He needs us to accept the gift? He needs us to make a choice? If He wanted that then He would have made the covenant with us. But He didn't, God and Jesus made the covenant together. Your acceptance is just another law that Jesus made under the Old Covenant - and thus another law that was fulfilled by Jesus. Does this not make sense to anyone?
129844
No idea what you're going on about, but sounds like a crack at those who would rather you didn't think for yourself, so rock on girl!
231859
i'm pretty sure you know the Christian view... this is something i've been thinking about a good bit lately - Genesis talks about 'when a man leaves his parents and basically takes a wife... they live together and become one.. sorry - paraphrasing i dont like... i'll add more as i research\nI'm curious more because of the jewish prophecy concerning the messiah; of a virgin, yet of the line of David. \n& my head hurts.
583530
Okay, this is my understanding of it from all I've read here on Y!A and elsewhere... Please correct me if I've made any mistakes...\n\nIn the beginning, God made a bunch of rules. Those who followed them went to heaven and those who broke them went to hell.\n\nBut they were really difficult rules, so God decided to send Jesus to the world. Jesus was God's son, but he was God Himself, too. Plus the Holy Spirit. And the "Word made Flesh". And many other things too.\n\nJesus's mission was to spread the word of God, his Father (i.e. Himself), but he was also our Saviour. This he accomplished by dying. You see, everyone is a sinner, and no-one can live up to God's rules. God seems to have realised that in due course. He could have, say, changed the rules or just absolved us all by fiat, but this whole kill-My-son (i.e. Myself) thing seemed easier.\n\nJesus was predestined to die for our sins. It was his calling. This is why he hid from the Romans like a fugitive, and why Pilate, Judas and the Jews are all condemned for their complicity - because they wanted to kill a man who wanted to die and was preordained to die. Their crucial role in carrying out God's plan to redeem us all is why we should hate them today.\n\nWhen Jesus, who willingly died and could have prevented it if he had wanted, was on the cross, he called out 'Father, why have you betrayed me?' This means, 'Father (i.e. myself), why have You (i.e. I) abandoned me (i.e. Yourself) when I'm carrying out the mission that you (i.e. I) decided to undertake in the first place?' This is because God, who is omnipotent, could not bear to look sin in the face, and Jesus (i.e. God) had become sin at that moment. Then Jesus died.\n\nExcept he didn't die. He spent a long weekend somewhere and then he was resurrected. So Jesus died for our sins, but he didn't die. He was raised again and now sits at the right hand of God. Except that he is God. But anyway, we can all go to heaven now, where we couldn't before Jesus died/didn't die for us.\n\nOf course, we can still go to hell. Jesus died for our sins, but it doesn't count unless you accept him as your Saviour. Plus, if you're Catholic, you also have to confess and repent and atone. And if you're Protestant, it doesn't much matter anyway, because God decided where you were going before you were born. Plus there's something about wine and thin little wafers.\n\nSo then... what have we learnt? Well, God's law is eternal, but God's law is really harsh so He gave us a hand by sending His son/Himself to die. Except that he didn't die. Because he died/didn't die, people can go to heaven. But they still have to follow God's law, or else they'll go to hell. Just like it was before God sent His son/Himself to die/not die on the cross in order to absolve/not absolve us of our sins.\n\nI hope this clears up any misunderstandings... It's all very clear and logical when you approach it the right way.
124080
They were/are held by an older covenant.  Christ presented a new (simplified) covenant.\n\nJust because Christ hadn't died for the remission of their sins doesn't mean that God didn't take Enoch and Elijah personally; it doesn't mean that Moses and Joshua and David (or Rahab and Ruth et al, either) weren't favored by God.\n\nThere is also the suggestion (possibly later in the New Testament, I don't know where it is if it is; I've heard it repeatedly but it doesn't matter to my belief) that Christ ministered to the dead while he was dead thus giving them a chance to be saved by his new covenant.
