Many of you have commented that you wanted to hear personal stories of why we believe, so I’ve decided to give you a look at why I believe. I became a believer at age 8 in a Pentecostal Church in NY. Up to this time we had always gone to a Roman Catholic Church, which I as a child like much better because it was a shorter service. Anyway this pastor, who reminded me more of the mob guys who hung out at the local pub than a pastor, was talking about why Jesus died. He talked about Jesus dieing for him, for me (you), for each and every one of us. He talked about how even the smallest sins had separated us from God, and that Jesus had to die for a sin that hadn’t even been committed yet. Well I took that to heart, and prayed the prayer that changed my life. I remained faithful and followed Jesus the best I could until my 13th year. It’s funny that a teenager will find anything to rebel against, even if it’s not best for them. I started hanging out with my friends and drinking ghetto champagne (malt liquor) most of my friends by this time had graduated to pot, cocaine… And so I tried pot. I never tried cocaine because I had seen what it did to my friends, so pot was as far as I would ever go. The funny thing was it always made me sleepy, so I really didn’t care for it much. I did like my malt liquor though. Anyway the further I got from God, the quieter my conscience got. I remember feeling His disapproval full on in the beginning, but the further I went the quieter He got. I live this way for about 12 years, and several girlfriends and drinks later decided that it was time to get married. I rarely if ever attended a church, because they kept telling me that my lifestyle was wrong, and I didn’t want to hear that. By the time I did get back to church I was so ashamed of what I’d become that I didn’t really think God would forgive me. I rededicated myself to Christ when I was about 28, and though I still struggle with sin, anger, and pride being my top 2, I have grown so much since then that I could never see myself going back to my old ways. I’ve mentioned before how I had all of these really non-biblical beliefs, and how as I’ve grown those have been proven false, to me in my studies. All of this started by faith. A small leap of faith, at the time to believe that Jesus died for my sins. Now faith is a weird thing. It’s the ability to believe in something even when there isn’t any proof, so what was my proof? The best example I’ve heard is of the air. We can’t see air, but we know it exists. It fills us, and brings life to our blood. Without it we die. We can feel it’s effects on a windy day, or when the fan is blowing on us. God is similar to that air. He fills us, with his Holy Spirit, He’s invisible, yet his effects bring life to our soul, and without Him our soul dies. God has given us two things to prove to us His existence. 1. His creation, which testifies to us in it’s sheer complexity. The knowledge that everything we see, touch, smell has a creator. Just like you would never look at a car and say that it evolved over millions of years of metal and plastic being put in close proximity. I could never look at a tree or a dog and believe that it evolved over millions of years of the right cells being put in close proximity, or that a single cell could have produced the type of diversity and complexity that we see around us. 2. Our conscience, our inner tool. How do we know something is bad if we were never taught this? Somewhere within each of us is a still small voice which tells us when we’ve done wrong. It’s hard coded into each of us from birth. Although all of us are born into sin, and by default against God, the conscience He has given us guides us to right. Most people see the similarities in different religions and think that one borrowed from the other. I see it as the effects of a conscience, which guides us and tells us that murder, lies, adultery are bad. Each one of us at one time or another must decide who or what we serve, and the choices are either God or Satan. There is no middle ground. God: If we choose to serve God, then He will guide us, He will instruct us, He will mold us according to His ways. The only way to realize God is to first realize that we as a people are sinful. That even though we may be better than the next guy, we’ve still sinned. God has written His law in our hearts, our conscience, and we have broken them. The reason that there is only one way to God, is because only one person was pure, and free from sin. Jesus paid the price for ALL of our sins, from the white lie to the adulterous relationship, to murder. All of these separate us from God, and the only way to bridge that gap is through Jesus’ sacrifice. Satan: This is a tough one to take, but every time we turn from God we turn to Satan. Every time we give in to our desires we tell God, “We don’t need you”. Every time we think that we will somehow balance the bad we’ve done with the good we’ve done, we tell God, “We don’t need your sacrifice”. God gave of Himself through His sacrifice on the cross. He died and resurrected to overcome that spiritual death, and it is because of His act that we can come to him. No other religion offers a savior. No other belief is based on grace. All other beliefs are based on actions that must be taken to “make it right” with God, to work for salvation. That is why when we turn from God we turn to Satan. Satan is real, and he has managed to convince the masses that we don’t need Jesus’ sacrifice to get to God. He has managed to convince the masses that all roads lead to God. So like I, each one of you must decide, who is Jesus to you? What will you do with Jesus? Will you take the leap of faith and grow in Him, or will you work for your own salvation? I pray that this posting makes you think. I pray that you think without the presupposition that God doesn’t exist, and I pray that you ask Him to reveal Himself to you.

