There are some real churches that are not business centres. They are just like orphanages where people contribute for the welfare of those working and leaving there. if taxing stats, the number of real churches like this, falls and that is obviously dangerous to the spiritual health of the country.
But if there are any businesses outside of real church activities (like universities etc), i believe they should be taxed. Most of the time, the ones that are involved in this church business issue end up being rich. the holy ones, find it hard to cope. If this taxing is added, these holy ones would just diffuse into the limelight. that is certainly not good.

Teacher: (pointing to chellini with ruler), Class, what should i do to the fool at the end of this ruler.

Chellini: which end?

CoolUsername:


Yeah but God KNOWS everything, right? So then, how can we have complete control over actions? If he truly knows all, he'll know from our birth, whether we'll go to heaven or not. If he doesn't know, then he's not omniscient.

I really do not know how to start but just pardon me and follow. the points might be jumbled up.
When God created us (people that have choice), it was great humility for Him because He has to come and find out what our choices are.

Knowledge over anything is graded from 0 to 100% so you could know a lot about your brother and yet not know about the number of hairs on his head. So God knows about all things but when it comes to rational beings like man, He has to wait till we choose before He can know for sure.

Gen 22:12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

HardMirror:

You are making sense
Perhaps god took them away (in his own best judgment) just as the scripture you quoted states.
Yes it makes sense. But don't forget god actually make conscious effort to save thos considered righteous. The babies did not perish with dignity, they perished as part of the wicked. No reference was ever made to show that god actually had them in his agenda. It was very clear that god appraised the righteous (noah and lot) against the rest (everyone else) who were deserving of the kind of death they died.
Why not rapture them? Why shld the burn and drown?

I also have ideas that could help. If i was given 5 billion dollars and 6 dollars is to be taken from me, i would not call that wickedness of any sort. Same application here. the glories of afterlife are far incomparable to losing life by fire water etc. this is why rational thinking christians can easily die for their faith through any death (torture, burning, drowning etc). Also, note that, before gold is finally very useful and expensive, it was passed through fire. The gold would have complained of course, if it could talk. BUt, if it considered his latter ending, it would not be a problem at all.

HardMirror:


Please see may last post above.
I have gotten all the answers I need.
Don't let me reply you as I should. What I appreciate is the effort you at least put in making things clear to me. But I find your submissions insulting to my intelligence. You can try it with a 2 year old anyw say. Discussing this further will take us no were. Just read all your post so far and ask yourself, "if you were a god that can do allllll things and has the greatest love no human can ever have for another. Will you even burn those children? Will you make them drown?" Think about it. If those stories were true, is god truely love? We humans are not even that humane. Think and stop rushing to defend god.
I got all the answers I need. Just stop this already. Hence forth I will see christains as equal to isis and boko haram. You have no love and compassion in you. None of you could see the injustice done, just because you are determined that god cannot be unjust. Yet you rush to criticize boko haram that are also just fighting for god. You forgot that moses lead one of the biggest genocide in history, killing people to take their land claiming god sent him. Yet you sit every sunday and celebrate tyrants like moses, samson, joshua, david etc. You never for a moment ask yourself how different these men are fRom isis and boko haram. You wicked souls.
Pls I won't reply your kind anymore. Go your way.
if the devil were real, I will gladly serve him before I even think of serving jehovah. The evil of god far out weighs that of the devil even from the bible.

You have a point but see this side.
All the judges on this earth, need to be considered wicked also (even than the devil)- they have sentenced people to death by hanging, 100 years imprisonment, they did not even consider the family this people are leaving behind. children have been orphaned etc. they have ruled against doctors that did not support killing innocent children(abortion). they did not support the weak(innocent children). they put people in umkempt prisons where they are left to die of illnesses other than the prison sentence. chai, you cant count the number of atrocities this judges have commited. we should raise a stand against all of them. we should make sure that the idea of the court of law be totally abolished. this heartless group of people need to be dealt with. I cant believe that people can be so heartless to have even supported their work.

