Christianity......what I have learned on here.

[pottersclay]

On the contrary. It is hiding that keeps us from self knowledge. Who am I? It is the journey of a lifetime.

The reason why they hid was that they were naked . The hiding was the result. That's why I asked you do you believe in Christs assessment of you that you are in need of a savior?

 

[pottersclay]

On the contrary. It is hiding that keeps us from self knowledge. Who am I? It is the journey of a lifetime.

All things are created by God. All things are held together by him. He has told us all from beginning to end. He has also told us we need to be born again. The old man is sentenced to death. No good is found in him. There is only one God and one design.
Truth can only be found out by the one who does not lie, who knows the end from the beginning. God by his grace and mercy has shared the truth with us ( mankind). By his blood he has redeemed us and called us to be his own.
No matter what the world teaches Gods word is the authority.

 

[Melach]

Is OP gay or just a pagan? Or maybe both, I'm not sure.

you said it. that cat is out the bag. if you do research you will find out. the pagan is revealed in his rejection of God being God and hatred for the one true God revealed in the bible and new age sayings

 

[morefaithrequired]

Hey Dibby53 , before I go into what you have said. I want to tell you that it is alright to have those doubts/thinking and that I have been having those very thoughts myself. The beauty here is that beyond those doubts lies a secret treasure and once you know it , it is beautiful. I have been studying the Bible for answers and am still on this journey of searching for deeper answers but the ones that kept me scratching my head, those very ones are answered. I can feel you when you indirectly ask this question "how can the gospel be good news when most of the people are condemned?" I looked down the thread for some answers and I saw people saying stuff like - we were already condemned and that is what I believe so too but one thing that people fail to recognize is the truth that 'the good news of the gospel shall be to ALL people' , I can quote verses which go like ' God desires all men to be saved' , 'Jesus is the savior of the whole world' , 'thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven' , so if God's will is that all men be saved , then why not. So Jesus has saved the world. He is the Savior - He is not letting people's hands slip away from His when they die with the 'wrong beliefs' . I believe , after my in depth study of the Bible in a millenial age of restitution.
I had those very thoughts and you have put it together well, you have been honest and many of us aren't here I guess. It ain't easy to admit stuff and not feel judged by other Christians.
I am in no way undermining the importance of being good or walking like Christ and to preach the gospel. But I want to put forth that if you present to people the Good news in a way that appears as bad news to them then what is Gospel by definition? Is there a Heavenly dictionary that defines it. Isn't it supposed to bring joy to all people. And that is what I believe in that it is the 'good tidings of the gospel which shall be to ALL people'.

Great post. I think you made an excellent point . Many Christians on here are afraid to admit doubt on here. Fear of bullying perhaps.
Sad that such a tone is set here.

 

[Melach]

Hey Dibby53 , before I go into what you have said. I want to tell you that it is alright to have those doubts/thinking and that I have been having those very thoughts myself. The beauty here is that beyond those doubts lies a secret treasure and once you know it , it is beautiful. I have been studying the Bible for answers and am still on this journey of searching for deeper answers but the ones that kept me scratching my head, those very ones are answered. I can feel you when you indirectly ask this question "how can the gospel be good news when most of the people are condemned?" I looked down the thread for some answers and I saw people saying stuff like - we were already condemned and that is what I believe so too but one thing that people fail to recognize is the truth that 'the good news of the gospel shall be to ALL people' , I can quote verses which go like ' God desires all men to be saved' , 'Jesus is the savior of the whole world' , 'thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven' , so if God's will is that all men be saved , then why not. So Jesus has saved the world. He is the Savior - He is not letting people's hands slip away from His when they die with the 'wrong beliefs' . I believe , after my in depth study of the Bible in a millenial age of restitution.
I had those very thoughts and you have put it together well, you have been honest and many of us aren't here I guess. It ain't easy to admit stuff and not feel judged by other Christians.
I am in no way undermining the importance of being good or walking like Christ and to preach the gospel. But I want to put forth that if you present to people the Good news in a way that appears as bad news to them then what is Gospel by definition? Is there a Heavenly dictionary that defines it. Isn't it supposed to bring joy to all people. And that is what I believe in that it is the 'good tidings of the gospel which shall be to ALL people'.

the gospel is good news to those who believe it. to those who dont believe is bad.

