Replies

>>Is that's your conclusion of why God had to destroy everything with the flood as well?<<

Noah and his family were of that generation and they didn't perish. And they did indeed have His word.

>>Your conclusion doesn't allow for the most important rule God has ever given; free agency. Man is free to choose for himself good or evil.<<

How does that stop God from making His word available to all generations?

>>God is there in all generations, true. But you can't conclude that man will always choose God in every generation. Hence, the flood.<<

Um......NOAH AND HIS FAMILY!!!

>>Why did God have to destroy Sodom? ... He destroyed Sodom because the people had gotten themselves in to a place where they could never have repented.<<

Good grief! Do you think before you post? Lot and his daughters were not destroyed. Neither was the rest of the world destroyed.

>>In the days that quote was originally written, it was understood that to believe in Jesus meant to also meant to go through the steps needed to join their Church, follow their teachings, and follow the commandments that they gave you.<<

Oh really? The jailer knew all that? He had to ask "what must I do to be saved" but automatically knew all the rest?

>>Were you expecting them to give the full list of expectations every time someone asked that question? That's not realistic.<<

So they only tell them a little bit but they aren't saved yet? At what point did you think they would be saved? So Paul was really only telling a half truth?

>>People who believe like you, for instance, never quote the book of James.<<

Are you just trying to be a presumptive boob? It's "people like me" who understand that upon believing the influence of the Holy Spirit inspires the kind of change and actions that cause a person to change. "Just sit there and believe"? No one who has experienced the indwelling of the Holy Spirit would even think to make a statement like that.

The carnal understanding you exhibit would cause me to stay as far away from your religion as possible and declare it false.

Noah and his family were of that generation and they didn't perish. And they did indeed have His word.

Because Noah chose to follow God. God didn't force Him.

How does that stop God from making His word available to all generations?

Because doctrine has always been delivered by the mouth of the prophets. They wrote down prophesies and messages as the Lord directed them, but as John explicitly said, they delivered their direction orally.

Moses is another example. Where was the word of God until Moses went to the Lord and received it and brought it to the people?

Amos 8
11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:

12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.

Amos is prophesying after the death of Jesus that the word of the Lord would be found on the earth. People will look all over for it, but won't find it. Writing have always been with us, but the real word comes from the prophets.

Good grief! Do you think before you post? Lot and his daughters were not destroyed. Neither was the rest of the world destroyed.

Abraham was the prophet at Sodom. Lot chose to believe Abraham's words. Cities were the hubs where people were congregated back then. Their culture was central to the city. To them the world was their city.

The point is, God didn't intervene on their behalf. He left them to the consequence of their choices. He gave them every opportunity to repent and then they suffered the consequence... mainly as I said before to save future generations.

Oh really? The jailer knew all that? He had to ask "what must I do to be saved" but automatically knew all the rest?

The jailor was given an invitation to believe. It was up to him to take the next step and seek after further knowledge.

Jesus also told everyone they had to be Baptized. He sent the Apostles out into the world to Baptize everyone that would agree to believe on Him.

That by itself invalidates your belief in a "believe only" doctrine.

So they only tell them a little bit but they aren't saved yet? At what point did you think they would be saved? So Paul was really only telling a half truth?

The Bible isn't a novel that has a self contained world of imagination. The writers were conveying ideas, concepts, and some of events they witnessed.

No they weren't saved spiritually. There are two different salvations. The physical and the spiritual. Physical salvation or resurrection is a free gift that every person born on this earth. This is possible because Jesus was resurrected which allows everyone to also be resurrected.

The spiritual salvation is something completely different. It's a journey and not an instant event. Jesus called it a path. Believing He is the savior and being baptized by proper authority is the entrance to that path. He also said only a few would actually find that path.

Are you just trying to be a presumptive boob?

Part of actually being saved at the last day has to do with learning to have the heart and mind of Christ. I'm guessing by your name calling, you're not quite there yet. I forgive you.

It's "people like me" who understand that upon believing the influence of the Holy Spirit inspires the kind of change and actions that cause a person to change. "Just sit there and believe"? No one who has experienced the indwelling of the Holy Spirit would even think to make a statement like that.

The irony. You insult me then talk about your "indwelling" of the Holy Spirit. Right....

Matthew 15:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

The carnal understanding you exhibit would cause me to stay as far away from your religion as possible and declare it false.

Again, irony. There are no mean people in heaven, because mean people aren't allowed into heaven. But yet you think you're already saved...