Reader Poll - Would you be a Christian if there was no afterlife?

[Berean]

He is not pointing out errors, he is referring to refinements in understanding as time progresses. (Prov 4:18)

How many "refinements can you have? Can they come up with? How many different interpretations can they come up with for one verse? If it was "refined" as you claim, then it was wrong, and if it was wrong, guess what? then it was ERROR!!!

This is what God has always done with his people….he revealed things over time…..what Paul called “the sacred mystery” (my·steʹri·on) is a mystery no longer. This is something that originates with God, is withheld until his own time, and is revealed only to those to whom he chooses to make it known.

How about a verse ... where is this sacred mystery spoken of by Paul?

The devil is a counterfeiter….and he has deluged the world with false religion, (catering to every spiritual appetite) knowing that we are created to be spiritually minded, with an intense need to be fed spiritually……and to worship……so if satan provides “food” that tastes good, but is spiritual poison, then it is gulped down with no recognition that it is death dealing.

I agree, Satan doesn't change his tactics, he uses them over and over again. When the Apostles fell asleep, wicked men came in, and he warned the brethren that "even now there are many antichrists." And when Pastor Russell fell asleep the same thng happened, eveil men came in and corrupted the Society he founded, and he also warned the brethren just before he did to be on the watch. As Zechariah stated, "smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered." (13:7)

Our Governing Body has never claimed authoritative revelation from God….they are shepherds, not dictators. They are spirit anointed brothers in the faith, appointed to “take the lead” as God has always done with his people. If we accept them as such, we are told to obey them. (Heb 13:17)

BWAWAWAWAWAWAWA ... I can fill this forum with quotes from their pen to the contrary.

No one has said you must obey them…..we do because we accept them as our leaders.

Oh, so you can openly disagree with them? Is that new light?

Do you have such shepherds in your denomination? Are you even a member of a denomination?
Who determines what you believe? You? Is that how Christianity was to operate?

Yes, they call that Holy Spirit, something you're leaders say you really don't have, because if you did, you would be "anointed."

The Bible must be our measuring rod…..it is what I have studied carefully like a Beroean for decades.
Every single teaching is something I have carefully compared with the Bible’s overall narrative and not once have I been shaken by a clarification or adjustment in our understanding. It follows the pattern revealed in the Bible among God’s people.
If I was ever to discover that they taught errors, then I would not have stayed with them for over 50 years.

So 50 years ago, what you studied, you proved to be the Truth, but then it was changed by your leaders. I thought you proved to yourself what you had was the Truth? So now it wasn't? So it was error, right? And now you must believe the refinement. But being the "Beroean" that you are, you studied it out with Bible in hand and proved it once again, "this is the truth of the matter", only for your leaders to re-refine it a few years later .. and guess what Jane? It's error, you can call what you want, refinement, new light, old light, if it's changed, and no longer believed ... it's ERROR!!!

I hope you understand that every denomination that follows a single human leader is a cult.

How ironic, I guess that doesn't apply to you, because you don't follow A leader, you follow LEADERS, a governing body.

LOL…..Where on earth would I go?

um ... JESUS?

 

[Berean]

Who has ever heard of you? Why have I never encountered a member of your brotherhood in person?

Are we not speaking now? Is knocking on doors the only way to reach people? I've lived in this house 10 years, Witnesses have never knocked on my door. Maybe we haven't reached out to you because you declined the invitation to follow Jesus. You see, that's how I found Him, I asked and prayed, and He revealed Himself to me. And when I learned what He wanted from me, I counted the cost and told him, "I'll go with you." You've already decided you don't want to go with Him, you want to stay here, and that's fine. But the preaching work is about finding the last members of the Body of Christ, not about gathering a second-class of Christians. And for the record, we have congregations in Perth; Ringwood Victoria; Rosanna, Victoria; Wentworthville NSW; Blackburn, South Victoria; Curra Queensland; New South Wales; Gold Coast; Melbourne. We also have foreign language groups. There's even a Polish group in Melbourne.

In your opinion….that is all you have. But instead of doing as Jesus asked, you never miss an opportunity to tells us what we are doing wrong….what about you correct your own brotherhood?

There you go again, it's all about the preach work, right? Tell me what correction does my brotherhood need? Knocking on doors? Throwing ourselves at the feet of your governing body?

Are you serious?….what you hold as the complete meal, was just the appetizer….you‘ve missed the main course and the dessert will be enjoyed by those who didn’t stop eating.

Seems to me you guys are gluttons, since you eat any and everything given to you by your leaders. Before you even have time to digest it, they have to give you a laxative, to make room for the refinements. That's not meat, that's spiritual junk food. It doesn't even whet your appetite. But I guess pigs to a trough can't complain.

LOL…I guess we will all find out when the judge does his job…..or is it yours?

Well, if I'm faithful, it will be His, but I'll assist Him if He finds me worthy.

 

[Aunty Jane]

You just believe whatever you wish…..we’ll see who Jesus accepts as his own….that is not for you or me to determine.
I have nothing more to say to you…..

 

[Berean]

Without God’s spirit, the preaching work would not be done. Jesus said he would be “with” his disciples in order for them to carry it out…..it is his work assignment for them.

