His death removed an obstacle to our being forgiven. We could not in any way on our own merit Gods frogiveness after our own personal sins and those of our first parents Adam and Eve. Don't you then think that it was fitting for someone to offer worthy reparation? Is not also true that God never forces anyone to accept His forgiveness, it is there for all who appreciate and want it but those who do not want it, do you think that they will be forced to have it?
218139
I agree with your point of view.  The question is a legal one.  Adam lost life for us and a price had to be paid so that we could get life back.\n\nThe life of the perfect man Jesus was that price. \n\nNo God does not force us to accept the provision for life made possible by his sons death.  We have free will to accept it or reject it.\n\nNo I do not think they will be forced to have it but they will be forced to know the consequences of not having it at Armageddon.
102226
First, no one murdered Jesus, he gave himself freely to make possible our salvation and return to our Father in Heaven. Secondly, all sins can be forgiven by a loving and forgiving God. While I do not believe as noted about that either the Jews or Romans murdered Christ. Jesus knew what was necessary and again gave himself freely in harmony with the Fathers will.\n\nI do not understand why anyone would want to blame others for the gift of salvation made possible by the life, death and resurrection of Christ. While many may say Jesus was treated poorly at the hands of his oppressors, this does not take away from His willing sacrifice for our future salvation. I do not place blame for the death of Jesus, I give thanks for his willing to die for yours and my sins.\n\nPeace be with you all,\n\n+Michael
322453
Jesus died on the cross for the sins of mankind. The redemption/salvation Jesus offers is a solution to the problem Adam created. Its like someone destroyed the bridge (Adam), and someone else provided a means like a plank for us to go over to the other side (Jesus). \n\nI think it was right to make it an option, and a choice to choose whether we go on this plank on not. I am not a robot and no one should force their opinions or actions on me especially if they claim they love me. So i believe Jesus loved us enough to allow us choose. It does not in any way imply his solution to the problem was weaker than the problem. It implies its up to us to choose.
596824
He did. What makes you think he didn't?\n\nThe story of Adam wasn't about forgiveness as much as it was about living with your decisions...even the bad ones.\n\nGod warned Adam about sin and its consequences. God told Adam not to eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree. He told him that if he did, he would die (Genesis 2:15-17). \n\nWhen Adam sinned, God did not immediately put Adam to death, as his sin deserved. Instead, God sought Adam out and exposed his sin (Genesis 3:8-13). God also indicated the consequences Adam and his wife would experience because of their sin (Genesis 3:8-19). \n\nGod removed Adam and Eve from the garden and prevented them from returning to it. He kept them from eating of the tree of life, lest they live forever in their sin (3:22-24). \n\nGod gave Adam and Eve another son, Seth, after Cain killed Abel (4:25-26). It was after the birth of Seth that people began to worship the Lord (4:26). Did this include Adam? I am inclined to think so. \n\nAll of this suggests that Adam and Eve did seek God's forgiveness and receive it. The Bible places the emphasis on Adam's sin (and not on his repentance and forgiveness) because it was through Adam's sin that all mankind was corrupted and brought under the same sentence of death (Romans 5:12-21). Adam turns our attention toward the sin of the human race. Jesus Christ turns our attention to life and righteousness.\n\nGod forgives. And we forgive. But we all must repent when we sin and lie in the bed we made.
568922
Where people miss this is, Jesus is not "condemning" their answer. They got the answer right. But because they did recognize who did the fathers will, then they are able to recognize their Father's will. Basically, Jesus took the, "we didn't know" excuse away from them, and corrected them, so they would repent.\n\nJesus was helping them, by showing them the errors of their way. They were human, just like me and you. We all need help, don't we?
