break your thoughts into paragraphs to help readers understand your questions.

 

[razzelflabben]

Hey guys I have a few questions about general life and how to stay on the right path.

I am 27 years old and don't go to church but I have done heaps of research and feel Christianity is the closest to being the right religion for me but I am a very skeptical person and just have so many questions about God and would love some feedback.

First off although I have never really gone to church or followed any certain religion i have always believed in something greater than us my problem is that there is so much trickery in this world and corruption starting from the top everything is just a lie the amount of starving children to innocent People dying in war zones and unable to escape rich wage war and poor people die it's so distracting and sad.! there's so many religions claiming to be true let's say Christianity is the one true religion does God not realise how hard it is to believe 100% in him and not be skeptical of the bible after I have been tricked and lied to so many times in my life is it not true that to get into heaven we have to give ourselves to Jesus like how do I even go about that is being a Christian mean I have to go to church And just believe without being skeptical at all ?

personally, I think God knows we are a skeptical people and why, that is why HE gives us so many different ways to test to see what is truth and what is lie. In fact, scripture commands us to test the voices and spirits to see which are truth and which are lies.

I try to do the right thing by people and just generally be a good person I will help out anyone I can so let's say I keep going the way I am does that mean I will not get into heaven ?

according to scripture, you have to believe with your heart that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah. I had a discussion not long ago with our son. Buddhism, much like Christianity believes in self betterment for the sake of others. In fact, we see this throughout scripture when we are told to Love one another. The difference is two fold. In Christ, (I differentiate here Christianity because of how often the term refers to the religious not the true believer.) our life is about a relationship with God through Jesus Christ this relationship changes us into people who reflect the righteousness, the goodness of God to others. 2. Because of this relationship we are able to Love with a supernatural power not just the power of our own selves.

I feel so sad for humanity people are a product of there environment and I just don't see how God will not let a lot of these people into heaven like mentally ill patients for example how are they supposed to get into heaven surely a lot of them don't have the mental capacity to give themselves to Jesus ?

there is scriptural indication though it is not a hard fast thing, seems to be strongly supported that those who are not able to believe because of mental limitations are still saved. It goes back to the age of accountability and being able to make our own decisions as to who to follow.

What about Muslims ? If they are brought up from a young age being taught the Koran and living in Muslim communities how is it fair they have such a disadvantage by being brainwashed with the kuran ?

Are you suggesting that everyone who is taught a religious belief from birth is brainwashed? Even those who have grown up in different religious beliefs have come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ because something in every man calls them to Him. He has written that need to be one with Christ on the hearts of every man. He has also given the testimony of the truth of who He is to everyone. Since I can't by that religious training is brainwashing and have personally witnessed multiple people who have been trained in religious ways walk away from the training, I don't think I can answer this question beyond what I have.

Is there a certain cutoff age? Surely a 4 year old can't be sent to hell because their parents were Buddhists ? What happens to babies that have died ? Do they get a chance to make it into heaven ?

Generally it is understood that there is an age of accountability, that is an age in which you become responsible to make your own decisions about what you will believe and adhere to in your life. The age in which you examine your teachings and decide for yourself what you will live out as truth. In biblical days, that age was generally seen as 13 though I'm not one hundred percent convinced it doesn't vary from culture to culture and even household to household. This understanding of scripture is why many churches insist on adult baptisms. It would also go to point of those whose mental capacity is below the age of "accountability". At the root of the whole thing, I think it is safe to say that God knows and it is ultimately HIs to decide.

 

[razzelflabben]

Isn't Catholic and Christians different religions ? You suggested a catholic book aren't their beliefs a bit different I have read something saying that Catholics believe that getting the into heaven depends on the life we live as well as trusting and believing in god where as Christians believe following God and believing in God is enough to get into heaven, have I got this right ?

Okay, how to weed through this quickly. Catholicism and Christianity can be in opposition to one another or complimentary depending. Both are classified as Christian, but both are also religions and the religions all differ in some way.

As to the issue you bring up about works. According to scripture (personally if find scripture not the church to be the authoritative word on God) when we believe unto salvation, our behavior changes and reveals the power of the indwelling supernatural Living God. IOW's it isn't works that save us, but works testify to the saving that has happened.

 

[oi_antz]

Hey guys I have a few questions about general life and how to stay on the right path.

