Originally posted by Nehushta
But what are Christians doing if not trying to get out of the responsibility for their own actions by claiming a "savior" has already taken their punishment for them, and all they have to do is accept this "free gift" and believe in him???
Sheesh. I thought this misunderstanding was cleared up in the 1800's. Why do we have to cover the same ground over and over again?
In a nutshell, then: Many people will say "Lord, Lord!" but He will answer "I do not know you". The bottom line is
you can't claim God for yourself or for any anything else. You can only claim God as your father if you know Him as your father and live like His son - with all the responsibilities that goes with it. His gift was to everybody through Jesus, but only His
children will inherit it.
Belonging to God means knowing He knows you, which means obeying His commandments. And if you sincerely obey them, there is
no way that you can seriously think you can get away with sin. Yes, He has taken our punishment. No, it means
taking up your responsibilities, because you have confessed you know that you are being held accountable for them.
Trying to get out of responsibility for your own actions is getting out from under the law (which culminates in love), thereby denying its authority, thereby denying God's authority (who demands accountability), and forfeiting your salvation.
On the other hand, what are the repercussions for someone who believes there is no God and they are accountable to nobody but themselves? In the first place: if the police can't reach him -
none, but the natural "bad karma" of the deed. And in the second place: no state law can enforce sincere love. If society accepts beating your wife, then it's "right" - but
love would never allow that.
