(December 12, 2021 at 6:05 pm)Mercyvessel Wrote: One cannot compel another to believe, but the message must still be conveyed in and for the hope of GOD's mercy - this before the end of one's life, or the end of the age /time - whichever occurs first. These two events can happen any minute - but be assured, they are both principally and undeniably inevitable! Sin is gravely serious - resulting in the first and second deaths/death of body and soul - and should be taken seriously!
I agree with AWTY. Thanks for the concern, but we're pretty much good. I have enough [empirically verifiable] stuff to worry about. Adding (potentially) fictitious worries on top of this heap could be a very unwise move.
Quote:"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" - Hebrews 9:27
I guess the cool thing is, the believers have nothing to worry about concerning God's judgement. They're pretty much in the clear. That's cool, because otherwise there might be wailing and gnashing of teeth. I'm glad that anyone who says "Lord, Lord," to Jesus Christ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Seems like a good deal for you believers.
Quote:The message, the good news: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." - John 3:16-18
I've always wondered about this one. Man, you guys like this one. To me, it's one of the most spiritually vacuous things to be found in the Gospels. Although it does excuse a lot of the in-group out-group stuff Christians have participated in over the centuries. It also serves as a good addendum to the Sermon on the Mount. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [as long as they have the name right.]" "Blessed are the poor in spirit [but they better get the name right]."
Quote:A warning of the inevitable for the unbelieving: “And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” - Revelation 21:6-9
I've never liked liars. But you know who bugs me even more? Sorcerers.
I actually dig the "Alpha and Omega" verse. It's super cool. Also, I'd like to point out that knowing the proper names and having the right list of beliefs don't qualify one for being God's son. And, unless you start playing with the word "idolater," atheists aren't the subject of wrath here. If atheists are guilty of anything, it wouldn't be idolatry. It's a perk of not worshipping any gods that you'll never be found to worship false gods.
Quote:Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
“Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways, so I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’ - Hebrews 3: 7-11
God is supposed to be Love right? Who says non-Christians don't "hear his voice"? I bet you many over us here DO listen to "the voice of Love" when it speaks within us and commands us. Not all of us, sure. But the same could be said of you believers could it not? Since you're so fond of scripture, why not see atheism and atheists through a scriptural lens?
Matthew 21:28-32. Maybe atheists are like the first son who rejects the command but does the work anyway. And maybe you believers are like the second son? I don't really believe that's true or anything, but it's food for thought. I try my best to "do unto others" as do many other atheists. Why doesn't that make them like the first son? Additionally, I've known many believers who completely ignored that, and never reflected upon the fact that it's supposed to be the second-greatest commandment. It seems the over-emphasis on having the right names and correct set of beliefs has overshadowed the actual sermons and teachings of the guy you consider God. That's why I'll never join your religion or treat the Bible as an authority even if I DID believe Jesus is God (which I don't).
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But all the same, I wish you a Merry Christmas, MercyVessel. I'm glad to have you around on the forums, even though I wish you'd debate more and quote scripture less.
