Posted on 12/09/2010 7:30:00 AM PST by pinochet
Not to be contentious but if God gives man free will then God making people do His will takes that away. The only reason man does evil is because he can, he’s not prevented from doing it. Conversely man is capable of doing good as well. He has a choice. (Man being editorially mentioned).
Uh, no. Not for that act alone.
I just looked on Bible Gateway for 15 minutes through all references to ‘Righteousness’ (NIV) and only saw the turning away accredit - not current-heathen = accredit. Let me know if you find it.
Pharaoh
It's important to remember that scripture repeatedly says "None are righteous". If a heathen does according to the law, it would indeed be accorded to him as righteousness. But to be righteous under the law, you have to keep ALL of the law, ALL of the time.
To be righteous is to be perfect. "Be ye perfect, for I am perfect." "Be ye holy, for I am holy.". There are two ways to be perfect. Keep the law, which scripture says, nobody except Jesus has done or be forgiven.
Three times Jesus was asked how to have eternal life. The first two times, when asked by the lawyer and the rich young ruler, Jesus answered keep the law, but he did it in such a way, that it became apparent to the person that they had failed to keep the law. The third time to Nicodemus, he said you "must be born again." (John 3).
1 Samuel 26:23
The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness.
2 Samuel 22:25
The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.
Psalm 33:5
The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Proverbs 15:9
The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
Isaiah 41:2 (In reference to CYRUS, a heathen king of the Persians and the Medes)
“Who has stirred up one from the east, calling him in righteousness to his service ? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow.
Still looking.................
God Bless Geert Wilders . . . and He has.
If Mother Theresa were an atheist, would you blaspheme her?
It comes down to Good Works or Good Faith?
Some churches believe that good works alone will not get you to heaven. Some churches believe that no matter what you do, your fate is predestined by God. Christian dogma can be quite incoherent.
Reincarnation and karma ( which were accepted by the Catholic faith for hundreds of years ) are the only logical precepts that help me understand all the cruelty, inhumanity, and inexplicable unfairness ( why bad things happen to the good and innocent ) of this world.
For example, my belief in reincarnation helps me understand abortion. I know that aborted soul will be given another chance in a better home. The moral dilemma is all on the woman, and her decision will affect her karma.
I’ve never understood predestination. Does God know what we are going to do before we do it? What is the point of that? Karma is the consequence of our free will.
Sorry to get off track. Geert Wilders is a man of good works, atheist or not. Now when will Glenn Beck realize that?
In this lifetime, Wilders is an atheist, albeit a rather good one who risks his life to guide his countrymen. Not a lot of Christians can say that about themselves.
“But a non-believer, the Samaritan,”
False. The Bible never said or implied that. The Samaritans were only half Jewish and therefore were looked down upon by fullblooded Jews who regarded them as little better than dogs. That does not imply that Samaritans had no religious faith, as evidenced by the woman Jesus met at the well.
Of course God uses atheists to fulfill his will. Witness Herod, Pontius Pilate, Abraham’s illegitimate son Ishmael, etc.
It’s really a very dumb question.
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