11 Jul '15 21:33>
Its interesting to see the responses of the'faith only' and OSAS Christians in chaney3's thread 'The Atonement of Christ'. It is very easy to justify just about any Christian doctrine using valid Bible teachings. But many of these doctrines do not give the follower of them, the whole picture of what Christ and the Apostles preached.
At the easiest end of the doctrinal spectrum, there is the one that requires nothing, not even faith or belief. All people are all going be in Gods Kingdom, simply because Christ died for the sins of the whole world. And that is not hard to support from Bible teachings.
Next come the bulk of Christianity who maintain that once you accept Christ with your mouth and proclaim your faith you are eternally saved notwithstanding any sins however vile and depraved. Again easy to demonstrate that from Bible teachings.
After that the road gets a bit rockier, with the faith plus works combination as this forces the professed believer to continue on in a particular lifestyle involving charitable works and avoidance of sin otherwise there is no eternal life to gain. Again easy to show where Christ preached this doctrine.
Finally there is works alone. This applies to those who do not know of Christ or God, but who live lives which are acceptable to God. The Bible also supports this doctrine very clearly.
Why do people choose to ignore some Bible teachings and proclaim the one they prefer ? If you take all of Bible teachings from Christ and the Apsotles pertaining to eternal life then it teaches that there are many ways to Gods Kingdom all of which are through Christ. Even if you never heard of Christ, it is Christ death and resurrection that saved the world. All come to God through Christ, even the charitable atheist will be in Gods Kingdom... by the invitation of Christ if Christ is pleased with him. [For the OSAS gang - Christ prefers good works to empty words anyday]
At the easiest end of the doctrinal spectrum, there is the one that requires nothing, not even faith or belief. All people are all going be in Gods Kingdom, simply because Christ died for the sins of the whole world. And that is not hard to support from Bible teachings.
Next come the bulk of Christianity who maintain that once you accept Christ with your mouth and proclaim your faith you are eternally saved notwithstanding any sins however vile and depraved. Again easy to demonstrate that from Bible teachings.
After that the road gets a bit rockier, with the faith plus works combination as this forces the professed believer to continue on in a particular lifestyle involving charitable works and avoidance of sin otherwise there is no eternal life to gain. Again easy to show where Christ preached this doctrine.
Finally there is works alone. This applies to those who do not know of Christ or God, but who live lives which are acceptable to God. The Bible also supports this doctrine very clearly.
Why do people choose to ignore some Bible teachings and proclaim the one they prefer ? If you take all of Bible teachings from Christ and the Apsotles pertaining to eternal life then it teaches that there are many ways to Gods Kingdom all of which are through Christ. Even if you never heard of Christ, it is Christ death and resurrection that saved the world. All come to God through Christ, even the charitable atheist will be in Gods Kingdom... by the invitation of Christ if Christ is pleased with him. [For the OSAS gang - Christ prefers good works to empty words anyday]