I have a question
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S
Romans 1 says that all have a knowledge of God from creation. Romans 2 says that each individual is aware of God's law because God has embedded this knowledge into the conscience. So, God can rightly judge all of mankind.
Creation itself witnesses to the fact that homosexuality, for instance, is wrong..the male body was not made to have sex with another male body.
By the way, do you think you're in a good situation to judge what is just and fair? Is your system of ethics superior to the One who created all things? And, if you don't think Christianity is correct, what alternative are you proposing?
God isn't on trial, by the way, nor are you the judge. You are the creature, not the creator. You are incapable of wrapping yourself in the robes of the judge and pronouncing a verdict upon God.
It is up to each of us to seek God, and if we are seeking God, He will reveal himself. The problem is that rebellious humans are not seeking God. Romans 3 makes that clear. We rejected God and his guidance in the Garden of Eden, and told him to get lost. God is allowing mankind to experience the fruit of rejecting Him, and that is why we have the horrible results of sin that we see in society...physical suffering and mental suffering of all types. We couldn't learn by revelation that God's way is best; we had to learn it by cruel experience.
Regardless of your rejection of Christianity, you will still face God in the judgment, and I'd suggest facing Him with the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and not working out all the intricacies of how God will judge others.
As I mentioned, creation is obvious evidence that God exists. It seems like you acknowledge that. If so, the Creator endowed mankind with verbal ability and reasoning skills. Would such a Creator endow man with such ability, and fail to communicate with him? Assuming he has communicated with him, what communication is the most coherent and claims to be from such an authority? I would propose that the Bible and Christianity is the only such communication which meets those criteria.
The coherent story thread of Scripture involves the creation, man's fall, redemption through Christ, and ultimate full restoration of man's situation as it was in the Garden of Eden in the New Heavens and New Earth (Revelation 21-22). It is very coherent.
Here's a good video on trusting the Bible that might help you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1XJ7DeR5fc&list=PLKnzCuBYVJm7LQI8en1_ZiDdyNAdVizmW&index=1
By the way this world and the way it operates is meant to inject doubt into mankind. Satan deceives the entire world (Revelation 12:9). It is very much like the Matrix, and the vast majority of mankind is still connected to the Matrix. You are undoubtedly one of them.
I'd encourage you to take the "red pill" and exit the Matrix. The rest of the world is blindly going to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14)...taking the "blue pill". You should watch the movie "Matrix" with Keanu Reeves and think about this them. It is very similar to what is going on in the world.
There are also cults, some of which are represented on this forum, which propose answers to the question you are asking about the "unevangelized unsaved". I would suggest that you avoid them..I was involved with one of them for about ten years. My approach is to leave that question unanswered, and trust what the Bible says when it says "will not the Judge of the earth do what is right?" (Genesis 8:25). It is a question you don't need to answer. It is an issue of faith that God will do what is right, and those who claim to know the answer to this question often are cultists.
I also list some good materials about salvation in my profile if you are interested, and I'd be glad to dialogue with you via CC email.
Creation itself witnesses to the fact that homosexuality, for instance, is wrong..the male body was not made to have sex with another male body.
By the way, do you think you're in a good situation to judge what is just and fair? Is your system of ethics superior to the One who created all things? And, if you don't think Christianity is correct, what alternative are you proposing?
God isn't on trial, by the way, nor are you the judge. You are the creature, not the creator. You are incapable of wrapping yourself in the robes of the judge and pronouncing a verdict upon God.
It is up to each of us to seek God, and if we are seeking God, He will reveal himself. The problem is that rebellious humans are not seeking God. Romans 3 makes that clear. We rejected God and his guidance in the Garden of Eden, and told him to get lost. God is allowing mankind to experience the fruit of rejecting Him, and that is why we have the horrible results of sin that we see in society...physical suffering and mental suffering of all types. We couldn't learn by revelation that God's way is best; we had to learn it by cruel experience.
Regardless of your rejection of Christianity, you will still face God in the judgment, and I'd suggest facing Him with the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and not working out all the intricacies of how God will judge others.
As I mentioned, creation is obvious evidence that God exists. It seems like you acknowledge that. If so, the Creator endowed mankind with verbal ability and reasoning skills. Would such a Creator endow man with such ability, and fail to communicate with him? Assuming he has communicated with him, what communication is the most coherent and claims to be from such an authority? I would propose that the Bible and Christianity is the only such communication which meets those criteria.
The coherent story thread of Scripture involves the creation, man's fall, redemption through Christ, and ultimate full restoration of man's situation as it was in the Garden of Eden in the New Heavens and New Earth (Revelation 21-22). It is very coherent.
Here's a good video on trusting the Bible that might help you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1XJ7DeR5fc&list=PLKnzCuBYVJm7LQI8en1_ZiDdyNAdVizmW&index=1
By the way this world and the way it operates is meant to inject doubt into mankind. Satan deceives the entire world (Revelation 12:9). It is very much like the Matrix, and the vast majority of mankind is still connected to the Matrix. You are undoubtedly one of them.
