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A quick question for Christians

Eddi

Agnostic
Premium Member
A quick question for Christians (am posting here as I am unable to post in the abrahamic forums):

Hi there:

I’ve been thinking… is it possible to meaningfully accept Jesus Christ as your lord and saviour if you are agnostic about about his current existence and the events described in the gospels? I like him very much and if he was my lord and saviour I would accept him as such. It’s just that I very much doubt that he is.
 

metis

aged ecumenical anthropologist
A quick question for Christians (am posting here as I am unable to post in the abrahamic forums):

Hi there:

I’ve been thinking… is it possible to meaningfully accept Jesus Christ as your lord and saviour if you are agnostic about about his current existence and the events described in the gospels? I like him very much and if he was my lord and saviour I would accept him as such. It’s just that I very much doubt that he is.
Yes, one can have questions and yet still accept only certain teachings. Christianity is not a zero-sum game whereas it's all or nothing, although some denominations are more of the my way or the highway ilk, especially fundamentalists.
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
A quick question for Christians (am posting here as I am unable to post in the abrahamic forums):

Hi there:

I’ve been thinking… is it possible to meaningfully accept Jesus Christ as your lord and saviour if you are agnostic about about his current existence and the events described in the gospels? I like him very much and if he was my lord and saviour I would accept him as such. It’s just that I very much doubt that he is.

Lets us know maybe if that doubt changes.

Surrounding yourself with Christian support will likely change your feelings on this. However if your belief remains superficial, not diving in with complete acceptance, your experience/attitude probably won't change much.

The "magic" happens when you surrender yourself, your life to God/Jesus completely. That's when you'll feel the holy spirit come over you to support your certainty.

Can't really cause it or predict it, it happens when it happens but you'll know when it does.
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
A quick question for Christians (am posting here as I am unable to post in the abrahamic forums):

Hi there:

I’ve been thinking… is it possible to meaningfully accept Jesus Christ as your lord and saviour if you are agnostic about about his current existence and the events described in the gospels? I like him very much and if he was my lord and saviour I would accept him as such. It’s just that I very much doubt that he is.
To me, it wouldn't be possible, because so much of the premise of His existence is that He was raised from the dead and continues to live today. Had He simply been "a good man whom we should seek to emulate," for instance, and hadn't been raised from the dead, it seems to me that the entire message of His gospel is lost. After all, there have been a lot of good men who have lived over the years. That He conquered death is, to me, very significant. I can't imaging someone being able to "accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior" unless he believes that Jesus lives today.
 
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lostwanderingsoul

Well-Known Member
Actually it is not up to you. The Bible says that no one can come to Jesus unless the Father in Heaven draws him. If you do not believe then you have not been drawn. This is a big mistake most Christians make. They say anyone can believe in Jesus and be saved but that is not what the Bible says.
 

Desert Snake

Veteran Member
A quick question for Christians (am posting here as I am unable to post in the abrahamic forums):

Hi there:

I’ve been thinking… is it possible to meaningfully accept Jesus Christ as your lord and saviour if you are agnostic about about his current existence and the events described in the gospels? I like him very much and if he was my lord and saviour I would accept him as such. It’s just that I very much doubt that he is.
Yes I believe so. You can be an 'agnostic theist', also, the Scripture says that's great.
 
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Kenny

Face to face with my Father
Premium Member
A quick question for Christians (am posting here as I am unable to post in the abrahamic forums):

Hi there:

I’ve been thinking… is it possible to meaningfully accept Jesus Christ as your lord and saviour if you are agnostic about about his current existence and the events described in the gospels? I like him very much and if he was my lord and saviour I would accept him as such. It’s just that I very much doubt that he is.
I accepted Jesus on these parameters not knowing a thing about the Bible other than Adam ate an apple and sent the world into a tailspin.

1) Either the Bible is true or it's false. I will start with believing its true and test the sucker and will find out soon enough if it is false.
2) I've been in control of my life and its going from bad to worse. Might as well as try something different.
3) It certainly won't hurt me if I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and believe in my heart that he was raised from the dead.

Apparently that was enough.

My sister-in-law, at the same time, said in her heart "I'm a rank sinner and I need forgiveness" and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior

My wife, at the same time, said in her heart "I haven't killed anyone, I'm a pretty good person, but if they are raising their hand, I'm going to do it too" and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

All three of us were changed.

Apparently God is just looking at the heart and, I assume, He knows when it is lip service and when it is heart giving.
 

Skwim

Veteran Member
Actually it is not up to you. The Bible says that no one can come to Jesus unless the Father in Heaven draws him. If you do not believe then you have not been drawn. This is a big mistake most Christians make. They say anyone can believe in Jesus and be saved but that is not what the Bible says.
So whether or not one ends up in hell all hinges on what god does with a person. Obviously then, heaven and hell are simply crap-shoots. Go to church--don't go to church. Rape your twelve year-old neighbor--don't rape your twelve year-old neighbor. In the end it just doesn't matter. Interesting.

