How will God view my cousins death?

[SonOfThunder]

Today is the day my cousin died, today I wonder how God views her? I have so many doubts about her salvation now and wonder, I think I am going to throw this into the arena of people I now reguard as truthful and people who will give me answers to the many questions I have about this.

Many of you know me now, my cousin was my best friend, she only lived a few doors away from me and was 2 years older than me. Her name was Natalia.
Our whole family were Jehovah's Witness, Natalia had a desire to please Jehovah God so much, I cant describe her love for Him, it oozzzed from her.

She married and was awaiting the birth of her first born child. He was born in the middle of the night in a hospital and right after natalia experienced bleeding and was rushed to theatre. All through the pregnancy she afirmed that no transfusion was to be given and again afirmed that before she went into theatre.

The theatre staff came out to ask her husband to overturn this, he refused.
Natalia was put into ICU on life support and one hour later her machine was turned off.

The baby is now 5 years old today.

I struggled with my blind acceptance of what was taught, I studied it out and feel she died as a result of false teaching.

My thoughts today are on her eternal salvation.

She was young, she believed she was in the truth, and her heart was for Jehovah God more so than I have seen in any other. She demonstrated that love by dying, not many pushed into that corner could or would. I think about God and His mercy, His grace, His Love. He made us for His good pleasure and He heard her heart over and over again crying out to Him.

How accountable are we when we have been taught incorrectly? and the organisation keeps you so busy that you have no time to study as an individual? did Natalia study this before she blindly (BY FAITH) accept what she was taught and followed it? I would have done the same and signed the consents believing that I was ok, never thinking it might happen to me...how wrong we can be.

The rest of my family think they are in 'the truth', some blindly accept and follow without really bothering to check things out. The teachings are familiar to them and they have been hoodwinked into being comfortable.

Does God look at thier hearts first? did He see Natalia's sincerity? did He give her eternal security? she died believing it was His will after all?

I read about a loving God. Please pray for my extended family and their eternal salvation. I dont have contact with them now but pray continually and worry for their salvation.

James

 

[Cright]

James,

What a hard day today must be for you. I will be keeping all of my family in my prayers. I'm not sure what can be done to give you any assurance. I'm not sure what your cousin believed. I know JW's are not trinitarians... but do they believe Jesus is the son of God?

No one knows the "minimum" needed for salvation, but it does include believing Jesus to be the son of God and our savior. It includes knowing the only way to the Father is through him.

God Bless,
Carina

 

[SumTinWong]

How accountable are we when we have been taught incorrectly? and the organisation keeps you so busy that you have no time to study as an individual? did Natalia study this before she blindly (BY FAITH) accept what she was taught and followed it? I would have done the same and signed the consents believing that I was ok, never thinking it might happen to me...how wrong we can be.

Honestly, this is hard James, but we are all accountable to God when we die. She grew up in this system and perhaps she is less accountable because of that, but we don't know if at sometime, the Holy Spirit tried to reach her in other ways to straighten this out. James, I won't play God, I don't know what He has done with your cousin, but it sounds like she loved God, at the very least her impression or what she was taught who God was. Maybe that was enough? I will leave that with God.

Does God look at thier hearts first? did He see Natalia's sincerity? did He give her eternal security? she died believing it was His will after all?

These are hard questions James. God looks at all of our hearts, and He looks at who is in our heart. Many people are deceived today, and we have no idea what kind of mercy God will have on them. People who say they know, are lying to you.

I read about a loving God. Please pray for my extended family and their eternal salvation. I dont have contact with them now but pray continually and worry for their salvation.

James

God is loving, God is merciful, God is kind, and God is just.

I pray for you, your pain, and your loss. I pray for your family and that the Lamb of God will show Himself to the people in your family as He is, not what they believe He is.

 

[PromiseSeeker]

Wow, what a situation.......... I believe you in that you say she was a "Godly person" and that she loved Him with all her might (as much as she was taught to know how), however, the Word says that in order to spend eternity with God that we must be born again. (Saved) My heart breaks, because I want to say this lovingly.......... no matter how "good" we are, whether we "live our life for God to the fullest" or whatever, if we have not come to a place in our life where we have accepted Him as Savior, we will not inherit the kingdom of God. I truly hope, that for her sake (and those that loved her) that she at one point did get saved.