Yeah, I can see God's spirit working in your preaching work

 

[St. SteVen]

New topic.

When Did Jesus Go to Egypt?

Is there a contradiction in the story of Jesus as a child? One story says they fled to Egypt after the Magi left. Another story says they took Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to be circumcised on the eighth day. ??? Matthew 2:7-15 NIV Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from...

www.christianityboard.com

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[St. SteVen]

If there were no consequences or rewards in the afterlife,
would there be any point in being a Christian?

- Is there any value whatsoever to Christianity if there is no afterlife?
- If there is an afterlife, how would God treat those who became Christians only out of fear of eternal consequences?

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[Rockerduck]

If there were no consequences or rewards in the afterlife,
would there be any point in being a Christian?

- Is there any value whatsoever to Christianity if there is no afterlife?
- If there is an afterlife, how would God treat those who became Christians only out of fear of eternal consequences?

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1 Corinthians 2:9 - “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Matthew 19:29 - And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

 

[Dan Clarkston]

It looks like some people are here to just be tares and have no actual interest in knowing the Lord Jesus and will never know Him seeing that they treat His Word as nothing more than lies.

 

[St. SteVen]

1 Corinthians 2:9 - “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Matthew 19:29 - And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

Is that a YES, or a NO to the topic question? (unclear)

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[Dan Clarkston]

Is that a YES, or a NO to the topic question? (unclear)

Why would anyone waste time answering an unbiblical question???

Are YOU saying you don't believe there is an afterlife?

 

[St. SteVen]

Are YOU saying you don't believe there is an afterlife?

On the contrary.
Are you only a Christian because there is one?
No earthly benefit to following Jesus?

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[Behold]

If there were no consequences or rewards in the afterlife,
would there be any point in being a Christian?

If for no other reason.........avoiding Hell is a great reason to become a Christian.
In fact, there is a type of person who is not interested in forgiveness or God's love, or even going to heaven, but they dont want to go to Hell, so you deal with them that way.....as that is "plucking them out of the fire".

JUDE explains it like this.. regarding SOUL Winning..

"""save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—

New Living Translation
"""""Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment.... Show mercy to still others,

English Standard Version
"""""save others by snatching them OUT of the fire; to others show mercy with fear,

Berean Standard Bible
"""""save others by snatching them from the fire..; and to still others show mercy tempered with fear,

 

[Rockerduck]

Is that a YES, or a NO to the topic question? (unclear)

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I had no choice to be a Christian; Jesus did it all for me. I never thought about the afterlife before I was chosen and I'm glad He did. Now I know I have eternal life and Christ owns me. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

 

[St. SteVen]

If for no other reason.........avoiding Hell is a great reason to become a Christian.

On the contrary. Terrible reason.

Are you a Christian by cause of extortion through the fear of hell?

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[Lambano]

If for no other reason.........avoiding Hell is a great reason to become a Christian.

Would you follow Jesus if there were no Hell?

No love for God; no living a meaningful life; just save yourself.

 

[David Lamb]

If there were no consequences or rewards in the afterlife,
would there be any point in being a Christian?

- Is there any value whatsoever to Christianity if there is no afterlife?
- If there is an afterlife, how would God treat those who became Christians only out of fear of eternal consequences?

[

Surely their would be no Christianity if there were no afterlife. If there were no afterlife, Christ would not have risen from the dead, and I am sure you know what Paul argues from that:

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” (1Co 15:13-19 NKJV)

So not only would there be no point in Christianity if there were no afterlife, there would be no Christianity at all.

 

[Bob]

Surely their would be no Christianity if there were no afterlife. If there were no afterlife, Christ would not have risen from the dead, and I am sure you know what Paul argues from that:

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” (1Co 15:13-19 NKJV)

So not only would there be no point in Christianity if there were no afterlife, there would be no Christianity at all.

Thank you for the response.

Consider the following question instead:

What are all the ways you are thankful that God sent Jesus to us? (Bonus: what is their order of importance to you?)

Peace and blessings.

 

[Behold]

On the contrary. Terrible reason.

Are you a Christian by cause of extortion through the fear of hell?

God would not view JUDE's verse as a terrile reason that a person made a choice to go to heaven...., and that is why its in the bible.

As for me, i came to Christ because i wanted to be saved.

 

[David Lamb]

Thank you for the response.

Consider the following question instead:

What are all the ways you are thankful that God sent Jesus to us? (Bonus: what is their order of importance to you?)

Peace and blessings.

I am thankful because I could never have freed myself from my sins or their just punishment by God. I needed a Saviour. Jesus Christ is that Saviour. He took the punishment for my sins, and gave me His perfect righteousness. He ever lives to make intercession for me. He promises to be with me, and to keep me. He guides me through His word.

 

[Behold]

No love for God; no living a meaningful life; just save yourself.

Sinners love sin.
Christians love God.

So, the sinner's love for God begins, often, when the person is about to become a Chiristan.........about to trust in Christ and they realize that God loves them so much, as a sinner........that Jesus died for them.
Often this causes the sinner to want to love God, and this plays into their wanting to be saved.