Seems like many Christians believe some variation of the following:
Is believing in Jesus enough to be saved?
Yes, believing in Jesus is enough to be saved...
So, believing in Jesus means you believe that he is God and flesh (Colossians 2:9). In addition, you must believe the gospel (Mark 1:15) that is defined as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)...
We are to have a faithful, independent trust in the work of Christ upon the cross who cleansed us from our sins. We don't just have mental acknowledgment that Jesus lived and died on the cross. We not only believe that, but we also trust in the sin sacrifice that Jesus made on that cross...
There are many groups that falsely teach that in order to be saved from your sins, you must believe in God and do good things and/or not do bad things. This is false because we are justified (declared righteous before God) by faith (Romans 3:28; 5:1), not by works (Romans 4:1-5; Ephesians 2:8-9)...
Therefore, belief in Jesus is enough to be saved, but you must believe that Jesus is God and flesh, and your belief must be a trustful act of dependence upon Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. Only then is belief in Jesus sufficient to save.
https://carm.org/is-believing-in-jesus-enough-to-be-saved
Those who do believe as above (or some variation thereof) are given salvation.
Those who do not believe as above (or some variation thereof) are not given salvation.
The result is that this is the only sin that God cannot forgive.
How is this not an incredibly perverse conception of God?
Originally posted by @apathistNot sure how this logically follows, but okay.
Hey, thx for speaking for god. I suppose you get extra credit.
Do you not find incredibly perverse a conception of God wherein God can forgive every imaginable atrocity - serially murdering and torturing others, serially raping children, etc. - but cannot forgive an individual for not believing that "that Jesus is God and flesh" or not having "a faithful, independent trust in the work of Christ upon the cross who cleansed us from our sins"?
15 Jan 18
Quoting Jesus from Mark 3
28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Originally posted by @thinkofonePerverse.
Seems like many Christians believe some variation of the following:
[quote][b]Is believing in Jesus enough to be saved?
Yes, believing in Jesus is enough to be saved...
So, believing in Jesus means you believe that he is God and flesh (Colossians 2:9). In addition, you must believe the gospel (Mark 1:15) that is defined as the death, burial, ...[text shortened]... e only sin that God cannot forgive.
How is this not an incredibly perverse conception of God?[/b]
In comparison to what?
16 Jan 18
Originally posted by @freakykbhA religion where non-believers are not divinely punished for all eternity in the fires of hell.
Perverse.
In comparison to what?
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeSo: in comparison to the myriad scenarios man can imagine, each an allegedly superior upgrade to the scenario detailed in the Bible.
A religion where non-believers are not divinely punished for all eternity in the fires of hell.
For all their genius and in spite of the overwhelming accomplishment the Bible achieves, both in breadth of depth and scope of influence, one wonders if the talent and effort may have been put to better use in order to affect a more palatable end-user experience.
I mean, really!
Can He really be God if He didn't anticipate how far modern man's capacity for compassion and desired states exceeded His own mishmash of untenable expectations and unreasonable standards of perfection?
Know your audience!
16 Jan 18
Originally posted by @freakykbhIf God knew his audience he would have written a better book.
So: in comparison to the myriad scenarios man can imagine, each an allegedly superior upgrade to the scenario detailed in the Bible.
For all their genius and in spite of the overwhelming accomplishment the Bible achieves, both in breadth of depth and scope of influence, one wonders if the talent and effort may have been put to better use in order to a ...[text shortened]... ishmash of untenable expectations and unreasonable standards of perfection?
Know your audience!
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeThanks for the Reader's Digest condensed version of what I wrote.
If God knew his audience he would have written a better book.
The person who claims a better book could have been written has either:
a) never cracked open the book; or
b) never been cracked open by the book
Fortunately for either, even a person completely ignorant of the Bible can listen to the extensive work done by others in ferreting out all of the amazing intricacies and mind-blowing coherence of the collection, and benefit from their efforts.
What the Bible represents in the history of literature--- without even considering its impact--- is nothing short of supernatural.
It is overwhelming to the mind's furthest imaginations how otherworldly that Bible is.
16 Jan 18
Originally posted by @freakykbhDoes that synopsis include the Old Testament, or just the warm and fuzzy Gospels?
Thanks for the Reader's Digest condensed version of what I wrote.
The person who claims a better book could have been written has either:
a) never cracked open the book; or
b) never been cracked open by the book
Fortunately for either, even a person completely ignorant of the Bible can listen to the extensive work done by others in ferreting out a ...[text shortened]... ural.
It is overwhelming to the mind's furthest imaginations how otherworldly that Bible is.
I have 'cracked open' and studied the bible no less than you have, so I think we can rule out option A. - And we can likewise rule out option B, as a book of questionable and inconsistent morality, imbued with fear mongering and godly abominations falls short of 'cracking me open.'
In truth, there are more inspiring books out there.
16 Jan 18
Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-dukeI thoroughly enjoyed John Ralston Saul's 'Voltaire's Bastards'.
In truth, there are more inspiring books out there.
16 Jan 18
Originally posted by @eladarFor those who believe as in the OP, the logical result is something very different - something very perverse.
Quoting Jesus from Mark 3
28 “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”
16 Jan 18
Originally posted by @freakykbhHow is a conception of God wherein God can forgive every imaginable atrocity - serially murdering and torturing others, serially raping children, etc. - but cannot forgive an individual for not believing that "that Jesus is God and flesh" or not having "a faithful, independent trust in the work of Christ upon the cross who cleansed us from our sins" not incredibly perverse?
Perverse.
In comparison to what?
People believe in such a conception of God only because it is so self-serving to do so.
16 Jan 18
Originally posted by @thinkofoneJesus was clear about who enters the Kingdom of God but those who are to lazy to do what is required will always find alternative doctrines. I doubt they even believe all the nonsense they write.
How is a conception of God wherein God can forgive every imaginable atrocity - serially murdering and torturing others, serially raping children, etc. - but cannot forgive an individual for not believing that "that Jesus is God and flesh" or not having "a faithful, independent trust in the work of Christ upon the cross who cleansed us from our sins" not ...[text shortened]... erse?
People believe in such a conception of God only because it is so self-serving to do so.
16 Jan 18
Originally posted by @thinkofoneI agree.
For those who believe as in the OP, the logical result is something very different - something very perverse.
Saying that you believe in a name Jesus does not equal salvation. Jesus tells us this.