Why Would God Care What We Believe?

[ElCodeMonkey]

Let's assume the typical Christian orthodox of Jesus dying for our sins is true and that we must believe in him to be saved. I don't care to prove that it's true or not in this thread--we''ll just assume it is--but rather WHY does God care what we believe? Why would God be so intent on ensuring we believe something rather than only being intent on ensuring what we physically do with our lives? I'm not looking for "it's both" or the like, I'm wondering why God cares about the former at all. Why would our thoughts even matter to God and not only our actions?

[postroad]

[Replying to post 40 by mrhagerty]

What was so self evidently true about Jesus?

[Deleted]

"Replying to post 41 by postroad"

What was so self evidently true about Jesus?

I'm confused. Where was I discussing self-evident truths or claims?

[postroad]

[Replying to post 42 by mrhagerty]

You said that the Pharisees rejected Christ even though they should have known that he was the Messiah.

What made Jesus self evident as the Messiah?

[Deleted]

"Replying to 43 by postroad"

You said that the Pharisees rejected Christ even though they should have known that he was the Messiah.

What made Jesus self evident as the Messiah?

Ah. Excellent question.

As custodians they should have seen in OT scripture the calling cards for identifying Messiah. They did see them but when it came to Jesus whom they saw fulfilling them, they reinterpreted them to not apply to Messiah so they would not have to acknowledge him.

Case in point - the Suffering Servant section In Isaiah 50-53 is obviously a reference to Messiah because of the identity of the person at the beginning. Because Jesus fulfilled this section so minutely (down to the pulling out of the beard) they conspired to make this whole section about Israel suffering as a nation. Problem is: how do you assign the following away from what exactly happened to Jesus and make it apply to Israel:

I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. - Isa 50:6

How do you apply 53:9 where Messiah is given a rich man's grave to Israel. How do you bury a nation in a rich man's grave?

Also, the Jews always identified this section with Messiah before Christ appeared. Only after did they fiddle with it.

But Jesus said that they should have recognized the voice of the Father in their hearts all along, such that when the Son came they would readily know him.

The whole parable of the landowner is about this. Matt 21:33 ff

[postroad]

[Replying to post 44 by mrhagerty]

When it suits your purpose suddenly you have no objection to absolute literal interpretation without taking context into consideration?

It's not even worth my time explaining the context. What would be the point?

If eternity can fit into a thousand years I suppose a nation can fit into a single grave.

[Deleted]

"postroad"

If eternity can fit into a thousand years I suppose a nation can fit into a single grave.

Imposing carnal expectations on Scripture is simply misguided. You wouldn't sit still for that in the case of demanding evolution be understood from biblical expectations.

[postroad]

[Replying to post 46 by mrhagerty]

I don't argue for evolution. I have never familiarized myself with it.

[Deleted]

"Replying to post 47 by postroad"

I don't argue for evolution. I have never familiarized myself with it.

So,like, you can't comprehend the analogy? You only have to know that evolution is explained in the terms of science. Placing a requirement to understand it from the perspective of the unscientific book called the Bible would be rejected out of hand.

Yet you complain the biblical explanations don't make sense under carnal expectations

[postroad]

[Replying to post 48 by mrhagerty]

Something is true based on its conformity to reality. Anything else is conjecture or worse.

[Deleted]

"Replying to post 49 by postroad"

Something is true based on its conformity to reality. Anything else is conjecture or worse.

How do you tell what is reality in order to test conformity? We all have presuppositions and starting points that can skew what we accept as real.

The Pharisees had a world view of what the reality of religion was about. Jesus came on the scene and began clarifying what that reality was. He was even recognized for having exceptional insight and authority.

But their test of conformity to what was real was dead wrong.