Casting a Pearl

Originally posted by @suzianne
Really? Is that why you yourself have taken the leap and become a Christian?

Oh, wait, you haven't...

Apparently it doesn't carry the requisite weight to make up your mind, does it?

As I stated at the bottom of page 8, if Jesus was crucified, then it was for ALL of mankind, not just for a select few.

If one calls himself a Christian, that's fine, but likely not needed for salvation. The sacrifice of Jesus was not trivial, making trivial demands and 'rules' so that you're lucky enough to be granted the 'gift' that He gave us.

It's called grace....with NO 'catch', or rules attached to that grace.

Originally posted by @chaney3
Exactly.

We are all saved, regardless of beliefs. Otherwise, the crucifixion of Jesus would have been trivial and meaningless.

If everyone were 'saved', regardless of their belief or faith in that salvation, then that is what would be trivial and meaningless.

Originally posted by @suzianne
If everyone were 'saved', regardless of their belief or faith in that salvation, then that is what would be trivial and meaningless.

It wouldn't necessarily be "trivial and meaningless" if the outcome was people living good, moral lives, treating each other well, treating creation well, and doing good works. A key question is whether god's main thing is that he just wants to be worshipped [and how those who worship him behave is preemptively forgiven] or whether he wants people to strive to be good [regardless of whether they worship him].

Originally posted by @chaney3
Exactly.

We are all saved, regardless of beliefs. Otherwise, the crucifixion of Jesus would have been trivial and meaningless.

We are all saved by the death of Christ.
But we dont all get eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
Christ will judge all people according to their works
God loves righteousness and hates sin.

The question of why be a Christian therefore, and why have faith, will arise.
The Christian advantage is that they are guided by Gods/Christ's laws and commandments and they get to be kings and priests and rule over the nations.
They will be in a position of authority over everyone else.
But to attain to that position they themselves must follow Christ.
A Christian who continues to follow his old life of sin after knowing Christ will be in a worse off position than if he did not know Christ in the first place.

Originally posted by @rajk999
We are all saved by the death of Christ.
But we dont all get eternal life in the Kingdom of God.
Christ will judge all people according to their works
God loves righteousness and hates sin.

The question of why be a Christian therefore, and why have faith, will arise.
The Christian advantage is that they are guided by Gods/Christ's laws and commandmen ...[text shortened]... nowing Christ will be in a worse off position than if he did not know Christ in the first place.

Christians may have an 'advantage', but it's not necessary to be a Christian.

You have said that atheists will be in the Kingdom of God, based on their works.

Originally posted by @chaney3
Christians may have an 'advantage', but it's not necessary to be a Christian.

You have said that atheists will be in the Kingdom of God, based on their works.

With God talk does not count for much, if anything at all.

A Christian can talk all day about God and boast about his belief and faith but it is worth nothing if he does not follow the commandments of Christ... chief of which is love and compassion for those in need.

An atheist can talk all day about there being no God and boast about his belief and lack of faith but what will count is what he does, and if he can follow the commandments of Christ... chief of which is love and compassion then that atheist is in better standing with God than many Christians.