105974
If you are trying to get at "Why are there disasters?" or "Why do bad things happen to good people?", then here is my response.\n\nGod loves each one of us (even those of us who don't accept His sacrifice, Jesus) and because this love is just so huge, He is fair.  He doesn't force anyone to love Him.  He lets us choose.  So, why did the sweet lady get her purse stolen?  Because that robber has the same choice that we all make: do we follow what God has told us in His instructions to us (the Bible), have we listened to Jesus and allowed Him to pay for our sins, and have we daily allowed the Holy Spirit to rule our lives?  \n\nSo because we all (even dedicated, born-again Christians) make mistakes, and fall away from God and His word, WE are choosing to live for Him or against Him.  God did make everything perfect- He said that it was after every day- even the sixth day when He made man.  \n\nTo put this all in perspective, though, this life is just a moment in time compared to eternity with Christ.  When we have a bummer week in this life, it seems to last for so long, but 10 years later, we only remember a bit of it.  Same is true when we will be praising God or be banished from His presence for eternity.  Then that will be perfect.  For always.  No more tears.  I have already been praying for you.
328796
Paul was a person too...and people are flawed.  Judah was only one brother of 11 who sold his youngest brother to slave traders and Jesus came from his line.  It isn't our job to judge other people or allow them to alter our faith in God.  I think that if it were found that he plead guilty because he was then he was a human doing better than most humans because most wouldn't plead guilty...they would lie and try to cover up what they did.  The key to this question is the idea of repentance...we should focus on his repentance and turning from sin rather than the sin.  Being a man of God doesn't make him exempt from the human tendancy to sin...that's the name of the game when you have true faith...the temptation doesn't go away, it's how you deal with it.
259410
If someone pays my fine, even if I do not like that person, then the government can no longer demand payment from me.  If Jesus paid my debt, then God can no longer demand it from me.  How could God still punish sinners after Jesus died for us all\n\nThe Bible says that Jesus was a ransom sacrifice who died to set us free (Mark 10:45).  Is this ransom paid to God or to the Devil?  If to God, then why did God kill his own son to set us free when he could have just set us free and keep his son?  If the ransom was paid to the devil, then how could the devil be on such great bargaining terms with God to demand his very son?\n\n\nThe question arises that Can't God just forgive Christians and not have to kill Jesus? \n\n\nthe expected answers will be here i.e. "love , love, because of love".... \n\nhow about this love of God ...\n"O man! What has seduced thee from thy Lord Most Beneficent?- Him Who created thee. Fashioned thee in due proportion, and gave thee a just bias; In whatever Form He wills, does He put thee together." (QURAN 82:6-8)\n["Say: "O my Servants who have excessively wronged their own souls, despair not of God's Mercy: for God forgives all sins for He is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.\nTurn to your Lord (for forgiveness) and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you: after that you shall not be helped." (Quran 39:53-54.)]\n\n(QURAN 85.14) "He ( Allah ) is the Forgiving, the Loving, And He is the Oft-Forgiving Full of loving-kindness"\n\nonly Islam has solutions for the problems raised above.\n\nAllah knows best
668556
i think the begging for forgiveness after a sin is a cop out.people know that killing/cheating/etc are sins yet they do it anyway knowing that they can always ask for forgiveness when they shouldn't even be thinking of sinning,if they're actually "religious"(who are suppose to be loyal&true to their god.)killing/cheating/etc are conscious decisions & deliberate actions.people don't just accidentally cheat on their significant other.i don't buy into the "i'm not perfect.i make mistakes.i'm human." excuses for their evil/sneaky behavior.there should be zero tolerance.you are clear about the rules yet disobey anyway due to temptation/etc.therefore, repeat offending sinners will be denied & punished accordingly:)
177065
As long as we sincerely repent to HIM for our sins, and never do them again, we will be forgiven. We must also correct, if possible, what was done wrong, "pay a debt, return an item, tell the truth, etc." Jesus died on the cross for us. He took every sin we could do, upon his shoulders and paid the price. The least we could do is acknowledge our wrong doing and never repeat it.
