Posted by Deneb on August 9, 2005, at 20:04:12
In reply to Re: Want to learn about stories » Deneb, posted by Dena on August 9, 2005, at 9:48:17
> Well... it starts waaaaay back, in ancient times, when God created the universe, and this particular planet for us.
Do Christians believe God was responsible for the Big Bang? Do Christians believe that there are other planets with intelligent life on them?
> He created all things, but considered us, the humans, as his crowning achievement.
> He loved humans, and wanted a close intimate relationship with us.How come God loved humans so much? What about the plants, animals, other planets and stars?
> God is love - and love needs to be expressed to be love. And, love needs to be returned, freely, or it's not love at all, but manipulation.
Does that mean that God expresses his love for us? How does he do this if he does this?
> But God wanted their love to be genuine, so He gave them free choice - free will. He gave them a commandment to not touch the fruit of the tree of knowledge -- that if they did so, they would die.Why did God not want them to touch the fruit? Why did he make such a bad tree? Also, does that mean that knowledge is bad/sinful? I love my hamster and I wouldn't put poison in his cage.
> Their eyes were opened to good and evil, their innocence was lost, and they "fell" from the perfect condition they'd been in.
So, in order to be perfect one cannot even know that evil exists?
> Their very nature became corrupted, because they chose disobedience rather than to trust God. They chose to take what they wanted, rather than relying on God to provide for them.
Does God want to provide everything for us? Didn't God already provide everything since He created everything? What exactly does God provide? Food, water, shelter? Was it ok if Adam and Eve built their own shelter?
> Sin, disease, corruption, decay and death entered a perfect world that had not known of it before... all things "fell", and became corrupted, and eventually died.
Why did everything had to fall? Wasn't it only Adam and Eve who disobeyed? If nothing died before, does that mean that there was no reproduction?
> We keep missing the mark... which is a definition of "sin".
If God created everything, does that mean He created sin as well? So, sin doesn't have to be evil? Sin could just be what God doesn't want and we have no way to know what God wants because we are not perfect and cannot comprehend it?
> In the meantime, God had the Jews perform animal sacrifices, which temporarily "cleansed" them from their sins, so that they could relate to God, although imperfectly.
Hmmm...that I really don't understand...how do animal sacrifices get rid of sin? Isn't it bad to kill things?
> But, at the time of God's choosing, God sent His Son (who is part of Him... we can't comprehend how God is One being, and yet made of 3 parts - don't sweat it) to be born as a human baby... Jesus. He was born to a virgin, so that His father was God Himself.
How did the Virgin Mary get close to God when she sinned?
> He grew up, and he lived a perfect life (never sinning) by relying totally upon God's power.
Can other people never sin? What about babies? Do they sin? When babies die, do they go to hell because they didn't believe in Jesus? What about severely mentally retarded people?
>...paying the ultimate price for every sin of every person... to give each person the opportunity to come to God, blemish-free.
So...if one believes in Jesus, then one becomes free of sin when one dies?
> If a person is genuine about this decision to choose to believe in and follow Jesus, then something spiritual, supernatural happens... the Holy Spirit, who is the spirit of God Himself, connects with the spirit of that person... so that God Himself lives "through" that person.Does that mean that God can only "spy" on those who believe him? Or does God know everything about everyone? Also, how does one *know* whether or not they *truly* believe?
> That person still has free choice, and can still sin. But the Spirit will "convict" them of that sin, and prompt them to repent, or turn from that sin. It's hard, and many, many, many of us fail miserably.
So, do those who fail go to Hell then?
> And when we fail, which we ALL will continue to do, we know He will continue to forgive us and welcome us back to Him...
How come God didn't forgive people before Jesus died?
> Christmas is just the day in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus.I'm also curious about all the other stuff...about wise men and a star and such.
> Did I even vaguely answer your question? I hope it was a good story... but you can ask any sort of question.
Yes it was a very good story! Thanks for taking the time to write it. :-)
Heehee, enough questions for you? You don't have to answer them if you don't want to. Maybe other people can help out. :-)
Deneb
poster:Deneb
thread:539505
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20050510/msgs/539784.html