Jesus' Four Failed Prophecies About Him Returning In The Lifetimes Of His Apostles

[Trailblazer]

Poor analogy. New moon, half moon, full moon in one lunar month. Then brightness diminishes.

I guess you missed the point. It does not matter what we SEE here on earth from our earthly perspective, as the actual brightness of the moon never diminishes. Since the sun is shining on the moon all the time the moon is always bright even though we don’t always see a full moon here in earth.

It is the same for God’s Light. The Light of God is always shining and it never diminishes, but we don’t see all the Light of God all at once, not anymore than we see all the light that is shining on the moon all the time. The only Light we see from God is what is revealed to us through the Messengers of God in any given age, and that is just a ‘measure’ of the total Light of God. If we ever saw all the Light of God all at once we would cease to exist.

“Were the Eternal Essence to manifest all that is latent within Him, were He to shine in the plentitude of His glory, none would be found to question His power or repudiate His truth. Nay, all created things would be so dazzled and thunderstruck by the evidences of His light as to be reduced to utter nothingness.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 71-72

This remains the same no matter how the world ‘changes’.

Yes, the Light of God remains the same no matter how much the world changes, but as the world changes God reveals a fresh measure of His Light, as much as is needed at the time of revelation. Justas plants need sunlight to grow, humans need God’s Light to grow and develop spiritually.

I am not very well versed in history, but a very great measure of God’s Light must have been needed when Jesus appeared on earth, and it was needed again when Baha’u’llah appeared.

“Know that the attributes of perfection, the splendor of the divine bounties, and the lights of inspiration are visible and evident in all the Holy Manifestations; but the glorious Word of God, Christ, and the Greatest Name, Bahá’u’lláh, are manifestations and evidences which are beyond imagination, for They possess all the perfections of the former Manifestations; and more than that, They possess some perfections which make the other Manifestations dependent upon Them. So all the Prophets of Israel were centers of inspiration; Christ also was a receiver of inspiration, but what a difference between the inspiration of the Word of God and the revelations of Isaiah, Jeremiah and Elijah!” Some Answered Questions, pp. 149-150

Acts 4:12: "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

However, that is a moot point since there was never anything to be saved from, since the doctrine of original sin is a sham. The way we were “saved” by Jesus is explained in this chapter and the Christ sacrifice and reason for it remains the same no matter how much the world changes.

Question.—In verse 22 of chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians it is written: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” What is the meaning of these words?

Answer.—Know that there are two natures in man: the physical nature and the spiritual nature. The physical nature is inherited from Adam, and the spiritual nature is inherited from the Reality of the Word of God, which is the spirituality of Christ. The physical nature is born of Adam, but the spiritual nature is born from the bounty of the Holy Spirit. The first is the source of all imperfection; the second is the source of all perfection.

The Christ sacrificed Himself so that men might be freed from the imperfections of the physical nature and might become possessed of the virtues of the spiritual nature.
Some Answered Questions, p. 118

Read more: 29: EXPLANATION OF VERSE TWENTY-TWO, CHAPTER FIFTEEN, OF THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS

Jesus has done / is doing just this. God’s (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) purpose is fulfilled in Him. He is the Alpha and Omega.

Jesus liberated the children of men from the darkness of ignorance and guided them to the light of true understanding, but Jesus did not come into the world to ensure the peace and tranquility of mankind, and provide all the means by which they can be established. That was the job that God gave to Baha’u’llah.

“The One true God beareth Me witness, and His creatures will testify, that not for a moment did I allow Myself to be hidden from the eyes of men, nor did I consent to shield My person from their injury. Before the face of all men I have arisen, and bidden them fulfil My pleasure. My object is none other than the betterment of the world and the tranquillity of its peoples. The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established. This unity can never be achieved so long as the counsels which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed are suffered to pass unheeded.”
Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 286

Jesus came into the world to bear witness unto the truth about God, and Jesus spoke to individuals and conferred individual salvation.

John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Jesus laid the foundation and Baha’u’llah came to help us finish the building.

Baha’u’llah came into the world to unite humanity and bring peace tranquility to mankind as a whole. Jesus foresaw this when He said the following:

John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

However, Jesus could not do this work of uniting mankind because the whole world was not connected 2000 years ago Jesus walked the earth.

