John 3:16 says: For God so loves the world that he gave his only begotten son that anyone just believes in him as the Son of God, he will not be perished but shall have eternal life. So the action is: if anyone wants to have eternal life and God's love he just have to confess his faith in Jesus. Christians hold that Jesus is the Son of God. Unless you have any other names that give that same promise, your choice is only in Jesus. If anyone has the time, he can certainly go on to find some other equivalents. If anyone would not want to waste his time, come and join the Christians. Anyway, this is the guaranteed way. Even the search is wrong, this faith will teach you to cultivate the best attitude or characters that none can shake you not even death. It is even better than the teachings of the best of the world, like Laotzi, Confucius, Buddha, etc. Jesus declares he is the only way. So if there is someone else in heaven, as a Christian, you are always safe. You will not be rejected.
2006-12-09 15:04:28 · 9 answers · asked by Ptuan 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Welcome to Fantasy Island. There is no reason at all to believe that there is an afterlife. If Jesus wanted people to believe he came back from the dead, why the heck didn't he just hang around here chatting with us, showing us the scars, giving lectures about life, for the last 2000 years. Doesn't it occur to you that if God had decided death didn't count, he could do a whale of a lot better job convincing people than he has? This idea that faith leads to immortality is among the biggest pieces of hogwash I've ever encountered.
2006-12-09 15:10:58 · answer #1 · answered by NHBaritone 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Wrong answer. At least for me.
Simple, maybe if your Bible has only one verse, but it doesn't. There are many many more, and before buying a car, or a house, or anything else, I like to read the fine print.
Also, If I'm going to join a group, I like to know what sort of people there are therein. Christians, as a whole don't impress me much. With their hatred and intolerance, their promise of Hell for the mere act of being born in a country that doesn't believe and other such bonuses, It's not the group I choose to add my name to.
That said, there are some Christians that I respect a great deal. There are many that I call friends. It's just that I can't adopt a manner of thinking and living that is based on fear and hatred.
BTW, it's Lao-tzu, not laotzi. And the Tao contains in a short piece the equivalent moral knowledge of the Bible. It may skip the history lessons, but as a moral tome it's hard to beat.
For a shorter moral course, I like the Wiccan Rede, which states "An it harm none, do what thou wilt." If you take the time to understand it it means simply "Do what is right,. always." If something will bring harm to anyone, yourself included, you don't do it. It's a simple lesson that is quite difficult to live fully. It requires thought before action.
John 3:16 is a simple verse, but all that it says it to believe in Christ, and nothing else is necessary. James had something to say about that: "Faith without works is dead". That says that there is much more to being a Christian that simple belief.
2006-12-09 15:20:18 · answer #2 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now read verse 18, "... whoever does not believe stands CONDEMNED ALREADY because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only son". So our "world" from 2 verses ago gets a little smaller, and who could that be but God's elect?
This can only conflict now with your "if anyone wants to have eternal life" statement, because it's not up to us to choose who will be God's elect. That's God's job to choose His own.
2006-12-09 15:34:09 · answer #3 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
True....not to mention Confucius, Mohammed and Buddah are still in the grave....
Christ sits at the right hand of the Father.
2006-12-09 15:08:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nicely done!
Would you like an order of fries with that as well?No?That will be 23 dollars and 83 cents sir.Don't forget,lick your nose at the window and you'll get free mustard.
2006-12-09 15:06:15 · answer #5 · answered by Myaloo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!! Its a FREE GIFT! HOW SIMPLE IS THAT?! JESUS DIED FOR US, all we have to do ACCEPT THE FREE GIFT OF SALVATION! Everyone is tied down to material things of Earth ( THAT HAVE NO VALUE!) and miss the simplicity of CHRIST! Life is hard anyway you cut it, but when you have the Almighty on your side who can be against you!?
2006-12-09 15:11:54 · answer #6 · answered by hppink09 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get a concordance and then look up salvation. yes belief is good, but ther is also repentance( which is to turn from your sin), then comes belief, then comes trusting Him everyday and that is the race mentioned in the Bible. people can lose salvation.
2006-12-09 15:12:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All you have to do is call out to God and ask him to save you. It's that simple!
http://www.handlethetruth.net
2006-12-09 15:07:12 · answer #8 · answered by truth_handl3r 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Simple? Yeah. I can't agree more.
Easy? No. I think not. That whole "pick up your own cross and follow Me" thing....that's not easy.
Peace.
2006-12-09 15:06:30 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