Life after death, interesting read

[mperry]

Why not?



The idea that Jesus bore our punishment is called the doctrine of subsitutionary atonement and it's at the core of Christian belief. How do you think the idea that Jesus bore our punishment goes against "what is being said supposedly by God"?

As to 'why should I worry about anything', I believe that the worry, if you want to call it that, is for those who have not asked forgiveness for sin, accepted the free gift of Christ's sacrifice, and turned away from those sins.

So if I murder someone then I ask forgiveness on my deathbed then that is good enough? I can be the most evil person around but as long as before I die I ask for forgiveness then I'm good to go? I can't by that.


Turning away from sin though is not that easy is it? If we are all sinners wont be sinners for as long as we are on this earth?

[jcb]

So if I murder someone then I ask forgiveness on my deathbed then that is good enough? I can be the most evil person around but as long as before I die I ask for forgiveness then I'm good to go? I can't by that.

Jesus knew that this issue would pose a problem for folks. He addressed it with the parable of the workers in the field (Matthew 20). Reader's Digest version:

A landowner needs help in his vineyard and hires a bunch of laborers at 8:00am. He says I'll pay you dudes $20 a day. While those guys are working, he goes out at lunch and then again at supper and hires more guys.

At the end of the day, everyone lines up for their moolah. And it seems that everyone was hired at $20 a day, including the guys who came in at supper and only worked an hour or two.

The guys who worked all day said "Whoa dude, that ain't cool! We worked 10 times longer than those other slackers!"

The landowner said in reply, "Chill! Didn't I give you what we agreed upon? I want to pay the latecomers the same as you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my cash? Or are you jealous because I'm generous"?

This is where the "last shall be first and first shall be last" verse is found.

Turning away from sin though is not that easy is it? If we are all sinners wont be sinners for as long as we are on this earth?

The best way I can answer that question is this. Yep, all Christians wrestle against sin all their lives. Even Paul, who wrote a lot of the New Testament, wrote about a "thorn in his flesh" some scholars think was some sort of personal sin.

But here's the difference: Believers aren't sinners any more, they're children of God who still sin. My identity is not the same as it was, because it's no longer my identity, it's Christ's identity in me.

The life of a Christian is one of becoming more like Christ every day. If it's working the way it's designed to, every day we lose some of our own sin nature and take on more of Jesus's nature. Any good that I do is Christ in me, any sin I commit, it's my sin nature trying to stay alive.

It's a rough road at times, and sometimes it's one step forward and two steps back. But God promises that he will "continue the work he has begun" in those who believe in Him.

[SLP]

So if I murder someone then I ask forgiveness on my deathbed then that is good enough? I can be the most evil person around but as long as before I die I ask for forgiveness then I'm good to go? I can't by that.

It is not some magic words that become a get out of jail free ticket. So if someone knew they were going to die, and just spoke something but it wasn't sincere then no. If however a person was truly convicted of his sins, realized he was lost and was genuine when he turned to ask God forgiveness and Jesus to save him then yes.

You see the way you framed the question, it sounds like a person just keeps that option in his back pocket as insurance. It is not exactly like that. It can't be mechanical with no conviction or not genuine. It is not words that save us, but rather truly understanding we are lost, understanding Jesus died for our sins, was buried and raised again, and by believing in Him and trusting Him to save us.

I knew people that were close to death, but sadly said, "I'm sorry, I just don't believe". If they were told, that doesn't matter just say these words that wouldn't have saved them

There is no qualification on our accounts, because were were 'better" or did more good than someone else. God is perfectly Holy. None of us can live perfect lives and earn our way into heaven. That is what Gods law shows us. God's law reveals just how much we can never measure up to God's standards. For myself, I know I could never keep God's law, and because of that, the law points me to the cross and the only way I can fulfill the law, by accepting the only One who could fulfill it- Jesus