If I read though all the above, I understand why Paul wrote in Titus "but avoid foolish questions and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law, for they are unprofitable and in vain.
Charlie, I am afraid you have seriously mistaken the intentions of this forum and the good people in it. We do not permit un-caring or unloving behavior.
If you read in the scriptures further about the verse you quote, you will see it is talking about the old law, not the doctrine of Christ. Regarding the doctrine of Christ, we are to study to show one's self is approved and learn what the will of God is.
2 Timothy 2:15
15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
They were very kind to you an only obeying the following verse in love for your soul.
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
Please do not be offended but surely, if you are a believer, you would have seen that they were following the example of all spiritual teachers to help those in error to see their wrong BUT if we are wrong, we WELCOME your reasoning and teaching too because we need to know if we are wrong too since it is God's Word that matters here to our souls, not egos or pride.
So please stay and share your thoughts and the scriptures that give it authority.
I do appreciate your efforts to use scripture but please look into what I have pointed out that we are supposed to study the Word of God and Truth is never a useless controversy, only the Old Law, which does not count anylonger since Christ fulfilled it.
Acts 3:18
But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
If I were an unbeliever on this forum, I would have packed my bags by now. Wonder if other religions also differ like this among themselves?
Just to add the final bit of confusion: Paul says Phil. 1:23 that he longs to leave this life *and be with Christ*. And where is Christ?
The discussions are great and should continue, but let all of us remain humble and remember that we only know in part.
At the time this was written, "know in part" the Word of God was not completely given. Now the complete Word has been given so we can know in full. We can know what we need to, to be saved. That is why were were talking of baptism and salvation, a subject that I am sure you would agree that God wants us to know and because God loves us, wants us to know in completeness.
Please consider this wonderful verse that shows that God did not give us only part of what we need to be saved, but everything we require of Him.
2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
For my part, if on earth I am able to enter into God's glorious presence (as far as we can while in this body) where nothing else matters and time ceases to exist; I can't wait to get there and just be with Him!
Amen!
The most sensible (I think) description I've ever had of hell, is of a guy called Isiaha Reed (see the link
www.isaiahreed.com for the full story). In short, he was a drug dealer who was killed in a drug deal that went wrong. Doctor phoned his Mom while he was laying on autopsy table, cut open. Mom prays, God raises him up. In a recent sermon he repeatedly says: if you don't know God, don't die!
He uses the scripture that says whatever man sows, that will he reap. Says that when he died and was in hell / hades / wherever, he was without a body, but his soul was as alive as ever, and he craved sex, drugs, power and revenge as badly as ever, but could not satisfy any of those desires.
It made sense to me in that what could be a more just verdict that that? What you sow, you will reap. On the other hand, I've also seen a documentary of a pastor who had been dead for 3 days before the Lord raised him up, with a real horror story. (The Lazarus Phenomenon, it is called).
OK, now I've said a lot when initially I just wanted to leave a short comment.
Bottomline: let's stay humble. We don't know all.