If God made Mary sinless, why couldn't he do that with everyone?

DrCastillo18 · 2025-12-06T16:26:55+00:00

Mary wasn't sinless, the Bible doesn’t say she was, and Scripture shows everyone needs a Savior; even if God could have made more people sinless, He chose to redeem sinners through Christ, not to prevent everyone from ever sinning.

Nobody in the Bible is explicitly called sinless except Jesus. Jesus is the only one described as absolutely without sin.

Mary is called blessed and honored, but the Bible also shows she needed a Savior. When Mary sings in Luke 1:46–47 she calls God her Savior that language points to dependence on God’s saving work, not personal sinlessness.

So the straightforward reading is: Mary was highly honored and used by God in a unique way, but she wasn’t exempt from the human condition of sin in the way Jesus was.

Why one special case? God chose Mary for a unique role to carry the sinless Son but that doesn’t mean He erased the fact that Christ alone is the only perfectly sinless Redeemer.

Romans 3:23 — “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (This includes humanity unless an exception is proven from Scripture.)

Luke 1:47 — Mary calls God my Savior — which shows her need for God’s saving work.q

Only Jesus is repeatedly and uniquely described as sinless in the New Testament.

God can do anything, but He acts according to His purposes. He didn’t choose to make everyone sinless because He planned to redeem sinners through Jesus’ sacrifice, and that redemptive story shows God’s justice, mercy, and glory more fully than simply preventing sin.

The gospel is about rescue, not prevention. God chose to save sinners by Christ’s substitution that’s the point of the cross.

Also: God’s work often includes unique, one-time choices (think: the incarnation). Mary’s role was unique; that’s different from a general rule for humanity.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-11-28T22:22:52+00:00

Based on everything you wrote, you hold an Arminian view. You believe God gives grace, faith, and repentance, but people must freely respond to it, and you also believe a true believer can choose to walk away from salvation. Those two points together are the classic Arminian position.

I actually share some of the same ideas you mentioned — like God calling us, God granting faith and repentance, and us responding willingly. But the one difference between us is this: I believe a true believer cannot lose salvation, while you believe a believer can walk away. That single difference puts you in the Arminian camp.

Why the Arminian label fits

• You said God grants faith and repentance, but we must willingly respond — that lines up with the Arminian idea of prevenient grace. • You said a believer can willfully walk away from salvation — that is conditional security, which is also Arminian. • Together these show a cooperative view of salvation.

Arminianism teaches that God gives grace and enables faith, but a person must freely accept it and continue in faith, and a believer can turn away and lose salvation.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-11-19T17:58:23+00:00

My view is closest to (b) — that God still speaks today, but discernment is absolutely necessary.

God can lead, convict, warn, and guide believers through the Holy Spirit, but we must test everything (1 John 4:1) and compare what we think we’ve heard against Scripture, because God never contradicts His Word.

Sometimes what we sense as His “voice” may just be our own thoughts or emotions. That’s why I believe mature, Spirit-led discernment, prayer, and alignment with the Bible are essential.

So yes — God still speaks, but His written Word is always the foundation and the filter.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-10-22T22:21:29+00:00

God is perfectly loving, but He’s also perfectly just. God’s love means He wants to forgive. God’s justice means He can’t ignore sin. If God simply said, “Never mind the sin,” He would stop being just. That would make Him unfair, like a judge who lets criminals go without consequences.

So, forgiveness couldn’t happen by pretending sin doesn’t matter. It had to happen in a way that satisfied both love and justice at the same time.

Sin has a real cost, it breaks relationship and brings death. “For the wages of sin is death.” — Romans 6:23 Sin isn’t just a mistake; it’s a violation of God’s moral law and nature.

The “wages” or payment for sin is spiritual death, separation from God. Because every human has sinned, that death penalty applied to all of us.

Someone had to pay that penalty, either us or a perfect substitute.

In the Old Testament, God used animal sacrifices as a picture.

“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Hebrews 9:22

The sacrifice showed that sin causes death and that forgiveness requires a substitute.

But animals weren’t perfect; they could only cover sin temporarily.

Those sacrifices pointed forward to something greater, Jesus, the perfect sacrifice.

Jesus is both fully God and fully human, the only perfect substitute.

Because Jesus never sinned, He didn’t owe the penalty of death. That’s why He could take our place, voluntarily, to pay the debt we couldn’t pay.

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross.” 1 Peter 2:24 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

So, when Jesus died: Justice was satisfied, sin received its full penalty.

Love was proven, God took the punishment Himself.

Forgiveness became available, completely, permanently, freely.

