people not believing that Jesus died for them

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Thunder1

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Garbage Man:But my question remains: What does the temporary earthly sacrifice of Jesus' body have to do with my sins and crimes? Where is the connection? How does my belief that a piece of God in human form died a violent death affect the outcome of my own actions? That's like saying "if A = B, then Z = true". Z can't be accounted for, because it isn't specified at all in the first part of the statement. Please explain for me.Thunder1:My question for you remains too. Can YOU YOURSELF wipe YOUR sins AWAY TOTALLY AND BE SO PURE AND HOLY TO GOD that HE WOULD ACCEPT YOU?GOD IS SO HOLY.
 

Thunder1

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In the Old Testament PEOPLE had to make burnt offerings, sacrifices to God. Everything has been God's plan for people and we try to make plan for God, how funny.
 

Thunder1

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Simple:Although unfortunately, I havn't quite understood how and why Jeasus died for our sins. But I do welcome any piece of advice or clarification of the ideology.Thunder1:I would not call it ideology, simply put: It has been GOD'S PLAN, NOT OUR PLAN.
 

Garbage Man

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My question for you remains too. Can YOU YOURSELF wipe YOUR sins AWAY TOTALLY AND BE SO PURE AND HOLY TO GOD that HE WOULD ACCEPT YOU?
We have a sort of impasse here. I have not accepted that God really exists, or if he does, whether or not he would accept me for who I am (which I should think he would, seeing as he created me the way I am in the first place). So unless those are assumed I could not provide a legitimate answer to your question. But I am a little miffed at the idea that I am naturally evil. I didn't choose to be imperfect, I was born this way.Tell me, why did God create me to be imperfect if he didn't want me this way?And again, what does glorifying the violent death of God's temporary physical form have to do with my sins?
 

Thunder1

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Garbage Man: We have a sort of impasse here. I have not accepted that God really exists, or if he does, whether or not he would accept me for who I am (which I should think he would, seeing as he created me the way I am in the first place). So unless those are assumed I could not provide a legitimate answer to your question. But I am a little miffed at the idea that I am naturally evil. I didn't choose to be imperfect, I was born this way.Tell me, why did God create me to be imperfect if he didn't want me this way?Thunder1:Garbage Man, we all are imperfect and I love it. Please, don't take it wrong way. I mean it takes the pressure out that we don't need to be perfect and no one can be perfect. Life is so interesting with our weaknesses and strengths also. People are interesting. Sin started already with Adam and Eve.Garbage Man:And again, what does glorifying the violent death of God's temporary physical form have to do with my sins?Thunder1:I already twice asked can you YOURSELF wipe away your sins away? What is YOUR ANSWER ?
 

Garbage Man

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I already twice asked can you YOURSELF wipe away your sins away? What is YOUR ANSWER ?
Forgive me, I see that I did not elaborate where I was able to. My answer is: No, I cannot. If God is up there, then I believe that he would do so if I was truly repentant and sought forgiveness.So where does Jesus' death fit in?
 

Jordan

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Want forgiveness by Him?John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.John 3:17 - For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.I John 4:14 - And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.JagLovest ye in Christ Yahshua, Lord and Saviour of the world.
 

