Re post 536
“You've made a counterfactual claim on reality.” please explain exactly what you mean.
“The cross is just more symbolism - we don't actually need a cross.” If there was another way besides the cross, then God might’ve chose that - who knows as this is simply speculation
As for the Cross being necessary - yes, it is. The Cross of Christ has it’s foundation in Genesis 3:6 “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” This single act of sin is what has infected mankind since Genesis 3:6 became reality.
God’s message & truth is always coherent, logical, comprehensive, & complete enough. God has a sole condition of fellowship with Him as He also had but one prohibition to Adam (it was plain & simple for Adam & Eve). God does not make the question of eternity too complicated - either fellowship with Him (heaven) or the company with all who reject Him (hell). The Bible is logical, coherent, logical, comprehensive, & complete in telling us of the only two eternities for man. God makes it explicitly clear as to what it is that puts each individual into either of these two eternal destines. Choice. The Bible is not ambiguous. Many hate this.
The Bible can be rightly seen as a heralding of mans sinfulness & his rejection of God. It is a major theme throughout the whole Bible. The Old Testament is a continual telling of Israel turning to sinfulness of all manners throughout all of it’s history. Why would this be - to show how sinful & evil man is, so none will have any excuse on judgment day. Scripture strips away pretense. God’s clarion call remains clear & consistent throughout all of Scripture - choose life & come to Me - be Mine & enjoy an eternity beyond greatest imaginations. This is an extremely magnanimous offer on the part of an offended & sinned against God. He did the unreasonable in the sense of His being other-serving. How, in that He offers free mercy, forgiveness, & holiness to all who would take it & be His.
The New Testament continues on the theme of mans sinfulness & rejection of the freely offered mercy of God. The crucifixion of Christ is truly the most evil act of sinfulness ever committed. Here Love, Grace, & Mercy, in the person of Christ, unjustly was killed. There can, & will never be, a lower point in the history of man. The Gospel recounts something of the crucifixion that has great import. During Christ’s trial before Pontius Pilate, he asked Christ - “what is truth?” But, before hearing Christ’s answer he left. Amazing. Why did Pilate not wait for an answer? Could it be that he did not want to hear the answer & to then be held accountable to what Christ would say? Most of mankind is in the exact same place. Who is humble enough to repent & willingly surrender themselves to the Lordship of Christ? Truth always awaits sincere seekers.
“You've made a counterfactual claim on reality.” please explain exactly what you mean.
“The cross is just more symbolism - we don't actually need a cross.” If there was another way besides the cross, then God might’ve chose that - who knows as this is simply speculation
As for the Cross being necessary - yes, it is. The Cross of Christ has it’s foundation in Genesis 3:6 “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” This single act of sin is what has infected mankind since Genesis 3:6 became reality.
God’s message & truth is always coherent, logical, comprehensive, & complete enough. God has a sole condition of fellowship with Him as He also had but one prohibition to Adam (it was plain & simple for Adam & Eve). God does not make the question of eternity too complicated - either fellowship with Him (heaven) or the company with all who reject Him (hell). The Bible is logical, coherent, logical, comprehensive, & complete in telling us of the only two eternities for man. God makes it explicitly clear as to what it is that puts each individual into either of these two eternal destines. Choice. The Bible is not ambiguous. Many hate this.
The Bible can be rightly seen as a heralding of mans sinfulness & his rejection of God. It is a major theme throughout the whole Bible. The Old Testament is a continual telling of Israel turning to sinfulness of all manners throughout all of it’s history. Why would this be - to show how sinful & evil man is, so none will have any excuse on judgment day. Scripture strips away pretense. God’s clarion call remains clear & consistent throughout all of Scripture - choose life & come to Me - be Mine & enjoy an eternity beyond greatest imaginations. This is an extremely magnanimous offer on the part of an offended & sinned against God. He did the unreasonable in the sense of His being other-serving. How, in that He offers free mercy, forgiveness, & holiness to all who would take it & be His.
The New Testament continues on the theme of mans sinfulness & rejection of the freely offered mercy of God. The crucifixion of Christ is truly the most evil act of sinfulness ever committed. Here Love, Grace, & Mercy, in the person of Christ, unjustly was killed. There can, & will never be, a lower point in the history of man. The Gospel recounts something of the crucifixion that has great import. During Christ’s trial before Pontius Pilate, he asked Christ - “what is truth?” But, before hearing Christ’s answer he left. Amazing. Why did Pilate not wait for an answer? Could it be that he did not want to hear the answer & to then be held accountable to what Christ would say? Most of mankind is in the exact same place. Who is humble enough to repent & willingly surrender themselves to the Lordship of Christ? Truth always awaits sincere seekers.
