By Faith. Why?

[Redemptionsong]

The fact that there is death in the world has been going on for over 3 billion years. I am not "hopeless". Why would the fact that you and I are going to die make on hopeless. You may have a pipedream, but that does not mean that you have any more hope than anyone else. And before you comment about someone's atheism you should try to learn what the word means.

'Atheism' is the the negative ('not') of 'theism', and refers to not having a belief in the existence of a God, or gods. If you wish to add to this definition, please go ahead. It's important that you make it clear what you do, and do not, believe.

What is clear is that eternal life is not on your agenda. Therefore, any hope of eternal life does not register in your thinking. I differ from you because l believe that Jesus Christ makes eternal life a reality. I therefore have a hope that lies in Jesus Christ as Saviour.

Do you think l'm being unreasonable when l say that l have a hope that you do not have?

 

[Audie]

Sin is a central theme throughout the Bible.

In Genesis we see the causes of sin, and the effect of sin. We also see God offer a way out of the dilemma in which Adam and his generations find themselves.

A temporary solution to sin was provided under the Law. Offerings made to God in the temple, by those who were of a repentant heart, made it possible for people to gain absolution until further offerings were required.

The offering made by Christ for sin, by contrast, is not just unto death, but unto life, and becomes an eternal offering for all men. The 'infallible proof' for this lies in the testimony of the disciples, who witnessed Jesus alive after crucifixion [Acts 1:3].

Thereafter, Christ, who is sat at the right hand of the Father, becomes advocate for all who enter his kingdom.

Even I have heard all of that like 10 000
times.

 

[Subduction Zone]

'Atheism' is the the negative ('not') of 'theism', and refers to not having a belief in the existence of a God, or gods. If you wish to add to this definition, please go ahead. It's important that you make it clear what you do, and do not, believe.

What is clear is that eternal life is not on your agenda. Therefore, any hope of eternal life does not register in your thinking. I differ from you because l believe that Jesus Christ makes eternal life a reality. I therefore have a hope that lies in Jesus Christ as Saviour.

Do you think l'm being unreasonable when l say that l have a hope that you do not have?

Atheism is a lack of a belief in a god or gods. Most agnostics are also atheists.

And you are right. Myths about eternal life are "not on my agenda". Why should they be? And no, Jesus does not make such a belief a reality. It only makes it another story that you believe that never happened. Like the Noah's Ark myth. Anyone that believes that after they grew up enough not to believe in Santa Clause is not thinking rationally.

 

[2ndpillar]

Your post here seems like an incoherent rant to me. How does anything you have said here address anything in the post you are responding to? It doesn't! You simply ignored everything that was posted to you. So perhaps it is you that has closed your eyes and ears to seeing and hearing the scriptures that have been shared with you and are deceiving you own self. As posted earlier, only scripture which is Gods Words not mine was shared with you, showing that mankind fell away from God because of sin and unbelief in Gods Word. That is what the scriptures teach in Genesis 3:1-5. The scriptures also teach that we are saved by Gods grace through faith in Ephesians 2:8-9 and that without faith it is impossible to please God in Hebrews 11:6 because whatsoever is not of faith (unbelief) according to the scriptures in Romans 14:23 is sin. Those who continue in known unrepentant sin and unbelief in Gods Word do not enter into Gods kingdom according to the scriptures in John 3:36 and Hebrews 10:26-27. As shown above these are all Gods Words not my words that you deny with your words that are not Gods Words. Let me ask you again, what is it that I have shared with you from the scriptures above that you do not believe? Are you seriously trying to argue that we can not believe Gods Word and not obey what Gods Word says and still receive everlasting life? I can shown you from the old testament scriptures everything shared with you in this post and the earlier post. Would it help you if I just post old testament scripture? If you believe you can have Gods salvation while practicing sin and unbelief you do not know God or His Word which teaches the opposite of what you are claiming here.

