So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. I cant make that call for you. Of course He can. I mean to really, really commit your whole self to Him? The only way to actually trust the chair is to sit on it. Its the only logical way to see it, from where I sit. Thanks for writing! Sin is more than the refusal to make "genuine moral decisions"it is the refusal to love, worship, and obey God. That, he explained, is how we get suicide bombers: they are told to do it by their teacher. Baptism is a command for those who ARE saved, not a command for those who WISH to be saved. Now, I dont want to offend you unnecessarily. So I have 2 questions: Should Christians listen to secular or non-christian music? Its a good thing that Jesus died for us, isnt it? Im not going to pretend to know something that other people dont. And so one of His teachings is about baptism. why are you not on fire for Him and living the Christian life and bringing people into the Kingdom of God by telling them about Him ? The father saw him coming and RAN TO HIM, accepted him back, gave him a place of honor and threw him a big party. Im 16 and I havent been to clear on what I believe in. Well Tony I truly feel my grandsons are in heaven right now. So that I may also be proclaimed to be in the community of the children of god. How can I get to know who he truly is and fully trust him? Following Jesus isnt just something we do on the outside. When were born again, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in each of us. THAT makes all the difference! However: the Bible is clear about this. God wants everybody to be with Him for eternity, because He loves everybody. Since you clearly state you baptize based on Matthew 28, please re-read and take notice that this verse is written in the singular not the plural, and I quote (from KJV Matthew 28:19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Thats why Peter, in Acts 2, told people who wanted to be saved that they should repent and be baptized. You didnt do one without the other. You can read about it in Matthew 25:31-46. The limbo of the infants is one possible explanation for what happens to unbaptized children when they die. Faith, in the Bible, isnt anything like just believing. Its. Church doctrine now states that unbaptized babies can go to heaven instead of getting stuck somewhere between heaven and hell.23 thg 4, 2007 Can you be Catholic without being Baptised? The Bible is clear, though: Jesus the Son is the same kind of being as the Father. Youre already a member of the church, like every other Christian in history. Hes not that at all. Im kind of old, and have been around the block a few times. I idolized people (Hollywood) just like justin bieber or one direction.. For me, its a very serious problem and i cant stop from listening to their musics.. About minutes ago, i watched a video, what really happen in hell and i aalmost crying.. I would suggest that you take some time to regularly daily, if possible read what God says in the New Testament. When you are able to both obey your parents and obey God, be baptized. Pentecostals believe that those who die in their sins without seeking God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ will spend eternity in a literal hell. Sometimes, we just didnt know the people very well, or even know them at all. I have a question. What I see is a reframing of Christianity, a challenge to orthodoxy, and doubts about whether sincere believers have understood what Jesus really meant. I dont pray a lot but I do believe in him. First, we must repent of our sins (Yes, Jesus paid for our sins, yet, we are still born in sin). 28:18-20; CCC 848). The only logical explanations are either that the Bible is unreliable, or that all of the New Testament explanations about being saved are independently sufficient for salvation. If someone responds by saying no to God, and insists on living life on their own terms, they have no relationship with Him. Ask! It was a heartbreaking tragedy. (1 John 1:5-9). Where is Elijah and Enoch and Moses etc then? Nicodemus didnt understand. Doing things His way is always the best decision. If you dont have a group of Jesus-followers in your area that you meet with regularly to learn, be challenged, and be encouraged, find one. If youll read the Parable of the Sheep and Goats the end of Matthew 25:31-46, youll see why I say that no one is in Heaven or Hell at this point. I have a question. Yes I do agree many still do not agree with each other on what happens to your your spirit when you die, which I accept, we will only know the day we die, that is how I feel. That appears to say that if you dont believe you are condemned to death or hell. This isnt the only time in Scripture that we see Jesus, who is God, being limited in ways that the Father is not. Doesnt it seem like every sinner who has heard the gospel but has not yet been born again has denied God? Thanks for your commentand welcome to the family! Do you really think that it doesnt matter whether people go to Heaven or Hell? He was an investigator, specializing in cold cases that nobody else could solve. I am torn. That is, I read in the Bible that the Father is God, that Jesus is God, and that the Holy Spirit is Godand that there is only ONE God. But we dont live our life by it. No problem, chuck them on the Limbo scrapheap. Spend some time in silence each day, listening for His guidance. Theyre not separate, like you and I are. Scrutiny Rites. Being anointed by the Holy Spirit is being made able to serve when theres a need. If your parents are somehow distressed or disapproving, I would suggest that you explain your decision to be baptized as soon as youre on your own. CARM (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry). Related questions More answers below If an unbaptized person is going through RCIA, can he or she ask for his child to be baptized in the Catholic Church or it is necessary to wait anyway? Sep 14, 2014. I appreciate you taking the time to