‘Eternal suffering’ is nonsensical

Originally posted by @rajk999
Saved and getting eternal life is not the same thing as Paul clearly said.

Do you have the book, chapter and verse on this?

Originally posted by @rajk999
Nonsense.

Care to elaborate?

LOL!

Originally posted by @romans1009
Atheists associate themselves with Christianity and the Bible and like to tell Christians how to live. All I was saying is the most important thing to a Christian is being righteous, or in right standing, with God, and the atheist’s pursuit of morality and good works will never accomplish that because good works is not how one becomes righteous (in right standing with God.)

There are some of these people you call atheists who will end up on the right side of Christ and you on the left because you will see Christ and pass him by. The atheists will stop like the Good Samaritan and help Him.

Originally posted by @romans1009
Atheists associate themselves with Christianity and the Bible and like to tell Christians how to live. All I was saying is the most important thing to a Christian is being righteous, or in right standing, with God, and the atheist’s pursuit of morality and good works will never accomplish that because good works is not how one becomes righteous (in right standing with God.)

Claptrap. You have a superstitious take on "righteousness". Atheists don't. Your use of the word is distorted by your religion and is therefore meaningless to atheists. You might as well be telling atheists they will be coming back in the next life as toads if they don't believe in reincarnation.

Originally posted by @jacob-verville
There is an element of truth in this but let us remember that we are not suggesting that one actually becomes ever entirely righteous. One always remains a sinner. Rather, we have to actively reduce our vices.

Once someone accepts Jesus Christ, he or she becomes righteous by the Biblical definition (in right standing with God.) Justification is instantaneous. It is sanctification (the process by which one becomes more and more like Christ) that is the ongoing process.

Originally posted by @romans1009
I was referring to the Biblical definition of righteousness, which atheists can never accomplish because good works do not make one righteous by the Biblical definition - only belief and faith in Jesus Christ does!

Why on earth would they be trying to accomplish something that just so happens to appeal to your imagination and not to theirs?

Originally posted by @thinkofone
[b]It sounds like you are literally saying that I am not smart enough to discuss things with and that everything would be over my head.

That's not what I said. at all. Reread what I actually wrote. I think you're smart enough. However, you're a lazy thinker. From what I can tell, you've long been a lazy thinker and it's left you with a pretty simp ...[text shortened]... kes you believe you have a deep understanding of the Bible? Wouldn't that preclude it?



.[/b]

Oh no, it's true, I am not very smart. I just put my head down and try to deduce what I can. It’s a bit much to accuse me of having false humility. Even if you thought that was the case, surely, you’d just smile, nod, and hope that I can continue in the path until my humility becomes true. It’s quite embarrassing to me to be accused of actually having a lot of pride. It’s like the words that I try to use don’t even work here. Maybe that goes back to the part where I am not clever.

A “lazy thinker” with a “simplistic world view?” It gets even better when you say that I have a Sunday school understanding of the faith. Geez, Luis, it really sounds like I need to get my act together.

So, how about instead of spelling out just how lazy, simplistic, Sunday school student-esque, etc., I am, you provide me with some great content right here and set me straight.
Lastly, I wouldn’t say that I have a deep understanding of the Bible. I would say that Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky and other Orthodox Saints and theologians have masterful and deep understandings of the Bible. All I can do is hope that I am successfully clinging to their teachings.

But I will pray for more understanding and to be less lazy and simplistic.

You can help me out by now telling us about your actual viewpoint in-depth. I’m glad you are working on writing longer explanations, now, but so far you have dedicated far more space to appraising my personal character than to engaging in the actual topic.
How about you teach me, and teach everyone else here, your position on this matter and then we can all learn something great.

Originally posted by @rajk999
You are another mouth worshipper.

You know nothing about me or how I live with my life. I know (and sadly you apparently do not) that we are saved by grace through faith (not by works lest any man should boast) and that God’s indwelt Holy Spirit is how we accomplish good works and become more Christ like.

Stop relying on your own efforts to be righteous, brother; you can’t do it on your own!

Originally posted by @romans1009
Once someone accepts Jesus Christ, he or she becomes righteous by the Biblical definition (in right standing with God.) Justification is instantaneous. It is sanctification (the process by which one becomes more and more like Christ) that is the ongoing process.

The doctrine of goats.

But Lord when did we see you naked and in prison and hungry.and .......

A true goat

Originally posted by @rajk999
There are some of these people you call atheists who will end up on the right side of Christ and you on the left because you will see Christ and pass him by. The atheists will stop like the Good Samaritan and help Him.

Atheists can never be righteous with God - for starters, because they don’t believe in Him and don’t have His Holy Spirit within them!

But since you think good works make one righteous, perhaps you can tell us all the good works you did in the past week and how much of that week was devoted to good works.

Originally posted by @romans1009
You know nothing about me or how I live with my life. I know (and sadly you apparently do not) that we are saved by grace through faith (not by works lest any man should boast) and that God’s indwelt Holy Spirit is how we accomplish good works and become more Christ like.

Stop relying on your own efforts to be righteous, brother; you can’t do it on your own!

Sheep and goats are not brothers

Originally posted by @fmf
Claptrap. You have a superstitious take on "righteousness". Atheists don't. Your use of the word is distorted by your religion and is therefore meaningless to atheists. You might as well be telling atheists they will be coming back in the next life as toads if they don't believe in reincarnation.

I have frequently qualified “righteousness” by adding “the Biblical definition of” to distinguish what I am referring to from the secular and more commonly understood definition of righteousness.

Originally posted by @romans1009
You know nothing about me or how I live with my life.

We know that your 'good works' are looking after one of your relatives and giving some money to charity, and that you think you are becoming like Christ because of stuff you think about yourself. We do know stuff about you because you have talked about it

Originally posted by @romans1009
I have frequently qualified “righteousness” by adding “the Biblical definition of” to distinguish what I am referring to from the secular and more commonly understood definition of righteousness.

What does "the Biblical tradition" have to do with what atheists think about righteousness? Nothing.

Originally posted by @rajk999
The doctrine of goats.

But Lord when did we see you naked and in prison and hungry.and .......

A true goat

You just don’t understand.

One becomes saved by belief and faith in Christ, and it is this belief and faith in Christ that leads to the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit, and “good works” are the manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s influence in changing a believer’s heart and mind to becoming more Christ like.