His By Grace

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Hi, Garbage Man. All of this is hard to understand with a "natural, human" mind.(1 Corinthians 1:18-31) To sit and think about it, it is hard to imagine why all of this had to be like that. Why did God ever need or want an earth? Why did He create Adam, Eve, and the animals if all He was going to do was punish them because He knew beforehand that they would sin and cause the whole world to be infected by it? For that matter, why did He create the angel, Lucifer (Satan) if He knew he would become prideful in heaven and take 1/3 of the angels with him? And how did Lucifer even know to sin if heaven is a perfect place? Don't think all of these questions haven't entered the mind of the believer at some point. They have. These are tough to answer. In fact, the whole Bible is filled with the miraculous! But, we are so small as compared to our awesome God. We cannot see what He's knitting together because we are on the "back side" of the handiwork. Have you ever seen someone cross-stitching a picture or crocheting a blanket? The back side shows all of the imperfections and often isn't very lovely. It can look quite confusing! But when you turn it over, you sure have something beautiful! That's the part God sees. He sees the finished, perfect work. He not only sees today but tomorrow and the next day on into infinity. He is preparing His people one day at a time to make them what they need to be (Philippians 1:6). Now to address your not even believing in God, the Bible says that we have to believe through faith and faith comes through the hearing of the Word of God, which is the Bible (Romans 10:17). I know Christians say this a lot. But, we put faith into things we cannot see all of the time. How do you know someone loves you? You can't see their love. It's there because you feel it demonstrated. Why do you think you can keep reading this? You trust through a hope that your body will keep working. You can't see hope, but you use it every day. Why do you believe the wind really exists? Do you see it? No. Do you see evidence of it? Why, of course. You trust that the chair you sit in will hold you, but it might not. See what I mean? I know some of this can be proven through Science, but we don't actually go through the rigors of doing so. Why do we need so much proof that Jesus is real when He will so freely answer those who call upon Him (Romans 10:9,10). You won't hear Him audibly, but if you are reading His words to you, He will speak because the Bible is the only book that is called "living" (2 Timothy 3:16). How much of it have you read for yourself? I noticed in one of your posts that you had Jesus being tempted for 40 days after the resurrection. This is out of sequence. When you take time to read the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) for yourself, then you will have a better understanding of the concepts and who Jesus really is. You will never regret it:)I know you want someone to tell you what the relationship is to Jesus' death and our sins and why it's important to live a good life. Well, I will give it my best shot. I am praying while I am typing. I am praying that the Lord will bring light to these words, because only He can. I cannot do anything without Him (John 15:5). First of all, our God did not die upon the cross. He is holy and supreme. He could not die. He sent His Son, Christ, a representation of Himself, to do that. He had to be human to die for our sins, but He had to be God so He could get up on that third day! He was a small part of God-only as much as a human could hold. Think of it like this. You can go to the ocean and get a bucket of ocean water. Do you have ocean water? Sure. Do you have the whole ocean? Of course not. You cannot contain the ocean in a bucket. So it is with Jesus being God. He was the all-knowing sinless one and had all of the temptations we do. That's where the humanity is sooo important. Because Mary was his mother, he was born fully human too. When Satan tempted him, it was even harder for Him to rebuke him because He did have the authority to call down legions of angels from heaven to save Him from His earthly pain (Matthew 26:53). Yet, He remembered His mission on earth. He thought of those who would accept His sacrifice and even those who would never come. He died a very excruciating death to save us from our sins. He was the sacrifice to satisfy the Father God's requirement for a sin payment(Hebrews 10). The normal payment was an unblemished lamb, goat, bull, or birds. These were slain to replace the person and the flame went up as a pleasing aroma to pay for sin. The covering for sin is in a blood atonement, just like when God had to kill the animals to cover Adam and Eve when they found out they were naked. Sin required a covering. It is all from a Jewish perspective, but they were the first of all creation. Look at 2 Corinthians 5:21. That is one of my favorite verses. It reminds me of how much of a sacrifice Jesus made. He didn't sin at all, but He became sin, so I didn't have to die, but could inherit eternal life. Now, do you know what that means? Jesus hung there feeling not only physical pain, but hatred of men. He became a murderer, a thief, a liar, a homosexual, a drug addict, etc. Think about all He was taking on Himself. No wonder He cried, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Also a direct reference to confirm how he would die to fulfill prophecy from Psalm 22). The last thing I want to tell you is, you can't do enough good deeds to earn this great salvation or Christ wouldn't have had to die. I am not a worthy sacrifice and neither are you. Our best works aren't good enough. But we will be rewarded according to our works once we get to heaven. That's also how others are brought to Jesus- through our witness. So, we are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8,9) but we are rewarded by our works (Hebrews 11:6,1 Corinthians 3:9-17). I know this is long, but I really tried to be detailed so as to help you understand:) A warning to those who read is in John 15:22-24 and it's what Jesus told the people of His day. We have no excuse once the truth is revealed to us. Be careful how you choose. I say this because I have a genuine love for all who don't believe or are struggling to believe.
 

Thunder1

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Hi! I just woke up !Garbage Man you are asking how and where Jesus fits in. These two lovely people already have answered your question... haven't they. It has been God's plan to sacrifice His Son Jesus FOR YOU and me and all humankind, because He loves us so much. If that does not move you, I really can't help you there. That has been God's plan, because we couldn't or can't or won't ever be totally perfect for Him as we are. So IT HAS BEEN GOD'S PLAN TO DO THAT FOR US. AND BECAUSE IT'S GOD'S PLAN, IT TOTALLY FITS... ONLY THROUGH JESUS WE ARE ABLE TO ENTER TO HEAVEN. Jesus understands what you go through, because He has felt every pain, emotion...Are you reading the Bible ?R. Thunder1
 

Mighty Bear

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Forgive me, I see that I did not elaborate where I was able to. My answer is: No, I cannot. If God is up there, then I believe that he would do so if I was truly repentant and sought forgiveness.So where does Jesus' death fit in?
"The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." John 5:22-23 (ESV)"For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet."1 Corinthians 15:21-25 (ESV)"But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." Jude 1:20-21 (ESV)
 

