"With men this is impossible..."

[Bob8102]

Because I am mostly doubting that I am a Christian, I am posting in “Struggles of Non-Christians.”

For decades before this, I have also understood that I am not saved. One of the things that I have considered that have kept me from coming to Christ is the idea that to be converted, to have the moment of salvation, one has to go through a “Garden of Gethsemane” experience. How can facing the prospect of “dying to oneself,” of “denying oneself and taking up one’s cross” not be a heart-and-gut wrenching Gethsemane experience? Another idea is that being born again is to be unbearably squashed. One’s self is one’s most prized possession, and to have to give that up is to be unbearably squashed. One has to submit to having one’s guts ripped out.

For these reasons, I think that I do not have REAL conversions to Christ, but only easy, fake, shallow ones. No wonder I have been seeking salvation for over 14 years and not finding it! I prefer instant, easy, shallow conversions.

Because of the above, what Jesus said after the rich young ruler walked away and Jesus said ‘It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven,’ and his disciples said, ‘Who then can be saved?”, applies to me: “With men this is impossible…”

I know the full quote is, “With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible.” I’m at the “with men this is impossible” part. I guess I keep barking up the wrong tree so far, making it impossible for God to save me.

 

[com7fy8]

"'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:29)

 

[timothyu]

One need not be today's definition of a Christian to be a Follower of Jesus. Christianity is a later religion whereas the Followers of Jesus were members of an earlier movement, a way of life which served God and each other, not some religion. They considered themselves doers of the way, the will of God, not just listeners to those who would be their overlords, as was the case in the Sanhedrin at the time. Today like then, many forms are lumped into one name, as we saw with the Jewish religion, and now Christianity. We were never expected to join a team in the sport of religion, but are expected simply to do the will of God, which primarily is serve Him (His Will) which is as scripture says, serving each other in need, not just ourselves..

You can follow His two simple commandments, or join the religion which has its own set of rules. Choice.
(Perhaps do both if you are into mazes or perhaps seeking out truth among human induced puzzles)

 

[timothyu]

One’s self is one’s most prized possession

You don't have to give up your identity. Just tweak it a bit so it is no longer selfish.

 

[Matt5]

Because I am mostly doubting that I am a Christian, I am posting in “Struggles of Non-Christians.”

For decades before this, I have also understood that I am not saved. One of the things that I have considered that have kept me from coming to Christ is the idea that to be converted, to have the moment of salvation, one has to go through a “Garden of Gethsemane” experience. How can facing the prospect of “dying to oneself,” of “denying oneself and taking up one’s cross” not be a heart-and-gut wrenching Gethsemane experience? Another idea is that being born again is to be unbearably squashed. One’s self is one’s most prized possession, and to have to give that up is to be unbearably squashed. One has to submit to having one’s guts ripped out.

For these reasons, I think that I do not have REAL conversions to Christ, but only easy, fake, shallow ones. No wonder I have been seeking salvation for over 14 years and not finding it! I prefer instant, easy, shallow conversions.

Because of the above, what Jesus said after the rich young ruler walked away and Jesus said ‘It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven,’ and his disciples said, ‘Who then can be saved?”, applies to me: “With men this is impossible…”

I know the full quote is, “With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible.” I’m at the “with men this is impossible” part. I guess I keep barking up the wrong tree so far, making it impossible for God to save me.

There are several verses about the rich not entering the kingdom of heaven, There is also a verse about most people not entering, so the rich will have plenty of company.

Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Enter what? The kingdom of heaven.

There is also the parable of the rich and Lazarus (the poor man). The rich man is in hell and the poor man is in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus is not going to line up everybody by net worth. When Jesus comes he will establish the kingdom of heaven on earth. Shortly before he arrives will come the harvests. The harvests are merely nuclear wars. These will hit the rich lands (the West and friends). Death by radiation looks a lot like hell with screaming and gnashing of the teeth due to a pain level of 10. Time will seem to stop. Each second will take an eternity. Death will come after a few days.

If you sit around and do nothing then you will get to find out. This is the parable of the talents.