THE ESSENCE OF JESUS MESSAGE

[Waggles]

1 hour ago, Questioning said:

I guess the difference between us is that I prayed to God to help me open my mind, and help me discern truth.  And you must be praying for faith in what you were born into.  Truth is found by looking at all the evidence.  And truth stands alone. It doesn't need to be protected from outside information, and I think that is what I see here.  Are you scared to look outside your version of Christianity? 

You will not find the truth through intellect and academic pursuit. For the truth of God is spiritual and can only be gained by becoming spiritual in God.

That is why believers or disciples MUST be born of the Spirit - to have a personal relationship with the God of salvation - God dwelling in the believer and a believer spiritually connected into God - living water - signs, wonders miracles, healings, spiritual prayer language, spiritual gifts, prophecy.

Of course Hindus believe Hinduism to be true and Muslims believe in Islam and so on. But just because other world religions exist does not make them true. Freemasons and those into the occult have also spiritual experiences but that does not make this true and of God. 

Not all spiritual beings are benevolent and have our best interests in mind. There are evil beings in the world and false religion is their game. 

In 1917 at Fatima in Portugal, one of the most spectacular "miracles" in history took place. Mary the mother of God appeared to 3 small children and gave to them various warnings about world events. On 13th October 1917 some 50,000 people witnessed spectacular supernatural events including the Sun moving erratically in the sky. Thousands fell to their knees and crossed themselves and became rededicated Roman Catholics full of faith. But was this from God? How does Fatima fit in with other Bible prophecy and the essence of the Jesus message? Many would rightly argue that Fatima does not.

2Thess 2:9  The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,

John 8:44  You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Jesus referring to 'the adversary' 

1Peter 5:8  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 

1Cor 1:18  For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 
19  For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 
20  Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 

Others have posted on this thread some pretty substantial posts concerning your OP; but I get the impression that you have not really bothered to read and study these. Pity. 

Edited February 21, 2021 by Waggles

[Waggles]

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

So where does that leave the Hindu or the Muslim or the Buddhist? 

2Thess 1:7  and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 
8  in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 
9  They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 
10  when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 

It is not Vishnu, nor Zeus, nor Allah, nor any other god that people need to fear.

In the end there is only one God of judgement and salvation - Christ Jesus who died and was raised from the dead and sits on the right hand of God the Father. 

Edited February 21, 2021 by Waggles

[Questioning]

Your faith is in your interpretation of information you now possess.  There is other information "out there".  If you are afraid to look outside your present knowledge, I pity you.  That is the sign of a cult.  Perhaps one you have created for yourself.  A closed box of fear.   I used to be in a similar box, but that is not the God I believe in now.  Now I am free to use my own brain that God gave me to be use my own abilities to make this a better world.

 

Edited February 21, 2021 by Questioning

[Charlie744]

36 minutes ago, Waggles said:

John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

So where does that leave the Hindu or the Muslim or the Buddhist? 

2Thess 1:7  and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 
8  in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 
9  They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 
10  when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. 

It is not Vishnu, nor Zeus, nor Allah, nor any other god that people need to fear.

In the end there is only one God of judgement and salvation - Christ Jesus who died and was raised from the dead and sits on the right hand of God the Father. 

At the second resurrection, there will be only two camps: those that have accepted  HIS HOLY SPIRIT and those that have not. God will not be taking a survey as to whether you are Hindu, Buddhist, etc., or if you were born in India, China, Russia or even the US (since there are so many here that do not believe). 

No Jew or Greek only yes or no to the HOLY SPIRIT.......  The way I look at it is that God has been quite kind and generous to say the least, HE has given us just two choices - just as it was in the Garden. Man has decided it will need more than these two options; believe in HIM or NOT..... but man himself has elected to create another XXXX ways to be saved. And remember, ALL OF MANKIND WAS ON THE EXACT SAME PAGE AFTER THE FLOOD - ALL 8 BELIEVED..... God never changed or changes so it is man who has moved away from HIM.

Just my th0ughts, Charlie

[Michael37]

1 hour ago, Questioning said:

And you must be praying for faith in what you were born into. 

Jesus Christ draws us to Him. It has nothing to do with being born to Bible-believing, or church going parents. Numerous Christians I have met had zero indoctrination from Christianity growing up, some having parents who were hardened atheists with no time for anything that involved religious beliefs and practices.

When the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is heard by someone whose heart is receptive to it they are filled with faith by the moving of the Holy Spirit. From then on this germ of faith is either nurtured or neglected, but God remains faithful to His Word.

There is nothing wrong with researching non-Christian religious beliefs to gain insight into their deceptive errors and falsehoods, but unless someone has experienced the love of Jesus Christ and grasped the significance of His sacrificial, atoning death on the Cross to cleanse them from all sin by His precious blood, they will never be in a position to make an accurate comparison regardless of how much head knowledge they acquire.

Passages for thoughtful consideration @Questioning.

Heb 2:1-4  Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.  

(2)  For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;  

(3)  How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;  

(4)  God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Heb 3:12-14  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  

(13)  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  

(14)  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
 

 

[Questioning]

Again I propose a question to any who read it.  Are you afraid to consider any information outside what you now possess?

[Michael37]

1 minute ago, Questioning said:

Again I propose a question to any who read it.  Are you afraid to consider any information outside what you now possess?

Not in the least. Are you afraid to accept Christ as your Lord and Saviour, forsaking the world, the flesh, and the devil?

[Charlie744]

2 minutes ago, Questioning said:

Again I propose a question to any who read it.  Are you afraid to consider any information outside what you now possess?

Questioning..... I am not sure folks are afraid or not to consider other beliefs. But why would someone who has been transformed by the HOLY SPIRIT HAVE A DESIRE OR NEED TO LOOK ELSEWHERE?

I believe the parable of the one who found a pearl and sold all of his possessions and...... 

I have found, since becoming a true believer, that the Scriptures are not only difficult at times to understand but they are deeper than the ocean. I have found some verses that, on their surface they are relatively "tame" and easily understood...... that is until another is kind enough to offer their interpretation and application.... 

There isn't enough time in our lives to extract the amount of "gold" in HIS WORDS ..... I have no interest in stop mining for HIS GOLD. There certainly is more than enough fools gold out there....... 

Just my thoughts, Charlie
 

[Questioning]

3 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

Not in the least. Are you afraid to accept Christ as your Lord and Saviour, forsaking the world, the flesh, and the devil?

I did.  But due to life circumstances I discovered there was information beyond what I already possessed.

[Michael37]

3 minutes ago, Questioning said:

I did.  But due to life circumstances I discovered there was information beyond what I already possessed.

Which leads you away from Christ to God knows where . . .