Religion Questions??

[Bonds_25]

That's just it: Everyone makes it to heaven. How can an all-loving God condemn his children to an eternity in darkness??

My friends and family wouldn't sentence me to hell. Doesn't God love me even more than them?

Hmm, so even the likes of rapists and murders would enter heaven? Just want to clarify.

[ensbergcollector]

hey guys - I have a church thing for the next few hours but I will reply to everyone when I get home tonight.

I will say this for now:

daniel - if everyone ends up in heaven anyway, why does anything matter?

[shortking98]

daniel - The Bible does not say what you are saying, in fact, what the Bible does say is that baptism is the key to salvation. Romans 6 gives some insight into this, as does 1 Peter 3:21 and a few other passages.

[maccards44]

Hmm, so even the likes of rapists and murders would enter heaven? Just want to clarify.

I'd be curious about this too, the idea of that has always bugged me and I'd like to hear an explanation of this.

It's my understanding (i could be incorrect) that anyone gets into heaven for simply asking forgiveness for thier sins from a holy person and/or simply proclaiming jesus and thier savior and asking forgiveness.

The part of that I don't like is that the idea that Hitler himself on his deathbed can be absolved of everything he did and go to heaven.

If my assumption is wrong PLEASE set me straight b/c this has always bothered me.

[chrisjacobs7]

Sorry if I'm butting in but I read a few posts and thought I'd offer my insight. I've seen some mention of the fact that everyone should make it into heaven based on God's love for us. I'd first like to say while we can use the Bible to support our different theories, none of us can be totally for sure until we leave this world.

Now it is my belief that because of God's love for us he wants us all to spend eternity in heaven with him. God's desire is for us to love Him as much as He loves us, but he doesn't want to force us to love him, hence our free-will. God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for all of us on the cross, forgiving sins for all. But this forgiveness doesn't automatically apply to everyone, its something we must ask of Him. I believe that if we ask God to forgive us, regardless of our sin, we will spend eternity in Heaven with him. For those who refuse this offer of forgiveness, I do not believe they will make it to Heaven. God wants us to accept this forgiveness, but He isn't going to force it upon us, He wants us to chose it.

[ensbergcollector]

I'd be curious about this too, the idea of that has always bugged me and I'd like to hear an explanation of this.

It's my understanding (i could be incorrect) that anyone gets into heaven for simply asking forgiveness for thier sins from a holy person and/or simply proclaiming jesus and thier savior and asking forgiveness.

The part of that I don't like is that the idea that Hitler himself on his deathbed can be absolved of everything he did and go to heaven.

If my assumption is wrong PLEASE set me straight b/c this has always bothered me.

the idea that some have put forth that everyone goes to heaven regardless of their acceptance of God is definately not found in the bible.

as for anyone having access to heaven if that ask forgiveness, it depends on whether they are sincere. You can't just say, "forgive me" to cover your tail. If you are sincerely repentant, acknowledge your sin, and either have or do accept that Jesus is the son of God, then God will extend his grace to you.

It is kind of interesting the two polar sides. Some think that everyone should be allowed into heaven and some think that those who sin a lot shouldn't be.

[daniel3417]

Hmm, so even the likes of rapists and murders would enter heaven? Just want to clarify.

Yep. Merely my belief, just like someone may believe that anyone who lies goes to hell.

[daniel3417]

daniel - if everyone ends up in heaven anyway, why does anything matter?

Wait a tic, I thought you were answering the questions! Haha.

I would suppose that the experiences gained on earth would allow a person to experience heaven in their lives everyday. Jesus/the Bible does say that "the kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Perhaps living without any morality is living in hell, and living with love of one another is heaven, and when we all die, we move to the same place.

I have heard people say that when we die, we must learn that our spirit is all that matters, the spirit that is influenced by God. And upon that realization, we ascend.

Just a few things I ponder. I'm not sure what I believe, but I obviously don't mind challenging popular beliefs just to wake everyone up!

[daniel3417]

daniel - The Bible does not say what you are saying, in fact, what the Bible does say is that baptism is the key to salvation. Romans 6 gives some insight into this, as does 1 Peter 3:21 and a few other passages.

I may have been unclear, but this is precisely what I'm referring to. What does a physial ceremony have to do with loving God? Can't the spiritual awakening that supposedly occurs in baptism happen by one's self in "the closet" that Jesus referred to?

[walt55054life]

I'm sorry but I completely disagree. People are more than capable of leading a moral life and being a good person without believing in a higher power.

I'm sorry I don't by this everyone believes in a higher power whether it's a bad person or good person...a gang member believes his higher power is the gang because it as a whole can accomplish things he can't do alone. A christian believes it God because he makes the sun rise and set. A guy moving believes he and another person (his higher power) will help him move the couch.
Sound ridiculous but that's what I think. ie a person who has good morals at least believes in something and you can't convince me otherwise. I'd be curious to what some of you who don't claim to live for God would do in a crisis near death situation.