 

[Dibby53]

Dear God...
Please shine Your Amazing grace on @Dibby53 , and bring him to Your beloved Son who died for Dibby also...
Dear Dibby...
Many have gone before you seeking knowledge and truth , and many will come after you seeking the same things , but you are seeking in the wrong places , Jesus made it very clear there is a broad path and a narrow path but few find the narrow path...

I pray you will seek the LORD , I pray next time when you are in your garden looking at all the beautiful things that God has so kindly given you for your hands to work , that you will look up and ask God to give you understanding of who He is...

When we are spiritually dead , ( as you are ) you will seek your truth all over the place , but when you seek God and understand what Jesus has done for you , I can say you will never thirst again...

...xox...

Hi Rosemary
I,m not sure how I,m seeking knowledge and truth in the "wrong places"? Since this has been and, continues to be, a life times journey how would you know me well enough to know where I have looked and what knowledge I,ve gained?
You also assume that I don't ask God or seek a better understanding of him. This is incorrect.

I always find it amusing when people quote the, "broad is the path to destruction and narrow the path to life, few find it" verse, that they always assume it only applies to other people.

The fundamentalist view will always leave me thirsty.

 

[Dibby53]

I think it would be wrong to ask you to leave.
I simply assume that you came to the conclusion you wanted to come to.
I invite ya to stick around, and am not your enemy.
I can disagree with someone and not despise them, as I also enjoy the cut and thrust of debate.
I also give you props for not being offended during our exchange. We both spoke pointedly and directly, and saddly in this day it's a rare trait for someone to have enough sand to be able to endure the cut and thrust of a debate.

Thankyou for your kind words. It is like the lions den here sometimes lol x

 

[Adstar]

Fair enough Adstar. How will you know the thoughts guided by the holy spirit?
I do not think that my thought structures will lead me to wisdom. Most of the time thoughts are completely conditioned by my past. It is my doubting of those thoughts and especially questioning everything that can eventually lead to wisdom.

Well i do know when the thoughts i receive are not my thoughts.. I have been totally stumped by some passages in the Bible and even traumatized by some, thinking they revealed something terrible about God.. But i had Faith ( trusting ) that God was not evil and i asked Him earnestly for understanding.. Next morning i understood the passage and i was at peace and joyful with my LORD..

Oh the passage and the traumatic conclusion i came to from reading it was later explained to me as a doctrine i have since encountered a lot in forums.. Calvinism.. It caused me great trauma when i interpreted the scripture to be teaching calvinism.. But as i said.. The next morning i woke up and i understood God's foreknowledge..

In the end if The Holy Spirit is not guiding one and it is another spirit, then it will be the will of God for that person to be given over to deception and delusion and destruction.. So there is no point worrying about what Spirit is guiding us.. If we have rejected the will of God but are very religious then we shall be given over to deceiving spirits and we will be doomed by believing in a lie, we shall have no chance at all.. But if we do embrace the will of God and trust in His Way then we shall be guided by His Holy Spirit and our minds will be guarded from deception..

 

[Adstar]

Thankyou for your kind words. It is like the lions den here sometimes lol x

I would also want you to stick around Dibby53.. While ever someone is still seeking even if they are a few miles down the wrong path there is always a chance they can be lifted up by the LORD and put on the right path, if He wills it to be..

You might think i am one of the lions here Dibby53, But i am not a Lion out to seek your destruction::

1 Peter 5: KJV
8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

But i do follow a Lion in scripture. So not all Lions are bad, even if they roar every now and then..

