Christians, does St. Paul makes it clear that Christ is a stumbling block?

Question

Do we want so much to think of His gentle presence, perfectly valid, but not His demands? His demands that we obey His commandments? Him saying that “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me?"

Did Jesus did promise us a rosy life or did He promise us suffering?

Did He say "just say this little prayer and believe and you are eternally saved" or did He say "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved?"

Answer 1

Read Galatians again.

We aren't promised a rose garden.  To serve God will take a lot from us- TIME, our money maybe, but mostly TIME and caring.  This isn't always easy.

But it our faith which produces the "works".  All the works do not produce the saving faith, nor earn the reward of eternal life, or salvation.

It is the salvation which then produces the actions.

My "works", yes, a person's actions, words, and their very character proves what is in them.

If one has Christ- what do you expect from them? "bad fruit?"  If a person says I have Christ but you see no good fruit- do you think they really do have Christ within?

Read Romans and Galations again.

Answer 2

I agree with the comment about your point being so well made. There are those that would say I'm prejudiced as that is my belief also. But I will point out that Nigelshiftright is wrong about rejecting any part of the scripture, but especially Paul's writings as he was instructed personally by Jesus for about three and a half years in the desert.

Gal 1:11  For I make known to you, brethren, as touching the gospel which was preached by me, that it is not after man.

Gal 1:12  For neither did I receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Jesus Christ.

Gal 1:13  For ye have heard of my manner of life in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and made havoc of it:

Gal 1:14  and I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

Gal 1:15  But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me, even from my mother's womb, and called me through his grace,

Gal 1:16  to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles; straightway I conferred not with flesh and blood:

Gal 1:17  neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were apostles before me: but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned unto Damascus.

Gal 1:18  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and tarried with him fifteen days.

This is in Acts - after Christ's death.

Act 9:13  But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many of this man, how much evil he did to thy saints at Jerusalem:

Act 9:14  and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.

Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and the children of Israel:

Act 9:16  for I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Answer 3

Im going out on a limb here, but... best christian question i've seen in some time. Nicely done.

Answer 4

Jesus never said things would be easy, in fact He said that we would be persecuted.  BTW, the Gospel of John is my favorite of the four Gospels.  No following Jesus isn't easy, because you deny yourself things of this world, because you are focused on the next.  We are to live with in this world yet not be a part of it.  Not an easy thing to do, day in and day out.

Blessings

Answer 5

St. Paul was clearly (to me) a heretic. His doctrine of salvation was made up out of thin air. This is not what Jesus taught or intended to teach. Paul did not know Jesus and so between what he overheard decades after Jesus' death, and his own re-interpretation that he thought necessary to "spread the word" in a palatable fashion, it seems certain that the teachings of Jesus were distorted, and in a most unfortunate way.

Paul changed Christianity from a religion of doing good works in order to gain paradise,  to a religion of merely believing in Jesus to be saved.

I think if you want the spirit of Jesus, do not read Paul.

Answer 6

I know of nowhere in the NT that Christ said you could simply state that you believe in him and you'd be saved. What he did say was "repent or perish". He was very clear about what the cost was to follow him. Those who tout this rubbish that all you have to do is accept Christ as your savior and you're destined for heaven are quite mistaken. If they read what CHRIST taught they would KNOW.

Answer 7

I don't believe we can know that we are saved. Presumption is a dangerous path to walk on. This can lead us to a potentially false security.

"Those who accept the Saviour, however sincere their conversion, should never be taught to say or to feel that they are saved. This is misleading. Every one should be taught to cherish hope and faith; but even when we give ourselves to Christ and know that He accepts us, we are not beyond the reach of temptation. God's word declares, "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried." Daniel 12:10. Only he who endures the trial will receive the crown of life. (James 1:12.)"  {COL 155.1}

GOD bless

Answer 8

No. We are saved by mercy and grace of God.