I wrote this in another thread, but it fits here to on my outlook of the Bible.

One could argue that the reason the stories share a common bond, is because they are based on an actual event that happened. For instance, even the Aztecs have their own version of the flood story.

Here's my theory, two cents, whatever. Creation happened as Genesis describes. As civilization grew, they grew farther from God. Their evil corrupted the world, which God created, and they were wiped out by flood.

After the flood Noah's descendants kept the stories of creation, and the flood in mind, but once again turned from God. In doing so they rewrote much of what had been known to them and created the various stories of creation and the flood. As they spread across the earth they took their newly created versions with them, and based religions on them to explain how they got here.

Once again God stepped in and called Abraham to Him. Why? So that Abraham's descendants could be a witness to God's Glory, and so that through them God could save us from the very sin which separates us from God. But like any human they too fell away from God despite several attempts to get their attention. God being a loving and truthful God, kept his promise to Abraham, and delivered salvation, Jesus Christ, to the world to save us from our sins.

I have not contributed to the original thread - here is my time for redemption

I am a non-believer simply because i cannot accept any thing with some amount of proof - so if somebody comes and says to me Jesus died for your sins - my first question is - where is the proof ?

besides - i like to be responsible for my sins (if any) - i like to be responsible for every action of mine - so if i see Jesus today - and he says "I died for your sins" my response would be spontaneous, "you need not - i did not ask you to"

Who is Jesus to me ? A good man - someone whom i respect, nothing more.

If i seek God - i can do it myself - i do not need any intermediary - thanks.

I admire your resolve for taking responsibility for you actions. As a Christian, I too take responsibiltiy for mine, but my sins, as probably yours are more than we can carry. Jesus is not an intermediary, when you take your sins to Him you take them directly to God, and they are forgiven because the God/Man Jesus paid the price for them, even if you don't believe that.

If we were on a falling plane together and I offered you a parachute would you take it? Of course you would everyone would. You wouldn't stay on the plane in ignorance simply because you don't like where the salvation is coming from. You'd take it, jump and hopefully live.

By that token don't discard the information given to you simply because you can't force yourself to believe that there is a God, and He loves you enough to die for your sins. Accept the sacrifice that He paid and live.

The parachute is there whether you believe it or not don't jump blindly into death without it.

Problem is - am i in a falling plane ? Are my sins too heavy to carry ? Do have any sins at all ?

I live my life with the principle that i have set myself - i do not lie intentionally. I do not smoke, i do not drink (well a little when we celebrate New Year), I respect my elders and try to do my job as best as i can with sincereness.

Why i should have any sin ? even if i have any sin, why it will be too difficult to bear ?

there lies my problem - i do not think i am in a falling plane - it may be that you are having a hallucination . . . . (just kidding man).

Still a lot to ponder here, but Believer, thank you for taking such a vulnerable step and telling your personal faith story.

I've also heard it said that there are only two choices: love and fear. I think of it more as that which nurtures life (spiritually) and that which destroys it. Sounds like the God/Satan split in different terms.

Problem is - am i in a falling plane ? Are my sins too heavy to carry ? Do have any sins at all?

