Why must we believe *before* we die?

I am going to try to answer this question seriously from the standpoint of a believer (even though I'm not one).Let's examine this passage from Matthew, chapter 16: What does this tell us about the concept of faith? How did Peter know that Jesus was the son of God and no mere prophet? God the Father revealed it to him. So faith can be defined as God revealing himself to one. The Father "told" Peter subliminally, as it were,
that Jesus was His Son.Faith, then, is not exactly the action of deciding to believe a doctrine; it is the outcome of God's revelation to a person.God reveals himself to good people only.Good people are not people who have faith: faith is given to those who are good.ed: typosThis message has been edited by robinrohan, 09-16-2005 01:00 PMThis message has been edited by robinrohan, 09-16-2005 01:03 PMThis message has been edited by robinrohan, 09-16-2005 01:06 PM

Faith, I was assuming that the reason Peter received the revelation was because he was better, not in the sense of not having sinned, but because he was pure at heart. I deduced it from the passage. God revealed the truth to Peter. Peter as a result believed in Jesus as the son of God. Peter did not just start to believe on other grounds (miracles, for example). He believed because The Father revealed to him the truth. Why him and not others? His purity of heart. I can't think of any other reason.And by the way, Faith. There is more to Christianity than the Protestant Reformation. Let's not forget the Catholics.

I think my interpretation is Catholic, though not intentionally by me.Let us never underestimate, Faith, the power of the Catholics.

Yes, you may draw that conclusion. You did not make the cut.

Let's go back to the passage from Matthew. Why did God reveal himself to Peter and not the others? My answer was that Peter was pure of heart. How do you interpret that scene?RE: EVCforum--A Play.The play has been discontinued because I realized it was rude and insensitive to fellow posters.This message has been edited by robinrohan, 09-18-2005 09:55 AM

This is indeed from "Lucky Jim," but the girl didn't say it. Jim thought it.

A fish out of water is not happy, joyful, or thankful--no matter how much you try to convince it that it is really better to be on dry land, that dry land is where all the good things are. He's out of his element. Such is the condition of mankind. No matter how unarguably for the better this loss of ego (or "pride") you describe may be, we prefer the ego.

I guess this is where the analogy breaks down, since a fish's optimal place IS the water. Being a god and having a throne is far beyond my ambition. I just want to be a self, an individual. The Buddhists or some such people have compared the return to the Absolute to a drop of water falling into the ocean. That is not my idea of a treat. One might as well be dead.When one is an individual, one has this "pride" that you are talking about, since all pride need consist of is affirming "I'm me;I'm not you."

Whatever that means. Sounds like a paradox.

Since forever.

Whatever it is that qualifies you for salvation is the definition of "good." For surely you agree that some will not qualify.None know save God who is of the elect.

It follows therefore that those who love God rather than hate Him and those who do not refuse His call are the good people. That's what it means to be good, to heed His call and not hate Him. If these actions were not of paramount moral importance, then there would be no reason for Him to set those conditions--unless you think that God does not value goodness.

Exactly. The process works as follows:
faith, then grace, then works.Faith leads to grace, and it is grace which changes us and turns us into better people. Better people do good works. Only good people go to heaven.But your statement that you KNEW you were saved surprised me.

From death.

I didn't write this.