Board Thread:Bible Questions/@comment-35576995-20180513184349/@comment-35576995-20180520141341

SouthWriter wrote: No where are we called to "hate ourselves", though it is pretty clear that none of us are considered good enough to enter Heaven on our own merits. However, the Judeo-Christian answer to behavior is to show love to God, to our neighbors "as ourselves". This lines up with the "golden rule" as Jesus stated in another context.

God tells us we are bad people, but as a rule we don't believe Him. But the history of the world indicates that it is pretty much true. So, please don't misrepresent what the Bible teaches. There is a way to be at peace with God. Your analogy actually points directly at it.

Belief and faith are grounded in truth, that which is solid evidence which persuades us to trust the one who has told us. Let's say that somebody takes your punishment for a crime you thought you got away with. A friend tells you that this has happened but you figure "so what? It's like I never did that thing". Would that change the fact that you had done the deed? No. Would you be "denying" that your benefactor saved you from prison, or worse? No. What if you don't believe the benefactor exists? That wouldn't change the fact that he does exist. All he would have to do is show up and tell you himself. Then you would be able to accept his generosity.

That is what happened. God did show Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. He took the punishment that sinners like you and me deserve. It is so much more than you can imagine. Please take the time to read the articles about Sin, Salvation and Jesus Christ.

In Christ the Savior, SouthWriter (talk) 03:56, May 20, 2018 (UTC)

What if somebody actually WAS good enough? Would that make any difference?

How so?

Now that's a pretty broad analogy. What if you really WERE innocent and were falsely accused of the crime?

Faith is belief without evidence, we don't choose what we believe because we perceive it as the more attractive option, we're compelled to believe what we think is true, whether we like it or not, because desirability is not a requisite of the truth.This takes honest introspection. To truly make a choice, we must clearly be given the option. If we can doubt whether or not the option even exists, then the option hasn't been clearly presented to us, thereby preventing us from being able to make a choice.

Let's change my analogy: Let's say the person setting you up on the blind date with Samantha in the first analogy is instead asking YOU out on a date, but for whatever reason, you decline. Did you "deny" the person? Yes.

Now let's change it a second time: Let's say the person described Samantha inaccurately. Are you denying the real Samantha or the inaccurate portrayal of Samantha, which doesn't actually exist, even though she does?

The problem with that is you can't just show up once and expect people from years afterward to believe it happened. That's not how belief works.