What do I do if I've tried to believe in Jesus but can't?

[almostblue22]

How utterly moved I am... It seems like I've always needed someone to look straight me, and say something so honest and biblical, and caring and loving. He said to accept the gift, that it's easy to accept a gift. I will continue pray for this until God has made himself known to me. Prayers are appreciated from you all too!

[jgallete]

@almostblue22 - You can count on my prayers. God will grant you genuine faith. 

[desasterz]

@jgallete pray for me too.

[FearMonstro]

If you don't have faith, open your mind to Christ and he'll give it to you? But, not having faith in Christ is the exact inablity to open your mind and heart to Christ. His advise is petitio principii, begging the question, a classic fallacy.

[iykim929]

@FearMonstro Not having faith (and conversely, having faith) has nothing to do with what you do with your mind or heart (at least initially). Faith is freely given by grace alone, regardless of the agent's actions, according to Piper's Calvinist doctrine.

[h0lystrike]

@FearMonstro you're right on that. My question from this is, if the person has been seeking to believe in jesus for two years, and has gone this far to try and gain some faith, are they not being scrupulous?

[randymurphy100]

Perhaps this person needs to stay in the milk of Gods word a little longer. The depth of your answer to that persons question is deep in the meat of Gods word. Some folks take longer than two years to understand the meat, look at Jesus's followers, three years and still not convinced of His deity.

[TheJadeKat]

If you have no faith in one path try a new one.

[Jordansoldat]

I'm not religious but I can say that this guy has a really reassuring voice

[Lynnmist]

i tried believing in god, jesus the bible but I can't. it is hard when you read the bible clearly with a open mind. all i can come up with is the bible is evil and therefore god is evil. also, the bible is full of contradictions, empty promises and lies.

[gilbert4321]

@Lynnmist no u

[h0lystrike]

@Lynnmist your post sounds rather regurgitated

[MrDavidHoldsworth]

Hallelujah!

[ryan84160]

If this person really does not believe in God, then what on earth is he/she worrying about not being saved for ?? It's like saying I do not believe in the heavens gate cult, but I am really really worried that if I don't kill my self my soul will miss that chance to make it on the hale-bop space ship. It is an internally contradictory belief.

[Josh0473]

@ryan84160 its not like that. Its hard for people to believe in something that is simply relied on faith. I know this because i am that person. I go to church, read the bible, watch sermons, but i just don't think its real. I hate to call myself an atheist, so i just say i'm agnostic. The reason why i myself worry about not being saved is because so many of my close friends and people around me are christians and i never could take it seriously. But i still try.....

[ryan84160]

@Josh0473 I have news for you, if you don't believe a God exists, you are an atheist. If you don't believe God exists, how could you possibly be afraid of not being saved ? Do you also worry that Santa Clause will give you a lump of coal or that the boogeyman will get you at night ?

[Josh0473]

@ryan84160 All the time, i was sleeping in a hotel and my tooth fell out and i stayed up all night for the tooth fairy. It was fun, yay.

[ryan84160]

@Josh0473 alright then.

[vincent4500]

@ryan84160 I personally believe that Revelations is about occur, or rather I worked out the New World Order, from personal experience and other things....it shocked me big, big time...I think EITHER the elites who run this world are about to enact revelations on mankind for some bizarre reason, or there is a god....because Im a lifelong aetheist I find it hard not to see other possibilities for this....reason and blind faith are not comfortable bedfellows..

[ryan84160]

@vincent4500 The elites who run the world are about to enact revelations on mankind? First of all, this makes no fucking sense. Second, take off your tin foil hat.

[All4ChristNone4me]

I like how Bob Jennings puts faith. A self-despairing look to Christ. There is absolutely nothing in any of us to save us from or sins and the penalty of them. We must look away from ourselves to Christ.

Check out illbehonest. com

[dedred5]

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Does this sound like a rhetorical question?Did he want Peter to say,"Because Lord you did not give me the faith I needed"

Even if I pray to God for more faith or to strengthen my faith(which I do)doesn't that mean that I also am believing,trusting,that He will do so?Does He call me to believe so I realize I can't believe?God calls,I respond,He transforms,I live anew.

[iridescentsquids]

@dedred5 "Even if I pray to God for more faith or to strengthen my faith(which I do)doesn't that mean that I also am believing,trusting,that He will do so?"

