Bible Questions?

Yes Rudy, it does.

In answer to the question about Jesus.

Yes, one of the reasons that he was sent, was to die for our sins and give us a clean slate.

The rest needs a little back play....

After God destroyed the known world with a flood, he repented to us for that. He vowed never to arbitrarily wipe out everybody again. And he gave us the rainbow as a marker of his word that he would never do that again.

The other big reason Jesus came to earth is "to live as man, so that he may judge man."

This was Gods way to get in touch with our hearts individually.

God looks at sin as yes or no. Jesus weighs our heart along with our deeds. Because he lived as man, he understands our particular challenges.

The fact is, God wants all his children to make it through.


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yes.............

 

What a cynical view of life and humanity in general.

So vicarious redemption is considered moral to christians?

 

I didn't write it.

You have to understand that we are his children. Who wouldn't do anything to help his children?

Including giving us a second chance. Or third, or fourth, or google.

I don't consider Jesus death as a vicarious act. I see it as a very direct act of redemption.


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Is a common belief in christianity that Jesus suffered for other peoples sins and that those same people were absolved from sin because someone else was punished for them?

Is this moral?

 

It's not immoral.

Jesus was destined to do his entire thing, including his death before he was born.

His place is in Heaven, and that's where he belongs.

It wasn't a death from his viewpoint, it was a birth, a coming home to his rightful place.


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If Jesus did not truly die is not the point of his supposed "sacrifice" diminished to some extent?

 

Never said he didn't physically die bro.

His earthly body certainly died.

In his mind, his job had just begun. He felt the pain, he had to feel the pain. That's just the type of info he needed. To pass that up would mean that he was selling us short.

Something God would never do.

He has to know all about us when he judges us. He physically died, and his soul was returned to Heaven armed with all that he needed in order to understand our hearts individually when he judges us..

He's gonna know that you're a good person too Rudy.

You've certainly grown on me.

As you go to sleep tonight, listen to the Holy Spirit for a bit. Won't kill you. In fact, the opposite would be true.


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does the bible not claim that god knows everything, if this is so why would he need to allow a human sacrifice to be performed to know about human suffering?

Again why is Jesus even needed if god knows everything, why would he care what an eccentric preacher in bronze aged palestine thought about the human condition?

If we are all the sons and daughters of god what makes Yaweh so important?

 

Excellent question.

Remember when I told you about the great flood and God's repentance to us?

God doesn't feel our physical pain. He's a God. Physical pain is on a different plane than he's on.. He knows about it, and he stays in touch with it through our prayers. But Jesus understands it. And now, because of the redemption, so does God.

This is why he sent Jesus. To complete that knowledge.

If it still doesn't make sense to you, you could read the Bible a bit, you know...

I think I just answered that.

Here's some reading for you, cuz I love you bro.

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What about those of us who are 50-50?

what is to come of me if i never "fully" commit?

Sure i believe in some stuff, but i honestly dont believe all i have read or come across.

i like to think that even in the Bible, everything cant be 100% truth.

How does the Bible take into account how everything changes over time?

because, back in the "wild west" days, a duel was completely legal, but you were still killing a man. Yet today in The USA, it is illegal to smoke Pot even though it clearly states in the bible that all seed baring plants are given to me.

what im getting at is... who and what do i follow... we cant just pick and choose certain things... im an all or nothing kind of person... God made me this way... right?

 

You will die in hell.

But, it ain't that hard bro. I'll show you. Keep reading.

For instance?

Man...... in his limited knowledge can start a chain reaction and predict the outcome through many, many instances. Even into the hundreds of thousands before we run out of ability.

Do you think it might be possible for a GOD to start a chain reaction of any length (evolution) in motion, and know what the outcome is going to be? Even through 10 google instances...... times 10?

Mans machinations.... not Gods.

Please, no matter how you decide to conduct your life, don't blame God for idiot practices of many churches and so called Christians.

Even in the western days, murder was a sin.

BTW..... Fellow pot head here.

Your soul is your responsibility. If you're serious about it, TRUST IT TO NO MAN. Me included.

Follow your own studies. If I, or someone, gives you advise..... back it up for yourself.

Or it goes like this:

"But Jesus, he told me that this was okay."

"Yes ODT, and I'll deal with that. But I gave you the bible as well."

No excuses.... and it's waaaaaay too important.

See above. And if a preacher is an idiot, tell him so, and move on. He's prolly only interested in your money anyway. RATHER THAN YOUR SOUL.

You question goes right to the heart of the concerns I hear daily by people who want to commit to the Lord, but they don't want to be hypocrites, and fear mongers.

All a Christian is:

A person who reads, and believes in the Bible, and that Jesus is real, and will come as our savior. And tries not to sin.

All the rest are rules of conduct.

And don't worry about your past sins. Well....worry about em until you ask Jesus for forgiveness. Just ask him, accept your forgiveness (believe it) and all is gone. It's really that easy. But it doesn't work if you don't believe it. FAITH <---big part there.

