Is heaven only for Christians? - That's convenient

[face2face]

This was the "Why only us?" question I had to grapple with as a young adult.

Is it true? Heaven in only for Christians? What does that even mean?

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Where do you get the indication Heaven is the destination for anyone?

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John 1:18

Maybe the question is better phrased "will only the meek inherit the earth?"

Jesus states "Yes!" Psalms 37:11 & Matt 5:5

F2F

 

[St. SteVen]

The purpose of the Lake of Fire is to teach a lesson about God's Character.

That infers graduation when the lesson is learned. Should be done in about ten seconds.

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[RedFan]

The purpose of the Lake of Fire is to teach a lesson about God's Character.

And what character lesson is that, exactly? That God metes out eternal torture as punishment for sin?

 

[Stumpmaster]

And what character lesson is that, exactly? That God metes out eternal torture as punishment for sin?

Here is the Lesson Of The Lake Of Fire - Make sure you stay out of it.

 

[RedFan]

Here is the Lesson Of The Lake Of Fire - Make sure you stay out of it.

Thanks for the tip. But God's character is the discussion topic.

 

[St. SteVen]

That is how I believe the Bible paints the big picture.....

So, you agree that heaven is not just for Christians?

Thanks for your thoughtful and detailed post.

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[Stumpmaster]

Thanks for the tip. But God's character is the discussion topic.

The Lake of Fire is an inherent part of God's Character.

Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

 

[Jack]

Here is the Lesson Of The Lake Of Fire - Make sure you stay out of it.

And that is the most important lesson of all!

 

[MA2444]

It's pretty cut and dry. Without accepting Jesus, there is no way to get into heaven. It's not about us; it's about Jesus. We are not more deserving than anyone else. We simply made a free-will choice that is available to all.

He wont reply to me anymore, lol, so I'll add to what you wrote. It is cut and dry. No one gets to the Father except through Jesus. Someone coined these people to be Christians and thats fine for discussion but the fact of the matter is, Jesus paid a high price for your redemtion, my redemption. So everything belongs to Jesus. Jesus owns the people and earth and all that is in it.

If we choose life then we give our life to Jesus and serve Him. That's not your paycheck, it belongs to Jesus. This isnt the old testament where you can squeek by with 10%, it is all His! He bought you with a price and owns all now!

All us "Christians" ...you think those are really your kids? Lol! No. They are His children. He may have given you stewardship of them and allowed you to babysit so that He can teach you through that and so forth, but make no mistake, this is all about Jesus now!

 

[Stumpmaster]

So, you agree that heaven is not just for Christians?

Thanks for your thoughtful and detailed post.

]

Only Christ can save us

Act 4:8-12 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! (9) If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed, (10) then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. (11) This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ (12) Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

 

[MA2444]

I have a pretty good testimony along those lines.

When I first retired, I got a call from a friend of a friend and they wanted to know if I would come help them and fix their furnace. That's my trade so I jumped on it. I like to help people.

So I went and figured out what was wrong and I didnt hve part on the truck. So I went and and got it and as I was driving back to their house I was wondering how much I should charge them? I wanted to save them some money and do a good deed for them in that way...but I am a poor man also so it's nice to be able to put even a few bucks in the pocket, at least cover the gas and so forth, right? But I didnt want to cross the line into, what good deed look how much they still had to pay...?! So I prayed about it and asked the Lord how much I should charge them, and He answered me instantly. He said, Don't charge them anything, that's my business, didn't you give your life to me? Is it not my business now?.../

Wow, that's quite a perspective there! I can see that. His point did sting a wee bit, but I understand what He said. He always comes right to the point!

 

[St. SteVen]

Only Christ can save us

Agree.
But does that mean that salvation is only for Christians?

Do you understand the difference between being saved and being Christian?

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[St. SteVen]

The purpose of the Lake of Fire is to teach a lesson about God's Character.

Isn't this nullified by your statement below?

Here is the Lesson Of The Lake Of Fire - Make sure you stay out of it.

How can a lesson be learned if there is no hope of graduation? Again, ten seconds should be long enough to learn the lesson. Put your hand on a hot stove. How long did it take to learn the lesson? Did you need to Goggle it to see what the problem might be? - LOL

But what lesson is that? What is to be gained from the Lake of Fire?

]

 

[Jack]

But what lesson is that? What is to be gained from the Lake of Fire?

A main Bible doctrine.

Hebrews 10:31
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

 

[Spyder]

Christians - and those before Christ that believed God - will be on the New Earth. They will not go to "Heaven" as we think about it other than (maybe" for the Great Throne Judgement.

Nobody is "saved" until the day of salvation comes. We only choose to accept Yeshua as our savior and enter into the New Covenant. We have to still abide by the New Covenant while we walk this Earth.

 

[MA2444]

Christians - and those before Christ that believed God - will be on the New Earth. They will not go to "Heaven" as we think about it other than (maybe" for the Great Throne Judgement.

Nobody is "saved" until the day of salvation comes. We only choose to accept Yeshua as our savior and enter into the New Covenant. We have to still abide by the New Covenant while we walk this Earth.

But technically, I have been saved, I am being saved, and I will be saved. Right?

And you make a good point. We must abide in the new covenant. And if we love the Lord then we will be obedient and do what the word says as we walk here on earth. Doers, not just hearers only. Implement it unto your personal capacity.

 

[St. SteVen]

We must abide in the new covenant.

Source of salvation - works? - WRONG!

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[MA2444]

Source of salvation - works? - WRONG!

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That's not works. You can't join the Service and then sit there during boot camp and say oh but I'm not going to do anything!

John 14:23
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him..../KJV

So you see, praying the sinners prayer is not the end. It is the beginning or your "works" for the Lord. It does not get you saved or confirm your salvation.

John 15:1-8
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.../KJV

This says if you sit on your butt and refuse to do anything for the Lord, then you shall be taken away. That we must abide in Him to bear fruit for Him.

What happened to the guy who was given one Talent and hid it for the Lord instead of making it work for the Lord, with some easy deeds. Not works to be saved!
What he had was taken away frrom him and given to another, because he sat around saying oh that would be works so that's not the deal...

Believe as you wish, but you are wrong.

 

[St. SteVen]

Believe as you wish, but you are wrong.

Sounds like double-talk.
Not saved by works, but if you don't do the works you aren't saved? ???

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[Aunty Jane]

So, you agree that heaven is not just for Christians?

The heavenly part of salvation IS “only for Christians”, but not all Christians. Since God is the one who does the choosing of those “kings and priests” (which will include women BTW), we can be sure that God’s Kingdom will have the best rulers mankind have ever had.....and that is the crux of the whole exercise.....God gave the devil rulership over mankind to show that God’s rulership is superior to anything offered by man under the devil’s influence. (Luke 4:5-6) By God’s permission mankind was going to be shown that all other rulership ends in disaster, no matter how good or bad, powerful or weak those rulers were, and are. (1 John 5:19) It’s because the devil rules “the whole world” that we see no form of government proving to be successful.....all become corrupt for one important reason.....God did not design humans to rule over one another.....we are designed to be ruled and guided by our Creator. Power corrupts humans, every time.

Thanks for your thoughtful and detailed post.

It’s the detail that answers the questions. Only careful study, unhindered by emotional attachment to anything the devil controls, will get to the bottom of all the “why” questions.....I have asked them all....