>
> Chardin, a hypothetical question:
>
> If the prophecies were all wrong, and the future was not "revealed"
> in the bible, and there was not Christ (this is hypothetical,
> remember), would you still be a Christian? Why or why not?
>
> -Prof. Tim
>
>
I could not possibly be a Christian as you hypothesize. Christianity is a
relationship with God made possible by the death of His Son on the
cross. With my faith in that finished work, I am "born again"--which
is the term Christ used with Nicodemus. It is, as Paul said, Christ
in you--the mystery hidden from the foundation of the world. True
Christianity then is not trying to be like Christ, or following a
particular person's philosophy, but faith in His finished work.
Trying to be like Christ will not get you into Heaven. Good works
will not get you into Heaven. Do you remember how the Jews were not
allowed to work on the Sabbath? They were not allowed to lift a
piece of firewood least they be put to death--God meant for them to
REST. This is symbolic of that finished work of Christ. "Come unto
me and I will give you REST". Paul said that Christ is our
Sabbath--we rest completely in Him or we risk the
consequences. But mankind cannot accept that. We want to have a
hand in our own salvation--thus, we think good works will get us
there (good works are important but they will not save your soul),
We want to crawl on broken glass on our hands and knees (was the work
on the cross not sufficient?), we want to make a pilgrimage--anything
but recognizing our sinful state and the cleansing nature of the the blood of the lamb. It is like the old Christian
hymn:
Rock of Ages
Cleft for me
Let me hide myself in thee
Let the water and the blood
>From thy wounded side which flowed
Be of sin the double cure
Save from wrath and make me pure
Thus, being born again is the belief in the finished work on the
cross and that Christ working through me will change me. I am saved
from the "wrath" to come and a work in progress as well.
Some will try to go by riches
Some by deeds to their fellow man
Some will try to go by water
Some will try to go by land
Some will try by their good living
But the way is plainly given
If you want to go to heaven
you'll have to go by Calvary.
The gospels tells us that when Christ was crucified on the cross that
there was an earthquake in the land and the veil in the temple
separating the holy of holies from the rest of the temple was split
in twain FROM THE TOP DOWNWARD. Thus was the holy of holies opened
by our high priest so that we may go boldly to the throne of God and
make our petitions known. In the past, the high priest could only go
in once a year and make atonement (at-one-ment) with God by getting
forgiveness for the sins of the people. Now any believer of Christ
may have immediate access to the throne.
Do you remember the Exodus from Egypt? What was Moses asked to do
when the first born of the Egyptian households were killed?
Place blood of the lamb above the door and what was he told? "When I see the blood I will
pass over you? Thus, the Christain applies the blood of Christ to
his heart and as Paul says "He is our passover." Do you think it was
coincidental that Christ is the Passover Lamb slain at Passover?
Was it not decided before Joseph even went into Egypt? The lamb
slain from the foundation of the World? Well, he came as a lamb on
the first advent, but He is coming back as the Lion of the Tribe of
Judah. What do you think? Do you think I could be a Christain if I
did not believe this? This is not a philosophy like following the
teachings of the Buddha or writings of Thoreau which are all very good in their way--in parts.
This is a relationship with God made possible by his love for a
humanity that seeks to reject Him and His Christ.
No my God must be a God who is able to do that which he has promised
and if he were nothing but a false god why should I want to be a
Christian? I hope I have answered your question. Chardin