| 72doug2,2S |
05-21-2007 07:46 AM |
Quote:
Originally posted by kang
It has been said that “There are no altruistic acts.” What is the general consensus of this group about that statement? I, for one, tend to agree with it. There are certainly acts that appear altruistic. Let’s use Mother Theresa as an example. You could say her acts were altruist, but you could also say that she acted for herself, to get herself into heaven, or to please her god, or whatever.
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Even the good you do cannot earn a place in Heaven.
I'll requote from page 104, on the other thread in response to MONEYGUY.
Quote:
I’m not that bad, God’s not that Holy, and I’ll bet he grades on a curve.
Your Dad is right two ways. If there is a God, you will be judged for your deeds and good works can be rewards in Heaven. Here's where the good news ends. But, if there is a God, you won't be justified to enter into heaven based on any good you did, why, because you are not perfect. None of your works are good enough to gain salvation, or good enough to completely right the wrongs you have done. If there is a God, He is perfect in all ways. Sin cannot coexist with God, not even a small one. No sin can enter into the presence of God.
In most religions it is accepted that no one will enter “Heaven” who isn't perfect. Our problem is that we are humans full of error and mistakes and nothing can remove those stains. You might do as I did when I was young and say, well I can be good for a long time and that will make up for those sins I’ve committed, the ones I felt bad about anyway. That really was useless on my part. I had no authority to forgive myself and I could not fix the problems I created either. Nothing could totally undue the damage I had done to myself, let alone others.
We don’t like it, but at some point in our lives we’ve soiled our image. You may not be a murderer, adulterer, or liar, but have you ever wished harmful things to another? Have you ever spoke gossip, or put yourself above others at their expense, wanted something or someone that wasn’t yours out of envy. Were you ever greedy? We sin so often it can only make your head spin, once you finally understand what we’re talking about.
There are two ways of entering Heaven I know about. 1) First way, you are perfect and never sin and then you die. You are then justified to enter into the creator’s presence because you have done no wrong. Remember, sin and God can not coexist. There is no one I know, except one, who fits this description. 2) Second way, you do not look to yourself for that perfection because that is no longer an option. The one who is perfect was Jesus. His life is the one Christians claim to for atonement. Because he never sinned, he meets the first description. This is something we Christians call Grace. No we are not perfect, but Grace abounds for the believer. It is faith that justifies, nothing else could.
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