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Hi HSMom...I read your post and If you don't mind I have a couple of questions.....What about those who didn't /don't know Jesus? What about those who are of a faith other than Christianity? What about Jews, Ghandi, the Dali Lama, Geronimo? Where do they go when they die? Are they punished because they didn't take Jesus as their Lord and Savior? Do you suppose Mary(Jesus' mother) converted from Judaism to Catholicism or another form of early Christianity before she died so she could get into heaven or was she still a Jew?....another question....by saying that God HATES sin, seems like you make "Him" out to be someone who is judgmental, and I have a hard time believing someone/something who is pure love is judgmental of anything (only loving and forgiving of 'His" children)I don' t believe God and Hate go in the same realm.....The Dali Lama said "I like your Christ, It's your Christians I'm not too sure about...Just a couple of things I was thinking about...I appreciate your time..
What about those who didn’t/don’t know Jesus?
Those that do not know Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be cut off from Heaven. (Matt.7; 21-27) “Not everyone who says to me LORD, LORD shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.”
The passage goes on to say that many will claim to have known Jesus but they did not share a personal relationship with him. They knew of him, and used his name for appearances sake, but never “KNEW” him. For the above reason He will say to them “Depart from me I never Knew you.” I ask you what hell is. The bible says that it is separation from God, God will not have communion with any sin. Sin is anything that is against GOD’S will. God cannot sin and has no part in it. He will not defile himself with it. So if one is separated from God, then this person is in darkness for God is light. God created light. (Gen 1:3) And God said” LET THERE BE LIGHT,” (John 3:5-21) and this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 12:36 &46) While ye have light, believe in the light, that you might be the children of light. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. Hell is also a place of torment. ( Matt 13;49-50 ) So shall it be at the end of the world; the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. And if thy hand offends thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched'' (Mark 9:43-48).
Those who are of the cults and other religious beliefs.
Almost all, if not all, the other religions of the world that are not even remotely Christian can be traced to an individual or group that thought they had a better way. If you truly study the cults of the world you will find that most of them have their beginnings from the bible but the founders could not agree with the scripture as being fact, or they doubted the scripture because it just didn’t make sense to them. Or they interpreted the literal written word as having a spiritual meaning. Many of the world’s cults have origins that seem to have been developed in order to instill fear over a people as a way of maintaining control over them. What is the best way to get people to do something that you want them to do? Tell them that GOD wants them to do it and them make up a whole list of things such as laws and ordinances to fit your agenda and say that they are from God. Jesus said that there would be many false profits that would come proclaiming his name but he has given us a sure way of determining the false ones. He said that certain things would happen before his return (THE TRUE CHRIST). Looking at Matthew 7:15-23, we find Jesus gives us the guideline for determining false prophets:
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Galatians 5:22-24 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."
I would like to ask you how many of the world’s religions promote this idea in their very written texts? How many other religions do you see helping the tsunami victims? What other religion requires you to do nothing other than just accept CHRIST? There are none! Every other cult or religion requires the convert to do something, some ritual or some offering of physical stuff whether money or physical exertion of yourself. The Bible says clearly that we can do nothing to earn our way to Heaven for try as we may we can never measure up to God’s standards. I for one am glad that I can’t; I don’t want a God who is only as great as me. I am not capable of much concerning Heaven. All I can do is tell what happened to me when I accepted my sin and confessed it to my LORD. I was a total mess, perhaps no different than many others. I didn’t consider myself to be all that bad a sinner. I didn’t kill anyone and I only told a little white lie now and then. I had an occasional drink and sometimes I flirted with other women other than my wife but hey! Who didn’t? I didn’t consider myself to be religious but I did believe in God, but I also believed in evolution. I went to church on the appropriate holidays and said all the right things there. Outside the church I did what ever my heart desired. I finally came to a point in my life when I started to wonder what life was all about. I was working anywhere form 12 to 20 hrs a day and never getting ahead. I thought of suicide but that started me thinking of Heaven and if I truly would go there. I wanted a reason to go on, after all why should I keep going with the life I had if the out come would be the same as everyone else. Why should I keep working so hard and never have anything but my bills paid. I wondered why if life is so short and Heaven is forever that I couldn’t just go there now and avoid all the trials of life. One day I was listening to the radio and could not get in any station except a Christian station. The preacher on the radio described my life almost in complete detail and then at the end of his message invited all to pray a prayer with him. I was completely awestruck. I decided right then and there to accept Christ as Savior but only to see if it truly would make a difference in my happiness. Without trying, I began to notice changes in my life. I never told anyone about my decision for months and even my family began to notice difference in me. My anger subsided, I quit swearing, I quit drinking, and I became more ambitious. I found more joy in life. At this point I hadn’t read the Bible yet; oh I tried a few times but really didn’t understand it. Then one day I began to read it again, right from Genesis, and it began to come clear to me. You see, I had the power of the Holy Spirit in me even then to help me understand God’s word that I wasn’t able to before.. Now I am a maturing Christian and am able to understand more and more as time goes by and I get into his word. Anyway enough of me, let me address your next question.
