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MikeL
Social climber
Southern Arizona
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Aug 31, 2016 - 07:32am PT
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^^^^^^^^^^
The force is strong in this one.
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i-b-goB
Social climber
Wise Acres
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Believe it or not, this is why I do, well said from today's Daily Devotional...
In Touch Ministries www.intouch.org DR. CHARLES STANLEY
SEPTEMBER 07, 2016
The Heart of Our Faith
Galatians 2:15-16
Paul believed nothing merited his boasting more than the cross (Gal. 6:14). He had good reason to think so: God’s entire plan of salvation hangs upon two beams of rough-hewn wood. It is through Jesus’ sacrificial death that we are reconciled to the Father. And we are justified by Christ’s blood—freed from the guilt and penalty of sin.
Galatians 2:16 says, “By the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.” That is, clean living cannot earn God’s acceptance. Even so, many people choose to put confidence in some sort of cosmic “scale”—they believe their good deeds will outweigh their bad deeds, and as a result, the gate of heaven will be open to them.
However, if this scale philosophy were true, Jesus’ death would be senseless. A Father who accepted multiple paths to salvation but still sacrificed His Son couldn’t be called good or loving. Yet so many overlook the obvious logic of such reasoning and cling to their vision of a God who ignores personal sin.
The problem is pride. Since it is natural to desire acceptance, people want to believe something within them is worth loving. But the cross requires kneeling before God empty-handed. When we humbly admit we’re powerless to settle our own sin debt, we must accept the payment Jesus made for us.
We have nothing to offer God, but the fact is, He expects nothing. Instead, the Father created a salvation plan that cleansed the stain of our sin and reconciled us to Him. The cross is a symbol of His love—a love that deserves our boasting.
...Woo hoo hoo hoot!
I'm in it for the long haul, in this life with faith, hope, love, praise, and thinksgiving to God, then before His throne saved by grace and mercy through Jesus finished work on the cross and on into paradise for eternity!
Sorry that's all i got Cheers, goB
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Skeptimistic
Mountain climber
La Mancha
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Oh cheesus- here we go again...
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Flip Flop
climber
Earth Planet, Universe
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Way Anti-Christ. Way. If he existed and wasn't a total dick then he'd have cleaned up his big messy turd a long time ago. F*#k. That. Guy.
Um Werner, without fancy imaginings theists wouldn't be delusional, stoopid.
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i-b-goB
Social climber
Wise Acres
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Sep 17, 2016 - 10:46am PT
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^^^^
A day late for heaven's glory...
The Truth About Salvation
Acts 16:31
Do you ever wonder if faith in Jesus is really the only way to be saved? Satan is a crafty liar who will twist God’s Word to cause confusion. In order to steer people away from following Christ, he tries to create the impression that eventually everyone will make it to heaven. But that is not what Scripture teaches.
The truth is, we can choose to reject the salvation that Jesus Christ freely offers. John’s gospel tells us, “God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:17-18).
The Word of God clearly states that whoever believes in Jesus will be saved (John 3:16). The Bible also stresses that we make this choice during our earthly life—there will be no further opportunities once we die.
So if you would like to be sure of your salvation, you can do so by inviting Jesus to be your personal Savior. God, who wants you to spend eternity with Him, offers compelling reasons to make this all-important decision: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life” (John 3:36).
There are no more chances to place faith in the Savior after death. The free gift of salvation is available only in this life—and only through Jesus (John 14:6). Receive Him now, and you will never have to wonder what awaits you in eternity.
https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/the-truth-about-salvation
...true that!
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i-b-goB
Social climber
Wise Acres
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Sep 17, 2016 - 11:56am PT
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Oh Locker! he he
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Bushman
climber
The state of quantum flux
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Sep 17, 2016 - 12:25pm PT
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^^^^^
Anthropomorphizing our wise pious pets again...
Someone please save me from all this.
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, CA
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Sep 17, 2016 - 12:33pm PT
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I wonder if a muslim wandered in here praising the glory of Allen, if he'd be disrespected as much as a humble Christian praising his faith in God.
I know the answer already. The only thing higher to Atheism is respect for anything not-Christian. Buddhists are 'enlightened' with their mysticism, Hindus for their crazy-looking Deities and practices.
All you know is that you hate the Christian, and his God he worships.
I call you Christophobes.
EDIT: Conditioning during early childhood (Aka, "Brainwashing")...
Did you ever send you children to school when they were young? Why did you do that? To 'brainwash' them to learn something?
Learning the philosophy and understanding of Christ is a valuable tool that many people are lacking.
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i-b-goB
Social climber
Wise Acres
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Sep 17, 2016 - 12:59pm PT
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A little understanding is good...
How God Reveals Himself
Romans 1:18-21
Look at the delicate veins of an oak leaf, and you experience the beauty of God. Observe the storm-whipped surf beating against a beach, and you witness His power. The Lord’s sense of order is revealed in the march of the seasons and the precise tilt and turning of the earth. People need to look no farther than nature to understand that God is real.