Well, if you do not agree to the above paragraph, then understand that those people (moses joshua david etc) were used to bring God's judgement before Christ came. When Christ came, grace to be changed inside out arrived. so people that commit atrocious practices can be prayed for until they become truly righteous people.

HardMirror:

It is obvious you are slow
I am angry that you believe in wickedness and many celebrate wickedness. Of cos your god is not real, but your believe in him and his actions are real. And it irritates me that humans can be so heartless

If God is not real, youve got an explanation to make concerning how HIV 1 and 2 was healed (i witnessed it). remember that i believe that lying is a sin and so i didnt lie to you.

Hope all this made sense. you dont need to reply though so that the thread can end.

Romans 14:21–23):

It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Faith comes by hearing God's Word anyhow. Thios is the true meaning of giving your life to Christ. every motive of every action need to be accessed.

James 4:17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. SO answer,n this: Your presence in this earth, is it important to God? Can he use you to save 1 billion people? Then you know what is good.

Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
Rom 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.


Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

just like you where taught that 1+1=2 and you know it, you can be taught to deny ungodliness and wordly lusts and you will avoid it completely. it can teach you to live godly completely. this is the true beauty of the grace of God. . even if you just wake up, you will always know that 1+1 is 2.

Heb_12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live

Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Joh_15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and[b] cast them into the fire[/b], and they are burned.
The world is suffering today because many people that had this promise- Joh_15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. - refused to abide.- Joh_15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.. cry cry cry
If you want to abide keep His commandments.

1Ti_4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee

1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.


Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?. Hmmn, shocked shocked shocked shocked shocked wink

I Cor 3:16 Know ye not that[b] ye are the temple of God[/b], and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17: If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.
Joh_15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Any confusion?

Judas had this promise of God in his life:
Mar 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

but he came short of it because He did not abide in Jesus

2Th 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

HardMirror:

this is all I need, read the bolded part. So people (including children) went to hell first. That is one fact we have agreed on though they would later get saved after jesus died. Good. So we agree on that. Even babies that don't know their left from right?

So jesus went to hell to preach to those who were there. Getting more interesting and ridiculous. The time from the flood to jesus time was at least 4000 years. So babies had to stay in hell for 4000 years suffering for what they don't understand. Good.
Lol

So god could only save 8 people. And noah was the only one he found righteous which was the criteria of even saving him and his family in the first place. If noah had been like the rest it is likely god would have destroyed everybody. God never considered babies to be innocent. They died in the flood. They were never considered.
Smh. You are just trying so had to defend god's actions. While skipping they fact that god did something (which I know he didn't anyway) that was cruel.

Let's go on

so the rain started, people repented. Can babies repent? Do they even know what is going on? Am I talking about people who can repent or babies?
And even though they repented as you claim. They still perished anyway. Or did your own bible tell you that god stop the flood?
Getting interesting (hope you see how you are making a fool of yourself)

You shld also be laughing at her ignorance.
I asked a simple question and she said once people die they aRe free from their sins. So to her that makes all babies go to heaven. If that is true why can't shekau and Isis members go to heaven when they die since that is her excuse for babies making heaven. Or you have problem reading and understanding?


Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
This verse 7 therefore means that just as those who are dead physicaly cannot lie, steal, kill, fornicate etc, christians should also be like that. simple.

Thank you for the explanation. So jessica is wrong with her own explanation. This makes more sense. People cannot sin after they die. But how does this answer the question I am asking here? Why did god destroy babies in sodom and at the great flood. Why did he not find them worthy to be saved? Abeg, how does this passage you and Jessica are quoting answer my question?
You guys are jokers indeed.


As for the issue of the existence of God, I am a medical student. things around me opened my mind to possibilities. A patient was diagnosed HIV 1 and HIV 2 positive. the sickness was already manifesting because the CD4 count was low- (low immune response to illness). After a relative of mine (a doctor) finally prayed for her, she went for the test again as she noticed improvement in her health. she was HIV negative. COnfused, she confirmed the test again, same result. I am a type of person that i prefer to believe after seeing so when
i embark on a journey, there is no need to turn back. This kind of things blow away the minds of those in the medical field including the person that prayed for her. ANother example was cancer of the cervix that was healed etc.

