Christianity is the only religion that offers forgiveness of sins because of faith and not works, why not more

Question

Christians...you don't have to work for being saved...you don't have to work for forgiveness?

1 John 1:8-10
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Answer 1

The answer to your question is simple: Salvation doesn't require work, but it does require an individual to change (If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.. old things are passed away and, behold, all thing have become new - 2 Corinthians 5:17). In short, people have to change ... of course the first problem is that they have to admit they are wrong... and let's face it... people don't like to admit that.

Another reason there are not more Christians is actually the fault of most churches... because they tout the Bible as some sort of book full of vicious rules... which quite honestly is putting a hateful spin on a beautiful message... consider the ten commandments for a moment:

The ten commandments are arguably one of history's greatest sets of laws... but is it really such a bad thing... let's look at a few:

Don't steal... well... that makes sense... you don't want anyone taking from you, so don't take from anyone else...

Don't commit adultery - that's a matter of personal health and safety... ladies, be honest... how many of you have caught your man cheating and thought about inflicting some serious violence??? Plus, that eliminates most chances for contracting STDs

Don't focus so much on other people's stuff (that's the covet one). It's hard to enjoy what YOU have if you are so concerned with what someone else has... and focusing on your neighbors possessions could lead some to borrow those things without permission (wait... we already talked about stealing)...

So then, it's conceivable that the Ten Commandments aren't meant to keep us from having fun, but rather to help us lead happy healthy lives with each other...

So... back to the question... despite how EASY it is to become a Christian and lead a Christian life, there aren't more Christians because people are too self absorbed to admit they are wrong... coupled with how horrible most churches have made the Bible sound to those who might even consider turning their lives over to Christ.

Answer 2

The first thing that someone should be considering is whether the idea of sin is actually real.

If God is supposed to be perfect how could She have made anything or anyone that wasn't.
Think about it. The idea of sin assumes certain things about God that seem highly unlikely.
All this talk about sin sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me.

First it assumes a God who is too incompetent to organize a simple educational field excursion and figure out a way to get all of the students home safely.

How likely is this that God would not be smart enough to come up with a plan for our salvation that is going to work?

It also assumes that God must have created us imperfect if we are sinners.

One might assume that God would be able to create someone perfect each and every time if he chose to. Assuming God is capable of this, then it follows logically that we must be perfect creations if we are actually creations of this perfect God.

Unless of course you are saying that God chose to create us imperfect.

If God created us imperfect then anything that may go wrong is Gods fault, not ours. This seems a bit illogical at best so I think that we need to assume that What God creates would have to be perfect.

If this is the case and Gods creations are perfect, then nothing that we can do could change what God created perfect and make it imperfect unless we think that we are more powerful than God is.

How likely is it that we the creation could be more powerful than the creator. I personally find this idea somewhat amusing, and a bit absurd.

Religion tells us that God is perfect. If this is true then it could hardly be logically for Gods creations to be considered to be anything less than perfect.

If this is the case then Nothing that we can ever do could possibly change this perfection that God willed, unless we were so powerful that our choices could override and change the will of God.

How likely is that????

Think about it.

The idea of sin is simple nonsense; a lie made up about God by religion.

Love and blessings
don

Source --- Course in miracles

Answer 3

In the way the question is phrased you presume that those who don't practice religion simply don't do it because of the work. For me an ex-christian it wasn't about the work, it was about my own personal journey and the realization that life is what i make of it. I wanted to think on my own, and decide if things were wrong or right by my own standards. I live by the golden rule, " do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Religion doesn't really permit one to think critically about their everyday lives. If all of the focus is in the afterlife, then the life here doesn't matter all that much. Life is what one makes of it. I know from expierence you want to save everyone, and i think that is admirable, but you also must understand some people feel as strongly about not believing in a god as you may about believing in one.

Answer 4

That';s a lazy version of the bible, pretty much what I expect from lazy people.

Two points, one, works alone will not get you into heaven. Why not? Because having your heart in the right place is more important then the act itself. Thus a person who professes faith only because he is afraid of hades, or craves paradise, is wasting his (or her) time.

However, by your works shall ye be known. What? Sounds tricky, but it isn't. Let me explain.

Works do not prove you have faith, however the lack or works does prove you are not a true adherant to the preaching of Jesus, because if you truely love your neighbors, and your enemies, and everyone else, then good acts will flow from you NATURALLY. You will simply DO good things.

So yes, works are not required to enter the Heavenly Kingdom, however the lack of works proves the lack of a good Christain heart.

Forgivness isn't free, it's actually harder work then the 'works' of some religions, which allow you entry into the afterlife simply by following a recipe.

You cannot 'emulate' repentence, it must be heartfelt and true.

Christians have to mean it.

Answer 5

Forgiveness is a grace from God. It cannot be earned. It is a free gift that He gives us who sincerely want it.

By works I take it that you mean we have to work to repair whatever damage has been done to ourself or others? True, we may have to correct certain things in our lives that we're doing wrong, or try to mend a relationship with someone, but forgiveness from God does not depend on that. We are bound by the physical realm, and we do suffer and live through the consquences of our actions, good or bad, but His grace is given freely. I guess you could say that we end up punishing ourselves by living through the ripple effects of what we do or don't do. His grace allows us and strengthens us to not continue making those same mistakes and be transformed by Him.

Answer 6

I suppose the irony in verse 10 is purely unintentional? Actually, it also says in the Bible that 'faith without works is dead', does it not? It isn't all Christians that believe the way you do, just a few of the more aggressive Protestant sects, which I suspect might have a difficult time surviving otherwise.

Answer 7

I am a Pagan Minister...

We believe that faith alone is not enough we must also live as good men.

In Christianity you can knowingly sin ask forgiveness and be forgiven sin again and be forgiven again....

we are not so lienient. we believe that you must live life to it's fullest and greatest potential. but also you must live it in respect of others. Life is a learning experience and will be repeated untill we have learned enough to become the ancestors and spiritual guides for our future. the difficulty of the next life or lives is based on what wh have done in previous lives. all hurt and pain caused by us is repaid (sometimes ninefold) and throughout life we will come to be aware of what our misteaks have been it is our choice to repeat them or to learn from them.

Answer 8

turntable,
Why not more religions? Because they can't understand it. They don't have the Spirit of God to show them.

The daily miracle that occurs before our believers eyes is that we can understand , and they cannot understand. That's 1 Corinthians1.

Rejoice, dude. We are heaven bound. See you when we get there.

Answer 9

Because True Christianity is The only SURE way to Heaven.

Answer 10

Salvation is an on going process. It is not something that you do once and forget about it, it is something that must be worked on minute by minute. Forgiveness only comes if one is truely repentant.