ask. Happiness is everyone's goal, and it comes from giving, not possessing. First, read your Bible. We dont need a holy book to tell you right from wrong. Of course, there are questions behind your question. Talk to Him. another eden best otherlands weapons; emoji with tongue out to the side; halohydrins are formed by reaction of unsaturated compounds with; harrisburg homes mostyn manor Dont spread your dreams, which might be only for you. I love Jesus with all my heart, cause I know how of the burden he took on for me and many other people. I said is he lying about being a carpenter he said no, but its not his name. Its not a spiritual thing, its a social thing. Their claims are often given a second glance because we cant really understand how three persons can be one God, but its clear that the three are not one another, even though there is only one God. Sin doesnt keep people out of Heaven or send them to Hell. 22:18-19 says: For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things,, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. Here are a few things you need to know: First, you need to read the New Testament for a while. Its never a good idea to suggest that truth can be determined by our feelings. A typical religious response would be stop being bad, and God will be pleased with you. Thats not what the Bible teaches. A baptism of repentance was often part of the process, where people would acknowledge they had strayed from Gods intentions, and that they were turning back to Him. Im not saying youre only reading one verse but I am saying that there are a bunch of verses that you may not be considering here. When we decide to turn our lives over to God and trust Him with the results, we are reconciled. When we die, we will be with God foreverfirst in Heaven, then on a new, recreated earth. Another thing, relevant to your message, is that nobody laid hands on them to receive the Spirit, and it didnt happen when they were baptized. For most of my life I believed in a higher power and that person to me is God. You should take a look at that passage. If you read Acts 2:38-39 you will see that Baptism is indeed a necessity! So, we seem to have a bit of a conundrum. The question of exactly what happens after we die is still largely unanswered. Today, most in the western world dont. A: Congratulations on your new grandchild! Didnt Peter deny Jesus Himself? Required fields are marked *. One cannot be found acceptable to God because they follow Catholic or Mormon doctrine. However: they wont be punished for their sins. The word reconcile is the Greek word katallasso. Heres what Jesus said: For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Thats good, right? I believe that choosing not to be baptized in this wicked lifetime is a superior moral choice to being baptized into a false faith. Its meant to convey that death is temporary, and that we will at one point in the future awaken to eternal life. So what option do a gay guy have? Trust who? My Parents are not Cristian, and I am pretty sure they would not want to be there if I were to get baptized. On the topic of baptism, you again pick and choose a few verses, but fail to include other verses that apply. Some of Her greatest Saints have disagreed on this issue: St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, for example, came to different conclusions. Yes, there are good ways and worse ways to try to help people understand the gospel but it really matters. You might not like congregating with certain people in certain places, but thats not the same as not liking church. I was actually Bi. And that its Gods job to punish those sins. He goes to Cornelius, preaches the gospel, andwell, here it is: While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. Its frightening for me to imagine that the sameWell.Creator, God, that demolished Sodom and Gomorrah for their glut of sin would allow monsters such as Hitler or Robespierre free entry into Heaven with saints, popes, Jesus. Does that mean that when people say Theyre in a better place or theyre not suffering anymore, that its not true? John 3:16-17. Galatians 2:21, Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Will I go to heaven if I have committed a lot of sins and havent gotten baptized? Not for humans to punish. 28:18-20; CCC 848) In Genesis, God created Adam by forming his body from the earth. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. Patriarchate of Antioch. With respect, your comment is full of popular ideas but short on Scriptural support. I honestly cant tell if youre trolling me. Augustine begins: We see that . One of the foremost New Testament scholars in the world doesnt believe in the resurrection. My church teaches we go to heaven after death. Which says to me dont get cremated.dont have your ashes spread out or dispersed to loved ones. We read them in context to make sure we understood them. Im with you: confident that God will help you. Share the gospel. 2010-06-12 09:43:00. Some of the better-known are folks like Stand to Reason, CARM (Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry), Frank Turek, William Lane Craig, Ravi Zacharias, J. Warner Wallace, Tim Keller, and many more. Hopefully before the end comes I can find a church which preaches the light and truth, unadulterated by satan. A Mikveh was so important to social life in Israel that it was the first thing built in a new community. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abrahams side. For BBC Radio 5 live, Charlie investigated what might happen to Harry when she was no longer able to care for him. Only then can they claim to be a disciple and publicly display their faith. Jesus will, as we read in Matthew, judge everybody in the future. Adam, as with you and I, was a combination of physical and spiritual life. As dying progresses the heart beats less strongly, blood pressure falls, skin cools down and nails become dusky. Im not talking about simply having a new attitude, or changing your outlook. God IS love, and all that He does is done in love. i choose cremation due to cost and i dont want this body of mine for worm food. Ill reply here, too, since some might need to know the same thing. The Bible is abundantly clear that some people will be there, but its not because of their sin. One example is Acts 10. Now what? Would you mind sharing the story about why you wanted to ask it? The Bible describes Christians as people who are adopted into Gods family. