(June 11, 2017 at 9:13 am)Rhondazvous Wrote: Christian apologist say that the bible is not a science tome or a history book. Thus all that really matter are the salvific passages. Believe them and leave the rest alone.
The problem with that is the bible is just as equivocal about salvation as anything else. Today, so-called evangelical Christians go with Paul and ignore or dismiss all other salvific biblical writings.
But suppose Paul is wrong and the others are right? Suppose you get to the pearly gates and have to explain why you thought Paul knew more about salvation than Jesus himself?
Which of the following passages tells us what we really need to do to be saved.
“Micah 6:7, 8” Wrote:7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
But Jesus added to this requirement
”Matthew 19:16, 17b” Wrote:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17…but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
I hear Christians arguing that they were still under the old covenant. The speaker in Micah was too and Paul precludes separate means of salvation under the law for the Jews.
”Galatians 2:16” Wrote:Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Paul may have believed in Christ, but he didn’t believe Christ. To the best of my knowledge Jews are flesh, so why would Jesus tell them they could be saved by keeping the commandments?
1, Malichi is simply asking a question.. How much does salvation cost?
2) don't forget the passages where Jesus says all you need do is simply believe.. But Mat.19 does say follow the commandments. Then Gal 2 says we are not justified by works.
So my question is why can't it be both?
We simply follow the commands, but aren't justified by them. We are justified through love.
For example if I bring my GF flowers out of the blue from time to time it doesn't mean we will get married out of this one act. However with love this act (following the rules of courtship) may indeed lead to my marriage. That said there were a few others who were following the same rules trying to do the same thing... Meaning (Gal2:16) However inorder to get married I did follow the rules of western courtship, and we did get married, but we did not get married because I followed said rules. I followed said rule because I wanted to get married and I knew that what she wanted me to do. because we loved each other. That is the gal 2:16 part. We are justified not by the courtship (law) for marriage but by love.
The reason we got married was based on our love for each other, however the rule of law was something I knew would make he happy, so I followed those rules.