Revelation 5: KJV
4 "And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. {5} And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. {6} And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. {7} And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne."

The Lamb of God who was slain on the cross to take away the sins of the world is the Lion of the tribe of Juda.. my LORD Jesus

 

[eternally-gratefull]

1. God writes books. Unfortunately it is not always that clear. Hence, the arguments, even amongst believers.

God wrote a book which covered about 4000 years of history and teachings. I am not sure why people would think that would be an easy thing to read or understand. However, we know through Gods help it can be understood. Sadly I do not think it is the book which is at fault. It is the people reading it. Far to many people want to interpret a book to fit their belief system, And not form their belief system though the book. And since human pride run deep, We do see all these heated arguments, even among Gods people. Which I agree, is quite sad.

2. God loves everyone; but if you worship the wrong God he will command your execution and favours certain ethnic groups and people.

1. God has the right to be jealous when people worship other Gods, Especially when these Gods are not real. But figments of mankind’s imaginations. Gods which can not do anything. And are a substitute. Not just because it hurts him, But because it hurts us. Look at the history of mankind and how all the evils which are out of the worship of these other Gods. From sacrifice of babies, to forced prostitution’s of young women. Even today. How women and children are willing to commit suicide in the name of their God. And how they claim that their God is the one true God and all people who do not bow to him should be killed.

2. God favors no ethnic group. He so loved all the earth and everyone in it he gave his own son for them. He chose one nation as a nation of priests. Whose duty it was was to spread the love of God to the world. Yet they failed. Much like the church today has failed. I pray we all do not blame God for the sin of the people who claim to be his people. If you study the Bible, you will see in the end the whole world is blessed By God. Which is the way God intended it. Sin broke the peace. Not God.

3.God wants us to fear him, but love him at the same time. And if we don't love him, we are condemned.

Fear in The word means to honor and respect or show reverence too. The bible says God did not give us a spirit of fear. But of sound mind. Those trying to preach a fear based gospel are not speaking for God. God sent his son to save not to judge.

As for love. The Bible says he so loved he gave his life that whoever trust him will have eternal life. Not whoever loves him. We can not in this lifetime love him with the kind of love he has for us, Its impossible. we can love him, and the more we get to know him, we learn to love and appreciate him more as we see who he really is. But to love him unconditionally and above all? If we could do this, we would cease sin. Last I read. No one as ever done this, More can they (John the apostle says if we say we have no sin we are deceived) only one man ever did this, and this was Jesus, And praise God for that, Because if he did nto do it. We would have no hope. His sacrifice would have been rejected. And we woudl be lost. For ALL have sinned.

4. The right beliefs and thoughts in our heads are more important than being kind; beliefs will save you, kindness won't.

Our kindness in reality comes from what we have inside. God says the most important aspect of a persons life is to love. If we Love, be practice we will nto sin. It is the way we are made.

This issue is not being kind or not. The issue is sin, God told adam, the moment you eat you will in fact die. Adam not only died in that moment but all mankind died. The word we see today is a result of that decision. The penalty of sin is death. And since we all have sinned, everyone here, and everyone everywhere has this penalty against them, and there will sadly be a judgment day. How kind we are or not are will not determine our final fate. What will determine it is how we respond to Gods offer of salvation based on what his son did on the cross. God is offering us the gift of salvation. It is what we chose to do with that gift (recieve in faith, reject in unbelief) that will determine our final fate. No one here can be good enough or kind enough to remove one sin. That does nto mean we should be unkind to everyone and not love. Again, If people are saying this, They are wrong.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

5. The "Good news" of the gospel is not that good. Since most are condemned.

The good news of the gospel is the news that although EVERYONE deserves hell. And there is not one thing ANYONE can do to get out of that determined fate based on our sin, God has offered a way out. And he did it based on his love.

People are condemned based on their lack of faith in God. Not on Gods lack of love for them. He died for them also. Even he claims on the day of judgment, He will not be happy to judge, It will be a sad day for all.

