Sorry for not replying sooner. IT's been a busy past two days. Is that an honest question of curiosity with intentions of considering becoming one? OR are you just fishing for an answer to laugh at or say it isn't good enough?

Neither one.

So why would you know if you wouldn't consider changing beliefs?

That wasnt your first option. If you are this guarded with people, dont make a ama post.

I'm not "guarded", I simply was asking your motive behind your question. I guess it really has no deeper meaning to it so I'll just answer the best I can. And the best way for me to do that is through a personal testimony. When I went to college, I was lost. I forgot about my faith. I personally was asked to go to church numerous times but I constantly said "No thanks" and never went. I was smoking pot, watching porn, lusting over girls every day, cursing, blah blah blah. I just didn't care. I was a fake Christian. I had a bible next to my bed but it collected dust throughout the semester. When I came back home, I reunited with a bunch of positive friends that helped pull me out of that darkness. They weren't really aware of all my problems, but I got invited to a bible study so I decided why not? So I went. And I felt like every single word that was read or said that night was directed specifically towards me. It was crazy how accurate everything was. I felt so convicted. I literally felt so overwhelmed that I nearly broke down in tears but I managed to hold myself together. When I left that night, I couldn't stop thinking about everything that had just happened. I literally had elt the presence of God inside of me. Like he was hidden and was finally uncovered. Like "Here I am! I've been here all along you have simply forgotten about me!" This next part may seem like complete bologna to you. OR maybe just lucky or a coincidence but I don't. I don't think so at all. It is actually one of the most memorable parts of my turnaround. I've never told anyone this expect for a few extremely close friends. I got home and laid down in the driveway. And this is what I said, "Lord.... it's been a long time since I've set aside for you like this. I've neglected you and gone astray. But tonight I felt you pulling me back. I felt your power and love. I know you are here with me now, listening to me. Can you give me a sign to show me that you are here? Just a shooting star that no one else will ever see, just me." And LITERALLY ONE SECOND LATER a shooting star shot straight across the sky. I nearly lost my breath and couldn't even believe that it just happened. If you wanna disregard that story then go for it, I can make you believe it. But I know what I said, saw, and how I felt immediately after it happened. Over the next couple months, I felt the intensity and passion for my new found faith constantly. I found the word of the bible jumped off the page at me and everything seemed relate able or interesting to read. I would end up reading non stop for hours. I started building new relationships with new people and old friends through the church and activities. I found enjoyment in new things. I could actually go and do other things other than smoking or fapping to porn. Life had meaning again all of a sudden. I prayed more and more and actually learned what it meant to build a personal relationship with God through prayer. And over time, exactly that happens. He is always there and always ready to listen. The reason you should become Christian? Well my answer is because I want everyone to feel these things that I've felt. To witness God's enduring power and love. And for everyone to realize the inheritance they having waiting on them in heaven and to chase after it with me. It doesn't get much more personal than that.

Thanks for sharing. My problem is, salvation is personal, and although that worked for you (the feels) that doesn't work for me because as I've already mentioned, that is your story. Like, i can literally go outside, say the same thing, and not see a shooting star. U get me? Your testimony, as life changing as it was for you, doesn't apply to all. So what I'm saying is, there has to be more than personal experience. He is God right? The all powerful, all knowing superior being whom makes Himself available to all who seek, and draws them to Him. Do you think there is a possibility that, even thought salvation is for all (john316) that maybe He has selected and predestined His children?

Also, that is my story. You can't go into Christianity simply hoping to see a miracle or something mind blowing. You have to want it truly in your heart. Its searching for Christ and his eternal love. It's truly giving yourself to God and putting in all in his hands while carrying out his plans for us here on Earth in the mean time. He wants us to spread the good word and to bring people to his kingdom. Simple. And if we are faithful and true to his word, he will show us things unimaginably awesome and incredible.

"If we are faithful and true to His word" Does this mean you believe we are saved by God and by works?

We are saved through Jesus. And no, we are not judged by our works although they are cherries on top once we are judged. Doing good things things is always a good thing. Haha no pun intended.

That's a tricky question. And the answer is yes and no. Technically he knows all, correct? He knows what will happen to all of us. Except there is one thing: free will. We can choose to do as we please. He still knows all of the decisions we will face and the outcome no matter what path we choose. So he knows each and every one o our possible destinies. But I believe that everyone has the potential destiny to end up in heaven.

I see. So you say we have the ability as sinners to choose God?

Yes, because every single living being on Earth is a sinner. Once you have sinned, it has entered your life and therefore can reside there until the end of your time here on Earth.

"Sinners when we sin" Weren't we all born sinners? & doesn't the bible say sin veils us, making us unable to see/choose God? It literally says we can't do that Rom3:23

Well not literally. Without having Christ in our hearts, sin veils us from his light. We must seek out his light in order to be saved from these sins. That's the reason Jesus died on the cross for us, so that we could be saved from our sins. Here is a commentary on the passage by Matthew Henry: [quote]3:21-26 Must guilty man remain under wrath? Is the wound for ever incurable? No; blessed be God, there is another way laid open for us. This is the righteousness of God; righteousness of his ordaining, and providing, and accepting. It is by that faith which has Jesus Christ for its object; an anointed Saviour, so Jesus Christ signifies. Justifying faith respects Christ as a Saviour, in all his three anointed offices, as Prophet, Priest, and King; trusting in him, accepting him, and cleaving to him: in all these, Jews and Gentiles are alike welcome to God through Christ. There is no difference, his righteousness is upon all that believe; not only offered to them, but put upon them as a crown, as a robe. It is free grace, mere mercy; there is nothing in us to deserve such favours. It comes freely unto us, but Christ bought it, and paid the price. And faith has special regard to the blood of Christ, as that which made the atonement. God, in all this, declares his righteousness. It is plain that he hates sin, when nothing less than the blood of Christ would satisfy for it. And it would not agree with his justice to demand the debt, when the Surety has paid it, and he has accepted that payment in full satisfaction.[/quote]

He doesn't even address my point *sad* On a different note, did you see the strange fire conference?

But he does, everything there explains how we can pursue God through sin because of Jesus. And no I haven't.