(August 30, 2014 at 11:46 am)Striper Wrote: Is there any of the major christian sects, a situation in which, if one is a believer that they can be sent to hell? I've done a lot of web searches and can find no sin they could commit that would send them to hell. Even suicide for some of these sects doesn't send them to hell.
When someone becomes a Christian God knows every sin he has committed and every sin he will commit in the future. All of those sins are forgiven at the time of salvation.
Quote:I tired of theists asking, "If you don't believe in god, where do you get your morals from".
Not all theists understand what the Bible teaches. There is a morality that God gives to all, even those who don't believe in God.
For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
(Romans 2:14-16 ESV)
This Godgiven morality can be overwritten by the teaching a child receives as he grows up but everyone possesses an innate sense of right and wrong. Those who have never heard of the Bible will be judged by how well they have lived up to what they do know.
Quote:But if all that is required to get to heaven is the "belief" in god, no matter what horrific things you might do, because believers are forgiven, What keeps believers from raping and murdering?
Merely believing that God exists isn't enough for salvation. The belief that brings forgiveness consists of acknowledging your sinfulness and being willing to turn from your sins and believe that Christ died to atone from them. The person who does this is reborn with a spiritual nature that wants to obey God. He still have his old sinful nature so he can still sin but he can't simply live a life of sin the way he could have before he was saved.
Quote:What is the "fear of god" that I always hear theists talk about. Why fear when all is forgiven?
The Bible says that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. If someone begins to fear God because he realizes that he is a sinner this fear should lead him to find out how he can be forgiven.
His invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:20 ESV
Romans 1:20 ESV