Sounds basically like you are saying "The key to believing this thing is making yourself believe it. If you can do that, you can say you have faith. If you don't believe it after trying to make yourself, the fact is you haven't truly made yourself believe it, so you don't have faith. Try harder."

[dedred5]

@iridescentsquids I'm saying when Jesus calls us to believe,we are given the power as humans to take that step to be for or against Him.We can only respond if we are called,when the Spirit reveals the truth,do we follow or remain do we seek or deny.Faith is maintained through God when we are born anew it's a gift the same as the me having the power to actually love and pray and to want to do His will.When He says believe, I think we must make a decision.This is my view, obviously not everyone's.

[iridescentsquids]

@dedred5 "when the Spirit reveals the truth"

If the spirit reveals the truth, there's no need for faith as described in Heb. 11:1, specifically stating that faith is hope for things NOT seen (not revealed!!) but which are true.

So I think u r mistaken. You don't get to see proof it's true PRIOR to having faith. You only get to "see" it is true if you already believe it is true, which is an odd position to put yourself in. But hey...that's faith. Basically, u believe it because u believe it.

[dedred5]

@iridescentsquids I don't think faith is like flicking on an on switch and you know are at 100%. Faith must be maintained,or we would never feel a bit of doubt or what ifs ,or discouraged,until we are in full glory the flesh will fight.I mean our heart is hard as unbelievers we need the Spirit to reveal the truth of the Gospel for us to take another step,God calling isn't showing us everything,but it's enough so we can understand some and respond.He is revealing things that you still can't see.

[dedred5]

@iridescentsquids John 16:8- When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10,John 16:12-14

[dedred5]

I see a procession,believing first, faith is ongoing.Spirit calls,you believe,Spirit indwells maintaining faith.Eph 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession to the praise of his glory.

[iridescentsquids]

@dedred5 " When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal"

Right. Now you r agreeing with me. There is no revelation of truth prior to belief. Now you've added that maintenance of belief is required even after you start believing, because there isn't even a revelation of the truth AFTER you start believing that can convince to completely. So you believe because you believe, and if you stop believing the solution is to try to believe again. The "truth" is revealed only while you believe.

[Freedish911]

What an amazing answer! It's so true. The faith to believe in God is given to us by Him.

[iridescentsquids]

@Freedish911 Did God not also give us the ability to understand that some beliefs are false, and the brains to try to distinguish between beliefs that are true and false? In fact, the bible warns repeatedly of false beliefs and false interpretations that we have to be careful to avoid, so simply exercising faith is not what the bible advocates--It also advocates skepticism and discernment.

[aqualobster]

fuck the lord if he will not come down here and show his fucking face. fuck him and fuck jesus if they just randomly ignore me. THANKS! THANKS BUDDY! i am DONE trying to believe this brainwashing stupidity. your all insane and idiotic for believing anyone deserves hell, even hitler.

[lessingtom]

This is a typical Calvinistic answer and possibly the worst answer Piper could have given a thirsting soul. If it were wholly impossible for a lost sinner to believe, Jesus would never have asked the man whom He cured of blindness in Joh 9:35: :Do you believe on the Son of God." Notice his answer: "Who is He, Lord that I might believe on Him." Piper fails to tell the person who Jesus is. Faith is simply to put your trust in Him for your salvation and to do that you must know who He IS.

[maidenshazza]

Wow, what an answer!!!!

Praise God for his servant John Piper. There is no better way to answer a question than from the Word OF GOD.

[88momart]

What a beautiful answer. That person must have felt so frightened and hopeless.

[CallmeMell]

this is funny how everyone is saying great answer and all....Yeah its an amazing answer to who ever God chooses to save and the rest of us that are created and are born to go to Hell we have no gospel do we Calvinists? Please i really dont want to hear any arminianist answers The bible is clear on teaching total depravity and that men cannot save them selves or even take any kind of step towards it and Calvinists dont even think about telling me to "do" something remember im dead in spirit.

[fruitofspirit]

How beautifully said, praise the LORD for His saving grace.

[1p1lph]

great answer

[1p1lph]

great answer

[Kenneyification]

Omg... Im getting off

[Kenneyification]

Wow this kb thing on this tablet is.ridiculous.. Is a great example or the sermon on the mount. All im saying is that your.hearts are in the right place but your still stucj.

