Subject: Where does Jesus say He is God? |
Bible Note: You wrote: 'Hell is right here on earth. I see it in the suffering, the wars, the famines, and all the other disasters that mankind either brought about upon himself, or was subjected to by "Mother Nature" and the laws of physics.' If you think this is bad, it is nothing in comparison to facing the justly deserved. unrelenting, perfect and holy wrath of God for all eternity. You are absolutely correct in saying that humanity brought a great deal of the earthly suffering on itself. The same is true of hell. "I am a Unitaritan Universalist. I'm happy, have compassion for my fellow human beings and try to live a moral life. Why would god condemn me just because I don't believe in the divinity of Jesus, the man?" No, you have already been condemned for rejecting God the Father: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened." --Romans 1:18-21 In other words, you are looking at Christianity the wrong way. It isn't God saying, "You are guilty if you reject Jesus Christ." Rather, it is God saying, "You are already guilty, and forgiveness is only offered through Jesus Christ, who has taken care of the sentences of all those who trust in Him." Therefore, Christianity shows a merciful God, who did not spare His own Son to satisfy the demands of His own justice for the sake of all who will take refuge in that one-and-only "way out.". Whether we acknowledge our guilt before God, it exists, and neither you nor I will be able to plead ignorance before an all-knowing, all-just God. Lastly, you wrote: "IF God exists, I believe he/she/it accepts us ALL!" Then why does it matter one bit whether you and I or anyone else are compassionate people? If you and I and Stalin and Billy Graham and Ghandi and Elvis and Jeffrey Dahmer and Kublai Khan and Thomas Jefferson and Mao and Hitler all end up in the same place, why does it matter what I do? --Joe! |