Page 751 … the Being within
“It is not wise to think that the spiritual being inside of us is just fine even if we use our liberties to satisfy the desires of the flesh.”
I agree with you fully on this point, Dan, and I have never said otherwise! My Friend, despite Lucy’s opinion to the contrary, I agree completely with you & yours that we all “pay” for our our sins. The difference is that I happen to follow The Way of Jesus Christ – which requires me to keep my mouth shut about the sins of others that have no direct victims, and which believes that each and every person will only reap what they have sown related to their failings – and not one bit more.
Indeed, to believe in any other version of God – to believe in a God that could ever sit back passively and allow his Children to burn forever in Hell – is to believe in a God not worth worshiping; a God whose Love is anything but unconditional and a God whose sense of justice is anything but fair (and that actually even borders on the despicably cruel).
You then claim that, “we don’t have permission from God to do anything that we want to do”, which is actually a complete falsehood. Of course we can do anything we want, Dan – we have all been given free will and the ability to choose to behave &/or think &/or believe however we wish to. Of course, there are direct consequences for every single choice we make … And indeed, this is exactly what the Scriptures tell us. Most importantly of all, the Scriptures tell us that those consequences are always proportionate to our sins; that we never reap more than what we have sown – ever. Please consider the Word of God …
“I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways; to each according to the fruit of his deeds.” ~ Jeremiah 17:10
“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” ~ Jesus Christ (Luke 6:38)
“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that [and that alone] will he also reap.” ~ Galatians 6:7
“And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works” ~ Revelation 20:12