Jesus fish are the easiest to shoot in a barrel

To: darthgrills@hotmail.com
From: geekable

In your article dated December 31, 2003, you state that,

Jesus taught that unless you obey God’s Old Testament laws to the letter, you don’t have a fighting chance at getting into heaven. He taught that it all comes down to one question: do you rely on faith alone in God to save you, or are you counting on your own efforts?

Well, I decided to do a quick check in the Bible, and in Luke 16:16, it says "The law and the prophets were until John [the Baptist]: since that time the kingdom of heaven is preached." It also says in Romans 6:14 that "Ye are not under the law, but under grace", and in Ephesians 2:15 it points out that Jesus "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances". It seems like the New Testament is trying to point out that you no longer have to obey the laws of the Old Testament -- wasn't it called the New Covenant? Maybe your fact-checker can research that.

You also state that,

And [Jesus] didn’t just run with the poor. What about Matthew the tax collector? He wasn’t doing so bad before he decided to follow Jesus. And Joseph of Arimathea, the rich man who loved Jesus so much he had his body placed in his own tomb?

Matthew 19:24 tells us Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." So even though some rich people may have "run with" Jesus, it sounds like they had another thing coming when they reached the pearly gates.

But I'm not a very religious person, so I probably have no idea what I'm talking about, right? I'm only reading the Bible! Still, when you say,

Jesus’ teachings aren’t a salad buffet. You don’t just pick what you want. You can’t hold onto “do unto others as you have them do unto you” and ignore the fact that Jesus said he sits at the right hand of God and that he’ll return someday. Believe it all or don’t believe at all.

I am reminded of Ephesians 1:1-11, which makes it quite clear that believers and non-believers alike don't have a choice of whether we go to heaven or hell; it was decided before we were ever born.

Good day,
Jeffrey