Garbage Man

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Garbage Man you are asking how and where Jesus fits in. These two lovely people already have answered your question... haven't they.
Actually, His By Grace's answer has made me see something I hadn't before.(His By Grace;34726)
You trust through a hope that your body will keep working. You can't see hope, but you use it every day. Why do you believe the wind really exists? Do you see it? No. Do you see evidence of it? Why, of course. You trust that the chair you sit in will hold you, but it might not.
I get the comparison you are trying to make, but I feel there is a bit of a difference: I trust my body to work because 1) I know its functioning is required for me to do anything, and 2) I can take care of my health, but if it fails there is nothing I can do about it, so I might as well behave as though my body is going to keep working. Faith in god, on the other hand, seems the opposite: I don't know that believing in god will do me any good, and so it doesn't feel like my only choice.(His By Grace;34726)
How much of it have you read for yourself? I noticed in one of your posts that you had Jesus being tempted for 40 days after the resurrection. This is out of sequence. When you take time to read the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) for yourself, then you will have a better understanding of the concepts and who Jesus really is. You will never regret it:)
I admit it's been a while since I've studied the bible, and I never read through the whole thing. I've actually been meaning to pick one up and go through it.(His By Grace;34726)
He was the sacrifice to satisfy the Father God's requirement for a sin payment(Hebrews 10). The normal payment was an unblemished lamb, goat, bull, or birds. These were slain to replace the person and the flame went up as a pleasing aroma to pay for sin. The covering for sin is in a blood atonement, just like when God had to kill the animals to cover Adam and Eve when they found out they were naked.
God... wants blood? God wants pain and suffering from his children? That sounds like if I have a three-year-old who spills a glass of milk because he was running while holding it, and I respond by whipping him in public square. Or, more akin as a metaphor to Jesus, it's like if I make him watch me whip myself, and then make him feel guilty about it.(His By Grace;34726)
Sin required a covering.
No... no, that's incredibly wrong on so many levels. If God is infinite, then decides what is and is not required. Suffering need never have existed in his universe. God's hands cannot be so tied by such a stipulation; if he demands blood then that blood is on no one's hands but his own. Ultimate power is synonymous with ultimate responsibility. I will not be called to hate myself or feel guilty for things over which another being has absolute control. (His By Grace;34726)
I know this is long, but I really tried to be detailed so as to help you understand:) A warning to those who read is in John 15:22-24 and it's what Jesus told the people of His day. We have no excuse once the truth is revealed to us. Be careful how you choose. I say this because I have a genuine love for all who don't believe or are struggling to believe.
I do thank you for trying to help me understand, because you did in fact help me to see something I had never considered before. But I'm sorry to say you won't like it. It sounds to me like the christian God is a bloodthirsty, violent, hateful being who created life for the sole purpose of exacting psychological pain and torture on them. How is this different from all the pagan gods who were vain, spiteful, and demanded sacrifices of blood and torment? I thought the christian God was supposed to be different, but the way you make it sound, that is not true.I'm sorry for the way this must sound, but I am shocked at the burst of insight you've helped me to have.Now I don't know what to think.
 

Thunder1

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Dear Garbage Man,IF you are hungry for God, start to read His word. He loves you !!!! Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make your paths straight."Jer. 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for disaster,to give you a future and a hope."Love,Thunder1
 

Garbage Man

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IF you are hungry for God, start to read His word. He loves you !!!!
I appreciate that you want to help, but I believe that I am not hungry for a god that demands blood and suffering. Humans by themselves are capable enough of bringing such pain upon themselves.
 

Jordan

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Apr 6, 2007
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IF you are hungry for God, start to read His word. He loves you !!!!
I appreciate that you want to help, but I believe that I am not hungry for a god that demands blood and suffering. Humans by themselves are capable enough of bringing such pain upon themselves.Blood and suffering? Excuse me, but the only one who wants blood and suffering is Satan himself. He is the only one want that wants your and everybody elses soul to die.JagLovest thou in Christ Yahshua, Lord and Saviour of the world.
 