I am 27 years old and don't go to church but I have done heaps of research and feel Christianity is the closest to being the right religion for me but I am a very skeptical person and just have so many questions about God and would love some feedback.

First off although I have never really gone to church or followed any certain religion i have always believed in something greater than us my problem is that there is so much trickery in this world and corruption starting from the top everything is just a lie the amount of starving children to innocent People dying in war zones and unable to escape rich wage war and poor people die it's so distracting and sad.! there's so many religions claiming to be true let's say Christianity is the one true religion does God not realise how hard it is to believe 100% in him and not be skeptical of the bible after I have been tricked and lied to so many times in my life

Hi there Patt. Yes, the answer is that He knows exactly where you are at in all of this, and how you have arrived there. Further, the faithful acknowledge that He knows better than anyone where you will go from here. He knows us better than we know ourselves too, and in life He proves over and over again that our only hope is to trust and obey Him.

is it not true that to get into heaven we have to give ourselves to Jesus like how do I even go about that

The few relevant scriptures are Genesis 3:22, in which God declares the human is unfit for everlasting life while it is unable to overcome sin. In Revelation 2:7 however, Jesus is shown to have the right to give this very tree of life to us, and promises to do so if we will overcome sin. So the whole message of Christianity is that the only way God can trust us with everlasting life, is if we will choose to repent and obey Him, choosing to live holy and blameless instead of living sinfully. The study of what constitutes sin is basically about those things that we are tempted to do that result in bad or wrong. This is described as the desires of our flesh (the self, ego, pleasure etc) compared to the desires of the spirit (that is, to do what is good, best and right - righteousness, holiness).

In short too, the first covenant was instituted with Israel who was chosen and instructed to be a holy nation, who was intended to subdue the darkness of the gentile nations who did not know YHWH God. Yet, if you would read the book of Judges in the bible you will see they failed to obey God over and over (just as it is natural to the human nature). Then when Jesus came as the Word of God in flesh, who was able to establish everlasting redemption, the religious leaders did not accept Him, instead they thought He was a blasphemer and you know what they did.

Then, because they had rejected God in the flesh, there really was no hope left in that plan. Yet, God knew there were other people in the world who certainly will worship Him truthfully and who will receive His son (remember - many Israelites had recognised Jesus as Messiah but the religious leaders failed to recognise Him). So God established a new covenant in the name of Jesus so that those of us (even of Gentile heritage) who do recognise Jesus as rightfully Messiah, we are invited to join His holy priesthood by way of faith. That is to say, we trust Jesus will accept us and raise us on the last day, because we live faithfully toward Him, being careful to observe His instruction in our lives day by day, knowing we are obedient to Him. Because we live with clear conscience, knowing certainly that we prefer to do what is right and to turn away from sin, we have confidence that He is not against us. Yet if we fall into sin, our conscience condemns us and we do not possess His approval.

is being a Christian mean I have to go to church

Not necessarily. But it is good to expose yourself to those who can share with you what they have learned, and to reciprocate this too

And just believe without being skeptical at all ?

Be skeptical, but pursue truth. Many people mistakenly use the phrase to say they will demand proof that God desires to withhold. But balance this, seeing that you must ensure your beliefs are reasonable. Ask Him for wisdom, because He will help you if your intentions please Him.

I try to do the right thing by people and just generally be a good person I will help out anyone I can so let's say I keep going the way I am does that mean I will not get into heaven ?

Sin disqualifies us from heaven. Good things earn merit and favour, but they do not make up for bad. Remove all sin therefore, and only good remains. You asked whether you would not get into heaven. Only you are really fit to know (as your conscience testifies) whether Jesus will choose to prevent your access to the tree of life for fear that you will not regard paradise conditions more worthy than your own desire, forever. Plus, if you do know of such sin, something that God does not approve of and will not tolerate in paradise, then you know this is your decision: do you love more to do what is holy, righteous and good, or do you love more to live as you please yourself?

Check John 12:25. Nihilist says live to the max and do as you please, because this is the only chance we have. Christian says learn to subdue one's self, because if we live for God's pleasure and our neighbour as ourself, then He desires to add us to His everlasting community of the ones in like mind.

I feel so sad for humanity people are a product of there environment and I just don't see how God will not let a lot of these people into heaven like mentally ill patients for example how are they supposed to get into heaven surely a lot of them don't have the mental capacity to give themselves to Jesus ?

