Mark (from Bob),
I'm going to focus on your closing statement of your last post.
<<If someone does nothing more than become a follower of the basic premises of the Bible, they will end up as having been a good, decent person, and most likely a productive citizen. If that is the least of what we accomplish, we will have lived good lives.
Where we will disagree is here. I think the same can be accomplished by following the tenets of most, if not any of the major religions.>>
The key is the definition of "good decent person". That definition is based on perspective. Charles Manson has a different definition than most. The people I work with have hundreds of different definitions of a "good, decent person". So, in these other religions, what is the definition of "good,decent person"? The Bible's primary purpose is not to make us "good, decent" people but to show us how to be saved. The rules in the Bible are established in part to show us that we ARE NOT "good, decent" people but sinners. As a matter of fact, the bible makes it clear that we are and will always be anything but "good, decent" people. Once we are on God's side and believe in Christ, He will improve us but we will always be sinners and fall short of "good and decent". "Good, decent" is defined as perfectly obedient to God. Christ was good, none of us will ever be.
Bob |
