FK: I think it means that Christ came to set His people apart from the wickedness of the world
Huh?!? Christ came to give hope to the whole world, not only "His" people. God is not partial. That still doesn't explain why divide a son form his father. That makes no sense.
A true believer will be despised by the world. And even those in his own family who are of the world will hate him
The Muslims would love this. I think they could see themselves as "true believers" by this formula.
It is better to be hated than concede the true faith to make peace
Oh boy! That sounds positively jihadist!
No, Matthew did not lie by making up a quote from Jesus. Jesus DID say it because He knew His listeners understood the principles of how a crucifixion worked
No one associated Crucifixion with suffering for the world. Crucixiction became a synonym for suffering, and Christ's sacrifice, we are to imitate after the fact. The verse in question was before the fact.
To carry one's own cross to his death was burdensome, and so the teaching was that we all must bear our own burdens in faith. Isn't that easier to believe than "Matthew lied"?
People didn't carry their crosses (weighs over 300 lbs), but maybe crossbars. And no one at that time associated being crucified a punishment for faith. Crucifixion was reserved for hardened criminals.
Heavenly rewards, yes. Salvation, no.
What are heavenly rewards, FK? Penthouse condos in the clouds with a view? :)
Your heavenly reward is being saved. Your punishment is being lost.
Huh?!? Christ came to give hope to the whole world, not only "His" people.
Once again, if that is so then either Christ is a colossal failure or a satanic teaser. Christ came already knowing the specific names of all those who ever lived who would never believe. Why would He string them along?
That still doesn't explain why divide a son form his father. That makes no sense.
Because non-believers pose a temptation to believers, especially among family members. We love our family members, but if we put them in front of God and compromise our faith, then believers could slide away from the faith. That could turn us from being useful to God to useless to God. That is obviously not good. :)
FK: A true believer will be despised by the world. And even those in his own family who are of the world will hate him.
The Muslims would love this. I think they could see themselves as "true believers" by this formula.
Well, I couldn't care less if the Muslims like it or not. :) I just go by scripture:
John 15:19 : If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
I'll just let the Gospels speak for themselves.
FK: It is better to be hated than concede the true faith to make peace.
Oh boy! That sounds positively jihadist!
Then from now on I will assume that you think it is better to concede your faith than to be hated by others. Is this an attitude in all of Orthodoxy?
FK: To carry one's own cross to his death was burdensome, and so the teaching was that we all must bear our own burdens in faith. Isn't that easier to believe than "Matthew lied"?
People didn't carry their crosses (weighs over 300 lbs), but maybe crossbars. And no one at that time associated being crucified a punishment for faith. Crucifixion was reserved for hardened criminals.
That's non sequitur. Jesus made comparisons all the time. Do you deny He was making one here? I will assume you're sticking with "Matthew lied".
What are heavenly rewards, FK? Penthouse condos in the clouds with a view? :)
The Bible doesn't tell us exactly, so I don't know. The Bible just says they are judged separately from the salvation judgment.
Your heavenly reward is being saved. Your punishment is being lost.
The Bible says this:
1 Cor 3:10-15 : 10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
So according to this, there ARE two separate judgments.