Page 925 … Real & false Religion
“Jesus wasn’t into false religions or show-boating”, and I frankly like to think you are correct – certainly not false religions about himself, anyway – like the religion called “Christianity” that Paul started, for example (see Mark 10:18, John 7:16, John 12:44, John 8:50, John 8:54 etc etc etc) …
“Why do you call me ‘Good’; no one is Good but God alone … I do not accept the glory of human beings … Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life … And whoever believes in me believes not in me, but in the One who sent me … And Whoever believes in me, will DO the works I do … I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father … On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and that you are in me, and that I am in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who Love me; and those who Love me will be Loved by my Father, and I will Love them and reveal myself to them.” ~ Jesus Christ (Mark 10:18 + John 5:41 + John 6:47 + John 12:44 + John 14:12 + John 8:38 + 14:20-21)
You then change the focus a bit by stating the common Paulinist belief that, “The good news is that Jesus died for all of our sins — for those who believe in him and live to serve him.”
Well, actually my dear Friend, that is the gospel of Paul – not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Indeed, according to Jesus himself, the Good News – his Good News – is A) that Heaven is already at hand (see Matthew 10:7 + Luke 17:20-21) and B) that everyone can access that internal Kingdom whenever they wish, as long as they are willing to set aside their selfishness and their arrogance (see Matthew 18:3-4) long enough to reach out to courageously Care for others – especially when they least wish to do so, and especially for those “least deserving” of the same (see Matthew 5:40-48 & John 13:34:35)!
But don’t just take my word for it – Jesus said the same thing in the Gospel of Matthew:
“As you go, proclaim this Good News: ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is [already] at hand … And because of the increase of lawlessness, the Love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures [in Love] to the end will be saved. And this Good News of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:7 + Matthew 24:12-14)
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