Why Does God "Choose" by Belief?

[Question.Everything]

Christian God clearly has his priorities set for us -

He created this wonderful place heaven to be an eternal home when we die. He created this Earth to create us, our purpose is to "serve" him while we live here and then wind up in heaven with him. The Bible details some very clear outlines on the requirements to be "chosen" to enter heaven.

Why is belief in God (Jesus) the only requirement to be chosen? Because he said so obviously...but does that make sense? I don't want a story or answer from the Bible, I'd like to personally hear what you think.

It is very possible for a non-Christian to be genuinely good, do more good works than bad, and spread the same message Jesus did (love others). Yet this person cannot make it to heaven because they do not meet the 1 requirement...belief in Jesus.

I'm sure there are many Biblical characters like myself who "questioned God" in this way- but he does seem like a very stuck-up God to me. The only way to be worthy is to exalt him...actually being a good person and caring about the human race around you is merely secondary. This does not sound like a God that wants to build a better world.

 

[drich0150]

Christian God clearly has his priorities set for us -

He created this wonderful place heaven to be an eternal home when we die. He created this Earth to create us, our purpose is to "serve" him while we live here and then wind up in heaven with him. The Bible details some very clear outlines on the requirements to be "chosen" to enter heaven.

Why is belief in God (Jesus) the only requirement to be chosen? Because he said so obviously...but does that make sense? I don't want a story or answer from the Bible, I'd like to personally hear what you think.

Because No one deserves Heaven. So what other qualifier is their?

It is very possible for a non-Christian to be genuinely good, do more good works than bad,

What you guys do not seem to understand is that "Good works" have nothing to do with Heaven. God tells us None are "Good" and our best deeds are like dirty rags to Him.. So again no one can earn their way into heaven.

and spread the same message Jesus did (love others). Yet this person cannot make it to heaven because they do not meet the 1 requirement...belief in Jesus.

Kinda ridiculous huh? One requirement and that person refuses to meet it, and yet demands a place along side those who give their lives for God.

I'm sure there are many Biblical characters like myself who "questioned God" in this way- but he does seem like a very stuck-up God to me.

He's God. He does not have to cater to you.

The only way to be worthy is to exalt him...actually being a good person and caring about the human race around you is merely secondary. This does not sound like a God that wants to build a better world.

with this I can agree.

 

[abysmul]

It's simply wonderful that we are given the opportunity to have an individual relationship with our Creator, and that His love for us is so strong that he allows us to come to Him and not be mindless automatons forced into fellowship with Him.

God is great.

 

[Faulty]

It is very possible for a non-Christian to be genuinely good, do more good works than bad, and spread the same message Jesus did (love others). Yet this person cannot make it to heaven because they do not meet the 1 requirement...belief in Jesus.

Ummm, no. That's completely incorrect. More good works than bad does not equal a good person.

Truth be known, a good work will glorify God, otherwise it is the breaking of the first commandment. One who refuses to believe in God commits every act they do in sin because they cannot glorify a God they deny. Every act becomes sinful.

This person will never make it to heaven because all they've ever done is sin.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that something is alright, just because it seems fine to you. You are not the final judge of such things.

 

[aiki]

Christian God clearly has his priorities set for us -

He created this wonderful place heaven to be an eternal home when we die. He created this Earth to create us, our purpose is to "serve" him while we live here and then wind up in heaven with him. The Bible details some very clear outlines on the requirements to be "chosen" to enter heaven.

Uh huh.

Why is belief in God (Jesus) the only requirement to be chosen? Because he said so obviously...but does that make sense? I don't want a story or answer from the Bible, I'd like to personally hear what you think.

"Belief in God (Jesus)" isn't the only requirement.

James 2:19
19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!

A belief in God is nothing more than any demon possesses, but you can be very sure none of them are going to heaven!

It is very possible for a non-Christian to be genuinely good, do more good works than bad, and spread the same message Jesus did (love others).

Uh huh.

Yet this person cannot make it to heaven because they do not meet the 1 requirement...belief in Jesus.

You don't understand what salvation is. What is it about Jesus that you're believing? This is an incredibly crucial question!

I'm sure there are many Biblical characters like myself who "questioned God" in this way- but he does seem like a very stuck-up God to me. The only way to be worthy is to exalt him

Well, if God didn't deserve to be exalted and glorified, you would be right in accusing Him of being "stuck-up." But He is absolutely worthy of all the praise we can give Him. When we praise and worship God, we are giving Him no more than He is due. That you don't understand this suggests very strongly that you don't have a good understanding of who God is.

Exalting God is not a way to be worthy. Nothing we can do, no work we can perform, will ever make us worthy of God's fellowship and love. He offers these things to us because of who He is, not because of who we are.

...actually being a good person and caring about the human race around you is merely secondary.

Ah, but you misunderstand. Being a good person and caring about others is part of how one worships God!

This does not sound like a God that wants to build a better world.

God wants to transform wicked people into holy ones. This material world in which we live He will one day destroy with fire. Eternal souls matter far more to Him than "the world." But maybe by "the world" you meant humankind as a whole?

Selah.

 

[bling]

Christian God clearly has his priorities set for us -

He created this wonderful place heaven to be an eternal home when we die. He created this Earth to create us, our purpose is to "serve" him while we live here and then wind up in heaven with him. The Bible details some very clear outlines on the requirements to be "chosen" to enter heaven.

First off: God does not need us to “serve” Him, but wants us to allow Him (we have free will) to serve us.

The “requirements” for salvation have everything to do with the heart of a person and there are NO other “requirements”.