I'd encourage you to take the "red pill" and exit the Matrix. The rest of the world is blindly going to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14)...taking the "blue pill". You should watch the movie "Matrix" with Keanu Reeves and think about this them. It is very similar to what is going on in the world.
There are also cults, some of which are represented on this forum, which propose answers to the question you are asking about the "unevangelized unsaved". I would suggest that you avoid them..I was involved with one of them for about ten years. My approach is to leave that question unanswered, and trust what the Bible says when it says "will not the Judge of the earth do what is right?" (Genesis 8:25). It is a question you don't need to answer. It is an issue of faith that God will do what is right, and those who claim to know the answer to this question often are cultists.
I also list some good materials about salvation in my profile if you are interested, and I'd be glad to dialogue with you via CC email.
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S
Scripture says you're not a decent person. You may deceive yourself into thinking you're a decent person, but you have an evil nature. In fact, it is so evil that it deceives you into thinking you are good.
Only God can show you the depths of your evil mind, though. If I were you, I'd ask Him to lead you to repentance.
Another thing is that you are comparing yourself with other human beings, and not with God. God is totally holy, and without sin.
Know the moral outrage when you see ISIS terrorists beheading people or burning people alive? That is how God feels about our sins. He sees everything that we do to hurt other people, and feels the same sense of moral outrage. We are so desensitized to our sins that we have no idea of the moral outrage that he feels toward those who are participating in them, especially ourselves.
Ask God to grant you a vision into your own sins, and to let you see yourself as He sees you. That is largely what repentance is about..coming to the point where we see ourselves as God sees us, at some level. I am sure that God is merciful and only shows us a partial view of our true nature.
Here’s a good definition of repentance: Repentance, like faith, is an intellectual understanding that that sin is wrong, an emotional approval of the teachings of scripture regarding sin (a sorrow for sin and hatred of it), and a personal decision to turn from it (a renouncing of sin and a decision of the will to forsake it and lead a life of obedience to Christ instead), empowered by the Holy Spirit, which is received after salvation.
I'd suggest reading this book What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert. It is a very clear presentation of the Gospel message:
https://kbcworshipblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/whatisthegospel-gilbert.pdf
There's also a good book called The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler which would be great to read. Unfortunately many evangelical Christians don't communicate the Gospel message very well, but these two books are excellent in this regard.
Only God can show you the depths of your evil mind, though. If I were you, I'd ask Him to lead you to repentance.
Another thing is that you are comparing yourself with other human beings, and not with God. God is totally holy, and without sin.
Know the moral outrage when you see ISIS terrorists beheading people or burning people alive? That is how God feels about our sins. He sees everything that we do to hurt other people, and feels the same sense of moral outrage. We are so desensitized to our sins that we have no idea of the moral outrage that he feels toward those who are participating in them, especially ourselves.
Ask God to grant you a vision into your own sins, and to let you see yourself as He sees you. That is largely what repentance is about..coming to the point where we see ourselves as God sees us, at some level. I am sure that God is merciful and only shows us a partial view of our true nature.
Here’s a good definition of repentance: Repentance, like faith, is an intellectual understanding that that sin is wrong, an emotional approval of the teachings of scripture regarding sin (a sorrow for sin and hatred of it), and a personal decision to turn from it (a renouncing of sin and a decision of the will to forsake it and lead a life of obedience to Christ instead), empowered by the Holy Spirit, which is received after salvation.
I'd suggest reading this book What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert. It is a very clear presentation of the Gospel message:
https://kbcworshipblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/whatisthegospel-gilbert.pdf
There's also a good book called The Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler which would be great to read. Unfortunately many evangelical Christians don't communicate the Gospel message very well, but these two books are excellent in this regard.
S
Wrapping yourself in the robes of judge and pronouncing a verdict on God isn't a job description I'd want to take up. There's no future in it. Are you omnipotent and omniscient that you know all of the factors in his decision? Has he revealed all aspects of his dealings with mankind to you?
These sorts of arguments are typical of those who reject God. I would suggest getting out of the business of judging God and seek him in repentance and faith. Leave the business of judging these individuals up to God.
By the way, few Christians thinks that black people should have been enslaved. I smell troll, and probably an atheist troll posing as a seeker.
These sorts of arguments are typical of those who reject God. I would suggest getting out of the business of judging God and seek him in repentance and faith. Leave the business of judging these individuals up to God.
By the way, few Christians thinks that black people should have been enslaved. I smell troll, and probably an atheist troll posing as a seeker.
NEWS FLASH!!
Not gonna answer yer question, 'bout the injuns, but I am going to respond to the a point that brought ya here.