[Kenneyification]

Damn galaxy tablet kb. Concerning the true words of jesus that have been mistranslated over the yrs. All jesus ever did was speak out against religion period. Matthew 1-39 is a greT e

[Kenneyification]

You guys are missing the pt and I didnt even wafch the vid . Go check out gregg braden and his vids concerning tne true.

[dreiher2]

No such thing as asking God for the gift of being persuaded. Ask God to show you evidence that Jesus is the granter and guarantor of everlasting life to everyone who believes in Him for it. Read the Bible. Look at my youtube channel. Read Ryrie's book, Bing's book, Stanley's book. RT Kendall's book. I have hundreds of sources which totally refute Reformed Soteriology, which in my estimation many will be in the Lake of fire because of it, rather than with the Lord in the Kingdom. Its cursed.

[dreiher2]

There is not a single verse in the Bible that says we chosen to Believe in Jesus for everlasting life. Not a single verse. This is made up by Theologians. Read the lastest paper by Gordon Olson on Election on his website. He demonstrates that Election NEVER meant "selection" in the time of the Bible. It meant "choice" in terms of something seen in the object chosen, not an arbitrary selection like Calvinists twist it to mean. mediatetheology is his website.

[dreiher2]

Acts 19:15 - demon faith is flawless. They believe the saving message. They were not died for by Jesus and thus cannot be saved. No salvation for demons.

Jude 6 - ???

Look at the Scripture, in context. Not Theology books. There is not such think as a kind of faith that does not save. Only faith in an object that cannot save. You either believe something or you do not. If you believe in Jesus for everlasting life, then you have it. No matter how weak or short lived the belief.

[dreiher2]

Romans 11:6 - Since salvation is by grace does not exclude the fact is is YOUR faith that is the channel. You must believe the saving message. God does not believe for you. That is unbiblical.

James 2:19 - Talking to "brethren" talking about sanctification salvation, not justification salvation. Demons are persuaded Jesus is the Christ, but they cannot be saved because Jesus only died for the sin of ALL humans.

No such thing as "dead" nothing. It had to be alive to later be dead, useless.

[dreiher2]

Eph 2:8-9 Exegetically, faith cannot be what "That" is referring to. Logically, persuasion cannot be a "gift."

John 15:2 - NIV uses eisegesis. airw means lift up. Believers are not thrown into hell for not abiding. God "lifts" them up. In vitaculture, they lifted vines off the ground to make them bear fruit.

John 13:18 "chosen" NEVER has to do with who has everlasting life and who is sent to hell. NEVER.

Rom 9:11-16 - Jacob & Esau . . . both saved. Nothing to do with salvation

[dreiher2]

The whole question is ludicrous. Faith is not a gift, anymore than believing that George Washington was the first president, or that 2+2=4 is a gift. Faith is persuasion that something is true. John 3:16, 5:24, 6:47, 11:26-27, 20:31 talks about saving faith. It means to be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ - He is the granter and guarantor of everlasting life. There is no such thing as non-saving faith, and persuasion cannot be a gift (Biblically).

[Moving2U]

@dreiher2

How do you reconsile Ephesians 2:8-9, John 15:16, John 6:70, John 13:18, Romans 9:11-16, Romans 11:6 and many others with your understanding?

There is such thing as faith that does not lead to salvation - James 2:19. Matthew 8:29, Acts 19:15, and Jude 6 show that it is possible to fully believe in who and what Jesus is and yet not belong to Him or obey Him or love Him to the end that they will not be saved.

[Moving2U]

@dreiher2

Do you think that your ability to grasp "why" 2+2=4 is not a gift from God? Who created man and purposely gifted him with the ability to reason?

What you are descibing is your ability to reason and make a choice or a descision. If you are truly a Christian then you did not choose God but He chose you.

[dreiher2]

@Moving2U I agree. the ability to grasp 2+2=4 is a gift from God, but everyone on the planet has that gift. There is no such thing as "true" Christians. There is THE object faith as Christ for everlasting life. You either believe in Jesus for everlasting life, or you don't. That is what the Bible says. John 6:47 says, whosoever believeth in Me has everlasting life. He does not say "Whosoever TRULY believeth in Me. . ." Faith is faith. No such thing as false faith in the Bible.

[lessingtom]

@dreiher2

False faith is a faith as do demons believe. James 2:19

[dreiher2]

What is wrong with the faith of Demons? They know a lot of things about Christ and God that are true that even we don't know. Christ did not die for the demons. Demons know He died and paid in full the penalty for the sins of every human being, and offers everlasting life to every human who is persuaded (saving faith) that Christ is the granter and guarantor of everlasting life. Demons are persuaded (saving faith) that Jesus is the Christ. There is nothing wrong with their faith.

