# My Amazing Encounters with Jesus Christ **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 2, 2016, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774 "2016-03-02T22:47:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 20
**Author:** ![ScottRP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ScottRP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScottRP)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/381 "2016-03-09T22:41:04Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > What about all the Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrans and atheists? > > Surely there are more than 75-80 that have died without seeking forgiveness from Jesus. > > Do they just get a hall pass right to heaven? I could not possibly make atonement for all the dead in hell. Their would be others like myself that make atonement as well. The Catholic Church makes atonement for the dead in Purgatory. ---
**Author:** ![ScottRP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ScottRP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScottRP)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/382 "2016-03-09T22:42:27Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Where did you get that statistic? It’s a secret and I am not telling. lol 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/383 "2016-03-09T22:57:28Z")
> [@ScottRP](#): > > It means to be more kind, loving, gentle, considerate, caring, giving, and forgiving. Words, then. Shame. I was hoping your faith had actually made you a better person. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/384 "2016-03-09T23:01:13Z")
> [@ScottRP](#): > > I could not possibly make atonement for all the dead in hell. Their would be others like myself that make atonement as well. The Catholic Church makes atonement for the dead in Purgatory. How can you atone for another’s sin if you do not atone for your own … or are you without sin? ---
**Author:** ![ScottRP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ScottRP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScottRP)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/385 "2016-03-09T23:28:29Z")
**Spirit of truth & eyes of the Lord** The Spirit of truth and eyes of the Lord are one and the same Holy Spirit. [Please notice the pupil of the human eye.](http://i.imgur.com/HmoBrCK.jpg) [The center dot in this photo is the pupil of the Spirit of truth. This is the eye of the Lord.](http://i.imgur.com/FXRAW5Y.jpg) The photo above is the Spirit of truth looking directly at the camera man and bearing witness to him taking the photograph. 1 John 5:6. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. The Holy Spirit also bears witness to our consciousness. Romans 9:1. I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit. It is through the Spirit that Father God and Jesus hear our prayers. Romans 8:26. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning’s which cannot be uttered. God demonstrates His presence here on earth through the eyes of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 16:9. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of _those_ whose heart is loyal to Him. Psalm 34:15. The eyes of the Lord _are_ on the righteous, And His ears _are open_ to their cry. Psalm 33:18-19. Behold, the eye of the LORD _is_ on those who hope in His mercy. To deliver their soul from death, ---
**Author:** ![ScottRP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ScottRP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScottRP)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/386 "2016-03-09T23:43:24Z")
**The Holy Spirit glorifies Christ** The Spirit of truth bears witness to the indwelt Spirit of Christ in the Christian. The Spirit of truth glorifies Christ by bearing witness that we belong to Christ and declaring this to the Apostles who sit on the thrones of judgment so that we are not judged and may go onto the Father. Jesus said to the Apostles - John 16:13. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will nor speak on His own _authority,_ but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine. Therefore I said He will take of Mine and declare _it_ to you. This is how Christ builds His kingdom through the Holy Spirit here on earth. Romans 8:16. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/387 "2016-03-10T00:56:43Z")
Or perhaps, > [@James 2:14-26](#): > > What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. > > But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. > > Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? > > For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Your words are meaningless. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/388 "2016-03-10T01:07:35Z")
> [@ScottRP](#): > > Jesus said to the Apostles - > > John 16:13. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will nor speak on His own _authority,_ but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine. Therefore I said He will take of Mine and declare _it_ to you. Should I wait until he tells it to me directly, or did he tell you to tell me instead? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/389 "2016-03-10T03:25:13Z")
> [@ScottRP](#): > > When I asked Him about them going to heaven, He would not have said that I would make atonement for them if they were not going to be saved. I gotta parse this. _He would not have said that I would make atonement for them if they were not going to be saved_ equals \* He would have said that I would make atonement for them if they were going to be saved.\* So that means you rescued 75-80 souls from Hell by interceding on their behalf? You did say you were a business consultant. Did you sell indulgences? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/390 "2016-03-10T03:39:30Z")
> [@ScottRP](#): > > **Spirit of truth & eyes of the Lord** > > The Spirit of truth and eyes of the Lord are one and the same Holy Spirit. > > [Please notice the pupil of the human eye.](http://i.imgur.com/HmoBrCK.jpg) > > [The center dot in this photo is the pupil of the Spirit of truth. This is the eye of the Lord.](http://i.imgur.com/FXRAW5Y.jpg) > > The photo above is the Spirit of truth looking directly at the camera man and bearing witness to him taking the photograph. Wait, you said before they were chariots. You also said before there were both good and evil spirits. How do you know that blob is good, much less the Spirit of Truth? Do they have certain blob charactereistics to indicate which side they’re on? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/391 "2016-03-10T03:50:28Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > I gotta parse this. > > _He would not have said that I would make atonement for them if they were not going to be saved_ > > equals > \* > He would have said that I would make atonement for them if they were going to be saved.\* > > So that means you rescued 75-80 souls from Hell by interceding on their behalf? You did say you were a business consultant. Did you sell indulgences? Of course not. He was 9 years old, remember? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/392 "2016-03-10T03:55:38Z")