Our God is loving, but he also sets rules and standards that we must go by. God bless.......

 

[ZiSunka]

James, God cannot be unloving or unfair. I'm sure that if there is any way He could let her be in heaven, that's exactly where she is.

If you look at the book of Romans, it will give you hope for her.

Romans 2:14 For example, whenever non-Jews who don't have laws from God do by nature the things that Moses' Teachings contain, they are a law to themselves even though they don't have any laws from God. 15 They show that some requirements found in Moses' Teachings are written in their hearts. Their consciences speak to them. Their thoughts accuse them on one occasion and defend them on another. (their hearts will tell them when the are doing right or wrong) 16 This happens as they face the day when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge people's secret thoughts. He will use the Good News that I am spreading to make that judgment.

James, it doesn't seem like she was ever exposed to the Good News that Paul talks about here. There are theologians who believe that God gives the Good News to newly passed people who have never heard it, and if they respond, they are saved. I don't pretend to know everything about salvation, but if this is true, she may have responded to the gospel and is enjoying heaven right now. It sounds like she really loved God and wanted to please him, purely and without guile, and I'm sure God understood this and reckoned that as faith, and it is through faith that we are saved.

 

[Gold Dragon]

I don't know how God views your cousin Natalia, but I pray that this situation will help your extended family break away from the hold of JW deception and find right relationship with God.

Even if you don't have contact with the family, maybe there are ways to let them know you care without disrespecting their command to separate from you.

 

[ZiSunka]

Maybe a greeting card? Hallmark has a set of cards commorating the anniversary of someone's death.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

James this is a tough break. There are countless god-loving mormons, muslims, JW's across the world. They are, unfortunatly, in love with a false Christ. Given what the scriptures state and what JW's adhere to and believe I do not believe that she was in the will of God.

God is Good brother James even though his ways are not our ways. Sometimes its hard to view the mercy of God in light of the circumstances and I was thinking how the best way to put this is. You strike me as a man looking for an honest answer to a tough question so I tried to provide one.

This thread is not about me, but it somberly is making me reflect on my own life, the sin therein and how he is transforming me. I will be praying for you this day.

- Bro. Mark

edit: I was trying to nap and just couldnt help but feel horrible about this post, I dont want your cousin to be lost or anything like that. I dont want anyone to be in hell ... I dunno...

 

[Matthan]

James, here is God's truth as I understand it. You know in your heart that Jesus gave us His most holy word in His promise contained in John 3:15, 16, 17-18, and 36. He told us the same thing many other times. So, here is His truth. If your sister, at any time in her life, had the right mind-set and a good, loving, believing heart, and called upon His name, believing in Him as the only begotten Son of God (see Romans 10:13, also), then she is eternally saved according to God's promise to all of us. She may not have many crowns or treasures laid up in Heaven because of her activities here on earth. And, at the judgement, she might get yelled at a lot, too. But she is secure in God's grace, and will receive eternal life, none the less.

I can only hope she did call upon Jesus faithfully to be her Savior at some point in her short life. That is the key. That is also the faith you can rest assurred in. The same faith that is so strong in your own heart, my brother. May God bless you and keep you, and may He give you the peace to willingly accept His just judgements as well as His glorious grace.

Matthan <J><

 

[SonOfThunder]

James this is a tough break. There are countless god-loving mormons, muslims, JW's across the world. They are, unfortunatly, in love with a false Christ. Given what the scriptures state and what JW's adhere to and believe I do not believe that she was in the will of God.

God is Good brother James even though his ways are not our ways. Sometimes its hard to view the mercy of God in light of the circumstances and I was thinking how the best way to put this is. You strike me as a man looking for an honest answer to a tough question so I tried to provide one.

This thread is not about me, but it somberly is making me reflect on my own life, the sin therein and how he is transforming me. I will be praying for you this day.

- Bro. Mark

edit: I was trying to nap and just couldnt help but feel horrible about this post, I dont want your cousin to be lost or anything like that. I dont want anyone to be in hell ... I dunno...

Thanks Bro Mark,

I knew that by posting this question I might get sugar coated responses and responces that are spoken in love and out of truth. I thank you for your post and please don't feel horrible.

