Part 39 of Post Your Tough Questions Regarding Christianity

I'm not sure if it was asked/answered in the past but I can tell you that I'm what they call...a Bible Christian. And furthermore since I subscribe/follow GotQuestions.org ministry I could be labeled as a Christian, Protestant, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational since that is what GotQuestions label themselves. I wholeheartedly agree with their articles/interpretations because they keep in line with what's written in the Scriptures of the Holy Bible without any deviations in my perspective/view.

Well sorry Injeun but I must disagree with you here because you are wrong in saying what you have said above. Not believing entirely in the Christian God, the Triune God, the Trinity, The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit is the only unpardonable sin, all other sins can be forgiven but not the sin of unbelief in the Christian God.

And so if a person proclaims they believe in God but not in Our Lord Savior Jesus Christ then they will not be saved because that's an unpardonable sin. The Scriptures of the Holy Bible make it perfectly clear that in order to go to The Father one must believe/accept His Son Jesus Christ as their Lord Savior.

Our Lord Savior Jesus Christ is the object of faith. Without faith in Our Lord Savior Jesus Christ there is no forgiveness for someone who dies. So let me present several verses from Scripture below to illustrate that in order for one to be saved they must accept Jesus Christ as their Lord Savior.

We Read in Scripture:

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.” Acts 16:31 NLT

Our Lord Savior Jesus Christ said,

16 "For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 NLT

6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6 NLT

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, John 10:28 NLT

45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45 NLT

To reject the only Savior is to be left with no means of salvation; to reject the only pardon is, obviously, unpardonable.

Let me present several more verses in Scripture below to be very thorough.

There is no need to perform animal sacrifices anymore, it is over. Animal sacrifices have ended because Our Lord Savior Jesus Christ was the ultimate and perfect sacrifice.

John the Baptist recognized this when he saw Jesus coming to be baptized.

We Read in Scripture:

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 NLT

You may be asking yourself, why were animals sacrificed in the past in the first place? What did they do wrong? That is the point....since the animals did no wrong, they died in place of the one performing the sacrifice. Our Lord Savior Jesus Christ also did no wrong but willingly gave Himself to die for the sins of mankind (1 Timothy 2:6).
Jesus Christ took our sin upon Himself and died in our place. As 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made Him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Through faith in what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross, we can receive forgiveness.

We Read in Scripture:

6 He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 1 Timothy 2:6 NLT

21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

Ok Injeun thanks for your question/comments. I hope I was able to make you see the error of your comments.

 

Thanks for the many positive scriptural references. I appreciate your effort and fidelity to the word. I don't know if you showed me my error, but you made me think. In none of your reference did they say that to not know his name, or to not be convinced unto belief on his name, is the unpardonable sin. Furthermore, the countless souls who lived and died before Jesus Christ had also never heard his name. Neither is he mentioned by name in the old testament. Similarly, the whole world of people for a long time after his birth, had never heard of him. Not to mention those turned aside by the evils done over the ages in the name of Jesus Christ. And unless people are steeped in Christianity, it may as well be a fable to them upon hearing.

One must be fully aware of what one is doing to be held accountable to a fullness of justice or to commit the unpardonable sin. And that sin must be open and knowing rebellion against the spirit of God. People who have never known God cannot commit that sin, anymore than a man can drown in a desert of sand. And speaking his name as if it held magical connotations is no more than lip service. The hearers know and perceive the shallowness of such rhetoric. And by rejection of the words, are no more the sinner than would be the speaker. One must be reborn, known by God personally, and know God in the fullest measure, and then apostatize to have committed the unpardonable sin. There is no greater betrayal. That's why it's unpardonable, imo. But maybe I've misinterpreted your meaning. If so, I've missed the hand off. And I apologize.

 

LOL! Good one....a two-fer.

 

Your interpretation of Islam is nowhere near what it is today. Your ideas of "living outside of Islam" are ancient and poorly interpreted to favor you false views.

Your claims of Christianity say NOTHING about the fact that the golden rule is far broader than just the Christian religion.

I do agree that Christians have a demonstrated habit of making rules that aren't based on the teachings of Jesus.

But, there is no way to detect which of the numerous religions is "correct". Claiming that all but Christians are simply wrong can not possibly be justified.