[iridescentsquids]

@lessingtom And how do you identify false faith as opposed to true faith? They are both believed from a position of faith, are they not? Where does the discerning intellect also supposedly gifted to us by God come in to play when trying to distinguish between true and false beliefs?

[mathai11]

we just have to keep praying to God asking for the gift of faith. it is not easy. the biggest obstacle standing in the way is worldly thoughts and the feeling of instant gratitude. some times everything is not so instant like the world wants us to believe.

[Jaron1511]

Iron Chariots... Hmm God can do anything and will do anything. For those mad they must realize they are sinners and refuse to.. God is just and he loves all of you. The fact is we are all going to hell without Jesus. We can either believe it or ignore it. I just choose not to perish for ignorance. Judges 1:19... Your right God doesn't move the iron chariots... And it states in Judges 2:2-3 why he doesn't! Atheists and other people pick and choose out of the Bible what they believe. How about yo

[OpethNation]

What a privilege it is to have a carrot dangled in front of you by the almighty!!! Praise the Lord!!!!!!!

[BROWNVBOARD]

But..... that still doesn't change anything...

[nyonglimong]

OOO MYYY GODDD!! what an answer!!

[patriciacarrasco]

lovely answer

[Masaries1234]

@slap2tap2 I agree that it's not easy to believe in this God who you can't see, but the issue is to understand first, the reason for your life. You said it yourself "logical perspective"...everything has a reason even if unknown or not understood. Many still are searching for the reason as man is prone and recorded to have done for ages, through ourselves. The world is anxious; pushing this urgency of fulfillment in physical life. God says " You are a spirit unseen, special and beautiful."

[axemurderah17]

BEAUTIFUL

[slap2tap2]

How am I commanded to believe in a space daddy? How does this guy ignorantly believe that I can be saved by something that nobody knows is there? It just doesn't have any logical perspective of our real world.

[12343590]

Amazing

[pcrvg0808]

@Tempemonkey .... You talk about morals , and you feel we should act on them . Cause the morals each of us have are flawless ? What do your morals tell you when you say to me i,m wrong for believing in a moral greater than the human moral .Where is your moral when you say this ?

[tempemonkey2323]

answering-christianity(dot)com­/contra_res.htm

Add the w's and erase the word "dot" and type an actual dot..

Many scholars believe that the gospels were written by many different authors who had nothing to do with the actual event... The same goes for the old testament as well.

Again, during Nicea, there were many books floating around and no one knew where they came from....

Also, do you feel that hell is morally justified? Is it just?

Does it seem to be fear tactics designed to brainwash?

[pcrvg0808]

@tempemonkey2323 Only those who end up in hell will be able to tell if it is justified , for they have been judged by The Son . Noone alive on this earth is worthy or able to say anything else . Regardless the fact you believe or don,t .

[tempemonkey]

@pcrvg0808 You must say that punishment in hell is moral and is justified because it is the punishment that god himself created..... Unless you want to say gods judgment is immoral.....

[pcrvg0808]

@tempemonkey PEACE I,ve said/written what i,ve said /written...... all i said is we can,t be the judge of anything .( Accept those among us who THINK they have a pure moral and are free from immorality , and have the indisputable intelligence to know what is right or wrong . )( read arrogance ) .

[tempemonkey2323]

@pcrvg0808 Im only saying that no one deserves eternal torture.Do you think anyone does? If you cannot use your own moral compass to determine if such people could deserve this punishment, for any reason let alone denying that some guy died on a cross with no evidence to back it up... Are you saying there is anything your child could do for you to say that they DESERVE eternal torture?

Use your own mind, stop being controlled by the immoral teachings of an aweful fairy tale called Christianity

[pcrvg0808]

@tempemonkey2323 Look ...... what makes you think you could know if someone deserves anything ( yes punishment/ no punishment ). I,ll say it again , OUR judgement as a human being is corrupt , OUR moral sense is corrupt , we ARE corrupt . What you (or i , for that matter ) think to know about justice is a joke . And did you even notice . And for your information i haven,t got any children . In that sense i don,t have to justify the wrongs of any offspring .

