Is it enough to believe?

Amanaki said:

When we look at the major religions specially the abrahamic religions the norm today is it is enough to belive in God or Jesus to get to heaven. But it is really that easy?

In most Asian religion the teachings say do this (the there are guidelines) and you will see progress, and if you do really well you reach enlightenment ( you must walk the path you self, not just get taken up by Buddha or Shiva if you belive in them)

Should humans not do their best to do what the religion say "they should do" instead of just Yes i belive and now i go to heaven?

I do not judge anyone who do have the belief of "now i belive then i go to heaven" I only ask the question because i not sure i understand how it would be possible.

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Personally, I see action and behavior as primary, and belief as secondary. But you're also mixing paradigms here. One paradigm does hold belief as more important than the other one does. Also, the beliefs affect the behaviour. Dharmic adherents holding reincarnation, are naturally more patient. Death and birth happen over and over.

At the very least a genuine disciple of Christ, that is one who follows the discipline of Christ, would feel compelled to fully examine what it means to "believe" in him and live their lives accordingly as best they can. If you stop and think about it there wouldn't be all sorts of warnings for believers not to stumble and if they do to get back up if believing were exclusively all that's required.

Amanaki said:

When we look at the major religions specially the abrahamic religions the norm today is it is enough to belive in God or Jesus to get to heaven. But it is really that easy?

In most Asian religion the teachings say do this (the there are guidelines) and you will see progress, and if you do really well you reach enlightenment ( you must walk the path you self, not just get taken up by Buddha or Shiva if you belive in them)

Should humans not do their best to do what the religion say "they should do" instead of just Yes i belive and now i go to heaven?

I do not judge anyone who do have the belief of "now i belive then i go to heaven" I only ask the question because i not sure i understand how it would be possible.

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Amanaki,
You are wise to question the belief that, all I have to do is believe. If you are a Christian, you are required to learn the truths recorded in the Holy Scriptures, and get what you learn into your Heart, then you must pass on to others what you have learned.
This is even recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures, about The Mosaic Law Covenant, as well as under The Christian dispensation. Deuteronomy 6:1-9.
Consider several thing said that proves that ALL true Christians, want to help others learn Bible truths, so that they can get saved, as well as the Christian Himself. Just before Jesus went back to heaven, he gave this order to his disciples, Acts 1:6-9, Matthew 28:18-20. Other disciples said the same things, especially The Apostle Paul, 1Timothy 4:15,16, 2Timothy 2:1,2, 24-26, 4:1-5, 1Corinthians 9:16-21.
A few days before Jesus went back to heaven he told his disciples this, Matthew 24:14, this Gospel must be preached in all the nations, then the end will come. When Jesus comes back to earth, it will be to Judge the world of mankind, Acts 17:31. The only way for people to know what the Bible says, is to teach them.
Today is the most critical time in man’s history, because when Jesus comes, all who do not KNOW God, and do not obey Jesus will receive everlasting destruction, as is recorded in the Holy Bible, 2Thessalonians 1:6-10.
Remember what Jesus said about loving our neighbors?? Matthew 22:36-40.
The Golden Rule applies here also, Matthew 7:12, Acts 4:12, must be taught to all we can reach. Agape!!!

Amanaki said:

When we look at the major religions specially the abrahamic religions the norm today is it is enough to belive in God or Jesus to get to heaven. But it is really that easy?

In most Asian religion the teachings say do this (the there are guidelines) and you will see progress, and if you do really well you reach enlightenment ( you must walk the path you self, not just get taken up by Buddha or Shiva if you belive in them)

Should humans not do their best to do what the religion say "they should do" instead of just Yes i belive and now i go to heaven?

I do not judge anyone who do have the belief of "now i belive then i go to heaven" I only ask the question because i not sure i understand how it would be possible.

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It is never enough.

It is never enough to believe.

James 2:19 New International Version (NIV)
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

It is never enough to have faith.

James 2:20 New International Version (NIV)
You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?

It is never enough to preach the Lord Jesus in the streets.
It is never enough to perform miracles in Jesus name.
It is never enough to to cast out demons.