.
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
Actually it is not up to you. The Bible says that no one can come to Jesus unless the Father in Heaven draws him. If you do not believe then you have not been drawn. This is a big mistake most Christians make. They say anyone can believe in Jesus and be saved but that is not what the Bible says.
So, I'm interested in knowing... Do you believe that our Father in Heaven chooses not to draw some individuals to Him?
 

nPeace

Veteran Member
A quick question for Christians (am posting here as I am unable to post in the abrahamic forums):

Hi there:

I’ve been thinking… is it possible to meaningfully accept Jesus Christ as your lord and saviour if you are agnostic about about his current existence and the events described in the gospels? I like him very much and if he was my lord and saviour I would accept him as such. It’s just that I very much doubt that he is.
John 9:35-41
35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and on finding him, he said: “Are you putting faith in the Son of man?” 36The man answered: “And who is he, sir, so that I may put faith in him?” 37 Jesus said to him: “You have seen him, and in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38He said: “I do put faith in him, Lord.” And he did obeisance to him. 39Jesus then said: “For this judgment I came into this world, that those not seeing might see and those seeing might become blind.” 40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and they said to him: “We are not blind also, are we?” 41Jesus said to them: “If you were blind, you would have no sin. But now you say, ‘We see.’ Your sin remains.”

James 1:6-8
6 But let him keep asking in faith, not doubting at all, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about. 7 In fact, that man should not expect to receive anything from Jehovah; 8he is an indecisive man, unsteady in all his ways.
 

74x12

Well-Known Member
A quick question for Christians (am posting here as I am unable to post in the abrahamic forums):

Hi there:

I’ve been thinking… is it possible to meaningfully accept Jesus Christ as your lord and saviour if you are agnostic about about his current existence and the events described in the gospels? I like him very much and if he was my lord and saviour I would accept him as such. It’s just that I very much doubt that he is.
It's a start. Yes. It would be meaningful. How meaningful? I don't know. But just the act of doing that would let God know you have desire for faith. Peace.
 

Neuropteron

Active Member
A quick question for Christians (am posting here as I am unable to post in the abrahamic forums):

Hi there:

I’ve been thinking… is it possible to meaningfully accept Jesus Christ as your lord and saviour if you are agnostic about about his current existence and the events described in the gospels? I like him very much and if he was my lord and saviour I would accept him as such. It’s just that I very much doubt that he is.


It certainly is possible for an agnostic to accept Jesus.
However the more important question is, will Jesus accept the agnostic ?

Hebr 11:6 "...without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him".
 

lostwanderingsoul

Well-Known Member
So whether or not one ends up in hell all hinges on what god does with a person. Obviously then, heaven and hell are simply crap-shoots. Go to church--don't go to church. Rape your twelve year-old neighbor--don't rape your twelve year-old neighbor. In the end it just doesn't matter. Interesting.

.
Oh it matters a lot. People are expected to resist sin. Those who do are more likely to be called by God.
 

74x12

Well-Known Member
It certainly is possible for an agnostic to accept Jesus.
However the more important question is, will Jesus accept the agnostic ?

Hebr 11:6 "...without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him".
Faith is a gift from God. If someone has only the desire for more faith --which I would argue he does-- then that desire is from God.
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
Well it seems pretty obvious that if God chooses who to call then he must choose not to call others. What are your thoughts?
I believe He chooses to call every one of His children. Some just don't respond to His call. I believe He wants us all to return to His presence, not just some of us. But He will not force our hand. If we respond to the grace He offers us by giving us the faith to believe, we can take the next step, which is to act on our belief. If we don't, it won't be because He hasn't extended the offer.
 

lostwanderingsoul

Well-Known Member
I believe He chooses to call every one of His children. Some just don't respond to His call. I believe He wants us all to return to His presence, not just some of us. But He will not force our hand. If we respond to the grace He offers us by giving us the faith to believe, we can take the next step, which is to act on our belief. If we don't, it won't be because He hasn't extended the offer.
I would like your views on exactly how a person becomes one of God's children. Is everyone automatically one just by being born or do you have to do something?
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
I would like your views on exactly how a person becomes one of God's children. Is everyone automatically one just by being born or do you have to do something?
I'd say it depends on the context. Since He is the Father of our spirits and we are His offspring, that makes us His children. The Bible also refers to His children as those who love and worship Him, which obviously not all do.
 

lostwanderingsoul

Well-Known Member
I'd say it depends on the context. Since He is the Father of our spirits and we are His offspring, that makes us His children. The Bible also refers to His children as those who love and worship Him, which obviously not all do.
I do not see how context matters. Either everyone is his child or not. Also I do not see where anything talks about our spirit having a father. I am not aware of spirits having parents. Maybe you can explain more.
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
I do not see how context matters. Either everyone is his child or not.
Well, John 1:10-12 says, "He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name..." So, in that particular verse, "sons of God is used a little differently," because it is implied that this is something we can "become." I do agree with you, though, that we are all children of God.
Also I do not see where anything talks about our spirit having a father. I am not aware of spirits having parents. Maybe you can explain more.
Hebrews 12:9 states, "Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" Our mortal fathers are the fathers of our flesh, but God is the father of our spirit. And in Acts 17:28, Jesus quotes from the Old Testament prophets who stated the "For we are also his offspring." I believe that we human beings are more than just God's "creations." We are His spirit offspring, His spirit children. He is the very source of our existence.
 
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