Does your religion/faith tell that people who have another religion go to hell?

[jingorex]

But even the golden rule cannot save you.

what can save him now?

[Loki]

what can save him now?

Only Jesus.

[Aquamarine]

What the ... where did you hear this nonsense?

Nonsense? No more nonsense than calling other religions evil

Really.

Those who condemn other religious ideas screaming that only Christianity is right though should take a day & sit down with the Bible. Read it from cover to cover. And read it again & again & again & again, even if it takes years, until they finally understand it in all its entirety. They should talk to no priest until they do understand the Bible for a priest will just tell them what they wanna hear. They should talk to no one else about what they read least their ideas are warped by others.

Because like many who pick & choose what they read & follow such Christians are missing the essential fact. Christ himself respected other religions & let them choose for themselves if they were to convert rather than choke them into compliance.

[Loki]

Nonsense? No more nonsense than calling other religions evil

Really.

Those who condemn other religious ideas screaming that only Christianity is right though should take a day & sit down with the Bible. Read it from cover to cover. And read it again & again & again & again, even if it takes years, until they finally understand it in all its entirety. They should talk to no priest until they do understand the Bible for a priest will just tell them what they wanna hear. They should talk to no one else about what they read least their ideas are warped by others.

Because like many who pick & choose what they read & follow such Christians are missing the essential fact. Christ himself respected other religions & let them choose for themselves if they were to convert rather than choke them into compliance.

Nonsense! You are making false statements!! Like this:

"Christ himself respected other religions & let them choose for themselves if they were to convert rather than choke them into compliance."

Absolutely heretical and contrary to every truth of God revealed through Jesus Christ and the apostles!

I have actually done exactly what you propose, I have read the Bible through by myself many times in my life... and I do not elevate churches and other people's opinions above the words of Jesus Christ and his apostles. I have a very good understanding of the Bible, and of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And I can tell you to your face that you are a liar and a deceiver!

Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and eternal life, all other religions are false and deceptive, and amount to nothing. They have no eternal value, but will lead one away from the living God.

[Longbowman]

It is central to our faith that good deeds are not sufficient for salvation. We do not agree with Judaism that being a good person does anything useful, they are coined as "filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) in the bible. We all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Only Christ's sacrifice can atone for the evil that humanity has caused, and only through him can we be seen as perfect in the eyes of God. Sacrificing animals in the Old Testament were symbolic of Christ's coming ultimate sacrifice, but there is no more need for the Old Testament law, Jesus fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17) and when Christ died the temple veil was torn in two indicating it's end. (Matthew 27:51) Israel is no longer relevant, the Church are the people of God and it is where both Jew and Gentile can join hands and profess that Jesus Christ is Lord, (Romans 10:12).

Yes, I know what you believe, and I've explained why I think it's logically inconsistent.

Your own scriptures are hugely incoherent on the issue.

As Jesus said (Mark 12:3): "'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (nota bene: also referring to 'love God with all your heart;' both sentences are in the Pentateuch and still core Jewish values. The text goes on to say that Jesus considers the idea that loving your fellow man is more important than any sacrifice - presumably including his own - is 'wise').

Why bother saying this if it means nothing?

[Loki]

Yes, I know what you believe, and I've explained why I think it's logically inconsistent.

Your own scriptures are hugely incoherent on the issue.

As Jesus said (Mark 12:3): "'Love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (nota bene: also referring to 'love God with all your heart;' both sentences are in the Pentateuch and still core Jewish values. The text goes on to say that Jesus considers the idea that loving your fellow man is more important than any sacrifice - presumably including his own - is 'wise').

Why bother saying this if it means nothing?

No, you completely misinterpreted that verse, Jesus did of course not mean any of that is more important than his sacrifice for our sins... are you serious??

There is nothing inconsistent or incoherent as you claim, your characterizations of the Christian faith are insulting and verging on blasphemy. You either have a poor understanding of the gospel (which I think is the case anyway), or you are being deliberately obtuse.

Yes I know you replied to Nazarene, but you might as well have said that to me, because we have the same faith.

[Longbowman]

No, you completely misinterpreted that verse, Jesus did of course not mean any of that is more important than his sacrifice for our sins... are you serious??

There is nothing inconsistent or incoherent as you claim, your characterizations of the Christian faith are insulting and verging on blasphemy. You either have a poor understanding of the gospel (which I think is the case anyway), or you are being deliberately obtuse.

Yes I know you replied to Nazarene, but you might as well have said that to me, because we have the same faith.

He specifically said loving God and loving your neighbour are the two most important things. Even if loving your neighbour is a distant #2, which is not suggested, it's still important. If it has zero bearing on your chances of salvation, why would it be classified as such? Please explain your interpretation of the verse.

I do not have the capacity for blasphemy as a Christian because I am not and have never been a Christian.

[Loki]

He specifically said loving God and loving your neighbour are the two most important things. Even if loving your neighbour is a distant #2, which is not suggested, it's still important. If it has zero bearing on your chances of salvation, why would it be classified as such? Please explain your interpretation of the verse.

Yeah, loving God and loving your neighbour is what God wants of us... he wants us to live like that. But that's not how our sins are forgiven and we get born again of the Spirit. That's something separate, quite obviously. I'm surprised you cannot comprehend this.

Another thing you have to bear in mind, is when Jesus said this, it was still technically under the Old Covenant.. he had not yet died for our sins, and people could not yet become Christians and could not yet receive the Holy Spirit, which was only poured out onto believers at the day of Pentecost, after the resurrection.

We get saved, and our past sins get forgiven by receiving Jesus as our lord and saviour, and being washed by his blood. After that, we need to live godly lives, and that is where this comes into practice... loving God, and our neighbours. That ties up perfectly with the fruit of the Spirit, described in Paul's epistle to the Galatians, that Christian lives should reflect.

I do not have the capacity for blasphemy as a Christian because I am not and have never been a Christian.

You don't have to be a Christian in order to blaspheme. Most blasphemers are not Christians (I think..).

[Longbowman]

You don't have to be a Christian in order to blaspheme. Most blasphemers are not Christians (I think..).

Blasphemy is 'talking sacrilegiously about God.' I have not done so in accordance to my understanding of God. If I'm a blasphemer under your understanding, then you're a blasphemer under mine.

I appreciate Peter said that salvation is only possible via Jesus, but why bother loving your neighbour if you are both a sinner and saved regardless?

[Loki]

I appreciate Peter said that salvation is only possible via Jesus, but why bother loving your neighbour if you are both a sinner and saved regardless?

Isn't it obvious? Living in love towards your fellow man is infinitely more preferrable.. if everyone did that, there would be no more crime... no more murder, theft, assault, rape, etc etc. I think it's blatantly obvious that it is the better way. Jesus not only showed us that he is the door -- and that no-one would come to the Father through him -- but he also gave us good advice on living to make for an easier and more loving life. Not to mention living lives that are pleasing to God, and honouring his name. Not everything we do is for our own benefit... Christians should not live for themselves, but for God.

ps: it's not only Peter who said that (that salvation is only through Jesus), but Jesus said it too, and all the apostles. It's common knowledge to all true Christians and certainly what the whole New Testament teaches.