What should I Believe, and why?

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Robo36

Active member
Nov 27, 2019
186
58
28
#21
During the transfiguration (a vision) Christ, Moses and Elijah were already glorified. A vision is like a dream and not really happening, at that time.

Matt. 17:9 "And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead."
Thank you for your enlightenment!
 

Robo36

Active member
Nov 27, 2019
186
58
28
#22
How should one interpret the words of Christ on the cross when he said to one beside him being crucified also "I say unto you, to day you shall be with me in paradise?"
 
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
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#23
in the Greek, there is no punctuation and not only that, Christ was NOT in Paradise 'that day',
He was in the grave -
(some versions have= 'verily I say unto you today, you shall be with Me in Paradise, in other words,
these translators have a better understanding than MOST -
Christ was speaking of this man's future in the Resurrection, He was comforting him for his speaking
in defense of Christ and what his future would be...
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,771
113
#24
What should I believe, and why?
What you should believe is the Bible -- the written Word of God. So please take note of this passage in Acts 7, and ignore all other sources.

STEPHEN IS STONED TO DEATH AND GOES TO CHRIST IMMEDIATELY

THE UNBELIEVING JEWS ARE CONDEMNED AS BETRAYERS AND MURDERERS
51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

THE ACCUSED ARE FILLED WITH HATRED AND MURDER
54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

STEPHEN LITERALLY SEES JESUS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER
55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.
[Note: The "Son of Man" is another title for "the Son of God", who is also God]

STEPHEN IS ATTACKED FOR STATING THAT JESUS IS GOD
57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

STEPHEN ASKS THE LORD JESUS TO RECEIVE HIS SPIRIT (AND SOUL)
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

STEPHEN IS SAID TO FALL ASLEEP AS A METAPHOR FOR DEATH
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep... And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. (Acts 8:2)

This would be a pattern not only for all Christian martyrs, but for all those who are in Christ (believers). Because to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
 

TM19782017

Active member
Dec 15, 2018
256
158
43
#25
The scripture:

According to your Faith , be it unto you!

Has got to be one of the most powerful verses that has the ability to transcend to all believers, all religions and, even the non-believers.

Translation:
Whatever YOU believe is true, is true!
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,412
6,698
113
#26
in the Greek, there is no punctuation and not only that, Christ was NOT in Paradise 'that day',
He was in the grave -
(some versions have= 'verily I say unto you today, you shall be with Me in Paradise, in other words,
these translators have a better understanding than MOST -
Christ was speaking of this man's future in the Resurrection, He was comforting him for his speaking
in defense of Christ and what his future would be...
Wonderful understanding…………...thank you….
 
L

Locoponydirtman

Guest
#27
in the Greek, there is no punctuation and not only that, Christ was NOT in Paradise 'that day',
He was in the grave -
(some versions have= 'verily I say unto you today, you shall be with Me in Paradise, in other words,
these translators have a better understanding than MOST -
Christ was speaking of this man's future in the Resurrection, He was comforting him for his speaking
in defense of Christ and what his future would be...
What makes you think Jesus didn't go to Paradise when he left his body?
When he died, he said, Father, to you I commend my spirit.

So what's to say that his spirit didn't exit his body and he go straight to the Father?
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,577
3,615
113
#28
What should I Believe, and why?

One of my problems with the different sects of organized Christian beliefs is the argument that one, perhaps most, promote and preach is that if one dies and is saved, he/she goes immediately to paradise to be with Christ, and others, probably the minority, believe one remains in the death sleep until the Second Coming of Christ when the graves will be opened and the dead in Christ will be resurrected and caught up with Christ in the heavens.

What should I believe, and why?

Exactly what difference does it really make to the ones in Christ that have died, when common sense dictates that even if one has been in the sleep of death for a million years, their very first conscious revelation after dying will be being caught up in the heavens with Christ?

I’m not looking for an argument, I simply am interested in your beliefs and why you believe as you do.
I do not consider this to be a core doctrine essential to salvation.. So a person can believe in either interpretation and still be saved as long as they are solid in the core doctrines..

Having said that the Reasurection we shall all take part in at the return of the LORD Jesus Christ is when we will be getting out Eternal perfected bodies.. People can still go to be with Jesus the moment they die but in another form.. One without a physical body..
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,412
6,698
113
#29
The Father raised the Son, ergo the Son knew to commend His Spirit to the Father…...…..After His resurreection His body was glorified and now, when we refer to Jesus, Yeshua, we are referring to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit...part of my reference here in text is Isaiah 9;6s, however the Holy Spirit affirms this.
 

Robo36

Active member
Nov 27, 2019
186
58
28
#30
I thank you all for your understanding. I'm finding my own understanding through this fellowship.
 
Dec 9, 2011
14,103
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#31
What should I Believe, and why?

One of my problems with the different sects of organized Christian beliefs is the argument that one, perhaps most, promote and preach is that if one dies and is saved, he/she goes immediately to paradise to be with Christ, and others, probably the minority, believe one remains in the death sleep until the Second Coming of Christ when the graves will be opened and the dead in Christ will be resurrected and caught up with Christ in the heavens.

What should I believe, and why?

Exactly what difference does it really make to the ones in Christ that have died, when common sense dictates that even if one has been in the sleep of death for a million years, their very first conscious revelation after dying will be being caught up in the heavens with Christ?

I’m not looking for an argument, I simply am interested in your beliefs and why you believe as you do.
GOD IS a SPIRIT and those who worship HIM MUST worship HIM In Spirit and In Truth.

Some people see the real them by the way their body communicates their emotions to the world and how the world looks at their actions which come from their mind and man looking at the way their actions appear but the real you Is your spirit which you cannot see,GOD looks at the Inward man,man looks at outward appearances.
 
Dec 9, 2011
14,103
1,797
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#32
Does it really make any difference? Either way, when you first open your eyes after death, you will be with God.
You will realize that your spiritual eyes were real and your eyeballs reflected what was real.🙂
 

DesertWanderer

Active member
Nov 17, 2019
366
201
43
61
New Mexico, USA
#33
what do you personally believe, and why?
This is what I believe:

I believe that while we are sitting here debating about doctrines outside the Gospel, that single mom down the street is waiting for the church to show up at her house. She's waiting for someone to tell here the Good News. She's waiting for someone to help watch her three kids while she goes on her eighth job interview. She's waiting for someone to drop off extra groceries so she doesn't have to lock the refrigerator. She's waiting...and waiting...and waiting for YOU, dear brother.
 
Dec 9, 2011
14,103
1,797
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#34
Like I said friends, "I'm not trying to start an argument, I'm simply seeking understanding" and why Christians believe and understand particular parts of the Bible differently.
I think christian Interpret the scriptures differently Is because of the doctrine they were taught under and then It’s like a blackboard that already has writing on It and those writings are In error ,before the correct writings/teachings can be written on that blackboard ,the old writings on that blackboard must first be erased and then the new writings can be written.