Will they go to heaven?

[Xaquin44]

He will make a provision to reveal Truth in His own way to those who really want to know the Truth.

you are both dense and nonsensical.

These people do not want to know the 'truth' because they do not know a 'truth' exists.

None of the Native Americans (as an example) all of a sudden exclaimed 'oh, god! now I have a name to the invisible feelings I've had!'

 

[Starman3000m]

you are both dense and nonsensical.

These people do not want to know the 'truth' because they do not know a 'truth' exists.

None of the Native Americans (as an example) all of a sudden exclaimed 'oh, god! now I have a name to the invisible feelings I've had!'

As mentioned, let God deal with that situation and focus on yours in the here and now. Most people are curious and want to examine and know Truth. It's OK to question and as the Bible states, you will find God when you search for Him with your whole heart.

 

[camily]

It's not my place (or anyone's) to say who will, and who will not, get to heaven.

 

[Radiant1]

It's not my place (or anyone's) to say who will, and who will not, get to heaven.

I wouldn't dare usurp a judgment reserved for God alone.

 

[Starman3000m]

It's not my place (or anyone's) to say who will, and who will not, get to heaven.

Question: Would it be your place to help others get to heaven if you knew the Truth and had the assurance that through your faith you are going there?

 

[Xaquin44]

Question: Would it be your place to help others get to heaven if you knew the Truth and had the assurance that through your faith you are going there?

no. You should 'let God deal with that situation and focus on yours in the here and now.'

or so I've been told.

 

[Radiant1]

Question: Would it be your place to help others get to heaven if you knew the Truth and had the assurance that through your faith you are going there?

Since when is salvation assured? Even the most pious of Christians can screw up from time to time and die directly thereafter with sin on their soul.


Oh...nevermind, you're a once saved always saved type aren't ya?

 

[Starman3000m]

no. You should 'let God deal with that situation and focus on yours in the here and now.'

or so I've been told.

LOL
Recall that we were discussing people who never had a chance to hear about Jesus. Focusing on the here and now is being able to make the decision on whether to believe the here and now Message about Jesus being the Saviour of mankind.

 

[Starman3000m]

Since when is salvation assured? Even the most pious of Christians can screw up from time to time and die directly thereafter with sin on their soul.


Oh...nevermind, you're a once saved always saved type aren't ya?

It's what is written in the Bible:

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:11-13)

 

[Xaquin44]

It's what is written in the Bible:

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:11-13)

so you can sin all you want as long as you believe?

 

[This_person]

so you can sin all you want as long as you believe?

I was going to keep out of this, but idiot statements and questions always get me.

Xaquin, your question is very much like asking "so, you can sleep with all the women you want as long as you're happily married?"

While I am not a once saved always saved kind of person, the concept you're asking for shows a complete lack of understanding of "belief".

If you believe, "all you want" to sin is zero. Nobody's perfect, but your question implies a lack of personal responsibility so long as you claim to "believe". It doesn't work like that, and an educated man like yourself should know better than to simplify to the point of misrepresenting other people's views.

 

[Starman3000m]

...Even the most pious of Christians can screw up from time to time and die directly thereafter with sin on their soul...

Not exactly. If that individual is a true follower of Christ, he/she would have made peace with God before dying and would ask for and receive Forgiveness through God's Promise of Forgiveness.

True followers of Christ become Children of God through the Born-Again intervention of The Holy Spirit residing in his/her life. They are still human and reside in "sinful flesh" but now have the spiritual strength and guidance from God to repent and turn away from the things that are not pleasing to God.

It is by the degree of submitting to the guidance of God that one has more strength or less strength to resist any type of temptation. However, if and when a Child of God "screws up" he/she becomes convicted by the Holy Spirit and is led to immediately seek forgiveness from God for the offense and ask forgiveness of those who may have been offended.

You are right, no person is perfect but a true follower of Christ is going to hate the wayward ways that break fellowship with God and seek to repent and get back on track.

As the Bible states:

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10)


Becoming “Born-Again” is what seals a person’s Salvation

That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:12-14)

 

[Xaquin44]

well then, it's good to know we can do what we want as long as we believe we'll be forgiven.

I mean it's a stupid way to do things, but it's nice to know.

 

[itsbob]

so you can sin all you want as long as you believe?

And as longa s you go to confession and pay the park entrance fee.

BUT, nobody is going to heaven.. everyone is going to hell.

If his religion is right, and the only true religion.. and her religion is right, and the only true religion, and they both believe that if you don't believe in, and are baptised in their religion then you are going to hell.. doesn't that mean, if they are right, if there are two or a thousand religions, that everyone HAS to go to hell?