Matthew 7:21-23 New International Version (NIV)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

So what is enough?

1 Peter 4:18 New International Version (NIV)
And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

Now that is from the Bible, not from my opinion.

Amanaki said:

When we look at the major religions specially the abrahamic religions the norm today is it is enough to belive in God or Jesus to get to heaven. But it is really that easy?
In most Asian religion the teachings say do this (the there are guidelines) and you will see progress, and if you do really well you reach enlightenment ( you must walk the path you self, not just get taken up by Buddha or Shiva if you belive in them)
Should humans not do their best to do what the religion say "they should do" instead of just Yes i belive and now i go to heaven?
I do not judge anyone who do have the belief of "now i belive then i go to heaven" I only ask the question because i not sure i understand how it would be possible.

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From Hinduism I remember that "Surrender to God" is the final step.
But not sure if "Christian way of believing in Jesus" equals "Surrender to God"
But there seems to be some common ground.

And anyway it's a personal journey
And maybe the Bible does not say it for nothing "The road is small, only very few will reach"

This is proof that the majority of the Christians are on the wrong road (2 billion Christians out of 7 billion can't be very few)

Amanaki said:

I know enough about the bible that there are sometimes contadictory verses there when it comes to how to get to heaven, But one that stuck in my mind is that " it is more difficult for a human being to go to paradise then it is for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle. so it kind of sound really really difficult to me.

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Amanaki,
One thing you must learn, before you will ever understand God’s message from the Bible. That thing is; The Bible is accurate in everything it says, because it is God’s word, and God cannot lie, Hebrews 6:18, Titus 1:2, 1Peter 1:25, Psalms 12:6,7, Isaiah 40:8, 2Timothy 3:16,17, 2Peter 1:20,21.
As you study God’s word you will come to realize that the things you thought were contradictions, were really just a lack of your knowledge of Bible truth.
Scripture comes in several ways, sometimes in hyperbole, in litotes, sometimes a direct statement, that will not be changed anywhere in the Bible. Some Scriptures are modified, by other Scripture, some Scriptures Complement, or add information to a Scripture. It takes much study in order to understand when and where these differences take place. First you must believe that the Bible is God’s word, take time to pray for God’s Holy Spirit to help you understand. If you are not sincere or are wickedyou will never understand. Even Babes can understand God’s word, where the wise and intellectual ones cannot, Luke 10:21, wicked ones cannot, Daniel 12:10, people whose heart is not right cannot understand, Matthew 13:13-15. Wickednesses of all kinds come out of the heart, so they cannot understand God’s words, Mark 7:20-23. The most important thing is to pray to The Only True God, whose Personal, Proper Name is Jehovah, in English, to get His Spirit, 1Corinthians 2:10, John 17:3, Acts 4:12, 2:21. Agape!!

Amanaki said:

When we look at the major religions specially the abrahamic religions the norm today is it is enough to belive in God or Jesus to get to heaven. But it is really that easy?

In most Asian religion the teachings say do this (the there are guidelines) and you will see progress, and if you do really well you reach enlightenment ( you must walk the path you self, not just get taken up by Buddha or Shiva if you belive in them)

Should humans not do their best to do what the religion say "they should do" instead of just Yes i belive and now i go to heaven?

I do not judge anyone who do have the belief of "now i belive then i go to heaven" I only ask the question because i not sure i understand how it would be possible.

Click to expand...

Jesus said, "If you love me keep my commandments." If you believe in Jesus Christ it means you have faith in Him, and if you have faith in Him you trust Him, and again if you trust Him you keep His commandments.