Yes, exactly what I just said. You do not recognize Christ as the Second Person of the Trinity because your desires have clouded your judgment. (Actually, you do not recognize the Triune God because your desires have clouded your judgment).

Quite the contrary, I do not recognize Christ as the Second Person of the Trinity because I have good judgment, and I know what the Bible says so I know that Jesus was not God, period. There are so many reasons that Jesus cannot be God and I already posted some of the many verses to this Christian a few months ago.

#1883 Trailblazer, Feb 10, 2021

If you take time to watch the video you will see the scriptural and logical reasons why Jesus cannot be God:

Because it makes sense.
1+1+1=3 But God is a Triune God, so 1x1x1=1.
To me, the concept of Trinity is a mystery which makes spiritual sense to some and not to others. We cannot expect to fully understand; we’re not ‘big’ enough.

As that video above pointed out, God would not reveal Himself in a way that everyone could not understand because that would be wholly unjust. Even a small child should be able to understand God but most adults cannot understand the Trinity! However, that is not the biggest issue, the biggest issue is that Jesus is not God so the Christian Trinity belief cannot possibly be true.

The Baha’i Faith by contrast has the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit working together to reveal God to us.

There is a Baha’i Trinity belief that is logical and you can read about it here: 27: THE TRINITY

To summarize that chapter:

God is One, not divided into parts.

The Holy Spirit is the Bounty of God, an emanation from God. God is like the sun and the Holy Spirit is like the rays of the sun. God remains in His own high place, and does not ever descend to earth.

The Holy Spirit is the Bounty of God which became visible and evident in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was like a clear mirror, and God became visible in the mirror, but God did not descend into the mirror. This is why Christ said, “The Father is in the Son,” meaning that the God was visible and manifest in this mirror.

Jesus is not God the Father in the flesh, but God the Son in the flesh. When we read that “no one has ever seen God the Father…” there is no conflict whatsoever for those of us who believe in the Trinity.

You cannot wiggle your way out of the verses that say that no man has ever seen God by saying that no one has ever seen God the Father, because you are saying that God is also the Son. I guess that is what our SZ would call dishonest. God cannot be BOTH the Father and the Son, that is illogical.

The problem you have here is that there are not two Gods, God the Father and God the Son. The other problem you have is that the Son cannot be the Father and the Father cannot be the Son.

Why can’t you just settle for what is logical and what is actually in the Bible verses? Jesus was a perfect mirror image of God in the flesh, a Manifestation of God in the flesh, as the Bible says:

Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

But an image in the mirror is not the same as what it is reflecting. It is your own Bible that refutes the Trinity, left and right. There is not one verse in the entire New Testament wherein Jesus claimed to be God, implicitly or explicitly. As that video above pointed out, if Jesus had been God Jesus would have made that clear, as it is too important to omit.

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

I rest my case.

 

[Trailblazer]

I'll get to the rest later...

I FULLY understand.

 

[SeekingAllTruth]

All of God’s Prophets brought Light to the world, although the intensity of the Light did differ.
Baha’u’llah explained this giving us the reasons why the intensity of the Light differs.

“The measure of the revelation of the Prophets of God in this world, however, must differ. Each and every one of them hath been the Bearer of a distinct Message, and hath been commissioned to reveal Himself through specific acts. It is for this reason that they appear to vary in their greatness. Their Revelation may be likened unto the light of the moon that sheddeth its radiance upon the earth. Though every time it appeareth, it revealeth a fresh measure of its brightness, yet its inherent splendor can never diminish, nor can its light suffer extinction.

It is clear and evident, therefore, that any apparent variation in the intensity of their light is not inherent in the light itself, but should rather be attributed to the varying receptivity of an ever-changing world. Every Prophet Whom the Almighty and Peerless Creator hath purposed to send to the peoples of the earth hath been entrusted with a Message, and charged to act in a manner that would best meet the requirements of the age in which He appeared. God’s purpose in sending His Prophets unto men is twofold. The first is to liberate the children of men from the darkness of ignorance, and guide them to the light of true understanding. The second is to ensure the peace and tranquillity of mankind, and provide all the means by which they can be established.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 79-80

No, that is not possible because we believe in Jesus but not as the Second Person of the Trinity. Moreover as you well know, not all Christians believe in the Trinity. Why do you think it is so important for people to believe in the Trinity? Actually, by gloming God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit together you take away what was so special about each of them in their own right. We know that the Trinity belief has to be wrong because Jesus is not God. We know that Jesus is not God because, among other verses that prove it, Jesus said that no man has ever seen God. We know that many people saw Jesus, so Jesus cannot he God, end of story.

