What does Jesus want from us?

Originally posted by ThinkOfOne

The confusion and nonsense stem from the parts of the Bible other than what Jesus taught while He walked the Earth, so why not dispense with them? Sometimes things seem nonsensical because they are.

So if people only take the red letters in the red letter KJV of things said by Jesus before His death and resurrection, then there will be no disagreements, no disputes over interpretation, no complaints about contradictory sayings, no arguments over nuances of emphasis, an no issues over Greek translation, no different schools of opinion about how to follow Jesus, no rivalries over turf, leadership, and influence?

That is not the answer.
And that is not honoring to all He said about Himself.

But, I do like that you quoted John 14:23 about He and the Father as the Divine "We" will come to make an abode with His lovers.

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
How do you quantify rejection?

I have an idea. How about we turn it around to the positive viewpoint?

How do we quantify believing in and loving Jesus ?

Originally posted by twhitehead
My reading of the Gospels is that Jesus wants you to act compassionately towards your fellow man because you love them, not because you desperately want to obtain eternal life. Jesus supplies a catch 22. You get eternal life if you are a nice human being. Acting nice just so you can get into heaven doesn't cut it.

You get eternal life if you are a nice human being.

What gave you that impression?

Originally posted by sonship
I have an idea. How about we turn it around to the positive viewpoint?

How do we quantify believing in and loving Jesus ?

Happy to, after you at least attempt to answer my question. 😉


If God appeared before me, so I was in no doubt of his existence, and I said "No thanks, not interested," then sure, i would have rejected him. But can the same be said if I lack belief in God simply because I have never been convinced of his existence? Have I rejected Thor? Have I rejected Obi-Wan Kenobi?

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
Happy to, after you at least attempt to answer my question. 😉


If God appeared before me, so I was in no doubt of his existence, and I said "No thanks, not interested," then sure, i would have rejected him. But can the same be said if I lack belief in God simply because I have never been convinced of his existence? Have I rejected Thor? Have I rejected Obi-Wan Kenobi?

You have rejected Obi-Wan Carrobie 😵

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
You have rejected Obi-Wan Carrobie 😵

Sure, but everyone does that.

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
Sure, but everyone does that.

I'm a R R R Reject?😞

Originally posted by robbie carrobie
I'm a R R R Reject?😞

Surely they stamped you somewhere?!

😏

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
Surely they stamped you somewhere?!

😏

LOL 😵

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
How do you quantify rejection?

If I offer you an opportunity to get your hat handed to you in a game of chess, but you (faint of heart that you are) do not accept that opportunity, well, you've rejected your golden chance to receive what would definitely be your greatest lesson in chess... and perhaps even in life.

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
Happy to, after you at least attempt to answer my question. 😉


If God appeared before me, so I was in no doubt of his existence, and I said "No thanks, not interested," then sure, i would have rejected him. But can the same be said if I lack belief in God simply because I have never been convinced of his existence? Have I rejected Thor? Have I rejected Obi-Wan Kenobi?

What is Thor offering, exactly?
We already know Obi Wan is pushing some nebulous force but other than that and some neat parlor tricks, he doesn't seem to be much of anything which could result in rejection.
Of course, you could reject their existence... but that's not salvific as it relates to God, either.

Originally posted by FreakyKBH
Slight clarification--- and I won't even go into the original language or any other technical stuff.

The work which was accomplished on the Cross (prior to His actual voluntary death) by the Lord Jesus Christ was efficacious for all mankind: no one born between the time of Adam and the last person of mankind will wind up in hell on account of sin.
The ...[text shortened]... tion is tantamount to standing on one's own merit instead of accepting His work on their behalf.

You stated that nobody goes to hell because of sin, due to the sacrifice of Jesus.

However, you also stated it is still possible to be separated from God if you 'reject' the gift. What in your opinion does one do to reject the gift?

Originally posted by FreakyKBH
What is Thor offering, exactly?
We already know Obi Wan is pushing some nebulous force but other than that and some neat parlor tricks, he doesn't seem to be much of anything which could result in rejection.
Of course, you could reject their existence... but that's not salvific as it relates to God, either.

Thor had a mighty hammer
Obi Wan a saber of light
Jesus? five loaves of bread and a couple of fish,
not much use in a fight.

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
Thor had a mighty hammer
Obi Wan a saber of light
Jesus? five loaves of bread and a couple of fish,
not much use in a fight.

But if your hungry, a hammer and light saber are pretty useless.

Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke
Thor had a mighty hammer
Obi Wan a saber of light
Jesus? five loaves of bread and a couple of fish,
not much use in a fight.

And the FSM is said to only have a colander, which adherents substitutionally use as a strikingly unusual headpiece, but I *do* reject him by not believing in him. Surely you can see the similarity here? I find it interesting that atheists can state loudly and plainly that they do not believe in God (which seems obvious by the etymology of the word atheist ), and yet they will also deny to their last breath that they reject God. (Not all atheists, mind you, I have been told by a couple that yes, they DO reject God, and why. This is not common, however.) This is amusing to me solely because of the message this sends to anyone who thinks about it for a sufficient amount of time.