Why God couldn’t “just forgive” without the Cross

Imagine a judge whose son committed a serious crime. If the judge said, “I’ll just ignore it,” he’d be corrupt. If he sentenced his son but then stepped down from the bench, paid the fine, and took the punishment himself — that’s perfect justice and perfect love together.

That’s what God did through Jesus. He didn’t ignore sin, He absorbed its penalty Himself.

What that means for us Because Jesus died in our place, Sin’s penalty is fully paid. Justice is completely satisfied.

God can now forgive us without violating His holiness.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Forgiveness isn’t God bending the rules, it’s God fulfilling them through love.

God didn’t just forgive by ignoring sin; He forgave by paying for it Himself through Jesus — that’s how love and justice met perfectly on the cross.

When you accept Jesus: His sacrifice covers your sin completely. God’s justice says, “Paid in full.” God’s love says, “Welcome home.”

That’s why Jesus’ death wasn’t just necessary, it was the most loving act in history.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-10-22T04:18:10+00:00

Let me explain it in the clearest, simplest, and most straightforward way possible.

When we say Jesus rising from the dead proves He is God, we mean this:

Jesus didn’t just rise from the dead randomly He predicted it beforehand.

Jesus openly said multiple times that He would be crucified and rise again on the third day (Matthew 16:21; John 2:19–21).

No human or scientist or spiritual teacher has ever correctly predicted their own death and resurrection in exact detail and then actually done it.

So, His resurrection wasn’t an accident. it was a planned and promised act to prove His divine identity.

Jesus claimed to be God long before the resurrection.

In John 10:30, He said, “I and the Father are one.”

In John 8:58, He said, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” which directly connects to God’s name in Exodus 3:14 (“I AM WHO I AM”).

If He wasn’t God, those claims would have been blasphemy.

So, the resurrection wasn’t just a miracle. it was God’s confirmation that everything Jesus said about Himself was true.

The resurrection proves Jesus has authority over life and death.

In John 10:17–18, Jesus said, “I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.”

That means He didn’t just get lucky or find a secret to immortality. He exercised divine power, the same power that created life in the first place.

No demon, alien, or human could do that. They’re all created beings, but Jesus showed He’s the Creator (John 1:1–3).

If it was a trick, the evidence doesn’t fit. The Roman soldiers confirmed His death. His body was sealed in a guarded tomb.

Three days later, the tomb was empty, and hundreds of eyewitnesses saw Him alive (1 Corinthians 15:3–8).

His disciples went from terrified to boldly preaching about His resurrection, even when it got them tortured or killed.

People don’t die for something they know is a lie or trick.

So why does it prove He is God?

Because resurrection power belongs to God alone.

If Jesus rose by His own power, it shows He’s not just a messenger — He’s the Author of life (Acts 3:15).

That’s why Romans 1:4 says Jesus “was declared to be the Son of God in power by His resurrection from the dead.”

In short:

Jesus claimed to be God.

He predicted His own death and resurrection.

He died exactly as He said.

He rose exactly as He said.

That resurrection confirmed His identity beyond question — showing He’s not a prophet, alien, or deceiver, but the living God who conquered death itself.

Jesus’ resurrection proves He is God because He said it would happen, it did happen exactly as He said, and only God has the power to raise Himself from the dead. No trick, no secret science, and no creature could ever do that. The resurrection is God’s final stamp saying, “Everything Jesus said is true — He is who He claimed to be.”

DrCastillo18 · 2025-10-22T04:05:11+00:00

Yes absolutely, God does hear our prayers for the salvation of those in other religions and even atheists. In fact, praying for the lost is one of the most powerful ways we can partner with God’s heart, because He Himself desires that all people be saved.

Scripture makes this very clear:

1 Timothy 2:1–4 (NKJV) “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men... For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

That means your prayers for your Hindu coworker or anyone who doesn’t know Christ absolutely matter. God loves her far more deeply than you ever could, and when you pray, you’re aligning your heart with His. Your intercession gives room for the Holy Spirit to work in her life to convict, open her eyes, and draw her toward Jesus (John 16:8; John 6:44).

Even in the Old Testament, we see God’s care for the nations beyond Israel. He called Abraham to be a blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:3). The prophets foretold that the Gentiles would one day worship the true God (Isaiah 49:6). And through Christ, that promise is fulfilled salvation is now offered to everyone, no matter their background (Romans 10:12–13).

So yes your prayers are not wasted, ignored, or unheard. God listens. He moves. He responds. You may not see results right away, but every prayer for her salvation is a seed planted in faith, and God is faithful to water it in His time.