As I stated earlier, your Romans, Ephesisans, and Hebrews, were all written by the false prophet Paul, or his associates. Your foundation is nothing but a foundation of sand (Matthew 7:24-27). And apart from your imagination, and the dogma of the daughters of Babylon (Rev 17), Genesis 3:1-5 does not say what you say it says, that is why and copied and pasted it below my response.

 

[3rdAngel]

As I stated earlier, your Romans, Ephesisans, and Hebrews, were all written by the false prophet Paul, or his associates. Your foundation is nothing but a foundation of sand (Matthew 7:24-27). And apart from your imagination, and the dogma of the daughters of Babylon (Rev 17), Genesis 3:1-5 does not say what you say it says, that is why and copied and pasted it below my response.

Well that is not true at all. I do not know where you get your ideas from. Tell me how Genesis 3:1-6 does not say that Adam and Eve chose not to believe and obey Gods Word but rather choose to believe the serpent's lies and break Gods commandment not to eat of the forbidden tree in the garden of Eden and fall into sin? Do you know what sin is?

• Genesis 3:1-6 1, Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, Yes, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2, And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3, But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. 4, And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die: 5, For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6, And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her; and he did eat.

Let me ask you again are you seriously trying to argue that we can not believe Gods Word and not obey what Gods Word says and still receive everlasting life? Would it help you if I just post old testament scripture? If you believe you can have Gods salvation while practicing sin and unbelief you do not know God or His Word which teaches the opposite of what you are claiming here dear friend.

Take Care.

 

[2ndpillar]

FOX News is not very reliable. I know that you do not like CNN, but they are a better news source. You have been brainwashed by the right. That happens to people on the left too. You want to try for a more middle ground if you want an accurate picture of the world.

Well, CNN and most social/Marxist Progressives think that wearing a mask is going to save them from gremlins. A British study disagrees that there is any proof masks are of any affect. That is something Fox said from the beginning. Massive meta-study on mask wearing delivers kill shot to COVID narrative (wnd.com) CNN and the deep swamp, full of liberal Democrats, and 50 retired democratic aligned security specialists, supported the theory that the Hunter Biden laptop story was a Russian Hoax, in order to get sleepy basement Joe elected. Well Fox disagreed, and now Hunter is claiming the laptops are his, and unknown to the CNN listeners, there are ties between the lap top narrative and the top-secret files found in Biden homes and office, which was partially financed by China through donations to the University, out of which Biden was paid a hefty stipend. I know you like creepy Joe, and he exudes your morality, but not everyone thinks the guy walks on water, or can affectively ride a bike. Did CNN tell you that the WH, the justice Department, and the Archives all knew about the top-secret files before the mid-term elections? According to the Archives, they were told by the WH not to release the information to the press. Apparently, someone leaked the information much later, and the WH is left with mud on their face. Besides having sex on video, and sexually harassing bar tenders, I don't know what CNN anchors are good for. They are certainly not good for "an accurate picture of the world", but maybe an accurate picture of them selfs. As for the topic, of "faith", your "faith" in CNN is apparently not well placed, but then again, neither is the faith of those who bow down to the false prophet Paul, and his false narrative. The narrative of the Tech media is falling apart, as now they admit to colluding with the FBI to cover up actual news to be supplanted by the Administrations narrative.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Well, CNN and most social/Marxist Progressives think that wearing a mask is going to save them from gremlins. A British study disagrees that there is any proof masks are of any affect. That is something Fox said from the beginning. Massive meta-study on mask wearing delivers kill shot to COVID narrative (wnd.com) CNN and the deep swamp, full of liberal Democrats, and 50 retired democratic aligned security specialists, supported the theory that the Hunter Biden laptop story was a Russian Hoax, in order to get sleepy basement Joe elected. Well Fox disagreed, and now Hunter is claiming the laptops are his, and unknown to the CNN listeners, there are ties between the lap top narrative and the top-secret files found in Biden homes and office, which was partially financed by China through donations to the University, out of which Biden was paid a hefty stipend. I know you like creepy Joe, and he exudes your morality, but not everyone thinks the guy walks on water, or can affectively ride a bike. Did CNN tell you that the WH, the justice Department, and the Archives all knew about the top-secret files before the mid-term elections? According to the Archives, they were told by the WH not to release the information to the press. Apparently, someone leaked the information much later, and the WH is left with mud on their face. Besides having sex on video, and sexually harassing bar tenders, I don't know what CNN anchors are good for. They are certainly not good for "an accurate picture of the world", but maybe an accurate picture of them selfs. As for the topic, of "faith", your "faith" in CNN is apparently not well placed, but then again, neither is the faith of those who bow down to the false prophet Paul, and his false narrative. The narrative of the Tech media is falling apart, as now they admit to colluding with the FBI to cover up actual news to be supplanted by the Administrations narrative.