276679
hmm... this was years before Christ.. how could you blame Christianity? Ever hear of Sodom and Gomorah? The flood?these are old testament judgements against the world. The wages of sin is death. But through the sacrifice of Christ all men who accept him can have eternal life.Some things in the bible have spiritual meanings and call for greater understanding than many here are ready for.and some things can be taken out of context. Read the bible pray about it have faith in Jesus and God will show you many things. The simple Gospel is clear and it really is all anyone would need to know to be saved John 3:16. its a great place to start.... take your first steps first...your wanting great bible understanding before you have the basics.
325104
2 Cor 5:21 has always beeen theologically confusing. The first problem is to determine the sense in which Christ was "made . . . sin for us".  There are three major approaches. One approach is to understand made . . . sin as "treated as a sinner."  It seems to be saying Christ came to stand in that relation with God which normally is the result of sin, that is, estranged from God and the object of his wrath.  This is not a particularly good translation.  \n\nThe second approach is to identify "made . . . sin" with Christ's assuming a human nature. Through the incarnation Christ was made "in the likeness of sinful man" (Rom 8:3).  This is a better translation, but still not great.  \n\nThe final approach is to interpret verse 21 sacrificially as "made to be a sin offering." This draws on the Old Testament notion that God made the life of his servant a guilt offering (Is 53:10).\n\nOn the whole, this last interpretation seems the likeliest one.  The equivalent Hebrew term "hatta't" can actually mean either "sin" or "sin offering" (as in Lev 4:8-35). Also, the logic of verse 19 almost demands it.  If our debts are not posted to our account, it is because someone else has legally assumed them--much as the scapegoat did on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16) and the guilt offering did on other occasions (Lev 4--5). This is why God can make overtures of friendship and forgiveness toward those who are otherwise his enemies.\n\nIf the exact point of "made sin" is lost to us, the thrust is clear.  In 1 Peter 2:24 Christ himself bore our sins in his body up onto the tree. Paul may well be thinking of Isaiah 53:12, where the servant of the Lord is to be numbered with the transgressors and bear the sin of many.\n\nThe genitive can be subjective ("the righteousness that God gives"--that is, a righteous character), objective ("the righteousness we have before God"--that is, a right standing) or possessive ("the righteousness that God possesses"--that is, we share the righteousness that characterizes God himself). In Paul's writings the noun dikaiosyne typically is used of character. It is not merely that we acquire a right standing or do good works; we actually become righteous--although the latter may well presume the former. This is no legal fiction. \n\nPaul is the only New Testament writer to use the noun katallage (reconciliation) and verb katallasso (to reconcile).  In Greek social and political spheres the term denoted a change in relations between individuals, groups or nations, while in the religious arena it was used of relationships between gods and humans.  In Paul's writings, God is always the reconciler.\n\nThe bible is not just about sin, it is about forgiveness.  My best advice is: don't study sin, study forgiveness.  Sin comes pretty naturally to us, forgiveness does not.  It stands to reason that forgiveness is the more important of the two.
648644
I don't quite get your question right. Any way, they are different things that you are talking about.\n\nAdam and mankind was created to have eternal relationship and communion with God but Adam blew it by his wrong choice. He listened to the enemy rather than his friend and disobeyed the simple command. He not only lost it but also transferred the loss to the posterity. But God still made a provision through the death of Jesus Christ. Those who put their trust in Jesus will be restored to the original position.\n\nRegarding time and times there are different expressions in the Biblical language. You cannot apply the same rule everywhere because it depends a lot on the context.
504401
Wow a Christian using scripture in their thoughts on dogma- novel idea that I hope continues. I totally agree- Ephesians 2 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. Kinda hard to argue with that scripture too huh? But we must see-as James points out- that good works are a result of our faith. Not that  we need to do them to get into Heaven-but if we follow Christ- and He was a servant to all- then we will do the same. Great point!
