The way of the cross was the work that Jesus did. He died on the cross to pay for the mistakes of the whole world. Personally, I think that His payment set the whole universe straight.
Jesus's resurrection gave or applied the salvation to people... and here is the big part... IF PEOPLE ACCEPT IT.
How do you get someone to accept something? You can't force people to accept. You might be able to brainwash them, and if you are good, the brainwashing might last for a long while. But it wears off if you don't keep it up.
God doesn't want a bunch of brainwashed people. He wants people who willingly accept Him, and the salvation that Jesus did.
What else is there to get people to accept the salvation? You tell them about it. You show them the benefits of it. You show them the pains of not accepting. You might entice people. You might cajole them a bit. You certainly invite them. And there are other ways of explaining the invitation.
The one thing God doesn't do is force. Forcing someone to love God enough to accept salvation is impossible. God doesn't want a bunch of programmed robots. He wants children who are willingly and lovingly with Him, on His side.
...and here is the really BIG part, the one important part in your Bible-story-Book where desire is meaningfully mentioned: Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said His to disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Can you now recognize that if you want to make it into heaven, you'll have to step up into via dolorosa YOURSELF. That is the only way to make it to gloryland. Anything else is delusion. Don't delude yourself. Set yourself straight and take up YOUR cross. Only then will God smile upon you and Jesus extend an outstretched hand towards you.
You are so mixed up. What did you just quote from the Bible? "...and take up his cross..."? Whose cross? Your own cross. Not the cross of Jesus.
Your cross isn't the same as mine or Moloch's or the guy down the street. And none of them are the same as the cross Jesus carried.
So what you are essentially saying then is that you, as a bible-storybook-believing person don't have to die. Only Jesus had to do that - yes only 1 person's death is needed to satisfy the the demand of the LAW. You think the simple wooden structure is the all important piece in this puzzle do you?? That is why you will not make it into heaven - it's not about the object of the wooden cross, it's ALL about the PATH and the end result of that PATH which is DEATH. Ponder a little while upon this thought if you are brave enough.
Edit: this idea is a middle eastern idea and all the cultures in the middle east share this idea. Even the Christian belief system harbors this idea and try to conceal the true meaning of via dolorosa. Where do you think does the idea of suicide bombers comes from? Its shared among religions that originated in the middle east.
You are starting to get it. In the first place, nobody really dies even though we all do. Take Sam, for example. There Sam is, a living, breathing man. Then Sam dies. The moment Sam dies, it isn't Sam any longer. This means that Sam doesn't die as far as he is concerned. He only dies as far as we are concerned.
Jesus is the son of God as well as the son of a woman. Because of this, He was "big" enough to die for the sins of all the people of the world.
You are right that it is all about the path. If your path doesn't include acceptance of and faith in the saving work that Jesus did, then you will die forever, even though it takes death forever to completely effected in you.
You are wrong about the Middle East thing. Not all ME peoples and religions support this. In fact, the only religion that supports the idea of God sending His Son to be the Savior of the world the way Jesus did the job, is the Christian religion. The second religion - one that comes close - is the Jewish religion.
I am beginning to think that dippi is a bit dippy.
I am not talking about Jesus bit dippy, I am talking about an idea that pervades in middle eastern cultures and are religiously expressed - in all of the religions that originated in the middle east. You are so clever you don't need to get anything do you?
What? Are you trying to tell me that I am Jesus? Jesus could read your mind and know what you are all about. I'm not Jesus. You will have to explain it if you want me to know it.
I can't decide on getting a cup of coffee or a glass of milk.