I guarantee that you have done nothing that can't be forgiven in just this way.

And please pay no mind to an idiot in a pastel suit. It's not hard, just start reading.


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i have a number of problems with this post.

1) Although most Christians proclaim hell, we cannot say what it is like for certainty. Hell is described as a non-consuming fire, so is God (the burning bush). Also, if he is 50-50, that is between him and god. What about someone who earnestly seeks god, but dies before hearing the Gospel. what about miscarriages and abortions? If life begins at conception (and also the soul) then are those unbelieving babies damned to hell. What about an infant who understands sin, but his parents cannot teach him the deep spiritual concepts of believing in Jesus Christ as a sacrificial lamb and that we have to believe in him to gain eternal life...does this kid roast forever? I hope not.

2) Just beucase you do not agree with a preacher, homilist, priest, pastor or anyone doesn't mean you can call them on it. Especially priest, most preaches go through intensive bible and Scriptural study programs so they can really know the Scripture.One of the biggest problems I have with the Anabaptist groups of Protestants (that is, no infant baptism) is that their preachers seem to be poorly or not trained at all in Scriptural study and hermeneutics.

3) you definition of a Christian is horrible. While we should believe what is written in the Bible (this is a rhetorical criticism), why did you put it before Jesus. Catholics are often criticized for not taking the bible seriously, literally, or even at all, but here you put the bible before God himself. Jesus the fullness of revelation from god. NOT the Bible. Also, all we are supposed to do isn't "try not to sin" because only one human did that (well two if you are me: one because he was god and one because she was preserved from original sin backwards from Christ's sacrifice). trying not to sin is folly in the end. Yes, we shouldn't go out and rape and murder, and yes we should strive for holiness, but that is not a definition of what a Christian is.

What about 1 James 2:14-18;24. We show our faith through our works. This is what Catholics do. We have outward signs of our faith and the grace we receive from God (known as the sacraments).

 

Well he said he would never again do it by water. Not that he would never arbitrarily "blot out" all of humanity.

 

You should be careful with things like this.

"Earthly body". Do not sell the incarnation short.

Also, what do you think Jesus soul did when he was in the tomb, kick back and relax. No according to the Apostles Creed, Jesus descended into Hell.

Also, his Resurrection was not merely a coming back to life, but an entire change in his Character and being. He was able to walk through walls, and appear to people in different likenesses.

 

Not everything is. Things that deal with faith, morals, and God's plan of salvation are true. But you should also look at God as a parent who is slowly revealing his plan for a great vacation to his children. To Abraham, he says that he is the only god to be worshiped (not that he is the only god period). That comes later. Also, he uses the Temple sacrifices as a sign of the sacrifice to come and as a reminder of sins (cf Letter to the Hebrews). The Temple sacrifices didn't remove the sins of the people, but it kept them aware that they are sinners. God reveals in something called "progressive revelation", not in one fell swoop. from Abraham to Jesus took a couple thousand years.

Jonathan Z Smith, religious scholar, posed a similar question called "the Problem of Canon". His question is "how do you make a limited number of texts" apply to an infinite amount of questions. The answer is hermeneutics and exegesis. Looking to find the meaning in the text and applying it to other situations.

Also, the Catholic church has Tradition (not to be confused with traditions like kneeling to receive communion and the language of the mass), which adds to the teaching of Scripture (Tradition included the Assumption and immaculate conception of Mary).

Also, we sometimes have to guess, and take a chance.

Finally, some things are not meant to change. I wrote this in another post, but the ordination of women is something that will never happen in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches because it is theologically impossible. The ordination of married men to the priesthood is a possibility because it has already changed before (they used to be able to be married and ordained), the Eastern Catholic Churches have ordained priests, and so does the Roman Catholic Church (albeit not the norm) in the form of converted Anglican/episcopal priests.

Remember, the bible is not the be all end all of revelation. Jesus is.

 

when i was a young lad! my friend said that same thing....why would JC go to hell though??

 

While it is translated as hell, what is refers to is the abode of the dead (Sheol in Hebrew). Hell just became commonplace.

"By the expression 'He descended into Hell', the Apostles' Creed confesses that Jesus did really die and through his death for us conquered death and the devil 'who has the power of death' (Hebrews 2:14). In his human soul united to his divine person, the dead Christ went down to the realm of the dead. He opened Heaven's gates for the just who had gone before him." Catechism of the Catholic Church 636-637.

This is meaning that the human soul of Christ was united with the person of the Trinity we call the Son went into the abode of the dead (so God truly went to where the dead reside) and opened the doors to Heaven from there. No Christ, we would all be in this place eternally (unless we are lost). It should be noted that Jesus went to the abode of the dead, and not the place for the damned.

the reason I said to be wary about the Earthly body is that his human body is linked with his human soul which is an essential part of orthodox Christology.

 

Figured

Are you reading the Bible?

Jesus said Don't come to me from the far corners of the earth saying, but Lord we never knew. For I have placed in each of you at birth the knowledge between right and wrong.

