Originally posted by dottewellThe status of the believer in the afterlife is decided by their conduct in this life.
It is clearly unfair. Vain, even. Your god creates morality, but the criteria by which your status in the afterlife is decided mean your conduct towards others on earth is largely irrelevant.
To access the afterlife in surroundings better than hell, one must accept what the Lord Jesus Christ did on their behalf. Again, non-meritorious faith, not works, determines salvation.
Conduct and advance after salvation determines status in the eternal state.
Very fair.
1 edit
Originally posted by FreakyKBHHow more so than accepting alien life, or a JFK conspiracy theory, and then living metitoriously?
The status of the believer in the afterlife is decided by their conduct in this life.
To access the afterlife in surroundings better than hell, one must accept what the Lord Jesus Christ did on their behalf. Again, non-meritorious faith, not works, determines salvation.
Conduct and advance after salvation determines status in the eternal state.
Very fair.
And if God loves everyone, what's the point of the "faith test"?
Originally posted by FreakyKBHYou can get promoted after salvation? What extras do you get?
The status of the believer in the afterlife is decided by their conduct in this life.
To access the afterlife in surroundings better than hell, one must accept what the Lord Jesus Christ did on their behalf. Again, non-meritorious faith, not works, determines salvation.
Conduct and advance after salvation determines status in the eternal state.
Very fair.
Originally posted by telerionFor the first part of your post, a simple question - is Shakespeare's Othello meaningless today?
I guess this depends upon how you read the Bible. If the Psalms and Isaiah are only works inspired by God for past time periods, then you are correct that those two verses speak to something slightly different. The Psalms speaks of the unrighteous (naturally the enemies of the Psalmist) and the passage in Isaiah, I believe, is speaking to the then exiled ...[text shortened]... er way you read the Bible. The speaker is clearly making a declaration about the nature of man.
Obviously the historical context of the episodes in the Bible should be taken into account when trying to understand the basic message that is relevant to us today.
What you've done is to take verses, not only out of their historical context, but also their textual context. What you've done is the equivalent of citing "Is Shakespeare's Othello meaningless today" from the first sentence of this post and then claiming that my entire post is about Elizabethan drama.
As to the Job reference, read the context again - the verse you've cited is part of Eli'phaz's speech (15:1) - Eli'phaz's assertions are explicitly rejected by God later in Job (42:7).
Originally posted by dottewellAlien life, JFK, etc., lack the message of salvation, as well as the import of the same.
How more so than accepting alien life, or a JFK conspiracy theory, and then living metitoriously?
And if God loves everyone, what's the point of the "faith test"?
The issue is not belief in something, a la the tooth fairy, Santa Claus or the like. The issue is acceptance of the work done on your behalf by another.
Your choice at present, is to accept what Christ has done on your behalf, or reject it and 'go it alone,' as it were, for lack of a better description. Should you decide the historical merits are simply lacking, then you have made your decision. If, for any other reason, you decide you cannot accept what Christ has done on your behalf, again, that is your decision. A rejection of Christ leaves you standing before Him at the Great White Throne Judgment, wherein your record of deeds is revealed.
You will then be judged according to your deeds, and your deeds will result in a certain level of righteousness. No matter the number, it won't be enough to garner compatibility with perfect, absolute righeousness.
Those who accept the work of Christ as though it is their own, do not face such judgment.
It's either your way, or God's way.
Originally posted by FreakyKBHWhere's this "Great White Throne" you speak of in the Bible??
Alien life, JFK, etc., lack the message of salvation, as well as the import of the same.
The issue is not belief in something, a la the tooth fairy, Santa Claus or the like. The issue is acceptance of the work done on your behalf by another.
Your choice at present, is to accept what Christ has done on your behalf, or reject it and 'go it alone,' as it w ...[text shortened]... as though it is their own, do not face such judgment.
It's either your way, or God's way.