Not sure what we are all doing discussing this subject in this sub-forum but hey, I had to speak..
Roli, many christians would not be happy with some of the things you have said.
This kind of talk does more to push people away than anything, despite all the good things you have said. We all make 'errors' and 'miscalculations'. Do you think God will allow something as important as eternal life to be lost due to human technical error? People who don't fully understand won't be condemned just because they believe christians are delusional, and you need to stop judging them.
Roli, there was a time when you yourself did not believe, and you had to have something of a basic understanding of what had been done for you by Jesus and why he had to do it - all before you could really believe it. Only God knows whether others have enough basic understanding in order to make a decision to accept. You do not. Everyone will get a chance to understand, either in this life or the next, because "God does not show favouritism".
Please elaborate as to what those things could be that would incite opposition or outrage of any true born again believer and one will quickly know whether one is truely christian or merely religious
Please define your word christian and by the way, the one who you speak on behalf of may or may not even be Christian.
Tell me if you understand what it was that provoked the religious leaders in Jesus' day to conspire to kill him, I mean the people alone tried often to stone him, but it was'nt his time yet.
What could it have been that invoked such hostility from the people ,his jewish people and so called professors of the faith.
I mean if he was always preaching love, love, love and feel good messages ,would'nt they have received him with open arms, ....no it was his harsh realities of hell, judgement, holding the religious accountable for their self righteousness, parading around in their fancy garments ,open prayers where all could see how spirituaL they are, he preached some strong words that caused them to want to kill him 10 times over.
By the way, since I was 12 and heard the message ,I was convicted of the possibility I was in disobediendce with God and I gave my heart at that age, but immediately turned on God and rebelled for 20 yrs , why...? I wanted to live life and have fun and not be restrained by any tenants of the faith ,but the irony of it all is, I was only running from something I could never escape, that was conviction of sin in my CONSCIENCE.I personally did'nt need emperical evidence of his existence, or some bolt of lightening ,I knew inside, creation screamed of his handiwork, but continued to chose not to embrace it.
And although God shows no favortism , justice he will show , you can't just pull that scripture out of your hat and exclude the insurmountable times him,Jesus, Paul, John and Peter, the prophets all talk about impending judgement, punishment etc.
for those who remain ungodly,unrighteous, wicked unholy.
I'm not trying to be harsh here ,just informitive of what Jesus actually taught on the subjects you and many others want to exclude,It would do you some good to do a word study on judgement ,sin, the second death, the book of life, who's name is not found in is cast into the lake of fire, harsh put the words of Jesus and John
It seems like so many pick out all the nice fuzzy scriptures of love, peace and joy and cling to them and hurl them around as if they are some prelude to a feel good party of Jesus and all the sinners being happily united in heaven.
Not a biblical view of it at all.
Is it you don't want to read the verses where Jesus speaks of hell ,punishment, judgement, or is it you don't know where any are.
2Pe 2:4For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
2Pe 2:9The
Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to
reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Here he distinguishes he will sentence those certain one's to hell
Reading scripture in context concerning favoritism would be more beneficial I think:
Act 10:34 Then Peter began to speak: I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation
who fear him and do what is right. (Conditional promise here based on who God accepts)
Please read the context before and after the verse you pull from your hat and it will paint a totally different picture and give your readers a clearer view of what that particular verse refers to. Not a private interpreation which produces a new doctrine
Here Paul is speaking of the Jew and the gentile, that there will be no favor because your a jew or vise versa
Rom 2:8 -10 But for those who are self‑seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentilebut glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile
Rom 2:11 For God does not show favoritism.All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law
(What is Paul saying it does'nt matter who you are God will judge you regardless)
Paul talking about slaves and masters and how God looks at them equally
Eph 6:9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and
there is no favoritism with him
Paul talking about slaves and masters and the motive of why one works
Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there
is no favoritism.