YOU, sir, are someone very special in He who created yer spirit that is within ya. Your leaving the church at such an early age bares witness to that. Whether it be tomorrow, er 30 years down the road......ONCED ya get tired of wondering (and torturing yourself) the why it is ya "reject" the teachings of "the world", and ya don't fit in, and, the "why" it is ya reject the teachings of "churchianity" , and cannot see yourself conforming to them. And onced ya "answer" that little voice betweenst yer ears, asking if yer "ready" yet. You'll be back. Because, Cuz, whether ya know it er not, er even wanna, er not, you only have 2 choices. You can make this harder on yerself, or easier on yerself. But, for NOW?, Resume regular programming schedule. Tis my hope, you get to see this, and one question I won't answer is, "How do you know this?"
Not gonna answer yer question, 'bout the injuns, but I am going to respond to the a point that brought ya here.
YOU, sir, are someone very special in He who created yer spirit that is within ya. Your leaving the church at such an early age bares witness to that. Whether it be tomorrow, er 30 years down the road......ONCED ya get tired of wondering (and torturing yourself) the why it is ya "reject" the teachings of "the world", and ya don't fit in, and, the "why" it is ya reject the teachings of "churchianity" , and cannot see yourself conforming to them. And onced ya "answer" that little voice betweenst yer ears, asking if yer "ready" yet. You'll be back. Because, Cuz, whether ya know it er not, er even wanna, er not, you only have 2 choices. You can make this harder on yerself, or easier on yerself. But, for NOW?, Resume regular programming schedule. Tis my hope, you get to see this, and one question I won't answer is, "How do you know this?"
Satan is “the ruler of this world”; three times the designation is made by Jesus in John’s Gospel (12:31; 14:30; 16:11). Similar descriptions are used in other references: “the god of this age” (II Cor. 4:4; “the god of this world” in the ESV); “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2); and “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (I Jo. 5:19). In Scripture Satan is uniquely related to this world as the ruler or prince of it; in other words, the world and all that is in it is under his influence and power. (From Ruler of this World)
Hey Ricky,
I tend to go along with your views here but I have a question about ..what happened after the resurrection?..what did Jesus mean when He said " All authority has been given to ME both in heaven and in earth?"...how does this affect the "authority..or rule" of satan in your view?
Also 1 John 5:19 doesn't have the word "power or authority " in the versie..it simply says .."it lies in wickness ( porneia ) " ( which of course the enemy is evil for sure....and I wonder if that could be the result of "sin" being in the world from the fall....either way they are both related in my view)
But the Eph 2:2 actually does say.." according to the ruler of the authority of the air "
How does one jive what the Lord said and the present so-called rule of satan?......
Thanks...
I tend to go along with your views here but I have a question about ..what happened after the resurrection?..what did Jesus mean when He said " All authority has been given to ME both in heaven and in earth?"...how does this affect the "authority..or rule" of satan in your view?
Also 1 John 5:19 doesn't have the word "power or authority " in the versie..it simply says .."it lies in wickness ( porneia ) " ( which of course the enemy is evil for sure....and I wonder if that could be the result of "sin" being in the world from the fall....either way they are both related in my view)
But the Eph 2:2 actually does say.." according to the ruler of the authority of the air "
How does one jive what the Lord said and the present so-called rule of satan?......
Thanks...
Where to start? As you can attest for your very own self, being brought up in a Christian environment does not automatically equate to one being Christian. If you are going to base your beliefs on facts and be logical and rational yadda yadda as agnostics and such like to pretend they are, then you should at least begin by acknowledging that Hitler was not a Christian simply because he was brought up in a Catholic household. The other part of your rationale here is that there is some line at which God should stop being so forgiving of human nature. Guess what? There is no such line beyond there being only one unforgivable sin! Jesus paid the penalty for all other sins on the cross. He has overcome the world, sin, and death, on your behalf. A funny (peculiar) thing about atheists and agnostics etc is that they cry foul at not being given more life when they refuse to acknowledge the Author and Giver of life in the first place. And you need to do some research on hell. It is a translation of four different words, and none of them mean what you probably think they do. Oh, and there are no transitional fossils. Yes, there goes your credibility
T
Well, first I think you did a great job kaycie.....
The next thing is I think God reveals himself to people who have never known him or even heard of him. How many stories have you heard from believers in other countries that say I didn't know who this man was that came to me in my dreams and when I asked him he said I am Jesus.
If you look at some of the native American tribes that were here you'll find that several of them worshipped "the Great Spirit". If you listen to a lot of the things they say it may not have been God by his name but they were really really close. And before anyone says close but no cigar just think of the thief in the cross... All it took was LORD do not forget me when you are in your kingdom..
The next thing is I think God reveals himself to people who have never known him or even heard of him. How many stories have you heard from believers in other countries that say I didn't know who this man was that came to me in my dreams and when I asked him he said I am Jesus.
If you look at some of the native American tribes that were here you'll find that several of them worshipped "the Great Spirit". If you listen to a lot of the things they say it may not have been God by his name but they were really really close. And before anyone says close but no cigar just think of the thief in the cross... All it took was LORD do not forget me when you are in your kingdom..
