I enjoy information.
I go to church because I find it interesting. I don't believe in God but I do believe that there is something to be gained from understanding others.
I also read Greek and Norse mythology because I find such things a facinating part of the human mind and history.
I would be considered an athiest because I do not believe that the stories of religion are true. However I see them as a part of the world that must exist.
I am really closer to Ignostic because I think that God is irrelevent (no offense) because the world is and has been doing fine whether he exists or not.
The nature of the divine is (in my opinion) ineffable. If one cannot know the immediate will of God and he refuses to communicate in real time it is the same as him not existing.
I fully understand and accept that you believe in God and do not hold that against you. However, I feel the need to question religion because if I don't do that I cannot discover anything about it in terms that I understand.
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
How do you define Christian faith?
***"Now FAITH is the substance of things HOPED for, the EVIDENCE of things NOT seen" [Hebrews 11:1]. FAITH is described as the SUBSTANCE (ASSURANCE or REALITY...the same word translated "person" in Hebrews 1:3) of things HOPED FOR, and the EVIDENCE (PROOF, as in John 16:8) of THINGS NOT SEEN...FAITH gives REALITY and PROOF of things UNSEEN...treating them as if they were ALREADY objects of SIGHT ...RATHER than HOPE.
Marchello
Originally posted by Fatima
How is christin faith differnt from other religions faith ?
***Hello Fatima:
Thank you for your question.
The world has no shortage of religions. The major religions of the world are Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Within each of these religions there exist many different branches, sects, and cults.
However, as you will see, there is one major difference between Biblical Christianity and all the other religions of the world.
Biblical Christianity teaches that there is nothing a person can do to earn their way to God. The Bible makes it clear that doing good works will not get you into heaven. Attending church regularly will not get you into heaven. According to the Bible there is only thing that will get a person into heaven: belief that Jesus Christ is God's Son and Messiah and by asking Him to forgive their sins through Jesus' sacrificial death.
The following is a list of some of the various world religions and their basic beliefs.
(1) CHRISTIANITY - Biblical Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is the Son and Messiah of God. It is only through receiving forgiveness through the sacrificial death of Jesus that a person may enter into the presence of God.
(2) JUDAISM - Judaism is a monotheistic religion that believes in the God (whom they call HaShem which means "The Name"😉 of the Old Testament. Biblical Christianity believes He is the same God of the New Testament. Before the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Jews reached out to God through the sacrificing of animals to cover their sins. After the Temple was destroyed the Jews developed a system through which atonement for their sins comes through mitzvot or charitable deeds, obeying the Torah or Law, and prayer or meditation.
(3) ISLAM - Muslims believe that if they do enough good deeds their God, Allah, will reward them on Judgment Day. Allah is not the same God of the Bible. Biblical Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is God incarnated. Muslims reject this doctrine but do believe that Jesus was a prophet of Allah.
(4) HINDUISM - A person is reincarnated over and over again until they achieve nirvana or moksha which is a reuniting of their soul with Brahman, the God or Soul of the universe. How long this takes depends on how many good or bad deeds they do in each of their reincarnated lives. Hinduism allows for the beliefs in many gods and goddesses.
(5) BUDDHISM - This is also a religion that believes in reincarnation. They believe that a soul must go through many rebirths in order to achieve nirvana and that their many lives are subject to the deeds they do in each previous life.
As you can see, Christianity is the only major religion that believes that humans cannot reach out to God but that God reaches out to humans. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God: NOT of works lest any man should boast."
There are many people who think that if a person is sincere in their beliefs then God will look favorably upon them. Jesus Christ does not agree with this assessment. He clearly stated that no one comes to God except through Him. So according to Jesus, all the religions of the world are based on false beliefs because they do not accept Him as the Savior of the world.
It is not a question of Christians being right and the rest of the world being wrong. Rather it is a question of what is the truth. Jesus answered this question when He stated in John 18:37 and John 14:6, "...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."..."I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but BY Me."
I hope that helps.
Marchello
Originally posted by Marchello
***Hello Fatima:Thank you for your question.
The world has no shortage of religions. The major religions of the world are Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Within each of these religions there exist many different branches, sects, and cults.
However, as you will see, there is one major difference between Biblical Christianity and all the other religions of the world.Biblical Christianity teaches that there is nothing a person can do to earn their way to God. The Bible makes it clear that doing good works will not get you into heaven. Attending church regularly will not get you into heaven. According to the Bible there is only thing that will get a person into heaven: belief that Jesus Christ is God's Son and Messiah and by asking Him to forgive their sins through Jesus' sacrificial death.