I stooped and laughed when you called CNN "Marxist" By that standard FOX is hyper fascist. Please note that I did not make that error about FOX. They are merely too right wing to be reliable.

 

[shunyadragon]

Sin is a central theme throughout the Bible.

In Genesis we see the causes of sin, and the effect of sin. We also see God offer a way out of the dilemma in which Adam and his generations find themselves.

A temporary solution to sin was provided under the Law. Offerings made to God in the temple, by those who were of a repentant heart, made it possible for people to gain absolution until further offerings were required.

The offering made by Christ for sin, by contrast, is not just unto death, but unto life, and becomes an eternal offering for all men. The 'infallible proof' for this lies in the testimony of the disciples, who witnessed Jesus alive after crucifixion [Acts 1:3].

Thereafter, Christ, who is sat at the right hand of the Father, becomes advocate for all who enter his kingdom.

If you believe in Genesis as it portrays the beginnings of humanity you would have to accept that before the Original Sin and Fall our existence was an idealic existence without pain, suffering, death and of course sin, which is difficult to accept considering our knowledge of billions of years of evolution leading to humanity with a very ba=natural world where no such idealic world ever existed.

The concept of the Original Sin and the Fall is indeed problematic in many ways, first, considering blaming two innocent humans making a mistake and then blaming them for all the violence, pain suffering and death since the Fall.

 

[Subduction Zone]

Well, CNN and most social/Marxist Progressives think that wearing a mask is going to save them from gremlins. A British study disagrees that there is any proof masks are of any affect. That is something Fox said from the beginning. Massive meta-study on mask wearing delivers kill shot to COVID narrative (wnd.com) CNN and the deep swamp, full of liberal Democrats, and 50 retired democratic aligned security specialists, supported the theory that the Hunter Biden laptop story was a Russian Hoax, in order to get sleepy basement Joe elected. Well Fox disagreed, and now Hunter is claiming the laptops are his, and unknown to the CNN listeners, there are ties between the lap top narrative and the top-secret files found in Biden homes and office, which was partially financed by China through donations to the University, out of which Biden was paid a hefty stipend. I know you like creepy Joe, and he exudes your morality, but not everyone thinks the guy walks on water, or can affectively ride a bike. Did CNN tell you that the WH, the justice Department, and the Archives all knew about the top-secret files before the mid-term elections? According to the Archives, they were told by the WH not to release the information to the press. Apparently, someone leaked the information much later, and the WH is left with mud on their face. Besides having sex on video, and sexually harassing bar tenders, I don't know what CNN anchors are good for. They are certainly not good for "an accurate picture of the world", but maybe an accurate picture of them selfs. As for the topic, of "faith", your "faith" in CNN is apparently not well placed, but then again, neither is the faith of those who bow down to the false prophet Paul, and his false narrative. The narrative of the Tech media is falling apart, as now they admit to colluding with the FBI to cover up actual news to be supplanted by the Administrations narrative.

And here is why you should learn how to use paragraphs. When you shoot yourself in the foot at the very beginning people tend to not read your posts. But then I saw a link to another one of your far right sites.