What about the Jews?
Under the Old Testament law, those Jews that kept the law have earned their place in Heaven. However, when Jesus came, he came to fulfill the Law of Moses because no one was able, save a few, to keep the law. The Jews are God’s chosen people, he made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that this was so. That is partially why there is such a hatred for the Jewish nation by many countries and nationalities. There truly is jealousy there and rightly so. How would you like to be passed over just because someone long ago didn’t like your father or favored someone else’s father over yours? That’s really what it all boils down to, finding favor in God’s eyes. Leviticus 26:12 - And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
Jeremiah 7:23 - But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
Jeremiah 30:22 - And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Ezekiel 36:28 - And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
When Jesus came he fulfilled the Law of Moses; Matthew 5:17 - Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The Jews have their chance to come to christ first and most of them reject him, so his attention is turned to the gentiles. Acts 28:28 - Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.
What about Ghandi and the others?
All I can say is, “Let each one decide for himself what is the true religion, but as for me and my house, we will serve the king of kings.” Yes my God is the God of Ghandi too, even though he didn’t know it. The written word of the Bible has been in print longer than any of these other cults have been around. There is more documented, historical proof of Jesus Christ than there is in even the very existence of such people as the Dali Lama and Ghandi and Geronimo. Written history is full of accounts of Christ both biblical and secular. Just because these accounts were not written in our time and we didn’t actually see Christ while he was on earth, doesn’t mean those accounts are not true. George Washington is no longer alive but we have documents that are proof of his existence, why should we regard the documents concerning Christ any differently? I’m not willing to take a chance that Ghandhi’s way is the right one when the Bible says that there is only one way to Heaven and that is through belief and trust in Christ!!! John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Where do they go when they die?
As said earlier, everyone who is not written in our Savior’s book of life at the time of judgment will be cast in the lake of fire along with Satan and his demons. Revelation 20:15 - And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
How ever my searches on this subject are unclear about what happens to unbelievers at the time of their death. Some theologians say that they merely have soul sleep until the great white throne of judgment when they will die the second death. Mark 9:1 - And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. Revelation 20:14 - And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
It is however pretty clear where Christians go when they die, they are immediately in the company of Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:8 - We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Luke 23:43 - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
As for Mary, she was a Jew first and when Jesus went to heaven she received the gift of the Holy Spirit along with all of Jesus’ followers. Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
God is a jealous God who hates competition. Exodus 20:3 - Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus 34:14 - For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
Deuteronomy 17:1 - Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavoredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 18:12 - For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Deuteronomy 22:5 - The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 23:18 - Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the LORD thy God for any vow: for even both these are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 25:16 - For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Deuteronomy 27:15 - Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.
Proverbs 15:9 - The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
Proverbs 20:23 - Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
The encyclopedia Britannica defines abomination as; 2: extreme disgust and hatred : loathing the above passages are pretty clear in the thought that GOD hates sin. However it is also clear that God loves the sinner. Matthew 9:13 - But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
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.
Buddha was merely a man born 2500 years ago who left his family and set out to find some means of perfecting the imperfections in his own life. He was not open to the gospel of Christ because it had not yet been taught in his land. Travel was difficult in those days and the emperors were not openly receiving Christians in their kingdom. Or, perhaps he did hear of Christ and merely rejected him as so many people do that think they can make it on their own. What ever the case, I am sorry that he has misled so many people and that because of his brain washing; they will never know the kingdom of Heaven.
Well, I could delve into so many other areas from here but what I have written is enough to digest for now, if you even care to read it at all. I have tried to use as many verses as I can to make this research more understandable for I have no ability to preach the gospel only portray what has been given me in the holy scriptures. I hope it will be of help to you as you search. I shall pray for God to give you direction in this area and perhaps reveal his truth for you. The only thing you have to do is accept it when it comes to you.
Sincerely, hsmom’s hubby<br><br>Post edited by: hsmom, at: 2005/03/09 01:37
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