Sara

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Nov 11, 2007
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Blood and suffering? Excuse me, but the only one who wants blood and suffering is Satan himself. He is the only one want that wants your and everybody elses soul to die.JagLovest thou in Christ Yahshua, Lord and Saviour of the world.
Jag,I think Garbage mangot a bit confused when By His Grace stated"The normal payment was an unblemished lamb, goat, bull, or birds."Garbage man,In the OT the normal payment for sin was sacrifice. God does not want us to pay for our sins in blood anymore. Remember the commandment Thou shalt not kill?!Christ was our sacrifice. God sent him to earth to show us to how to live our lives as God wants us to. He was then sent to die on the cross, which he knew about, as a sacrifice for our sins. Therefore all we need to do is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, tell him what sins we've committed, ask for forgiveness.I hope you understand this a bit better.Sara
 

His By Grace

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Well, Garbage Man, all I can say is I followed the words of the Bible. If I am at fault for making you disbelieve the Lord more, then I am already asking His forgiveness because it saddens me. The Lord I deeply love and know isn't like what you're describing at all. Let me simply say, that what you feed on becomes what you are hungry for many times. What are you feeding on- spiritually speaking? You admitted that you don't feed on the bread of life- reading the Bible each day. I cannot speak His words like He can. Let Him do it. Give Him a chance. Read it through for yourself. If we can sit and watch T.V. or type/ read on the computer for hours, surely we can give God 15 minutes. What if you're wrong? What if I'm right? Your whole eternity hinges on it. I am only trying to show you these things because I care-no other reason. I heard last night that a guy that preached our youth revival this past weekend shared about one of the former members of the singing group Korn. Are you familiar with them? Well, I hadn't heard of them until this year. One of my second grade students told me one day that they were cool and that he listened to them. I decided to pull them up on the computer. I was sooooo shocked and heartsick. They have songs that are basically like devil worship, suicidal, and the like. I later asked Damien who introduced him to Korn. He said his uncle did. I asked him to please think about what he was listening to. I asked him to pay attention to what they were saying to see if it was good because if it wasn't, he may not want to put those bad things in his mind. I also told him how much I care about him. Anyway, it was so strange that this testimony happened to come back to me. This guy that was in the band was at wit's end. He had proclaimed to be atheist. He was on major drugs. He had a child, but his wife had gotten on drugs so bad that he had custody of the child. One night, he checked into a hotel room. He had a Bible in there. He prayed to God. He asked God to show him if he was real. He said an overwhelming sense of peace overcame him as he began to pick up the Bible and read. He did not leave that hotel room until he had gone through all of the drug withdrawals needed to get clean. He had tried rehab before but it didn't work. This whole time he was feeding on scripture. He was FOREVER changed. He says there is nothing like it. He knows God is real. He gave up all of the wealth and fame to follow Christ. I can't remember his first name, but his nickname was "Head" and last name is Welch, I believe. Check it out for yourself. Delve into some of these real life testimonies. Maybe then you'll see how Jesus can take a life and make it new and whole again.
 

Garbage Man

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What are you feeding on- spiritually speaking? You admitted that you don't feed on the bread of life- reading the Bible each day.
I've been feeding on nothing for many years, so to speak.(His By Grace;35068)
What if you're wrong? What if I'm right? Your whole eternity hinges on it.
Mmm... this is a bad argument, because there are many more options than just your beliefs and mine. What if we're both wrong and Judaism is right? Or what if Islam is right? (I know how a lot of people here feel about that one but I'm just invoking it as an example.) What if Buddhism or Hinduism or Sikhism are right? If you're Catholic, what if Protestantism is right? Or Mormonism? There are thousands of different faiths and most of them contradict one another in at least some way, so it's not a one-or-the-other situation.(His By Grace;35068)
I am only trying to show you these things because I care-no other reason.
I can tell that, and I thank you. I know you are trying your best to put your words in a way that I can understand, which is difficult given that you don't know me beyond a few internet forum posts I've made, so I appreciate it.(His By Grace;35068)
I heard last night that a guy that preached our youth revival this past weekend shared about one of the former members of the singing group Korn.
I'll look into that story.
 

His By Grace

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Do let me know what you find out about the guy's testimony. I would love to hear more details. And just an aside; I may have given you a bad argument, but that's not what I'm even doing. I'm not trying to prove me right and you wrong. I fully believe what I'm saying. If not, then I might as well forget it. Jesus said he is the way, the truth, and the life. I only follow Him and believe in Him-no other way, truth, or life. I'm betting my future on it and I will die with full faith and confidence. I've heard enough testimony and felt the Hand of the Lord enough, had enough prayers answered that only He knew about, that I can't help but believe and love Him. If you like to read, I would like to ask you to order a book called "No Compromise" about the life of Keith Green. He pursued many religions, drugs, etc. and all paths led him right back to Jesus. You can go to christianbookdistributors.com and type in his name and you'll see the book. It's a long book, but it's a great read. I'd like to ask you to do one other thing, if you will. Would you find the song called,"Song to My Parents"(on the"For Him Who Has Ears to Hear" cd)? I was praying for you just a little while ago and that song came to my mind. Though I don't "know" who you are, because Jesus loves you, I have a burden to see you come to know Him. Let me know what you think. May you feel peace as you continue to search for the truth you long for.Sincerely-HBG