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  • #16
    Originally posted by JimL View Post
    Don't be so frightened of questions mossrose. And what is wrong with my response to CBW? It's a question in response to his reply to the O.P. Perhaps you have an answer? Do you agree with CBW, that heaven will be different than earth, that due to the conditions there in heaven we will no longer sin?
    There is nothing wrong with questions, but you are not asking questions. You are just making snide comments thinly disguised as questions. Questions are good if they are really questiions.
    Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

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    • #17
      Originally posted by JimL View Post
      C'mon guys, it's really just a simple and legit question. If I didn't care to know what you thought about it, or even if you thought about it, then I wouldn't ask. To me, the idea of the crucible doesn't make sense if god is going to recreate you and the enviroment in heaven so that you don't sin, and that seems to be the only response I've gotten to this question so far. Is that it really? So my question is why the crucible, what's the point, if god is going to re-make the whole thing so that you will no longer sin in heaven? Anybody?
      No clue why you think the idea of the crucible doesn't make sense. We learn more from struggle and hardship. The results of our learning have greater value and greater impact when it is harder to master. What's the point of being given all the answers and forced to agree?- which would be the sensible way to do it, based on the reasoning of your question. That is a complete misunderstanding of human nature... so, really, maybe you should just do your own research. Struggle for it!

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      • #18
        If you actually want to see a well argued representation of the Christian view of the afterlife, read Surprised by Hope by NT Wright.
        "I am not angered that the Moral Majority boys campaign against abortion. I am angry when the same men who say, "Save OUR children" bellow "Build more and bigger bombers." That's right! Blast the children in other nations into eternity, or limbless misery as they lay crippled from "OUR" bombers! This does not jell." - Leonard Ravenhill

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        • #19
          Originally posted by mossrose View Post
          All right, Jim. Since you ask so sincerely.

          It's for His glory.

          It shows His grace to change us here from sinful beings into redeemed beings.
          But the crucible doesn't change us, that was my point. We are always sinners here on earth, correct?
          It shows His love for us in His taking on human flesh and bearing the awful weight of every sin of every person who believes on Him on the cross at Calvary.
          Perhaps, but that is besides the point of my question. If god created us in in the first place in the way it is said he will re-create us in heaven, then he wouldn't need to crucify himself in order to show his love.
          It shows His mercy in His provision of a way back to Him through His sacrifice of His only Son.
          But again, if he created us in the first place in the same way that it is said he will re-create us in heaven, we wouldn't need to find our way back
          It shows His longing for us to be with Him and to be like Him by bringing us, in a glorified, sinless body, to be in His presence for all eternity where we will spend forever glorifying Him for what He has done for us.
          Then again, since he needs to re-create us in heaven in order that we be like him, that is to make us not sinners, then why didn't he just do that from the get go?
          It's all about God, Jim.
          Okay, but the purpose of a crucible is to separate the impurities of the object, so however you define it, the task is never accomplished here on earth because as long as humans are earthy beings they will always be sinners, yes? They don't change, they don't becaome non-sinners until and unless god changes them after resurrecting them, correct?

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          • #20
            Originally posted by LeaC View Post
            No clue why you think the idea of the crucible doesn't make sense. We learn more from struggle and hardship. The results of our learning have greater value and greater impact when it is harder to master. What's the point of being given all the answers and forced to agree?- which would be the sensible way to do it, based on the reasoning of your question. That is a complete misunderstanding of human nature... so, really, maybe you should just do your own research. Struggle for it!
            The point is that we don't change, we remain sinners until and unless god recreates us in heaven. So what's the point, if in the end god has to recreate us anyway, then why didn't he just do that in the first place?

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            • #21
              Originally posted by Jedidiah View Post
              There is nothing wrong with questions, but you are not asking questions. You are just making snide comments thinly disguised as questions. Questions are good if they are really questiions.
              No, actually it's a question Jed.

              Comment


              • #22
                Originally posted by JimL View Post
                But the crucible doesn't change us, that was my point. We are always sinners here on earth, correct?

                Perhaps, but that is besides the point of my question. If god created us in in the first place in the way it is said he will re-create us in heaven, then he wouldn't need to crucify himself in order to show his love.

                But again, if he created us in the first place in the same way that it is said he will re-create us in heaven, we wouldn't need to find our way back

                Then again, since he needs to re-create us in heaven in order that we be like him, that is to make us not sinners, then why didn't he just do that from the get go?


                Okay, but the purpose of a crucible is to separate the impurities of the object, so however you define it, the task is never accomplished here on earth because as long as humans are earthy beings they will always be sinners, yes? They don't change, they don't becaome non-sinners until and unless god changes them after resurrecting them, correct?

                You missed the most important words in my post, Jim.

                It's for God's glory.


                Securely anchored to the Rock amid every storm of trial, testing or tribulation.

                Comment


                • #23
                  Originally posted by mossrose View Post
                  You missed the most important words in my post, Jim.

                  It's for God's glory.
                  I think many christians disagree with you concerning the purpose of the crucible mossrose. But can you be more explicit?