Hell would be Exothermic

 

[Starman3000m]

well then, it's good to know we can do what we want as long as we believe we'll be forgiven.

I mean it's a stupid way to do things, but it's nice to know.

Sheeshh! No, Xaquin. The point is that you will want to turn away from those things that you once desired and are convicted to know that are not pleasing God. You are not given liberty to go on living in the worldly ways but are given strength to turn away from them. If a person is serious about wanting to have fellowship with God they will not "do what we want" and will not take God's Mercy for granted.

 

[Xaquin44]

you just said "If that individual is a true follower of Christ, he/she would have made peace with God before dying and would ask for and receive Forgiveness through God's Promise of Forgiveness"

So in theory, and according to that statement they could do what I said and be fine.

 

[Starman3000m]

you just said "If that individual is a true follower of Christ, he/she would have made peace with God before dying and would ask for and receive Forgiveness through God's Promise of Forgiveness"

So in theory, and according to that statement they could do what I said and be fine.

Have you ever seen those bumper stickers that read: "Christians aren't perfect, they're forgiven" ?

A true follower of Christ is a "born-again" individual who receives the promise of God's indwelling Holy Spirit to help them overcome the sinful temptations in their life. Also, the Holy Spirit is like an inner-guidance system that helps us have a direct and personal fellowship with God in our prayers.

However, we are told that it is possible to quench and grieve the Holy Spirit of God that indwells each born-again believer and that happens when we stray away from a close relationship with God through weaknesses that we give in to.

When a Christian "sins" God's Holy Spirit will prod the inner conscience to get them back on track, seek God's forgiveness and repent (turn away from) the particular sin. We are still God's Children and are subject to consequences that result but do not lose Salvation. Jesus stated that all sins would be forgiven except for one and that is the blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. (Mocking, ridicule and denying the power of the Holy Spirit is the danger)

The point is, being a true follower of Christ has its ups and downs (peaks and valleys) in life. We are still human and still retain the free will regarding how much we will yield to God's guidance by His Holy Spirit or whether we want to try to still retain control of our life in certain areas. Unfortunately, it is possible to screw up and fall back into an area of life that does not please God. That is why unbelievers find it easy to criticize a professing Christian and also why unbelievers use that as an excuse not to become a Christian.

Conclusion: A true follower will not want to continue living and doing what they want to but will have the sincere desire to get away from a sinful lifetsyle.

It should be noted, though, that a person who claims to be Christian but goes on continually and willfully sinning without remorse would be questioned as to how sincere he/she was for being a true follower of Christ. They may think and profess they are Christian, but have never really surrendered their life to God. The Bible addresses that by saying they went out from us because they were never of us.

 

[brendar buhl]

Have you ever seen those bumper stickers that read: "Christians aren't perfect, they're forgiven" ?

... Jesus stated that all sins would be forgiven except for one and that is the blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. (Mocking, ridicule and denying the power of the Holy Spirit is the danger)...
It should be noted, though, that a person who claims to be Christian but goes on continually and willfully sinning without remorse would be questioned as to how sincere he/she was for being a true follower of Christ. They may think and profess they are Christian, but have never really surrendered their life to God. The Bible addresses that by saying they went out from us because they were never of us.

Jesus also said very clearly that if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. It can be easy to look at the outward appearances and the habbits of the flesh that the church has always called sin. When Jesus said that if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins I think he was letting us know that He thinks people are important. The way that we treat each other reflects our relationship with God way more than whether or not we drink or smoke or have sex. The whole idea of forgiveness is not gaining access to heaven but rather mending our relatinoshipd both with God and Man.

 

[Starman3000m]

Jesus also said very clearly that if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. It can be easy to look at the outward appearances and the habbits of the flesh that the church has always called sin. When Jesus said that if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins I think he was letting us know that He thinks people are important. The way that we treat each other reflects our relationship with God way more than whether or not we drink or smoke or have sex. The whole idea of forgiveness is not gaining access to heaven but rather mending our relatinoshipd both with God and Man.

Good point brendar and, yes, forgiving others is very much the change that must be made in the life of a follower of Christ. He exemplified that most by asking forgiveness for those who persecuted and Crucified Him.

As you point out, we are not only to forgive others who have been at odds with us but we are also to ask forgiveness of anyone we have offended. This is a result of the Agape Love that God instills into the life of His Children so that they exemplify love, patience,forgiveness and compassion toward all people - including enemies who hate us because of our faith in Christ. This cannot be accomplished under our own human strength and efforts but through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God that brings about the born-again experience. Jesus stated that without Him we can do nothing.