[tempemonkey2323]

@pcrvg0808 So you are saying its ok to commit genocide, have slaves, and stone people for working on Sundays because you have no moral compass to tell you otherwise... Its written in an ancient book that you have been raised to believe and you have given it your very humanity..... Your ability to decide right from wrong... How do you know god is good? Do YOU judge him to be good or does god tell you that he is?..

If you loose your sense of right an wrong, you are merely an animal.

[tempemonkey2323]

@pcrvg0808 But I think I know what you are saying, you think that all the horrible things god condones are good simply because they come from him..... Ever wonder if what it says in the bible is total crap? And you have been fooled to believe an immoral doctrine simply because you will not take responsibility to decide things for yourself. Oh, I am totally incompetent, worthless, and an evil sinner, how could I ever make my own decisions..... And you wonder why atheists laugh at Christians.

[tempemonkey2323]

@pcrvg0808 Ether god is an immoral psychopath (yes by my standards.... Grow a pair you pussy)... or the bible is wrong or he doesn't exist.... I think evidence and reason point toward his non existence.... Certainly an ancient book written by a stone aged society doesn't have much insight on the nature of reality......

Are those things moral? Yes or no...... You can say yes because some book says so if you want.... Or you can say yes because you really do feel that way.... But do you really?

[tempemonkey2323]

infidels.org/library/modern/ji­m_meritt/bible-contradictions.­html

amazon.com/Age-Reason-Thomas-P­aine/dp/1603863419/ref=sr_1_1?­ie=UTF8&qid=1288260000&sr=8-1

youtube.com/watch?v=0G8-4QN4nI­o

Add the three w's and the dot at the beginning.... Have fun!!!!

[tempemonkey2323]

Here is the proper response that Piper should have used..... I apologize for supporting an organization that teaches you that you are a worthless sinner destined for torture unless you believe some crazy stories copied down in an old dusty book.... Now you are scared out of your mind because you cannot make yourself believe these lies when all you are doing is relying on your rational faculties to make a decision.... And so far they are telling you the truth. There is no reason to believe...

[niceguy999918]

@tempemonkey2323 Be not wise in thine own eyes:fear the Lord and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:7

[tempemonkey2323]

@niceguy999918 In other words, ignore reason, logic, and evidence and believe this crap or else!!!!!

Nice message.

[mariuspieter]

@tempemonkey2323 Nobody said anything about ignoring logic, or reason for that matter. Piper has not said either that you cannot be saved. What he is saying is that one does not realize how much one needs God until you have lived without God and then you are drawn by the Spirit of God to believe in Him. Not everyone who believes in God ignore reason or logic. But one must understand that something that is not material cannot be proven by material evidences, it is insufficient to prove God.

[mariuspieter]

@tempemonkey2323 What you are failing to recognize is that there are findings that support a strong possibility that the bible is true. Why is it not counted as proof? well, because one cannot find a plaque or something on a building saying that "hey, guys, this is the temple of Solomon" or "this is the tomb where Jesus was buried". And because there is no such evidence, which is highly unlikely, you assume that it could not possibly be true. You just seem to look at things from one perspective

[tempemonkey2323]

@mariuspieter There is no evidence at all to support the claims in the bible. YWH is the only god who created the universe, Jesus was the son of god who had to be sacrificed to pay for our sins (that seems strange in itself), the global flood etc.... There is no evidence for any of this nonsense....

Believing in such amazing claims without sufficient evidence to support them is irrational.... Sorry.

[mariuspieter]

@tempemonkey2323 You see you base everything from a certain worldview and fail to see things for what they are. I know there isn't any confirmed evidence for the claims of the bible, but probable evidence? well there is plenty. There are also the testimonies of thousands of people through history who are unrelated that confirm the existence of a God and more specifically Jesus Christ. Like I said, you really expect to find this oodles of evidence for a man that people crucified on a cross?

[mariuspieter]

@tempemonkey2323 Of coarse this seems irrational when all you consider is material evidence. You haven't even considered the culture of the time, means of communication of the time? Hostile forces that have destroyed many of the places that might have contained evidence of Jesus? Likelihood of the people mentioning Jesus since they pretty much all turned against Him based on the opinion of a few. Evidence is not truth, because sometimes evidence can be corrupted, at least consider that.

[tempemonkey2323]

@mariuspieter Yes evidence can be corrupted but consider this.... Without it you only have fairy tales and heresy and guesses..... Again, evidence and science is the ONLY methods we have to gain knowledge....