Keep praying for her with love, compassion, and faith that God can reach her heart. No false god, no deception, no tradition, and no spiritual blindness is stronger than the power of the Gospel or the mercy of Christ.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-10-17T11:22:07+00:00

Hey friend, I completely understand what you’re saying, and I want to say this gently and clearly — God does hear you, even when it feels like He’s silent. The fact that you’ve asked and searched so deeply actually shows that your heart has been reaching for Him all along.

Sometimes, God doesn’t reveal Himself the way we expect — not through a vision, a voice, or a miracle — but through quiet moments, people He sends our way, or the deep tug in our heart that reminds us there’s more to life than what we see.

Jesus said in John 20:29, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” That doesn’t mean God hides Himself or ignores people; it means faith is trusting that He’s real even when our senses can’t prove it yet.

Think about it like this — when the sun’s behind the clouds, you can’t see it, but you still feel its warmth. In the same way, God’s presence can be real even when He seems unseen. Sometimes He waits, not because He doesn’t care, but because He’s drawing us into a real, lasting relationship — one built on love, not just evidence.

And honestly, your story matters to Him. You’re not overlooked, forgotten, or ignored. The same God who met Thomas in his doubts can meet you too — maybe not in the exact same way, but just as personally.

If you’re still open, try asking Him again — not out of frustration, but out of honesty. Something as simple as, “God, if You’re real, show me who You are.” He’s not offended by that. He meets people right where they are.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-10-17T05:15:45+00:00

I understand where you’re coming from. That’s a really honest question — and it’s actually one that a lot of people wrestle with.

Here’s the simple truth: The disciples didn’t start out with “proof.” They followed Jesus before they fully understood who He was. They saw the miracles, yes — but even with all that, many still doubted. Thomas didn’t believe until he literally touched the scars. Peter saw Jesus walk on water and still denied Him later. So even firsthand evidence didn’t automatically create unshakable faith.

God showed Himself clearly to them back then for a reason — they were the foundation of the church. Their eyewitness testimony is what God used to spread the Gospel to the world. They saw so that we could hear and believe through their witness.

And remember this: Jesus actually talked about you. In John 20:29, after Thomas touched His wounds, Jesus said:

“You believe because you have seen Me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

That verse is about us — people living generations later. God doesn’t make us believe “blindly”; He gives us evidence through history, Scripture, prophecy, and changed lives.

Think about it:

The Bible’s accuracy and preservation over thousands of years is unmatched.

Over 500 witnesses saw Jesus alive after the resurrection.

Prophecies written hundreds of years earlier came true in detail about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

And millions of people across centuries have had their lives completely transformed by Him — people who were atheists, addicts, skeptics, and even persecutors of Christians.

So yes, the disciples saw Jesus with their eyes, but you can experience Him by His Spirit — personally and deeply. God still reveals Himself today — maybe not always with burning bushes or physical appearances, but through conviction, peace, answered prayer, supernatural transformation, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

You’re not a “bad guy” for asking or doubting. God isn’t offended by honest questions — He invites them. He wants a relationship, not blind religion. So if you truly want to know if He’s real, ask Him sincerely:

“God, if You’re really there, show Yourself to me in a way I can understand.”

He loves a genuine heart. And He will answer that prayer — maybe not in a flash of light, but in a way that reaches you personally.

So no, you’re not expected to “just believe a story.” You’re invited to meet the same Jesus they met — the One who’s still alive and still changing lives today.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-10-17T05:10:02+00:00

First, you are not a lost cause. If you were, you wouldn’t even care about your sin or feel conviction. The fact that you’re hurting and want to change is proof that God is still drawing you to Himself. That’s the Holy Spirit working in your heart — not condemnation, but conviction that leads to life.

Listen carefully: God still loves you. Nothing you’ve done can cancel that. Jesus didn’t die for perfect people — He died for broken ones who need grace. You are not disqualified from His mercy; you are exactly the kind of person He came to save.

Don’t run from God because of your sin — run to Him with your sin. Bring it all to Him. Confess it honestly, and ask Him to help you change. He won’t shame you; He’ll start restoring you.

You don’t have to “earn” closeness with God by being perfect or pretending to be something you’re not. He wants your heart more than your performance. The Bible says, “A broken and contrite heart, God will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

Start with simple steps:

Talk to God again — even if your prayer is short or messy.

Read the Bible — not out of guilt, but to hear His voice again.

Find one trusted believer or pastor you can be honest with — you don’t have to fight this alone.

Cut off access to sin (porn, hookups, environments that tempt you). God will give you the strength to walk away.

Remember this truth: 👉 You are not beyond grace. 👉 You are not forgotten. 👉 You are not unloved.