Romans tells us that the revelation of the Lord in nature is sufficient to render inexcusable those who would deny His existence (Rom. 1:20). There’s no reasonable explanation for the creation of the material universe other than an omnipotent God putting it all together. The matter and fuel for a “big bang” had to come from Someone.
But nature can’t give us a full revelation—creation does not show the Lord’s holiness or eternity. That is why He gave us His Word. The Bible reveals God’s character, records His laws, and explains His expectations for the faithful. In its pages, we can learn about our Father and the kind of life He wants us to lead. “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).
Scripture teaches about the living Word—Jesus Christ—who is the full revelation of God. The heavenly Father wanted to ensure that humanity could know Him intimately, so to make Himself known, He sent His Son clothed in flesh. Jesus said, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” (John 14:7). Spend time in Bible study and prayer to know your Father better.
https://www.intouch.org/read/magazine/daily-devotions/how-god-reveals-himself
Psalm 36
5 Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
Your judgments are like a great deep.
O Lord, You preserve man and beast.
7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
8 They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house;
And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.
9 For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.
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i-b-goB
Social climber
Wise Acres
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Sep 17, 2016 - 01:21pm PT
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Woody Allen Quote
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Byran
climber
Half Dome Village
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Sep 17, 2016 - 01:55pm PT
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GOOD people are in all walks of life and RELIGION has ZERO to do with being a good person...
A strange statement, and perhaps you meant it in the sense of "you don't have to be religious to be a good person" which is true. But religion has plenty to do with being a good person. Some people are made better (more kind, generous, peaceful) by their faith, and unfortunately, some people are made worse (narrow-minded, bigoted, violent). Many people get a little of the good and the bad. This seems quite obvious to me.
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Curt
climber
Gold Canyon, AZ
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Sep 17, 2016 - 02:24pm PT
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I wonder if a muslim wandered in here praising the glory of Allen, if he'd be disrespected as much as a humble Christian praising his faith in God.
I know the answer already. The only thing higher to Atheism is respect for anything not-Christian. Buddhists are 'enlightened' with their mysticism, Hindus for their crazy-looking Deities and practices.
All you know is that you hate the Christian, and his God he worships.
I call you Christophobes.
Proving conclusively that you know absolutely nothing about atheism.
Curt
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Curt
climber
Gold Canyon, AZ
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Sep 17, 2016 - 02:28pm PT
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GOOD people are in all walks of life and RELIGION has ZERO to do with being a good person...
A strange statement, and perhaps you meant it in the sense of "you don't have to be religious to be a good person" which is true. But religion has plenty to do with being a good person. Some people are made better (more kind, generous, peaceful) by their faith, and unfortunately, some people are made worse (narrow-minded, bigoted, violent). Many people get a little of the good and the bad. This seems quite obvious to me.
Nobel laureate Steven Weinberg perhaps put it best:
"With or without religion you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. For good people to do evil things, that requires religion"
Curt
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Byran
climber
Half Dome Village
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Sep 17, 2016 - 02:33pm PT
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No, it doesn't...
Good is good and has ZERO to do with ANY religion...
Are you saying that in the nature vs nurture debate, it's 100% nature all the way? The sum of all life's experiences, beliefs and memory, has no effect on ones actions or the choices they make?
Also there's an entire branch of philosophy dedicated to the study of morality who'd probably find your claim that "good is good" is a little, uh... underdeveloped.
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Sep 17, 2016 - 02:59pm PT
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What is "good" anyway? What's the difference between a "good" act and a "bad" one? What makes the "good" act "good?"
Just asking so I can understand this "good people" idea from someone else's perspective...
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Byran
climber
Half Dome Village
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Sep 17, 2016 - 03:08pm PT
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Nobel laureate Steven Weinberg perhaps put it best:
"With or without religion you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. For good people to do evil things, that requires religion"
Curt
But the inverse of that statement is also true.
"With or without religion you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. For evil people to do good things, that requires religion"
Although I disagree with the notion that there are "good people" and "evil people" in the world. Just people of varying circumstances, intelligence, mental illness, disposition, culture, and beliefs, who are sometimes brought into conflict and other times assist one another in beautiful ways.
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i-b-goB
Social climber
Wise Acres
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Sep 17, 2016 - 03:08pm PT
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How good are you?...
Ten Commandments
You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall make no idols.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Keep the Sabbath day holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet
In the NT Jesus said...
Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Luke 6:31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
John 8:2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them,“He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
11 She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
The Truth...
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Psalm 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
...That's what it's about if you want it!
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Byran
climber
Half Dome Village
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Sep 17, 2016 - 03:29pm PT
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Locker,
Does being a vegan make one a GOOD person?
Does joining the army make one a BAD person?
Or is there perhaps a bit of nuance to all this?
But at least we're in agreement that being good or bad is determined by ones ACTIONS. So really the only question is this: does a person's beliefs affect their actions?
To make my point, say you're on a jury. And after listening to the prosecution, you come to believe that the defendant has murdered a baby? How could this belief not possibly prompt your next action, that of voting for her guilt? And if you were raised with certain religious teachings, which have lead you to believe that abortion is murder, wouldn't that also affect your actions in life?
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