 

My knowledge of Islam is correct, and from personal experience in Africa and the USA.

 

Yes, those two commandments cover all other commandments and much more.

Unfortunately so many Christians are also hopelessly ignorant of their own religion, and many others who preach it fail to live it.

 

Well yes of course there have been people in past times who lived and died before Jesus Christ came into the world and yes of course in the present time there are people who have never heard of Jesus Christ the Lord Savior.

In today's world billions have heard of Him, billions believe/follow Him and of course billions don't believe in Him and so they reject Him but yes again I repeat myself there are people living presently that have never heard of Him.

There are some people in Africa, South America, Philippines, and other places have not heard of the Good News/Our Lord Savior Jesus Christ. And so missionary work continues today to bring to these people the Good News of Our Lord Savior Jesus Christ. So what was the fate of people in past times and what will be the fate of people in present times? Well these two passages in Scripture I have presented below will explain.

We Read in Scripture:

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Romans 3:23-26 NLT

The passage above clearly tells us that God did not punish those who sinned in times past, who lived and died prior to Our Lord Savior Jesus Christ. God tells us that He was looking ahead and included these people in what He would do in this present time, He did this to demonstrated His righteousness, for He Himself is fair and just.

12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. 13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life. Romans 2:12-16 NLT

The passage above can be applied to people who are living in today's present world who have never heard of Our Lord Savior Jesus Christ. Almighty God will judge them fair and justly and so some will be saved and others punished pending His judgment on them.

But all others living in today's world who have heard of Him, Our Lord Savior Jesus Christ, who are aware of what He represents as I've already said in a previous post to you, to reject the only Savior is to be left with no means of salvation; to reject the only pardon is, obviously, unpardonable.

Ok thanks again Injeun for your comments, I hope this time my response to you has been made much clearer.

 

Much clearer, yes. That may be your own predicament described above. But I do not see it as a just fate for mankind or for myself. True conversion comes by the spirit of God. Sans that, it is the messenger more than the message which the hearers reject. So it is not a sin, unpardonable or otherwise, to reject empty promises made by mortals. Unless of course you think that you are Jesus Christ, which I don't believe you do. I just think you are wrong.

 

Pretty sure EVERY Christian would call themselves "Bible Christian".

 

Sorry jolly but you are as wrong as if you had said, "The sun rises in the west, sometimes in the south and other times in the north but never ever in the east".

If you were pretty sure then you wouldn't have made the mistake by spouting out what you've said and so you weren't actually "pretty sure" but just assumed every Christian would call themselves a Bible Christian, because it sounds logical to you since Christianity is based on the Scriptures of the Holy Bible.

If you had done some thorough research you would have discovered that Catholics are not technically Bible Christians. There are distinct differences, first of all Bible Christians are essentially Protestants. And there are indeed differences between Catholics and Protestants as far as how they each view the Scriptures of the Holy Bible.
It has been well documented that they are Catholics who have said, "I am not a Christian, I am Catholic".... because to many of them the terms "Christian" and "Protestant" are synonymous.

Let me just give you a one difference of how the view of the Bible differs among the two groups. Catholics view the Bible as having equal authority with the Church and tradition. While Bible Christians (Protestants) view the Bible as the supreme authority for faith and practice.

Now if you want to really know more because there are many other differences I suggest you do some research on your own. If you do that, I'm pretty sure...nah forget that...I'm not going to put myself out on a limb like how you did...because one thing I know is that unbelievers like yourself will never admit when they are wrong. You proved it numerous times before on that thread where you and Koko debate on the neo atheism thread. Kokomojojo wins arguments but you can never admit he is right.

But anyway in conclusion, not every Christian would call themselves "Bible Christian".

Ok jolly thanks for your response, it was indeed a pleasure for me to respond to it.

 

Really easy to demonstrate. We have Catholics on this forum, so just get one to say they are not Christians who follow the Bible, and wouldn't call themselves Bible Christians.

That's a pretty broad sweeping prejudiced statement right there.

I'll admit I'm wrong. Just get the Catholics on the board to come in and tell me they are not Christians, and not Bible Christians. I did say I'm pretty sure. I'm not certain. So go ahead and prove I'm wrong.
Or just get haughty and pretend you made a point you didn't yet make.

