08 Oct '13 10:22>
Because I so love the Bible I do not shrink from difficult passages. There are a number of passages on "eternal life" which do not fit into the typical evangelical Christian mode so influenced by, say, John 3:16.
Some of these passages are used by people to argue against justification by faith. I would like to collect of number of these and present how I think Bible readers should think on them.
Let's deal with this one first (Matthew 25:31-46) concluding with these key words -
"And the King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it to one of these, the least of My brothers, you have done it to Me." (v.40)
This is said to the nations discribed as "sheep" who are told in verse 34 - "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
These fed, visited, helped care for the destitute "these the least of My brothers" . And because of their charitable acts it says in verse 46 that they go away into eternal life -
"And these shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (v.46)
One heads up: Anyone not interested in a careful analysis of these passages from verse 31 - 46 can just stop reading. What you wish to believe about this, just go ahead with that. No need to even examine what I have to explain.
Goodbye. Go find better uses of your time. Life in this age is short.
(Robbie, Rajk999, Galveston)
Athiests and agnostics, please don't clutter up my thread with arguments about the existence of God or the booboos of religious people. I'm asking. (sonhouse, a few others)
For those wishing to examine at least what I think is the meaning of the passage, I will continue below.
Some of these passages are used by people to argue against justification by faith. I would like to collect of number of these and present how I think Bible readers should think on them.
Let's deal with this one first (Matthew 25:31-46) concluding with these key words -
"And the King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it to one of these, the least of My brothers, you have done it to Me." (v.40)
This is said to the nations discribed as "sheep" who are told in verse 34 - "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
These fed, visited, helped care for the destitute "these the least of My brothers" . And because of their charitable acts it says in verse 46 that they go away into eternal life -
"And these shall go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (v.46)
One heads up: Anyone not interested in a careful analysis of these passages from verse 31 - 46 can just stop reading. What you wish to believe about this, just go ahead with that. No need to even examine what I have to explain.
Goodbye. Go find better uses of your time. Life in this age is short.
(Robbie, Rajk999, Galveston)
Athiests and agnostics, please don't clutter up my thread with arguments about the existence of God or the booboos of religious people. I'm asking. (sonhouse, a few others)
For those wishing to examine at least what I think is the meaning of the passage, I will continue below.