(April 29, 2012 at 12:48 am)teaearlgreyhot Wrote:(April 29, 2012 at 12:41 am)Godschild Wrote:(April 29, 2012 at 12:14 am)teaearlgreyhot Wrote:(April 29, 2012 at 12:06 am)Godschild Wrote: You've been in space to long, either that or you're crazy.
I'm just humorously pointing out how arbitrary some of your requirements to be saved are. I doubt, supposing the Gospels are true, that the thief on the cross believed every one of those things.
We know that he believed that Christ was the Son of God, we know he knew that Christ would and did die on the cross, and that he would rise from the grave and go to be with the Father and sit on the throne in His kingdom. I would say that the story of the virgin birth was well known, and that he had heard it.
Perhaps you're right, but where can you find in the Bible that it was common knowledge that Christ was born a virgin? Where do you find the thief saying that Christ would have a bodily resurrection?
Quote:39 Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us." 40 The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? 41 And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
He referred to Him as God (remember me when You come into "your" kingdom), in that he knew that anything was possible (referring to the resurrection). Knowing about the virgin birth is an opinion, I do see it being this way though, if He did not know of the virgin birth that would not be held against him. You brought up knowledge in the other post, and this would be an argument for not having had full knowledge. Let me ask you a question and there is no need to reply, have you ever considered the other thief and what he said, I mean really giving a deeper thought to his statement and what it says?
God loves those who believe and those who do not and the same goes for me, you have no choice in this matter. That puts the matter of total free will to rest.