First, I want to state that many of the Christians I know are wonderful people. They are kind, generous, honest (mostly ), reliable, etc. Some aren't so wonderful. I can say the same for my unbelieving acquaintances. So now, I'm wondering: are Christians in general better than non-Christians? Is a random person on the street more likely to be "good" if you discover that he or she is a believer?
There is some flexibility in the question, of course. We should define "better" and "good" and "Christian", first of all. Well, how about if I leave that up to you, the participants in the discussion?
So, what say you?
Of course not. All of our righteousness is as filthy rags. We like sheep have gone astray. We have turned our own way, and our iniquities have been laid upon Christ. There is no one who is Good but God. We are all sinful in nature.
So, are Christians better than non-believers? Not at all.
Are Christians in a better place than non-believers? Absolutely.
The difference is that we have a savior who has remitted our sins, and brought us out of the cesspool of sin. This is not because we were somehow more special than non-believers. This was because we heard the gospel and responded in faith. We are in a better position than those who have not yet responded, and remain lying in the cesspool, yet we are not better because we'd be right back where they are if we didn't have Christ.
Of course not. All of our righteousness is as filthy rags. We like sheep have gone astray. We have turned our own way, and our iniquities have been laid upon Christ. There is no one who is Good but God. We are all sinful in nature.
So, are Christians better than non-believers? Not at all.
Are Christians in a better place than non-believers? Absolutely.
The difference is that we have a savior who has remitted our sins, and brought us out of the cesspool of sin. This is not because we were somehow more special than non-believers. This was because we heard the gospel and responded in faith. We are in a better position than those who have not yet responded, and remain lying in the cesspool, yet we are not better because we'd be right back where they are if we didn't have Christ.
I like how you see we're not better, but we are in a better standing with God. That is a much better way to put it.
Active faith in one's heart is what truly makes him a Christ follower, not fleshly works, or special outward attire.
Love is the one ingredient in a life that produces such wonderful fruit, that completely that changes the whole equation from one who just simply "claims" to be a Christian.... as opposed to someone who is displaying the fruits of the spirit of Christ in their life.
Of course not. All of our righteousness is as filthy rags. We like sheep have gone astray. We have turned our own way, and our iniquities have been laid upon Christ. There is no one who is Good but God. We are all sinful in nature.
So, are Christians better than non-believers? Not at all.
Are Christians in a better place than non-believers? Absolutely.
The difference is that we have a savior who has remitted our sins, and brought us out of the cesspool of sin. This is not because we were somehow more special than non-believers. This was because we heard the gospel and responded in faith. We are in a better position than those who have not yet responded, and remain lying in the cesspool, yet we are not better because we'd be right back where they are if we didn't have Christ.
Not sure I quite follow. And I'm not sure you are really answering the question. I mean, you start by saying "no", and then it looks like you are explaining a "yes" answer.
You were in the cesspool of sin before, and now (I think, if I understand you correctly) you are not. That seems "better", to me. And this doesn't really hinge on whether you deserved to be pulled out of that cesspool or not. If you were, you were.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Not sure I quite follow. And I'm not sure you are really answering the question. I mean, you start by saying "no", and then it looks like you are explaining a "yes" answer.
You were in the cesspool of sin before, and now (I think, if I understand you correctly) you are not. That seems "better", to me. And this doesn't really hinge on whether you deserved to be pulled out of that cesspool or not. If you were, you were.
Bump for A-man 7.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Not sure I quite follow. And I'm not sure you are really answering the question. I mean, you start by saying "no", and then it looks like you are explaining a "yes" answer.
You were in the cesspool of sin before, and now (I think, if I understand you correctly) you are not. That seems "better", to me. And this doesn't really hinge on whether you deserved to be pulled out of that cesspool or not. If you were, you were.
If the question is whether Christians are better than they were before they became Christians, then I would say yes.
But if the question is whether or not Christians are better than non-believers, then I would say no. I don't see Christians being better, superior, more important than, or over, non-believers. Paul told the church at Rome not to think themselves better than the Jews who rejected Christ, because in reality the gentiles were grafted into the vine and could just as easily be taken out of it as well.
I don't see myself as being better than the non-believer sitting in the cubicle next to me. We were both born in sin and shapen in iniquity. We both are human and are subject to the passions and lusts of the flesh. We both have sinned and made mistakes. So when it comes to us as individuals, I am no better than she is. As Paul said, "such were some of you."
However, I am in a better standing since I have responded to the gospel, repented, been baptized for the remission of my sins, received the Spirit of God, and have tried my best to live a life pleaseing to HIM. I know that I have the hope of salvation. The non-believer who has done none of these things does not have that same hope. I don't have that hope because of some intrinsic quality, talent, or accomplishment that makes me superior to the non-believer who is absent of those things. No, because it doesn't matter what qualities I have, or talents I possess, or accomplishments I have made, if I were to be without Christ again, then I would be right back in the same hopeless state as the Non-believer sitting next to me.
So, am I better that she is? Superior in some way? No.
Am I in a better place than she is spiritually? Yes. Currently I have a better spiritual standing than she does. Not because of who I am, but because of who HE is.
If the question is whether Christians are better than they were before they became Christians, then I would say yes.
But if the question is whether or not Christians are better than non-believers, then I would say no. I don't see Christians being better, superior, more important than, or over, non-believers. Paul told the church at Rome not to think themselves better than the Jews who rejected Christ, because in reality the gentiles were grafted into the vine and could just as easily be taken out of it as well.
I don't see myself as being better than the non-believer sitting in the cubicle next to me. We were both born in sin and shapen in iniquity. We both are human and are subject to the passions and lusts of the flesh. We both have sinned and made mistakes. So when it comes to us as individuals, I am no better than she is. As Paul said, "such were some of you."
However, I am in a better standing since I have responded to the gospel, repented, been baptized for the remission of my sins, received the Spirit of God, and have tried my best to live a life pleaseing to HIM. I know that I have the hope of salvation. The non-believer who has done none of these things does not have that same hope. I don't have that hope because of some intrinsic quality, talent, or accomplishment that makes me superior to the non-believer who is absent of those things. No, because it doesn't matter what qualities I have, or talents I possess, or accomplishments I have made, if I were to be without Christ again, then I would be right back in the same hopeless state as the Non-believer sitting next to me.
So, am I better that she is? Superior in some way? No.
Am I in a better place than she is spiritually? Yes. Currently I have a better spiritual standing than she does. Not because of who I am, but because of who HE is.
Are all unbelievers in the cesspool of sin?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
), reliable, etc. Some aren't so wonderful. I can say the same for my unbelieving acquaintances. So now, I'm wondering: are Christians in general better than non-Christians? Is a random person on the street more likely to be "good" if you discover that he or she is a believer?
Hybrid Mode