650718
I definately agree with you.  Other than Jesus was God's son, supposedly, why was his crucifixtion so important...he wasn't the only one that was crucified and tortured.  There is a lot in the Bible that can be scrutinized over and there is always going to be people who believe in different things.  The Christians who were taught that they cannot think anything other than God is God and Jesus is the son of God and that everything happens because God wants it to will never change their mind about it.  I have asked questions like this and people say I am ignorant for asking these questions...I say they are because they don't question anything or think for themselves.  How merciful a God we have that allows molestation and slow painful deaths for innocent children with cancer and AIDS.  I am not sure on the answers for a lot of your questions...I know that I believe there is a God...I do not however believe in Him in the way others do...I believe He is there to watch out over his children like a father does and no ones father is perfect...neither is God.  Everyone has their faults including God.  The Bible was made by man not by God.  It is all mans interpretation of what God told them and maybe that is why we are being punished now is because those people as well did not interpret God's word the way He told them to do so.  You have great questions!  Just believe what you want and what you know inside yourself is right.  There will always be someone who will say you are wrong or whatever...but God made us the way we are...made us have doubts and if you...this is going to sound cheesy...listen to yourself you will know it is God who is putting that belief inside of you.  I have hardly read the Bible by the way...I just believe what is in my heart and what makes sense to me.    I hope all that made sense to you.
374545
He needs to be told that God's gift of unconditional love and forgiveness NEEDS his part to be fulfilled.  That God is unconditional love and forgiveness and that it's only your uncle's ego voice that is telling him otherwise.  He needs to know that our egos drown out the voice for God and our egos make God into something He's not by demanding that we can't be forgiven and that we need to continue to punish ourselves.  This is ego madness.  Maybe if he can be told that the best gift he can offer God and you would be to accept forgiveness, stop condemning himself, and to let the past go.  As for you, amen, my brother.  AMEN.  When I hear stuff like this, it makes me feel hope.  Thanks for making my night.
132903
Christ is the only one who has offered to pay my sin debt to god!!! those other so called gods or religions, offer no other way to stand in front of a holy god forgiven!!!( debts payed) For all have sinned and come short of the glory of GOD!!!For the wages of sin is death but the gift of GOD is eternal life through our LORD JESUS CHRIST  if we could be forgiven of our sin by being good or by our good works,how good would we have to be,or how much good works would we have to do? Jesus said I AM THE WAY,THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME. My friend the tomb of the LORD JESUS CHRIST is empty! Buddha,and all those other men that claimed to have the answers to eternal life, their bones are still in their thumbs waiting for judgment day! They needed to be saved themselves! they and many others reject GOD'S GRACE in offering his only son's life to pay our way home. Please my friend don't make this tragic mistake yourself!!! CHRIST said today is the day of salvation. (no man is promised tomorrow)Get saved today!!! Get alone with GOD ask him to forgive your sins, tell him you except his sons free gift(eternal life) he paid for on the cross, and you want to serve him all the days of your life and he will give you the power to do it,by faith!!! Pray these things in the name of JESUS CHRIST, AND YOU WILL BE SAVED!!! GOD BLESS!!! P.S. Don't trust other gods!!
385172
All I can offer is my own two cents from my study. (clink, clink)\n\nBefore looking at Cain and Able, we need to look at Adam and Eve's last time in the Garden before having to leave. They had already sinned before God and was punished (the ground cursed and pain in child birth). As hard as it is to believe, Adam and Eve's sins were paid for - therefore there is no "original sin" - but that's another post!\n\nBefore getting kicked out of the Garden, God made garments of skins and clothed them. Why? As we can see in later parts of scripture, God perfers animal sacrifice because of the blood. The blood "pays" for the sins of the offerer. That's why God gave them garmetns of skins - He had shown them what was the offering that He wanted - animal.\n\nAdam then taught this to his sons Cain and Able. For Able it was easier since he already took care of the flock. Cain knew God accepted only animal offerings, but pride got in the way. Instead of going to his brother and trading a lamb for some harvest goods, Cain decided to simply offer up his goods instead of a lamb.\n\nAll Cain had to do was humble himself and ask to trade a lamb for some grain with his brother. But he was jealous that Able had it easy because he overlooked the flock.\n\nSo when Cain offered up his harvest to God, He refused it. Instead of realizing his mistake and doing something to fix it, he got angry. God then asked him what was wrong, that if he did the right thing, he would be a happier person. But Cain let anger fester in his heart until he murdered his brother.\n\nThis is a fine example of how people rather do their own thing than obey the rules God has given us for better living.