6. Everyone I love and care for who has the wrong beliefs and has died is going to burn and suffer for eternity. God will helpfully wipe my memory of them.

Not sure where it says this, If they rejected God then yes. But I do nto see where it says God will wipe your memory of them. I think we will love them forever.

7. If anyone has a different major opinion within Christianity it is perfectly acceptable to shun them.

Jesus did not do this, He loved them, He tells us to love them to. His command was for us to go into the world. Not hide from it or barricade ourselves in our own place. Those who teach we should shun them have not shard the truth. They live in fear. And have yet to find the love of God in their hearts. Not saying they are not saved, Only God knows. But they have yet to mature and learn the love of God.

8. Deviation from what is perceived to be the "truth" will not be tolerated.

A perceived truth may or may not be real truth. There is one gospel and only on. And though teaching we are to stand up for that truth. And expose the false truths. But the rest of scripture. sadly, people are to stuck in their views and are not open, or even allowing other beliefs. Again, this comes from pride. And yes, many in the church have yet to break their pride. I think we al do this. And it is sad.

9. No one can do anything good, or be good before God without the correct beliefs. Since people are basically depraved, sinful and anything they do is "dirty rags".

Dirty rags is a term used to describe self righteous works. Or works used to gain something, they are self focused. people who are tryign to offer their works to God as payment for sin are not doing them because they love God, or because they even want to serve God (even though they may claim it is) what they are doing is trying to buy Gods love.
You can not buy Gods love. You can only recieve his love, And though this, Love and serve others in a way that is unconditional. And not self focused. A thing God calls works of righteousness.

10. Since Christians are saved, have the holy spirit and are God's beloved children and now have the source of all goodness and love within them, then they are living the most beautiful, loving and blessed lives that can be imagined. They are a real beacon of goodness in the world in a way that non-believers are not........or are they??

Sadly, this is not true even of many christians. They can be the most self righteous people on earth. (See the jews, and the history of the church) Even paul mentioned the fact that gentiles (unbelieversin God) who do not know God still follow the law by nature. Where Gods people where continually breaking that same law. And condemning everyone else for breaking it.

Not all christians re saved. That is a misnomer.

 

[IFOLLOWHIM]

 

[garee]

If you have ever visited a museum; studied philosophy, and science; had treatment from a doctor who has taken a Hippocratic oath; been to the theatre; voted democratically and ever been in a classroom that has taught you Pythagoras's Theorem and geometry then you have used treasure bequeathed to you from the classical, pagan world of Greece.

We don't understand the gospel after the philosophies of men. The gospel reveals that error .

looking at the example in Acts 14 it is shown the men that attributed the unseen work of the gospel to the apostles as gods in the likeness of men. This shows they had no understanding (no faith ) as it is written (sola scriptura)

Philosophies as the imaginations of one heart require the things seen under a microscope rather than the unseen eternal .There is no faith as a law coming after the imaginations of ones own heart. Colossian 2 warns us.

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the (corrupted) rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (not seen)

Philosophers must seek after a signs and wonder gospel. What the eyes see the temporal. They have no faith by which they could believe as a law. No circular reasoning . . .again as a law not seen.

 

[Dibby53]

I would also want you to stick around Dibby53.. While ever someone is still seeking even if they are a few miles down the wrong path there is always a chance they can be lifted up by the LORD and put on the right path, if He wills it to be..

You might think i am one of the lions here Dibby53, But i am not a Lion out to seek your destruction::

1 Peter 5: KJV
8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

But i do follow a Lion in scripture. So not all Lions are bad, even if they roar every now and then..

Revelation 5: KJV
4 "And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. {5} And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. {6} And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. {7} And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne."

The Lamb of God who was slain on the cross to take away the sins of the world is the Lion of the tribe of Juda.. my LORD Jesus

Thankyou Adstar
What you said means alot to me. I think you have been one of my fiercest opponents (and why not? I am after all on a Christian forum!). It is difficult writing and reading words on a page without seeing body language and making eye contact. I,m sure if we were sat down with a beer, or coffee chatting face to face it would be very fruitful......we might even like each other lol!