12jtartar said:

Amanaki,
One thing you must learn, before you will ever understand God’s message from the Bible. That thing is; The Bible is accurate in everything it says, because it is God’s word, and God cannot lie, Hebrews 6:18, Titus 1:2, 1Peter 1:25, Psalms 12:6,7, Isaiah 40:8, 2Timothy 3:16,17, 2Peter 1:20,21.
As you study God’s word you will come to realize that the things you thought were contradictions, were really just a lack of your knowledge of Bible truth.
Scripture comes in several ways, sometimes in hyperbole, in litotes, sometimes a direct statement, that will not be changed anywhere in the Bible. Some Scriptures are modified, by other Scripture, some Scriptures Complement, or add information to a Scripture. It takes much study in order to understand when and where these differences take place. First you must believe that the Bible is God’s word, take time to pray for God’s Holy Spirit to help you understand. If you are not sincere or are wickedyou will never understand. Even Babes can understand God’s word, where the wise and intellectual ones cannot, Luke 10:21, wicked ones cannot, Daniel 12:10, people whose heart is not right cannot understand, Matthew 13:13-15. Wickednesses of all kinds come out of the heart, so they cannot understand God’s words, Mark 7:20-23. The most important thing is to pray to The Only True God, whose Personal, Proper Name is Jehovah, in English, to get His Spirit, 1Corinthians 2:10, John 17:3, Acts 4:12, 2:21. Agape!!

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I will not argue against you, But i was born as a christian and saw my self as christian until i was 20 when i Converted to Buddhism, Did i just convert? No i used 5 years of my life to study different belief systems/religons because when i was in church i found that the priest could not answer my questions, and they did not live fully according to the bible. so why would i follow someone who was not following their own teaching (bible)
Since i converted my understanding of (buddhist teaching) has made it more easy to also understand other religious texts or teaching.

I have no reason to say christianity is wrong because is till belive it is a valid teaching, But it was not the path i wanted, but buddhism has given me what christianity could not do at the time i was a chirstian person

robocop (actually) said:

Jesus said, "If you love me keep my commandments." If you believe in Jesus Christ it means you have faith in Him, and if you have faith in Him you trust Him, and again if you trust Him you keep His commandments.

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So you also follow the teaching that means both have faith in Jesus and his teaching

Amanaki said:

When we look at the major religions specially the abrahamic religions the norm today is it is enough to belive in God or Jesus to get to heaven. But it is really that easy?

In most Asian religion the teachings say do this (the there are guidelines) and you will see progress, and if you do really well you reach enlightenment ( you must walk the path you self, not just get taken up by Buddha or Shiva if you belive in them)

Should humans not do their best to do what the religion say "they should do" instead of just Yes i belive and now i go to heaven?

I do not judge anyone who do have the belief of "now i belive then i go to heaven" I only ask the question because i not sure i understand how it would be possible.

Click to expand...

I don't think it can happen that way at all, personally.

Then again, I do not see the point of any religious doctrine unless it is centered on learning to be both bold and responsible for one's actions.

Amanaki said:

When we look at the major religions specially the abrahamic religions the norm today is it is enough to belive in God or Jesus to get to heaven. But it is really that easy?

In most Asian religion the teachings say do this (the there are guidelines) and you will see progress, and if you do really well you reach enlightenment ( you must walk the path you self, not just get taken up by Buddha or Shiva if you belive in them)

Should humans not do their best to do what the religion say "they should do" instead of just Yes i belive and now i go to heaven?

I do not judge anyone who do have the belief of "now i belive then i go to heaven" I only ask the question because i not sure i understand how it would be possible.

Click to expand...

I have posted in years before....
heaven is looking for a reflection of itself

and it is written....heaven is within you

I have also posted....heaven will ask what you believe
and your response will make all the difference

believe in God that you go to heaven?
well yeah.....because you are likely to bump into Him when you get there

believe in Jesus that you go to heaven?
well yeah....because if He didn't make it... with all of His ability
the rest of us are screwed

say nay?... to Greater Spirit and expect to be well off after your last breath
mmmmm
not likely

Poor believers will be rewarded after they die, funny how that works.

Amanaki said:

When we look at the major religions specially the abrahamic religions the norm today is it is enough to belive in God or Jesus to get to heaven. But it is really that easy?

In most Asian religion the teachings say do this (the there are guidelines) and you will see progress, and if you do really well you reach enlightenment ( you must walk the path you self, not just get taken up by Buddha or Shiva if you belive in them)

Should humans not do their best to do what the religion say "they should do" instead of just Yes i belive and now i go to heaven?

