AStack75 said:
I've only skimmed through your posts which are almost all religious in nature. Question... I mean this seriously and am not disparaging your beliefs. I was never brought up religiously. I generally don't believe there is a God or an afterlife. I don't have any problems with people who do. Although I do believe that more people have died in the name of God, Allah, or whoever than for any other reason.
I may be incorrect in what I'm saying, but from my limited knowledge of the Bible... I could live a perfect life (feed the hungry, help the homeless, help old ladys cross the street, etc.) but if I don't get baptized or if I don't believe in God....I am going to Hell when I die. Granted, I don't believe in a Heaven or a Hell, but lets assume I am wrong and there is...based on what I just said, I am going to Hell when I die.
Assuming what I just said is correct... That's what I don't understand. Jesus loves everyone, but if you don't believe in him, you will go to Hell. So me...the guy who helps old ladys cross the street is sentenced to a life of eternal damnation while the rapist/murderer who discovers Jesus while he is in prison goes to Heaven.
Doesn't make sense to me. I'm sure you must have heard this question before so I'm curious on your thoughts.
excellent question! That is the kind of thoughtful dialogue I thought we could all have. Because its a very,very valid point made my many people.
Baptism is a sign of obediance, a public proclamation of your acceptance of ************. It is not how you are Saved. Its done BECAUSE you are Saved.
Salvation comes from Repentence of our sins, Acceptance that ************ died on the cross for our sins, He is the Son of God and our Lord and Savior, and that he raised from the dead 3 days later.
God doesnt send us to Hell. We send ourselves. Through sin we have been seperated from Him. But God loved us enough that he made a way for us to be forgiven of our transgressions.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Our sin had condemned us already to be seperated from Him. And eternity without God is eternity spent with the enemy of God. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice, fulfilling the prophesies in the Old Testament. Now there is a way to have forgiveness and a place with God in Heaven.
But man quite often says "Why should I do that?" Well, my answer would be, for one, He's God, and I'm not, and He said this is the way.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
He's good enough to have mercy on us, and I'm grateful enough to listen to the instruction.
As far as justice.......
this life is like a blink of an eye, here today, gone tomorrow.
Everyone will answer to God, He knows our hearts and He knows everything we've done. We dont have to worry about justice here on earth, He is the final judge.
Good works cannot get us into Heaven. Nor can the bad keep us out. We can still be forgiven if we sincerely Accept Christ into our hearts. I was thinking about this the other day remembering the movie "Dead Man Walking"
At the time i first saw I thought the real drama was whether or not he'd be executed. Now I know, if the filmakers themselves dont, that the real drama was how he was led to Salvation at the end. For we must set our minds on things above, not on the world. Bad people must take responsibility for their crimes, and Seans Penn character was rightly executed. But his repentance and acceptance of Christ brought Him Salvation. At least i think thats what happened in the movie, i'll have to watch it again.
But if our works determined our eternity, what did Christ die for?
Jesus does loves us and He wants the best for us. If we take the first step toward Him, He will take two to us. Because God loves us He gave us a way to eternity with Him in Heaven. If we reject that way, who is responsible for where we spend eternity.
Its like the old joke, the flood waters are coming and guy is waiting on the roof. a helicopter comes to save him and he waves it off "thats ok, God is going to save me". then a boat comes and he says "thats ok, God is coming to save me" he ends up drowning. When he gets to heaven he's really mad at God. "What happened, i thought you'd save me!!" God answers " I sent a helicopter, i sent a boat...."
You see, we have been given the way. And man in his pride and ego says to God, "No, I dont like that way" We are then worshipping ourselves and not realizing that God is God, and we are not.
anyway, others certainly can say it better than I can. And a good bible based Pastor and your own thorough reading of scripture would answer your question much better than I.
But I hope I was able to answer your question. And I appreciate you asking it Astack75.
Have a blessed day everybody