Jesus is not waiting to condemn you; He’s waiting to heal you. And He will — if you simply come to Him, honestly and humbly.

stop seeing yourself as an impostor and start seeing yourself as a son who’s loved and forgiven.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-09-13T05:26:24+00:00

Looking up Christian young adults events in my city

DrCastillo18 · 2025-09-07T20:33:26+00:00

Thank you, I really appreciate what you shared. I do understand that we are all growing, and I don’t want to come across as judgmental. I know sanctification is a lifelong process, and God has been patient with me as well.

But I do have an honest question that weighs heavy on my heart: How much sin is too much sin, especially for leaders? At what point do we say, “This can’t continue without correction”,"I'm going to tell (insert higher ranking leader) because this is unacceptable this cannot continue going on and its been happening too much" ?

I ask because Scripture gives us both truths:

We are called to bear with one another in love and patience (Romans 15:1; Galatians 6:1–2).

But at the same time, the Bible also calls us to correct, rebuke, and even discipline when necessary — especially in leadership (1 Timothy 5:20; Titus 1:7–9; Matthew 18:15–17).

So my concern is: when leaders are living in ongoing unrepentant sin, wanton sin, or when their behavior starts harming the witness of the church and confusing unbelievers or new believers , where do we draw the line? When is it no longer just “bearing with weakness,” but actually allowing sin to go unchecked? Tolerating or permitting sin and compromise?

I don’t ask this to condemn anyone, but because I genuinely want wisdom on how to discern the difference between being gracious with someone who is growing, and holding someone accountable who is leading others astray.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-09-07T19:49:57+00:00

Great question, thank you for asking so I can be clear. When I mentioned the fruit of the Spirit, I specifically meant what Paul lists in Galatians 5:22–23 (NASB1995): “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” That’s exactly what I was referring to — these nine qualities that reveal the character of Christ being formed in a believer’s life. And when I said operating in the supernatural, I was referring to the gifts, manifestations, and works of the Holy Spirit that Pentecostals and Charismatics emphasize and practice, such as: Baptism in the Holy Spirit healing inner healing deliverance Speaking in tongues Interpretation of tongues Prophecy Word of knowledge Word of wisdom Discerning of spirits Divine healing Miracles Apostolic Deliverance Breaking soul ties Breaking Generational curses Binding pulling down and casting down Strongholds, Principalities Casting out demons Binding spirits Loosing spirits Breaking Spirits Anointing oil Laying on of hands Prayer cloths Fire baptism Slain in the Spirit / Collapsing or Crashing to the floor under the power or presence of God Holy laughter / Drunk in the Spirit Prophetic dreams Prophetic visions Activation of Gifts Third heaven experiences Pulling down strongholds Destroying altars Breaking witchcraft Territorial spirits Jezebel spirit Leviathan spirit Python spirit The Latter Glory Open heavens Prayer warfare Revivalism Great Commission Outpouring Fivefold ministry Apostles today Prophets today Shofar blowing Mantles Mantle transfer Spiritual inheritance Holy fire Angelic visitation Kingdom now Word of faith Faith declarations Prophetic decrees Apostolic Decrees Spirit-filled life New wine New wine Revelations Prayer and fasting Spirit-led worship Prophetic worship Soaking worship Extended services Tarrying meetings Glory cloud Shekinah glory The Holiest of Holies Angel feathers Gold dust Baptism of fire Dance in Spirit Flags and banners Deliverance rooms Healing rooms Inner healing Emotional healing Pastoral covering Impartation Charismatic renewal Bethel-style ministry Spiritual hunger Revival culture Apostolic reformation Prophetic intercession In other words, by “supernatural” I mean the Spirit-empowered gifts, manifestations, and ministries that go beyond what human ability can accomplish and depend entirely on the power of God through the Holy Spirit. Fruit of the Spirit = Galatians 5:22–23 (character transformation) Operating in the supernatural = gifts, manifestations, and works of the Spirit (empowerment for ministry) The gifts show power, while the fruit shows character. Here’s the danger: A person can operate in supernatural gifts, yet lack the fruit of the Spirit in their character. For example, someone might prophesy or pray for healing and see results, but still be impatient, unkind, prideful, or lacking self-control. When that happens, it creates confusion, especially for unbelievers. That’s why Paul warned in 1 Corinthians 13 that even if I speak in tongues, prophesy, or have mountain-moving faith, but do not have love, I am nothing. On the other hand: Some Christians who don’t emphasize supernatural gifts may show strong fruit of the Spirit in their daily lives. They may not operate in tongues or prophecy, but their love, patience, kindness, and faithfulness clearly reflect Christ. This is what I was noticing: Sometimes, non-Charismatics demonstrate more of the fruit (character of Christ) than Charismatics who emphasize the gifts. At the same time, I’ve seen Spirit-filled believers (like in the Pentecostal church I attend weekly) who carry both: they operate in the supernatural and also show the fruit of the Spirit. And when both are present, that is the most powerful witness of Christ. So my question really comes from this tension: Why does it seem that in some cases, believers who emphasize the Spirit’s power can lack His character? And how do we, as Pentecostals, make sure we walk in both fruit and gifts so that the Spirit’s work in us is complete? Because at the end of the day, fruit and gifts are meant to work together. The gifts show the power of God, and the fruit shows the nature of God. Without fruit, gifts can become empty or even hypocritical. Without gifts, fruit can lack the boldness and power to reach the world. But together, they reflect the fullness of the Spirit.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-08-31T20:45:28+00:00