The following is a list of some of the various world religions and their basic beliefs.
(1) CHRISTIANITY - Biblical Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is the Son and Messiah of God. It is only through receiving forgiveness through the sacrificial death of Jesus that a person may enter into the presence of God.
(2) JUDAISM - Judaism is a monotheistic religion that believes in the God (whom they call HaShem which means "The Name"😉 of the Old Testament. Biblical Christianity believes He is the same God of the New Testament. Before the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Jews reached out to God through the sacrificing of animals to cover their sins. After the Temple was destroyed the Jews developed a system through which atonement for their sins comes through mitzvot or charitable deeds, obeying the Torah or Law, and prayer or meditation.
(3) ISLAM - Muslims believe that if they do enough good deeds their God, Allah, will reward them on Judgment Day. Allah is not the same God of the Bible. Biblical Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ is God incarnated. Muslims reject this doctrine but do believe that Jesus was a prophet of Allah.
(4) HINDUISM - A person is reincarnated over and over again until they achieve nirvana or moksha which is a reuniting of their soul with Brahman, the God or Soul of the universe. How long this takes depends on how many good or bad deeds they do in each of their reincarnated lives. Hinduism allows for the beliefs in many gods and goddesses.
(5) BUDDHISM - This is also a religion that believes in reincarnation. They believe that a soul must go through many rebirths in order to achieve nirvana and that their many lives are subject to the deeds they do in each previous life.As you can see, Christianity is the only major religion that believes that humans cannot reach out to God but that God reaches out to humans. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God: NOT of works lest any man should boast."
There are many people who think that if a person is sincere in their beliefs then God will look favorably upon them. Jesus Christ does not agree with this assessment. He clearly stated that no one comes to God except through Him. So according to Jesus, all the religions of the world are based on false beliefs because they do not accept Him as the Savior of the world.
It is not a question of Christians being right and the rest of the world being wrong. Rather it is a question of what is the truth. Jesus answered this question when He stated in John 18:37 and John 14:6, "...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."..."I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but BY Me."
I hope that helps.
Marchello
Thanks Marchello 🙂
But i have some coments ..I dont see differnces between Allah and god .
you said about Islam that muslims do good things to deeds their god >
then what does christins do to go to heaven , just waiting for forgivness from jesus.
And what about millions of people who exist before the jesus age ..they will go to hell or what ?
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Wow!marchello, that was good. Its nice to see that you can give a measured response when need be.
You a certainly a more complex person than I thought.
Originally posted by Nellinator
No, that's really just because you are more open-minded. Most others just don't like anyone who quotes a Bible verse. Let it suffice to say that Urizen had it out for me one time. Now, we get along. I don't think it helped that people thought Marchello was yelling all the time either.
marchello always seemed angry to me but I like the respone he gave because it discusses the points rather than making accusations like he used to.
Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
marchello always seemed angry to me but I like the respone he gave because it discusses the points rather than making accusations like he used to.
He probably was angry. Those individuals who truly love God, are generally those who get angry when they see his word being misrepresented by the world.
Originally posted by Thundar
He probably was angry. Those individuals who truly love God, are generally those who get angry when they see his word being misrepresented by the world.
Anger is a sign of undisciplined mind. Action without anger can be just, and I think that is what you are talking about.
Originally posted by Fatima
Thanks Marchello 🙂But i have some coments ..I dont see differnces between Allah and god .
you said about Islam that muslims do good things to deeds their god >
then what does christins do to go to heaven , just waiting for forgivness from jesus.
And what about millions of people who exist before the jesus age ..they will go to hell or what ?
***Hello Fatima:
What marvelous questions you have posted! I want you to know that I really appreciate them...and if you don't mind I will answer them each individually for they are very complex questions.
As to your FIRST question: ["...what does christins do to go to heaven, just waitng for forgivness from jesus."]....No, Fatima...that is not all. In order for a person to be SAVED [i.e., that is...to be forgiven of his/her sins] they must see themselves for what they really are...sinners. Now I understand that people don't like to hear that they are sinners...and it is not my intention to insult you or anyone else because I say that...but it does not change the fact that WE ALL are sinners...for the Bible declares: "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" [Romans 3:23]..."As it is written, there is NONE righteous, no, NOT ONE: There is NONE that understandeth, there is NONE that seeketh after God" [Romans 3:10-11]..."For the WAGES of sin is DEATH, but the GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord" [Romans 6:23].
