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From Acts Chapter 8:
General Boards - Religion & Philosophy
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From Acts Chapter 8:

1

Jun 2, 2024, 8:10 AM
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"25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans."

Can you imagine he delight of the Samaritans, a people excluded from the temple for centuries, when they heard about the Savior who died to restore their relationship with God? Is it any wonder the Gospel spread like wildfire in a strong wind?

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The Gospel is available to all, not just a select few....

2

Jun 2, 2024, 8:52 AM
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That's what was so radical about Christianity when it first hit the ground running, and still to this day.

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Unfortunate for those who never had a chance to hear it and I guess are

1

Jun 2, 2024, 9:21 AM
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burning in hell.

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"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard."
- H. L. Mencken


Re: Unfortunate for those who never had a chance to hear it and I guess are

2

Jun 2, 2024, 9:42 AM
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The timeline makes no sense. So, humans are walking around for 300,000 years and then, within the last few thousand, God finally lets them know?

You're telling me he could create the whole universe, but the best way to spread the message is to show up for a select few and then the rest have to just believe their second-hand at best accounts?

ok.

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You're right, but I'm committed to my position, so let me come up with a

2

Jun 2, 2024, 9:55 AM
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way around it, no matter how unlikely or how many more assumptions or unverifiable claims I have to make. Here's one ...

If you haven't heard about Jesus, God judges you based on how he knows you would respond had you heard. But if you've heard about Jesus and reject the message, then you're gonna burn. Yeah, that would do it, SO THERE!

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"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard."
- H. L. Mencken


Or, better yet

1

Jun 2, 2024, 11:48 AM [ in reply to Re: Unfortunate for those who never had a chance to hear it and I guess are ]
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Why create a situation in the first place where he knew Lucifer, one of his prized angels, would rebel and have to be kicked out of heaven, triggering a battle against evil that would last for hundreds of thousands of years and require(how is anything required of an all-powerful God who created everything?) the scarifice and horrible suffering of his "son" and the majority of his most beloved creation (humans) suffering a never-ending torture burning in hell? Why? Because he loves us? Say what?

I'm not saying there is no God, or that Jesus didn't exist, nor am I making any other claims about religion; I'm just saying there is something bad wrong with that story and it is not believable.

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"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard."
- H. L. Mencken


That God would sacrifice His Son for us is unbelievable.

1

Jun 2, 2024, 6:00 PM
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But that's what I believe.

I turn 72 tomorrow and I'm literally one heartbeat away from seeing Him face to face. I'm looking forward to it, how bout you?

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Re: That God would sacrifice His Son for us is unbelievable.

1

Jun 2, 2024, 6:15 PM
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I'm "only" 65, but as you know I've got health issues and I'm looking forward to it too.

I don't find such tremendous sacrifice unbelievable at all. I just find it unbelievable when there is absolutely no reason for it. It always comes back to that.

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"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard."
- H. L. Mencken


Re: That God would sacrifice His Son for us is unbelievable.

1

Jun 2, 2024, 6:19 PM
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>I just find it unbelievable when there is absolutely no reason for it. It always comes back to that.

Exactly. Saving us from a situation he created is just so odd.

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We do not choose God; He chooses us.

1

Jun 2, 2024, 2:13 PM [ in reply to Unfortunate for those who never had a chance to hear it and I guess are ]
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I beg you to read the Bible. It surely won't kill you.

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First, I have read the Bible. I grew up in the church, and I know the story

2

Jun 2, 2024, 2:32 PM
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inside out. It's exactly like I described it, and it's preposterous as it is. I admire and respect your conviction, but you're gonna have to give me a story that isn't full of obvious holes and nonsense.

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"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard."
- H. L. Mencken


Re: We do not choose God; He chooses us.

2

Jun 2, 2024, 3:04 PM [ in reply to We do not choose God; He chooses us. ]
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Those two sentences seem contradictory.

If Good chooses people, why are you telling people to read the bible?

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He chooses us based on what?***

1

Jun 3, 2024, 9:25 AM [ in reply to We do not choose God; He chooses us. ]
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"Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard."
- H. L. Mencken


Re: The Gospel is available to all, not just a select few....

2

Jun 2, 2024, 1:15 PM [ in reply to The Gospel is available to all, not just a select few.... ]
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That is a part of the brilliance of Paul and his revelation. Jesus himself only spoke to Jews and a very few Gentiles, often very disparagingly.


"Don't give good food to dogs"-Matt 15:26,
"I am here ONLY for the lost sheep of Israel [not Gentiles] "-Matt 15:24, etc.


But to open Judaism up to Gentiles was to open it to the whole world. That was a game-changer for a religion that was restricted to 12 tribes in an area the size of a tiny modern state for centuries.

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Hebrews didn't openly protylese

1

Jun 2, 2024, 4:34 PM
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proselytize but the religion was open to anyone who proclaimed The LORD, God. Of course there's that snipping thing so some of the gentiles who were attracted to Judaism joined in obedience to the law including sacrifices and keeping of holy days.

Of course during the time of Christ, when the Temple and synagogues were run mostly by power hungry and greedy priest all were welcome to hang out as long as they 'contributed.'

"Why not, we're only in it for the money and power."

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Re: The Gospel is available to all, not just a select few....

1

Jun 2, 2024, 2:11 PM [ in reply to The Gospel is available to all, not just a select few.... ]
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There were dozens of synagogues around the Roman Lake. Ever single one of them had proselytes. The Gospel seldom mentions Samaritans but I imagine some of the proselytes were Samaritans and some just plain heathen like me.

I believe they all followed Jesus for the bread and circus. I also believe they got saved after the resurrection.

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Re: From Acts Chapter 8:

1

Jun 2, 2024, 1:03 PM
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That verse carries a lot more punch than many recognize.


Not only did/do the Samaritans disagree with their Jewish kin on almost everything, the idea of following a guy that your enemy says is the Messiah had to be a huge leap for a Samaritan.

Samaritans thought/think that everything after Moses/Joshua is hokum. God said set up camp at Mount Gerizim and start worshiping, and that's what they did, and still do.

Even their Bible only consists of the Torah, the first 5 books, and that the LAST prophet was Moses himself.

To them, Jerusalem itself is a false place of worship (ever since Eli left Shiloh and David later conquered the city) and every prophet since Moses was deceived.

So for any Samaritans to follow Jesus, that had to be a HUGE change in their mindset. Hence, the story of the "Good" Samaritan, with the unstated implication that all other Samaritans were bad, lol.

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Re: From Acts Chapter 8:

1

Jun 2, 2024, 2:03 PM
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John 4:

"5 Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6 Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

The story goes on, as you well know, and describes Jesus telling the woman that she was living in adultery. She was delighted to have met Him. My speculation is that that woman believed with Jesus' word and eventually received Him as Savior.

Imo, the Hebrews (leaders of the day) were selfrighteous and turned their noses up to those of Samaria. I think the woman presented that.

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Re: From Acts Chapter 8:

2

Jun 2, 2024, 5:14 PM
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Just a related observation, but the woman at the well was Samaritan. The conversation was as on point as any in the NT. The Jews might have abandoned them, and likewise the reverse, but they had not abandoned God.

Edit: just saw you mentioned this above. It is as fun an occurrence to discuss as any in the NT, imo.


Message was edited by: CUintulsa®

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