Consider that person in good condition though, seeing that is the condition in paradise. Consider Luke 12:48. Also remember that mentally unwell people are lacking right understanding, and often a quality counselling can heal them. Jesus is the master physician, the wonderful counsellor who can heal all those who are mentally unwell - by teaching them to understand right. Yet there is a battle in this world, between light and dark. Check John 10:10 and consider your calling according to Matthew 10:34.

What about Muslims ? If they are brought up from a young age being taught the Koran and living in Muslim communities how is it fair they have such a disadvantage by being brainwashed with the kuran ?

Consider John 10:16.

Is there a certain cutoff age?

I do not believe so, seeing that is an absolute, inflexible, unreasonable rule. Every judgement is subjective and considers circumstances so that fairness of judgement against the person's culpability is determined. Consider again the passage of Luke 12:48 and Ezekiel 33:1-6.

Surely a 4 year old can't be sent to hell because their parents were Buddhists ? What happens to babies that have died ? Do they get a chance to make it into heaven ?

Consider Jeremiah 17:10. These judgements do not belong to us.

 

[AvgJoe]

Hey guys I have a few questions about general life and how to stay on the right path.

I try to do the right thing by people and just generally be a good person I will help out anyone I can so let's say I keep going the way I am does that mean I will not get into heaven ?

1. What must I do to be saved and spend an eternity in Heaven?

God’s Plan of Salvation​

The Futility of Human Effort

The Bible teaches that no amount of human goodness, human works, human morality or religious activity can get anyone into Heaven. Being a good person, belonging to a religious family, being baptized, going to church, none of these can save anyone. Everyone still falls short of God’s perfect standard. (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 4:1-5, Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-7)

The Only Way

Jesus said to him, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) me.” (John 14:6)


What must I do to be saved?

1) Realize that you’re are a sinner. (Romans 3:23, 5:12; 1 John 1:10)

2) Change your mind about God, and His ways, and turn towards Him (repent).

Jesus said: “…unless you repent (have a change of heart and turn away from sin), you will all perish and be lost eternally. (Luke 13:5)
…now God charges all people everywhere to repent. (Acts 17:30)

3) Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried and rose from the dead.

We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in the same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger (wrath) against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed His blood, sacrificing His Life for us. (Romans 3:23, 25)

For 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. (Romans 10:9)

4) Go to God in prayer, confessing Jesus as Lord and your need for forgiveness of your sins. Give your life to Jesus, making Him the Lord of your life.

For it is believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. (Romans 10:10)
For anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.(Romans 10:13)


2. What is saving faith?
Belief + trust = saving faith. Believe the gospel, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), and then, trust Jesus to save you, just like He said He would.

3. How do you get or have saving faith?
Faith comes from God in the form of a gift (Ephesians 2:8). God gives a measure of faith to to each one of us (Romans 12:3).

The Bible specifies the way, or the means, that God gives faith to people. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17). It is the Word of God that produces faith. Someone could receive faith while hearing a sermon teaching the gospel, someone else by reading about Jesus in the Bible—any time the true gospel of Jesus is communicated, there is potential for faith.

 

[ToBeLoved]

You err in thinking Christianity is a religion. It is physics and biology. It is the beginning of a new heaven and new earth.

I'll bite.

How is Christianity physics and biology? smh

 

[AlexDTX]

I'll bite.

How is Christianity physics and biology? smh

Because it is God's restoration of the creation. Before Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, the universe was perfect. When they fell, sin brought entropy (physics) into the creation so that everything decays and dies. As James said, if you break one law you broke them all, their sin impacted everything so all creatures die. Jesus came sinless as the perfect creation. Because he was the same creation as us (but without sin), and he lived perfectly even to the death of the cross, he was raised from the dead since the sin upon him was ours not his own. But because he was one of us, he proved that the original creation was both good and capable of performing as God intended. Therefore we are justified with him. For all who will believe the good news, his life will come into ours through the new birth (biology). We are changed in the spirit now, but we will also be completely changed in our soul and bodies at his return (biology). When all is said and done, he will usher in a new heaven and Earth (physics).