That's just weird. Why would a baby be an unbeliever? And damned to hell as well? Babtism maybe? Do you think "born by water" could be the placenta? If you read about baptism, it's referring to those that came from Heaven (US) going back to Heaven. Only those that went through this (being physically born) get a shot. And the only way to get to that is to be born a human FROM ABOVE. You really have to actually read the Bible rather than come up with your own philosophy..

IF A PREACHER IS USING FEAR AND CONTROLLING TACTICS...... HE'S AN IDIOT AND NEEDS TO BE EXPOSED.

Plenty of idiots have an education.

More souls will be won to satan from the pulpit than from any other source.

Children are covered (ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE) UNTIL THEY CAN MAKE THIS DECISION WITH A COMPLETE MIND. When they grow up and can think for themselves and then decide to be baptized.

That's in there too.

Would you be a member of the Catholic cult btw? I'm Italian and was raised in that cult. And I have much knowledge of the controlling, manipulative way they have twisted the Bible to their favor. If not, never mind.

A person who reads, and believes in the Bible, and that Jesus is real, and will come as our savior. And tries not to sin.

That is perfect. You're grabbing at straws.

Might not be what a Catholic is. But it's perfectly descriptive of a Christian.

Folks.... It's not hard to be a Christian. It's not a life of angst. It's really quite easy.

strive for holiness <--- I like that too

But either way is fine.

What about it? Our works are the only thing we can take into Heaven with us.

And doing good works comes under that whole read and believe in the Bible. If you do that, then you'll do good works. Without some silk robed idiot whipping us in that direction.

Yes, by water. If you had only read a little further. The reason for not by water is because he didn't want to wipe us out arbitrarily like that again without individual judgment.

Just what is it you're trying to say.

He did say that all other Gods are man made.

You really don't study the Bible, do you? Yet you try to lead these people in this forum as if you actually know. But you're just winging it. Repeating what you heard or something.

There is a word.... but you told me to be careful using it.

This guy is a Catholic. They have cult practices. They stay away from the bible and try to reduce it's importance.

They warp confession laws for money and they DO NOT ENCOURAGE READING THE BIBLE. "That's for the leaders, you know. To complicated for regular folks, just leave it to us."

If you really want to get in touch with it all read your Bible.

Don't trust any man with your soul but for yourself.


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That is okay. as long as you expected it

Yes, so then to be saved, all you have to do is do the right thing, not necessarily believe. But then again, didn't jesus say that you had to believe in him specifically. Hmm, that doesn't really seem to work.

So you are saying then that even those who grow up in isolation from Christianity will be eternally damned because even though they had morals of right and wrong, they didn't specifically believe in Jesus Christ directly?

A baby would be an unbeliever because he was not baptized (unless you are born again...") I do not think that "born by water" is placenta because it is far too bloody. Born by Water is baptism. Born by spirit is confirmation/reception of the Holy Spirit.

(can you cite the baptism, coming from heaven stuff. I have read the bible. a lot. but it escapes my mind)...

Okay, yes. Idiots can be educated, and people can use terror tactics to keep people in the pews.

I hate to say it, but whenever a christian talks, they are speaking from the pulpit. Educate yourself as well.

Citation?

I am a member of the Holy roman Catholic church, the Church founded by Jesus Christ in AD 33, carried to Rome by the Apostle Peter.

What type of experience did you have?

No I am not. This definition was so minimalist, that it needs expansion.

Well, then I guess I misunderstood Jesus' words when he said that to follow him we'd have to carry a cross (a burden). I am not saying that being a christian is a burden, but it isn't an easy thing to do. We are called to radically change our lives, to turn away from the easiest things to do in life (ie sin) and to do the hard things (ie love).

Christianity isn't a "nice" religion. It takes work.

thank you.

Okay, I guess you should have said that then. I mean, Satan surely believes that Jesus is the Messiah and has faith, but is he saved? No.

It is more than just believing, it is the change in life.

I am trying to say that the Incarnation of our Lord is the fundamental mystery of our faith. without the human death of Christ's body and soul we have no salvation. Without christ being both fully human and fully divine, we have no salvation.

I am a religion major and theology minor in University. i read books on Christianity, the bible, and other things of the sort for fun. I have taken many classes on Scripture (some theology some secualr approaches as well). i had an entire class on Acts. I am in a theology class just on Matthew Mark and Luke. I don't always agree with what is written by the scholars (like that Jesus never existed) and think critically about what I read.

I've written papers based solely on one or two passages from Scripture and really looked at what was written. I've looked at parts of the Greek text compared to different English translations.

I study the Bible.

Go read what he says to Abraham. He never says that he is the only God there is. For Abraham who is steeped in polytheism, this would be too big of a shock, it only comes later.

How, pray-tell, does confession garner money for the Church? i for one have never given anyone money during the Sacrament.

(We do encourage reading the bible. We do not encourage reading corrupt translations that have lead to the fracture of Christ's One Body into thousands of splinter groups that are not unified.)