Really quick I want you to google the 10 commandments, those are God's law to us. Now go down each of the 10 and put a check mark next to the ones you've committed. Come judgement day, as an unbeliever this is what you will be judged on. Even one infraction is enough to keep you out of heaven. If God judges on these laws will you be found guilty or innocent?

Now before you use the God is a god of love defense, remember that God also just. And like a Just judge who bases innocent or guilty on the facts, God will judge innocent or guilty on any transgression of His law. Also keep in mind that unlike a human judge God knows the heart, so all of those secret sins that only you know about, are also known to him.

So based on that information:

1. Do you have sin in your life?
2. Is that sin too much to carry?
3. Are you innocent or guilty?

Believer:

It was my impression that at some point after all the laws were given to Moses (not just the 10 commandments, all those other laws in Exodus and Leviticus as well - do you eat shellfish? Do you eat pork?) God realized the Israelites COULDN'T fulfill all the laws to maintain holiness. It was impossible. That's why Jesus came along - to fulfill them all in his life, death and resurrection. Our job was to accept that gift and "set us right" with a God who desires holiness and justice in people he covenants with.

Once, during my evangelical stint, I went to a Wednesday night service, where the men and women were separated for classes and services. The well-meaning women of that sect sat me down and read through all the sins in the Bible, asking me, Have you done this one? Have you done that one? Even murder -- they implied that I had murdered in my heart. This was one of the most harrowing experiences I have ever been through and I left that church shortly thereafter since I didn't think it was God's intention to terrorize us like that.

It's my understanding (and experience) that if we draw breath, we "sin." We are flawed. We make mistakes and we hurt ourselves and others - some willfully, some unintentionally. I do think anyone who doesn't own up to that is not being honest with themselves whether they term it sin or not.

And I don't think those "sins" are limited to those 10 commandments or those in Exodus or Leviticus per se. But we get angry and think hateful thoughts and do hateful things. We gossip. We abuse what is given to us: food, the earth's resources, things that bring us pleasure. We go overboard. We make idols of things that we think will bring us a good and balanced life and find ourselves enslaved to these things.

God is just but also merciful. I have to go back to Jesus saying that the two greatest commandments are to Love the Lord your God with all your mind, heart and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus also spoke to the religious leaders about holding people to the letter of the law vs. the spirit of the law. To me, that means to be an honoring relationship with God and to treat those around me fairly and justly. And to treat myself that way too -- both honoring myself as one of God's beloved creations (even one that got here through the process of evolution ) and treating myself fairly and justly and honestly.

Believer:

I heard this read recently - the Message version of John 3:16 that seemed to strike a cord with me:

"This is how much God loved the world; He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And whis is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him , anyone can have a whole and lasting life.God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again."

before i delve into the 10 commandments, though i am not a Christian - you have a look at my motto - be good do good - that's exactly what i do. now - let us see : i take the commandments from here : http://www.bible-knowledge.com/10-Commandments.html [b]1. [i]You shall have no other Gods before me. [/i] [/b] i am a non-believer, so who cares ? old-timers may know that i have left a soft corner about 0.1% belief in my mind that there may be a God . . . and i do not want to re-elaborate that here again - i do not think there is any other God . . . . what say ? [b]2. [i]You shall not make for yourself any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.[/i] [/b] Don't do that (though the reason is different) [b]3. [i]You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. [/i] [/b] Don't do that [b]4. [i]Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter nor your manservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.[/i] [/b] What ? I am a doctor - when i am on duty - i save lives on Sundays . . . What is the sabbath day anyway ? is anybody sure - which day of the week it was or is ? [b]5. [i]Honor your father and mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.[/i] [/b] Great - i have highest regard for them. [b]6. [i]You shall not murder.[/i] [/b] Never did that. [b]7. [i]You shall not commit adultery.[/i] [/b] Never did that. [b]8. [i]You shall not steal.[/i] [/b] Never did that. [b]9. [i]You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.[/i] [/b] Never did that. [b]10. [i]You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s."[/i] [/b] Never did that. so how do i fare mate ? (BTW - i think the first commandment is not fare to anyone who is mostly a non-believer)