No, we do not believe that. We believe that Baha’u’llah was the return of the Christ Spirit that Jesus promised to send, the Comforter and the Spirit of truth. Thus Baha’u’llah was the return of Christ, the Second Coming that Christians have been waiting for.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Those verses can be applied to more than one thing. I simply applied them to one thing I believe they apply to and I see you are suggesting they apply to something else. I have no more confirmation bias then you do, so you are the pot calling the kettle black.

According to my interpretation Christianity was once the narrow gate that led to life but not anymore. When Jesus said that Christianity was the narrow gate that led to life, when there were very few Christians in the first centuries, but Christianity is no longer the narrow road that leads to life because about 30% of the world population is now Christians. Given that Christianity is now the largest religion in the world, Christianity is no longer the narrow road that leads to life.

Your cited article states:

“However, the gate to heaven is “narrow” in the sense of having a particular requirement for entrance—faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is found only in the Person of Jesus Christ; He is the only way (John 14:6). The “wide” gate is non-exclusive; it allows for human effort and all other of the world’s religions.”

Your article is right except that the author has the wrong person, since the requirement to get through the narrow gate in this age is faith in Baha’u’llah. So here is how it should read:

“However, the gate to heaven is “narrow” in the sense of having a particular requirement for entrance—faith in Baha’u’llah. Salvation is found only in the Person of Baha’u’llah; He is the only way. The “wide” gate is non-exclusive; it allows for human effort and all other of the world’s religions.”

“The Book of God is wide open, and His Word is summoning mankind unto Him. No more than a mere handful, however, hath been found willing to cleave to His Cause, or to become the instruments for its promotion. These few have been endued with the Divine Elixir that can, alone, transmute into purest gold the dross of the world, and have been empowered to administer the infallible remedy for all the ills that afflict the children of men. “No man can obtain everlasting life, unless he embraceth the truth of this inestimable, this wondrous, and sublime Revelation.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 183

Eisegesis : the interpretation of a text (as of the Bible) by reading into it one's own ideas — compare exegesis.
https://www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › eisegesis

What I did is no more eisegesis than what you or anyone else does when assignong a meaning to those verses.

Obviously Jesus was using the narrow gate as a metaphor for something. I was just explaining why a narrow gate would be difficult to get thorough.

So why would Christianity be the narrow gate? It is not difficult to get through, since you only have to believe in Jesus and believe that He died for your sins, and you do not even have to do anything else to get to heaven. Moreover, everyone on the world knows about Christianity so you don’t have to go looking for the gate, it is a gate that is very easy to locate. So what is so difficult?

Here is what your article says that Christians have to do to get through the narrow gate:

“Jesus says that the narrow gate leads to a “hard” road, one that will take us through hardships and difficult decisions. Following Jesus requires crucifying our flesh (Galatians 2:20; 5:24; Romans 6:2), living by faith (Romans 1:17; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 10:38), enduring trials with Christlike patience (James 1:2–3, 12; 1 Peter 1:6), and living a lifestyle separate from the world (James 1:27; Romans 12:1–2). When faced with the choice between a narrow, bumpy road and a wide, paved highway, most of us choose the easier road. Human nature gravitates toward comfort and pleasure. When faced with the reality of denying themselves to follow Jesus, most people turn away (John 6:66). Jesus never sugar-coated the truth, and the truth is that not many people are willing to pay the price to follow Him."

What he said makes me rather ill. because it is a sham! I see no Christians denying themselves, as Jesus enjoined them to do. They do not deny the flesh. They eat, drink, and have sex just like everyone else. They do not even need to follow any laws because Paul did away with the law. What a deal! Moreover, Christianity does not teach that Christians have to deny themselves, it teaches that all Christians have to do is believe in Jesus and that He died for their sins.

Can you get to heaven by faith alone?

