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A quick question for Christians

lostwanderingsoul

Well-Known Member
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.
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.
I assume that you are an adult female and therefore know where children come from. One cell from a man and one cell from a woman join and over nine months grow and develope. Then a new life is born. Human have a human spirit and God has a devine spirit. The Bible says we must repent and be baptized and then receive the Holy Spirit. When these two spirits join they form a new life. That life must grow and develope. The spirit will be born as a new being when Jesus returns and raises everyone from their graves. Jesus was the "first born" when He rose from the grave. Others will be born as His spirit brothers when they rise from the grave. Anyone who says he is born again is wrong because those who are born again will be spirits not flesh and blood. So God gives us the power to BECOME His children when we recieve His spirit at baptism but we are not born as His children until Jesus returns.
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
I assume that you are an adult female and therefore know where children come from. One cell from a man and one cell from a woman join and over nine months grow and develope. Then a new life is born. Human have a human spirit and God has a devine spirit. The Bible says we must repent and be baptized and then receive the Holy Spirit. When these two spirits join they form a new life. That life must grow and develope. The spirit will be born as a new being when Jesus returns and raises everyone from their graves. Jesus was the "first born" when He rose from the grave. Others will be born as His spirit brothers when they rise from the grave. Anyone who says he is born again is wrong because those who are born again will be spirits not flesh and blood. So God gives us the power to BECOME His children when we recieve His spirit at baptism but we are not born as His children until Jesus returns.
Thanks for your interpretation. I'm afraid I don't agree with it, but that's okay.
 

InChrist

Free4ever
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 don't know how you can sincerely or meaningfully accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior if you doubt He is alive and has power over death and sin or the ability to actually be Lord and Savior. I would start by asking Jesus to reveal to you who He is, whether the accounts in the gospels are accurate, and go from there.
 

The Anointed

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.

No! If you are agnostic about his existence [Unconcerned and uncommitted] like yourself, then it would be impossible for agnostic people like yourself to meaningfully accept Jesus as your Lord.
 

Mark Dohle

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.
Jesus did say that those who seek shall find. You are a seeker, so yes, you can do that, but you have to be open to what follows and not be to quick to discount. All beliefs can be self-fulfilling, to follow Christ, well, there are many surprises. Jesus is the 'Word" of God. Your very desire is a grace that yu are seeking to respond to......

I will pray for you.

Peace
mark
 

Mark Dohle

Well-Known Member
Some interesting answers to this question. One weakness of having a Holy Book is that we can only get out of it what we bring, so we each will have a tendency to tell others about God "Truths" that might actually be based on some idol or another. If God wills the salvation of all men, then he draws all to himself. Humans like to make country clubs, God does not seem to work that way. His love for the outcast, the sinner, would seem to suggest that we are all being drawn.

In the story of the Prodigal Son, if read, prayed over, can lead us all into some interesting thoughts on God and how he waits patiently for our return when we wander off. Also, at least for my part, it brings me to to the knowledge that I do not understand God's love or mercy, and for that I am glad.

Each human being is made in the image and likeness of God, that is why Jesus told us that how we treat others, especially enemies, is how in the end, we treat him. It is a hard road to travel, and for me, a slow journey in learning to see Christ, in others......be they believer, agnostic, or atheist. No limits on God's grace and love, at least from my experience. Well, by our freely chosen path, we can reject such an awsome, infinite, love.

Peace
mark
 

Sky Rivers

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.
I recommend that you pray to God for understanding, for the revelation of Jesus Christ, and for faith. Many forget that faith too is a gift of God and that if one lacks it, they can pray to receive it.
 

exchemist

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.
It is also the other way round: "No one can come to the Father except through me[Christ]". So it is all a bit mysterious. It seems to be an oblique way of showing the identity of the Son and the Father, as different manifestations of one Godhead.

I think you draw an unwarranted conclusion in your interpretation of the the business about the Father "drawing" people. May it not be that the Father tries to draw many that are not drawn? If you believe in free will, you must acknowledge this possibility. (If you do not believe in free will, then we have no moral autonomy, rendering the concept of sin meaningless, so I assume this is not your position).
 

exchemist

Veteran Member
I recommend that you pray to God for understanding, for the revelation of Jesus Christ, and for faith. Many forget that faith too is a gift of God and that if one lacks it, they can pray to receive it.
That seems to make little sense. If you do not have faith, why on earth would you pray in the first place?
 

lostwanderingsoul

Well-Known Member
It is also the other way round: "No one can come to the Father except through me[Christ]". So it is all a bit mysterious. It seems to be an oblique way of showing the identity of the Son and the Father, as different manifestations of one Godhead.

I think you draw an unwarranted conclusion in your interpretation of the the business about the Father "drawing" people. May it not be that the Father tries to draw many that are not drawn? If you believe in free will, you must acknowledge this possibility. (If you do not believe in free will, then we have no moral autonomy, rendering the concept of sin meaningless, so I assume this is not your position).
If the Father draws many and they do not follow then the Father is a failure. The Father, however, is not a failure.No one can come to the Father unles he draws them through Jesus.
 

Sky Rivers

Active Member
You miss my point. Why would someone without faith, ie. a non-believer, pray to an entity he does not believe in, in order to receive faith that he sees no point in having?

The idea seems pretty stupid to me.
If that non-believer is drawn by God, (Who he or she doesn’t believe in) to do so.
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
I think you draw an unwarranted conclusion in your interpretation of the the business about the Father "drawing" people. May it not be that the Father tries to draw many that are not drawn? If you believe in free will, you must acknowledge this possibility. (If you do not believe in free will, then we have no moral autonomy, rendering the concept of sin meaningless, so I assume this is not your position).
Well put.
 

Katzpur

Not your average Mormon
Of course there is value in believing because the Father draws those who are willing to follow his laws and do good things. Those who do evil are not called.
Actually, before Paul was known by that name, and when he was known as Saul, he was a pretty bad guy. God drew him to Him, didn't He?
 

exchemist

Veteran Member
Of course there is value in believing because the Father draws those who are willong to follow his laws and do good things. Those who do evil are not called.
Aha, now we are getting somewhere. So you think the Father judges people first and then draws only the virtuous (or potentially virtuous) toward belief. I see.

It is not the message I take from the gospels, which is rather more one of God's unconditional love and compassion, even towards unlikely individuals. But I suppose it fits with Protestant ideas of predestination and exclusiveness.
 
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