question thats bugging me

[Finn_Jarber]

Originally Posted by ahigherway

No spinning, just a simple question. Answer?

Yes, I answered, and you responded with nonsense.

[Horn of ‘83]

Originally Posted by ahigherway

Hi Finn,

question for you: if all that is necessary to inherit eternal life is to believe in him, then why did God make such a long book? Why all the fluff? Apparently all of Jesus' teachings are out the door then...

Thanks for your help,
peace,
Brian

To teach us how to live.

[Romulus0]

Originally Posted by Vic235

You have missed the whole point of the original post -- "faith" is not everything in life. There are many things in life that are more important than just "faith" -- the original poster pointed out two examples (which you have ignored).

How did I miss the posters examples? Here they are:

1. rapist/murder gets sent to prison but before he is executed he truly confesses all his sins he is sent to heaven?

2. (hypothetical situation) so some guy comes up with the cure for cancer is charitable all his life never harmed a soul and loved everyone he knew with all of his being, but he is atheist...hes burns in hell?

I answered both these statements by my post. Faith in Christ is what saves us and works is evidence of that faith. The original poster stated that the obvious answers are Yes to #1 and No to #2.

My post states that this is true. Only through faith are we saved(that is a heart issue which God knows.) Scripture was clear that works cannot save, but scripture is clear that along with faith must be works which is evidence of faith.

We must live out what we believe. Faith is an action word. This is not legalistic since I do not believe that works must be numbered, it isn't. When we are judged by the faith in our hearts it is our works that are evidence of that faith. This is still a heart issue since there is not a number of works that proves our faith but simply evidence of it.

My point is that if you proclaim to have faith(which is an action word) then if their is NO evidence of that faith(works) then you do not have faith at all.

It all comes from faith in Christ. The very words of scripture stating we must have works is for those that lie about their faith and never do anything about it(no works.) God judges the heart whether you received Christ at age 5 or the moment before death. It always was and always is a heart issue and that is up to God. Works are merely something that accompanies our proclamation of faith.

Does this change the answers to the posters original question, no! Person 1 had faith, person 2 did not.

[JamesMRohde]

The problem with so many people's viewpoint concerning death bed conversions, and believing things like the 6,000 Jews murdered by Hitler being in the same "hell" with him, is not realizing the purpose of God in making humanity and not having faith that God will surely accomplish it. You could call it "Jacob's Ladder." He saw the angels of God ascending and descending on it. Jesus is the light of the world. His word has gone out to all the world. Every one is on some level ascending into the presence of God. Some are descending with something from God to give to others lower down. Some are just descending to depart to a greater distance from the presence of God fo a season. Many of us who were far have been made near. Everyone is being worked on that certain things may be removed from us and that certain things may be added. To make us in His image and likeness, and that we should have dominion is accomplished by His presence. Everyone is in some degree, more or less, in His presence.

"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." (Ps 139:7-8, AV)

God's changing us does not end with death, but continues on into the ages to come. "For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." (1 Pt 4:6, AV)

[ahigherway]

Originally Posted by JamesMRohde

The problem with so many people's viewpoint concerning death bed conversions, and believing things like the 6,000 Jews murdered by Hitler being in the same "hell" with him, is not realizing the purpose of God in making humanity and not having faith that God will surely accomplish it. You could call it "Jacob's Ladder." He saw the angels of God ascending and descending on it. Jesus is the light of the world. His word has gone out to all the world. Every one is on some level ascending into the presence of God. Some are descending with something from God to give to others lower down. Some are just descending to depart to a greater distance from the presence of God fo a season. Many of us who were far have been made near. Everyone is being worked on that certain things may be removed from us and that certain things may be added. To make us in His image and likeness, and that we should have dominion is accomplished by His presence. Everyone is in some degree, more or less, in His presence.

"Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." (Ps 139:7-8, AV)

God's changing us does not end with death, but continues on into the ages to come. "For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." (1 Pt 4:6, AV)

Brian