Originally posted by chaney3You don't quite have everything correct here.
ThinkOfOne seems to be implying that 'others' have spoken of grace and the "free gift", but Jesus did not.
Following the commands of Christ is what he is talking about, which is what Rajk999 also talks about.
They are saying that there is NO free gift....no grace.
Said differently, we must earn our way into 'heaven'.
Following the commands of Christ is what he is talking about, which is what Rajk999 also talks about.
KEEPing the command of Jesus and transformation into being one with God is what I'm talking about.
From what I can tell, what you've written wouldn't be incorrect to say of Rajk999.
They are saying that there is NO free gift....no grace.
Not in the sense of "salvation via atoning sacrifice" for me.
From what I can tell, Rajk999 does believe in the "atoning sacrifice", but that salvation also requires following the words of Jesus.
From what I can tell, Rajk999 believes that the "atoning sacrifice" applies to EVERYONE. This makes much more sense than that "You have to accept the free gift" nonsense. With that nonsense, an individual in effect "earns" his salvation by accepting the "free gift", yet they also believe that there is no "earning" your salvation.
Said differently, we must earn our way into 'heaven'.
Actually, ultimately Jesus was speaking of transformation.
That the individual must become one with God as He was one with God.
The individual must become a son of God as He was a son of God.
It only makes sense that an individual cannot be one with God or be a son of God and continue to sin.
Originally posted by ThinkOfOneIf salvation is not given away as a free gift, how can the "poor" afford it?
Keeping the will of God is the only road to God. The will of God is contained in the words Jesus spoke while He walked the Earth.
Keeping the will of God IS "the way, and the truth, and the life" that Jesus was speaking of. It makes perfect sense.
It's elegant in its simplicity. Unlike that convoluted "free gift" nonsense that you've bought into.
Is salvation only for the "good" people like yourself?
-Removed-Why is the 'label' of a Christian so important to you? In the long run, what does it matter?
Both Rajk999 and ThinkOfOne, regardless of labels, are proposing that the 'gift' of salvation comes with Keeping the words of Christ....and being SIN FREE, and has little to do with 'belief'.
Comments on that?
-Removed-"Confession of Christ".....in what way?
What interests me is that both Rajk999 and ThinkOfOne make a case for what exactly Jesus may want from us, regarding how we live our lives, and they make their case with the words of Jesus.
By the way, did Jesus require us to profess ourselves as Christians? No. So you ought to rethink your 'human' agenda.