If an all powerful, all loving, all loving go existed why dont we have better evidence of him? Does he expect us to make an irrational decision by believing in him without evidence?

[mariuspieter]

@tempemonkey2323 Like I said before, there were nations that were hostile to the Jews and the Christians that destroyed a lot of the letters and markings that could have been evidence at the time. The problem is not so much that there cannot possibly have been evidence, the problem is it is a formidable task to gather evidence for a man in a civilization who have been constantly threatened and been forced almost literally of the face of the earth.

[mariuspieter]

@tempemonkey2323 Other civilizations also built over the probable sites that must be excavated in order to retrieve possible evidence. Then there is the fact that a lot of buildings who have been found do not have clear markings on them to say whether or not they are from the bible or not, even though they fit the location and demographic for it. So yes there is probable evidence, but due to it's nature these simply gets dismissed by the atheist science community, these are just some examples.

[tempemonkey2323]

@mariuspieter First of all, the old testament was possibly written over 3000 years ago, but who cares.... Secondly, I don't really know what you are driving at, but I dont care about possible sources of evidence that atheists over look.....

Show me the evidence or admit there is none..

Oh yeah, the priests at Nicea did not choose the books arbitraily, your right... They chose them according to their biases and preferences in order to unite the xian movement. That makes it way more credible

[mariuspieter]

@tempemonkey2323 Ok, I am driving at the fact that the science of finding evidence to show every little speck of everything that is true, is not always full proof. I also question the fact that everything that exist can ONLY be explained through material evidence. We know emotions exist, but there is no material evidence for it, does that mean it does not exist, no we can see it in various situations, like when someone is heartbroken about something. I like science,but it is limited explanation

[mariuspieter]

@tempemonkey2323 Ok, about the bible and how it came to be, it was not chosen through the biases of the people who gathered at it, that is also not true. The bible was formed by the attributes that each book has in relation to the others, there are many books that quote from others and that show the same theology as the others. Like science there are lots of important criteria that have to line up concerning the books, kinda like the scientific method.

[mariuspieter]

@tempemonkey2323 Ok, about the bible and how it came to be, it was not chosen through the biases of the people who gathered at it, that is also not true. The bible was formed by the attributes that each book has in relation to the others, there are many books that quote from others and that show the same theology as the others. Like science there are lots of important criteria that have to line up concerning the books, kinda like the scientific method. The different books have common consistancy

[mariuspieter]

@tempemonkey2323 Ok, about the bible and how it came to be, it was not chosen through the biases of the people who gathered at it, that is also not true. The bible was formed by the attributes that each book has in relation to the others, there are many books that quote from others and that show the same theology as the others. Like science there are lots of important criteria that have to line up concerning the books, kinda like the scientific method. The different books have common consistency

[tempemonkey2323]

@mariuspieter You are using the classic defense of, "you cant prove love" therefore having faith in an all powerful cosmic super daddy is justified... Nice try. I know love exists only as a mental phenomena because I experience it... Furthermore, to cover your next move, I know the external world exists because I can see it (Can we see god? Are you claiming that he only exists in our minds?)... Just for the record, scientists have detected areas in the brain responsible for love..

[mariuspieter]

@tempemonkey2323 I don't have moves, I just want you to think a bit more about the fact that everything in this world does not rest on evidence, I can tell you my life story, but I don't believe you will take it seriously.

[tempemonkey2323]

@mariuspieter As for the bible, it was composed by HUMAN BEINGS and it has CONTRADICTIONS..... No matter how you slice it, you have to realize this.

Yeah, they had criteria for choosing it..... Their own HUMAN criteria..... More like their own bias.

Why should the counsel of Nicaea be viewed as more than just a bunch of guys sitting around and making up a book about an event from copies, of copies, of copies from the actual event that took place?

[mariuspieter]

@tempemonkey2323 No more than scientists use the scientific method, which was also invented by HUMANS with their own biases, and they also had a CRITERIA by which they came to it. I am not downplaying science, I just don't believe that science has the answers to everything. As far as the counsel of Nicaea goes, you should read more books on it, because it was not about "making up" a book, it was about establishing the what the church believed about the doctrine concerning God(trinity).

[mariuspieter]

@tempemonkey2323 You speak about contradictions, well sounds like you have been listening to Richard Dawkins too much. He has a tendency to interpret scripture using wrong interpretation methodology, like not reading scripture in context and not respecting historical validation of the story at hand. He does not use good interpretation because he has an agenda and does not bother to use correct scripture interpretation methods because he is ignorant about them. Show me the contradictions?example

[tempemonkey2323]

Youtube is soooo annnooyyyiiiinngggg... I cant post the url for the website of bible contradictions.....

