Since you say you are a non Christian....
Just to clear up your mind. The Jews believed that the way to know
God is only possible if you are a good person. It is by "works;"
doing good and following the law.
Jesus came along and reminded everybody that it is by Faith and
Faith alone.
But the Christian nowadays have gone back to pre Jesus times and
insist that the way to know God is by being a good person.
To be considered a good person, you "believe" Jesus sacrificed
himself for you. It is still the "I must be a good person to know
God" Jewish beliefs with a twist; nevertheless it is the same "I
must be a good person to know God."
You can see the problem immediately because every Christian
continues to sin. There is also the issue of how good is good
enough? During Jesus times, it was just like what you see during
the Taleban rule in Afganistan. Cannot do this and that and women
cannot this and that.
There is no such thing as I sin and as long as I believe in Jesus,
it is OK. Try this, go and kill somebody and then say "I belive in
Jesus, I believe in Jesus." You think God will come down from
"heaven" and tell the judge; hey he believes in Jesus, let him go?"
You will hang for sure if you get caught.
You will get your just deserts if you sin.
On the other hand don't imagine for a moment that the way to know
God is by getting rid of sin (whether by following the law or
believing in Jesus.) It is by Faith in God. Only people who have
come to know God by faith will tel you this. In some chuches they
go so far as to preach prosperity. It is selling something that
people want to hear and so the church is packed. Based on what I
know, it is nevertheless an abomination to God. You cannot use
God's name in vain even if it is to pack people into churches. You
are more blessed even if the church is as poor as a church mouse
and nobody comes.
Ask the Christians here to quote you the words of Jesus explaning
all the paragraphs above this one.
Justification by Faith does not refer to "no punishment for
sins."
According to Jewish beliefs; you cannot come to know God unless you
are "justified." You must have the qualifications. It refers to the
beliefs that to know God you need to be a good person. To be a good
person you must follow the LAW. To be justified, you must fufill
the LAW. This is what Jesus ever so politely tried to tell the Jews
is in error. They would have none of it. Did you watch Mel Gibson's
The Passion of Christ? Well Jesus was willing to die horribly for
his stand.
This is the Gospel of Jesus Christ; that to come to God, to know
God, to have a relationship with God; to Enter into the Kingdom of
Heaven.... is by Faith in God. Not by being a good person or by
fufilling the law (justification by Law) but justification by
Faith. Faith in God.
Jesus died a horrible death to announce His Gospel to the world and
His disciples went all the way back to undo His sacrifice and
preach their own gospel; you must be a good person before you can
know God. Instead of you must have Faith in God before you can
enter into God's Kingdom.
The term "justification ' by faith is for the Jews to understand,
not for you. You only need to know that Faith is the key to enter
into the kingdom of God.
So while some Christians get it, that to know God is by Faith and
not by the beliefs that you must be a good person either by
following the law or believing in Jesus, others think that as long
as they are good people (by believing in Jesus' sacrifice) that's
it. They then go about doing Christian activities and never enter
into the Kingdom of God.
The Jews during Jesus times knew exactly what Jesus was trying to
say and they rejected it. The Christians nowadays are just "blur."
They live their lives exactly like you, a non christian, not having
a relationship with God. They do a lot of Christian activities,
everything except having a relationship with God. most of them as I
can see anyway. Not all of them.
Simply put,
Sin will bring you your just desserts whether you believe or not;
whether you know God (have a relationship with God) or not.
Faith is what you need, to come to know God and for a relationship
with God.
You will notice that what I have just said does not say anything
about God other than you need faith to get to know God. There is
only one God. Read my previous few posts. Knowing God is entering
into the kingdom of God, here and now and not after you die.
The focus of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is Faith in God. Not How to
become a good person 101 and not How to become prosperous 101. The
Christians in Singaporeans resort to these aims because, like Jesus
said, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,
than for a rich man (meaning most Singaporeans) to enter the
kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24. Similar verses are in Mark 10:25
and Luke 18:25).
Do you want a relationship with God? That is entirely up to you. If
you want it, want to "enter into the Kingdon of God," only Faith
will get you there. So what remains is:
What is Faith in God?
