>>>>Hi Hilmar.
>>>>
>>>>But why would He send people with conficting message, especially the message concerning salvation?
>>>
>>>I don't think there are significant conflicts. Leaders of religion have often had the tendency to undermine the other faiths, but the basic message is one and the same.
>>
>>
>>Yes. The common theme seems to be love one another, this is universal.
>>
>>But when it come to person's salvation I think there is significant difference.
>>
>>For instance, Christian faith, you can't earn you way into salvation nor can you work yourself into salvation. Salvation is only by grace of God, a free gift through J. Christ. It's up to you to accept or reject the gift.
>>
>>In other religions, salvation is earned by being a "good" person by doing "good" deeds.
>
>But these really are the same thing, Dean.
>I mean, if a born-againer later goes around murdering people, robbing people, etc. then he ain't goin to heaven, regardless! Others will simply say that he wasn't REALLY 'born again' based on his deeds.
>So in the end everything comes down to good people doing good deeds.
>

Hi Jim.

I get your point. But doesn't it say that once your saved, your always saved?
But, one thing for sure in christianity, you can't earn your way into anything. I guess that's why they say, God doesn't want good deeds. They are like dirty rags to Him, but He wants (to change) your heart. I believe to Christians, goods are the by product of accepting Christ, not a means to go to "heaven".

If good deeds are all you need, then why do we God? All we would need is to be a good person. If I do 10 good things in my life and you only do 8 good things, does that mean I'm in and you're out? Or is anyone keeping score? :)

I think it's a fine line, but I think there definately a line there.
Personal religion is a tricky thing. That why I left DTS after 6 months, although I didn;t go there to became a clergy.