Posted by hyperfocus on August 9, 2010, at 15:43:12
In reply to one question, posted by manic666 on July 28, 2010, at 6:44:57
What you're asking is one of the hardest questions in Christianity. I've seen on TV murderers in prison say that they're happy because they know God has forgiven their sins. One guy said it was ok to murder a couple of people and then commit suicide because he believed that God forgives all our sins, whether it's stealing candy or multiple homicide. Probably the most famous act of forgiveness was when Jesus forgave the guy who was crucified next to him, seemingly in an instant, just for saying he believed in him.
Only thing that I understand about it is that God may be many things, but he is a just God. And Jesus said he didn't come to overthrow the law. So if you break the law then justice demands that you pay for it. So those guys in prison are right - they are forgiven, but they still have to pay for what they did. And the guy who killed those women and then shot himself? He's also forgiven, but he still has to pay for what he has done. The idea of karma and reincarnation is pretty important in Eastern religions, and maybe what Christians call purgatory might match up with the idea of being born in another life in a condition that reflects your karma? Just speculating here. But maybe the guy next to Jesus had already been brought to justice for his sins and that's why Jesus told him what he did.
poster:hyperfocus
thread:956183
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20100403/msgs/958053.html