I also thank those that have also responded to my post in any way. Good Scriptures have been given, today I will spend time studying them.

Jesus to a Jehovah's Witness is indeed the Son of Jehovah God but not God. So the trinitarian stand point is not believed. Also I was taught that Jesus was Michael the arch angel, which I believe is false teaching in light of Scriptures, I also believe that refusing Blood transfusions is also false teaching, because I have a whole extended family that might be in the position of needing blood one day it is a concern that this is still being taught.
Today many old rules about taking blood by rpoducts have now been reversed, I often wonder how long it will be until they decide that all can have blood transfusions? If this happens, I guess it will throw my family into a turmoil after losing Natalia so perhaps this error of teaching continues to save face, what about the needless deaths to come with people that will sign that they will not take a blood transfusion?

Gold dragon asked if I can make a way to contact my family, I send e-mails almost daily since I left home, I still have a younger brother living at home I miss a great deal also. So far they don't reply, I do know they open them thanks to how the e-mail system can work. Yesterday I sent my love on this day to them alland shared some personal moments Natalia and I had together that might bring them joy in remembering her. One day in the future I will put Scriptures to support my new found beliefs as The Holy Spirit confirms them in my spirit, in those e-mails, I was hoping they might reply first before I did.

One thing? when I grew up we were taught that Jesus is the Son of God and that he was the ransome sacrifice for our sins. Of course Natalia believed this (as I did), what I see as the error is that Jehovah's Witnesses do not see Jesus as God, worship to Jesus is not practised, but worship to God is. It is true whilst Jesus was in his ministry people worshipped Him, but He always directed them to the father. We always prayed through Jesus and without jesus we had no way to the Father. Natalia knew this and declared it, I sure hope she is ok, that it was simple belief and she is secure as far as salvation goes. She knew Jesus was her saviour, I believe Jehovah God is also called saviour too.

thankyou lambslove for your Scripture.

Romans 2:14 For example, whenever non-Jews who don't have laws from God do by nature the things that Moses' Teachings contain, they are a law to themselves even though they don't have any laws from God. 15 They show that some requirements found in Moses' Teachings are written in their hearts. Their consciences speak to them. Their thoughts accuse them on one occasion and defend them on another. (their hearts will tell them when the are doing right or wrong) 16 This happens as they face the day when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge people's secret thoughts. He will use the Good News that I am spreading to make that judgment.


James

 

[Lockheed]

Why is it we are sometimes so afraid to say the truth of Scripture.

Yes God is loving, and God is gracious and saves the unrighteous by grace through faith but God is also just and will not let unrighteousness go unpunished. The JWs not only teach that Christ is merely an angel but they also teach a doctrine of works-righteousness and anyone caught up in that system is caught up in a world full of lies. Are they responsible for believing the error? Yes, just as we are all responsible for our own sins. Unless they are covered by grace through faith (that rests on Christ's work alone) one cannot be saved.

It is tragic that people refuse to believe the Gospel and be saved, but we cannot tell one person "I think your friend is in heaven" because we feel sorry for them, yet condemn the pagan and the atheist.

I'm thankful that Bro Mark and others had the discernment to speak the truth, in love.

Mat 7:14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. "
2Co 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

 

[SonOfThunder]

I agree Lockheed, it is not right to sugar coat 'truth'

If you look at examples in the Old Testament, God very often allowed his wrath to fall on people when they disobeyed.

Today we do have problems discerning truth, especially when we get caught up in false teachers, who make it seem so right.

Right now, it is difficult for me to discern what is truth from what is not. I have ot take each thing slowly and read and staudy and pray most of all. I could have left my current church 5 times over on certain issues.
Some of the issues are not central to the core of belief but odd things the church has allowed through the doors in order to please people.

I often wonder if there is a church group that God considers closest to His will? I do understand that He sees us all individually also.

I posted this a couple of posts back, forgive me for repeating it...

One thing? when I grew up we were taught that Jesus is the Son of God and that he was the ransom sacrifice for our sins. Of course Natalia believed this (as I did), what I see as the error is that Jehovah's Witnesses do not see Jesus as God, worship to Jesus is not practised, but worship to God is.
It is true whilst Jesus was in his ministry people worshipped Him, but He always directed them to the father. We always prayed through Jesus and without Jesus we had no way to the Father. Natalia knew this and declared it, I sure hope she is ok, that it was simple belief and she is secure as far as salvation goes. She knew Jesus was her saviour, I believe Jehovah God is also called saviour too.

hope it can be responded to.


