Quote Originally Posted by Pyramidsonmars
Well Jesus calls those who believe in Him His "body". Further more, if you read Acts, or the letters from Paul, you will see an elaboration on this. Believers have something called the Holy Spirit. The bible tells us that this is literally a "person"; the "teacher" and "councelor", sent by Jesus when he returned to heaven. That is why after he leaves the second time he tells his diciples to go to Jerusalem and pray until they recieve the "gift" Jesus had promised them (the Holy Spirit). It is through Christ in us that we have the Holy Spirit, the teacher who guides our thoughts and helps us identify God, and whatever truth he gives us. Only someone with the Holy Spirit will really be able to see what God is telling us through scripture, and it is then up to us to share that with non-believers in a way that God provides us. Even these words I'm typing now are under the influence of the Holy Spirit, otherwise, in my darkness I would have no undrestanding. In Romans Paul writes about this:

Romans 1
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creatorâ??who is forever praised. Amen.

Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

What is being written here is about all of us; humanity as a whole. What sin is, by definition, is a seperation from God. Once you say something hurtfull to your sister, you've turned your back away from God; you've denied him. The second you say in your heart "this poor man doesn't get my money" you've said this same thing to God. We don't want to think about it, but you can't ever turn back towards God except by first asking Him for forgiveness. Are we allowed to do this? Maybe. I definetly think God coming and dying for us was a pretty good sign that we can. This is where Christ comes in.



Christians live in constant sacrifice (well yes, some do and some don't). It's called sacrifice only here on earth. In heaven it's simply the way of the land. Christ asks us that we constantly give to our brothers and sisters (not only those in our family, but outside as well) when they are in need. If we are giving, God is providing us an abundance, and endless source to give from. Asking Christ to forgive my sins is the first step; the second is to pursue the Kingdom of God; to be as best I can a "child of God" as God sees fit. There is no "weasling out" of responsibility, unless of course you would say that any time you say "sorry" to someone you wrong you're weasling out of them staying angry. God doesn't wish to be angry at us; he holds no grudge once we come to Him humbled and recieve the forgiveness he has given us. God is love, and one of the most powerfull forms of love is forgiveness; it is the backbone to re-establishing a relationship with our Creator that we are responsible for breaking.



We don't ever learn, because humanity has been making the same mistakes since it first begun. Feeling guilt is a sign that we have sinned, though some feel less guilt than others because they kill themselves in that way. Striving for perfection is impossible for our Flesh; it is born hating, and slandering and gossiping. Our souls can be perfect by being baptized; washed in the blood of Christ.

Revelations reads:
13Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robesâ??who are they, and where did they come from?"
14I answered, "Sir, you know."
And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15Therefore,
"they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.




Who's to say that you ever become better when you wrong someone? The only mistakes I've ever learned from are the big ones, and even then I often fall victim to the same temptations.



Watch the news - that is why God is so angry. My friend, what I really must stress is that you (and I, and everyone else) closely watch our own actions, and really pay attention to the intentions of our hearts when we do things. Do we do things for selfish reasons? Yes. Do we hate others in our hearts? Yes. Do we feed everyone who needs it? No, infact we take more for ourselves. All of us...you do it too my friend; so do I. God demanded blood as sacrifice. Death infact was the result of sin. And in the old testiment, when one had sinned (which happens more than they realised I'm sure) God asked them to sacrifice something in their place. When we live our sinful lives, we are already dead to God, who lives outside of time. Life is found in christ, and we are once again alive in God's eyes.



Accepting the thing I've done wrong, saying I'm sorry to God, and accepting the new conditions that God has laid down is taking responsibility. The new conditions are that God's child has died instead of me (but he didn't die! He was raised from the dead; he defeated death. That's the promise. We, as children of God, will not die either) and that I have to accept that, believe in it, and allow it to transform me. Having God's sacrifice Jesus LIVE inside me means I might have a hope of repenting. Because I, on my own, am futile in understanding even the things I do wrong.



