Ultimately, it's not a matter of who is right and who is wrong... (?)

[Biblepaige]

Jesus is the way, but how many ways are there to Jesus?

One. And it is a narrow path.

 

[Keiw]

I would say that obedience is only proof of loyalty. (be it all so temporary)

Doing the right thing should be a joyous natural outflow, not an obligation to meet.

I saw a woman walk past me yesterday with jeweled cross earrings.
She had the most sour look on her face.


Those being extorted feel they have no choice in the matter.
Accepting "an offer they can't refuse."

[

Many Christians probably have sour looks. Its not so easy looking at this wicked world everyday. A Christan would never have a cross( graven image) though.
God doesn't extort people, His laws and statutes benefit us.

 

[Keiw]

One. And it is a narrow path.

Jesus is the way to the Father. The Father is the destination. To do this 24/7,365=John 4:22-24--Remember Jesus said--I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.

 

[amadeus]

Certainly not. I agree.


Jesus is the way, but how many ways are there to Jesus?


When indeed. ???

1 John 3:2 NIV
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.
But we know that when Christ appears,[a] we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

[

What is it that we see now at this moment? Who is beyond seeing as through darkened glass? Who has arrived at the "face to face" vision? Seeking the face of God is not a new thing to men by any means. Consider Moses and David and Solomon and Paul:

Ex 33:20

And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

Ps 27:8

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Pr 29:18

Where there is no vision, the people perish:

1co 13:12

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 

[Keiw]

Exactly.

Galatians 5:18 NIV
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

[

Yes and those do this 24/7,365-John 4:22-24--because they went through Jesus and got to the Father. The Father is ones destination. Trinity religions stop at Jesus.

 

[Biblepaige]

Jesus is the way to the Father. The Father is the destination. To do this 24/7,365=John 4:22-24--Remember Jesus said--I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.

That's another way to say the same as I did,yes.

 

[Keiw]

That's another way to say the same as I did,yes.

Actually you just said there is a narrow path. No mention of the Father being ones destination.

 

[St. SteVen]

St. SteVen said:
Jesus is the way, but how many ways are there to Jesus?

One. And it is a narrow path.

And "few there be that find it"? (life)
We best hope that doesn't refer to the afterlife.

Otherwise God is making sport with our souls.
Giving us a puzzle that few can solve.
A high-stakes game of hide-and-seek with our eternal destiny at risk.

Is that what Jesus is about?

[

 

[St. SteVen]

... Trinity religions stop at Jesus.

Trinity religions?

Trinity religions stop at Jesus?

How?

[

 

[St. SteVen]

Remember Jesus said--I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.

One way to the Father. How many ways to the Son?

[

 

[St. SteVen]

Many Christians probably have sour looks. Its not so easy looking at this wicked world everyday.

Yup. Livin' in victory, eh?

A Christan would never have a cross( graven image) though.

A jewelry cross is a graven image? WOW.

[

 

[GodsGrace]

"Ultimately, it's not a matter of who is right and who is wrong.
I need to follow my convictions. Especially as it concerns the character of God." - SteVen

(quoted from another topic) I thought it might be worth discussing as a topic.

My views on who is and isn't a Christian are pretty broad.
I can identify (and disagree with) nominal Christianity. But beyond that I am very inclusive.
I was raised Protestant, but I don't discount Catholics or Orthodox Christians.
Even if they discount me, which happens on occasion. (to be expected, I suppose)

If we put religious affiliations and doctrine aside:
- What is of most importance?
- What are your personal convictions?
- What about those who don't share your personal convictions?

[

It's a matter of who is right and who is wrong only IF the person is not obedient to God.
IOW, if they're all talk and then live as if God doesn't exist.

Other than that, doctrine does not save.
If it does, most of humanity is lost because we don't seem to agree within our own Christian religion, let alone other religions.

I believe strongly that if a person wants to identify as a Christian, then he must believe what the early church believed, which would include one of the creeds. They must believe Jesus is God and that He died and rose again.

However, this is in order to be called a Christian.
A person could believe in God, the creator of the universe, and obey with their conscience, as is stated in Romans 2, and still be saved - but it wouldn't be possible to identify them as Christian since they don't know Jesus, or God's plan of salvation.

So, belief in God -
Obedience to God's laws -

The reformed don't share in my personal convictions/beliefs - but they're still saved persons attempting to understand and obey God.

 

[St. SteVen]

... doctrine does not save.
If it does, most of humanity is lost because we don't seem to agree within our own Christian religion, let alone other religions.

That was my point, thanks.

[

 

[Biblepaige]

Actually you just said there is a narrow path. No mention of the Father being ones destination.

Those who know Matthew 7 know the meaning of the narrow path.

 

[St. SteVen]

Those who know Matthew 7 know the meaning of the narrow path.

Do you know the meaning of the narrow way? (few find it)

[

 

[Biblepaige]

Do you know the meaning of the narrow way? (few find it)

[

See John 14:6

 

[St. SteVen]

See John 14:6

We have already determined that Jesus is the way to the Father.
But how many ways are there to Jesus?

Do you know the meaning of the narrow way? (few find it)

[

 

[Keiw]

Trinity religions?

Trinity religions stop at Jesus?

How?

[

True followers do this-John 4:22-24--24 / 7--365.

 

[Keiw]

One way to the Father. How many ways to the Son?

[

Jesus said to remain his friend and remain in his love one must obey him, the same way he has to obey his Father to remain in his love-John 15:10-14
A single path to Jesus= 1 single religion.
The other 99% claiming to be Christian are the broad and spacious path.

 

[Keiw]

Yup. Livin' in victory, eh?


A jewelry cross is a graven image? WOW.

[

Yes they kiss it, bow to it--It can do nothing. A living king sitting on his throne is the one who does things. An inanimate object= an icon or graven image, both condemned in the bible.