BS. They already are wiped out. ISIS pretty much finished cleaning them out in Iraq/Syria.
Not sure what you mean by "I'm still not making it to Heaven."
But let me, for a couple of minutes, discuss 'belief' and 'faith'. Believing God exists as the Creator, and believing in Jesus Christ, as God's only begotten son and our Savior..... is simply not enough. Maybe that's what you meant (and maybe not). After all, even the Devil himself, believes in God and in Jesus. The Devil tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness (unsuccessfully, of course), as he knew that Christ Jesus was/is God's son, and was sent to save mankind. God loves us, and only wants good things for us. He knows that the Devil only wants to bring us pain and despair and suffering.
What it takes, beyond belief, is faith. By that, I mean having faith (believing) that God is your Heavenly Father. It also means recognizing that God sent Christ Jesus to Earth.... to teach us and be an example for us.... and to eventually be sacrificed on the cross. The purpose of the sacrifice, was for Jesus' blood to be spilled upon the Earth. It meant that the holy blood of Jesus was forever here, to wash us clean of sin...... if we repent of those sins, and accept Christ Jesus as our Savior. The Bible tells us that God loved the Son, and delivered all things into His hands. This is why Christians utter their prayers to God "in the name of Jesus".
Further, once you establish your faith, you are required to act upon your faith..... by trying to live your daily life, as God would want you to do. Jesus' new Commandment is "That ye love one another, even as I have loved you." This not only means that we should approach each other in a civil manner, but that we also are commanded to forgive one another.
The Bible clearly tells us that more than once, Jesus stated (about helping others), "Even as you have done unto these, you have done unto me." That works both ways. In other words, charity and kindness and forgiveness shown to others, is received by Jesus as well. Finding fault, and hating, and divisiveness toward others...... is also seen/felt by Jesus, and displeases Him.
Where the Bible states God gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall have everlasting life..... it means that if you believe Christ Jesus is God's son and our Savior..... you must then conduct yourself in a manner reflective of Christ's example, to enter into the kingdom of Heaven and live forever in Paradise.
That's nice. You can't base your entire view of the gospel on John 3:16.
I don't have faith. There isn't a reason for me to because I wasn't chosen by God to have faith. I haven't been picked for regeneration and therefore don't have any hope of a future in heaven. It somewhat stinks for me, but I don't have a choice.
.Just for the record, [STRIKE]there are several (many?)[/STRIKE]most of us disagree with your own assessment of your future.
Arminianism and Calvinism are diametrically opposed and they are both non Biblical.
That's nice. You can't base your entire view of the gospel on John 3:16.
I don't have faith. There isn't a reason for me to because I wasn't chosen by God to have faith. I haven't been picked for regeneration and therefore don't have any hope of a future in heaven. It somewhat stinks for me, but I don't have a choice.
Yup. Both of you make my point quite well.
I want to answer you, but you know everything I would say.
Nevertheless, you are always in my prayers that you'll realize that you are chosen.
I appreciate the thoughts, but objectively looking back at my life it makes quite a bit more sense if I view myself as unsaved. Things happen for reasons and then when this realization hit me, things snapped into focus.
The Damned point is that those that reject the free gift (redundant) of love and eternal life from God choose their own fate.