Offering yourself means death. It means saying "Ok God, I continue to do the thigns I do, but I'll pay the penalty after". That penalty is death.



Because God was alive in Jesus, Jesus willingly did this. Jesus shed His blood as His sacrifice to God. Jesus did this out of pure love, because he wanted us to escape eternal death. There is no greater gift in the history of humanity. Jesus was raised from the dead; his blood baptizes the spirits of those who believe in him. Jesus is the Lamb, the sacrificial Lamb, out of God's love that is inside him, and because of this God has placed him at his right hand. This is the sacrifice that each and every person should be willing to give, but because Jesus was the first Child of God in the world, he did it.

On reading the bible, I've found parts that I couldn't explain, or even disagreed with. The problem isn't in those things themselves, but in my understanding of them. Fortunatly the bible ties itself together, and my doubts are often cleared up by other verses referring to those things in a different light. Reading and educating yourself is the only real way to understand what the bible is talking about in any given place. Some significant thigns won't become significant until you learn background information.

Anyway, God is alive right now in your intrest in Christianity. I will only ever tell you the facts - I'm not trying to convert you or tamper with your beliefs, but rather to offer my voice in any way that helps. God bless!
Thanks again for explaining your views, man. I appreciate your willingness to help.

Where to begin?

O.k, lets start with what you said about the holy spirit being a literal person. I couldn't disagree more. If you would, direct me to scripture that defines the holy spirit as being a person, and not "Spirit".

I believe it is supernatural just as guilt, and hate, and anger, and jealousy, and compassion are. (Spirits) Only, the holy spirit is love, and it convicts us through love showing us what is acceptable, and what is not. It doesn't speak to us, but by its own essence...love! It is up to each individual to embrace its presence.

I don't believe it guides us through scripture, to helps us discern its compexities. Case in point, the many differing Christian denominations. Is the holy spirit telling something different to different people? No, its not telling anything! It convicts by its own essence, and that essence is 'love'.

True 'comfort' comes from love. you see, love conquers fear, and Jesus clearly stated that the holy spirit was the 'comforter'. Again, it is up to each individual to embrace it. Love is a very powerful force, man. This is not a religious concept either. All can profit by accepting its power...religious, or not!

We can move to Jesus now, and what he did on the cross. (My views)

You see, Jesus said to "pick up your cross, and follow me". The cross is a metaphor for sin and responsibility, imo. He willingly died on the cross accepting, and bearing the burdens of man. But wait, he said "follow me". He set the example for what is required of all man. To bear your own cross, and willingly die, or to sacrifice your own life for the lives of others.

Not literaly, we all must die someday, and Jesus clearly showed us this on the cross. I'm talking about living not just for self, but for all mankind in attempt to create a better life experience for future generations. Through love this is possible, and Jesus showed us what it meant to love. He was our example, not our savior! He simply showed us the way, and gave us a clear sign of what it will take to save mankind.

He spoke in parables, and why would the message of the cross be any different? Personal salvation is for the selfish, and self serving, but sacrificing your life for the future lives of others, and bearing the burdens of man is what Jesus was trying to show us. This is how mankind will be saved...through the efforts of man, for man, and through the power of love that dwells within those that choose to embrace it. By Jesus' example we see this, and we honor him by doing so...

Matthew 16:25
25. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Offering yourself means death. It means saying "Ok God, I continue to do the thigns I do, but I'll pay the penalty after". That penalty is death.
Love and responsibility is the answer to the salvation of mankind. Not putting your burdens on another to pay for. Personal salvation is a hopeful myth! I'm willing to take up the cross, and die for what Jesus was trying to accomplish. The question is: Are you? It takes faith!

As for learning from mistakes...one must only be willing!

Proverbs says much about this...

Btw, some will say you can't just pick and choose things you like, or things that make sense in the bible. They will tell you you must accept it all as fact, or nothing at all!

I say, that is like saying in order to be an american, you must embrace, and agree with everything our government does.

We have minds to discern things, and I think God expects us to use them...