Who is my "brother" in Christ?

[eis]

Repent of sin or from it. No perfection implied.I understand repenta to be a recognition that sin is in my life and that I am going co turn from sin and pursue a sinless lifestyle. Perfection on our part is not required.

So then what does "repentance" mean with regards to salvation?

Take a "good" person - never had sex outside of marriage, never got drunk, doesn't lie, gives to the poor, etc.

What would you say to him? Even if you could get him to acknowledge that he is a sinner "just because" - what sin would you tell him to repent of in order to get saved?

No such person. If you say you have not sinned you lie.

I missed this question. I agree with 1Mind1Spirit - the hypothetical man is always the last line of defense.

[Guest shiloh357]

As for the babies, we all know that little children are covered by God's grace until they are of age that they are able to understand and consciously choose to accept or reject the gospel.

Hey Shi, can you give me the passages that speak about this? This will help me when people suggest that I wasn't saved at age 3 because I didn't understand my need for a Savior. Thanks!

This actually based on 4 basic premises

1. No one goes to hell without rejecting Christ. There is no biblical record of anyone in hell who did not reject God's revelation of Himself. Everyone who is in hell is there because they chose continued separation from God. Babies are not "saved" per se, but they are preserved by God's grace until they are of age when they are able to consciuously choose to accept or reject the gospel.

2. God's character is such that he does not will any should perish (2 Pet. 3:9, Matt. 18:4). In Mark 10: 13-14, Jesus was very displeased when the disciples tried to forbid the infants and little children to come to Him. It is hard to imagine Jesus as a compassionate Savior that would condemn a child who is incapble of understanding the gospel. Unfortunately, there are some hyper-literalists who lack that compassion and believe that little children go to hell.

3. This is not doctrine, but I also reference the story of King David whose child died after birth as a punishment for his adultery with Bathsheba.

While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:22-23).

Even King David believed that one day he would be reunited with his child in heaven.

For the record, I believe that those children who are aborted go to heaven, as do those who even though they are adults, have the mind of a child and are too mentally infirmed to accept or reject the gospel.

I base this primarily on the revelation of the justice of God in Scripture. The Bible does not directly address the matter of infants going to heaven upon death, but we have enough light on the matter from Scripture that we can find a satisfactory answer nonetheless.

[eis]

1. No one goes to hell without rejecting Christ. There is no biblical record of anyone in hell who did not reject God's revelation of Himself. Everyone who is in hell is there because they chose continued separation from God.

Can you give us one example of one person currently in hell that rejected God's revelation?

I base this primarily on the revelation of the justice of God in Scripture. The Bible does not directly address the matter of infants going to heaven upon death, but we have enough light on the matter from Scripture that we can find a satisfactory answer nonetheless.

I agree. I know that's shocking, but we do have a few things in common.

[eis]

If I recall correctly, shiloh357 had said that what one does does not send them to heaven or hell, does Paul disagree?

Romans 2:5-9

5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.

NASB

[Guest shiloh357]

QUOTE (shiloh357 @ Mar 31 2010, 11:58 AM)

1. No one goes to hell without rejecting Christ. There is no biblical record of anyone in hell who did not reject God's revelation of Himself. Everyone who is in hell is there because they chose continued separation from God.

Can you give us one example of one person currently in hell that rejected God's revelation?

Votaire, Hitler, Pharoah, Herod, Caiaphas, Pilate, Capone, Stephen J. Gould (atheist/evolutionist), Lenin, Stalin...

If I recall correctly, shiloh357 had said that what one does does not send them to heaven or hell, does Paul disagree?

Romans 2:5-9

5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.

NASB

God will render to every man according to his deeds. The Bible teaches that some will suffer more in hell than others. This is not talking about God saving people based on their deeds. It is referring to the rewards/conseqences of obdedience/disobedience.

If your salvation is predicated on your works, then you don't need Jesus. If you can be saved on the basis of what you do, then you can engineer your own salvation, and Jesus' death on the cross is ineffectual in that it cannot provide anything you did not procure on your own.

If you can be saved by your own efforts, then you don't need grace. Grace is not for those who can live good enough to be saved. It is for those who cannot save themselves.

[eis]

QUOTE (shiloh357 @ Mar 31 2010, 11:58 AM)

1. No one goes to hell without rejecting Christ. There is no biblical record of anyone in hell who did not reject God's revelation of Himself. Everyone who is in hell is there because they chose continued separation from God.

Can you give us one example of one person currently in hell that rejected God's revelation?

Votaire, Hitler, Pharoah, Herod, Caiaphas, Pilate, Capone, Stephen J. Gould (atheist/evolutionist), Lenin, Stalin...

Has the judgment already occurred? Did the Lord come with the shout of the archangel and the dead arisen to make this so?

Or do you really mean that they are "likely" to be in Hades in a place of torment?

[Guest shiloh357]

QUOTE (shiloh357 @ Mar 31 2010, 11:58 AM)

1. No one goes to hell without rejecting Christ. There is no biblical record of anyone in hell who did not reject God's revelation of Himself. Everyone who is in hell is there because they chose continued separation from God.

Can you give us one example of one person currently in hell that rejected God's revelation?

Votaire, Hitler, Pharoah, Herod, Caiaphas, Pilate, Capone, Stephen J. Gould (atheist/evolutionist), Lenin, Stalin...

Has the judgment already occurred? Did the Lord come with the shout of the archangel and the dead arisen to make this so?

Or do you really mean that they are "likely" to be in Hades in a place of torment?

They are in hell awaiting the Great White Throne judgment when death and hell will be thrown into the lake of fire. I realize the cult of Christ probably has a very screwed up eschatology (not surprising given their overall biblical incompetence as displayed on this board)

[eis]

I realize the cult of Christ probably has a very screwed up eschatology (not surprising given their overall biblical incompetence as displayed on this board)

Fine.

Matthew 7:6 "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

NASB

Edited March 31, 2010 by eis

[eis]

So one can be saved and not repent?

[Guest shiloh357]

So people go to hell immediately when they die and are in a waiting chamber until the great judgement?

I don't understand the sense in that.

Wouldn't we all die and remain in the grave, then when Jesus comes, the dead in Christ shall rise first and then those who are alive in Christ will be caught up together with them in the air?

Then, after that, well I don't know what happens. I think then God's army will defeat the enemy, a new heaven and a new earth will be created.

And while those who believe in Christ will live Eternal life, the ones who rejected Him will have teeth nashing, fire burning them for all Eternity.

Right?

I mean, obviously that day will be more glorious than I can ever describe.

No, because Jesus portrayed hell as a place of suffering for those who die in unrighteousness per the rich man and Lazarus. When you die, you step out into eternity and you will either be with the Lord, or you will spend eternity separated from Him.