hamletcat

This is great advice, thank you everybody. I found it very helpful.

Hi, I have some "difficult" people in my life and I need advice on how to improve my relationships with them. In the past, I found that I used to just walk away after conversations with them feeling like I had just been "abused," and if it happened to many times I would just eventually just avoid talking to them altogether. Now I realize through the teachings of Jesus, that it is important to try to work through these difficult relationships. But I need some help or advice from people that have had this type of experience. Some typical behaviours is "starting arguments," "putting me down, so that they can have their own way," "not letting a heated discussion just die," "refusing to change their behaviour, when it hurts other people," and "always needing to be right." Anyone have any experiences with these types of issues in personal relationships? Can you share your experiences and offer some advice. Thanks so much.

Thank you very much everybody. Your responses have been extremely helpful in clearing up a few things for me.

Hi, I was wondering if people can share the process for how they communicate with god or get to know his will. And if so, how you know it is authentic communication with god. Thanks so much.

Yes, thank you so much. I understand it a lot more. I tend to think worldly which is why I have so much trouble understanding scripture, but I am getting better at it. I really appreciate you explaining it this way.

Ok, thanks everybody. I have been working in the service industry for 18 years, and I have helped many individuals and they have been very thankful for what I have done for them. I am not afraid of helping people, even those with severe illnesses. I have helped prevent two suicides and one murder, and even though those cases are challenging, it has been worth the effort I believe. I have never received a clear message from god that this isn't the "chosen path for me." On the other hand I do hear what everyone is saying. Some of the people I work with are Christians and one of the reasons I came to this site to get advice for helping people of faith. I thought that if I could relate some concepts to their beliefs, then it would be easier for them to understand. But I guess for now I can just tell them to attend their church, where I live there isn't really any "faith-based" counselling. I am sort of on my own. Many of them don't have the money to travel long distances to find proper "faith-based" counselling. But maybe just going to church will be what they need. Once again, thanks for everyones input.

Now I finally understand. Thank you so much. So now we owe Jesus, in a way for dying the death we deserved. That makes sense.

None of us completely understand it. You're right: It doesn't "make sense." What makes sense is that God should destroy humanity for our sin. That's what we deserve. It makes sense that sinners should go to hell. But God loved us enough to find a way to redeem us without compromising His holiness. That is at the heart of why Jesus died. Jesus took our death penalty. He paid the price we owed. He took on the weight our sin when He died. He sacrificed Himself so that we could be forgiven. So is it like Jesus offered his own life in trade for God destroying humanity instead?

Well thanks everyone, I guess I will leave it at that then. I appreciate everyone's response to my question, and questions.

Can someone please explain why "Jesus died on the cross for our sins to save us, and set us straight with god." As though I am completely new to Christian beliefs. Because I am really not understanding, it doesn't make sense at all. I have heard all these words before and read the scripture, but I still don't understand it.

We don't "atone" for sin. Making restitution is one thing. That's good, but that doesn't atone for sin in the ultimate sense. Yes, Jesus death was the ultimate sacrifice. But no, we did not give up Jesus. Jesus was given to us by God (John 3:16) God sent His Son to die for us. We didn't give up Jesus to the Father. He gave up Jesus for us. Jesus canceled out the curse that was upon mankind because of Adam's sin. So then is it like this: God sent us his son (the treasure) but then said I am also going to take him away, in trade for Adam's sins? No, God sent His Son to die for our sins. Jesus died, was buried and was raised from the dead and as a result we now have forgiveness of sins and eternal love. Jesus isn't take away, nor was Jesus traded for Adam's sin. Jesus paid the penalty for Adam's sin by His death on the cross. Because Jesus was raised from the dead and lives eternally we have assurance of eternal life when we accept as our Savior. Furthermore, God did not take Him away. Jesus lives in our hearts in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you; I am with you always, even to the end of the world." So Jesus had to die in order to live through us? Jesus had to die so we could live in Him. He is eternal life and He is in us and we are in Him. He lives in us in the Person of the Holy Spirit. But we also live in Him. We were placed in Christ the minute we were saved (Rom. 6:3-4). So yes. Jesus died so that He could live in us through us. So the atonement is with God through Adam's sin. So Jesus had to die so we could like with Christ, and this is what sets us right with god? If Jesus had lived we would never have this relationship with Christ and therefore never be right with god. Why couldn't it just have waited until Jesus died of old age?

We don't "atone" for sin. Making restitution is one thing. That's good, but that doesn't atone for sin in the ultimate sense. Yes, Jesus death was the ultimate sacrifice. But no, we did not give up Jesus. Jesus was given to us by God (John 3:16) God sent His Son to die for us. We didn't give up Jesus to the Father. He gave up Jesus for us. Jesus canceled out the curse that was upon mankind because of Adam's sin. So then is it like this: God sent us his son (the treasure) but then said I am also going to take him away, in trade for Adam's sins? No, God sent His Son to die for our sins. Jesus died, was buried and was raised from the dead and as a result we now have forgiveness of sins and eternal love. Jesus isn't take away, nor was Jesus traded for Adam's sin. Jesus paid the penalty for Adam's sin by His death on the cross. Because Jesus was raised from the dead and lives eternally we have assurance of eternal life when we accept as our Savior. Furthermore, God did not take Him away. Jesus lives in our hearts in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you; I am with you always, even to the end of the world." So Jesus had to die in order to live through us?

We don't "atone" for sin. Making restitution is one thing. That's good, but that doesn't atone for sin in the ultimate sense. Yes, Jesus death was the ultimate sacrifice. But no, we did not give up Jesus. Jesus was given to us by God (John 3:16) God sent His Son to die for us. We didn't give up Jesus to the Father. He gave up Jesus for us. Jesus canceled out the curse that was upon mankind because of Adam's sin. So then is it like this: God sent us his son (the treasure) but then said I am also going to take him away, in trade for Adam's sins?

I don't really understand what you mean. Can you try explaining it again, using a different approach. I am having trouble "seeing" what you are saying here.

Thank you! I just figured out where I am probably going wrong. Other opinions are still welcome, I think the "fog" is starting to lift now.