Posted on 03/27/2008 4:40:22 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama suggested Wednesday that Jesus Christ is not the only way to heaven during a campaign event in North Carolina.
While answering a question about his Christian faith, Obama said he believes that Jesus Christ died for his sins and through Gods grace and mercy he could have everlasting life, according to the Los Angeles Times.
But he also believes Jews and Muslims and non-believers who live moral lives are as much children of God as he is, according to The Associated Press.
As an example, he spoke about his late mother who was not a believer.
"[S]he was the kindest, most decent, generous person that I have ever known," Obama said, according to the Times. "I'm sure she is in heaven, even though she may not have subscribed to everything that I subscribe to."
Obamas response amid the recent controversy surrounding his former Chicago pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who made inflammatory remarks about race and America in sermons he delivered many years ago.
The Illinois senator, who has made religion a cornerstone of his campaign, has denounced the comments which included God damn America for its racism but refuses to distance himself from the pastor, whom he compares to an uncle.
During his response on Wednesday, Obama praised his church, Trinity United Church of Christ, especially its choir, and said it was very warm and welcoming and is like any other church in America in that it exists to praise God.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...
“Jews who died in the Holocaust died because of their being picked by God as the Chosen People; and, like it or not, were therefore killed because of their association with Gods plan”
To clarify, so this doesn’t get misunderstood: God decided to use a people, the Jews. Hence they became the targets of those opposed to God’s plan. And that’s why they became targets in the Holocaust. That means they had a privilege not given even to angels—to suffer for God.
Is that enough to get someone into paradise? It would be if we could earn paradise. But paradise is given freely. Even the best of Jews would have died on Passover if they had been out in the street and not inside a house marked with the lamb’s blood. Even the worst survived if inside such a house.
How far is God going to stretch the atonement he has provided this time with the cross and the death of the lamb of God? We don’t know, because we aren’t told that.
But we do accept that this is the one atonement that God has provided.
The bible is not without concepts open to interpretation, this is not one of them.
However, who is to say that the Father might not come to any man?
James 2:23
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was —> imputed unto <— him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (KJV)
New American Standard uses “reckoned to him as righteousness”.
Old Testament times - Saved/justified by faith, (same as NT believers) not by works.
Their faith “translated” into righteousness and therefore salvation in Christ Jesus, thus covered by His blood, which is the only payment for sin.
for the ones who didn’t accept Christ, yes.
Not only them, but everyone who dies denying Jesus if LORD. Learn more about Christianity by reading the Gospel of John. It is a better indicator of the tennants of true Jesus worship thanh any theology class at a liberal university, and certainly more accurate than what one may read in the NY Times.
For instance, you could kill an apostate and spend eternity with 72 virgins...
If so, I wish God had killed me as a baby. It would have taken the risk out of my life.
Not if they keep the Law, a very tall order, since most Jews today are secular in nature.
The Bible clearly has two Covenants, One with the Jew and one with the Christian.
Choose this day whom you will serve.
BTW, I have it on pretty good authority that his mother is not in Heaven ~ we all wait for the final judgment to take that trip.
Don’t know much about Christianity, eh? :-)
She was a typical white woman, d’oh! /sarc
In Christianity, if they did not accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah, yes. In Judaism, no.
I guess not. I went to 16 years of Christian schools before going to a secular graduate school, and I don’t think I even grasped the basic concepts.
Or so I’ve been told.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.
You have it on authority? Can you say who?
Interesting that Christ said, to an audience composed exclusively of believing Jews, "No one comes to the Father except thru me."
Christ made it quite clear that it was not possible for a human to follow the Law and earn salvation that way. That is exactly why he came. When he did, the old covenant with the Jews was replaced with a new improved model to which all men have access, including the Jews.
And they say Christians are intolerant! Ha! :-)
Not if they keep the Law
You need to read the Book of Romans. For example, Romas 3:20 states Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. No human descendant fathered by a man can keep the whole law, so no one can be saved by it. Only one man, Jesus, could keep it, and he was crucified in our stead. Basic Christian doctrine.
I pretty much got the gist. An all-knowing, all-loving God created human beings, knowing all the time that the vast majority would end up being tormented in Hell forever... except for those few who accepted Jesus.
What would you say about a father who tortures his children?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.