Google: iron chariots biblical contradictions

Click on the first link and then follow the links from there.

[tempemonkey2323]

@mariuspieter Sorry, just search for a video on youtube called "top ten reasons why the bible is repulsive"

There are more terrible versus than what is shown on the video believe me.

Seriously, check out these links and tell me what you think....

[papapedro10]

@tempemonkey2323 just watched the first one, and that was the law of the old covenant which even 'christians' dont have to live by because Jesus' death on the cross created a new covenant...so God does not command us to kill everyone who works at walmart on the sabbath lol

[papapedro10]

@tempemonkey2323 1-6 is all the same thing...ex.7 that is what we call a hyperbole lol...ex.9...yes women are supposed to submit to men, but men are also commanded to love women like Christ loves the church...which he died for...ex.9 old covenant again.....ex.10 they were at war, and that was moses saying that not God

[tempemonkey2323]

@papapedro10 So different interpretations of how many people were at the tomb of Jesus, and what Jesus did..... Different interpretations of other stories in the bible.... does this point to the fact that the bible can be trusted or that the stories in it were second or third hand from multiple authors?

So slavery, genocide, and stonings were once moral, but they are not anymore? Are these things EVER justified? What about eternal torture in hell? This seems like barbarian morality to me.

[papapedro10]

@tempemonkey2323 whats the different interpretations of what Jesus did, and how many people were at his tomb?

As another human being i can sympathize with your feelings of hell...but Jesus came and died on a cross and that wasnt fair..

[tempemonkey2323]

@mariuspieter By the way, the fact that a copy, of a copy, of a book not written by the original author (not to mention contradictions) that was selected arbitrarily at a meeting over 1500 years ago, which claims that a god man performed miracles and people watched is not probable evidence of anything (I can give you many sources from other traditions with the same "evidence")...

Furthermore, a 4000 year old copy of a book which claims god spoke to some people is not probable evidence either.

[mariuspieter]

@tempemonkey2323 Ok, firstly the book was not selected arbitrarily at a meeting, it was discussed, but the books was not selected based on that meeting,so that is not true, secondly I am not talking about those (other traditions) evidences, I was referring to archeological evidence which are probable. Thirdly, I don't know which book you are referring to that is 4000 years Old. Maybe you could specify the religion you are referring to.

[tempemonkey2323]

If you have tried to believe in god and cant that's great!!!!! Its hard to believe in something that there is absolutely no evidence for and is just a glorified FAIRY TALE..... You cant believe in god because he doesn't exist.... Unless someone has evidence for his existence.

[jofoatminn]

Or maybe you can't believe in Jesus for the same reason reason you can't believe in Santa Claus, because there is no evidence and belief in something with no evidence is just foolish.

[lukeben5]

@jofoatminn or u haven't received that gift yet. I'll pray that your eyes will be opened. God bless

[jofoatminn]

@lukeben5 I seems you are sincere, so thank you for your concern, but there is no god, especially not any of the judeo christian gods, who can easily be proven to be man made through some research on the history of the religions. I hope you take some time to see if there is actual evidence behind your beliefs, the world could be a much more compassionate place is we were just honest and admitted that we do not know the works of the universe and try to find out together.

[UnrealHelix]

What an answer! What a gift I have!!!

[beag00]

I used to believe that the bible is a special book. I realize now that it is collection of fictional books that contain no truths or predictions of what will happen in the future. I feel sorry for you that you have to worry about things such as that you might sin too much and be tortured forever in hell. According to Matthew 7:14, only a few people are going to heaven. So do you think your odds are very good? Read about atheism on the web. You, too can be set free.

[lordaumerle]

Really strange misconception in your comment - that salvation is dependent on how much or how little you sin. The whole of Christianity as presented in Scripture rejects salvation by works. It is only by faith in Christ as saviour, to whatever degree, that redeems and saves, and that faith comes through the grace of God.

Materialism is not freedom, it's a hideous lie that propagates social Darwin.