I do not judge anyone who do have the belief of "now i belive then i go to heaven" I only ask the question because i not sure i understand how it would be possible.

Click to expand...

I figure that Christianity was made for folks at the bottom of the barrel. All the folks that there really was no hope of getting to heaven any other way. So God asks the minimum from them, to believe in Jesus and Jesus will speak for them at the time of judgement.

Christianity is for the sinful. Those folks who can't help themselves to stop sinning. Jesus/Christianity is God's plan for those folks who can't otherwise make it on their own. This way, everyone gets covered, even the worst of us.

Nakosis said:

I figure that Christianity was made for folks at the bottom of the barrel. All the folks that there really was no hope of getting to heaven any other way. So God asks the minimum from them, to believe in Jesus and Jesus will speak for them at the time of judgement.

Christianity is for the sinful. Those folks who can't help themselves to stop sinning. Jesus/Christianity is God's plan for those folks who can't otherwise make it on their own. This way, everyone gets covered, even the worst of us.

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I respect your view. But not sure i am fully agree

Amanaki said:

I know enough about the bible that there are sometimes contadictory verses there when it comes to how to get to heaven, But one that stuck in my mind is that " it is more difficult for a human being to go to paradise then it is for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle. so it kind of sound really really difficult to me.

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Actually, the verse is that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The reason is that the rich people of the time were very much focused on selfish motivations. Jesus was about charity and love for others, and helping them. The rich people of the time were not. I don't know if that's necessarily true today. Take Keanu Reeves... the man has just about more money than God, but he gives a lot to charities and helping others, all on the q.t.

Jainarayan said:

Actually, the verse is that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The reason is that the rich people of the time were very much focused on selfish motivations. Jesus was about charity and love for others, and helping them. The rich people of the time were not. I don't know if that's necessarily true today. Take Keanu Reeves... the man has just about more money than God, but he gives a lot to charities and helping others, all on the q.t.

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Thank you for correcting my answer Yes you are right.

Amanaki said:

Thank you for correcting my answer Yes you are right.

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It puts it into a different light.

Jainarayan said:

It puts it into a different light.

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Hehe well does it?

Amanaki said:

When we look at the major religions specially the abrahamic religions the norm today is it is enough to belive in God or Jesus to get to heaven. But it is really that easy?

In most Asian religion the teachings say do this (the there are guidelines) and you will see progress, and if you do really well you reach enlightenment ( you must walk the path you self, not just get taken up by Buddha or Shiva if you belive in them)

Should humans not do their best to do what the religion say "they should do" instead of just Yes i belive and now i go to heaven?

I do not judge anyone who do have the belief of "now i belive then i go to heaven" I only ask the question because i not sure i understand how it would be possible.

Click to expand...

Well, to be fair I think all but the most narrow Abrahamic believers think that good loving behavior is important too. And at that point one can see the start of a mergence between say Christianity and Buddhism.

My point is that you might be overstating the differences,

Amanaki said:

When we look at the major religions specially the abrahamic religions the norm today is it is enough to belive in God or Jesus to get to heaven. But it is really that easy?

In most Asian religion the teachings say do this (the there are guidelines) and you will see progress, and if you do really well you reach enlightenment ( you must walk the path you self, not just get taken up by Buddha or Shiva if you belive in them)

Should humans not do their best to do what the religion say "they should do" instead of just Yes i belive and now i go to heaven?

I do not judge anyone who do have the belief of "now i belive then i go to heaven" I only ask the question because i not sure i understand how it would be possible.

Click to expand...

I think the greatest example would be the Gospel according to the thief for Christians

39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

No works, no time to go through a process and no time to change in the natural sense... however, he went to Paradise and then Heaven.

As a Christian, our perspective is that we are spiritually bankrupt but Jesus, who knew no sin, had our sins place on Him and, because to His atoning sacrifice, God's righteousness was given to us as a gift when we believe. Not of works lest anyone should boast.

That being said, if we are still in this world, we should be offering a boat load of love works.