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A Letter from Hell

RobertZ

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98cwitr

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I know the story of Lazarus and the rich man...but why do we apply that to ourselves? Can someone tell me where in the Bible is says we automatically go to heaven or hell when we die...b/c I can't find it and the notion seems to contradict the idea of final judgement.
 
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KrimsonDraegon

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I know the story of Lazarus and the rich man...but why do we apply that to ourselves? Can someone tell me where in the Bible is says we automatically go to heaven or hell when we die...b/c I can't find it and the notion seems to contradict the idea of final judgement.

I was raised in a Southern Baptist atmosphere and was always educated, in Christian Schools, that when we died we went to our own personal Hell/Heaven until the Final Judgement, after which we then entered The Lake of Fire (as Southern Baptists, this is where 110% of the world goes) or Heaven (as Southern Baptists, maybe three pastors in all of existence get to go here) proper. Is that your understanding?

L.
 
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LovebirdsFlying

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I was raised in a Southern Baptist atmosphere and was always educated, in Christian Schools, that when we died we went to our own personal Hell/Heaven until the Final Judgement, after which we then entered The Lake of Fire (as Southern Baptists, this is where 110% of the world goes) or Heaven (as Southern Baptists, maybe three pastors in all of existence get to go here) proper. Is that your understanding?

L.

I take exception. The Southern Baptist church I attend presents no such attitude. From the pulpit, our preacher has stated many times that "the church" means all believers, not just the ones who enter the "right" building.

And how would this attitude mesh with OSAS?
 
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JM

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I just listened to that sermon and am both frightened and I think even convicted that I need to turn. Does this indicate that God is still calling out to me?

I posted this before...when we find ourselves before a holy God we are convicted, by guilt, for breaking His righteous Law. The Holy Spirit moves in the soul to bring us to acknowledge our guilt and brokenness before Him and His righteousness. We come to hate sin and find Jesus Christ precious. The Holy Spirit convinces the broken sinner of the shamefulness of sin and then brings the offender to a place where they can, “repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

If you feel the weight of sin on your heart and have come to see the blackness of your soul in the light of God’s Law…if you have been brought to a place where you dread the judgement of a holy God, BELIEVE THE GOSPEL!

If you believe that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for your sins the Bible assures us that, “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
 
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LovebirdsFlying

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Well said, JM. THERE IS NO REASON for someone who has been to the cross and had their sins blotted out, to fear hell or to wonder if they are "good enough" for Heaven.
 
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alexw

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Well said, JM. THERE IS NO REASON for someone who has been to the cross and had their sins blotted out, to fear hell or to wonder if they are "good enough" for Heaven.

Agree.

There is no reason for someone who was truly saved to fear Hell... because once saved, you have only one option :Heaven. The question now is: How do you know you were/are truly saved? Simple, the proof that you once entered the narrow gate(Saved), is that know you are walking on the narrow way. How do you know you are now walking on the narrow way? That's hard, because many made this narrow way, a very broadway unfortunately, without even knowing that, because they think that once entered the narrow way, they're saved, therefore they are always saved, therefore they'll go to Heaven because they were once saved.... (in their opinion), Now what you need to understand, is that a truly saved person will never make out of this narrow way a larger way, on the contrary, they'll make it even narrower every day, as they realize their sins, and repent of them..

But in the end, I didn't post this video to scare you, the saved ones... of the hell, my point was for you try and do your best, and tell all you your friends about your relationship with Jesus... don't hide that from them... I posted this video so that you will not end up in Zack's situation, but anyways the video is very good for both, saved and non-saved persons out there...
 
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LovebirdsFlying

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Here's what I posted as a YouTube comment.

I don't understand the premise. I am a Christian, and it comes up in casual conversation because that's what I live. It's what I do and think. Anyone who knows me, knows what I believe. I don't get how someone can be such a close friend, and not know I am a Christian. Or why. It also escapes me that God would provide only ONE opportunity. If Zach dropped the ball, God would have brought other chances.
 
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alexw

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You don't get it, it doesn't mean YOU are the only chance, but it means that you could be a chance for that man, so why don't use it? And in some occasions you really may be the only hope... Who knows... God is working in mysterious ways.

What does it matter if all your friends knew you are a Christian? I mean, I was born and raised in a Christian baptist church, but I was saved recently. I lived in this church surrounded by many Christians, but no one really took me for a conversation 5 minutes, to explain me how are things... Of course that by myself I would have never went to discuss with somebody about this because it didn't interested me at all, it was their job do to that.

Besides that, wouldn't you be happy to know someone REALLY came to Jesus, after a conversation with you? At least for me it would have been one of the most important things I ever did on earth.
 
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LovebirdsFlying

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You don't get it, it doesn't mean YOU are the only chance, but it means that you could be a chance for that man, so why don't use it? And in some occasions you really may be the only hope... Who knows... God is working in mysterious ways.

What does it matter if all your friends knew you are a Christian? I mean, I was born and raised in a Christian baptist church, but I was saved recently. I lived in this church surrounded by many Christians, but no one really took me for a conversation 5 minutes, to explain me how are things... Of course that by myself I would have never went to discuss with somebody about this because it didn't interested me at all, it was their job do to that.

Besides that, wouldn't you be happy to know someone REALLY came to Jesus, after a conversation with you? At least for me it would have been one of the most important things I ever did on earth.

Oh, of course. I prayed that prayer with both of my daughters, and with all three of my step-grandchildren. (My two biological grandchildren are as yet too young. One is a toddler, and one will be born in a few weeks. :D ) I also discuss the issue with my mother, who sadly is of the school that "there are many roads to God, and Christ is only one of them," and my brother who seems to think that merely believing that God exists will save you. I have presented the Way. They have not yet taken it. :prayer:

You'll note that I said I can't imagine being such close friends and not knowing that person is a Christian OR WHY. Everyone who knows me even slightly well, knows what I believe and why I believe it. I talk about it as a matter of daily living. I open the door every chance I see. Examples:

Acquaintance: (to me, after somebody else makes a bad joke) Oh, just tell him to go to hell.
Me: But I don't want him to.

Acquaintance: (to somebody who is leaving the room) Where are you going?
Person leaving (joking): To hell, if I don't change my ways.
Me: You don't have to.

Get the picture?

It still doesn't make sense to me that Zach would be the one and only opportunity for Josh to hear the gospel. If Josh heard the message elsewhere, and rejected it, then even if Zach missed the opportunity, it's still not Zach's fault Josh went to hell.

I'm not saying we shouldn't seize every opportunity. Of course we should. That's the Great Commission; it's what Jesus Christ told us to do. But what I don't like is the basic premise here that Josh's fate is all because of Zach. It seems to me that instead of thinking of Zach, Josh would be thinking over the times he WAS presented with the gospel, and rejected it. "I went to church every week; if I had only listened to what the preacher was saying, and gave my heart to the Lord." Or, "Wow, Mary tried to tell me how to escape this place, but I laughed at her."

In our church, every sermon is closed with an altar call for those who don't know the Lord as savior. Doesn't your church do that?
 
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MichaelKelley

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I had this posted on my YouTube channel before I deleted the channel. It's still on my website though. Really helps inspire all to take up the Great Commission NOW and not procrastinate in doing so. Our lives, and the lives of the lost are just like a vapor (James 4:13-14) that is here a little while and then gone. The burden is on us to proclaim the Word, but not if they accept it.
 
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