[MostHighful]

you are going to regret that very much, but i pray that you wont have to. be blessed

[LoveSTATIM]

@beag00 I used to believe that God didn't exist until the power of the Holy Spirit baptized me following my repentance. The Bible is God-breathed. It's not just a book; it's God's Word. If people were true Christians then they wouldn't worry about hell because Jesus tells us not to worry in Matthew 6:25-34. Only a few people are going to heaven because some people who say they have been saved have obliviously ended their commitment to God. I am free only in the love of the Father.

[Celticking36]

What's so important about faith anyway?

I have faith unicorns exist therefore they exist.

I have faith centaurs exist therefore they exist.

I have faith ogres exist therefore they exist.

I fail to see your logic.

[lordaumerle]

Of course, Scripture doesn't claim God exists we believe in him, it says God exists despite the fact people don't always believe in him.

[Celticking36]

@lordaumerle

Really? Scripture doesn't claim that God exists? Are you trying to rewrite scripture with that comment? Read Genesis again & tell me with a little brainpower this time that scripture doesn't claim the existence of God.

[joejar5]

Future Comment: Thank you for posting this! This was a great message, Happy New Year and God bless.

[EmeiBaguazhang]

Then if it is a gift, and it is NOT by "US" and ONLY BY GOD! (Which I believe to be true.)

How could you say that God is going to send any man to a pagan idea of hell????

You say that God has ALL the say in things (And I believe that), BUT on the OTHER HAND,.....you tell people there is a hell that God will send them to hell for their UNBELIEF!!!

That kind of ideology makes NO SENSE whatsoever!!!

[Jimbo3783]

God's predestination is infinite and our free will is finite. This is, of course, because God is infinite and we as humans are finite. What this means is that God's predestination and our accountability for our actions are not in contradiction, only in paradox. Meaning we cannot fully understand this. Christians go by the Bible and hold it to be true. So since we believe the Bible to be true, then we have to believe both of these things.

[EmeiBaguazhang]

That would make sense, in a way, if the Bible were the true Word of God.

But the Bible is NOT the true Word of God.

Jesus Christ is the "Word of God".

And the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic writings that we have are the closest thing we have to what came out of Jesus' mouth.

The thing that WE ALL have to understand is that the bible never even mentions "Man's Free Will"! People through that phrase around as if it is biblical or something!

And it is clearly Not!

[EmeiBaguazhang]

So man's will is not "Free" and as you said, it is finite.

So what do we have left now?? We have men making Choices from a VERY. VERY limited palette of human options.

This would mean then, that if God were going to send MOST of the human population to a pagan hell, that is never mentioned in the Word of God, he would be a VERY unfair God indeed!

Jesus came to save the WHOLE World,.....do you think he can and will do it???

I Do!!!

[gspradling18]

God does not SEND people to Hell. He gives them a choice. Could it be any more fair than that? Believe OR Don't Believe.

[EmeiBaguazhang]

I DON'T believe it!!

Not only that, but the TRUE ORIGINAL Word of God does NOT agree with it.

The Original Word of God says that GOD does ALL the Choosing and not some king of Hodgepodge mess of deciding who will go and who will not, via the distorted, human mind!

You THINK that allowing a human to make a decision in this UNINFORMED environment is FAIR??

Not me,......I will stick with what GOD SAYS. And God says that ALL WILL BE SAVED!!!

[EmeiBaguazhang]

Whether you know it or not gspradling18, GOD SAYS that we are ALL slaves to sin and DEAD!!

And Not until God comes along and chooses US, can we even BE on his side. SO there is NO possibility for ANY human to choose for Christ, until God, Himself, Chooses us!!

Stop listening to YOUR "Sunday Preacher" and listen to God's Original Word in his Original Language, and let HIM tell you what is TRUTH and what is FALSEHOOD!

Until you do THAT,....you will walk in darkness!!!

[TheSpiritIsTruth]

It is the same for me...

[311music26]

Same for me

[booghil]

praise GOD it was the same for me

[multiwebinc]

Wow that wasn't the answer I would have expected. Well done, Mr. Piper.

[Guslund]

@multiwebinc The answer came from God who spoke through Dr. Piper to this person. Dr. Piper spoke well, but it was because of God's grace and His love and desire to save that person. Praise and glory belong to the LORD.

[sixinchvoice]

may God break in upon your heart and soul and expose your sin and reveal to you the glory and beautiful salvation of Christ. so be it.

[121jigawatts]

Well, that's just silliness because we ALL know that isn't true! :)

[EntinludeX]

Kudos, Doc Brown. Peace and long life!

[robertpiercy]

What a gift!