If there are two people to be saved, and either one or both can be, who would you think *should* be saved and go to heaven/salvation (if you believe in this). Joe who goes to church, believes in Jesus, and commits totally to his Christian faith-BUT doesn't do anything good unless its under the goad of his religion alone. Or John, who has no faith in God/Jesus or any other religion, and does many many good deeds and services purely because he wants to. John enjoys helping others and has no other motive. It all comes from his heart. He's not goaded by "faith" scripture or belief in Jesus etc. If you were God, who would you choose first? and would you condemn the other? Would you allow someone's faith alone to be the main criteria rather than their true heart and character as a whole person? I.e say Joe was a believer but that was all there was in his heart and John is not but his heart was full of love for others and the world. I'm curious to see what Christians in particular feel.
2006-11-28 18:50:17 · 9 answers · asked by karnautrahl 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Setting aside our worthiness to judge, what do you think?
2006-11-28 18:52:52 · update #1
Based on an answer here, I find it a dead thing. Dogma about faith being more important than what you do (and perhaps why you do it). I'd have chosen John for his real character, unbiased by any coercian of faith. And Joe, I'd talk to LOL.
2006-11-28 19:00:48 · update #2
No offence but I wouldn't want to be part of a God who would choose some faith over real character in a person. This is why perhaps I don't feel compelled to believe. Maybe I wouldn't judge the flaws, we all have them, but I wouldn't take faith alone over real heart and character ever. There are fundementalist extremists who only have faith and do terrible things with this and in the name of this faith.
2006-11-28 19:08:08 · update #3
I'll judge. i say you are not what you believe, you are what you do about your beliefs.
2006-11-28 18:56:31 · answer #1 · answered by GoatFingers 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Joe is not truly a christian because faith without works is dead. No true christian would act the way Joe does. On the other hand John while truly doing good for other people and has a good heart he is not a christian either. Simply being good does not get you in heaven. so I would say neither.
2006-11-29 02:58:48 · answer #2 · answered by Stand 4 somthing Please! 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Salvation is by faith alone not by works. Only confession of faith in Jesus Christ will save you not your good works. After you are saved your good works done abiding in Christ will earn you heavenly rewards. If you are not saved all your good works will not earn you any reward in heaven. In any case you would not be there in the first place. All Christians are saved by what Jesus did on the cross. His death on the cross is solely sufficient to save us and this is the reasons why our good works do not count towards our salvation.
2006-11-29 03:07:49 · answer #3 · answered by seekfind 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No- one can be God and i believe that he would not choose He would what both of them saved, Because Joe is already one of the flock there for Jesus said: He would not lose any
May God bless you
2006-11-29 02:59:33 · answer #4 · answered by jan d 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all it is not enough to just believe. Even satan believes.
Romans 10:9-10
If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with you heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Second that is not how this all works anyway.
Eph 2:8-9
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
So I have to say I would agree with God. I would prefer the one that trusted in me even with all of his flaws over the one that thought he could do without me.
2006-11-29 03:03:21 · answer #5 · answered by Mikki 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Jesus sacrificed himself for all people. It is simply up to the individual as to whether they will receive the love of God or not.
I Cr 13;8a
11-28-6
2006-11-29 02:55:07 · answer #6 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When Christ couldn't find any faith in those with religion, He went to those without it. So those who do good will be saved long before those who believe they are good.
2006-11-29 02:54:57 · answer #7 · answered by gogododo3 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
We are not worthy to judge. We are saved by grace not by works.
What I think really doesn't matter because it doesn't determine who is saved -- that isn't how it works. It's a moot point and I'm glad for that. Let those without sin cast the first stone.
2006-11-29 02:52:10 · answer #8 · answered by WonderWoman 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Follow the TEN COMMANDMENTS .MAke it magnified,the only way to salvation.
2006-11-29 03:02:07 · answer #9 · answered by Mellow Ria 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