This quote was the central theme of Rasputin's teaching. He believed that salvation was to be earned through sincere repentance, and only a soul stained with sin could truly experience the forgiving power of God. As such, his message was remarkably popular in upper-crust St. Petersburg society.
Your thoughts on Rasputin's hypothesizing, and on Rasputin, please?
2007-08-16 18:11:22 · 21 answers · asked by Jack B, sinistral 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
"Well I went to see the doctor of philosophy,
With a poster of Rasputin and a beard down to his knee.
He never did marry, or see a B-grade movie
He graded my performance, he said he could see through me;
I spent four years prostrate to the higher mind
Got my paper and I was free."
--Indigo Girls
Rasputin was rather like the L. Ron Hubbard of his time, only less dangerous. I think.
2007-08-16 19:51:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know much about Rasputin, so my comments are based on the information provided. While salvation is indeed to be earned through sincere repentance, we should not continue sinning just to earn it! Paul talks of salvation and we are told of the grace we have from Christ to cover our sins. He even asks the question, "Does this mean we continue sinning?" And he responds that we are not to do that.
I'm sure this kind of belief would be very popular with anyone as it basically gives them permission to sin as much as they want! It sounds like Rasputin wanted an excuse to sin and a justification for doing it.
2007-08-16 19:46:58 · answer #2 · answered by Michael B - Prop. 8 Repealed! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rasputin is right in that we sin and God forgives, however where he is wrong is that he is telling us to sin in order to be forgiven. The difference? As human beings we are automatically sinners. Someone telling us in not necessary. And the deeper meaning of this quote is saying that we should sin, so our forgiveness will be greater, so that is what I call cheap grace. Jesus paid the price, that we could never pay- our sin cost Him His life.
Only a soul stained with sin could truly experience repentance? EVERY SOUL is stained with sin, and everyone can experience the forgiveness of God. No matter what society you lived in, no one can earn their way to salvation, and no one is good before God. We ALL sin and fall short of the glory of God.
2007-08-16 18:29:22 · answer #3 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a false premise.... if Rasputin was dealing with Christian theology.
It assumes that we are sin-LESS BEFORE we commit our first sin. This is not the Christian theology. I'm sure you know of "Original Sin." We are ALL SIN-FUL even BEFORE we commit our first sin. Therefore, we sin by our "nature" and need forgiveness regardless of whether we commit sin or not.
He also believed that salvation is to be EARNED? Nope. It cannot be earned. It is a GIFT...and gifts are not earned, they are given, freely... but the DO need to be "accepted." A gift given and not received isn't really a gift, is it?
Yes, we do repent of our sins, and we darned well better be sincere about it.
He DID get that one part right, however. "Only a soul stained with sin could truly experience the forgiving power of God." However, ALL of our souls are stained with sin... original sin... therefore, we ALL can experience the forgiving power of God... but... here we go again... we must ACCEPT that forgiveness to experience it.
Rasputin himself... well.. he was quite the Rasputin! ;)
Frankly, I lean towards believing the "darker" side of him and his... philosophizing.... and that he was heretical in his views. As for his death, well... golly, it's hard to imagine anyone "deserving" of being 1-poisoned, 2-shot 4 times, 3- beaten up, and 4- finally drown to death!
Have a blessed day!
2007-08-16 18:44:00 · answer #4 · answered by wyomugs 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
One of the girls working in our shop sixty years or so ago came in on Monday morning with some money she had stolen from the till on Saturday. When my Father, a kindly fellow though not a Christian (it isn't obligatory), asked her why she had taken the money, she said she needed something to confess to her Roman Catholic priest, because if she didn't confess to something he would believe she had done something really terrible (like kissing a Protestant?) The Rasputin theory might explain much of the idiocy in the world. Or may not. I reckon his most outstanding quality was being so damned difficult to kill - and being such a successful con-man and bully. That goes with the territory of course. Every politician knows the best way to win power is to threaten Hell and Damnation. Or start a war.
2007-08-16 19:38:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
St Petersburg has a thing that gets under your skin and if you intend to learn what it is then, you will have a search with hotelbye . Nevsky Prospect is St Petersburg's major avenue and one of many best-known streets in Russia. Cutting through the famous centre of the city, it operates from the Admiralty, symbol of Russian energy, to the Alexander Nevsky Monastery and it is going to be very wonderful to walk along this street later in the day when all illuminations on. Here, you will see every thing: the absolute most gorgeous structure, the spectacular palaces, the world-famous museums and the sparkling five-star hotels. One of the areas should see from St. Petersburg is State Hermitage Museum. The key architectural outfit of the Hermitage is situated in the hub of St Petersburg and consists in: Winter Palace, once the former state residence of the Russian emperors, houses of the Small, Old (Great) and New Hermitages, the Hermitage Theatre and the Auxiliary House.
2016-12-20 00:15:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is what i think of your question"Jesus is the only way to attain salvation."the truth is that we have already been saved by the Lord Jesus the day he died on the cross of calvary...that is if we believe in Him and on His teachings. sincere repentance would only help us to be a better christian and person...indeed it is true that a soul stained with sin truly experience the forgiving power of God just like in the parable of the two debtors that was given by Jesus in the New Testament (Luke). In this parable, a moneylender forgives the debts of two debtors, and the one with the larger debt loves the moneylender more. Jesus explains that a sinful woman loves him more than his host, a Pharisee, because the Pharisee is less of a sinner and therefore has been forgiven less.
2007-08-16 18:34:28 · answer #7 · answered by miaka 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Can any man have the understanding of the word of God as God has proclaimed?
God's word has been misinterpreted many times over.
Is there a perfect man on earth,that knows all of God's wisdom?
God does offer forgiveness,but that does not give us a right to sin. He gives us alternatives if we should sin. Pray and ask for forgiveness and repent. There is consequences to sin. God does chasten us.
2007-08-16 18:42:17 · answer #8 · answered by God is love. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rasputin the manipulator.He could talk himself into any good position and out of most trouble except the last one.
2007-08-16 18:27:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
His thought is not an uncommon thought then or now. In many ways it is understandable why one would believe you must earn salvation. It goes with our thinking of cause and affect. Do this and this happens. Grace is still a very unknown and unfamiliar thing to those who don't accept it outside of the limits of their existence. It does not fit into any of our known understandings of how the world evolves and exist. However, I would agree that one must have the desire to repent in order to seek and receive. As for my thoughts on him, well, he was questionable in my opinion. I personally am not a fan of his and often wondered about his methods.
2007-08-16 18:20:18 · answer #10 · answered by . 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