James

 

[desert_island_1]

I am praying for you and your family. I dont know if you are mad at your cousin's child or not but do not be mad at him for your cousin's death. I don;t know if you have seen the movie Jersey Girl but a similar thing happened there. Jennifer Lopez's character seems to be giving birth to the baby fine but all of a sudden she passed out. It was a blood clot and it popped from the strains of labour. There was nothing that the doctors could of done for her and I think it is important that we sometimes realize that. Sometimes God decides that he wants you to come to Heaven right then and there, no matter how badly other people want you to stay on earth

 

[ZiSunka]

One thing? when I grew up we were taught that Jesus is the Son of God and that he was the ransom sacrifice for our sins. Of course Natalia believed this (as I did), what I see as the error is that Jehovah's Witnesses do not see Jesus as God, worship to Jesus is not practised, but worship to God is.
It is true whilst Jesus was in his ministry people worshipped Him, but He always directed them to the father. We always prayed through Jesus and without Jesus we had no way to the Father. Natalia knew this and declared it, I sure hope she is ok, that it was simple belief and she is secure as far as salvation goes. She knew Jesus was her saviour, I believe Jehovah God is also called saviour too.

We are writing to the church of God in Corinth, you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did all Christians everywhere – whoever calls upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and theirs. 1Co 1:2

And anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' Ac 2:21

For "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Ro 10:13

When I was first saved, I didn't believe that Christ was really God, either. All I knew was that salvation comes from Him and I wanted to be saved. I called on the authority He has to save, and I think He met me where I was. I can't find anywhere in the Bible where it says you have to agree to the Nicene Creed to be saved.

Your cousin didn't really have the opportunity to hear the true gospel. You have said so yourself--they keep you so busy you can't study the Bible for yourself to gain truth and knowledge, you can only have the "truth" and "knowledge" they want you to have. Your cousin called on the name (authority) of Christ to save her. I believe that He met her where she was and accepted her. The other stuff that JWs believe is extraneous to the matter. If she genuinely looked to Christ to be her only savior, I believe I will see her in heaven. She had faith in the essence of salvation--that Christ alone saves.

Do the JWs teach a false gospel? Yes! But if we are saved by faith and if Natalia had that saving faith, it doesn't matter what church she was born into.

There are going to be a lot of people who disagree with me, but I have posted scriptures for you to go look at for yourself. Decide from the Bible whether or not your cousin might be in heaven.

 

[SonOfThunder]

We are writing to the church of God in Corinth, you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did all Christians everywhere – whoever calls upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and theirs. 1Co 1:2

And anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' Ac 2:21

For "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Ro 10:13

When I was first saved, I didn't believe that Christ was really God, either. All I knew was that salvation comes from Him and I wanted to be saved. I called on the authority He has to save, and I think He met me where I was. I can't find anywhere in the Bible where it says you have to agree to the Nicene Creed to be saved.

Your cousin didn't really have the opportunity to hear the true gospel. You have said so yourself--they keep you so busy you can't study the Bible for yourself to gain truth and knowledge, you can only have the "truth" and "knowledge" they want you to have. Your cousin called on the name (authority) of Christ to save her. I believe that He met her where she was and accepted her. The other stuff that JWs believe is extraneous to the matter. If she genuinely looked to Christ to be her only savior, I believe I will see her in heaven. She had faith in the essence of salvation--that Christ alone saves.

Do the JWs teach a false gospel? Yes! But if we are saved by faith and if Natalia had that saving faith, it doesn't matter what church she was born into.

There are going to be a lot of people who disagree with me, but I have posted scriptures for you to go look at for yourself. Decide from the Bible whether or not your cousin might be in heaven.

wow, over the months I see you posts and have gained some information that is so good, this one was a gem to me. Many will think they are words I want to hear rather than them being from God's word. But you are right about the simplicity of salvation by grace of what Jesus Christ did for us.

I have no idea how Jehovah God see's Natalia and her eternal salvation.

thankyou for your very very comforting post lambslove, it lived up to your mick, in showing the lambs love to us.


James