‘Eternal suffering’ is nonsensical

Originally posted by @rajk999
Remember if you pass that hungry homeless guy on the street he is probably Christ ... do the right thing.

Reading the bible and not following it is mouth worship

What gives you the impression that people who believe they are saved by faith will walk past the homeless guy on the street?

Do you believe caring for the homeless and being charitable alone is enough to save you?

Originally posted by @jacob-verville
How about more content, less psychonanalysis?

You convinced me that I must have been mistaken earlier.

Originally posted by @fmf
Is this "becoming more Christ like" thing an imperceptible personal secret of yours or are we all witnessing it?

You really know nothing about me - what I was like before I accepted Christ and what I am like now. I am quite different but you would have no way of knowing that, nor do I really think you are interested beyond collecting ammunition.

You also seem to think (correct me if I’m wrong) that becoming more Christ-like is the same as being Christ-like. Two very different things. Christians will continue to sin after accepting Christ, but they can “walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh” and therefore greatly reduce their sinning by immersing themselves in God’s Word and praying with a sincere and contrite heart. Sometimes that is easier said than done.

Originally posted by @fmf
And you liken doing these two things to filthy rags?

Absolutely not! I think you may be confusing works done by human effort with works done by and through the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

Originally posted by @thinkofone
You convinced me that I must have been mistaken earlier.

So you aren't going to dispute my position?

I've convinced you of the truth of mine?

Originally posted by @rajk999
Remember if you pass that hungry homeless guy on the street he is probably Christ ... do the right thing.

Reading the bible and not following it is mouth worship

I agree - where we seem to disagree is on the driving force behind “good works.” You think it’s human effort and I know it is the power of God’s Holy Spirit, which is given to anyone who accepts Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Saviour.

We also seem to disagree on what makes someone righteous (in right standing with God) and how one obtains salvation. You think it is by good works; I know we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and that good works are simply a manifestation of our saved status.

Originally posted by @romans1009
Absolutely not! I think you may be confusing works done by human effort with works done by and through the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

So looking after one's mother is only righteous if a Christian does it?

Originally posted by @jacob-verville
So you aren't going to dispute my position?

I've convinced you of the truth of mine?

lol. You really need everything spelled out for you don't you?

JV: "Oh no, it's true, I am not very smart. I just put my head down and try to deduce what I can."

ToO: "Well, I'm not going to argue the point. You'd know better than me. I must have been mistaken."

I have to tell you. I really have my doubts as to whether or not this is spelled out enough for you, but it'll have to do.

Originally posted by @romans1009
You really know nothing about me - what I was like before I accepted Christ and what I am like now. I am quite different but you would have no way of knowing that, nor do I really think you are interested beyond collecting ammunition.

You also seem to think (correct me if I’m wrong) that becoming more Christ-like is the same as being Christ-like. Two ...[text shortened]... d’s Word and praying with a sincere and contrite heart. Sometimes that is easier said than done.

You have dodged the question. Here it is again:

Is this "becoming more Christ like" thing an imperceptible personal secret of yours or are we all witnessing it?

Ot this...

Will we be able to tell it's happening to you if we compare what you are like in a few years' time to how you are now?

Originally posted by @fmf
So looking after one's mother is only righteous if a Christian does it?

I can’t seem to move you off this idea that good works make one righteous (in right standing with God.)

Accepting Christ as one’s Lord and Saviour is what makes one righteous. Full stop.

Good works are a manifestation of God’s Holy Spirit indwelling a believer and changing his or her heart and mind.

Good works by either an atheist or a Christian are not what makes one righteous (in right standing with God.)

Originally posted by @fmf
You have dodged the question. Here it is again:

Is this "becoming more Christ like" thing an imperceptible personal secret of yours or are we all witnessing it?

Ot this...

Will we be able to tell it's happening to you if we compare what you are like in a few years' time to how you are now?

How could you be witnessing it when you know next to nothing about me? If you knew me in person and saw me and interacted with me on a regular basis, it would be a different situation.

And trying to compare me now to me in a couple of years’ time based on Internet posts runs into the same problem.

Do you really think you know someone based off what they post on the Internet?

Originally posted by @romans1009
How could you be witnessing it when you know next to nothing about me? If you knew me in person and saw me and interacted with me on a regular basis, it would be a different situation.

And trying to compare me now to me in a couple of years’ time based on Internet posts runs into the same problem.

Do you really think you know someone based off what they post on the Internet?

It's interesting that you do not want to address the question.

Is there anybody in the world who will witness you "becoming more like Christ" or is it just something that happens in your mind that you tell people about on the internet?

Originally posted by @romans1009
I can’t seem to move you off this idea that good works make one righteous (in right standing with God.)

Accepting Christ as one’s Lord and Saviour is what makes one righteous. Full stop.

Good works are a manifestation of God’s Holy Spirit indwelling a believer and changing his or her heart and mind.

Good works by either an atheist or a Christian are not what makes one righteous (in right standing with God.)

So you looking after your mother is righteous but looking after their mother is akin to dirty rags if a non-Christian does it? I don't see how this is the basis for a functioning moral compass. It always seems a bit dehumanizing. Morally sound behaviour can only be engaged in by people of your religion. It sounds a bit like a parody of divine order.

Originally posted by @romans1009
I can’t seem to move you off this idea that good works make one righteous (in right standing with God.)

Accepting Christ as one’s Lord and Saviour is what makes one righteous. Full stop.

Good works are a manifestation of God’s Holy Spirit indwelling a believer and changing his or her heart and mind.

Good works by either an atheist or a Christian are not what makes one righteous (in right standing with God.)

Accepting Christ as one’s Lord and Saviour is what makes one righteous. Full stop.

Yet, according to the gospel preached by Jesus during His ministry, being righteous is what makes one righteous.

In a side-by-side comparison, which actually makes sense?

"He who has ears, let him hear"

Originally posted by @fmf
It's interesting that you do not want to address the question.

Is there anybody in the world who will witness you "becoming more like Christ" or is it just something that happens in your mind that you tell people about on the internet?

Sure, people I am in contact with on a regular basis in the “real world.” Telephone conversations, face-to-face meetings, etc.

You have heard of the real world, haven’t you? Its existence was more readily apparent before the Internet.