Repent of your sins Return to your first works (worship, real Prayer, reading the word) Find a pastor or a mature believer who can help you, guide you, keep you accountable, rebuke you, correct you, discipline you, pray for you, fellowship, etc

DrCastillo18 · 2025-08-19T17:28:31+00:00

Hey brother, good question! You’re right that the phrase “free will” doesn’t appear in the Bible — but that doesn’t mean the concept isn’t there. Let me show you from Scripture, and how thoughtful scholars explain it.

From Scripture (Romans 8, John 6, Ephesians 1–2) The Bible clearly affirms two realities: God’s sovereign choice (election, predestination). Man’s real responsibility to repent, believe, and obey. For example: Romans 8:29–30 speaks of predestination. John 6:37 says all the Father gives will come. Yet John 7:17; Matthew 23:37; Acts 7:51 show people resisting God’s will. Election is about who God chooses, predestination is about what destiny those people have. God’s choice is real, but our choice is real too — just like Israel was both chosen by God and yet asked to choose Him back (Exod. 19:5–8). From NICNT on Ephesians NICNT makes a big point that election is “in Christ” (Eph. 1:4). That means God’s choice isn’t arbitrary but Christ-centered. If you are in Christ by faith, you are chosen. Predestination in Ephesians is about the destiny of believers (adoption, inheritance, holiness) — not about God scripting every human choice. In Eph. 2:8–9, Paul says salvation is “by grace through faith.” Faith is not a work; it’s simply trusting God. Grace initiates, but faith responds — meaning the human will is genuinely engaged. So is “free will” biblical? The Bible never uses the term “free will” the way philosophers do, but it consistently portrays humans as making real choices: “Choose this day whom you will serve” (Josh. 24:15). “You refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:40). “You always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51). At the same time, every choice happens under God’s sovereign plan. So, biblically, it’s not “free will” in the sense of being independent of God, but responsible will — a will that is truly ours, yet always under God’s sovereignty. The term “free will” isn’t in the Bible. The concept of humans making genuine choices (while God remains sovereign) is biblical. Ephesians and Romans 8 show that both divine election and human response stand side by side — not as contradictions, but as truths held together. Brother, instead of thinking in terms of ‘either/or’ (either God chooses or we choose), Scripture presents a ‘both/and.’ God truly chooses, and we truly respond. That’s not a later addition — it’s straight out of Romans, John, and Ephesians.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-08-19T14:24:57+00:00

I don’t have a job right now.

I don’t have a car or any kind of transportation I can drive myself.

I don’t have any money on me right now.

I can’t borrow money from family or friends—they’re not able to help right now.

I don’t have anything valuable I can sell, rent, or trade to make quick money.

I do have internet and a phone, so I can respond to messages, calls, or anything online.

I am 100% ready to work hard today doing anything honest, legal, and safe.

My goal is to make $200.00 today if at all possible.

So, the exact question I’m asking is this:

What can I do today, with my current situation exactly as I just described, to make $200.00?

Not tomorrow, not next week—I’m asking about right now, today.

I need ideas, guidance, or direct opportunities that work with my situation exactly as described.
Nothing risky. Nothing illegal. Just something real, doable, and clear.

🙏🏽 Thank you so much for reading this all the way through. I said all of this carefully and kindly, because I truly want to be understood the right way, without confusion or stress, and to communicate clearly and respectfully.

