How good do I have to be to go to heaven?

Grace to You ^ | November 17, 2010 | John MacArthur

[21twelve]

“Except for the fact I dislike seeing anyone unhappy, it’s none of my business.”

Do I understand you that the majority of Christians that you meet are unhappy, and just can't wait to leave this mortal earth? If so, that IS sad. Although I have seen that a bit in the sick and elderly, I'm not so sure they are that sad. Questioning perhaps. “Why doesn't God just take me now?”

I've always observed the Joy in Christians, even when things may not be going all that great. I must admit it always makes me uneasy though when people say they can't wait for the Second Coming. Of course I SHOULD be over-joyed at the prospect of when Jesus comes back, and I guess if I think enough on it I am.

But my first reaction is “But I like life and the world pretty much.” And also a hint of “I'm not so sure when Jesus comes back it will be all ‘happy-happy’ either”.

One of the most faithful Christians that I know is just FILLED with joyfullness in spite of some tough times. And she gets even happier when she talks about Jesus coming back; “And won't that just be so wonderful!!!??”

“Um, gulp, I guess.”

(I take comfort in the verse “And Blessed are those that are poor in spirit, for they will inherit heaven.”)

[philoginist]

"I take comfort in the verse 'And Blessed are those that are poor in spirit, for they will inherit heaven.'"

So what do you make of:

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (Not heaven.)?

[Fester Chugabrew]

I tend to treat the 4 Gospels as a bunch, so no difficulty at all in attributing sacramental presence in any case. Exegesis? All I did was pull text. You apparently inflicted some “exegesis” of your own.

[dartuser]

I tend to treat the 4 Gospels as a bunch, so no difficulty at all in attributing sacramental presence in any case. Exegesis? All I did was pull text.

No, all you did was pull a verse out of a large discourse, negating both the historical and grammatical context ...

Then, by ignoring the context, you made the error of assuming the number (singular vs. plural) of the words used was significant.

And by doing that ... you ignore what is clearly in the text ... and replace it with something that is not.

[Fester Chugabrew]

You must be thinking of someone else. I quoted several verses.

[dartuser]

Yes, you're right, sorry ... that's what I get for posting before having my coffee in the morning.

Now to find the other thread or conversation ... my apologies sir.