So until our next encounter I wish you all the best!

 

[Dibby53]

God wrote a book which covered about 4000 years of history and teachings. I am not sure why people would think that would be an easy thing to read or understand. However, we know through Gods help it can be understood. Sadly I do not think it is the book which is at fault. It is the people reading it. Far to many people want to interpret a book to fit their belief system, And not form their belief system though the book. And since human pride run deep, We do see all these heated arguments, even among Gods people. Which I agree, is quite sad.



1. God has the right to be jealous when people worship other Gods, Especially when these Gods are not real. But figments of mankind’s imaginations. Gods which can not do anything. And are a substitute. Not just because it hurts him, But because it hurts us. Look at the history of mankind and how all the evils which are out of the worship of these other Gods. From sacrifice of babies, to forced prostitution’s of young women. Even today. How women and children are willing to commit suicide in the name of their God. And how they claim that their God is the one true God and all people who do not bow to him should be killed.

2. God favors no ethnic group. He so loved all the earth and everyone in it he gave his own son for them. He chose one nation as a nation of priests. Whose duty it was was to spread the love of God to the world. Yet they failed. Much like the church today has failed. I pray we all do not blame God for the sin of the people who claim to be his people. If you study the Bible, you will see in the end the whole world is blessed By God. Which is the way God intended it. Sin broke the peace. Not God.



Fear in The word means to honor and respect or show reverence too. The bible says God did not give us a spirit of fear. But of sound mind. Those trying to preach a fear based gospel are not speaking for God. God sent his son to save not to judge.

As for love. The Bible says he so loved he gave his life that whoever trust him will have eternal life. Not whoever loves him. We can not in this lifetime love him with the kind of love he has for us, Its impossible. we can love him, and the more we get to know him, we learn to love and appreciate him more as we see who he really is. But to love him unconditionally and above all? If we could do this, we would cease sin. Last I read. No one as ever done this, More can they (John the apostle says if we say we have no sin we are deceived) only one man ever did this, and this was Jesus, And praise God for that, Because if he did nto do it. We would have no hope. His sacrifice would have been rejected. And we woudl be lost. For ALL have sinned.


Our kindness in reality comes from what we have inside. God says the most important aspect of a persons life is to love. If we Love, be practice we will nto sin. It is the way we are made.

This issue is not being kind or not. The issue is sin, God told adam, the moment you eat you will in fact die. Adam not only died in that moment but all mankind died. The word we see today is a result of that decision. The penalty of sin is death. And since we all have sinned, everyone here, and everyone everywhere has this penalty against them, and there will sadly be a judgment day. How kind we are or not are will not determine our final fate. What will determine it is how we respond to Gods offer of salvation based on what his son did on the cross. God is offering us the gift of salvation. It is what we chose to do with that gift (recieve in faith, reject in unbelief) that will determine our final fate. No one here can be good enough or kind enough to remove one sin. That does nto mean we should be unkind to everyone and not love. Again, If people are saying this, They are wrong.

Thank you for your response.
Just on point 1. No one has really explained HOW God wrote the books of the bible, to me? My view is that it is a very human construct. Certainly inspired writings, much of it anyway. Who for instance has not been moved by some of the psalms, or the Sermon on the Mount?
Did God take over the bodies of those who wrote, thus it would seem voiding their free will? And why do we think that the scriptures chosen by church tradition and councils in the early centuries after Christ are actually written by God? There were plenty of scriptures that did not make the canon that were highly regarded by the early church ( the letters of Clement, or The Shepherd of Hermas for instance) so who chose and why?

You also admit that there are a great many heated debates and disagreements on scriptural doctrines and interpretation . Who gets to decide?

Sorry for loads of questions, but I,m writing as I think aloud.

Just on salvation. What sort of gift do you know that comes with threat of punishment?