If you tell an animal that a vehicle exists that can move faster than the speed of sound, you might get laughter(hyena) or be eaten alongside. but it doesnt mean that that vehicle doesnt exist. I believe that insulting one another (bunch of confused people, you are decieving yourself) over unconfirmed issues, is animalistic. Humans should act intelligently. everyone deserve to be heard. I like your questions, they deserve explanations @Hard mirror, but be open minded.

As I said earlier, you have succeeded in explaining NOTHING. You are talking about god existing and miracles. You are talking about jesus going to hell to preach to people. You are talking about people being free from sin once they die cos they can't sin, ARE WE GOING TO BE JUDGED FOR LIFE WE LIVE AFTER DEATH OR FOR ACTIONS of our lives now? Stop going off topic.
You sound dull for a medical student.
Simple question. Why did god destroy everybody including babies during the flood? Why same at sodom and gomorrah? Even though babies are innocent and suffered unjustly, not knowing what what going on?
Simple question, see all the irrelevant passages you are quoting.

If you were a soldier will you evade Isis camp and kill the babies along with the adults? If we humans can be compassionate, how much more a all loving god, all powerful. Cldnt he have deviced a better way to handle the situation?

I repeat. You all sound ridiculous in your desperation to defend god and you end up not making sense or addressing the issue

It is clear you didnt read all i wrote. I said babies are innocent and they go to heaven. they have not sinned. i explained that before. stop repeating things to get likes(maybe). There is good and everlasting life after death. reread what i wrote the first time. Is it not better to enjoy after death than leave life as a orphan. SENSE.
I also addressed other issues on the page apart from the one you spoke of HardMirror. i was not only replying you. as i said i encourage iopen mindedness. if you want clearance on an issue on the bible, simply ask. you do not need to add things like, "You guys are jokers indeed", "hope you see how you are making a fool of yourself", "Getting more interesting and ridiculous" etc. it tells things about you. it seems like people cannot work with you HardMirror because when disagreements comes, people would get irritated.

jiggaz:
Your own cup of tea then. If you don't agree with him, na you sabi. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

its is not about that. it is a disagreement with the bible. this is not what you say cup of tea too. you cant rest your faith upon what a pastor or what your grandmother told you.

i will ask for deposit of above 100000 dollars and pay a cleaner in my school 50, 000 dollars to do this. i have to make sure no one knows of this arrangements with the other 50000 dollars left.

Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
Rom 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.


Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

just like you where taught that 1+1=2 and you know it, you can be taught to deny ungodliness and wordly lusts and you will avoid it completely. it can teach you to live godly completely. this is the true beauty of the grace of God. . even if you just wake up, you will always know that 1+1 is 2.

Heb_12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live

Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Joh_15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
The world is suffering today because many people that had this promise- Joh_15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. - refused to abide.- Joh_15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love..
If you want to abide keep His commandments.

1Ti_4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee

1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.


Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?. Hmmn,

Joh_15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Judas had this promise of God in his life:
Mar 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

but he came short of it because He did not abide in Jesus

2Th 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

I do not agree with him. after close bible study, i found out that many verses were not put into consideration.

Rom 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Rom 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
Rom 2:10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
Rom 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.


Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

just like you where taught that 1+1=2 and you know it, you can be taught to deny ungodliness and wordly lusts and you will avoid it completely. it can teach you to live godly completely. this is the true beauty of the grace of God. . even if you just wake up, you will always know that 1+1 is 2.

Heb_12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Rom 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live

Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Joh_15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

1Ti_4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee

1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.


Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Joh_15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

Judas had this promise of God in his life:
Mar 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

but he came short of it because He did not abide in Jesus- Infact, this is how to get glory and blessings- obedience. ALso see Rom 2:10: But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

He is teaching against this: Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments..
The world is suffering today because many people that had this promise- Joh_15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. - refused to abide.- Joh_15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love..
If you want to abide keep His commandments simple.