I had to check it out. I did not read the article, since it appeared to be highly biased. Instead I went to the source. Their source was surprisingly a valid one. The Cochrane Library Database is what they claim that it is. Butt that did not stop them from distorting what the study said. Yes, it implied that masks were generally ineffective against respiratory viruses. And this is their first error, their were only a couple of Covid studies within the metastudy. It mostly covered influenza and the like. Second the writers of the article do not seem to agree with the conclusions that the article had:

"What are the limitations of the evidence?
Our confidence in these results is generally low to moderate for the subjective outcomes related to respiratory illness, but moderate for the more precisely defined laboratory‐confirmed respiratory virus infection, related to masks and N95/P2 respirators. The results might change when further evidence becomes available. Relatively low numbers of people followed the guidance about wearing masks or about hand hygiene, which may have affected the results of the studies. "

There were too many problems with the various studies to agree with that conclusion. Reading further:


The evidence summarised in this review on the use of masks is largely based on studies conducted during traditional peak respiratory virus infection seasons up until 2016. Two relevant randomised trials conducted during the COVID‐19 pandemic have been published, but their addition had minimal impact on the overall pooled estimate of effect.

Only two studies were done from Covid that were included in the meta-study. That would mean that the conclusions may be valid for the flu, but more studies need to be done for Covid.



https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006207.pub6/full#CD006207-abs-0002

 

[2ndpillar]

Well that is not true at all. I do not know where you get your ideas from. Tell me how Genesis 3:1-6 does not say that Adam and Eve chose not to believe and obey Gods Word but rather choose to believe the serpent's lies and break Gods commandment not to eat of the forbidden tree in the garden of Eden and fall into sin? Do you know what sin is?

• Genesis 3:1-6 1, Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, Yes, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2, And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3, But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. 4, And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die: 5, For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6, And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her; and he did eat.

Let me ask you again are you seriously trying to argue that we can not believe Gods Word and not obey what Gods Word says and still receive everlasting life? Would it help you if I just post old testament scripture? If you believe you can have Gods salvation while practicing sin and unbelief you do not know God or His Word which teaches the opposite of what you are claiming here dear friend.

Take Care.

You keep inflating the "message of the devil/enemy" (Paul) (Matthew 13:25 & 39) with "God's Word", the "message of the son of man" (Matthew 13:37). Genesis 3:1-6 is about Adam and Eve sinning, as the Gentile church does in nailing the "Word of God" (Revelation 19:13), God's Commandments, to the cross, or in the words of Hebrews, it becomes "obsolete", and "ready to disappear", and you don't have to keep God's Commandments. Get real, once you do away with God's law, you become your own arbitrator, and as was told by the "serpent" to Eve, you can determine your own right and wrong, and if you "believe" in Paul's lie (Isaiah 28:15-18) then you "surely shall not die" (Genesis 3:4). Sin is "transgression of the law", of which Paul apparently nailed to a cross, and "everyone shall die for their own transgressions" (Jeremiah 31:30). Paul and all his generation have all died, despite what he told them. And no one has "God's salvation", unless they "endure to the end" (Matthew 24:13) and have turned from "wickedness" (sinning) to "righteousness" (keeping the law), and "endure to the end. (Ezekiel 33:19).

 

[2ndpillar]

I stooped and laughed when you called CNN "Marxist" By that standard FOX is hyper fascist. Please note that I did not make that error about FOX. They are merely too right wing to be reliable.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but CNN supports the socialist-Marxist-Progressive present administration. As for being fascist in the realm of subverting real news, creating lies (propaganda), and burning books (cancelation of real news), they are the top of the class. They lost the lawsuit against the young student, for making false allegations against him. I think he sued CNN for around 30 million, but the case was sealed, so no one knows how much he got. The more the better. Both Hitler, the leader of the national socialist party, and the fascist Mussolini were comrades in arms, along with Roosevelt's staffers, when they helped Hitler set up Democratic Jim Crow policies for his persecutions of the Jews.