 

[Dibby53]

The good news of the gospel is the news that although EVERYONE deserves hell. And there is not one thing ANYONE can do to get out of that determined fate based on our sin, God has offered a way out. And he did it based on his love.

People are condemned based on their lack of faith in God. Not on Gods lack of love for them. He died for them also. Even he claims on the day of judgment, He will not be happy to judge, It will be a sad day for all.


Not sure where it says this, If they rejected God then yes. But I do nto see where it says God will wipe your memory of them. I think we will love them forever.


Jesus did not do this, He loved them, He tells us to love them to. His command was for us to go into the world. Not hide from it or barricade ourselves in our own place. Those who teach we should shun them have not shard the truth. They live in fear. And have yet to find the love of God in their hearts. Not saying they are not saved, Only God knows. But they have yet to mature and learn the love of God.


A perceived truth may or may not be real truth. There is one gospel and only on. And though teaching we are to stand up for that truth. And expose the false truths. But the rest of scripture. sadly, people are to stuck in their views and are not open, or even allowing other beliefs. Again, this comes from pride. And yes, many in the church have yet to break their pride. I think we al do this. And it is sad.


Dirty rags is a term used to describe self righteous works. Or works used to gain something, they are self focused. people who are tryign to offer their works to God as payment for sin are not doing them because they love God, or because they even want to serve God (even though they may claim it is) what they are doing is trying to buy Gods love.
You can not buy Gods love. You can only recieve his love, And though this, Love and serve others in a way that is unconditional. And not self focused. A thing God calls works of righteousness.




Sadly, this is not true even of many christians. They can be the most self righteous people on earth. (See the jews, and the history of the church) Even paul mentioned the fact that gentiles (unbelieversin God) who do not know God still follow the law by nature. Where Gods people where continually breaking that same law. And condemning everyone else for breaking it.

Not all christians re saved. That is a misnomer.

On point 6. Heaven will be unbearable , if as you say I will love my unsaved friends and relations forever. Languishing in hell whilst I enjoy heaven ( assuming I get there....) will be hell to me.

On point 10. If Christians are not necessarily any better than non- believers after conversion, but just saved; then why when they die will they suddenly be perfected? If free will operates and they still sin, then why after death will they not sin any more?

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Thank you for your response.
Just on point 1. No one has really explained HOW God wrote the books of the bible, to me? My view is that it is a very human construct. Certainly inspired writings, much of it anyway. Who for instance has not been moved by some of the psalms, or the Sermon on the Mount?
Did God take over the bodies of those who wrote, thus it would seem voiding their free will? And why do we think that the scriptures chosen by church tradition and councils in the early centuries after Christ are actually written by God? There were plenty of scriptures that did not make the canon that were highly regarded by the early church ( the letters of Clement, or The Shepherd of Hermas for instance) so who chose and why?

You also admit that there are a great many heated debates and disagreements on scriptural doctrines and interpretation . Who gets to decide?

Sorry for loads of questions, but I,m writing as I think aloud.

Just on salvation. What sort of gift do you know that comes with threat of punishment?

I think one thing does it for me

We hav a book written as I sai over thousands of years

Yet. Not one historical event has proven to be false. In fact the more science tries to prove it wrong. The more science finds through archeological sights who true it is

2. It has a message, which does not contradict itself. In the 66 books, we see if really studied, works which are not contradictory, and are united in is message, as for the other so called books, they do not fit this mold. In fact, this is the one thing which would if we remove our pride, help us to properly interpret the word.

If something seems to contradict itself. Study to resolve the contradiction. When this is done, we can be assured our interpretation is correct. If we can not do this, Then something is wrong with the word (we have found a error) and it puts the rest of the word into question. And none of it can be resolved

As to how God did it. I do not think he forced people against their will. I think they willingly listened to God and rot down what they heard God say.

 

[Dibby53]

The reason why they hid was that they were naked . The hiding was the result. That's why I asked you do you believe in Christs assessment of you that you are in need of a savior?