I'm sure it was. You're welcome.

 

....

Did you all catch that?

Are these missionaries making it so good people go to hell, since inevitably some won't believe them, and they would have otherwise been judged by how good they are as people?

Here's a good clarify question: Can non-believers go to hell under this logic? Or is that impossible because you not taking an option you didn't have or didn't know existed isn't rejection?

And another clarify question: Is mouthing the words enough? If you lie and say you believe this God exists and that Jesus existed and that you accept Jesus into your heart, when you don't because you think they are real, does that make you saved? Or is such a lie itself a sin?

 

What about your knowledge of Islam is correct ... what claim are you making on behalf of Islam .. and how does this relate to a tough question about Christianity .. Do you claim Islam is superior because their prophet came after Jesus ?

 

Read the posts I was responding to.

 

islam and Christianity are mutually exclusive, if one is true then the other must be false. In fact Islam cannot coexist with any other belief.

 

Got Questions are deceivers .. a web of lies as shown to you on numerous occasions ..

and there goes Mitt speaking for God again - committing the "unpardonable sin" while claiming non belief in man made dogma is the unpardonable sin.

Too much Irony there mate .. down the dark path

Oh .. there be error to be found .. but not on the part of Injeun .. The error be spread is that Got Questions snake charmer site .. a web of deceit and lies to be found there .. They be running from the "tough questions" -- just like you when you running to them for answers..

No place for the light of Jesus have they .. only the darkness of the demiurge - cast a dark spell

 

Your comments on the Golden Rule - half correct. Correct that the rule is the rock on which the teachings and ministry of "Christ" was based.
Incorrect that Christianity has adopted this rule as Christ declared .. and neither Christians for the most part.

Ghandi was on to something when he stated "I like your Christ - but not your Christians"

Islam also has the Golden Rule .. believe it or not but they don't follow it either .. don't even pray in the right direction those silly folks.

Your claim about mutual exclusivity is unsupported . if what is true .. then other false ? sure we could find some things .. but seems a nonsensical claim .. and your coexistence claim is nonsense from a historical perspective .. Neither extremist form of Christianity or Islam plays well with others - Judaism not a great track record either ..

 

Islam believes Jesus was a man, Christianity believes Jesus was divine. Islam believes Jesus was not crucified and resurrected, Christianity does. Islam believes salvation is through works, Christianity by faith alone.

Islam believes the teachings of Jesus were lost and so God sent Mohammed, Christianity is defined by the New Testament and holds the NT as the true teachings of Jesus. In other words Islam believes Christians are blasphemers.

Islam and Christianity cannot both be true, they are mutually exclusive.

 

Already explained that one could find a few areas where both can't be true .. but that this is silliness. Your claim about co-existence is still false

Your claim that all Christianity is "Faith Alone" is false - Only Protestant believes in the doctrine of "Sola Fide" - Salvation by Faith Alone. Both Orthodox and Catholic Reject Sola Fide .. as does Jesus.

Islam is probably right about most of the teachings of Jesus being lost .. the GR being one of the surviving teachings .. funny that this is the one that Christianity rejects for the most part. Evangelical - Pentecostal -Fundamentalists being the worst offenders.

 

I gave you Islamic beliefs straight from the Koran and Hadith which are completely contradictory to Christian beliefs.

The fact Islam believes Jesus was not crucified and resurrected - they deny the belief that all of Christianity rests upon - is all it takes for Islam and Christianity to be mutually exclusive.

 

@Giftedone.. what are your beliefs? Do you believe in a Supreme Being? Do you Believe in the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob? Do you beleive Jesus of Nazarene is God Incarnate on Planet Earth?

 

Already told you there were differences between the two religions .. no need to repeat this fact back to me as if it is relevant.

Some things are different .. some things are the same between the two religions .. so what . who cares

 

Yes, Islam, for all it's faults, doesn't have vicarious redemption. One of the few things about it better than Christianity. Judaism, same.

 

Yes - maybe - maybe

What are your answers to same questions cept for question 2) what is the name of the God Abraham so I can complete the task you have set before me and 3) what is meant by God incarnate on Planet Earth ?

 

And those differences are fundamental and incompatible. And Billions of people care.