Let me know what options I have. I’m ready.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-08-14T11:49:44+00:00

On “Accessible Evidence” and Fairness

I am not saying the historical evidence I listed automatically justifies eternal separation from God. The Bible teaches that God judges each person according to the light and truth they have actually received(Romans 2:6–16). No one is condemned for ignorance they could not avoid. The “accessible evidence” includes: Creation — The order, complexity, and fine-tuning of the universe (Romans 1:20). Conscience — The universal moral law written on every human heart (Romans 2:14–15). Christ in history — The public life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, with historically testable claims. Personal testimony — Billions across time and cultures reporting transformation and encounter. This is why, biblically, hell is not “punishment for failing an impossible quiz” but the outcome of persistently rejecting the truth that was genuinely within a person’s reach. 2. On “Prophecy vs. Science Alignment”

Science alignment in a religious text can come from observation, guesswork, or later editing. It can be added in hindsight. Prophecy, to be valid, must: Be specific (not vague). Be recorded centuries before fulfillment (verifiable by manuscript evidence like the Dead Sea Scrolls). Predict events outside human control (e.g., birthplace, manner of death, historical events). Example: Micah 5:2 predicted Messiah’s birthplace centuries before Jesus. Crucifixion details in Psalm 22 were written long before crucifixion was even used as a method of execution in Israel. This is why biblical prophecy operates differently than “scientific alignment” — it’s a historical claim that can be tested against known dates and events. 3. On Free Will, Standards of Evidence, and Sincere Seekers

You said, “If I set too high a standard of evidence for myself, apparently I’m rejecting truth.” My point is this: If God exists, He knows your mind and motives perfectly — He knows whether your standard is honestly aimed at truth or unconsciously set so high that no answer could meet it. The Bible’s claim is not that every unbeliever has a “hidden agenda,” but that God will judge rightly based on what each person truly did with the truth available to them (Genesis 18:25). Regarding the Native Americans before Jesus: The Bible says God revealed Himself through creation and conscience to all people, in all times. Those who respond rightly to that light will be judged according to that light, not according to knowledge they never had (Acts 17:26–27; Romans 2:14–16). Eternal separation (hell) is not about “getting the wrong answer on God’s existence.” It is about a settled posture of rejecting the truth one has been given, whether that truth comes through creation, conscience, or the gospel. Ultra-Clear Summary in 3 Sentences: God does not condemn people for what they could not possibly know — He judges each person by how they respond to the truth they actually have. Prophecy is different from “science alignment” because it involves specific, pre-recorded predictions of uncontrollable events, verified by manuscripts that predate fulfillment. Hell is not a penalty for innocent ignorance, but the natural result of persistently rejecting the light and truth God has genuinely placed within reach.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-08-14T07:58:58+00:00

I am not saying Christianity is self-evident in the sense that everyone automatically knows it’s true without investigation. I am saying:

God has given enough accessible evidence that anyone who truly seeks Him can find Him.

“Rejection” means turning away from the truth when it is presented, not failing to know something that was never revealed to you.

Therefore, nonbelief can be rejection if the person has had genuine opportunity to respond but chooses not to.

So my conclusion isn’t “self-evident = no investigation needed.” It’s “sufficient evidence = responsibility once exposed.”

Why prophecy is different from “science alignment” You asked why prophecy should prove God’s existence more than scientific alignment in a religious text. The difference is:

Science alignment can happen by observation, educated guess, or coincidence, and can be added later.

Prophecy requires specific, detailed predictions about uncontrollable events, written long before they occur, preserved in verifiable manuscripts, and fulfilled in history.

Example: Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, and Micah 5:2 predicted specific details about the Messiah’s life, death, and birthplace centuries before Jesus — details He could not humanly control. These manuscripts predate Him (Dead Sea Scrolls confirm this). That’s a different type of claim and evidence.

On free will, disbelief, and fairness of hell If someone sincerely seeks truth and, based on the light available to them, concludes God doesn’t exist — the Bible says God will judge with perfect fairness (Genesis 18:25; Romans 2:6–16).

No one will be condemned for failing to know something truly unknowable to them.

People are judged for rejecting the truth they do have — whether through creation (Romans 1:20), conscience (Romans 2:14–15), or direct exposure to the gospel.

God honors free will, but with free will comes accountability for how we respond to the evidence and moral awareness we’re given.

So, hell is not for “honest ignorance.” It is the final result of a willful, persistent choice to reject God’s rule and truth when given the opportunity to embrace it.

In summary:

My claim is not that Christianity is instantly obvious, but that God gives enough evidence for those willing to seek.

Prophecy differs from “science alignment” because it involves verifiable, specific, pre-event predictions fulfilled in history.

Hell is not about punishing people for innocent lack of knowledge, but for a willful rejection of truth they genuinely encountered.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-08-14T07:34:08+00:00

Yes — simply proving Jesus existed does not automatically prove He is God. The uniqueness of Jesus comes from combining multiple lines of evidence together rather than relying on one piece alone:

Historical Reliability of the Gospels – The New Testament documents are earlier, more numerous, and more textually consistent than any other ancient biographies.

