Religion , and christian beliefs....?

Question

I got into this conversation with a girl who is christian, andsomehow we got on the topic of sin. She said that all sin was equal, so that murdering mass amounts on people or even one is just the same as yelling at your younger sibling. She also said as long as you believe in god you are saved by grace, so I could be a stoner, murder rapist, malester but just beacause I believe in god I'm saved. Whats to keep people from makin all sorts of chaos. Did I jus tmisunderstand something, because that jusst doesn't make sense to me, help me to understand.

Answer 1

I would disagree. I do not think that all Christians would view it like that.

Answer 2

Ok, this was a strange conversation to be sure.

The subject you were covering is controversial even in Christian circles. Roman Catholics, and some Protestants, see different degrees of sin (venial and mortal, when compared with each other). Some Protestants see all sins the same, as total depravity (when compared with the righteousness of God). I can understand how confusing this would be to an "outsider", especially when the "insiders" can't seem to agree!

The one thing we DO seem to agree on, is that sin is a SYMPTOM. Humans are, genetically, sinners. We inheirited the tendency from our own ancestors, and we pass the tendency on to our children. The cure for sin, whether "large" or "small", is not found in regulating behaviour (legalistic religion). That is about as effective as giving a drunk coffee; you don't get a sober man, you get an awake drunk.

The only cure is found in a rebirth of the inner person. That takes a work of God, and is something none of us can earn. It can only be recieved as a gift. That is where the term "grace" comes in; it means "unmerited favor" or "the gift you don't deserve". God has provided a way to recieve this renewal/rebirth, but it has to be recieved willingly, and it comes with certain responsibilities. That is what "salvation" is all about.

It isn't chaos that is the problem, it is insincerity. It is all too easy to claim "rebirth", and still act in the ways of the degenerate world. Hence we have people claiming to be Christians, and yet murdering, stealing, raping, etc.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Your friend was right in the sense that sin is sin. If you only sin once, which would be impossible, but let's just say you only sin once...you'll have unforgiven sin and you will suffer the consequences of that sin at God's judgment, if you are not saved.

Matthew 5:21-22
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.

The other part of your question deals with salvation. Other people have described how one is saved, here and elsewhere on this sight, so I won't get into that. Your friend kind of dumbed down the process of how one receives the free gift of salvation, but essentially she is correct. You are saved by grace through faith. If you are a true Christian, though you are saved, you turn away from sin. You would do anything in your power not to sin, but you will strive to be pleasing to God. So yes, it would be impossible for a true Christian to do the things you mentioned. This is because God sends the Holy Spirit, which guides a Christian and keeps them on the Godly path, despite our self. You become reborn.

Answer 4

It is true that a sin is a sin, but during the mosaic law period after Moses, there were different punishments considering the grievance of the sin. murderers, rapists, and sabbath breakers were to be stoned to death. Now were no longer under those laws, but the principles r the same, and the governments have the authority to punish wrongdoers, so right now , that keeps part of the chaos down. the only ways to salvation though, is to gain knowledge about God and Christ and to apply Jesus's teachings in our lives and beleive in his sacrifice. that doesn't give us a license to sin , but a moral obligation to try to do the best we can and not continue sinning over the same offense for example. it does no good to ask for forgiveness and then sin again willfully.Hebrews 10'26-31 helps explain that.

Answer 5

The problem is ONCE you are saved you will probably no longer want to be a murderer and will try to change (If you don't at least feel guilty and desire to change then you haven't really gotten saved) The "proof" that even the worst people can be "saved" after a bad life is in the person who was also crucified the same day as Christ. He is commonly called a Thief but more likely that was just the "final" crime he commited. He repented on the cross just before dying and Christ ASSURED him that he would go to heaven.

Answer 6

Yes all sins are equal. For example when you are trying to shoot at a target and you miss the mark it doesn't matter how far you miss the mark. The cold hard facts are you missed it. But just because God forgives sin doesn't mean we can sin all we want, ask forgiveness and do it again the next day. When someone like God gives you a gift like grace you don't want to trash it and use it like it means nothing. We will sin it's a fact of life but we can ask forgiveness and try to do better next time. All God asks is that we try our hardest.

Answer 7

"Sin is sin" is a common belief among fundamentalist Christians.
It may be so, in the list of things that God has labeled as bad, but down here on earth, the intensity of the badness increases with the number of people who are negatively affected by the sin and how much damage and hurt is done.
You may have God's forgiveness, but that doesn't get you out out of the hole just yet. You need to face the earthly music that fits the crime.

Answer 8

Sin is sin, and I think that realizing our own weaknesses and the sin in our own life's, keep us from judging others. God cannot look upon sin, no matter what sin it is. We are to continually remain humble, and pray for one another.

I can remember a time in my life before becoming a born again believer, that I would say, "well I am not as bad as most people, because I don't do this or that". I wasn't looking at my own sin, but judging others for their sin.

Answer 9

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
In the verses above you see that the Devil KNOWS there is a God.
Just believing in God will not save you.The Devil believes in God he will
never be saved.The Only Way you can be saved is to receive Jesus by
FAITH as you Lord and SAVIOR.
Joh 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. Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. I pray that your
understanding will be opened and you will recieve Jesus as Lord and
savior.Have a great day.
In Christ in Love,
TJ57

Answer 10

Your not automatically forgiven of your sin, you have to repent of them. When a person truly turns to Christ, they will want to stop sinning, it's a change of heart, you begin to see things differently. Yes, no matter what the sin is, all except one is forgivable by God, and that one sin is to outright reject belief in Jesus. But turning to Christ has to come from your heart, it's not just a thing you do, it must be because you truly believe with all your heart that He is the Son of God and that He died for you to have eternal life. I used to bash Christians about these very same things when I was a homosexual and a drug addict, but I reached a point in my life where I was tired of being empty inside and I reached out to Him, and He changed me.

Answer 11

A sin is a sin is a sin. All sin is what God will not look and or the sinner. Believing in God is not what saves you. The grace comes from Jesus laying down His life for your sins, and you acknowledge that, and invite Him into your heart and life, turning your life over to the Lord, and repent of your sins daily.

Believing in God alone will not make you born again. Acceptance of Jesus as your savior is the only way to be born again and enter into God's kingdom.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

You must obey God's laws too. Satan believes in God, but he does not obey HIm nor does he except Jesus as his savior either. He is the enemy who holds people's souls hostage, until the accept Jesus as their savior.

A murder can be born again if he repents of his sins, and invites Jesus into his heart and life, and accepts Jesus as their savior, and does not murder again. Many people call themselves Christians, but they are not .

Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Your friend should not tell things, if she is not telling the truth. She obviously does not know the truth for herself. Accepting Jesus as your savior is the only way to the kingdom of God.