Some Questions On Christianity

[Draupadi]

I know how the Original Sin had come about. But why the children of Adam and Eve are carrying the burden of the sin the haven't committed? In the Old Testament Yahweh says that He will punish the later 14 generations of the human being who takes as God anyone or anything else beside Him. But what fault did the latter generations do? Jesus Christ came to fulfill Moses' religion but the New Testament has different worshipping rituals, festivals and no circumcision. But why? Thank you.

 

[rusra02]

I know how the Original Sin had come about. But why the children of Adam and Eve are carrying the burden of the sin the haven't committed? In the Old Testament Yahweh says that He will punish the later 14 generations of the human being who takes as God anyone or anything else beside Him. But what fault did the latter generations do? Jesus Christ came to fulfill Moses' religion but the New Testament has different worshipping rituals, festivals and no circumcision. But why? Thank you.

Yes, Adam's offspring do bear the burden of sin. Romans 5:12 says: "That is why, just as through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because they had all sinned." God could have destroyed Adam and Eve before they had any children, but chose to allow their children to have the opportunity to live forever, a gift that Adam squandered by sinning. (Romans 6:23) Romans 8:20,21 explains:"For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but through the one who subjected it, on the basis of hope that the creation itself will also be set free from enslavement to corruption and have the glorious freedom of the children of God."
Thus, I believe God's allowing us to live is an expression of his love and concern, as well as a demonstration of his perfect justice and wisdom. For example, children born with a terrible disease may need to undergo painful treatments to cure them. Their loving parents may grieve to see their children suffer temporarily , but realize the outcome will be good, and so allow the painful treatments to be given. I believe sin is like a grave disease we are all born with, and the suffering it brings is unavoidable at present. But God will soon bring this suffering to a permanent end, according to his promise. (Revelation 21:3,4)

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

We don't practice the rituals of the ancient Israelite religion because that was a foreshadowing of the full revelation of God in the Person of Jesus Christ. We are living under a new and eternal Covenant of grace that was established by Lord Jesus. Physical circumcision is meaningless when it comes to that.

 

[Shiranui117]

I know how the Original Sin had come about. But why the children of Adam and Eve are carrying the burden of the sin the haven't committed? In the Old Testament Yahweh says that He will punish the later 14 generations of the human being who takes as God anyone or anything else beside Him. But what fault did the latter generations do?

There's the saying: The apple doesn't fall from the tree. If your parents are sinful, then you are going to be brought up in the same way, and you in turn are going to do the same things as your parents. The kings of Israel are perfect examples of this. It's not that we face the punishment for our parents' sins, it's that we face the punishment for committing the same sins as our parents.

Jesus Christ came to fulfill Moses' religion but the New Testament has different worshipping rituals, festivals and no circumcision. But why? Thank you.

The Mosaic Law was meant to keep Israel separate from the false pagan religions until Christ's coming, because the Messiah was to come from the people of God. But now that Christ has come, we have the fulfillment of everything the Law was pointing to. We no longer divide ourselves, for Christ has broken down the walls separating peoples (Ephesians 2:11-21, Galatians 3:28)

 

[Draupadi]

^So what has circumcision got to do with separating the pagans from the Jews? Now that the Christians don't circumcise aren't they coming to the pagan's level?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

^So what has circumcision got to do with separating the pagans from the Jews? Now that the Christians don't circumcise aren't they coming to the pagan's level?

Jews aren't the only people who practice that. There's various tribes that do as rites of passage. In terms of history, it apparently started among the Egyptian priesthood. It's a common thing among Semitic and African tribes and has been for thousands of years.

 

[Pegg]

^So what has circumcision got to do with separating the pagans from the Jews? Now that the Christians don't circumcise aren't they coming to the pagan's level?

God is bringing all mankind together under Christ... its not by any physical attribute (ie, circumcision) that people are brought to God. It is through their individual 'faith' and 'love' for God. That is demonstrated by their 'works', not by circumcision.

Circumscision was to be a 'sign of the covenant' between God and Abraham for Abrahams offspring until the Messiah should arrive. Now that Messiah has arrived, the requirement is 'faith' and 'love' out of a pure heart.

 

[Guiri]

We don't practice the rituals of the ancient Israelite religion because that was a foreshadowing of the full revelation of God in the Person of Jesus Christ. We are living under a new and eternal Covenant of grace that was established by Lord Jesus. Physical circumcision is meaningless when it comes to that.

How come then that the first Christian church in Jerusalem was formed by those who had known the mortal Jesus, who met in the Temple of Jerusalem, were all fully observant Jews, were led by someone who acted as the high priest of Judaism. It is difficult to imagine that, under these circumstances, that person would have preached, You shall have no god but YHWH and, by the way, YHWH is/was my big brother."

 

[Shiranui117]

How come then that the first Christian church in Jerusalem was formed by those who had known the mortal Jesus, who met in the Temple of Jerusalem, were all fully observant Jews, were led by someone who acted as the high priest of Judaism. It is difficult to imagine that, under these circumstances, that person would have preached, You shall have no god but YHWH and, by the way, YHWH is/was my big brother."

It certainly was the position of the Apostles from the very first that Jesus was Lord and God, yet He was not the Father, yet there is only one God. This Apostolic view would later be defined as the dogma of the Holy Trinity. A personal student of St. John the Apostle who was a prominent leader of the Church of Antioch founded by St. Peter speaks repeatedly over this mystery of the Christian faith.

Christianity did originate as simply a sect within Judaism, because salvation was to come from the people of Israel to the rest of the world. It was meant to be a completion and fulfillment of Judaism, which would also be open to all Gentiles. But when the Jews rejected the Messiah, the Apostles turned their evangelizing mission to the nations--like in the parable of the wicked tenants, the Jews had rejected and slaughtered the son of the vineyard's owner, and the owner of the vineyard gave it to new people for it to be tended.

 

[Guiri]

In my opinion that was not the disciples's tradition was not to treat Jesus as God. The earliest gospel of Mark does not consider Jesus as god, only the latest, attributed to John, does that and, by the time it was written, Paul's heresy had gained a foothold

 

[Karl R]

But why the children of Adam and Eve are carrying the burden of the sin the haven't committed? [...] But what fault did the latter generations do?

I would say that the story of Adam and Eve is not intended to provide a historical account of two actual people. The story is an allegory (or a parable) which we can use to learn something about ourselves.

The story is about each and every one of us. We all commit the original sin (disobedience). Watch a small child who is just learning to talk. What is one of the first words the child learns? "NO!" How does the child use it? In defiance and disobedience of his/her parents.

I love knowledge. I can relate to the fall of grace occurring because someone chose knowledge over obedience. Because they chose knowledge over paradise. Because they chose knowledge over life. That message relates directly to how I live my life.

For others, Adam's choice may be more appropriate. Disobeying god in order to please someone else. Following someone else into disobedience. For many, that story ties in very heavily to their lives.

It's easy to interpret the story literally and blame Adam and Eve for what they did. But you'll learn more if you apply the story to your own life.