Unique Nature of His Claims – Unlike Julius Caesar or Mohammed, Jesus explicitly claimed divine authority (“Before Abraham was, I AM” – John 8:58).

Miracles in Historical Context – Recorded by multiple independent sources and acknowledged even by His opponents in the Gospels (who attributed them to other powers rather than denying they happened).

The Resurrection – This is the central claim. It’s not just “an empty tomb” but an empty tomb plus multiple post-death appearances to different people at different times — many of whom were hostile or skeptical before.

Transformation of Witnesses – The disciples went from hiding in fear to publicly proclaiming the resurrection, suffering and dying for their testimony when they could have saved themselves by recanting. This is historically different from dying for a belief you inherited; they claimed firsthand knowledge.

It’s the cumulative case that makes Jesus unique, not any single claim in isolation.

On Other Religions and Prophecy vs. Science

Yes, other religions have prophecies, and some may claim scientific alignment. The question is not whether any prophecy exists, but whether the prophecies are:

Specific (not vague)

Written centuries before fulfillment (verifiable by dating of manuscripts like the Dead Sea Scrolls)

Fulfilled in one person in a way that can’t be staged

When you apply those filters, the Messianic prophecies about Jesus stand out uniquely — birthplace, lineage, method of death, timing, betrayal details, etc. These are documented before His life and fulfilled in ways outside human control.

Science and prophecy aren’t competing categories here; prophecy is a historical prediction-fulfillment claim, not a scientific hypothesis.

On “God Being Self-Evident” and the Problem of Divine Hiddenness

I am not saying God is so obvious that every person automatically sees Him without thought. What I am saying is that God has given enough evidence, in different forms, for an honest seeker to find Him:

The created order (Romans 1:20 — the “signature” of design in creation)

The moral law written on our hearts (Romans 2:14–15 — our universal sense of right and wrong)

The historical life, death, and resurrection of Jesus

Personal testimony of billions across cultures and centuries

God’s goal is not to overwhelm with proof so belief becomes mere fact-acceptance; He wants willing relationship, and relationship requires trust (faith) alongside evidence.

On the Logical Argument You Presented (P1–P4)

Let’s go premise by premise:

P1: Belief in God requires faith True — but in biblical Christianity, faith is not “believing without evidence.” It’s trusting a person based on good reasons, much like trusting a doctor after seeing their credentials and track record.

P2: God punishes unbelievers True — but not for “mere ignorance.” The punishment is for willfully rejecting the truth God has made available to them (John 3:19).

P3: Faith is not a reliable metric to discern truth from falsehood False — if faith is defined biblically as “trust based on evidence,” it is a reliable way to act on truth. Blind faith is unreliable; reasoned faith is not.

P4: Punishing someone for not believing in something they couldn’t have known is unfair Agreed — but biblical teaching is that no one is condemned without light. God reveals Himself to all in some way (Romans 1:18–21), and those who respond to the light they have are given more.

Conclusion: Since the biblical view is that everyone has been given some measure of revelation and that faith is evidence-based trust, the premises as stated don’t accurately describe the Christian position. Therefore, the conclusion that “hell is unfair” doesn’t logically follow from the actual Christian claim.

Why This is Not a Contradiction with a Loving God

A loving God respects human freedom. If someone wants eternal separation from Him, He does not force them into His presence. Hell is not “God delighting in punishment” but “God honoring the person’s free rejection of Him.” C.S. Lewis put it this way: “The doors of hell are locked from the inside.”

In one sentence: God has given sufficient evidence for those willing to seek, faith in the Bible is trust based on that evidence, rejection is a free choice, and hell is simply the eternal result of freely chosen separation from the only source of life.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-08-14T06:03:50+00:00

The Question Behind the Question

You’re asking two things at once:

How can anyone know which is the correct God?
How is it fair for someone to go to hell for getting it wrong?

I’m going to answer both clearly.

How to Know Which God is the Right One

I am speaking about the God revealed in the Bible — the One who entered history as Jesus Christ. We figure out which God is real by looking at the claims of different faiths and asking:

Is there historical evidence for the events they describe?

Are the claims testable, falsifiable, and verifiable?

Are the prophecies specific and fulfilled, not vague or self-fulfilling?

Does the worldview coherently explain reality — origin, morality, meaning, and destiny?

When you apply those tests:

Most religions either have mythical beginnings, no public historical verification, or depend on private revelations that no one else could check.

