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Thank you for your response. I apologize for the lateness of my reply, but I have been giving your words some thought.

Your answer to my hypothetical question confirms a long-standing suspicion I have had regarding Christian belief — namely, that what is of utmost importance in Christianity is the *intellectual/emotional* acceptance of God, rather than what one does in the physical world. I understand that the Christian believes that the two go hand in hand and that the latter can be a manifestation of the former — yet it still seems to be the case that a person cannot gain salvation even if in his outward actions he follows (to the best of his ability) the moral laws allegedly put in place by God.

This paints a picture of God that is rather strange to me. Why would an allegedly omnipotent, omniscient being — who knows that he exists — require affirmation of his existence from a weak, limited, fallible human individual? Would it not be much more important (to a reasonable God) that a man obey God’s plan through his actions? After all, I do not care if the manufacturers of the products I buy know that I exist or believe in my existence — so long as they continue to supply me with the things I need to live my life according to my plan. Similarly, could God not see certain individuals as much more useful than others in accomplishing his plan, irrespective of whether they believe in him?

Your posts are always welcomed Stolyarov. I much prefer a delayed, well thought out response, than a quick and superficial one. I hope my response does justice to your query.

what is of utmost importance in Christianity is the *intellectual/emotional* acceptance of God, rather than what one does in the physical world
(posted by G. Stolyarov II)

I would say that that what God asks of us is complete obedience to Him, not acceptance of Him (though acceptance of Him as God would entail obedience I would assume). In the Garden of Eden, mankind first turned away from obedience to God, and listened to our own 'wisdom'. God calls us back to what we were created to be... in His image. I think the two passages below help clarify this.

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced,
Psalm 40:6
I take this to refer to Exodus 21:5, where a servant who truly loves his master refuses to go free, but instead willingly pledges his service for life. The sign of this is a piercing of the ears by his Master.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your mind.
Matthew 22:37
Our service to Him is to be from love, but is to include all facets of ourselves. Our emotions, our being, as well as our intellect. There are to be no Gods before God.

I think you are absolutely correct that an omnipotent, omniscient being would have no need for our affirmation. Yet neither would he have use or need for our actions. He is God and He has need of nothing.

We have nothing we can offer him to buy His love. No action we do, nothing driven by our imperfect will and desire will satisfy the requirements of a God who is perfect.

Yet this same God also tells us that He loves us... loves us so much that He expresses His love through the sacrifice of His one and only Son. He loves us, and desires us to know Him and dwell in His company. But to do so requires rightiousness that cannot come from our actions. It can only come from Him.

Through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God provided a sacrifice that was acceptable to Him, because it came from Him. Just as when Abraham went to offer his son Isaac in sacrifice, God provided a 'better' sacrifice, in Christ God provides the only sacrifice that could suffice.

The only act required or accepted of a man for his salvation in God's eyes, is simply true acceptance of what God has provided. It is a statement that salvation is, was, and forever shall be beyond man's power... but can rest only in trust in God.

Obedience to God's plan involves acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior. Anything else remains rebellion... to try to 'buy' rightness with God through our own actions vs through God's power. The 'moral laws' never promised salvation, but were merely a guide until the coming of Christ.

If you look through the Bible, you find that God very rarely uses the 'best' people in accomplishing His plans. He chooses those people that we would cast off, to demonstrate that it is not through the man that things get done, but through God's power.

God is not a consumer or a manufacturer. He is the Father, who truly knows what is best for His children, and simply calls them in from the darkness to live the life they were created to live.

I hope this helps clarify things, but I welcome any further questions or comments you may have. I'm afraid my own wisdom is limited, and can only trust that the Holy Spirit uses what I have posted to His purposes.