Sorry for the eye drawing question. I see so many things by Mormons or Catholics: if you don't do this and repent your going to go to "hell", e.g. Such as alcohol being the "devil's poison" when I don't see anything wrong with having a drink to relax? Or other things like "using birth control", is wrong because it's "considered a sacrifice" because your giving it to the devil instead of creating life?
Can I just learn about god, read the bible, and be good? Is this actually enough?
Everyone says god is so forgiving, which I really would like to believe. But, I feel like the description some people narrate is that your supposed to be perfect basically?
No alcohol? No sex with protection? No masturbation? E.g.
I understand not all Christian's think like this, but I'm curious on the communities word.
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Re: Can a Christian go to heaven?
by jimwalton » Thu Jan 19, 2017 5:53 pm
Let's deal with some specifics first, then the generalities.
The Bible doesn't forbid all drinking—only drunkenness. It points out the dangers of drinking, but doesn't forbid it. Some groups advocate total abstention from it because of its dangers, but there's nothing wrong with having a drink to relax.
The Bible doesn't forbid birth control. Catholics believe that it's interfering with God-given biological processes, and they're entitled to their position. Other Christians don't see any difference between that interference and other interferences in biological processes (dieting? fasting? surgery? medicines?), and so practice birth control to be responsible stewards of the planet.
The Bible doesn't say diddly-squat about masturbation. It never says it's wrong. It says lusting after other human beings is wrong, but not masturbation.
So can you just learn about God, read the Bible, and be good? No. Heaven is about having the nature of Jesus in us, and what is asked of us is that we be "in Christ"—a new creation. Good works and being good have nothing to do with getting saved from sin. We are saved from sin when we repent from our sins, commit ourselves to God through Jesus, and live in the new life that Jesus gives. Being good then follows that commitment, but it's not what makes it happen. The Bible says we are all born with a sin nature, and miracle from God (new birth) is the only thing that can replace that sin nature with a new nature (2 Cor. 5.17). Being good can't bring that about.
So what do you mean, "Can a Christian go to heaven?"
The Bible doesn't forbid all drinking—only drunkenness. It points out the dangers of drinking, but doesn't forbid it. Some groups advocate total abstention from it because of its dangers, but there's nothing wrong with having a drink to relax.
The Bible doesn't forbid birth control. Catholics believe that it's interfering with God-given biological processes, and they're entitled to their position. Other Christians don't see any difference between that interference and other interferences in biological processes (dieting? fasting? surgery? medicines?), and so practice birth control to be responsible stewards of the planet.
The Bible doesn't say diddly-squat about masturbation. It never says it's wrong. It says lusting after other human beings is wrong, but not masturbation.
So can you just learn about God, read the Bible, and be good? No. Heaven is about having the nature of Jesus in us, and what is asked of us is that we be "in Christ"—a new creation. Good works and being good have nothing to do with getting saved from sin. We are saved from sin when we repent from our sins, commit ourselves to God through Jesus, and live in the new life that Jesus gives. Being good then follows that commitment, but it's not what makes it happen. The Bible says we are all born with a sin nature, and miracle from God (new birth) is the only thing that can replace that sin nature with a new nature (2 Cor. 5.17). Being good can't bring that about.
So what do you mean, "Can a Christian go to heaven?"
Last bumped by Anonymous on Thu Jan 19, 2017 5:53 pm.
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