 

[Subduction Zone]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but CNN supports the socialist-Marxist-Progressive present administration. As for being fascist in the realm of subverting real news, creating lies (propaganda), and burning books (cancelation of real news), they are the top of the class. They lost the lawsuit against the young student, for making false allegations against him. I think he sued CNN for around 30 million, but the case was sealed, so no one knows how much he got. The more the better. Both Hitler, the leader of the national socialist party, and the fascist Mussolini were comrades in arms, along with Roosevelt's staffers, when they helped Hitler set up Democratic Jim Crow policies for his persecutions of the Jews.

I have bad news, there is no socialist-Marxist-Progressive present administration. The current administration is just a hair left of center. It is very capitalist. Please try to get your facts straight. Right win wacko sources will drain your brain.

 

[2ndpillar]

And here is why you should learn how to use paragraphs. When you shoot yourself in the foot at the very beginning people tend to not read your posts. But then I saw a link to another one of your far right sites.

I had to check it out. I did not read the article, since it appeared to be highly biased. Instead I went to the source. Their source was surprisingly a valid one. The Cochrane Library Database is what they claim that it is. Butt that did not stop them from distorting what the study said. Yes, it implied that masks were generally ineffective against respiratory viruses. And this is their first error, their were only a couple of Covid studies within the metastudy. It mostly covered influenza and the like. Second the writers of the article do not seem to agree with the conclusions that the article had:

"What are the limitations of the evidence?
Our confidence in these results is generally low to moderate for the subjective outcomes related to respiratory illness, but moderate for the more precisely defined laboratory‐confirmed respiratory virus infection, related to masks and N95/P2 respirators. The results might change when further evidence becomes available. Relatively low numbers of people followed the guidance about wearing masks or about hand hygiene, which may have affected the results of the studies. "

There were too many problems with the various studies to agree with that conclusion. Reading further:


The evidence summarised in this review on the use of masks is largely based on studies conducted during traditional peak respiratory virus infection seasons up until 2016. Two relevant randomised trials conducted during the COVID‐19 pandemic have been published, but their addition had minimal impact on the overall pooled estimate of effect.

Only two studies were done from Covid that were included in the meta-study. That would mean that the conclusions may be valid for the flu, but more studies need to be done for Covid.



https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006207.pub6/full#CD006207-abs-0002

I hate to be the bearer of more bad news, but the covid virus is not larger than the regular flu virus. What is good for the goose, is the same for the gander of similar proportions. But feel free to take off and on your mask to drink and eat, and wear it all day and week, and think that it is not actually a petri dish that can be used to spread every germ it comes in contact and somehow stop a virus that is much smaller than its textural mesh. Make sure you get your unapproved vaccines as well; they apparently give you a false sense of security. Apparently, they didn't work for Biden, for he got it twice that I have heard. The sign of a Progressive, is he is seen walking on a California beach all by himself, with no one around, on a sunny day, with a mask, yet walks into a crowded restaurant, and then takes off his mask to eat, all while his children are in public school lock down, that is if he hasn't sent them to private school. How many years of development did those children lose? How many committed suicide?

 

[Subduction Zone]

I hate to be the bearer of more bad news, but the covid virus is not larger than the regular flu virus. What is good for the goose, is the same for the gander of similar proportions. But feel free to take off and on your mask to drink and eat, and wear it all day and week, and think that it is not actually a petri dish that can be used to spread every germ it comes in contact and somehow stop a virus that is much smaller than its textural mesh. Make sure you get your unapproved vaccines as well; they apparently give you a false sense of security. Apparently, they didn't work for Biden, for he got it twice that I have heard. The sign of a Progressive, is he is seen walking on a California beach all by himself, with no one around, on a sunny day, with a mask, yet walks into a crowded restaurant, and then takes off his mask to eat, all while his children are in public school lock down, that is if he hasn't sent them to private school. How many years of development did those children lose? How many committed suicide?

So wrong again. The Covid virus was far deadlier than the flu virus. It shows up quite easily when one looks at statistics.

You need to follow the science based sources when it comes to scientific claims. When it comes to medical claims one goes to medical experts.

If your car breaks down and you can't fix it do you take it to a mechanic or a doctor?

If you are ill do you go to a mechanic or a doctor?

