Two Friends Discussing their Salvation.. What do you think?

Friend 1- Question-
Do you believe Jesus died and rose from the dead for our sins to be forgiven and that if you don't believe that you won't go to heaven?

Instead of following any 'religion' people need to read their bibles, pray alot during each day, and with their families, find a church they enjoy going to that is christian and teaches out of the bible during and outside of services, and have a good, loving relationship with God. Not focus on ourselves, or our work, etc.. .

Friend 2- Reply-
I have some religious beliefs, some spiritual beliefs, and some things I feel are just between God and me. As far as Jesus goes, I do believe in him, but I don't believe in human judgement of what it takes to get into or stay out of "heaven"-whatever heaven really is...

I try not to judge others at all, though that is impossible to achieve for me. I am not going to tell anyone else what they need to be doing with their time and energy, what it will take them to get into heaven (which no one knows) or what the correct religion is. I am not an authority over the rest of God's people, and I resent people who feel they are.

I like to study and contemplate on my own and in church rather than debate it with others. Non-Christians will be in heaven too, don't you think?

Religion actually divides people rather than bringing them closer together and bringing peace by providing human made rules and guidelines; interpretations of Jesus and God's word that are OFTEN taken out of context. If this were not true, why would so many groups of people be considered sinners that will go to hell by the church?

God and Jesus would want us to all get along if possible, I'm sure. I feel the message of Jesus was meant to bring peace, understanding of others suffering, goodwill to others, among other things. We are all perfect in God's eyes-just the way we are today. If we could all understand that maybe we would really all get along. .

I also wanted to say that by focusing on ourselves we are becoming closer to God; what is praying if not focusing on our inner self where God resides? How can you hear his voice if you are not focused on yourself? ((she read the 'Oprah religion book'))

And for some people, their work is providing for and helping others. I guess I'm not understanding all of where you're coming from, or just not agreeing.

Friend 1-
First, it isn't 'human' judgement when people talk about our salvation, it is what God said in the bible, and His word is what we should listen to and tell others about. We are told Not to judge each other, in the bible, because God will do that when Jesus returns on Judgement day. We are to just let others know what the bible tells us on how we are to conduct our daily lives in order to have peace on earth, (if everyone were to follow the bible), and pray for them to understand the bible with the help of the Holy Spirit, before they die.

Yes, I believe only Christians who believe Jesus died for them AND rose from the dead, will go to heaven. It is written all over the bible. I have read it for myself. You should read the christian bible front to back before making decisions on how others should talk and think and especially on how you believe. You took the time to read a human's book, if you don't like the King James Version of our bible, read your New International version. It reads like a novel and you will enjoy it much more. I have a reading comprehension problem, so I have to read each paragraph twice to let it sink in, but we are supposed to read the bible over and over because we get something different out of it each time.

If you want to just read my A Chapter a Day Helps Keep Satan away page, from the bottem to the top and then subscribe to it to read a chapter each day that I read, underline, type up, and reread to edit before posting, then read through it to pick out a favorite part to put at the top of the post- you could do that.. I have typed up, exactly as it is written in my Mother's devotional NIV bible, all 28 chapters of Matthew, then Romans and am on 1Corinthians right now.

I want you to feel the love and peace of the Holy Spirit in you, and not make decisions based on human opinions. It's the sin of the unbelievers and their unwillingness to behave and do what God would want them to do, that makes the world less peaceful. No one is perfect except Jesus. We are all sinners. No matter how hard we try to be 'good' we could never earn our way into heaven. That is why we are shown God's mercy and by grace we are allowed into Heaven if we follow Jesus in, not if we try to follow people who have no relationship with God in, He will shut the door in our face.

'Religion' doesn't matter, what matters is your relationship with God and what you believe about Jesus coming here for us and dying for us.. It was because before He came the only way to have your sins forgiven was through animal sacrifice, and following the old Mosaic law, but after Jesus became our sacrificial lamb offering, because he was perfect, with No Sin, God opened the doors of heaven to anyone who would follow Jesus and accept his sacrifice for us.

Why would he want people who aren't grateful to Jesus to come sit with them? He is totally forgiving, and if we should choose to ask His forgiveness, no matter what we have done in the past, He will wash our sins away- then if we don't forget our past, and still beat ourselves up over past mistakes, it is Satan working on us, to keep us from being as happy as God wants us to be.. If we don't forgive ourselves, because God did, we are not truly believing He can forgive us, and if anyone can, He can!:) He loves us.

Why anyone would turn down his Fatherly love and 'heaven on earth' with Him, I cannot understand..

We are made to praise God in Heaven for eternity, with the angels, and be rewarded for what good we did down here. But that isn't what is going to get us into heaven. You can only be so good, but we all sin more than we are good..

Pray that God shows you what is right, and ask for Him to help you believe, if you feel moved to, and He will. Ask Him to help you during the day, and IF you are following Him and talking to him and trying, you will Really see Him working in your life- it is amazing! The more it happens the closer you will become and the more you will want to tell others. xo .

We aren't to focus on anything but God. Focusing on ourselves is worshipping ourselves, which is worshipping false idols. You can worship your job, spouse, money, porn or whatever else you put before God- instead of praying, praising, thanking and trying to be closer to Him. If we take Him for granted He will always be waiting for us to come to Him when we realize what is missing in our life.

When Oprah commented on Him being a Jealous God- that is because he has emotions, not a bad jealous, He would only be jealous of us when we give the attention he deserves to other things, like the man that wrote the book Oprah is focusing on, now, instead of our Maker. If He wasn't jealous we could think He doesn't care about us, but in reality, He loves us more than we love ourselves or each other.

Oprah said she was about 27? when she was sitting in church thinking about that one comment. If that is all it took to turn her away from God, what does she do with her friendships if someone says something she doesn't like? She obviously hadn't read the bible or looked into what it meant, exactly, and for the past 40? years what church has she attended to teach her what is right? Now, she finds some book, that is the answer to what she (hasn't) been looking for all her life? Yes, it is a book on meditation- that isn't a religion, it's a lack of religion- or better worded- a lack of God, Holy Spirit, Jesus.. How does one Really feel, after sitting there thinking about themselves. Pretty empty, but relaxed, I'm sure. They should be reading a page of their bible, sitting back and meditating on God's word! Not some man's..

The old testament is old news. It is good to read to see how things were before Christ came and taught the people and died for us. People who try to make the bible look bad often quote the old testament. The new testament starts with Jesus' birth and ends with Revelation. Since Jesus died for us, we can have an intimate relationship with God and not have to rely on the Priests to tell us about the bible.

Everything is optimistic and happy in the New Testament, as long as you aren't looking for scripture that says sexual immorality, homosexuality, and killing and drunkeness is ok- cause you'll not find that anywhere in the bible. There is an answer for every modern day problem in the bible. It is a handbook for living. It even says to have sex with your spouse as often as he/she wants so that they won't be tempted to commit adultery. Ever read that? Probably not.

When you read the bible on your own you won't believe how much sense it makes and you will wish everyone else would read it- so we could all 'just all get along'. It's the 'not reading it' that causes sin to run out of control- divorce, drug addiction, unwed pregnancies, people sueing each other- You'll read about that to, that we shouldn't sue people, but should handle disputes within our church, with Chrisitian people coming together to make decisions according to what they read in the bible, not asking Non-chrisitians what they should do!

I am praying that this letter inspires you to read your bible, and share the Good news with others. God Bless yous.