We must REPENT...that is, we must turn away from our sins. Repentance is not making a resolution to do better...and it is not conviction of sin...for a person can be convinced that he/she is wrong and still not REPENT. Repentance is a change of mind...a change of heart...and it results in a change in action. The Bible puts it this way: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, for He [Jesus] will abundantly PARDON" [Isaiah 55:7]..."Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be BLOTTED OUT, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you" [Acts 3:19,20].
Too, we must trust in the COMPLETED work that Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross...that is, we must believe that Jesus Christ took OUR place [i.e., SUBSTITUTED Himself for US] on the cross...and died for OUR SINS [although He never sinned Himself]...and was resurrected BODILY from the dead [Romans 10:8-11]. Jesus Christ does not have to die again...for His one sacrifice was sufficient to ransom every sinner that was ever born from the bondage of sin who will come to Him: "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down [i.e., signifying a completed work] on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He hath PERFECTED for ever them that are sanctified" [Hebrews 10:10-15].
Salvation is a GIFT of God...and we cannot earn it by our good works [Ephesians 2:8,9].God gives it to us FREE when we place our FAITH in the completed work of the Lord Jesus Christ, on our behalf, as the satisfaction [or payment] for our sins [Romans 6:23]. He died as our SUBSTITUTE and took the punishment for our sins upon Himself and became our sacrifice to satisfy the righteousness required by God [1 John 2:2].
Now because salvation is a GIFT that God offers us FREELY...we must RECEIVE it [Revelations 3:20;John 1:12,13] to be SAVED...that is, we must REACH OUT in faith and receive the GIFT of God [Jesus Christ...John 1:12, 13]..."For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" [Ephesians 2:8,9]..."For the wages of sin is death; but the GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord" [Romans 6:23].
To be saved a person must PERSONALLY RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOUR by faith and trust in the completed work that He accomplished for them on Calvary's cross.
I am sorry that this post is so long...but I want to be sure that you understand fully what must be done to be saved [i.e., have your sins forgiven forever] through Jesus Christ.
I will answer your second question in my next post.
BTW, have you ever read the New Testament? Do you have a Bible?
Marchello
Originally posted by Marchello
***Hello Fatima:What marvelous questions you have posted! I want you to know that I really appreciate them...and if you don't mind I will answer them each individually for they are very complex questions.
As to your FIRST question: ["...what does christins do to go to heaven, just waitng for forgivness from jesus."]....No, Fatima...that is not all. In order for a person to be SAVED [i.e., that is...to be forgiven of his/her sins] they must see themselves for what they really are...sinners. Now I understand that people don't like to hear that they are sinners...and it is not my intention to insult you or anyone else because I say that...but it does not change the fact that WE ALL are sinners...for the Bible declares: "For ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" [Romans 3:23]..."As it is written, there is NONE righteous, no, NOT ONE: There is NONE that understandeth, there is NONE that seeketh after God" [Romans 3:10-11]..."For the WAGES of sin is DEATH, but the GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord" [Romans 6:23].
We must REPENT...that is, we must turn away from our sins. Repentance is not making a resolution to do better...and it is not conviction of sin...for a person can be convinced that he/she is wrong and still not REPENT. Repentance is a change of mind...a change of heart...and it results in a change in action. The Bible puts it this way: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, for He [Jesus] will abundantly PARDON" [Isaiah 55:7]..."Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be BLOTTED OUT, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you" [Acts 3:19,20].
Too, we must trust in the COMPLETED work that Jesus Christ accomplished for us on the cross...that is, we must believe that Jesus Christ took OUR place [i.e., SUBSTITUTED Himself for US] on the cross...and died for OUR SINS [although He never sinned Himself]...and was resurrected BODILY from the dead [Romans 10:8-11]. Jesus Christ does not have to die again...for His one sacrifice was sufficient to ransom every sinner that was ever born from the bondage of sin who will come to Him: "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down [i.e., signifying a completed work] on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He hath PERFECTED for ever them that are sanctified" [Hebrews 10:10-15].
Salvation is a GIFT of God...and we cannot earn it by our good works [Ephesians 2:8,9].God gives it to us FREE when we place our FAITH in the completed work of the Lord Jesus Christ, on our behalf, as the satisfaction [or payment] for our sins [Romans 6:23]. He died as our SUBSTITUTE and took the punishment for our sins upon Himself and became our sacrifice to satisfy the righteousness required by God [1 John 2:2].
Now because salvation is a GIFT that God offers us FREELY...we must RECEIVE it [Revelations 3:20;John 1:12,13] to be SAVED...that is, we must REACH OUT in faith and receive the GIFT of God [Jesus Christ...John 1:12, 13]..."For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" [Ephesians 2:8,9]..."For the wages of sin is death; but the GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord" [Romans 6:23].