491908
What a wonderful question!  I love it when people really think and ask questions.  It is only by asking that you will receive an answer.  I can only hope that, by the time you get to MY long-winded answer, you will not have given up reading because of SO MANY answers.\n\nA couple other answerers made some good points.  I'd like to tie them together.\n\n1st, the Bible explains death is the penalty for sin, but once a person dies, he is acquitted of his sin.  At Romans 6:7 it explains:  "For he who has died has been acquitted from [his] sin."  \n\nRomans 6:23 explains:  "For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord."\n\nSo, all who died before Jesus was sacrificed were acquitted of their sin at death, though they did not at that time have redemption from their sin and therefore the prospect of resurrection. (Psalm 49:7-9) \n\nAs the apostle Paul was inspired to explain in the book of Hebrews (2 Timothy 3:16, 17), the animal sacrifices of the Law covenant could not completely cover sin, or else they would not have had to be offered year after year. Those sacrifices, especially the ones on the Day of Atonement, were but a “shadow of the good things to come.” (Heb. 10:1-4; 8:5, 6; 9:9, 10) The reality that was foreshadowed was the ransom sacrifice of Christ that could fully atone for all our sins.\n\nTherefore, those worshiping God before Jesus came were given physical ways to help them visualize their need for the coming Messiah, through their sacrifices year after year, among other traditions and laws.\n\nThe entry of Jesus Christ to make propitiation for the sins of humankind and thus effect a release was not an entry into any earthly temple. “For Christ entered, not into a holy place made with hands [as the high priest of Israel did] which is a copy of the reality, but into heaven itself, now to appear before the person of God for us. . . . the Christ was offered once for all time to bear the sins of many.” (Heb. 9:24-28) It was into the presence of Jehovah God in heaven that Christ went, following his resurrection, to offer the merit of the perfect lifeblood he had poured out, this to effect a permanent release for those of mankind who would exercise faith in the merit of that ransom. \n\nThose who lived before Jesus definitely looked intently forward to the time when God would provide such a ransom.  Therefore, since they were not redeemed and given the hope of resurrection until after Jesus came to earth and died, they wait in the grave, or "Sheol," unconscious (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10) until the time comes for them to be resurrected when the earth is cleansed of wickedness (Psalms 37:10, 11, 29), those who practiced good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgment. (John 5:25-30)  They will be given the opportunity to prove where their loyalties lie, so to speak, at that time in the future.  But that is another subject.  If you're interested in information about that, please contact me.\n\nIn the meantime, I really hope you feel more satisfied with this answer.\n\n:)
397917
Dear ES,\n\nThrough the years I've heard so many people say that it isn't fair to people who aren't born in Christian families or in a Christian nation.\n\nThe thing is that nobody is born a Christian, absolutely nobody.  The awesome uncreated Creator didn't have to save a single person because ALL have sinned and fallen short of His glory.  But while we were yet dead in our sins Christ died for the ungodly.\n\nJesus is the only Way to the Father but the Father does NOT have any quotas.  He doesn't want anybody to be eternally separated from Him.\n\nI'm enjoying your questions but I'll eventually get to the links you have provided.  Thank you!
592271
The whole issue is summed up in the holiness of God. When I was a child I was taught very strongly something  that is rarely taught in church today at all. I was taught that God was holy and He could not be in the presence of evil. That is why we cannot be in fellowship with God, because we are sinners. For us to be with God that sin must be dealt with. God declared to Adam that in the day he sinned he would die. That is a principle of life when we sin we die to God (separated from Him). Paul said it this way in Romans, the wages of sin is death. To overcome sin death must take place. When Jesus came He cam as a perfect man and completely God. When He died because he was perfect He was able to pay for  all sins with His  death. Now we can be forgiven, not because we are perfect but because the penalty is paid. All God asks of us to obtain forgiveness in faith in what He has done.