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. Many thanks for any response. We believe. Let me know if you have any questions. Tell Him that you want your life to be good, and happy, and meaningful, and useful and then tell Him that you want His help. He said that we must be born again. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Listen. Dying can be a gradual process, including . Do me a favor, would you? Their spiritual growth is stunted because they spend more time on what they GET from God, rather than on what God wants FROM THEM. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 3 The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. These things would not be true if the Father, Son, and Spirit were all Jesus, as Gina and others claim. Anyone can find salvation at any time before they die. There are plenty of other good places to learn more about God and how He wants us to live, but those will give you a great head-start. Ask Him to help you, and He will. Are bankruptcy and debt spiritual consequences? James 1:13 says Let no one say when he is tempted, I am being tempted by God; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. What do you think? Our neighbors had a Bible study in their home, and the lady suggested that my mom ask my dad if he wanted to come. Those friends who had lots of troubles, who were spiritually immature, found that many or most of their troubles disappeared as they chose to take charge of their walk with Christ. You ask an interesting question, and its one that puzzles a lot of people. I said ok, what about signing son. Please note that it says in the name of singular, not names of plural.. Answer: It's possible with God's providence (Matt. Its not wrong to say Him, even though the one God is three distinct persons. Christianity is following a person. We can say that we believe Hes trustworthy, but thats not the same as trusting Him. Gospel singer Leon Patillo was performing in a church many years ago, and started playing the intro to a song, when a woman stood up and moved toward him, pointing her finger and shouting. Your question is whether a believer who isnt baptized can go to Heaven. After the judgment, THEN people will receive their eternal reward. It could happen to all of us. The first would be Enoch, another Elijah, and so on. When you sin, talk to God about it. 847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church: Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience those too may achieve eternal salvation. Also, my grandson was born with all of his dads chromosomes and none of his mothersis that uncommon? I want to be saved and I know that Jesus will save me if I stay true to him. I would suggest that youre not wrong, but that God can and will forgive anyone for any sin until they die, or until theyve sinned so much that He gives up on them. The idea is that youre showing them that you believe like they do: that God loves you, and that youve chosen to live the way God wants us to live. Do you think I should be listening to it?. Its okay for you and your grandparents to come to different conclusions, but its helpful to understand them. I belong to Him, and THAT is why Im going to Heaven not because I sin less than I used to, or because I was baptized. Accepting the fact that God is God and we are not, and taking advantage of His invitation to be loved and protected and nurtured and accepted and taught by Him means that we are not alone in this life, and that we will spend eternity in relationship with Him by choice and that will be wonderful. There are 3 Steps to Salvation that Jesus declared that we MUST do! With respect, I have every reason to doubt that youll do it but I sincerely hope that youll surprise me and be like a Berean. Non-Christians? Im writing an email to you as well, so you have my contact info. In Hebrews, we even see God calling the Son God not once, but twice! That doesnt change its meaning. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. Thanks Tony for taking the time to answer so many questions over the years. I dont commit adultery any more. A whole bunch of people call themselves Christians without having a clue about what that means. However: if you want to be EFFECTIVE in spreading the word of Christ, youre not going to do it without the church. We gain eternal life when we trust God, but (clearly) dont enter into that life fully until later. You say that nobody is in Heaven right now. Why accept one thing that Jesus taught and reject another? Why have Christians moved it to Sunday? Im open to discussion, and to being shown wrongdont hesitate to re-engage. Do you think the prophets in the Old Testament, and John the Baptist and Jesus, were too harsh when warning people about judgment? Let me know if youd like to talk this over. Not according to Scripture. In my experience, that would be a gigantic mistake. Gods instructions, which are to be obeyed, seem to be of a few varieties. Ive been to a bunch that were just DEAD. Will that affect my relationship with god? Sorry if this is a bit all over the place, Im just confused and never really learned about religion that much and Im a teen. I have a pretty good idea of what He would say to you. So he decided to have Uriah killed and then marry Bathsheba. Have you been born again? Not some other person than God. Thx. You are born again. The way you phrased your question tells me that youve misunderstood the nature of Christianity. Because I used to be on staff at a church that taught what you believe: that the initial physical evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. Hes always right. Then, about 2000 years ago, God came to earth as a baby. The question is whether He could have sinned. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. I feel it is very near and Im afraid for my husband and myself. Theres no question that I use stronger words than some are comfortable with. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. I dont know if Ill see him in Heaven or not. Its my understanding that God will never give up. On the day of Pentecost, when Peter and the other disciples were in Jerusalem in the upper room, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues. You want them to avoid the rich mans fate. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. Thats Gods part. Does that make sense? (Luke 3:16). Good question. THAT is obedience. Right? There are consequences, to be surebut I wouldnt suggest that God would punish financial excess by taking out a loan in someone elses name. The practice of infant baptism has some biblical support. When you finish a Rob Bell book, do you feel more informed or more unsure? Read your Bible. If you are hearing from God, they are certainly spiritually significantbut be careful. Theres no spiritual reason that I know of to do it more than once, though. It just wouldnt work for me. Heres one: The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. Im very confused. Even if I have earphones on, they would want to hear what Im listening to. In John 20:17, Jesus said, Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Every scripture, in every major religion was chosen by man. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. I am not baptized but I am not afraid of Judgment day. We should not cling to the traditions taught. We should cling to the gospel as it was first handed down, and work to make sure everybody knows the difference. If not, youre not missing out. If youre born again, ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what you read. Did you catch that? He speaks generally, and raises more questions than he answers. They should teach the Bible all the time, rather than other things. However: thats not the entire story. What are you scared about? I agree, and I disagree. Pray. What we believe about God does indeed matter. He doesnt love you because you know everything, or because you perform good deedsHe loves you because Hes a loving kind of person. Telling them that you will abide by their wishes while youre under their roof is wise, and acting rebellious and independent to be baptized seems unwise. Spirits do not have bodies muchless blood to atone with, thus the manifestation of God/Christ in the flesh. This is a totally understandable feeling. I also understand in my heart that Jesus Christ saved us all, sinners and saints alike. I believe fully in the gospel of Jesus Christ but I have yet to be baptized and it is for this very reason: every church I have attended is visibly wicked. I was gay, but as I looked towards God, my lust for men & women had slowly started to go away. What you say makes some sense, but let me encourage you to think a bit more clearly about it. You should at least have a diary, if you feel the need to write that much. I feel God will call you to get baptized when its right, and theres no need to rush. Yes, at times others will be wrong about us but the times when theyre right are so important, and so helpful, that we should be grateful for criticism. Theyre wrong, of course. Read Mark 16: 15-16. So, by that thought process you only have to believe on and be saved/go to heaven; then satan and his minions are going to heaven also because the Bible clearly states they believe too. Thats a silly idea. I also reject the concept of purgatory. You can trust Him. Is Rob Bell a false teacher because it seems like some loud voices seem to think of him as one. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (Matthew 28:18-20) According VERSE 19, this passage says a disciple is made, baptized and taught all under the authority of Christ. Christ's Blood Saves Babies. Tell your grandmother how much you love her. Youre just braver than most, to say what you think. Id consider this a red flag. You say that you believe in God very much. I didnt go to church this morning because Ive been exposed to sick people. However the bible also surports your soul going on to heaven immediately. You can email me if you think it will be helpful. God is wrathful. A good answer must start with a definition of sin. Closely following Mormonism or Catholicism will not save anyone. Here it clearly states that the Word was in the beginning, and it was not only WITH God, it WAS God. I feel like I am tricking people that church is for me when I go to church but really I dont feel like that. I live in the middle of dinosaur country (Colorado, USA) and have seen and touched many dinosaur bones and dinosaur eggs. Do you feel like the church your parents take you to is as waste of time, and that youd rather be serving God more seriously than they are? He knows better than I do. Heaven isnt a place you earn the right to live in. I hope that these bits of advice make sense to you. It didnt make me reject the views just to gain more insight on them. Many are baptized multiple times because they arent taught accurately about conversion, at least that is the case for those I have ministered to. It says that Jesus is the head. Its a public declaration of your faithnot to God, but to a community of Jesus-followers. What if Lucifer dethroned God? In the Bible, over and over again, we see the word believe. The Greek word that was originally used is better than just believe. Its PISTEUO, and it means to be persuaded, and to commit. We cant just believe in God and go to Heaven. One of Jesus best students, John, explained it this way: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Baptism is a public event, where you make a statement to the community of faith that you have decided to join them.