Originally Posted by De Maria
Interesting topic. Worth investigating.
What does Scripture say:
Ephesians 5 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
2 Timothy 4 2 Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine.
De Maria, you are exactly right! Frankly, I cannot believe how one who professes to go to Church and "believes" can be so mislead as to go and side with those who profess no faith in God. It is truly sad to see that happening.
To whom did He appear always in Salvation History? Always to the Just.
Exactly right again! And when Jesus sat with publicans and sinners it was always to allow them to hear His word and give them the opportunity to Change from their evil, un-Believing ways or He quickly departed from them.
I can think of no example in Scripture where God appeared to a non believer except to punish them. Compare Moses and Pharoah. He blessed Moses and punished Pharoah.
What you are saying here, again, is Biblical. Sad should be he or she who would dispute Scripture in order to gain another to his side at the expense of God and His word.
Can you think of any examples where God appeared to a non believer?
No, except to punish them for being non-believers and evil-doers in their thought, words and deeds.
Again. The Revelation of God is clear. Without faith it is impossible to please God. And that is only logical.
Of course it is. Quite logical. Scripture defines faith this way. "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him." -- HEBREWS 10:38 (KJV). Now, who do you think He is talking about? The un-Believers, the infidels who come to criticize the word of God and those so-called "Christians" who follow them, instead of God.
Well, St. Paul loves God, doesn't he:
1 Corinthians 16 22 If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema, maranatha.
Essentially, St. Paul, in the Word of God has condemned any man who does not love Jesus Christ to hell.
And no doubt that is why God has Him in Heaven at this time and He was made a Saint, for his following God's word and teaching those who do not believe -- the difference in being blind and seeing God's True Light.
I think that is where you are making your mistake. Although God created all mankind, many men do not recognize God's Divine Fatherhood. God is Just. He does not force men to love Him. But He recognizes those who do and considers them His children.
That is intuitively obvious to any Born Again Christian. But yet, there are some who wish to willfully give a place at the table to infidel sinners despite these teachings from God, thereby denying themselves to be in alignment with God's teachings and gravitating away from God's recognition of them.
John 10 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice: and I know them, and they follow me. 28 And I give them life everlasting; and they shall not perish for ever, and no man shall pluck them out of my hand
That is so true. Many infidels will close their eyes and shut their ears to the teachings of God from those who have God in their heart. They are very annoyed at hearing God's word and will take every swipe they can at those who profess the Word. It is because they do not Believe, because they are not of God's sheep that they will never "get it" about what it means to truly accept Jesus into their heart and Love and Adore Him as their Savior. But when they stand before Him at judgment day, they may even have the nerve to tell Him that they did "good works", expecting for Him to welcome them into Heaven with that when the Holy Bible says it does not work that way. Good works are wonderful, but along with that, those doing the good works should become Born Again Christians and accept Jesus into their lives in order for Him to accept them into Heaven at their appointed time and Save them. Otherwise, they remain un-Saved according to Scripture as there is No Other Way to Heaven Except Through Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3 6 For which things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of unbelief,
And yet, infidels read and re-read this passage and still continue in their ways. But they will see and taste the sour fruits their seeds have borne. Some already do and are thus reconsidering their stance on this important matter and are coming to Christ. Praise Be His Most Holy Name!
Philippians 2 15 That you may be blameless, and sincere children of God, without reproof, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; among whom you shine as lights in the world.
So, although God wants all men to come to salvation. Many men do not want God's salvation.
And sad it is for those who do not. For there will be plenty of crying and gnashing of teeth when they pass from this world. But they have made their hole, they must thus lie in it un-Saved.
The reason I debate with these atheists is because they have their own little section in this forum. But they would rather come here and attack our Christian beliefs.
Is it fair that they should attack our faith with impunity?
Of course not! But I think inner fear drives many of them to do it. They think that it will somehow empower them by joining together and attacking Christian beliefs. But what they don't know is that God is watching their every step and silently jotting down all He sees, in the Book of Life, and will open it up when they stand in judgment before Him and read to them what they did to reject Him while they were on Earth. Their final resting place? God will surely deliver them to the most appropriate place that coincides with just how much they believed in Him.
You can check all you want in the atheist forums. You won't find me there. I came to this forum to answer questions of the faith.
As have I, De Maria! God Bless You for that. Our faith is STRONG and shall remain that way as God's word empowers us to be proclaimers of our Christian Faith.
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" -- ROMANS 5:1 (KJV)
And to those Christians who speak with faith to infidels and other un-Believers, Scripture has these words:
"That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." -- 1 CORINTHIANS 2:5 (KJV). That is all I need to know that what other Christians and I do here in these forums, defending the faith, is right and according to God's expectations. So, we will not be belittled by infidels and their sympathizers when we speak of God's word and teachings with our Christian passion.
Sincerely,
De Maria