It is not that doctors or better yet medical experts are smarter than everyone else. They are smarter when it comes to their areas of expertise. I would never take a car to a doctor. But I won't trust my mechanic when it comes to the Covid virus either.

 

[3rdAngel]

3rdAngel said: ↑ Well that is not true at all. I do not know where you get your ideas from. Tell me how Genesis 3:1-6 does not say that Adam and Eve chose not to believe and obey Gods Word but rather choose to believe the serpent's lies and break Gods commandment not to eat of the forbidden tree in the garden of Eden and fall into sin? Do you know what sin is?

• Genesis 3:1-6 1, Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, Yes, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2, And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3, But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. 4, And the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely die: 5, For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6, And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her; and he did eat.

Let me ask you again are you seriously trying to argue that we can not believe Gods Word and not obey what Gods Word says and still receive everlasting life? Would it help you if I just post old testament scripture? If you believe you can have Gods salvation while practicing sin and unbelief you do not know God or His Word which teaches the opposite of what you are claiming here dear friend.

Your response here...

You keep inflating the "message of the devil/enemy" (Paul) (Matthew 13:25 & 39) with "God's Word", the "message of the son of man" (Matthew 13:37). Genesis 3:1-6 is about Adam and Eve sinning, as the Gentile church does in nailing the "Word of God" (Revelation 19:13), God's Commandments, to the cross, or in the words of Hebrews, it becomes "obsolete", and "ready to disappear", and you don't have to keep God's Commandments. Get real, once you do away with God's law, you become your own arbitrator, and as was told by the "serpent" to Eve, you can determine your own right and wrong, and if you "believe" in Paul's lie (Isaiah 28:15-18) then you "surely shall not die" (Genesis 3:4). Sin is "transgression of the law", of which Paul apparently nailed to a cross, and "everyone shall die for their own transgressions" (Jeremiah 31:30). Paul and all his generation have all died, despite what he told them. And no one has "God's salvation", unless they "endure to the end" (Matthew 24:13) and have turned from "wickedness" (sinning) to "righteousness" (keeping the law), and "endure to the end. (Ezekiel 33:19).

Why make arguments no one is arguing about or has ever said to you? I did not inflate anything. I just provided scripture that is in disagreement with you from Genesis 3:1-6 and asked you questions relating to the scriptures that you seem unwilling to respond to because they disagree with you. Your response is to deny what the scripture says and not answer the questions asked of you. Your post here also does not address anything in the post you are responding to and is not coherent and does not make sense. Let me ask you again are you seriously trying to argue that we can not believe Gods Word and not obey what Gods Word says and still receive everlasting life? Would it help you if I just post old testament scripture? If you believe you can have Gods salvation while practicing sin and unbelief you do not know God or His Word which teaches the opposite of what you are claiming.

Take Care.

 

[Redemptionsong]

If you believe in Genesis as it portrays the beginnings of humanity you would have to accept that before the Original Sin and Fall our existence was an idealic existence without pain, suffering, death and of course sin, which is difficult to accept considering our knowledge of billions of years of evolution leading to humanity with a very ba=natural world where no such idealic world ever existed.

The concept of the Original Sin and the Fall is indeed problematic in many ways, first, considering blaming two innocent humans making a mistake and then blaming them for all the violence, pain suffering and death since the Fall.

I do not reject good science, and l am careful not to impose an interpretation on Genesis that goes beyond the wording of scripture.

The days of Genesis are not said to be days of 24 hours, and it may also be that a gap of time exists between verses 1 and 2 of chapter 1.

The important thing to recognize from prophecy is that it has a deeper level of meaning that the one on the surface. This is why Genesis should be seen as a prologue to the whole of scripture, because it lays out the structure of God's plan from the time of Adam.

I accept Adam and Eve as the first of a new subspecies of homo sapiens. I believe that there are sometimes small but important variations between the various subspecies that actually make a big difference to the 'image of God'. What is very clear from the literature is that this is not an area of science where certainty prevails.

