ArchivedSemi new here still just kinda overlooked this place.No. The bible states that Jesus existed in the beginning as part of the trinity. First as the word, and then the word made flesh (Jesus on earth), born of Mary. The bible states it to be a miraculous conception, caused by power of God, not having anything to do with a human male. Neither I nor the Christians I"m representative of believe that Mary or anyone else apart from God is to be worshipped. She was considered blessed AMONG women, not over them. In Christianity, our likeness to God is in body, soul, and spirit, not in male or female. We believe in the verse "for it is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment", which appears to rule out rebirth. However, this is a point in which I am very unusual as far as Christians go...in that I allow that it's possible that infants, children, the mentally unstable, may possibly get reborn on earth, as another human. I"m speaking of those who have died before the age of accountability or because they weren't capable of reaching accountability. That's more a thought of mine than anything, it's NOT the normal fundamental Christian belief and it isn't anything I read in scripture, it just makes sense. I don't know if it's true or not, it's just a thought. I have no clue about that. I don't think we have anything similar. There's the star of David, and the cross people wear, but that's a personal choice, there's a few who feel that wearing a symbol diminishes the meaning behind them, a few that wear them as reminders of their faith. Mine wasn't exactly a wonderful experience either. Pick something, anything, it probably happened. I hated God from age 11, and at that age vowed to serve Satan if he would help me. The birth of my first daughter started me seeking God again, although I still didn't truly believe in Jesus or understand why him dying on the cross was much of a deal to me personally, although I tried to feel that way for a while than gave up...but that attitude has changed. What in it was terrifying? I read some as a child, but it wasn't the bible in itself that was scary, it was the way ignorant Christians who had no right to call themselves such presented it and used it as a scare tactic. I later had to get rid of their misinterpretations and read it for myself to find the real meaning without the added implications or false interpretatons clouding the meaning. Yes, true belief is what's repeated over throughout scripture. Baptism is an act of obedience, not an act that will save you. We do it as a profession of faith and because the bible says to. The symbolic meaning is being buried and raised in his (Jesus) likeness. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." This verse shows us that the atonement/death is effective for those who belive in him. There are two different viewpoints in Christianity on this, and I believe both are fine, as it's belief in Jesus that counts. One is that the payment for sin is just not there until one believes. The other is that God knew from the foundation of earth who would believe and who wouldn't, so the atonement was for them. That isn't saying they are saved even if they don't believe, it's just saying he knew who would believe and that's who the atonement covers. Either way one interprets the scriptures, all who believe are saved. Chrys |
🌈Pride🌈 goeth before Destruction
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