@thinkofone saidIs the Jesus you believe in still dead and buried?
In the gospel preached by Jesus during His ministry, He repeatedly calls for His followers to understand, believe, follow and ultimately abide in His word. To be clear, to abide in the words He preached during His ministry.
In short, to be a "follower of Him" IS to abide in the words He preached during His ministry.
[quote]John 8
"34Jesus answered them, “Truly, tr ...[text shortened]... e vast majority of Christians is about the "god of gimme". This is what you seem to be asking about.
@chaney3 said"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." -- Matthew 21:22, KJV
Answer my prayers.
There's probably millions of others who feel the same way. 😀
(Those who see Him as more than a rabbi)
Believing, that is the key, oh ye of little faith.
@chaney3 said"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly." -- John 10:10, KJV
.....supposed to help us while we're on earth?
Or is the "Good News" strictly pertaining to the afterlife?
He doesn't seem to be helping all that much while we're on earth.
This is the promise of Jesus, a "more abundant" life. But other verses also state that if you do not believe, then why should your heavenly father give you anything?
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." -- James 1:5-7, KJV
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@chaney3 saidNot even Jesus had all his prayers answered.
Answer my prayers.
There's probably millions of others who feel the same way. 😀
(Those who see Him as more than a rabbi)
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Luke 22:42
And no, Jesus did not want to go to the cross.
And that is the human race. We are all on that cross together with Jesus between us. Some mock him and curse at him and say, "If you be the Son of God, get us down from here and end our suffering!", while others say, "Remember me when you enter paradise"
It's just that simple. Which kind of thief on the cross will you be? There are only two kinds.
And no, not all prayers go unanswered. Many of mine have come about.
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@kellyjay saidAh yes, the "God is not a genie in a bottle" excuse.
You think God is a genie in a bottle to serve your every wish?
For someone who seems to insist that his beliefs are strictly based on a literal reading of the Bible, interesting that your post is lacking in that regard.
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@suzianne saidNext stop: The prosperity gospel.
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." -- Matthew 21:22, KJV
Believing, that is the key, oh ye of little faith.
Comes down to a lack of belief if the prayer isn't answered.
For the child with terminal cancer, is it a lack of belief that is at fault?
And for the parents, other family members, friends of the family, etc., a lack of belief on all their parts?
@whodey saidMaybe it was a lack of belief on Jesus' part.
Not even Jesus had all his prayers answered.
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Luke 22:42
And no, Jesus did not want to go to the cross.
And that is the human race. We are all on that cross together with Jesus between us. Some mock him and curse at him and say, "If you be the S ...[text shortened]... There are only two kinds.
And no, not all prayers go unanswered. Many of mine have come about.
@fmf saidIs that who you think Jesus is, a long dead maverick rabbi?
The only plausible way that the long dead maverick rabbi Jesus could be said to "help" people - two millennia after his execution - is if everyone were to adhere to what was reported (after his death) to have been his teaching about good works and how to treat each other.