When it comes to other religions, what is the bottom line?

JacksBratt · Apr 22, 2017

Midnafan97 said:
Yes, there are people who haven't sinned. I have met people who are broken, but not sinners. There's a confusion with the description of 'broken' and 'sin'. People who make mistakes, aren't sinners. They're Just broken.
Sinning is a willing act.

If you accuse a broken person of sinning, then you'll just break them even more. Which one is the sinner? The broken person or the accuser?

Then the Bible is wrong?

Ecclesiastes 7:20 There is not a righteous person on earth who always does good and never sins.

Psalm 130:3-5 Lord, if you punished people for all their sins, no one would be left,

Romans 3:23New International Version (NIV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Standing Up · Apr 22, 2017

Jack Isaacks said:
I don't think that was quite what the Pope said.

However, when St. Peter met St. Cornelius, he said, "I see that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation those who do His will are acceptable to Him."

St. Paul said something like this. "When the Gentiles, who do not know the Law, do what the Law commands, they are a law unto themselves, their consciences either excusing or condemning them."

I heard of a Hindu in India who goes to those living on the streets, bringing them meals, washing them, cutting their hair, binding their wounds, and doing what he can for them. Is he not fulfilling the Law of Christ in Matthew 25 by performing these corporeal acts of mercy?

Let God, the only Just Judge sort it out.

Christ is risen!

Peter was flabbergasted that God poured out His Spirit on gentiles. He's no respecter of persons (Jew or Gentile); that's the point.

At the same time, Cornelius did hear and was saved. He wasn't left to his own devices. IOW, your Hindu person who is doing good deeds still will need to hear the Good News. Now, he might hear it here on earth or he might hear it afterwards.

Tetra · Apr 22, 2017

JacksBratt said:
I think it's pretty safe to say that if someone denies the existence of God, they will not be given salvation. No matter how "good" they are, they will be a sinner and need to
" believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ"

You cannot be saved and deny God even exists.

No, it's not "safe to say". Only God knows the hearts of people, He will determine it. We do not know who will be in heaven or where ever. Sorry, we do not have that knowledge.

Widlast · Apr 22, 2017

Midnafan97 said:
That's sad. So there's no hope for anybody even if they are a good person who hasn't sinned.
Tell me, if you were God, would you allow even the smallest sinner into the gates of heaven? Would you give that sinner a third choice?

Lot of nonsense in that post.
A good person who hasn't sinned? Other than Jesus, who would that be?
How Christ deals with all of us is covered in detail in the gospels, did you miss it?
Uh...
There is no third choice.

JacksBratt · Apr 22, 2017

Tetra said:
No, it's not "safe to say". Only God knows the hearts of people, He will determine it. We do not know who will be in heaven or where ever. Sorry, we do not have that knowledge.

You are right. It's not "safe to say".

In fact it is absolutely true to say:

Matthew 10:33King James Version (KJV)

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Last I knew, Atheists deny Christ, deny God, deny any god.

There are no atheists in fox holes and there are no atheists that will be raptured and there are no atheists that will enter the kingdom of God.

I don't care how good you are, how many good deeds you do or how much you donate to charity or how many hours you put in in the soup kitchen...

Deny that there is a God, you will not enter heaven.

JacksBratt · Apr 22, 2017

Midnafan97 said:
That's sad. So there's no hope for anybody

There is hope for everybody and anybody. Christ is our hope and assurance.

jimmyjimmy · Apr 22, 2017

Midnafan97 said:
That's sad. So there's no hope for anybody even if they are a good person who hasn't sinned.
Tell me, if you were God, would you allow even the smallest sinner into the gates of heaven? Would you give that sinner a third choice?

Jesus asked if there were some other way. There wasn't. The cross was, and is, the only way. That's what Christians believe, and proclaim.

Midnafan97 · Apr 22, 2017

Widlast said:
Lot of nonsense in that post.
A good person who hasn't sinned? Other than Jesus, who would that be?
How Christ deals with all of us is covered in detail in the gospels, did you miss it?
Uh...
There is no third choice.

But would you give a third choice if you could?

aus22 · Apr 22, 2017

Catholics believe what is good in another religion come from God. So anyone who follows the good will be saved.

Widlast · Apr 22, 2017

Midnafan97 said:
But would you give a third choice if you could?

