: Shaun? HelllOOOooo? Where'd you go? I thought your life's mission was to save my soul. See : http://www.mcspotlight.org/debate/anything/messages/3870.html
: You sure did give up easily. Are you sure you are committed to spreading the Good Word about Jesus? Maybe my last response to you was too long or not worded clearly enough. Perhaps you are short on time. Allow me to summarize my concerns, questions, and issues that your last post brought up:
Well for one thing, I tried posting over a week ago. I don't know what I did wrong but it didn't go through. Secondly, we keep going around in circles, you and I. We both keep saying the same thing over and over
:
: 1) You've stated several times that there is nothing I can do to be saved but you have also stated several times that there are things (or THING) I MUST do in order to be saved. SO......which is it? Are there things I CAN do to be saved, MUST do to be saved, or is there NOTHING at all I can do to be saved?
I'll say it again. Only Jesus saves. In order for Him to save you you have to 1)Admit you are a sinner 2)Believe Jesus is Lord and 3)Repent
: 2) Are all Jews that have lived and died after the arrival of Christ now in eternal Hell?
All people, no matter who they are,who have heard the gospel and did not believe will not enter Heaven. It's in the Bible. If you want, I can tell you some Bible verses in a seperate post that point the way to salvation, that is, if you want to read the bible (some of your earlier posts made it seem like you have no interest in the Bible.) I don't know specifically who will be in heaven, because I don't know everybody who is a Christian. I am sure I'm on my way to heaven. As for my neighbor, my guess is as good as yours. Anybody can be saved
: 3) Clearly there are languages that the Bible has not been translated into (as demonstrated by Nikhil and Floyd in our thread below).
Of course. There are missionaries in ever country who are bringing the gospel of Jesus to people who have never heard it before. Eventually, the gospel will be available to people of every language.
: If you have to be born again to get into heaven, and you have to know Jesus to be born again, and you have to read the Bible to know Jesus, how are people that speak such languages supposed to get into heaven?
: 4) You've said that I have to be born again in order to know Jesus. You've also said that I have to know Jesus in order to be born again. Clearly this is a catch 22. How am I supposed to accomplish either assignment (getting born again or knowing Jesus) if both are prerequisites for the other?
The last two questions were basically the same thing. There is a difference between knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus. Everybody knows about Jesus (except for the few people who live in isolated areas and speak rare languages like you pointed out before. And like I said, those people will get to hear the gospel). To be born again and to know Jesus as your Savior is the same thing.
: 5) You've stated that, in order to be saved and get into heaven, I have to confess to God in the form of Jesus. But you've also said that God is not currently IN the form of Jesus, so how am I supposed to make my confession?
Prayer. God can hear you.
:More importantly, how did YOU make YOUR confession. Did God make a special private appearance to you in the physical form of Jesus so that you could make your confession? How did you invoke such an appearance? Was there something you did to get this special attention?
I made my confession when I was 17 at a youth retreat. I was in prayer, and I accepted Jesus as my Savior. For the first time I was filled with the Holy Spirit. To answer your last question, yes there was somethingI did to get this special attention. I prayed. I asked Jesus to save me from sin. You can do it to.
: 6) Are you (Shaun) "born again" OR are you a "worldy sinner"? Ealier you made distinction between these two things that made it impossible for you to be both. Yet you have claimed to be born again AND have also claimed to have sinned since being born again (in fact you said that it was impossible NOT to sin even after being born again). So which is it? Maybe you are a sinner but not a "worldly sinner"? Are you then an "etheric sinner" or perhaps a "heavenly sinner"? Please explain.
Everyone is a sinner. Once you become born again, every sin you ever commited is forgiven. Even though you are now a Christian, you will not be perfect (we can't attain perfection untill we get to heaven) We live in a sin filled world, therefore we will still be tempted, and sometimes fall to sin.
: 7) What constitutes a "sinful lifestyle"? How often can I sin (and to what degree) without being seen by God as living a "sinful lifestyle"?
Living without Jesus, without your sins forgiven is a sinful lifestyle
: 8) You've stated that the Bible is "crystal clear" (particularly on matters of salvation). But you have also stated that one must sometimes read it over again or ask someone for help in understanding it. Do you really believe it is fair to refer to a text as being "crystal clear" that has to be reread (perhaps many times) or that one must seek outside consultation on in order to understand? If so, how would you classify the instructions on a can of soda ("Pull Tab") or the on a traffic sign ("Left Lane Merges"). Would you refer to these instructions as "crystal clear"? Why? Do you have to reread them or ask for help in order to understand them? No? Then shouldn't we refer to these instructions as being "extra super duper crystal clear"?
Well, the Bible was written thousands of years ago, so it may be a little hard to understand some of the words and phrases they used at the time (such as any word we use today with "th" added at the end) However, aside from these small things, the Bible is still accurate and easy to understand. Give me some of the passages you are having trouble with.