Why is belief in God (Jesus) the only requirement to be chosen? Because he said so obviously...but does that make sense? I don't want a story or answer from the Bible, I'd like to personally hear what you think.

“Belief in God” is really trusting God enough to accept God’s help, which is pure “Charity” found in the acceptance of the gift of forgiveness (totally undeserved and unconditional).

God is doing all He can to help you to want His help and believe God can help (this includes Christ going to the cross, satan roaming the earth, tragedies of all kind, sin, death and hell).

The difficulty rest with man’s pride and not wanting to be humble enough to accept Charity.

It is very possible for a non-Christian to be genuinely good, do more good works than bad, and spread the same message Jesus did (love others). Yet this person cannot make it to heaven because they do not meet the 1 requirement...belief in Jesus.

Again, God judges the hearts of people and not what is verbalized.

I'm sure there are many Biblical characters like myself who "questioned God" in this way- but he does seem like a very stuck-up God to me. The only way to be worthy is to exalt him...actually being a good person and caring about the human race around you is merely secondary. This does not sound like a God that wants to build a better world.

Unfortunately this disastrous world is actually the best place for humans to reach the point of humbly accepting God’s help.

God is not looking for people to be “more good than bad”, but to see they cannot be good, to rely on His help to the point of accepting His Charity.

 

[gennaoanothen]

Christian God clearly has his priorities set for us -

He created this wonderful place heaven to be an eternal home when we die. He created this Earth to create us, our purpose is to "serve" him while we live here and then wind up in heaven with him. The Bible details some very clear outlines on the requirements to be "chosen" to enter heaven.

Why is belief in God (Jesus) the only requirement to be chosen? Because he said so obviously...but does that make sense? I don't want a story or answer from the Bible, I'd like to personally hear what you think.

It is very possible for a non-Christian to be genuinely good, do more good works than bad, and spread the same message Jesus did (love others). Yet this person cannot make it to heaven because they do not meet the 1 requirement...belief in Jesus.

I'm sure there are many Biblical characters like myself who "questioned God" in this way- but he does seem like a very stuck-up God to me. The only way to be worthy is to exalt him...actually being a good person and caring about the human race around you is merely secondary. This does not sound like a God that wants to build a better world.

If everyone loved God with all there hearts and yes, 2nd, loved others, this would be a better world.

why did God choose "belief" because He designed us and He knows best.
belief in Jesus is the easy part, try paying the price for your own sins, it is impossible. not picking on you personally, I coudn't pay the price for my sins as well.

 

[razeontherock]

He created this wonderful place heaven to be an eternal home when we die.

Book chapter verse for that? Or is that mere assumption, and now you're spreading dis-information?

He created this Earth to create us, our purpose is to "serve" him while we live here and then wind up in heaven with him. The Bible details some very clear outlines on the requirements to be "chosen" to enter heaven.

More misunderstandings surface with this couple sentences! We are "with Him" NOW! Via being born again. Didn't really factor that into your equation, did you?

Why is belief in God (Jesus) the only requirement to be chosen? Because he said so obviously...but does that make sense? I don't want a story or answer from the Bible, I'd like to personally hear what you think.

But it isn't. Clearly, it is not. If you were to look at a slice of time that only covers the moment of new birth, you're still not looking at the whole picture. Now what about when we expand those horizons to include the rest of reality? Things get far more complex. So complex that the only answer that makes any sense is "all Judgment is given unto the Son."

It is very possible for a non-Christian to be genuinely good

By your definition, perhaps it is. What is God's definition? He is good. None of us have our own "goodness." Without Him we can do nothing; i.e., no good thing. And this is where the question has to be asked: what does it mean to believe on Jesus?

I'm sure there are many Biblical characters like myself who "questioned God" in this way- but he does seem like a very stuck-up God to me.

I think every one of us needs to "get real" with God. Stuck up? He knows who He is, and who we are by comparison. True humility before God is strutting our stuff at our best, and then comparing ourselves to Him ...

 

[Emmy]

Dear Question.Everything. Jesus put it very clearly, when He pointed out: " On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." The first and great Commandment is: " Love God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The second is like it: Love thy neighbour as thyself." It started in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve believed a lying Serpent rather than God. God had also told them: " If you eat of the Tree of Knowledge, you will die." And they did, they were banished to Earth, there to learn: to love God with all their beings, ( God made Mankind in His image) and to love their neighbour ( all others, whether friends or not friends) as they love themselves. Instead they, and all who came after, moved farther, and farther away from God. In time Jesus came, and He showed us God as God really is: our loving Heavenly Father, who wants us back again. The Bible, God`s Word to Man, tells us to " Repent," to change from being selfish and unloving to becoming loving children/sons and daughters, of our Heavenly Father. God wants our Love, selfless and freely given. How can we do that? and show Him? We start by treating all we know and all we meet AS WE would love to be treated, kindly and with friendly words, rather than angry or shouting at each other, or even ignoring each other. We have to learn to forgive as God has forgiven us, we have to become God`s true representatives: loving men and women of our loving Heavenly Father. God will see our sincere efforts, and God will approve and bless us, AND God will know that we love Him: WHY? because we follow His Commandments to LOVE, with no conditions asked, or tagged on. Everything we say, or do, or advocate, will be done from love or care, and the world will see whom we belong to. Jesus died for us, that we might live again, and Jesus will give us His Love and Joy, and the Holy Spirit will give us His Love, also. Jesus told us to: " ask and ye will receive," then we thank God and share all with all around us. Love is a Christian`s true weapon, and Love will make us true followers of our Saviour Jesus Christus. We follow Him back to where we came from: our great and loving God. I say this with love, Question. Everything. Greetings from Emmy, sister in Christ.