With God, or without God, those are the two choices. There are not, nor can there be, other choices.

Midnafan97 · Apr 22, 2017

Widlast said:
With God, or without God, those are the two choices. There are not, nor can there be, other choices.

The two choices were, with God or Hell.
Instead of threatening the followers, why not give a choice that is more appealing and see if your followers will still follow you given the other choice?

Rhonda Loeblein · Apr 23, 2017

Bee_Brian said:
When it comes to other religions, what is the bottom line?

So bottom line, if you are not with Christ you go to hell? Or in the case of those who don't believe in a literal hell, to eternal separation from God?

I once heard about the Pope saying that even atheists can be saved if they are genuinely good people.

What are your thoughts?

We are saved by the grace of Jesus not the good things we do

-57 · Apr 23, 2017

aus22 said:
Catholics believe what is good in another religion come from God. So anyone who follows the good will be saved.

With all due respect, when it comes to being saved you have absolutly no part in it. In fact prior to salvation you are dead in your sins and trespasses.
Following what is "good" ...using your term...is a result, a by-product of ones salvation. NOT a means of acheiving salvation.

You don't choose Jesus as your savior but rather Jesus chooses you.

Midnafan97 · Apr 23, 2017

-57 said:
So, someone suffers the death of the cross...nailed to it...has a spear stuck into their side...and they wake up on day 3? Really? This happens all the time?

We can even tone it down...a guys dies. Riga mortis sets in by day 3...and they come back to life?

You do have a point. But there is one man who had a large brain tumor in his brain. He was brain dead, but then after hours came back to life. He said he saw "Heaven" and "Hell". After he woke up, he was healed completely. The tumor was gone. His description was not like I'd ever imagine. The vision of hell that he had was actually what his brain was going through. The vision of heaven was a release from that tumor.
There's also another boy who kept dying and coming back over and over again. He'd actually be able to see everyone and what they are saying before coming back in his body. He was a surfer guy, I think...
I can try and find those documentaries so you can see. They both might be in the same documentary. I've watched a ton on these things. It's quite interesting.

Midnafan97 · Apr 23, 2017

-57 said:
The bible says Jesus is God. You apparently don't believe in the bible...what can I say?

The bible is written by man though. How can I trust what man says or writes?

jimmyjimmy · Apr 23, 2017

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Standing Up · Apr 23, 2017

Midnafan97 said:
What? I didn't say Jesus was adopted.
We weren't there, you don't know if Mary was a virgin or not.
My thought process is, it's just not possible. There has to be seed, not just a spirit that just jumped into a females body that only has eggs.
I'm sorry, but that's just what I think. You don't have to believe the same thing I do. I'm not trying to change what you think, I'm just stating my thought process.

Here ...

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Mt. 19:26

Hope that helps.

yeshuaslavejeff · Apr 24, 2017

Standing Up said:
To be clear, salvation does not happen automatically (universalism). You must hear, believe, and confess.

This is muddy now! NOT clear! - what does anything said earlier have to do with
anything automatic or universal ?!

Bumble Bee · Apr 24, 2017

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This thread has undergone a cleanup. Please read the Statement of Purpose before making further posts. The General Theology subforum is a Christian only area. Christianity is defined by the Statement of Faith found here. Posts that deny the Trinity or mock Christianity are violations of the Statement of Purpose.
MOD HAT OFF

Standing Up · Apr 25, 2017

yeshuaslavejeff said:
This is muddy now! NOT clear! - what does anything said earlier have to do with
anything automatic or universal ?!

The question of the OP is whether there's another choice besides the Christian bi-view of either heaven or hell.

Some Christians agree there are only two choices. Either believe in Christ or you're off to hell. Other Christians will opine that other religions may have some salvific information in them. Perhaps it arises from the idea that someone who hasn't heard of Christ is automatically sent to hell seems a trifle unjust.

I agree that there is in fact only one way to God (salvation); it is through Christ. Where I disagree is with the view that someone only has a choice while alive on earth. Those in Mt. 27:52-53 were dead and heard and raised to life. There is Abraham, Isaac, Jacob who are alive Mark 12:27. There are many other supporting Scriptures not only of people who were dead who are alive unto eternal life (saved), but of the principle involved.

So, it may be muddy and off the path for those bound by tradition, but to me crystal clear and straight.

When it comes to other religions, what is the bottom line?

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