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 50 by mrhagerty]

Christ's follows believed through the Spirit that his return was imminent. They were wrong. That's the reality. Christianity is blasphemy from a Jewish perspective. Even from a strictly pragmatic position it is foolishness to boldly claim that those who first believed, have been damned by their own God and this as a predetermined event.

I'm supposed to weigh that on the balance of probabilities and come out in favour of the side who is claiming the title of new covenant while simply not fulfilling the prophecies?

That would be foolhardy if one considers the character described in the OT.

[Deleted]

"Replying to post 50 by postroad"

Christ's follows believed through the Spirit that his return was imminent. They were wrong. That's the reality.

There is no predictive prophecy that Christ was returning in a specific time frame where a test of fulfillment could be conducted.

The parable of the thief in the night controls the meaning of statements about His coming. We are to be on guard and live as though he comes tonight, much as the owner of the house is to be prepared each night, even if the thief doesn't come when expected.

If you think there was an expected time and Jesus failed to do it, why is there not a single testimony in the early church that Jesus failed to fulfill such a prophecy. Search all you want, you won't find anyone complaining.

And the Jews upset with the Christian movement would have been hot on the money to expose this. They say nothing.

Even from a strictly pragmatic position it is foolishness to boldly claim that those who first believed, have been damned by their own God

You only have to consult the NT to find the actual reason why this abhorrent eventuality occurred. They had abandoned true faith in favor of man-made traditions which they elevated above the Word of their Father. They had converted Judaism into an institution they controlled not God. They were now a people who did not know God.

I agree with you it is mind-boggling. But it happened.

and this as a predetermined event.

Not so. Predicting an event based on foreknowledge of all events is not pre-determining the event to occur.

[postroad]

[Replying to post 52 by mrhagerty]

In fact many instances of predictive fulfillment exist. Usually followed by a textualy awkward walking back of the statement.

[Deleted]

"Replying to 53 by postroad"

In fact many instances of predictive fulfillment exist. Usually followed by a textualy awkward walking back of the statement.

My claim above wasn't that there were no predictive prophecies, but no predictive prophecy that Christ was returning in a specific time frame

[postroad]

[Replying to post 54 by mrhagerty]

I am coming soon,this is the last hour, this generation will not pass, you will not go through the towns of Israel before, the generation to which the culmination of the ages has come, what is it to you if he doesn't taste death, the kingdom of God is at hand, if you can accept it John is the Elijah that was to come, we who are alive until he comes, and even more so as we see the Day aproaching. Do not roll up the scroll of the prophecy because the time is near, what must soon take place

Not sure if I have the wording exact but that's what I can recall just off the top of my head.

[Deleted]

[postroad]