There is certainly alot I need saving from which obscures the beauty of God in me. That much is sure! Every time I fail to see people as a child of God. If I look at them through my anger, fear, resentment what a distorted image I see! I must get rid of the plank in my own eye, then maybe I will be wise enough to look at the speck in my brothers eye..........maybe!

 

[eternally-gratefull]

On point 6. Heaven will be unbearable , if as you say I will love my unsaved friends and relations forever. Languishing in hell whilst I enjoy heaven ( assuming I get there....) will be hell to me.

On point 10. If Christians are not necessarily any better than non- believers after conversion, but just saved; then why when they die will they suddenly be perfected? If free will operates and they still sin, then why after death will they not sin any more?

On your first point, I can Not answer this, The Bible does not directly answe this question, and at best, I can only give you my opinion. Which to be honest, I hav never even thought of this before. So not sure hat to think on this issue. I would probably agree with you. But at same time, Know something is done to help in that grieving process.

As for your second point, God gave us the standard if we wish to earn acceptance into heaven, That standard was the law. If we read Deuteronomy That standard was perfection (not one sin) Even james said, if we keep the whol law yet stumble in one point. We are guilty of all.

So in this reality, No one alive today lives up to Gods standard. Everyone is guilty, You, Me, Our neighbors, everyone. Even after christians are saved, they do not keep Gods standard. If their life was put up next to Gods standard. They would still be found to be sinners. Worthy of death.

What separates people is Their response to Gods offer. If they recieve it, They are saved, if they reject it, they are not saved.

as for what we will be good. It is not that God removes free will. It is the fact we will never again question Gods way. We will know and fully understand love, and know and fully understand God takes care of every need we have, thus for that reason. We will NEVER have to do things with focus on self again.

The issue is the knowledge of what si is. To many people think sin are overt acts. Which certain overt acts are sin (murder, lieing cheating stealing etc) those sins comes from something within, which is the real sin. It is that attitude which we must be broken from. Not the sin themselves. If we learn to break that attitude, then the overt sins by practice again will cease. Or at the very least. Become far less..

 

[TLC209]

1. God writes books. Unfortunately it is not always that clear. Hence, the arguments, even amongst believers.
2. God loves everyone; but if you worship the wrong God he will command your execution and favours certain ethnic groups and people.
3.God wants us to fear him, but love him at the same time. And if we don't love him, we are condemned.
4. The right beliefs and thoughts in our heads are more important than being kind; beliefs will save you, kindness won't.
5. The "Good news" of the gospel is not that good. Since most are condemned.
6. Everyone I love and care for who has the wrong beliefs and has died is going to burn and suffer for eternity. God will helpfully wipe my memory of them.
7. If anyone has a different major opinion within Christianity it is perfectly acceptable to shun them.
8. Deviation from what is perceived to be the "truth" will not be tolerated.
9. No one can do anything good, or be good before God without the correct beliefs. Since people are basically depraved, sinful and anything they do is "dirty rags".
10. Since Christians are saved, have the holy spirit and are God's beloved children and now have the source of all goodness and love within them, then they are living the most beautiful, loving and blessed lives that can be imagined. They are a real beacon of goodness in the world in a way that non-believers are not........or are they??

These people all missed what you were saying. Angela5150 especially stood out!

These are all the things you learned about Christianity on this website. And instead of anyone taking personal inventory most have jumped down your throat. It proves your point! These people need to take the log out of their eyes trying to take specks from the lost!

Frankly sir, you are lost but there is hope. And that answer is Jesus Christ! Not Christians. We have a huge mess in the body of Christ. Reprobates and wolves in sheeps clothing. God says you will know them by their fruits...

Thank you for the slam dunk, mic drop, or knockout punch.. however you want to call it. It was loud enough to hear your plea. God will answer. God bless you. I pray God softens your heart and opens your eyes and ears to Him.