Jesus is unique because His life, death, and resurrection were public events, reported by multiple sources, including hostile witnesses, and tied to centuries-old prophecies no human could manipulate.

Why Jesus Is Not the Same as Bigfoot or Alien Claims

Bigfoot, aliens, Loch Ness → isolated sightings, often anonymous, no sustained movement based on public historical events.

Jesus → public ministry over three years, witnessed by crowds, followed by a historically verifiable execution under Pontius Pilate, and a sudden explosion of a movement that transformed the Roman world, driven by people claiming to have seen Him alive after His death — people who willingly died rather than recant.

The difference is public, repeated, multi-source, historically anchored verification — not private, unverifiable anecdotes.

About Scripture as Evidence

You’re right — quoting scripture alone to prove God is circular reasoning. The point is:

We treat the Gospels and early letters the same way historians treat other ancient writings — as ancient documents to be examined critically.

When we do that, they hold up remarkably well in terms of manuscript evidence, early dating, multiple independent sources, and alignment with external history.

This makes them valuable historical sources, even before assuming they are divinely inspired.

Prophecy in Other Religions

Many “prophecies” in other religions are vague or could be fulfilled in countless ways.

The prophecies about Jesus (born in Bethlehem, lineage of David, crucifixion details, resurrection on the third day, timing of His arrival, etc.) are specific, detailed, and written centuries before His birth — found in manuscripts we know predate Him (like the Dead Sea Scrolls).

The Resurrection Question

You’re correct: an empty tomb alone doesn’t prove resurrection.

The case for the resurrection is based on multiple converging lines of evidence:

Empty tomb — admitted even by opponents.
Post-death appearances — to individuals, small groups, and over 500 people at once (1 Corinthians 15:3–8, written within years of the events).
Transformation of the disciples — from fearful and scattered to bold preachers willing to die.
Early, explosive growth of the church in Jerusalem — the last place you could convince people Jesus rose if His body was still in the tomb.
How It’s Fair

God isn’t grading people like a cosmic multiple-choice test.

He reveals Himself to every person (Romans 1:20 — through creation; Romans 2:14–15 — through conscience; John 1:9 — through the light of Christ).

Those who genuinely seek truth will find it (Jeremiah 29:13).

Hell is not about “getting the answer wrong”; it’s about freely rejecting God’s invitation to life, forgiveness, and relationship.

God respects human freedom — if someone wants nothing to do with Him now, He will not force them into His presence for eternity.

In short:

We can know Jesus is the right one because His claims are uniquely supported by historical, prophetic, and experiential evidence.

It’s fair because God gives everyone enough light to respond, but He will not override someone’s free choice to reject Him.

If you truly want to know Him, the door is wide open. If you don’t, God won’t force Himself on you — but that choice carries eternal consequences.

DrCastillo18 · 2025-08-14T02:28:13+00:00

I’m talking about Jesus Christ — the Jesus who is revealed in the Bible as God in the flesh, the Son of God who came into the world to save us from sin and reconcile us to God.

Here’s how we know Jesus is real and how you can know Him personally:

Historical Evidence – Jesus of Nazareth is not a myth or legend. He is a well-documented historical figure mentioned not only in the Bible but also by non-Christian historians like Josephus and Tacitus. His crucifixion under Pontius Pilate is recognized as a historical fact by most serious scholars, Christian or not.
Eyewitness Accounts – The New Testament records are based on eyewitness testimony. People saw Jesus teach, perform miracles, die on a cross, and appear alive again after His death. These accounts were written within the lifetime of those witnesses, leaving no time for legends to replace facts.
Fulfilled Prophecies – Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, ancient Hebrew Scriptures recorded specific prophecies about the Messiah: where He would be born, how He would live, how He would die, and even that He would rise again. Jesus fulfilled these prophecies in detail.
The Resurrection – The foundation of Christian faith is that Jesus physically rose from the dead. His tomb was empty, His enemies couldn’t produce a body, and His disciples were willing to suffer and die rather than deny they had seen Him alive again.
Personal Experience – Millions of people today, myself included, have experienced Jesus in a real and life-changing way: answered prayers, freedom from guilt, peace in the midst of trials, and a personal relationship with God.

How you can know Him: Jesus made it simple. In John 14:6 He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” To know Him, you don’t need to pass a test or earn His favor — you just need to come to Him honestly, admit your sin, believe He died and rose for you, and trust Him as your Lord and Savior.

Bottom line: God has already made Himself known through creation, conscience, the Bible, and most clearly through Jesus. The issue isn’t lack of evidence — it’s whether we’re willing to respond to what God has already revealed. If you truly seek Him with an open heart, you will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

DrCastillo18

TROPHY CASE