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Originally posted by Christianbookworm View Post
                    Hmm... in that case, why does it matter in an atheistic worldview who is right? If we merely cease to exist, then we should eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow you die.
                    Is that what you would do, "eat, drink, and be merry" if there was no prospect of an afterlife? Don't you have family and loved one's for whom you feel responsible and for whom you center your life? Is it only about what you believe you will get when you die that keeps you on the "straight and narrow. I feel sorry for you.
                    “He felt that his whole life was a kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.” - Douglas Adams.

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                    • #25
                      Originally posted by mossrose View Post
                      You missed the most important words in my post, Jim.

                      It's for God's glory.
                      Doesn't God have enough "glory" of his own?
                      “He felt that his whole life was a kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it.” - Douglas Adams.

                      Comment


                      • #26
                        Originally posted by JimLamebrain View Post
                        For those of you with an understanding of Heaven, how will life be different there? Personally I don't see how you can be any less of a sinner in heaven than you are here on earth unless what you call your sin nature is somehow recreated by God. And if in order to not sin, you need be transformed by God into a "non-sinner" then what was the point of this so called earthly crucible?
                        This answer is not for you, Jimmy, since I doubt the sincerity of your questions, but, rather, for people who might happen across this thread who are looking for a thoughtful answer.

                        There are a number of theories about heaven. One says that being in the direct presence of God will be so overwhelming that sin and rebellion will be effectively impossible for us. An obvious rebuttal is that this didn't stop Satan and one-third of the angels from rebelling, but perhaps human nature is sufficiently different from angelic nature that there's no direct parallel. Another theory says that having experienced sin and suffering on earth, and then the perfect joy of heaven, not a single one of us will have any desire whatsoever to return to the misery brought on by sin. A third theory says that our sin natures are tied to our corrupt physical bodies, and that when we enter God's presence and receive our perfect, incorruptible bodies, it will remove our desire and/or ability to sin.

                        Perhaps the truth is something else entirely. All we know for sure is that God has promised that there will be no sin in heaven.

                        As for "the point of this so called earthly crucible", that gets quite a bit more complicated and ties into the so-called "problem of evil". The short version is that in order to allow for the greatest amount of good, God gave us the choice to accept him or reject him, since, logically, someone choosing to do good is a greater good than someone who has no choice but to do good; more to the point, "good" is a meaningless concept if there is no potential for evil. This is, of course, an extremely simplified summary, so here's a longer essay for those interested in reading more:

                        https://www.reasonablefaith.org/writ...oblem-of-evil/
                        Some may call me foolish, and some may call me odd
                        But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of man
                        Than a fool in the eyes of God


                        From "Fools Gold" by Petra

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Originally posted by JimL View Post
                          I think many christians disagree with you concerning the purpose of the crucible mossrose. But can you be more explicit?
                          No. As I knew from the start, you, and now Tass, are not interested.

                          Troll away.


                          Securely anchored to the Rock amid every storm of trial, testing or tribulation.

                          Comment


                          • #28
                            Originally posted by Tassmoron View Post
                            Is that what you would do, "eat, drink, and be merry" if there was no prospect of an afterlife? Don't you have family and loved one's for whom you feel responsible and for whom you center your life? Is it only about what you believe you will get when you die that keeps you on the "straight and narrow. I feel sorry for you.
                            The best answer I can give is Ecclesiastics 2:

                            1 I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity.[a] 2 I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” 3 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. 4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines,[b] the delight of the sons of man.

                            9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
                            The Vanity of Living Wisely

                            12 So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done. 13 Then I saw that there is more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness. 14 The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I perceived that the same event happens to all of them. 15 Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity. 16 For of the wise as of the fool there is no enduring remembrance, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. How the wise dies just like the fool! 17 So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind.

                            18 I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, 19 and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. 20 So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, 21 because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22 What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? 23 For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.

                            24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment[c] in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him[d] who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.

                            https://www.biblegateway.com/passage...+2&version=ESV
                            Some may call me foolish, and some may call me odd
                            But I'd rather be a fool in the eyes of man
                            Than a fool in the eyes of God


                            From "Fools Gold" by Petra

                            Comment


                            • #29
                              Heaven will actually be here on Earth, where we will be resurrected and live in glorified bodies eternally.

                              Basically Adam had a nature that could or could not sin. He chose to sin.
                              We have a nature that does sin. We can choose not to sin but our overall tendency is to sin. Like a drug addict. He might occasionally not get high, but eventually he is going to get high.
                              Once we are in our glorified bodies we will not sin any longer. I don't know if it is because we CAN'T sin in that body, or because we will never choose to sin. The bible doesn't say. Just that we won't sin.

                              It could be because by choosing God here, we are voluntarily giving up our "right" to choose to sin. I for one will give up that right eagerly. Or it could be that because we are constantly being filled with the Holy Spirit we will never choose to sin. And the purpose of this life is to show us how horrible sin really is, and it's consequences that we would never choose to sin.

                              The bible really doesn't go in to the details that much.

                              Comment


                              • #30
                                Pearls before Swine, peeps.
                                The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

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