spurly

Bree,

I appreciate the questions you have brought up. The Bible makes it very clear that in order to be brought back into a right relationship with God we have to come to the cross and accept the gift that his son gave us in faith. When we do that we become recipients of his incredible love and grace.

The "rules" that you referred to are not done to earn the favor of God or to bring ourselves into right standing with God. Only God's grace combined with our faith can do that.

However, works are not unimportant. Our works are outward signs of our love for God. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments". The relationship of love is restored first, and then the works will follow in turn.

After Paul's tremendous declaration in Ephesians 2 that we are saved by faith through grace he then gets to verse 10 and says this: "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance, that we should walk in them." The works are done out of love and gratitude for what Christ did for us. They are not done to save us or earn salvation. As a matter of fact, this is where Christianity differs from many other world religions. In Christianity we don't work our way to God, he came to us.

Kevin

Rhea

So once one accepts Jesus in faith then they start to behave well? Better?

This is when women start covering their heads in churches and vowing to never wear pants?

Or are those things that don't really have to be followed anymore. Or, rather are these not things that follow in turn?

Queen of Swords

Originally posted by spurly
But, the argument of Christianity being exclusive and intolerant falls to the earth and is shattered when one realizes that anyone who puts their trust in Christ can be saved.

This leaves out

1. zygotes, embryos and fetuses that die either through miscarriage or abortion
2. children who die before they are old enough to make a choice regarding religion
3. people who are too mentally deficient to make such a choice
4. anyone who died without hearing about Christianity
5. anyone who was raised in another culture and taught a different religion to the point where they adhered to that religion instead of to yours
6. anyone who died while they were thinking about becoming a Christian
7. anyone born before Jesus arrived on earth, unless they happened to be Jewish

Not so inclusive after all.

Magus55

Yes, Christianity beats Judaism. No religion on Earth has ever had the amount of following as Christianity. Judaism didn't exist before the flood. Abraham was the first ever Jew, which was awhile after the flood. Sure there were probably alot more Jews back then, than there are now ( only 15 million Jews in existance today) but not even close to Christianity.

Abacus

Until about the middle of this century. Then Islam will reign supreme (probably).

Magus55

No it doesn't. God is loving and merciful, and isn't gonna exclude someone who can't be held accountable for their sins.

1. unborn babies don't go to hell
2. neither do children before they can understand sin and how to avoid it
3. Mentally deficient aren't held accountable because they can't understand the concept.
4. If someone has NEVER heard of Christianity or God, God will judge them based on their thoughts and deeds and what they tried to do.
5. I was raised in a Jewish culture and didn't even know who Jesus was, other than he was a Jew until a few years ago. Thats a really poor excuse.
6. If the person spent their whole life denying Jesus, and didn't get to find Him before He died, thats the persons fault for waiting and being stubborn. God gives you plenty of time, and says don't wait and hold salvation off, because you never know how long you have.
7. No, people born before Jesus were saved the same way people are now - Faith in God. And those people REALLY have no excuse, since God actually interacted and showed his power to those people. Kinda hard to deny the plagues of Egypt in Exodus or the spliting of the red sea. God was also present before the flood. He warned the people many many times about judgement for their unending sins - all ignored Him except Noah, so God told Noah how to save his family, and Noah listened. Had the people before the flood not be so stubborn, arrogant and selfish - they might have headed the warnings and not brought destruction on themselves.

Magus55

Provided the world is still here by then

mike_decock

The problem with this analogy is that the "cure of cancer" you are selling has not been proven to be in any way more effective than a placebo, yet your keep selling it, at the high price of personal freedom and dignity (not too mention the whole tithing scam).

That's why Christianity is fraudulent.

-Mike...

Abacus

You're right. The sun could go supernova tomorrow, I suppose.

Magus55

Or we could get hit by a big asteroid .