Bellflower,
I was not going to get into a religious theory discussion as there are too many different theories out there. But I guess I will have to make a small stand and you were the last one of seven that tried to tell me about religion and this reply will make it to the thread. That statement was not meant to be deflamatory. I respect your right to your beliefs completely. It’s just my slant may be a little different.
I do not believe that Jesus died for every sin committed by man. And I, also, believe in the Bible and it’s whole. I am not what people would call a christian because my beliefs are a little different, so I feel a little disqualified. Do I believe in the salvation of man? Of course. Do I believe every man, no matter what he does, is salvageable? No.
I got a lot of Bible verses in the different returns on my statement. I respect those also. But they all say the same thing in that God does not judge. That as soon the perpetrator of the crimes committed against man, and God, are admitted, then the slate is wiped clean. That’s like saying a convicted murderer/rapist can say he’s sorry, and the crime goes away and he’s not only back on the street, but being given a home and happiness for the rest of time. That’s what heaven is.
I believe there is good and evil in the world. History has bore that out. I believe God allows us to judge as far as we can go with our limited capacity. But I believe, also, that God set the rules up for us and will not accept our judging without doing his/her own.
I mentioned I got some Bible verses. I hate to quote it in this forum but the only way to demonstrate my thoughts is with verse. All three in Matthew,
Matthew 3:10
“The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 3:12
“His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Matthew 12:36-37
“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.”
So I am not just an “old testament eye for an eye” guy. And the first one I quoted was repeated in Luke, also.
There are 63 references in the Bible concerning judgement according to sources like bible.knowing-jesus.com. That just happened to be the one I used, there are other sources.
If a person perpetrates a crime like murder or rape, and is not insane, if you have them come up to you in jail and say they’re sorry, would any of you release them back into public? And at what point does God avenge the suffering and crime committed to the victim? Especially when this guy did it twice. I think God’s vengeance is better judged by God and not us.
But I don’t feel with all the spotlight on God’s vengeance, he won’t take it for the crimes against him by a man that waits until the ability to live the Christian life he is professing isn’t possible. He blasphemed God during life by violated basic laws of the Bible without any thought to redemption. And did it again, also, without thought.
God is the last avenger. I don’t think he will take a get out of jail free card when the game is over on earth that God wished to happen. He can face God as a blasphemed sinner without help.
I won’t answer any more on this topic as my personal beliefs are mine and I don’t wish to share them. I thank all that tried to help in their way. So go in peace and we’ll see each other again on the boards.
rwood
Thank you for your thoughtful reply, without any meanness. So often when people don’t agree they resort to meanness.
It is a very difficult subject, hard for humans to understand. It is only when we get a vision of our own sinfulness that we are able to comprehend that the fact that The LORD forgiving us is beyond belief, though He does, only because Jesus took the punishment that we deserve. Is high treason a big enough crime/sin to cause us to not qualify to be forgiven, because each one of us have committed high treason against Almighty God.
King David murdered Uriah, Moses murdered an Egyptian, even Paul, when he was Saul, vehemently went after Christians to catch them and even have them killed. He knew he deserved death because of his involvement in the deaths of God’s saints. God forgave him, and used him mightily to show forth the glory of His grace
It is because Jesus did die, as the Bible clearly teaches us, for every sin that mankind ever committed, that even the worst sinner can be saved, to the praise of the glory of His grace. As we get closer to The LORD, and come to understand our own unworthiness, then we can understand how he can, out of His vast reserve of grace and compassion, save those who sincerely come to him. The fact that God can save anyone gives each one of us comfort that he can save us.
I hope you come to a true and living saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, if you haven’t already. I suggest you leave God’s decisions on who He chooses to save to Him and concentrate on making absolute sure that you are surely saved, and also on removing any motes or logs you may have in your eye. I am not trying to be accusing, for we all need to concentrate on becoming more like Jesus, every last one of us. God bless. Hope all of God’s best for you.
Too late buddy boy, you posted and now you want to run away and not share or defend your attack on the grace of Jesus Christ!(cause you supposedly don’t want to share your “private beliefs”...ha! but you just did!) By your criteria King David will be in hell and so will Moses. The apostle Paul condoned the stoning of Stephen so he will be in hell and should not be forgiven! That is the bare logic of your own argument!(A just God will send the aforementioned to hell just like you claimed all murderers should go...according to your belief)!
You should change you name from redwood to shrub...your belief in God’s grace is midget sized!