What if non-Christians go to heaven?

[ltrain]

As I get older, and am awed by the mystery of God, I'm convinced that God's ways are more mysterious than I once thought. I used to think that one had to confess Jesus as savior in order to be saved.

That may be true. But what if it's not? Maybe there will be people in Heaven who, for one rerason or another, didn't confess Christ as savior but still had a longing for something like Christ. Perhaps God sees the heart's desire, and if it was desiring something like Christ, then perhaps that person will be with God in the end.

What do you think?

ltrain

 

[Caliban]

A man arrives at the gates of heaven. St. Peter asks, "Religion?"

The man says, "Methodist."

St. Peter looks down his list, and says, "Go to room 24, but be very quiet as you pass room 8."

Another man arrives at the gates of heaven. "Religion?"

"Baptist."

"Go to room 18, but be very quiet as you pass room 8."

A third man arrives at the gates. "Religion?"

"Jewish."

"Go to room 11, but be very quiet as you pass room 8."

The man says, "I can understand there being different rooms for different religions, but why must I be quiet when I pass room 8?"

St. Peter tells him, "Well the Jehovah's Witnesses are in room 8, and they think they're the only ones here."

Finally a non-religious man arrives at the gates and St. Peter says "Shhh...Wear these sneakers and proceed really quietly past all the rooms to room 23...... "

 

[Espada]

As I get older, and am awed by the mystery of God, I'm convinced that God's ways are more mysterious than I once thought. I used to think that one had to confess Jesus as savior in order to be saved.

That may be true. But what if it's not? Maybe there will be people in Heaven who, for one rerason or another, didn't confess Christ as savior but still had a longing for something like Christ. Perhaps God sees the heart's desire, and if it was desiring something like Christ, then perhaps that person will be with God in the end.

What do you think?

ltrain

If that is the case then the Bible is wrong and our faith is a waste of time. The Bible is however clear on the matter on several occasions.

 

[mutzrein]

As I get older, and am awed by the mystery of God, I'm convinced that God's ways are more mysterious than I once thought. I used to think that one had to confess Jesus as savior in order to be saved.

ltrain

Jesus made it very plain to Nicodemus that to see the kingdom of heaven one had to be born again. Unfortunately, I believe man has tried to explain this experience intellectually and has produced a series of steps, which if followed will lead to salvation.
The truth is, birth - both natural and spiritual - are not decisions made by the one so born. They are made by the father. And what is more natural than a child saying, "Daddy"? And how do they know what their relationship is? It is a gift - faith - knowing that all that they have and all that they need is supplied by their father.
And where does this faith lead? - righteousness - the kind that was imputed to Abraham. Why? because he believed God and knew that whatever the circumstance - he would provide. There is no striving - no need to try to impress him in order to be accepted.
No wonder scripture speaks so much about our need to be as children.

Ed

 

[Caliban]

Espada is correct, 33% (2 billion approx) of the worlds population is christian, the other 67% will go to hell and of the 33% that say they are christian, about 20% of them will go to hell (due to a number of law violations etc etc), leaving about 13% of the christian elite, approx 260 million souls.....


so that would mean that

260 million in heaven
6 billion 323 million burning in hell

*edit* oops got my maths wrong and has been corrected

 

[ILoveYeshua]

If it isn't true, the Jesus died for nothing, and there is no Law, and the prophets were lying. however, it isn't true, only those who confess God's Son go to heaven, and the rest burn in hell forever. Have a nice day, stop trying to stumble people.

 

[ohgin]

Espada is correct, 33% (2 billion approx) of the worlds population is christian, the other 67% will go to hell and of the 33% that say they are christian, about 20% of them will go to hell (due to a number of law violations etc etc), leaving about 13% of the christian elite, approx 260 million souls.....


so that would mean that

260 million in heaven
6 billion 323 million burning in hell

*edit* oops got my maths wrong and has been corrected

Well the number of people in heaven may even be less then that. Well some of the christians may actually be goats and the rest of the christians are sheeps so the number of people in heaven is less then that. Well the bible did say that only a remnant of the people on earth can enter the kingdom of heaven. so what is so surprising about that???

 

[ohgin]

A man arrives at the gates of heaven. St. Peter asks, "Religion?"

The man says, "Methodist."

St. Peter looks down his list, and says, "Go to room 24, but be very quiet as you pass room 8."

Another man arrives at the gates of heaven. "Religion?"

"Baptist."

"Go to room 18, but be very quiet as you pass room 8."

A third man arrives at the gates. "Religion?"

"Jewish."

"Go to room 11, but be very quiet as you pass room 8."

