My deal is, if Jesus says to do it in His Word, it's a darned good idea to do it. Although, He doesn't (figuratively) hold a gun to our heads. It's all about love and relationship. I follow Him because I love Him and want to do these things. Not because i have a bunch of rules, regulations, and check-off points to compare against. That's called works-based religion. The Pharisees were pros at that. Heh, Jesus even called them a brood of vipers and white-washed tombstones (in other words, they may have looked good on the outside...to the world, but they were "dead" on the inside....where it mattered/matters most.)
This is very easy because Christians and lds are supposed to believe the bible is the word of god. And whatever Jesus says is the actual word of Jesus Christ. Forget everything but the one true promise. He died for all our sins and whosoever belieth in him shall not perish, but have eternal light. Baptism means nothing to give you eternal life. No works, tithing, killing of Jews, killing of atheists, sacrifices, or anything but believing Christ died for us. And this is only for those that believe that the bible is the true word of god.
Regarding grace/works. I believe that if you are receptive to that grace given, and commit your life to following Christ, then the works should naturally be a fruit that follows. Works are not a burden, they're a blessing.
the works should come naturally in the faith based belief but they don't grant you anything. my salvation and spot in heaven is because i believe Jesus Christ to be the son of the one and only God and that he died for my wrongdoings and rose again. that is all that matters, i do the things he says to do because i want to do them to be closer to him but in way does that get me "closer" to heaven. it's all about what Christ did and nothing about what I did.
Christ also says "If you love me keep my commandments", that is clearly telling us we need to do something. I don't think someone could live a life of sin and on his death bed just accept Christ knowing the whole time that Christ gave us commandments to live by. Talk is cheap and not worthy of salvation.
Yes he said that, but that is keeping his commandments because you love him. You choose to follow his laws because you love him. Key Word "Love Him". So you think he was lying when the man at the cross with him asked to be saved, and he welcomed him into Heaven? Or was that just some mockery?
Wrong. Salvation is a "Gift" not a "Reward". There is a HUGE difference. A "Gift" can't be taken away. A reward is something based on works. You are bastardizing the scripture.
When Christ said he died for "All sins", and since he is all knowing. He knows what we did before and after salvation. Basically he knows of our sins when and before we were saved. And since that means "All"; those sins or works mean nothing. I get totally upset on Faiths that don't believe your salvation is forever. That would be a really shitty gift, don't you agree?
Here are some more informed sources on the matter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Joy_of_Sex http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kama_Sutra http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinsey_Reports http://www.playboy.com/
Does it really say anything about marriage in the table of contents? And is the table of contents included as the word of God?
No, just like the "foot notes" on some of the study reference bibles. It's to help us navagate through the Bible.
Dichotomy: division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups. I think Pastor Driscoll does a great job of revealing the contradiction of Religion: people glorifying themselves (what you do) and their religion (pride) instead of God and his Son. "It's not about what you do, it's not about what you don't do, it's about what Jesus has done." "Jesus goes to the cross and says..."it's finished, it's all done, there is nothing for you do to be redeemed, I've done everything, Trust me." No wonder some many people push away religion! We've made it into a list of to-do's, make wrongs, and judgments. Fact is Jesus has already paid the price, for everything.
