Paul of Tarsus, known as Saul before his conversion, was a proponent of Jesus. He preached the word of Jesus to the Gentiles in Rome and several other places. He essentially transformed Judaism into what we know as Christianity today. His belief was that one had to believe in Jesus to earn salvation. Whereas the Jews believed that following God's law was the first priority and faith, to put it bluntly, can go by the wayside.Factual question: What did Paul of Tarsus believe was the key to earning salvation? Answer: Faith
Discussion question: Which is more difficult? Following the laws of God to earn salvation, or having faith in God?
Okay so new rules: we are supposed to post our own questions under the comments section.
ReplyDeleteHere are mine:
Factual: true/false divine judgment depends on man's desires. False, divine judgment depends on God's mercy.
Discussion: Paul states that power given to our authority "have been established by God." Do you believe this is true(if you are a believer)? If not, how do you feel about this revelation?
Answer to nick's discussion question: From a believer's POV, faith is harder than following law. Faith is not born into a person, it is crafted from deliberate spiritual conditioning. It is not easy to put all hope, love, and control into something that we have no proof of. This conflicts with worldly, scientific conditioning.one can have both, don't misunderstand, but it takes practice!the law, however, can be followed with no faith, it is concrete; the proof is on paper, as they say. There is really no intellectual conflict, which is what I find difficult in having faith.
Factual Question:
ReplyDeleteFaith was of up most importance to Paul, even more so than following the "law"
True or False?
Answer: True
Discussion Question:
According to many ancient and even modern Christians, piety is very important, how do you feel about be pious in order to receive salvation.
As for Nicks question: I feel, at least in our modern times, faith would be much harder than living my the "laws" of God. With so much apparent suffering and greed, which both seem to be every where these days, I find it hard to be faithful to a religion that says that these same people who cause the suffering or are greedy can receive salvation by simply being "faithful" to God. Of course on the other side of the coin, if one is truly "faithful" to "God" then one would work to relieve the suffering of man and to lead a life that is lacking the strong presence of greed that so many have today.
Well Jon, what you said is a misconception of Christianity. You have the opportunity of Salvation through faith, but actual salvation comes with the combination of faith and following the teachings of God. 1Corinth6:9: "The wicked shall not inherit the Kingdom of God"
ReplyDeleteWell how can that be you ask if Paul says that Salvation is granted not by works but by faith? Do you think that someone that is greedy and contributes to suffering has faith? Maybe a little, but are they living by the faith? No. One must strive to walk in faith of Christ Jesus to be saved. "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him" Col 2:6.
You pretty much covered what I just said on your "other side of the coin", I just wanted to make it clearer, hope it helped!