Jesus stands at the door. He knocks. However, he does not knock the door down.
There are poisonous, error-laden doctrines which are confusing the minds of many. Here are some:
Jesus' proclamation that he was the only way to salvation applied to the specific cultures and regions of the world where he taught. It was just for those people around that time of his life.
"...NO MAN... cometh to the Father but by me." That's the Bible. God's spirit is not restricted by what we understand as time and space. Further, the fact that we may not know every detail does not negate Scripture. There is no biblical indication that Jesus' words about his identity, work, or requirement (genuine faith in him as Savior) was limited to those who existed around his lifetime. There is, however, much biblical instruction that since Jesus became the sacrifice for sin, he is the only way to God for humankind.
What about those who have never heard of Jesus or who psychologically can't understand? They can't be responsible for accepting Jesus as the only way.
Our interpretation that someone does not have a chance to know about or accept Jesus due to geographical, physical, or emotional barriers comes from our own human limitations in understanding. We don't know what God does in all circumstances. Who are we to say God doesn't deal with each individual one-on-one, internally, giving each truth and an opportunity to accept Him? According to many scriptural passages, God knows the hearts and minds of all humankind (Jere. 17:10, 1 Sam 16:7, Psalm 44:21, Luke 16:15, Job 21:27, Ezek. 11:5). Titus 2:11 tells us, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to ALL men." God is capable of doing things we can't begin to comprehend (Isaiah 55:8,9).
The Wisdom of Solomon
9:13 For what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is?
9:14 For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain.
9:13 For what man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is?
9:14 For the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our devices are but uncertain.
Because much of the Bible is about fights, battles, and wars, it is "negative" and very "masculine". The Bible has little (if anything) good to say, especially to women.
First, yes, there is much war in the Bible, but rather than it being "negative", it is an excellent opportunity for readers to consider the sinful nature of humankind. The violence can prompt the understanding that there is need of salvation and hope for a war-free eternity. Frequent records of discord and physical mayhem is also a representation of the ongoing and brutal spiritual warfare which true Believers must endure while on earth. Nonetheless, the ungodly will not understand this at all. They parrot various devil-doctrines including one that the Bible is only misogynistic, void of "mother earth's" nurturing, and is therefore useless.
Secondly, while honest Bible-readers can acknowledge that there is much unpleasantness and few pro-female writings or even mentions, SALVATION is not about positive, negative, male, or female. Salvation involves eternity which, according to Scripture, is a none-ending state of being. After this brief existence called life (about 95 fully conscious years), we won't care one bit about electrical polarity or mathematical equations (to which +/- actually pertains). As "negative and positive" is misused in modern culture, we won't be concerned about how pleasant or unpleasant something sounded or made us feel while on earth. We won't care about the gender of the Bible writers or how few times females were mentioned.
Based on Scripture's presentation of the after-life, conditions will either be too wonderful or too horrible for any soul to be gravely concerned about former earthly environments. We may be either grateful or regretful for our most important decision during life--that concerning salvation, but other issues (including skin color, social standing, poverty or wealth) won't matter. (Rom. 8:18, Isa. 65:17, Luke 16:19-31, 2 Pet 3:18).
It's interesting that when many who insist that people should not see, hear, or speak "negatively" read Scripture, they are quick to see, hear, and speak "negatively". They have little or nothing to say FOR it but have a great deal to say against it.
Many prophecies in the book of Revelation and other prophetic books of Scripture have already been witnessed and will continue to occur. This is so, not because of what people's minds create or formulate from good or bad thoughts or positive or negative "energy", but because the words are what THUS SAITH THE LORD. Further, that same Lord has given humans the opportunity to accept or reject the way to salvation. That opportunity is by Jesus, according to the Bible.
Based on Scripture's presentation of the after-life, conditions will either be too wonderful or too horrible for any soul to be gravely concerned about former earthly environments. We may be either grateful or regretful for our most important decision during life--that concerning salvation, but other issues (including skin color, social standing, poverty or wealth) won't matter. (Rom. 8:18, Isa. 65:17, Luke 16:19-31, 2 Pet 3:18).
It's interesting that when many who insist that people should not see, hear, or speak "negatively" read Scripture, they are quick to see, hear, and speak "negatively". They have little or nothing to say FOR it but have a great deal to say against it.
Many prophecies in the book of Revelation and other prophetic books of Scripture have already been witnessed and will continue to occur. This is so, not because of what people's minds create or formulate from good or bad thoughts or positive or negative "energy", but because the words are what THUS SAITH THE LORD. Further, that same Lord has given humans the opportunity to accept or reject the way to salvation. That opportunity is by Jesus, according to the Bible.
Romans 3
1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. 5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. 9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
1 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? 2 Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. 5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) 6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? 8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. 9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
ALL of the false gospels, the counterfeits of the true gospel of Christ, involve:
You Will Be,
You Will Have,
and You Will Feel
from your own strength--
from your own strength--
from SELF.