The man says, "I can understand there being different rooms for different religions, but why must I be quiet when I pass room 8?"

St. Peter tells him, "Well the Jehovah's Witnesses are in room 8, and they think they're the only ones here."

Finally a non-religious man arrives at the gates and St. Peter says "Shhh...Wear these sneakers and proceed really quietly past all the rooms to room 23...... "

wow what a good human theology. Really I wonder what denomination you are and also what church you go to because if the mentality of the church is as such then you are in really grave danger

 

[ILoveYeshua]

John 3:17-21
(17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
(18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
(20) For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
(21) But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.



God's anger burned against the world for its sins, but God decided to make peace with the world, and blood had to be spilled for that to happen. Now, is it going to be your blood or His? I believe its His, and I rejoice. If you want to pay for your own sins, that's your decision.

 

[stumpjumper]

As I get older, and am awed by the mystery of God, I'm convinced that God's ways are more mysterious than I once thought. I used to think that one had to confess Jesus as savior in order to be saved.

What is asked of man is faith, hope, and love in God. How one comes to faith, hope, and love in Jesus is and always has been open for debate. Jesus is the way, truth, and the light because it is through knowing Jesus (or knowing God as intimately close) one surrenders their self to God.

Its not about knowing the magic word and I think God is above all these petty hoops that Christians lay out to determine who are the "True Christians" and who make it to Disney Universe..

 

[ILoveYeshua]

> how many get to heaven?

Gen 22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Gen 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

So if the saved be numerous as the stars, the damned shall be very very many.

 

[ILoveYeshua]

(also see page 1)

 

[stumpjumper]

So if the saved be numerous as the stars, the damned shall be very very many.

We do not have to consign others to hell to open up a place in heaven for Christians..

Maybe, God's love is strong enough to conquer most hardened hearts and we should leave the judging of others to God.

 

[Caliban]

wow what a good human theology. Really I wonder what denomination you are and also what church you go to because if the mentality of the church is as such then you are in really grave danger

and it is a rule violation to make assumptions about anyones denomination or church or salvation in a derogatory term such as referring to the mentality of such!

ohgin I think you may be missing your sense of humor...it's called a Joke and oddly enough I didnt create it myself.

definition of Joke

joke
a triviality not to be taken seriously; ie "I regarded his campaign for mayor as a joke"

 

[ILoveYeshua]

We do not have to consign others to hell to open up a place in heaven for Christians..

Maybe, God's love is strong enough to conquer most hardened hearts and we should leave the judging of others to God.

We don't but God already does. (broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: )

its just a fact.

 

[NothingButTheBlood]

I have no idea if God allows one more chance to accept Christ. In the mean time all I have is the Bible to go on and it tells me to witness here and now and produce results here and now. That has to be more important to me.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

As I get older, and am awed by the mystery of God, I'm convinced that God's ways are more mysterious than I once thought. I used to think that one had to confess Jesus as savior in order to be saved.

That may be true. But what if it's not? Maybe there will be people in Heaven who, for one rerason or another, didn't confess Christ as savior but still had a longing for something like Christ. Perhaps God sees the heart's desire, and if it was desiring something like Christ, then perhaps that person will be with God in the end.

What do you think?

ltrain

The Orthodox Church has always said there will be others in Heaven.

Anyone who particpates in the daily prayers of the Church would know this.

Lord have mercy.

Forgive me....

 

[icxn]

...
What do you think?

ltrain

What's wrong with saying?

I do not know.
​

 

[ps139]

As I get older, and am awed by the mystery of God, I'm convinced that God's ways are more mysterious than I once thought. I used to think that one had to confess Jesus as savior in order to be saved.

That may be true. But what if it's not? Maybe there will be people in Heaven who, for one rerason or another, didn't confess Christ as savior but still had a longing for something like Christ. Perhaps God sees the heart's desire, and if it was desiring something like Christ, then perhaps that person will be with God in the end.

What do you think?

ltrain

I think you're right. To deny this possibility means that God creates people who will never, ever have even a shot at being saved.... I do not believe God creates people that He does not want to get to know better. Scripture says God is no respecter of persons.

 

[Lynn73]

We don't but God already does. (broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: )

its just a fact.

Very true. God's word is clear about salvation and universalims isn't there. Jesus is clear that no one comes to the Father but by Him. There's no other name by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12. If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart Jesus is raised from the dead, you will be saved. It would be great if everyone were going to heaven but the sad fact is they aren't. We can't keep watering down the gospel truth so that we're now saying that we can go to heaven outside of Christ. That's not the gospel that Jesus told His followers to go to all the world and preach.