 

[ToBeLoved]

Because it is God's restoration of the creation. Before Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, the universe was perfect. When they fell, sin brought entropy (physics) into the creation so that everything decays and dies. As James said, if you break one law you broke them all, their sin impacted everything so all creatures die. Jesus came sinless as the perfect creation. Because he was the same creation as us (but without sin), and he lived perfectly even to the death of the cross, he was raised from the dead since the sin upon him was ours not his own. But because he was one of us, he proved that the original creation was both good and capable of performing as God intended. Therefore we are justified with him. For all who will believe the good news, his life will come into ours through the new birth (biology). We are changed in the spirit now, but we will also be completely changed in our soul and bodies at his return (biology). When all is said and done, he will usher in a new heaven and Earth (physics).

You are way off with this premise.

First, because we were created to commune with God (Read about before sin entered the garden) as Adam & Eve did before sin, the foremost problem that Christainity fixes is that through the death of God's Only Begotten Son on the cross, He shed His perfect blood for the sins of all mankind. Because He did this, man is once again reconciled back to God.

That is what humanity lost that was most important. It is not that the earth and that life will decay and die, because after death those of us saved by Jesus Christ will pass from this earth to a better place. To heaven where there is no sin, no death, only joy and being once again joined to God. It is actually a blessing that we do not spend eternity on the earth with all this sin and sadness. There will be no tears in heaven.

When Jesus returns He will create a new heaven and a new earth. All will be restored to what it once was.

The fact that we will be changed by Christ at His return is NOT biology. Biology is the study and function of our EXISTING bodies. Our existing bodies will perish.

I do not know that because of sin that physics was brought into creation.

So I totally disagree with your premise of biology and physics being what the problem is. The problem is that we are inherintly sinful and need a Savior for our sins.

 

[AlexDTX]

You are way off with this premise.

First, because we were created to commune with God (Read about before sin entered the garden) as Adam & Eve did before sin, the foremost problem that Christainity fixes is that through the death of God's Only Begotten Son on the cross, He shed His perfect blood for the sins of all mankind. Because He did this, man is once again reconciled back to God.

That is what humanity lost that was most important. It is not that the earth and that life will decay and die, because after death those of us saved by Jesus Christ will pass from this earth to a better place. To heaven where there is no sin, no death, only joy and being once again joined to God. It is actually a blessing that we do not spend eternity on the earth with all this sin and sadness. There will be no tears in heaven.

When Jesus returns He will create a new heaven and a new earth. All will be restored to what it once was.

The fact that we will be changed by Christ at His return is NOT biology. Biology is the study and function of our EXISTING bodies. Our existing bodies will perish.

I do not know that because of sin that physics was brought into creation.

So I totally disagree with your premise of biology and physics being what the problem is. The problem is that we are inherintly sinful and need a Savior for our sins.

I agree with your points on restoration of our relationship with God. But I believe you are limited in your view of the scope of Christ's salvation. I also disagree with some of your definitions.

First, John says, For God so loved the world (3:16), world is cosmos which also means the universe. It is true that humanity was the primary focus of salvation, but Christ came to save his entire creation. There was no entropy before the fall. Death was contained as a regenerative force but became loose with the fall as a destructive force.

Second, to confine biology to merely the fallen life we have now is narrow minded. Our human spirit is created and is a part of this creation. When we have the new birth with the reception of the Holy Spirit into our hearts, He joins our human spirits in creation. The scriptures say, "But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. " (1 Cor. 6:17). The joining of His Spirit to our spirits is a biological transformation. That transformation will be complete with our physical bodies at his return. Even though it is not complete, it is still a reality.

I realized that the reason people who reject Christ go to Hell is because they rejected heaven, too. Christ ascended to heaven bodily. The Bible says, that we are seated in heaven at his right hand now. (Col. 3:1). When we shed our physical bodies we do not go to heaven, because we are already in heaven. We merely see where we already are.

Third, you really missed my point. My point is that Christianity is not a religion in that it is merely a wishful faith. It is the work of God to restore His creation to perfection again. All others that call themselves religions are merely the wishful thinking of humanity believing in doctrines of demons that can not fulfil their promises.

If you have the new birth you might understand what I am saying. If you are a Christian in name only, then my explanation is foolishness. I don't know where you stand with Christ. Either way, I see no reason to argue the point further.