God's Word says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works (Ephesians 2:8-9). ... Our best efforts can never be good enough to earn salvation, but God declares us righteous for Christ's sake. We receive that grace through faith alone. https://www.cui.edu › aboutcui › grace-alone-faith-alo

Now contrast that with what Baha’is have to do to get to heaven. We not only have to recognize Baha'u'llah, we have to follow all His ordinances. We cannot ever have any sex before or outside of marriage or drink any alcohol, and those are just two of the laws.

“The first duty prescribed by God for His servants is the recognition of Him Who is the Day Spring of His Revelation and the Fountain of His laws, Who representeth the Godhead in both the Kingdom of His Cause and the world of creation. Whoso achieveth this duty hath attained unto all good; and whoso is deprived thereof, hath gone astray, though he be the author of every righteous deed. It behoveth every one who reacheth this most sublime station, this summit of transcendent glory, to observe every ordinance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. These twin duties are inseparable. Neither is acceptable without the other. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Source of Divine inspiration.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 330-331

The Twin Duties

And the kicker is Ephesians is a forgery written by someone else who then claimed to be paul. This is the consensus of the majority of secular Biblical scholars. So Christianity's central doctrine "justification by faith alone" is not even paul--it is a complete stranger.

 

[Trailblazer]

And the kicker is Ephesians is a forgery written by someone else who then claimed to be paul. This is the consensus of the majority of secular Biblical scholars. So Christianity's central doctrine "justification by faith alone" is not even paul--it is a complete stranger.

OMG! ~~ I guess the Christians had better get busy and do some deeds, before the curtain call comes.

 

[samtonga43]

I guess you missed the point. It does not matter what we SEE here on earth from our earthly perspective, as the actual brightness of the moon never diminishes. Since the sun is shining on the moon all the time the moon is always bright even though we don’t always see a full moon here in earth.

Christ is the Light of the world, whatever the circumstances. He enables us to see all the light we need. But some people close their eyes and refuse to see..

It is the same for God’s Light. The Light of God is always shining and it never diminishes, but we don’t see all the Light of God all at once, not anymore than we see all the light that is shining on the moon all the time. The only Light we see from God is what is revealed to us through the Messengers of God in any given age, and that is just a ‘measure’ of the total Light of God. If we ever saw all the Light of God all at once we would cease to exist.

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5:20. Christ IS the ‘eternal essence’ Jesus was personally identical with the eternally pre-existent Son of God. He did not come into existence as a new person way back when, but exists personally as the eternal Son of God.
As John1 says…
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

Yes, the Light of God remains the same no matter how much the world changes, but as the world changes God reveals a fresh measure of His Light, as much as is needed at the time of revelation. Just as plants need sunlight to grow, humans need God’s Light to grow and develop spiritually.

The world changes, but people do not. When we need refreshment we will find it where it always was, and always will be, in God’s Word. God’s truth never needs to be ‘refreshed’. And we don’t need to be refreshed so much as we need to turn to Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, the Eternal Son of God. His name is not Bahá’u’lláh. It is Jesus who has the name above all names: “Therefore God exalted Jesus to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9–11

I am not very well versed in history, but a very great measure of God’s Light must have been needed when Jesus appeared on earth, and it was needed again when Baha’u’llah appeared.

Jesus WAS and IS the Light of the world, eternally. Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Jesus liberated the children of men from the darkness of ignorance and guided them to the light of true understanding, but Jesus did not come into the world to ensure the peace and tranquility of mankind, and provide all the means by which they can be established. That was the job that God gave to Baha’u’llah.

Jesus provides the answer to our every need. When we are liberated from the darkness of ignorance and given the light of true understanding, the peace and tranquility of mankind will follow. We need nothing else and no one else, especially B.s enormous ego.

Jesus laid the foundation and Baha’u’llah came to help us finish the building.

Christ IS the foundation, and the Holy Spirit of God IS He who helps God’s people to finish the building.

Baha’u’llah came into the world to unite humanity and bring peace tranquility to mankind as a whole. Jesus foresaw this when He said the following:John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Oh, really, Tb! You’re reading into the text again; you must learn to read in context. The ‘other sheep’ is nothing to do with B. The other sheep are the Gentiles. Why not read John 10 in its entirety, preferably from E.S.V.

Quite the contrary, I do not recognize Christ as the Second Person of the Trinity because I have good judgment, and I know what the Bible says so I know that Jesus was not God, period.