To be saved a person must PERSONALLY RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOUR by faith and trust in the completed work that He accomplished for them on Calvary's cross.
I am sorry that this post is so long...but I want to be sure that you understand fully what must be done to be saved [i.e., have your sins forgiven forever] through Jesus Christ.
I will answer your second question in my next post.
BTW, have you ever read the New Testament? Do you have a Bible?
Marchello
Thanks again ..u mean in simple words that all christins would be forgiven even if their sins were really bad .,sorry for these silly questions 😮
And I dont have Bible ..I will buy it soon 🙂
Originally posted by Fatima
Thanks again ..u mean in simple words that all christins would be forgiven even if their sins were really bad .,sorry for these silly questions 😮And I dont have Bible ..I will buy it soon 🙂
***Dear Fatima:
NONE of your questions are "silly questions!"...they are questions that come from your heart and they get right to the "core" of what we are talking about. Fatima...you are a very insightful and intelligent woman...and I am not saying that to just ingratiate myself to you...for it is obvious to all on this board that you really are...and a sweet Lady in addition to that.
You say that you do not have a Bible. I will buy you one FREE of charge [NO CONDITIONS ATTACHED] if you will email the administrator of this board and have him notify me where to send it...also I will send you a commentary and the bible in the language that you speak [Arabic] if you so desire...and it will be my pleasure to do so. Please Fatima...let me do this as my gift to you.
You asked the following question: ["u mean in simple words that all christins would be forgiven even if their sins were really bad"]...The Lord Jesus Christ will forgive ALL of YOUR sins NO MATTER how great or bad they are...for He views ALL sin EQUALLY...for they ALL lead to the SAME consequence [DEATH]...for it is written: "For the WAGES [that is, something that you have earned] of sin is DEATH; but the GIFT of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord" [Romans 6:23]. In other words, God does NOT GRADE sin...in His eyes, ALL SIN [big OR small] is EQUAL to the SAME result--->DEATH. But God, in His MERCY towards us, sent His Son Jesus Christ to REDEEM us...to JUSTIFY us in His sight and give us ETERNAL LIFE instead of the DEATH that we justly deserve for our sins against Him...for it is written: "But God commendeth His LOVE toward us, in that, while we were YET SINNERS, Christ DIED for US. Much more then, being NOW JUSTIFIED by HIS BLOOD, we shall be SAVED from WRATH through HIM. For if, when we were enemies, we were RECONCILED to God by the death of His SON, much more, being reconciled, we SHALL be SAVED by His LIFE" [Romans 5:8-10].
When God "justifies" [Romans 5:9] a sinner...it refers to God's GRACIOUS act of declaring a sinner "not guilty" but "righteous" in His sight THROUGH the sinner's FAITH in Jesus' SACRIFICE on the cross. In JUSTIFYING a sinner, God takes ALL of the GUILT of that sinner and credits it to Christ's account...who WILLINGLY died on the cross as the sinner's SUBSTITUTE. And God also takes ALL the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and credits it to the sinner's account. The effect of "justification" is that the JUSTIFIED sinner now stands BEFORE God 100% RIGHTEOUS in His sight---even though he/she is still progressively growing in practical holiness, and may occasionally commit sins at times.
Understood in that sense..."justification" doesn't really change the sinner...rather, it changes the sinner's standing BEFORE God. But having justified the believing sinner, God then progressively "sanctifies" the believer...making him/her increasingly to live like Jesus Christ by the power of the INDWELLING Holy Spirit. ALL sinners that God justifies are also sanctified by Him; but He never sanctifies anyone without having justified them [Romans 8:30].
So yes, my dear Fatima...The Lord Jesus Christ will forgive your sins no matter how big or how small if you trust in His sacrifice on the cross for you...for He said:
"ALL that the Father giveth me shall COME TO ME; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of ALL which He hath GIVEN ME I should lose NOTHING, but should RAISE IT UP AGAIN at the last DAY. And this is the will of Him that sent ME, that EVERYONE which SEETH the Son, and BELIEVETH on Him, may have EVERLASTING LIFE: and I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY" [John 6:37-40].
Your friend,
Marchello
*["...Please when you respond on threads in these forums keep it simple..."]
***I am not know for my brevity.
*********************************************
*["Don't try to convert us."]
***Why not, my friend...you are a sinner in need of salvation...and, as a Christian, it is my duty and honor to minister to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Marchello