 

[Steven Wood]

No, they are not different religions, despite what some might say. Christianity has three main branches: Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant. There are smaller branches within each; the most are within Protestant. I think it basically comes down to what theology seems the most true to you and what kind of 'faith culture' you like (how they do church).

People can sometimes get really worked up about other parts of the body of Christ understanding things differently. But no one in this life time will get every point of theology correct. That said, not all claiming to be Christians actually are. Confusing, I know. Read the bible, ask God to help show you what it means, pray a LOT and seek God.

Some people can SAY and also believe in their hearts they aren't different religions when in fact they actually are. The simple truth is there were no BRANCHES of religion, nor were there any denominations meant for God's church on Earth. Jesus wanted unity among his people and we're the ones who divided and added theology and Dogma because we couldn't agree, we wanted more control over the people and we argued. Pure and simply put there are only 2 types of Churches on this Earth. God's Church, the one that Jesus established and the one true Holy spirit filled. And all others led astray by the world. The ones fueled by petty arguments and selfish desires, the ones I call secular denomination and it doesn't matter which ones they are. God's church is made up of his elect. Christians from all denominations who are righteous. The world's church(secular denomination) is all the rest who are lukewarm, who only say they're christian (little c) but like Jesus said though they knock and say they ate and drank and performed wonders he'll say I never knew you be gone. These people only pretend and even fool themselves but they don't fool God. These people do the worst because they make it hard on the lost. They make a bad example for real Christians and turn people away. Years and years of edited and deleted verses in different "translations" of the Bible, tons of different mega churches filled with the power of positive thinking and self help mumbo jumbo teaching that the Father is a genie in a magic lamp, and so many false teachers, false prophets,false doctrine, what "type" of christian am I kind of thinking has us so messed up it's no wonder people are lost. There is only 1 type of Christian and if Jesus didn't tell me to do it that means man did and it means nothing.

 

[Steven Wood]

I agree with your points on restoration of our relationship with God. But I believe you are limited in your view of the scope of Christ's salvation. I also disagree with some of your definitions.

First, John says, For God so loved the world (3:16), world is cosmos which also means the universe. It is true that humanity was the primary focus of salvation, but Christ came to save his entire creation. There was no entropy before the fall. Death was contained as a regenerative force but became loose with the fall as a destructive force.

Second, to confine biology to merely the fallen life we have now is narrow minded. Our human spirit is created and is a part of this creation. When we have the new birth with the reception of the Holy Spirit into our hearts, He joins our human spirits in creation. The scriptures say, "But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. " (1 Cor. 6:17). The joining of His Spirit to our spirits is a biological transformation. That transformation will be complete with our physical bodies at his return. Even though it is not complete, it is still a reality.

I realized that the reason people who reject Christ go to Hell is because they rejected heaven, too. Christ ascended to heaven bodily. The Bible says, that we are seated in heaven at his right hand now. (Col. 3:1). When we shed our physical bodies we do not go to heaven, because we are already in heaven. We merely see where we already are.

Third, you really missed my point. My point is that Christianity is not a religion in that it is merely a wishful faith. It is the work of God to restore His creation to perfection again. All others that call themselves religions are merely the wishful thinking of humanity believing in doctrines of demons that can not fulfil their promises.

If you have the new birth you might understand what I am saying. If you are a Christian in name only, then my explanation is foolishness. I don't know where you stand with Christ. Either way, I see no reason to argue the point further.

You err in thinking Christianity is a religion. It is physics and biology. It is the beginning of a new heaven and new earth. God is perfect and made His creation perfect with one wild card: free will. That means a will that can reject God and life. This wild card, however, is also the proof of independent life so that we are not just figments of His imagination, nor puppets that He manipulates for His entertainment.

But He also counted the cost. He knew what He would have to do to get a family that was independent and alive, yet who wanted to be His family. Christ was foreordained to die before creation and was slain from the foundation of the Earth. How was He slain at the foundation when historically it was 4,000 years later? In the will and spirit of God it was already done the moment Adam and Eve erred. The error in judgement regarding the character of God through disbelieving Him and believing the serpent brought entropy into creation, so all creation became corrupted.

The death and resurrection of Jesus is the redemption of creation because Jesus, as a created man (although He was God in His Spirit), lived perfectly without error. So when He voluntarily gave up His life to become sin on the cross, because He did so as a member of creation, He justified all creation. His resurrection made Him the seed to the new creation so that all who will trust in Him then become partakers of the new perfect creation, by faith now, but in manifest reality at His return.

