>>I don't believe in an afterlife (though many Jews do), so I'll be judged by my community, my descendants and history.
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>>As for how well I'm doing, I can judge that based on how people respond to me. When they welcome my presence and involvement, it's a sign that I've made myself welcome by past behavior. If eyes roll when I show up for a committee meeting or the like, then maybe I'm not doing so well. When I hear regularly that my children are contributing to their respective communities, it's a sign I've done well in raising them. And so forth and so on.
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>>I'll turn the question around. How can _you_ know how well you're doing along the way? Surely just trusting in Jesus isn't enough?
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>>Tamar
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>Trusting in Jesus IS enough. As a matter of fact, trust in Jesus plus anything else amounts to a false religion. Someone once said if we aim to provide any of our righteousness, we are bound to provide all of it. I am trusting in Jesue alone and his work on the cross to satisfy God's requirement that every sin be punished.
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>I believe that Jesus' took the punishment I deserve when He was crucified. That satisfied God and my "slate is clean" so to speak. Now, I do still continue to sin. While this is not my desire, it does still happen and I still struggle with sin. However, all of my sin (past and future) were paid for by Jesus and is forgiven. Some will say that I have a license now to sin all I want - and maybe I do. However, I don't want to sin anymore. God has changed me and now I am no longer satisfied with sinning. It upsets me and its something I avoid whenever I can.
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>I am surrounded by many people who are willing to evaluate my actions and my life. If they see something that appears to be a sinful lifestyle, they will speak to me. If that doesn't work, they will speak to the Elders at my church who will counsel me. If that doesn't work, I will be asked to leave our church. There is a great deal of accountability in that - for which I am very appreciative.

Howard;

What about trusting in God or the Holy Trinity? Does the Bible state that such beliefs are false? If you believe in the Son, then why is it wrong to believe in the Father or Holy Spirit?

Tom