Sunday, February 12, 2006
the Question....
Bruce over at YBMT (see my links) put in a great post...to which I had some questions that I have been asked and have struggled to answer biblically. I really like the fact that some of us agree...some of us disagree, but that there is an openness to this forum. I think the big question is: if God loves us SO much; without condemnation, and sent His only Son to pay our debt...and the Bible says that Jesus is the only way to the Father, what happens to all the folks who do not believe that Jesus was the Son of God; that He is our Saviour, our Messiah. When a teen asks you, "My dad is having open heart surgery tomorrow. He isn't a Christian. If he dies on the table, where will he go?" what will you say? I won't give you my answer yet. I want to hear yours.
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12 comments:
He will go to be with the Father.
Just as Adam took all into sin and death so Jesus took ALL into life with him. Is Adam more powerful than Jesus?
Did you accept Adam's sin? or was it imputed to you? Itt was imputed to you right? Then for Jesus to be the second Adam as he is described in the N.T. His righteousness would have to be imputed to us without our choosing it the same as Adam's Sin was.
Peace
Geo
P.S. I found you from my friend Bruce's site Y.B.M.T.
Hey, Geo! Weren't you the one who coordinated the Watercarriers.org webpage from about a year ago? I'm pretty sure....what cool "coincidences"!
and I like your answer.
yes waterCarriers.org is me :)
Peace
Geo
Yes, we worry about so many things. If we only knew how great God's love was, we would realize that we have nothing to worry about, and could simply begin to trust Him more completely. That's what He wants. That's what the cross was all about.
I agree completely.
That's not entirely what the Bible has been interpreted to "say" about salvation, however. But God is so much bigger than we make Him out to be. Thank God.
I'm not sure about this. The bible pretty clearly states that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." I think there's a decision that has to be made.
That said, God is sovereign. He knows the heart. It isn't my job to judge anyone, or to tell them they're going to Hell. I have no right. What I hope is that the Holy Spirit lights me up so that others see and are attracted, rather than repelled. Offering a hand of life, not judgment.
I think the best answer to your question is "I don't know."
Larry said, "God is sovereign. He knows the heart." Absolutely! He knows our hearts.
He's also the God of second chances. I don't know when those chances are given; I certainly can't say that I know the answer to this one, but I know what my heart feels.
That is one of my biggest questions. I've always believed that the Good Samaritan should go to heaven when he dies but my church disagrees with me. If God is as big as the universe and loves all his creations why wouldn't being good - good to all God loves - be adequate?
Whether your young friend's father goes to heaven if he dies today depends, in my opinion, on whether he was a good man. To be otherwise disqualified would be like committing a technical foul in a sporting competition. I don't think God is playing a game with us.
Thanks, Joe....I see what you're saying, and I may be a Pollyanna, but I think everyone is up for grabs by God...whether they were good or not. God has used many bad people in His Kingdom. By "our standards" David and Paul would not have been used by God because of their history.
I like your rantings on your blog, by the way!
I'd like to find a church that believes that God is more accepting of us than the bible would have us believe; however, I'm not looking for loopholes by which I can enjoy a "worldly" existence and still enjoy salvation. Do you attend such a church or know of one?
Interesting question, Joe. Most walled churches are also walled in legalism and rules and regulations. You can live a holy, bible based life and still believe in the complete love and acceptance of Jesus! He gave us the gift of grace on the cross!
If you read nothing in the Bible but the "red" words...the picture of Jesus is just that: complete and utter love...no condemnation. Does that mean we get to walk a worldly life? No...we want to walk like Jesus. Separate from this world...but in love. I don't attend a "church" but as Hebrews points out, fellowship is important and necessary! Get with people of like mind...people who want to walk the walk every day. Have you read George Barna's Revolution? It's a good place to start. God bless.
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