Religion in the world is man's attempt to justify his life without God. Religion by a Christian is a Christians response to God who has already justified us. This is why James (Yaakov) said:

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (1:27).​

The depth of a Christian's response in this manner depends on the depth of his or her relationship with Christ. Those who have a shallow relationship in the new birth will remain more carnal. But those whose love for Jesus is deep will choose to behave more like Jesus.

BTW, please use more punctuation and break your thoughts into paragraphs to help readers understand your questions.

Here's a question. What does your philosophy do to help the op answer his question let alone grow in Christ. Any older, experienced person who follows God's teachings can have a moment of deep profound thinking but it may be at the cost of offending a newer Christian to the point of them falling away. Meat may be given when they need milk then their blood is on your hands and for what For a moment of feeling superior? And also it seems to me that Proverbs may need to be read again, there's a lot to be said about wisdom and foolishness.

 

[AlexDTX]

Here's a question. What does your philosophy do to help the op answer his question let alone grow in Christ. Any older, experienced person who follows God's teachings can have a moment of deep profound thinking but it may be at the cost of offending a newer Christian to the point of them falling away. Meat may be given when they need milk then their blood is on your hands and for what For a moment of feeling superior? And also it seems to me that Proverbs may need to be read again, there's a lot to be said about wisdom and foolishness.

Your question presumes an offence is taken. How do you know Brisbane Pat is offended? Can he not speak for himself? I disagree with your understanding of what constitutes "meat and milk". Meat and milk is not doctrine as is commonly supposed. The context of Hebrews shows it is experience.

13 For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

This means that the Word is not acted upon by the milk user, whereas strong meat are those who have acted upon the Word and have the experience to discern good and evil. Acting upon the Word means believing the Word to the point of acting upon it.

The Bible is the Truth. Many read the Bible who have no comprehension. For example, Kingdom Hall and Latter Day Saints, yet that did not stop God from speaking the Truth. The Word is a seed. Many who hear the Word get nothing out of it at first, but it can lay dormant in the heart for many years and spring to life at a later time. How do you know it will not bear fruit later?

 

[ToBeLoved]

Your question presumes an offence is taken. How do you know Brisbane Pat is offended? Can he not speak for himself? I disagree with your understanding of what constitutes "meat and milk". Meat and milk is not doctrine as is commonly supposed. The context of Hebrews shows it is experience.

13 For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

This means that the Word is not acted upon by the milk user, whereas strong meat are those who have acted upon the Word and have the experience to discern good and evil. Acting upon the Word means believing the Word to the point of acting upon it.

The Bible is the Truth. Many read the Bible who have no comprehension. For example, Kingdom Hall and Latter Day Saints, yet that did not stop God from speaking the Truth. The Word is a seed. Many who hear the Word get nothing out of it at first, but it can lay dormant in the heart for many years and spring to life at a later time. How do you know it will not bear fruit later?

If confusing someone who is
A babe I'm Christ with doctrine that does not make sense to them and that they cannot apply to their life, if you think that is helpful than that is why so many Christians are confused.

Also, Paul made a clear distinction in other epistles about milk and meat. The objective is for the new Christian to grow and build upon knowledge. To grow in faith and knowledge. It is as much spiritual as book knowledge of the scriptures.

 

[AlexDTX]

If confusing someone who is
A babe I'm Christ with doctrine that does not make sense to them and that they cannot apply to their life, if you think that is helpful than that is why so many Christians are confused.

Also, Paul made a clear distinction in other epistles about milk and meat. The objective is for the new Christian to grow and build upon knowledge. To grow in faith and knowledge. It is as much spiritual as book knowledge of the scriptures.

Why do you presume him to be a babe in Christ? He calls himself a seeker, which implies he is no Christian at all. I have seen God use many bizarre and unusual ways to reach out to the lost. There is one time a muslim was brought to faith by Psalms 119, which is hardly an evangelical passage.

Instead of judging how God may or may or not be using my answer to Pat, you might consider continuing your answer to Pat and help him. You violate James's admonition:

11Speak not evil one of another, brothers. He that speaks evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law: but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who are you that judge another?