Oh, you can read the words, but this does not indicate that you know what they mean, in context and guided by the Spirit.

There are so many reasons that Jesus cannot be God and I already posted some of the many verses to this Christian a few months ago.

1. Matthew 1:23
2. Mark 2:5-7
3. John 1:1
4. John 5:18
5. John 20:27-29
6. Philippians 2:5-7
7. Colossians 1:15
8. Colossians 2:9
9. 2 Peter 1:1
10. Hebrews 1:3
(Read all in context, of course).
You cannot avoid it, Tb. You can quibble about what these passages might mean, but there is a pattern here of claims about Jesus that could only be true of God.

Jesus is not God so the Christian Trinity belief cannot possibly be true.

I disagree. But we do agree on one thing:
God is One, not divided into parts.

You cannot wiggle your way out of the verses that say that no man has ever seen God by saying that no one has ever seen God the Father, because you are saying that God is also the Son. I guess that is what our SZ would call dishonest. God cannot be BOTH the Father and the Son, that is illogical.

It is supra-rational. Nothing to do with logic or illogic.
You mention SZ. LOL! Where is that proof he boasted about? You know, the proof that the Bible is a book of myths? Has he run away with it? Is it published yet?

The problem you have here is that there are not two Gods, God the Father and God the Son. The other problem you have is that the Son cannot be the Father and the Father cannot be the Son.
Why can’t you just settle for what is logical and what is actually in the Bible verses?

I cannot settle for what is less than the Truth which has been shown to me by the Holy Spirit.
ONE Being, THREE Persons.
That Truth is clear to me. You cannot yet see it. Perhaps one day…

I rest my case.

Yes, I would if I were you. That’s one heavy burden you’re carrying…

 

[Truthseeker]

All of God’s Prophets brought Light to the world, although the intensity of the Light did differ.
Baha’u’llah explained this giving us the reasons why the intensity of the Light differs.

“The measure of the revelation of the Prophets of God in this world, however, must differ. Each and every one of them hath been the Bearer of a distinct Message, and hath been commissioned to reveal Himself through specific acts. It is for this reason that they appear to vary in their greatness. Their Revelation may be likened unto the light of the moon that sheddeth its radiance upon the earth. Though every time it appeareth, it revealeth a fresh measure of its brightness, yet its inherent splendor can never diminish, nor can its light suffer extinction.

It is clear and evident, therefore, that any apparent variation in the intensity of their light is not inherent in the light itself, but should rather be attributed to the varying receptivity of an ever-changing world. Every Prophet Whom the Almighty and Peerless Creator hath purposed to send to the peoples of the earth hath been entrusted with a Message, and charged to act in a manner that would best meet the requirements of the age in which He appeared. God’s purpose in sending His Prophets unto men is twofold. The first is to liberate the children of men from the darkness of ignorance, and guide them to the light of true understanding. The second is to ensure the peace and tranquillity of mankind, and provide all the means by which they can be established.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 79-80

No, that is not possible because we believe in Jesus but not as the Second Person of the Trinity. Moreover as you well know, not all Christians believe in the Trinity. Why do you think it is so important for people to believe in the Trinity? Actually, by gloming God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit together you take away what was so special about each of them in their own right. We know that the Trinity belief has to be wrong because Jesus is not God. We know that Jesus is not God because, among other verses that prove it, Jesus said that no man has ever seen God. We know that many people saw Jesus, so Jesus cannot he God, end of story.

No, we do not believe that. We believe that Baha’u’llah was the return of the Christ Spirit that Jesus promised to send, the Comforter and the Spirit of truth. Thus Baha’u’llah was the return of Christ, the Second Coming that Christians have been waiting for.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Those verses can be applied to more than one thing. I simply applied them to one thing I believe they apply to and I see you are suggesting they apply to something else. I have no more confirmation bias then you do, so you are the pot calling the kettle black.

According to my interpretation Christianity was once the narrow gate that led to life but not anymore. When Jesus said that Christianity was the narrow gate that led to life, when there were very few Christians in the first centuries, but Christianity is no longer the narrow road that leads to life because about 30% of the world population is now Christians. Given that Christianity is now the largest religion in the world, Christianity is no longer the narrow road that leads to life.

