Whoa, there's a lot there to digest...
Originally posted by booboosmommie:
The Bible is considered a history book
I didn't think that even the Jews who wrote it thought that way about it.
mthrlangl, a human being cannot be any thing but a hypocrit. You will forever fall short of perfection in the eyes of God.
Man, who would want to love a god like that? Where's the two-way relational love? It's somewhat self-abusive to love someone who can only look at you as someone who will always be less than perfect.
No human is without sin. The very thing Jesus talked about.
Jesus didn't just say that humans were sinners, he did something about it - he hung out with them, talked to them, touched them, and ministered to them in a very real way. The outcasts, the unclean, the tax collectors, every facet of society that "mainstream" Judaism considered having fallen short of perfection.
The teachings of Paul explain. You are not saved through works or deeds, for you are saved through the grace of God, beleiving that Christ is your personal savior.
That's what Paul says, but Jesus said that not everyone who calls "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom - rather, those who do god's will shall enter. And god's will, exemplified most perfectly thru Jesus, would be to heal the sick, console the suffering, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and give shelter to the poor.
Don't get me wrong, it's probably a good start to "accept Jesus as your lord and savior" (although to be honest no one has adequately been able to explain to me what that means), but there's got to be something more to it than that.
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My knob tastes funny.