Are you a CF moderator? Is it your job to determine who is helping another or not? I don't sense Christ in your criticism.

 

[TheyCallMeDave]

Hey guys I have a few questions about general life and how to stay on the right path.

I am 27 years old and don't go to church but I have done heaps of research and feel Christianity is the closest to being the right religion for me but I am a very skeptical person and just have so many questions about God and would love some feedback.

First off although I have never really gone to church or followed any certain religion i have always believed in something greater than us my problem is that there is so much trickery in this world and corruption starting from the top everything is just a lie the amount of starving children to innocent People dying in war zones and unable to escape rich wage war and poor people die it's so distracting and sad.! there's so many religions claiming to be true let's say Christianity is the one true religion does God not realise how hard it is to believe 100% in him and not be skeptical of the bible after I have been tricked and lied to so many times in my life is it not true that to get into heaven we have to give ourselves to Jesus like how do I even go about that is being a Christian mean I have to go to church And just believe without being skeptical at all ? I try to do the right thing by people and just generally be a good person I will help out anyone I can so let's say I keep going the way I am does that mean I will not get into heaven ? I feel so sad for humanity people are a product of there environment and I just don't see how God will not let a lot of these people into heaven like mentally ill patients for example how are they supposed to get into heaven surely a lot of them don't have the mental capacity to give themselves to Jesus ? What about Muslims ? If they are brought up from a young age being taught the Koran and living in Muslim communities how is it fair they have such a disadvantage by being brainwashed with the kuran ? Is there a certain cutoff age? Surely a 4 year old can't be sent to hell because their parents were Buddhists ? What happens to babies that have died ? Do they get a chance to make it into heaven ?

Our Creator is very compassionate , fair, and just ; he does not send young children to an eternal hell for punishment. That is reserved for people who are accountable for their sins ut never wanted Gods mercy over his justice. The greatest crime one could ever commit is to snub ones own creator , the creator of the universe. He offers a free way to prevent us being responsible for our many sins and willful rejection of Gods forgiving kindness. It comes only one specific way and that's thru his son alone. Yet people want to make much more of it than what it is or flat out refuse it.

As for the Christian Gods presence and person, here is what we have :

What BOTH sides have as evidence ; does the following portray a Mind at work or the cause of blind, random, accidental collisions of matter and unorganized raw chemicals without a plan, ultimate purpose , or any direction in the least ? :

1. A universe that exploded into being from nothing ...and one that occupies immense personal , intelligence, and a specific language-information system(viz. The processes in any DNA molecule) .
2. A Universe with over 150 fine tuned , life enabling constants for this tiny, remote planet called Earth which is incredibly suitable for our sustenance in addition to many Physics Constants all working in delicate unison ...some to the 120th decimal point critical tolerance otherwise we arent here.
3. Life that has been observed to arise only from existing life and which has never been observed to arise spontaneously (to which even world reknown atheist Biologists calculate having occured at a faith busting 1 in 10^40,000 probability). LIfe that consists of thousands and even millions of volumes of empirically detectable specified complexity and is therefore, more than just the nonliving chemicals it contains. Life that changes cyclically and only within a limited range. Life which cannot be built or modified gradually (ie: irreducible complexity) . Life that is molecularly isolated between basic types (theres no ancestoral progression at the molecular level). And life that leaves a fossil record of fully formed creatures that appear suddenly, do not change, and then disappear suddenly.

4. There are MANY anthropics to our universe must all work in perfect collaboration with one another to incredibly close tolerances (some to a 120th decimal point maximum allowable deviation otherwise Earth isn't here and neither are we...and most of the Anthropics coming with at least a 10^30 th max. allowable deviance) : Reasons To Believe : Design Evidences in the Cosmos (1998)

5. Good site for genuine open minded Atheists : Answers for Atheists and Agnostics.

Based on creation, the next step for any Person is to want to connect a couple dots to get to know this revealed Creator on a personal dynamic basis ; but sadly the great majority of present non-Followers don't want to due to personal pride of not wanting to be owned . To those who can get past their pride, they WILL find their ultimate purpose to their life : Making God #1 and making Oneself #2 . When we make ourselves #2 , we actually find Ourselves as well as longlasting ultimate fulfillment, purpose, and joy because our lives have been properly RE-ordered...and this is what God our Creator promises. Its free for the taking. Regards