Being good isn't good enough

Hi David,

You are right about my use of the Bible to support myself. It is God's Word and the only Word I can completely stand upon in this world. It is where I turn for truth, wisdom, knowledge, comfort, joy. I'm not sure where one turns for life's answers without it. Yes I have read several other religious books, although I can't say all the way through, I have read large sections. I know you say all religions claim their book as truth but just as I mentioned with Jesus Christ, no book can hold a candle to the Bible. There is no other authority on earth that has the wisdom of the Bible nor does any religious book compare as far as historical reliability, accuracy, prophesies, content. It has not had to change to be politically, scientifically or historically correct as many have had to do. People through the ages have tried to eliminate it yet the Bible remains the most sold, popular, circulated, smuggled, written about, talked about book in the world.

It is too bad that all Christians can't be on the same page but as I have said before Christianity is an abused word; Many people claim to be Christians who are not following Christ nor do they know Him. Also, we are all flawed individuals that allow pride, selfishness, greed, etc, to get in the way. As Christ followers, if we could get the first (and 2nd) and greatest commandment down "Love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself" all our differences would melt away and we would be much more attractive to the world!!

To answer your question about Catholic babies going to hell. I don't believe in baby baptism but also I don't believe baptism is what saves a person. No where in the Bible does it say to baptize babies, this is a tradition started by the Catholic church. Nor does the Bible say baptism is what saves you. Over and over again the Bible says it is our faith in Christ that saves us ---Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." I think of the thief on the cross next to Jesus who said "Lord remember me when You come into Your Kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." It wasn't any physical act that saved this man just his acknowledgement of Jesus as coming from above(GOD). I don't think Jesus was thinking about whether this man had been baptized as a baby or not or whatever else he did in life (good or bad) because up until this point, this thief did not believe in Christ. I do however HIGHLY believe in baptism as an act of obedience that reflects a decision already made and as a picture of what has happened to us once we believed---- "our sins have been washed away and we have been made new". Olivia's description is the best I've heard "It is like sign language to show God how much we love Him".

I want to address one more question you asked--- how can there be good people (like yourself) but they do not believe? We all have the capacity to do good or evil. We were all created to do good but we have freewill and can choose. This is true of believers and non-believers. It is not our good works that saves us or keeps us from sinning. And no matter how good you think you are, we are all sinners in need of a Savior. We are only free from the penalty of sin by accepting Jesus as our LORD and Savior; which involves recognizing our sin, repenting of our sin, and believing that He died for us and rose again. And if we truly believe this, it should lead us into a life of following Him with our whole hearts; Not out of obligation but out of love and awe of Him. It doesn't mean we are suddenly perfect(obviously). But we are a new creation in Christ. Sin still exist in our lives but now we are no longer a slave to sin. The Holy Spirit is our guide, leading us and enabling us to change wrong behaviors, attitudes, actions as we yield to Him and seek His help. Jesus teaches his disciples to pray--- "lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil". Jesus knew we would need help making right choices. I guess as believers we all have a choice to waste this gift we have been given on ourselves but Christ challenges us to live for Him.

The book of Romans explains it best "What then? shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?.....But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our LORD."

Have a great trip!

Believer in the Truth