Posted by Simus on March 16, 2004, at 0:42:36
In reply to fellow Christians, posted by rayww on March 15, 2004, at 17:37:03
> Simus, you seem to be a sincere and special person who believes in Jesus Christ personally, and tries to follow him. I don't want you to feel hurt or offended but I would like to explain why I think what you just said contradicts what it says in the Bible. No offense personally intended.
No offense taken at all. No problem.
>It would seem to me that if i wasn't trying to keep the commandments I wouldn't care about Jesus. Jesus enables me to keep the commandments,
I couldn't agree more. Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." John 14:15
>and prayer makes me humble. Sharing my testimony makes me grow in faith, and loving my family and my neighbor makes me feel close to God.
I agree that these are among the things that make us humble, grow in faith, and make us feel close to God.
>So if I'm living a crappy life what is there in it that will make me want to change enough to accept Jesus into my heart and as you say, invite Him to "become the Lord in my life"?
Isaiah 61:3 says that Jesus will "give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;" That was good enough incentive for me. I beats anything the world had to offer me.
>Why would I invite Jesus for supper if I was going to serve him dog food?
The Bible is very, very clear on how God sees people, even those caught up in sin. Ephesians 2:4-5 "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)," John 3:16 says that "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
>If I'm going to invite Jesus into my house, (myself), I want to make sure it is clean, or that I am working on it.
That is your choice, but it isn't a requirement. Do you really think that after your best efforts, you will then be worthy of your own merit to stand in the presence of the Almighty? Isaiah 64:6 "All our righteousness are as filthy rags."
>Is there no logic in the Christian religion?
Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
I couldn't add anything to that if I tried.>I can't understand a sealed book.
Religion is what seals the Bible. Open it up and read it for yourself. It will expose the truth to you, and the truth will make you free.
>You seal the logic right out of the Bible when you say all we have to do to prepare for the great and terrible day of the Lord, is to invite him into our hearts.
Actually, those are your words, not mine. I said, "The only thing you have to do in preparation to meet God in Christianity is to ask Jesus to become the Lord of your life." This is referring to the act of becoming a Christian. Then, of course, we have to "grow up" and walk out our Christian life on this earth. To what "great and terrible day" are you referring?
>It's not good enough for me.
Sorry.
>How could a loving god look upon my struggles to repent as filthy rags?
Isaiah 64:6 says "All our righteousness are as filthy rags." That isn't referring to our struggles to repent, but our attempt to be righteous under our own power.
>Surely he will accept my burnt offering and take it from there.
That is between you and God.
> It is my opinion that the Bible teaches that Faith, Repentance, Baptism and following in Jesus footsteps is the path that leads to heaven.
The path that leads to heaven? The Kingdom of God is at hand. As far as faith, repentance, baptism, and following in Jesus' footsteps, the Bible has a LOT to say on these issues. But my comment was just geared toward becoming a Christian, not growing up in the Lord.
>Jesus openly criticized the hypocrite, or the person who with word and ritual only, made it look like he was serving god.
Yes He did.
I appologize for never looking at the sites you reference. But I will gladly read any Bible verses you reference, if you don't actually include them in your post.
Thanks for your comments. You always challenge me to dig deeper into the Bible and to keep learning.
poster:Simus
thread:308757
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20040113/msgs/324842.html