New Leaf,
These are my thoughts and beliefs -- take what you like and leave the rest. I in no way intend to disrespect your beliefs or try to convert you to my way of thinking! That would be impossible and you are fine just the way you are!

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Its true Bible based Christianity does have a litmus test for believers and that litmus test IS the sacrifice God made of his only Son, Jesus Christ. The reason I believe it is so important to most denominations is that in the Old Testament, the priests had to concecrate the sacrificial meat, they had to bathe, they had to wear certain kinds of clothing, they had to do this and that and to the letter of the law in order for God to be pleased with their sacrifice.

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Yes, this is the Jewish law and Paul was one of the most ardent in holding up the Jewish law before he received what he believed was his mission. In Jesus' time there were many different sects of Judiasm and they each followed the law differently. And, even with the beginning of the Christian church there was a great deal of hostility between those who felt that Christianity was only for Jews who had been circumsized (like Peter's group) and those who felt that it was open to all (Paul). Paul very much preached, as he began a new church, that Christ had come to be sacrificed as the new law. Hence, your litmus test.

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True love saw our helpless state and had pity on us flailing about in our sin. To me, Casey, love requires extreme sacrifice sometimes. In my own life I've certainly been called upon to put things on hold that I wanted for myself and have lost a lot but in losing I've gained so much!

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We all make choices which can be viewed as sacrifices. We say no to one thing in order to say yes to something else. It all depends on how you look at it. I can't say that I have ever sacrificed. I have given things up, in order to make different choices. I have made poor choices and good choices! I believe that Jesus shows us a way, a path to better living and that is as much, if not more, important to me, than whether or not he died on a cross. I accept that it is my belief and not yours.

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John 3:16 says, "For God SOOO loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in Him won't perish, but will have everlasting life."

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Ah, yes, John...Can I believe in Jesus and can I follow Jesus's way without believing that he was sacrificed? God gave us his son so we could follow light. And look at where Jesus showed his light -- with the poor and the meek and the tax collectors. He broke bread with them and healed them. I believe that is what we are told to do -- to choose to extend love to all and to make the world a better place before we leave.

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The litmus test for knowing if someone is of God or an enemy of God is to mention the shed blood of Christ to them. A person who is not of God is angered by the blood of Christ. They don't even know why it angers them so much. A demon possessed person can't speak of the blood of Christ because it is so powerful.

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I don't know where this comes from. Or even what it means. So if I am angered by the blood of Christ then I don't believe in God? It just doesn't seem like anything I could relate to. And doesn't seem important to the Jesus I meet in the Bible. His love extended to all, not just to the believers.

Again -- my thoughts and beliefs -- take what you like and leave the rest.