The teaching with regard to the nature of Adamic man is, to my understanding, without error. It speaks about the inclination of man to follow the lust of the flesh, seen initially in the temptation of Eve. The flesh becomes prominent only when the Spirit is ignored, and this leads a man into sinful practices. This is the story of the original sin, and highlights the need to know and follow the Holy Spirit.

It seems to me, that we often encounter members from the scientific community thinking that their methodology can be used to analyse the Bible. But the exegesis of scripture is not comparable to a scientific experiment. It is governed by a different set of principles, some of which are beyond the measures of science.

I know that it is hard for some people to recognize that there are forms of evidence which do not fit the scientific model. But, the Bible [Hebrews 11:1] makes it clear that faith is a form of evidence. This is because God only reveals things to people who hold the truth by faith. Faith, in other words, pleases God.

To hold faith in such high regard goes against scientific practice, but at the root of faith is a conviction that God lies behind creation and is, ultimately, in control of the destiny of this world and each individual soul within it.

Richard Dawkins, and similar thinkers, have a great dislike of faith because they understand it to be a rejection of reason. This is a childish misunderstanding of the Bible, and a broader review of Jewish and Christian literature will quickly make apparent that some of humanity's greatest minds have been preoccupied with understanding the nuances of the text.

The bottom line is that science deals with creation, not the Creator. To find and understand the Creator requires heart, faith and the leading of the Holy Spirit. It also requires a recognition that sin stands in the way of the righteous life.

 

[Redemptionsong]

Atheism is a lack of a belief in a god or gods. Most agnostics are also atheists.

And you are right. Myths about eternal life are "not on my agenda". Why should they be? And no, Jesus does not make such a belief a reality. It only makes it another story that you believe that never happened. Like the Noah's Ark myth. Anyone that believes that after they grew up enough not to believe in Santa Clause is not thinking rationally.

The 'many infallible truths' [Acts 1:3] referred to by Luke are all testimonies provided by the apostles to the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Did twelve apostles not witness to the resurrected Lord, or is their testimony somehow without value? Why would they all choose to lie about something from which they gained nothing materially?

Did 'doubting' Thomas not see and touch the Lord after his resurrection?

To claim that these testimonies are unreliable is a poor defence against the Gospel. The same claims would soon be made by thousands more who received the powerful outpouring of the Holy spirit at Pentecost.

Was it just a coincidence that the Holy Spirit should be poured out on the exact day that Jews celebrated the giving of the law to Moses? Was it just a coincidence that Jesus should have told the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem and await the 'Comforter'?

 

[Subduction Zone]

The 'many infallible truths' [Acts 1:3] referred to by Luke are all testimonies provided by the apostles to the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Did twelve apostles not witness the resurrected Lord, or is their testimony somehow without value? Why would they all choose to lie about something from which they gained nothing materially?

Did 'doubting' Thomas not see and touch the Lord after his resurrection?

To claim that these testimonies are unreliable is a poor defence against the Gospel. The same claims would soon be made by thousands more who received the powerful outpouring of the Holy spirit at Pentecost.

Was it just a coincidence that the Holy Spirit should be poured out on the exact day that Jews celebrated the giving of the law to Moses? Was it just a coincidence that Jesus should have told the disciples to tarry in Jerusalem and await the 'Comforter'?

The Gospels are all anonymous and written at least a generation, in fact two for most of them, after Jesus died.

We really have no idea what was actually witnessed.


And why believe in the resurrection?

It could have been good story telling.

 

[Redemptionsong]

The Gospels are all anonymous and written at least a generation, in fact two for most of them, after Jesus died.

You need to get this false idea out of your head.

I'd like you to tell me where you get the dating from, and on what evidence the late dating is based.

 

[Redemptionsong]

Even I have heard all of that like 10 000
times.

That suggests that 10 000 times you have chosen to ignore the teaching that you are a sinner!

According to scripture, you will go to the grave as a sinner and your sin with be judged. And, the outlook is not good because 'the wages of sin is death' (of the soul).

I acknowledge my sin, and have sought God as the only Saviour. In Jesus Christ l find that Saviour.