Pages 640-641 … those who Believe
“Those who believe the biblical revelation about God’s grace and Jesus Christ will be saved; those who do not believe will not.”
Well, I must admit that this is indeed one way to interpret the verses you cite, and it is indeed one way (and unfortunately still the most commonly accepted way) to interpret the New Testament in general – and yet it remains only one valid interpretation thereof; an interpretation that happens to portray God in a most petty, a most capricious & indeed a most immoral light.
Fortunately, there is another way to read the Bible – an EQUALLY VALID WAY that resides within those same sacred pages – and this is The Way of Jesus Christ.
Please consider:
First of all, as I pointed out above, Jesus notes that believing in him (or praying to him, or worshiping him) are not the ways to the Salvation that he offers … Instead, according to Jesus himself, we are to pick up our own unique “cross” of selfless service, abandon our own personal desires for safety &/or comfort &/or pleasure, and actively Care for others therewith.
“And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent … The Kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be seen … For in fact, the Kingdom of God is already within you … Not everyone who merely says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who DOES the will of my Father in Heaven … For I have set you an example, that you also should do for others exactly as I have done to you … If you understand these things, blessed are you while you DO them … And on that day you will know that I am in my Father, and that you are in me, and that I am in you … So I give you a new commandment: that you Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also should you Love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples: when you show Love towards one another … This is my commandment: that you Love one another just as I have Loved you … Be perfect [in LOVE] therefore, just as [the LOVE] of your Father in Heaven is perfect.” ~ Jesus Christ (John 17:3 + Luke 17:20-21 + Matthew 7:21 + John 13:15-17 + John 14:20 + John 13:34-35 + John 15:12 + Matthew 5:48)
Secondly (and just as importantly), God – the heavenly Father of Jesus Christ – is a Divine Essence composed of perfect Love (Matthew 5:48), perfect Mercy (Luke 6:36 + John 5:22), perfect Forgiveness (Matthew 18:21-22) and perfect Grace (1 Peter 5:10) … As such, there is truly no need to fear (see Matthew 10:31 + 1 Peter 3:13-14 + 1 John 4:18), for – as the Bible itself repeatedly shows – if we already know how to forgive those who trespass against us, how much greater must be the Forgiveness of God for our own feeble sins! (see Matthew 6:14-15, Acts 3:19, Hebrews 10:17 et al) … In this regard, please consider the Word of God:
“The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast Love. The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.” ~ Psalms 145:8-9
“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples … And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the Earth.” ~ Isaiah 25:6-8
“I will not execute my fierce anger … For I am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath” ~ Hosea 11:9
“So it is not the will of my Father in Heaven that even one of these little ones should be lost.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 18:14)
“For everyone will be salted with fire.” ~ Jesus Christ (Mark 9:49)
“And all flesh shall see the salvation of God” ~ Luke 3:6
“Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; and to Him all of them are alive.” ~ Jesus Christ (Luke 20:38)
“The true light, which lights up everyone, was coming into the world.” ~ John 1:9
“It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father [ultimately] comes to me.” ~ Jesus Christ (John 6:45)
“I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. And then there will be one flock, with one shepherd.” ~ Jesus Christ (John 10:16)
“And I, once I am lifted up, will draw all people to myself.” ~ Jesus Christ (John 12:32)
“I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them; for I came not to judge the world, but to offer it salvation.” ~ Jesus Christ (John 12:47)
“God has imprisoned all in disobedience, that He will be merciful to all.” ~ Romans 11:32
“Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they [all] will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand.” ~ Romans 14:4
“He has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time; to gather up all things in Him, the things in Heaven and the things on Earth.” ~ Ephesians 1:9-10
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.” ~ Titus 2:11
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