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Do we have to agree on every single belief and interpretation of the Bible? I don't think so. In my church, I disagree with the official stands on the millennium and baptism. They say that I may not teach or promote my beliefs but can share them in my small group. I'm fine with that requirement...

Mat 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Mat 25:46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Very clearly, heaven is a...

God's goals for us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: 1Th 5:16 Rejoice always, 1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing, 1Th 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Ideation? God gives us little glimpses of heaven, hell, and the new earth in the Bible. I don't have any ideation of them beyond those peeks. Through Jesus' triumph, I just have assurance that I'm going to heaven and then the new earth without deserving any of such great, gracious, glorious gifts.

I was thankful that God led me in that direction, because it gave me many opportunities to talk sports with new people I met, as a point of contact leading to my witnessing to them later. If I had given it up, I wouldn't have had that icebreaker to begin a friendship.

@JustTheFacts, what is to prevent you from deciding that all the accounts are invalid, if you think some of them are? I'm curious. Also, why do you deflect my question from the prophecies to the gospels' authorship? Nevertheless, I assume that you have read the beginnings of Luke and Acts...

Those questions can give you openings to point them to the Bible as to "why," it seems to me, @Lamb.

Yes, all of us weren't born yet when Jesus died on the cross, but what point are you drawing from these passages, @brightfame52?

No, I interpret the Bible from its own viewpoint. You seem to be projecting on me your own pro-Catholic bias. However, why do you dismiss verse 21 so easily? It's in God's inspired Word. You said earlier that "devotion to Mary" started in the early church. Why and how did it start? However...

Maybe, Matthew didn't include verse 21 because it didn't fit his purpose in writing to Jewish Christians. Inspired Mark thought it was important because he wrote to Roman believers who had many doubts while under persecution in Rome. Mary and her sons' unbeliefs or doubts in going to take Jesus...

Well said, @brightfame52!

I think that the 500-year-old English language of the KJV is an obstacle to it communicating the truth. A more-up-to-date translation like the English Standard Version reveals the Bible's history and teachings much better, because language changes. If you don't agree, the KJV is roughly similar...

Now that I look at your two concluding paragraphs, I disagree that everyone will be saved, if that's what you are saying. The purpose of God is to save everyone he loved and chose before creation began with Jesus' shed blood. As a result, that purpose won't miserably fail "the Divine Purpose!"

My unbelieving friend would never ask a question about the Christian faith. But I have found ways to witness to him, by sharing what God has done for me and depending on the Holy Spirit's leading.

Agreed!

Well, what do you say about what Jesus said in response to their arrival to seize or arrest or take charge of Jesus? He was disagreeing with their actions at the very least.

In Acts 1:8, Jesus says to the disciples, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” This verse says why, but how are we supposed to witness? What must we say, for example?

1) Again, you're reading into the Revelation 12 passage your attempt to justify praying to Mary, which began in the 1500s, not in the Bible. 2) It does "make sense" that the first one is a collective symbol. Why not? Mary is not mentioned or referred to in the whole chapter. It's your addition...

I don't see any of your statements that we disagree on.

We aren't getting anywhere here in understanding each other, so I'm going stop. But I'm thankful that you folks, Stephen, do believe in the Trinity and all the most important Christian beliefs.