I have a religious question that has left me wondering for a long time now...

[AwesomeDude]

Just like the title says, I have a religious question that has left me wondering for a long time now. If we can go to heaven just by having faith, then what's the point of not sinning?

[muleman]

Good point.

[pirate_girl]

Originally Posted by AwesomeDude

Just like the title says, I have a religious question that has left me wondering for a long time now. If we can go to heaven just by having faith, then what's the point of not sinning?

Dude, please..

[AwesomeDude]

Originally Posted by pirate_girl

Dude, please..

What? What's the big deal? I'm just asking a question that has left me wondering for awhile.

[AAUTOFAB1]

faith is harder to hide from God than it is from people,you can say you have faith and shout it from the mountain tops to all the people you see in this world but only god knows the truth, and getting in to heaven is between you and God.

[pirate_girl]

Originally Posted by AAUTOFAB1

faith is harder to hide from God than it is from people,you can say you have faith and shout it from the mountain tops to all the people you see in this world but only God knows the truth, and getting in to heaven is between you and God.

[FrancSevin]

Originally Posted by AwesomeDude

What? What's the big deal? I'm just asking a question that has left me wondering for awhile.

According to Christian Judeo faith, we are all sinners sir. Everyone of us.
That is a given. What you do about that in your life is in your heart.

That sir, is on you.

It is not goodness of works but the honest goodness of your heart.

A penitent man prostrates before his God. If you cannot do that, physicaly or mentally, then one must ask, is faith, trust, belief truely in your heart?

Prayers and best wishes with your quest

[TiredRetired]

You may want to read this.

[Melensdad]

Originally Posted by AwesomeDude

Just like the title says, I have a religious question that has left me wondering for a long time now. If we can go to heaven just by having faith, then what's the point of not sinning?

Not everyone believes in the "faith alone" argument.

Some believe in "by scripture" they will be saved. Its commonly called "sola scriptura" while others believe in "actions or deeds" as being what is needed to be saved. Still others combine the 3 and believe that salvation requires faith, living a good life, and following the scriptures too.

So if you define "by faith alone" as the criteria for your faith then I can honestly say I don't know!

[loboloco]

Ok, I am going to assume this is a serious question. Having studied the christian and Catholic tenets, the assumption is that man is born into sin without 'saving grace'. This saving grace is a belief in God and that Jesus is his Son, sacrificed to pay the debt for your sins. Part of the christian faith is that true belief will earn you the right to enter heaven, but part of that belief would be to live your life in a way that attempts to lessen your 'burden' before God. Thus a Christian, though they will still sin, will make an honest effort not to do so because this reduces the burden you place upon your Savior. this would be done mostly from love of God and his Son, rather than fear of the consequences.

[FrancSevin]

Morning prayer,

Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner, but so far today, have done my best to live in your blessing and in your way. I have not cussed anyone,spoken your name in vain, stolen anything, hurt another soul. I have not once given in to temptation to lust or turn my back to you.

So far today I have lived the life you would wish and truely wish do my best to honor you all the rest of this day..

But, still I am a sinner. In a moment, I will be rising from my bed.

I'm gonna need a little help.

Thanks.

We are all born elevated with thegrace of innocence. then we are given the knowledge and free will to decide our fate. Having last minute faith, or belief alone, is like riding a crashing airplane to the ground. You cannot simply take comfort inthe belief that at the last second, you can just step off and be saved.

[SShepherd]

The good news of the gospel can be summed up in the words of Paul to the Ephesians, “for by grace have ye been saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God...” (Eph. 2:8). Grace means a free and unmerited gift or

favor. “The New Testament writers use “

charis” preeminently of that kindness by which God bestows favor even upon

the ill-deserving and grants to sinners pardon of their offences and bids them accept of eternal salvation through Christ”

(J. H. Thayer, Greek Lexicon, p. 666). Grace is God’s part in our salvation. Faith is our response to God’s grace.


good works do not get you into heaven

[Catavenger]

If you really have faith that means that you love the Lord and want to please him. If that is the case you would not wish to keep sinning and hurting the Lord.

[Kane]

Hell is probably full of those that have been faithfully Baptized. Unrepentant sinners.

[mtmogs]

Thought we had a good discussion going here...what happened?

[mtmogs]

Okay, now I see. I found Google's cache of some of the posts. Why were these deleted? I mean it's not like I burned your Koran, er I mean "Bible," just some dissenting opinions.

[Cowboy]

Originally Posted by mtmogs

Okay, now I see. I found Google's cache of some of the posts. Why were these deleted? I mean it's not like I burned your Koran, er I mean "Bible," just some dissenting opinions.

The forum had a crash a few days ago so Doc had to go back in time a few days. Nothing was deleted on purpose that I am aware of.

[Doc]

Originally Posted by mtmogs

Thought we had a good discussion going here...what happened?

Originally Posted by mtmogs

Okay, now I see. I found Google's cache of some of the posts. Why were these deleted? I mean it's not like I burned your Koran, er I mean "Bible," just some dissenting opinions.

Originally Posted by Cowboy

The forum had a crash a few days ago so Doc had to go back in time a few days. Nothing was deleted on purpose that I am aware of.

Cowboy is right. Nothing was deleted because of content. We had a server crash which corrupted the database. In a hurry to bring it back up I messed up and missed a whole lot of images from as far back as 6 years ago. Some were history threads with build projects which were invaluable. I was able to recover and get the pics back but we lost a few days of posts. Anything you find in google cache please feel free to re post it all here to keep the discussion going.

[mtmogs]

Divine intervention? Rather mild punishment for what I should be expecting. Good Christians, let the stones fly!

-from Leviticus 24

24:11 And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:)
24:12 And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them.
24:13 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
24:14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.
24:15 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.
24:16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.

[TiredRetired]

Originally Posted by Doc

Cowboy is right. Nothing was deleted because of content. We had a server crash which corrupted the database. In a hurry to bring it back up I messed up and missed a whole lot of images from as far back as 6 years ago. Some were history threads with build projects which were invaluable. I was able to recover and get the pics back but we lost a few days of posts. Anything you find in google cache please feel free to re post it all here to keep the discussion going.

New one on me. Trolls want to know why stuff is deleted.