I think there's a faith formula in that verse: believe plus receive equals become. So I think believing's important, having intellectual agreement with Christian doctrine is important, but there has to be a time when we receive God's gift of grace - not that we've earned it or merit it or deserve it - but receive this free gift of forgiveness and eternal life that Jesus purchased on the cross for us.
Lee StrobelThere are Eastern religions that deny the reality of pain and suffering. They just try to wipe it away by saying it's all an illusion.
Lee StrobelI think it's very healthy to use journalistic and legal techniques to investigate the evidence for and against Christianity and other faith systems.
Lee StrobelHell was not part of the original creation. Hell is God's fall-back position. Hell is something God was forced to make because people chose to rebel against him and turn against what was best for them and the purpose for which they were created.
Lee StrobelBelieving the right things about Jesus isn't enough. You're not adopted as God's child until you confess and turn away from your wrongdoing and receive the freely offered gift of forgiveness and eternal life that Jesus purchased with his death on the cross. Until you do that, you'll always be on the outside looking in.
Lee Strobel