2Th 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

I usually encourage people to be open minded, and count possibilities. 1st, babies go to heaven, and even some people who were in the flood made it to heaven finally as 1Pe 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
1Pe 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. tells us.
But even if the bible did not write this, open mindedness would have made you to think of the possibility of people repenting when the rain started and they where about to die.

As for the issue of free from sin: this is the full verse that would have made some people to laugh at your ignorance that you upheld so valiantly (except me. that is why i encourage open mindedness. it is animalistic to laugh at people as explained later).

Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Rom 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Rom 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Rom 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
This verse 7 therefore means that just as those who are dead physicaly cannot lie, steal, kill, fornicate etc, christians should also be like that. simple.

As for the issue of the existence of God, I am a medical student. things around me opened my mind to possibilities. A patient was diagnosed HIV 1 and HIV 2 positive. the sickness was already manifesting because the CD4 count was low- (low immune response to illness). After a relative of mine (a doctor) finally prayed for her, she went for the test again as she noticed improvement in her health. she was HIV negative. COnfused, she confirmed the test again, same result. I am a type of person that i prefer to believe after seeing so when
i embark on a journey, there is no need to turn back. This kind of things blow away the minds of those in the medical field including the person that prayed for her. ANother example was cancer of the cervix that was healed etc.

If you tell an animal that a vehicle exists that can move faster than the speed of sound, you might get laughter(hyena) or be eaten alongside. but it doesnt mean that that vehicle doesnt exist. I believe that insulting one another (bunch of confused people, you are decieving yourself) over unconfirmed issues, is animalistic. Humans should act intelligently. everyone deserve to be heard. I like your questions, they deserve explanations @Hard mirror, but be open minded.

SENSE

Babies would go to heaven because they have not sinned. Just like animals that do not have the ability to think and choose good or bad. I am not saying animals make heaven o! What i am saying is when bible says all have sinned, he is not talking of creatures that dont have choice but people who had the ability to chose and still sinned.

Understand this. sincerely, any rational christian who believe they would make it to heaven would have to answer this question- Why do you thank God that you are still on earth. MAny people who do not have this reasoning would therefore complain and shout when they hear that children were killed.

In the Genesis, you might notice that some promises to Abraham where not fufilled immediately because the sins of the amorites where not yet full. God still gave them chance to have a change of heart for a long time. People like Balaam and Jethro and Rahab heeded initially. Dont you wish that theives, rapists, murderers stop their practices or be seperated from the public(jail etc)? Well God gave time and when the time was up, He judged them and didnt allow the children to be orphans on earth. instead He ordered that they should be transferred to the life beyond-glory. Also, there are some bad things that are going to happen to people (because 2+2=4 wat you sow you reap) but it is completely your choice. if Judas has changed his mind before his cup of transgression filled up, his story would have been different so he wasnt given the grace to repent like Peter. you can check 2Pet2:20-21. Judas had been a thief, long before the betrayal. Maybe thinking Jesus would use His power to escape.

Concerning predestination. NOte this; God gave man charge and dominion over this earth. Meaning it is humans that should decide things on this earth. there is always an option to call Him to help. Imagine you were give a house, after leaving in the house for 30 years, someone comes and hijack it suddenly without informing you; you would be left stranded obviously. same thing, God cannot do things on this earth without a man been involved.

No one is predestined to go to hell, but many people are predestined to give glory to God, whether in sin or not, like pharoah. God choses the best. Someone that can lose his birthright to food is not fit to rule a nation and so would be chosen for lesser duties, if not, he can sell his nation if they would give him 5 billion dollars every year. infact, it is predestination that helps the christian race. Because God had to look out for the person with the best chance of doing something positive in this fractured world. SO there is no unrighteousness in God's selection.