601817
We have heard our whole lives, or as long as we have studied the Bible, that He would not be accepted in his own town.  There is a spiritual reason for this, God allows the Jews to be spiritually blinded so that His prophesies will be fulfilled.  He made the rules and the story is still being told.  Just because he died on the cross 2,000 years ago doesn't mean the story is over.  There are prophecies that still haven't been fulfilled and in the New Testament - Revelations it sais that He has a plan for all of His people, the Jews.  They are a big part of the last book of the Bible.  If you wonder why they simply don't get it, it's because God is in control of His chosen people. You could also ask why some other groups of people don't simply accept Him as their savior, ' believe with your heart, confess with your mouth......... ' it's because there is a super natural (if you will) veil covering their eyes.  God only allows the whole truth to be revealed to His children (the body of Christ).  He chooses whom He will.  You can only come into the body of Christ if you are called.  That's why he told US (His children) to seek and you'll find.  He didn't tell that to the sinners, He told that to the believers.  The Jews have a very important part to play in the end times, after the rapture.
366998
Because it says so in the Bible and if he didn't care he would not offer us the gift of everlasting life. Also he gave his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ so that our sins will be forgiven. If you read your Bible you would know the answers to all these questions you ask. By the way, what makes you think God doesn't care?
170665
Is this what you're getting at?\n\nRomans 5:1-21\n\nTherefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.\nFor when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.\nTherefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)\nTherefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.\nMoreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
266509
The law was given to the Jewish people, not to everybody. God chose the Jews to be His people. He wanted to be their king and the law was their constitution, so to speak. The only true theocracy in history! Later, the people asked for an earthly king but the law remained and is still a part of God's covenant with the Jewish people today.\nwhen Jesus came, He observed the law and even more, He fulfilled it. Does that mean it is no longer valid? \nNo, it's still valid. But it's still a covenant between God and the Jewish people. \nWhen the gospel was first preached to Gentiles, some Jewish believers taught, that all Gentiles have to become circumcised and follow the Mosaic law if they want to be followers of Christ.\nThe whole matter is discussed extensively in Acts 15. In the end, the apostles agreed, that Gentiles should not be subject to the law, but that they should be given the following guidelines: abstain from blood, from animals that have been strangled or sacrificed to idols and from sexual immorality. So why do Christians not follow these rules? Because they were not given as a law by God but rather as guidelines by the apostles. \nSo, yes the mosaic law still stands but Gentiles are not required to keep it.
61215
SQL,\n\nI think where most folks get confused is the covenant, whereby all sins will be forgiven if one gives his heart and life over to Jesus, repent for his sins, admit that they are imperfect sinners unworthy of his grace, entry into heaven is a given, right?\n\nHaving money to do good works in the name of God does not a true Christian make, especially if this person commits a heinous sin again and again, and asks forgiveness for them with knowlege in his heart that he's going to do the same thing again.\n\nGod's smarter than that.  He can see what's in people's hearts...if He sees someone asking forgiveness with deceit in his heart, do you think that forgiveness will be granted?\n\nI think not.
283986
Hello bad_karma_kayla.. :)\n\nGod created everything..we are but aliens here on this world..For God created us and put us here..The Holy Word only speaks of this earth..but Jesus did say:\n\nJohn 10\n\n14  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.\n \n15  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.\n \n16  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.\n \n============================================================\n\nAs you read the last scripture..who is Jesus speaking of..we will not know this until we meet Him in Glory.. :)\n\nIn Jesus Most Precious Name..\nWith Love..In Christ..
639556
hi..just want to share this which i faithfully believe in..and a promise he gave to us.. in (Rev. 22:1-7).. hope it helps.. thx have a good day..
352721
The Old Testament sacrifices were a 'type' of Christ. Think of them as a credit card for sin. Jesus was the actual payment. And that payment is good for all people throughout time.
627861
I agree with you completely. I am a christian, but I do not believe in the trinity theory. and there are ALLOT of references like this one that points toward the fact that they are not the same. A few of them are: after Jesus got baptized, God said to him, "this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased." would he talk to himself? also when the people asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, Jesus taught them to pray to God, not to himself. If he was God why wouldn't he have the people pray to him? yet another, Jesus on the cross said "My God, why have you forsaken me?" would God not only talk to himself, but also forsake himself? A final one... the bible says that the only unforgivable sin is blaspheming the holy spirit (Mark 3:29). If they were all the same, then blaspheming any of them would be unforgivable. They are very separate beings, and not the same.