Your cited article states:

“However, the gate to heaven is “narrow” in the sense of having a particular requirement for entrance—faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is found only in the Person of Jesus Christ; He is the only way (John 14:6). The “wide” gate is non-exclusive; it allows for human effort and all other of the world’s religions.”

Your article is right except that the author has the wrong person, since the requirement to get through the narrow gate in this age is faith in Baha’u’llah. So here is how it should read:

“However, the gate to heaven is “narrow” in the sense of having a particular requirement for entrance—faith in Baha’u’llah. Salvation is found only in the Person of Baha’u’llah; He is the only way. The “wide” gate is non-exclusive; it allows for human effort and all other of the world’s religions.”

“The Book of God is wide open, and His Word is summoning mankind unto Him. No more than a mere handful, however, hath been found willing to cleave to His Cause, or to become the instruments for its promotion. These few have been endued with the Divine Elixir that can, alone, transmute into purest gold the dross of the world, and have been empowered to administer the infallible remedy for all the ills that afflict the children of men. “No man can obtain everlasting life, unless he embraceth the truth of this inestimable, this wondrous, and sublime Revelation.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 183

Eisegesis : the interpretation of a text (as of the Bible) by reading into it one's own ideas — compare exegesis.
https://www.merriam-webster.com › dictionary › eisegesis

What I did is no more eisegesis than what you or anyone else does when assignong a meaning to those verses.

Obviously Jesus was using the narrow gate as a metaphor for something. I was just explaining why a narrow gate would be difficult to get thorough.

So why would Christianity be the narrow gate? It is not difficult to get through, since you only have to believe in Jesus and believe that He died for your sins, and you do not even have to do anything else to get to heaven. Moreover, everyone on the world knows about Christianity so you don’t have to go looking for the gate, it is a gate that is very easy to locate. So what is so difficult?

Here is what your article says that Christians have to do to get through the narrow gate:

“Jesus says that the narrow gate leads to a “hard” road, one that will take us through hardships and difficult decisions. Following Jesus requires crucifying our flesh (Galatians 2:20; 5:24; Romans 6:2), living by faith (Romans 1:17; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 10:38), enduring trials with Christlike patience (James 1:2–3, 12; 1 Peter 1:6), and living a lifestyle separate from the world (James 1:27; Romans 12:1–2). When faced with the choice between a narrow, bumpy road and a wide, paved highway, most of us choose the easier road. Human nature gravitates toward comfort and pleasure. When faced with the reality of denying themselves to follow Jesus, most people turn away (John 6:66). Jesus never sugar-coated the truth, and the truth is that not many people are willing to pay the price to follow Him."

What he said makes me rather ill. because it is a sham! I see no Christians denying themselves, as Jesus enjoined them to do. They do not deny the flesh. They eat, drink, and have sex just like everyone else. They do not even need to follow any laws because Paul did away with the law. What a deal! Moreover, Christianity does not teach that Christians have to deny themselves, it teaches that all Christians have to do is believe in Jesus and that He died for their sins.

Can you get to heaven by faith alone?

God's Word says that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not by our own efforts or works (Ephesians 2:8-9). ... Our best efforts can never be good enough to earn salvation, but God declares us righteous for Christ's sake. We receive that grace through faith alone. https://www.cui.edu › aboutcui › grace-alone-faith-alo

Now contrast that with what Baha’is have to do to get to heaven. We not only have to recognize Baha'u'llah, we have to follow all His ordinances. We cannot ever have any sex before or outside of marriage or drink any alcohol, and those are just two of the laws.

“The first duty prescribed by God for His servants is the recognition of Him Who is the Day Spring of His Revelation and the Fountain of His laws, Who representeth the Godhead in both the Kingdom of His Cause and the world of creation. Whoso achieveth this duty hath attained unto all good; and whoso is deprived thereof, hath gone astray, though he be the author of every righteous deed. It behoveth every one who reacheth this most sublime station, this summit of transcendent glory, to observe every ordinance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. These twin duties are inseparable. Neither is acceptable without the other. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Source of Divine inspiration.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, pp. 330-331

The Twin Duties

Other, which has been written by Paul says:

Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Paul, "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans - επιστολή στους Ρωμαίους", 3:27

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Paul, "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans - επιστολή στους Ρωμαίους", 3:28

Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Paul, "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans - επιστολή στους Ρωμαίους", 3:29

Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Paul, "The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans - επιστολή στους Ρωμαίους", 3:31

Note that the law referred to here is the law of Moses. Like was said Ephesians is quite suspect to have written by Paul. so "justified by faith without the works of the law" means there a new Dispensation without the old law in effect, though Paul establishes this in a hard to understand, tortured way.

