Hi Gingee,
First, please allow me to add my "Welcome to the Religion Forum" to all the others who have welcomed you.
You tell me, "Bill, I, too, believe in Jesus Christ. I, too, was lost just as there are many lost in this world. But God has made it clear that his children would be persecuted and there is no doubt we will be."
That is so true. Nowhere in the Bible are Christian believers told that we will be exempt form suffering, trials, and tribulations in this life. As a matter of fact, we are promised those things will happen to us.
In Matthew 16:24, did Jesus Christ tell us, "Whoever follows Me will have great material wealth and a life of luxury and ease"?
No, in that Scripture verse, He tells His disciples, and us, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his CROSS and follow Me."
And in Romans 5:1-5 the apostle Paul tells us, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."
Hope in Jesus Christ does not disappoint!
In 1 Peter 3:15-16 we read, "But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame."
What is that hope that is in Christian believers? It is the knowledge that Jesus Christ will return to remove His church from the Tribulation and then, He will come again seven years later, His Second Coming, to establish His Millennial Kingdom upon earth. That is the hope and His promise to all believers.
Yes, Gingee, all Christian believers will suffer in this world. However, we have His promise that He has gone to prepare an eternal home for us -- and, according to John 14:1-3, He will come again to take us there -- the Rapture -- when He takes His church, His body of believers out of this world before the seven year Tribulation begins.
Gingee, you tell me, "We cannot give up on others who currently do not share our beliefs. I too did not believe. Whether they will acknowledge it or not God has "spoken" his word to them either through the flesh or the spirit. They have to make their own decision as to what they will believe. As for who is lost and who isn't I wouldn't dare say. Only God knows."
Once again, you are absolutely right. We are not to give up on non-believers. When Jesus Christ told us, in Matthew 28:19-20, to Go, Make disciples, Baptize them, Teach them -- and, in Acts 1:8 and Mark 16:15, that we should be His witnesses in all the world -- He was not telling us to witness to believers. That would be preaching to the choir. No, He told us to be His witnesses to all the non-believers in the world.
My long time Friend, Pastor Freddy Cortez (Church of Hope, Laguna Hills CA) has this statement on their church About page ( http://www.churchofhopeontheweb.org/about ) -- "Our objective is to reach and teach as mandated in the Bible. For the lost, we evangelize. For the believer, we instruct using the Word of God."
That pretty well sums up the marching orders Jesus Christ left for all Christian believers.
Gingee, you tell me, "As for who is lost and who isn't I wouldn't dare say. Only God knows."
It is true that we cannot really know another's heart and his/her relationship with Jesus Christ. However, when we have a person who tells us that speaking about God is "un-American crap." And, we have another who believes that all Christians are Liars For Jesus -- and another who believes America would be better off without God. And we have folks like Deep, Uno, Jennifer, Dark, etc., who firmly, absolutely deny that God exists.
Gingee, in those cases I feel safe in saying that these folks are not saved and need to hear the Word of God. Now, you and I know that most of them will fight tooth and nail to keep Christians from evangelizing, to keep the Word of God locked in a closet. But, as you said, and I agree -- we do have firm instructions from Jesus Christ that we must witness to these folks -- for we can be pretty sure they are not yet saved.
Next, you tell me, "All we as Christians can do is live our lives as close to God as we can one day at a time."
Once we are saved, that is true -- regarding our salvation. However, I believe you will agree with me that Jesus Christ does not want us to be "couch potato Christians." No, He wants us to Go, Make disciples, Baptize them, Teach them -- be His witnesses in all the world. Now, that sounds to me like He wants us to get off our butts and get out there -- sharing His Word with the world. He want us teaching the believers and evangelizing the non-believers; just as my Friend, Pastor Freddy Cortez tells us on their church web site.
Then you declare, "I love each and everyone on this forum, even though I may not love what they do or do not believe. Who am I to condemn anyone?"
And, once again, I could not agree more. I, too, love every single Forum member with a Christian love. It is God's desire; therefore it is my desire -- that all come to faith in Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9). Yet, we know that will not happen; that many folks will continue to deny God until it is too late for them to be saved, i.e., until they have breathed their last breath in this mortal body. One they pass that threshold still denying God; they can never be saved. There are no second chances after death.
You ask, "Who am I to condemn anyone?"
No one is asking your to condemn anyone. Not God, not Jesus Christ, not the Bible -- and, most certainly not me. However, if we do not tell folks about heaven AND hell; if we do not tell folks that God has given them "free will" and with that free gift from God, they MUST choose whether they will follow Him into heaven, or run from Him into hell -- if we do not tell them about this choice which only they can make, we are not being true to the calling Jesus Christ has given to all Christian believers.
If we do not tell the non-believer this truth; we are disobeying Jesus Christ. And, if you will recall, the sin of Adam which brought condemnation upon all creation -- was the sin of disobedience to God. Will you add to that sin of disobedience by refusing to follow the commands left to us by Jesus Christ? Or, will you follow His command and evangelize the lost of the world? The only way to honestly evangelize the lost -- is to make them aware of both heaven and hell -- and that they must choose which will be their eternal home.
Gingee, you tell me, "When I know in my heart the things that I have done or have not done, and continue to do or not do. The only way I get by from day to day is through my faith in God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit."
Amen to that -- we all sin every day. That is why Christian believers are really only "forgiven sinners." You and I, and all Christian believers, will continue to be sinners until the day we are raptured or the day we die. We all have the sin nature inherited from Adam -- and we will have this sin nature as long as we are in this mortal body.
But, as you say, praise God, by our faith in Jesus Christ -- with the help of the sustaining Holy Spirit within all believers -- we do get through each day and can look forward to that day when we will be with Him -- eternally.
Finally, you close with a wonderful prayer, "I do ask God for a special favor. I ask you, God, to put a special touch on the hearts and minds of the persons that read this post. Let them know without a doubt that you are there with them. In your Holy name, sweet Jesus, I pray. Amen"
Yes, every Christian believer on this Religion Forum -- member or reader only -- should be praying for the salvation of all of our non-believing Forum Friends. There can be no better prayer than that.
Gingee, I pray that I have answered your questions and responded to your comments sufficiently. I look forward to us having many more dialogues -- and that through our dialogues we can bring more of God's Word to all of our Forum Friends.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill