World religions question

@Zonuss It is simple but non-sensical. I don't mean nonsense in a dismissive sense.

I agree with the part regarding religion as we know it. And God, as we know it, is part and parcel of religion. Some may argue that Buddhism is God-less. People who assert this are not practitioners of the faith.

@sree251 Where, in John 3:16, does it mention that we must belong to a certain denomination, in order to be saved?

@LadyGrace What has this got to do with what I am saying to @Zonuss?

@sree251 Where you said "And God, as we know it, is part and parcel of religion."

God has nothing to do with religion, which is nothing but man-made philosophy, and religion has nothing to do with salvation.

Where you referring to God in your statement, as "it"?

@LadyGrace God has nothing to do with religion? Are you saying that Christianity is not a religion? Or do you claim that Christianity has nothing to do with God?

@sree251 Christianity is a way of life and personal relationship with Christ. Not some religion or denomination. Anyone can have "religion", but still not know Christ. In the end, religion won't get anyone to heaven, but belief in Christ will, and His plan of salvation. Jesus didn't die for a certain denomination or religion. He died to save everyone in the world from the condemnation that sin placed on us.

I do not believe in religion. It is manmade philosophy, not a person. No religion died on the cross for me, to save me from my sins....but Jesus did. That makes it a personal relationship with Him. Jesus scolded "religious" leaders in His day. He said they had a "form/appearance" of godliness, but their hearts were far from Him. They were hypocrites. They would stand on the streets and either prayed to God or preach about God and when they prayed they would twist their faces all up as if they were praying in earnest to make people think they were so godly, but they were not. God saw through them. They just wanted to be popular with the crowd and for people to say oh look how holy this person is. They were phonies. But God said in His Word, there's a way to know when people are phony, as well. John 3:16 said that Jesus died for everyone in the world, so he could save everyone in the world, not just a certain denomination. So when it comes to religion, it means nothing when it comes to Salvation, because salvation is for everyone.

Eternal salvation is above religion. Religion is just manmade philosophy. It is "man" wanting to box God in, to his own idea of what he thinks is the way to heaven, but not following God's Word, nor God's own Plan of Salvation. God did not give man permission to change His great plan. That's because it works.

@sree251 I don't worship religion or idols. I worship Christ, my Savior, and my Father in heaven.

@LadyGrace Ok, I get what you are saying. Your Jesus Christ has nothing to do with either the Christian Bible or the myriad denominations of Christian religions (i.e. Catholicism, Protestants, Presbyterians, Christian Science, etc.)

Am I right?

@sree251 No. The Bible is for everyone in the world, that God left for the world, so they would know how to be saved and not have to guess. I'm saying that salvation has absolutely nothing to do with what church we belong to or group we belong to. It has to do with whom we believe in, and Christ is trustworthy and promises to save us. He always keeps His Word.

@LadyGrace It seems to me that you want to have your cake and eat it too. The story of Jesus was transmitted to us through the Bible, the book of faith for all Christians of every stripe. None of them agrees with each other with regard to what the Bible says, as well as, what Jesus is all about. Now, you have your own take. I get that.

@sree251 Of course the story of Jesus is given in the Bible. The fact that not all agree with what God said, is not unusual. God said we either believe or not and whom we choose to worship, determines where we spend eternity. I believe God, over flawed man, any day. Religions in this would has nothing to do with being saved or how to get saved. Because Jesus died for the world, not just some from a certain religion. It's man that wants his cake and eat it too. He tries to change God's Plan of Salvation and that will never work.

@LadyGrace Ok, we agree that the story of Jesus is given in the Bible which is the book of faith for all Christians. However, the living Jesus in your life is entirely different. In this case, we must put the Bible aside because we don't need that reference book now. It is a book of religion. The living Christ is beyond the reach of religion.

Do you agree?

@sree251
You keep wanting to limit God. The Bible was written for the sinners of this world, that's all of us, worldwide, so they could see how to be saved and not have to guess.

When you say the Bible is a book of religion, you are not understanding God or His Word. The Bible is the book of salvation and Redemption for the world. This world needs the Bible and God gave it. If we neglect salvation through God's Word, He said we'll remain lost.

You contradict yourself. First you say it's a book of religion and then you turn around and say the living Christ is beyond the reach of religion. Christ made it so He could reach everyone in the world. Not just some. The Bible is not a book about the religions of this world. It's a book about saving people from the condemnation sin placed on us. That includes everyone in the world, not just certain groups.

@LadyGrace I think we need to retrace the steps of this discussion. You threw me off when you said that "God has nothing to do with religion, which is nothing but man-made philosophy, and religion has nothing to do with salvation."

You seem to make a distinction between Christianity and religion. You said that religion is man-made philosophy. Therefore, God has nothing to do with religion. By extension, Christianity has nothing to do with religion also.

Did I get it right now?

@sree251 Yep. 😂

@LadyGrace Wow, you are asking to be stoned by all those who have nothing to do with God.

@sree251 haha I know it hahaha but they're not my rules. God is the one who made the Plan of Salvation and it is man who tries to change it but will be unsuccessful in the long run.

@sree251 well then they should be happy if it is not religion that saves a person. They're always complaining about religion but it sure has nothing to do with salvation.

@LadyGrace You know it! It is very brave of you to separate the wheat from the chaff. Are you telling me the the Pope will not be saved?

@sree251 oh no that's not up for me to say that's between him and God.

@LadyGrace You said: "They're always complaining about religion but it sure has nothing to do with salvation."

The only folks here who complain about religion are the atheists and the woke. They will not be saved. They deserved to be damned.

@LadyGrace The Pope has nothing to do with God. He is the head of the Catholic religion. And you and I know that religion has nothing to do with God.

@sree251 I've seen others complain who are not atheists.

@sree251 you've got that twisted to mean something else, but I know why. Not falling for it. You're mixing two different things. I was just waiting for it and you didn't disappoint. You're not that clever

@LadyGrace You said: "you've got that twisted to mean something else,..."

No, I have not. I have stated exactly what you said: God has nothing to do with religion. And we both know that the Pope is the head of the Catholic religion. Pope Francis is not giving up on his religion anytime soon even though I think he should resign or retire. He is woke. One cannot be woke and be Catholic. Somehow, liberal ideology has gotten to him. You and I have to be careful also. The Devil had tried to get to Jesus, as the Bible story went.