
Originally Posted by
ATCChris
Religion doesn't matter, per se. I would argue that our founders, in their own words, and that of nearly all of them, designed our constitution for a moral and religious people (not a particular denomination of religion), so it does matter whether or not we agree that our rights do not derive from the government, but from our Creator.
As for in general, this is what matters: Do you have a relationship with God. Are you qualified to spend eternity with Him or not. You may or may not believe in God, or the God of the Bible, but since we're talking about "possible", I'm telling you that the God of the Bible is interested in a relationship with you, and always has been. The problem is that every one of us has rebelled against God, and the penalty of that is eternal separation from Him. Some may say "punishment", but I say penalty.. perhaps a better word is "outcome". Our rebellion is called, by God, sin. Our disobedience of our Creator. This has put a chasm between us and God. This chasm can only be satisfied by sacrifice.. and in the God of the Bible's way, that sacrifice must always be the innocent for the guilty. All of Jewish ritual sacrifice was a "lamb without spot" for the sins of the family. God manifested Himself in our world as Jesus, lived a perfect life, and gave Himself as a sacrifice.. the innocent for the guilty.... so that He could say, "paid in full". The only way to enter into the manifest presence of God is as a spotless, sinless person.. the only way to get to that state for any human is to accept Jesus' sacrifice.
So... I would say what matters.... how does God see you? Sinful or Sinless? If you don't have the blood of the lamb covering you, you cannot enter His presence. So.. to me that's what life is about.. what happens during the limited time on earth is just a shadow... and yes, there are heretics who then say "what does it matter what you do, then" you can't call Jesus Lord and accept His sacrifice and believe like that. It's not in human nature.