The reason why there is problem on earth is because men of power did not stop the problems. to find out if you have power, decree a thing to happen on this earth and see if it would happen (ask and you suppose to recieve) . If you dont have power, note this, Some things have to get out of your life and some things have to come in. Imagine that someone who has problem with lust for various women is given superman like powers like xray vision. obviously, many people would get pregnant in addition to the good he did. Hear this clearly- Men of power from God are HOLY PEOPLE. That is why atheists should fight pastors who teach that you do not need holiness to see God-Heb 14:12. Also Rom 2:7[i] To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour [/b]and [b]immortality, eternal life.[/i] .
To become holy, pray for grace. this is grace, it teaches you to deny ungodliness and lusts- titus 2:11-12. you know 2+2 is 4 because you where taught. same thing. you would know how to be holy if you were taught. If you are not taught, do not claim to be holy or full of grace.

Also think b4 writing. baptism does not cleanse from sin, if not israelites wont sacrifice and Jesus wont need to come. Also see 1Pe 3:21: The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: .The baptism that saves is the answering of a good conscience towards God not the washing of the filth of the flesh. This is why babies would make heaven because they have a good conscience.

One of Jesus last prayers on earth is that christians should know God- John 17. Any doctrine you believe in, go and find out the reason behind it. do not ever think God cannot help you understand His ways. You would make many people laugh if when you face judgement seat, you explain that the reason why you had a strong evil belief is because your pastor or grandmother told you. In all your getting, get understanding.

The bible lets us know that we are the temple of the HolySpirit. So we can check the shadow of this statement in the old testament. Nadab and Abihu died after offering strange fire (Fire let out after drinking alcoholic wine moderately because they were alright when they came close)
Leveticus 10:1-10 says this story. After this, a decree was giving that this specific intoxicating drink is not wanted among those coming close to God. That God has shown that He does not change. This is the verse.

Leviticus 10:9-10:
9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

Stating clearly that such practice are among the unholy attributes that can be found on earth, that is why death is procured.

Health-wise, please check this link on another page: http://www.av1611.org/drug.html. After reading the article on the site, you would have it in mind that this write-up is done out of love. The article also covered some other verses of the bible i wanted to share. Now you know the difference between unclean and clean, PRAISE GOD.
SHALOM

Peace be unto you, my family in the Lord.

Christians nowadays speak to their brothers roughly promoting dissention instead of love. such wisdom is not from above.
1Peter 3:15: But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

To become a christian, is by faith but when in, there is a mandate over your life to conform to the image of Christ, or miss it finally
1 Peter 4:2: That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
1 Peter 3:21: The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 4:18:And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1 Timothy 4:16: Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
2 Peter 3:14: Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Romans 14:23:And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.


Faith comes by God's Word. So the motive behind your doing things has to pondered upon. Questions like
1)why are my doing things like
Reading, working, walking, watching a program, talking, laughing, dressing, e.t.c.
2) is what am doing going to cause others to sin (my meat should not kill someone especially when i know it will)
3) Is there any command in the bible that supports what am doing
4) Can i ask for God blessing in what am doing.
And so on

The target is to be blameless at his return. Personally, i have seen in my life, where I find myself wanting in many of these aspects. i did not rely on my strength (self-exaltation=pride) but took it in prayer. when God answered, discernment of right from wrong increased.
So in other words, if you want a blameless christian life at a consistent rate, when you notice a fault, take it to God in prayer(repentance b4 prayer). Another way that helped me was to meditate on instructions in the bible that contradicts my lifestyle. this cue was taking from
Joshua 1:8:This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

So now answer the question personally, not on this page: Why are you wearing earrings? Can I ask for God's blessing in the purpose of wearing the earrings? On judgement day, would this scripture contradict my life or would God allow blamed personalities into heaven? This are the scriptures

1 Timothy 2:9:In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

1 Peter 3:3: Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

Ezekiel 7:19-21
19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.
20 As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them.
21 And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.



For more clarification, 1Peter refers to adornment (to beautify, show off, decorate, make special) via plaiting, ornaments and dressing.

May the Lord lead in your decision in Jesus name. May the love shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit spin you in the right direction in Jesus name.