What benefit is there to being a Christian, as opposed to someone who rejects the truth?
None really, as you said.
If you want to follow Christ, you may expect persecution from society, from your own friends and relatives, and a life of trials, hardship, poverty and suffering etc.
Jesus said, whoever wants to be my disciple, let him take up his cross and deny himself.
The Christian life isn't about desperately seeking the best way to pamper yourself.
But there are benefits of being a Christian which the worlding cannot experience even with the most powerful drugs. And that is an inner calm and peace, cheer, hope and integrity that will not cave in under pressure.
The genuine Christian also lives a life of the highest order, he gains wisdom, insight, perseverence, a refined character, a clear conscience and eternal life, with incredible rewards.
The life of the wicked, is one of self interest, their ambitions get them the best of this world, but there is no inner calm, just envy, anger, and restlessness. Their will becomes morally weak, and the character perverse. The end result for the wicked, is not only a wasted character, but a ridiculous struggle with no victories, except in personal gain, a vain hope, misery and death.
It is for the victims of sin/selfishness, all of humanity, that Christ makes every effort and sacrifice to save. Every sin that they have committed has been paid for, and they are entitled to the full reward of eternal life, if they turn up now to work for Christ and not against him.
None really, as you said.
If you want to follow Christ, you may expect persecution from society, from your own friends and relatives, and a life of trials, hardship, poverty and suffering etc.
Jesus said, whoever wants to be my disciple, let him take up his cross and deny himself.
The Christian life isn't about desperately seeking the best way to pamper yourself.
But there are benefits of being a Christian which the worlding cannot experience even with the most powerful drugs. And that is an inner calm and peace, cheer, hope and integrity that will not cave in under pressure.
The genuine Christian also lives a life of the highest order, he gains wisdom, insight, perseverence, a refined character, a clear conscience and eternal life, with incredible rewards.
The life of the wicked, is one of self interest, their ambitions get them the best of this world, but there is no inner calm, just envy, anger, and restlessness. Their will becomes morally weak, and the character perverse. The end result for the wicked, is not only a wasted character, but a ridiculous struggle with no victories, except in personal gain, a vain hope, misery and death.
It is for the victims of sin/selfishness, all of humanity, that Christ makes every effort and sacrifice to save. Every sin that they have committed has been paid for, and they are entitled to the full reward of eternal life, if they turn up now to work for Christ and not against him.