 

[samtonga43]

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

 

[Trailblazer]

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

And the kicker is Ephesians is a forgery written by someone else who then claimed to be paul. This is the consensus of the majority of secular Biblical scholars. So Christianity's central doctrine "justification by faith alone" is not even paul--it is a complete stranger.

#1763 SeekingAllTruth, Monday at 8:09 PM

 

[samtonga43]

And the kicker is Ephesians is a forgery written by someone else who then claimed to be paul. This is the consensus of the majority of secular Biblical scholars. So Christianity's central doctrine "justification by faith alone" is not even paul--it is a complete stranger.

Evidence? Link? Oh, and the central tenet of Christianity is not "justification by faith alone". It is the belief in Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah (Christ).

 

[Trailblazer]

Evidence? Link? Oh, and the central tenet of Christianity is not "justification by faith alone". It is the belief in Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah (Christ).

You will have to take Ephesians up with @ SeekingAllTruth since he is the one who did the research.

"justification by faith alone" might be the central tenet of Christianity but it is not what Jesus taught.
Jesus did not even teach justification, that is all Church doctrine.
You believe in the religion of Paul and the Church doctrines but clearly that is not what Jesus taught.

How Paul changed the course of Christianity

PAUL vs. JESUS: A List of Contradictory and Incompatible Statements

 

[Truthseeker]

Rather than talk about the status of Ephesians specifically, I prefer to show this table from Wikipedia. It could be that Ephesians is authentic, but personally I would depend on the undisputed Pauline epistles.

Status Categorisation[10] Epistle
Undisputed Authentic Pauline epistles

• First Epistle to the Thessalonians
• Epistle to the Galatians
• First Epistle to the Corinthians
• Second Epistle to the Corinthians
• Epistle to the Philippians
• Epistle to Philemon
• Epistle to the Romans

Disputed Deutero-Pauline epistles;
may be authentic

• Epistle to the Ephesians
• Epistle to the Colossians
• Second Epistle to the Thessalonians

Pastoral epistles;
probably not authentic

• First Epistle to Timothy
• Second Epistle to Timothy
• Epistle to Titus

Anonymous sermon;
not authentic

• Epistle to the Hebrews

This Wikipedia link has more details including about the authorship of Paul for Ephesians and the other epistles, too.

Authorship of the Pauline epistles - Wikipedia

 

[Truthseeker]

You will have to take Ephesians up with @ SeekingAllTruth since he is the one who did the research.

"justification by faith alone" might be the central tenet of Christianity but it is not what Jesus taught.
Jesus did not even teach justification, that is all Church doctrine.
You believe in the religion of Paul and the Church doctrines but clearly that is not what Jesus taught.

How Paul changed the course of Christianity

PAUL vs. JESUS: A List of Contradictory and Incompatible Statements

That's okay, I referred him to a Wikipedia article that discusses the authenticity of Ephesians and other epistles. No need for research by me.

 

[Trailblazer]

That's okay, I referred him to a Wikipedia article that discusses the authenticity of Ephesians and other epistles. No need for research by me.

Thanks Duane. I saw that and I saved your post for further reference. I guess the Christians won't be meeting Jesus in the air after all.

1 Thessalonians 4:17, KJV: "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

[MonkeyFire]

These verses are about the resurrection.

 

[Trailblazer]

These verses are about the resurrection.

Resurrection of what?

 

[samtonga43]

That's okay, I referred him to a Wikipedia article that discusses the authenticity of Ephesians and other epistles. No need for research by me.

Wikipedia? Are you serious?

 

[samtonga43]

He also told this parable to certain ones who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax-gatherer.

The Pharisee stood and was praying thus to himself, 'God, I thank Thee that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.'

But the tax-gatherer, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, but he who humbles himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:9-14)

 

[samtonga43]

Resurrection of what?

Well, what do you think, Tb?

 

[MonkeyFire]

Resurrection of what?

Jesus

 

[Trailblazer]

Well, what do you think, Tb?

I dunno, that's why I asked.