I’m more struck by the idea that the difference between eternal salvation, and an eternity in the lake of fire, was left up to the discretion of a mortal. That seems a gross abdication of responsibility on the part of Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/393 "2016-03-10T05:27:45Z")
> [@ScottRP](#): > > Jesus can appear to whomever, whenever, and for whatever He wants. He is the Son of God after all. I can assure you Jesus has not appeared to me; certainly not in the clear manner you’ve described. Why is that? Jesus loves everybody and wants everybody to accept his message, shouldn’t he appear to everyone who needs to hear it directly? As you note, he has the capability to do this. Is Jesus intentionally refusing to appear to some people even though he knows they will not be saved as a result? Why do you think Jesus chose to appear to you and didn’t choose to appear to me? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/394 "2016-03-10T05:37:13Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’m more struck by the idea that the difference between eternal salvation, and an eternity in the lake of fire, was left up to the discretion of a mortal. That seems a gross abdication of responsibility on the part of Jesus. This is definitely not a settled issue in Christian dogma. Many Christians argue the exact opposite is true. If a person could save themselves by their actions - including the act of accepting Jesus as their savior - then this means people can compel God into doing something. If you accept Jesus as your savior, for example, then God has to let you into Heaven. Many Christians reject this possibility - they say that God is omnipotent and therefore no person can make God do something. So you could sincerely accept Jesus as your savior and do all of the other requirements of being a Christian - and God could still decide to subject you to eternal damnation. On the more positive side, God can also do the opposite and accept anyone into Heaven even though they didn’t fulfill any of the requirements. The endpoint of this line of argument is that God decides who to save and who to damn as he wishes and nothing that we do in our lifetime has any effect on the decision. Which seems to make the whole idea of religion moot. Therefore many Christians who present the argument I just made reject the conclusion that follows from it. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/395 "2016-03-10T07:27:50Z")
> [@ScottRP](#): > > [The center dot in this photo is the pupil of the Spirit of truth. This is the eye of the Lord.](http://i.imgur.com/FXRAW5Y.jpg) > > The photo above is the Spirit of truth looking directly at the camera man and bearing witness to him taking the photograph. No it isn’t. It is a known and reproducible optical effect that happens when you take out-of-focus pictures of point light sources with a poor quality lens. (Actually, it’s really difficult to avoid even in high quality lenses, but cheap ones do it worse). It is discussed in depth [here](http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2014/05/02/the-end-of-onion-ring-bokeh-panasonic-beats-the-curse-of-aspheric-lenses) and [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spherical_aberration). I’m sorry if it seems like I am trying to tear down your faith - I am not; I am just trying to point out that you are ascribing a supernatural explanation to something that already has a very well-understood natural reason. I’d be doing the same if you were claiming that the trees wave around because of magic, when in fact, it’s just the wind. ---
**Author:** ![Latro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@Latro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latro)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/396 "2016-03-10T10:53:54Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Why do you think Jesus chose to appear to you and didn’t choose to appear to me? He doesn’t need to then. You are apparently a good man that doesn’t need saving. You are already going to heaven. **ScottRP** , however, was already inherantly evil at the age of 9 and needed direct intervention from God. His chances at recedivism are such that he requires regular attention. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/397 "2016-03-10T11:22:37Z")
I am genuinely starting to [worry](http://arno.uvt.nl/show.cgi?fid=114836) about the OP. Still, as long as no one is getting hurt he can believe what he likes. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/398 "2016-03-10T17:57:47Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Or perhaps, > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by James 2:14-26 > > What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. > > > > But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. > > > > Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? > > > > For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. > > Your words are meaningless. Thank you, **andros** , this brought a tear to my eye. ---
**Author:** ![ScottRP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ScottRP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScottRP)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/399 "2016-03-10T19:18:58Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Or perhaps, > > Your words are meaningless. Faith without works is dead. So is a person dead without faith. ---
**Author:** ![ScottRP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ScottRP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScottRP)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774/400 "2016-03-10T19:21:20Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Should I wait until he tells it to me directly, or did he tell you to tell me instead? He has already taught you through Sacred Scripture. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774.md?page=19) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-amazing-encounters-with-jesus-christ/747774.md?page=21)