Bronwyn { Can unbaptized people get to Heaven and what happens to those unfamiliar with the Father? We gain eternal life when we trust God, but (clearly) dont enter into that life fully until later. Trust what? Im open to discussion, and to being shown wrongdont hesitate to re-engage. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is God. Hey tony .. praise the lord, I have a question too I am born in an indian emirati background my parents are Christians.. Pentecost and so am I since birth I am 15 right now I want to get baptized but I have no confidence my parents keep saying my relationship with jesus has grown short , which I surely dont believe and kind of makes me tear up whenever they talk about it. I deal all the time with spiritually immature believers, and the one thing they all have in common is that they dont really know what God has already told them. We all want to hear from Him, but we seldom do. Theres no question about the transmission of Scripture. Im happy to play a small part in so many lives! Your words tell me that you might consider what you should believe to be a personal decision as well. Its important to surround yourself with people who will help you grow, and be with you during tough times. The subtle but significant difference between the indwelling and outpouring of the Holy Spirit which can cause confusion as to what is happening at water baptism which now gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit. Does that make sense? Still another kind seems centered around accomplishing a part of His plan. I kept asking Ted a simple question: if Salem didnt repent and there was still no earthquake, would he admit on December 26 that he was wrong? The answer is that it depends. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. Do you really think that it doesnt matter whether people go to Heaven or Hell? They were commended for doing something that most people will not do today. Learn what He taught, so you can do it. If baptism is something we do because we understand God and what He wants from us, then we should all be baptized over and over as we learn more about Him. I have believed in Jesus all my life. If you havent done so already, you should stop reading right now and talk to God. The rich man also died and was buried. That appears to say that if you dont believe you are condemned to death or hell. Youre not hijacking anything, and Im here to try to help. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Thank you that you help many who has questions, keep up the good work and may God use you mightily. Its hard to even imagine what Hes like, since we have nothing on earth we can compare it to. What does it mean to be reconciled by God like it says in the article? If you feel that your relationship with your grandparents is strong enough for a bit of push-back, heres what I might do. Im sorry that I cant give you a better answer today, Marietjie. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. In other words, Baptism is a MUST for getting to Heaven Theres no denying this according to Acts 2:38! Let me know what you think. 99% good? First, thank you for writing. Also, I told my parents that I dont want to go to church and that I want to do my thing but they dont understand. The second thing I want to say is that you clearly dont understand the Scriptures. It could be that this is a commitment that the Holy Spirit does not want you to make with this particular congregation. Listen carefully. Hopefully, their families will miss them. Theyre just notes. >> The problem is new theology or beliefs that get away from the traditions taught. 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. It does not matter whether you think this passage is literal or figurative. I have good news for you: God loves you! 2. I can tell God give you a wisdom. ( Genesis 3:19) Before God created Adam "out of dust from the ground," Adam did not exist. And what would be considered satanic or demonic music? We implore you on Christs behalf: Be reconciled to God., Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. I agree that we who are born again will be with Jesus after we die. Christianity is following a person. You need to examine the evidence for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. We can read about Gods love for us in the three parables in Luke 15 which, not surprisingly, express that we are valuable and cherished by God. Nobody really grasps the full meaning of salvation at the beginning, of course. Thats not a bad question. The Apostle Paul taught with authority, helping people understand the one true gospel and avoid anything that didnt match it. So there is a difference between being baptized in the Holy Spirit and having the Holy Spirit anoint you for a specific work. CAN God forgive you? If you want to be part of His Kingdom, you must acknowledge that He is King, and that to be part of His Kingdom you must submit to His authority. Before you came to GodWords, you had no relationship with me. Baptism is good, and you should be baptized when you are ablebut being baptized wont wash away your sins. Usually, an error only applies in specific situations. I very much appreciate your comment. The son is of God and The holy ghost was created before all time and all creation. I dont believe that I belong in hell. There are several things Id like to suggest. Im not putting all of this on you. Nonot a level of sin. Now, its possible that your grandparents have a valid point to make, even if theyre off-base about the specific music you like. I wonder, though: what sign would you give to your faith community by defying your parents? Very likely, youll feel this way again (and again) as you continue to grow and study. When were discussing something that Christians throughout history have considered a direct command, its not enough to point to what the Bible doesnt say. Jesus said that if you love Him, you will do what He commanded and that you would have abundant life as a result. 21st-century therapeutic moral deists (like yourself, it must be presumed) borrow the idea of Heaven and judgment and sin and forgiveness, but reject the idea that their sin must be forgiven or they will be judged as undeserving of Heaven. God then flooded the world and all that was left was Noah and his Ark. It might seem a little intimidating at first, but sit down and read a little regularly. I hope to not sin again, and if I do. I am not baptized yet and im not sure by which name i have to be baptized. Do you believe that everyone was judged in 70, and went to their eternal reward or punishment? At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich mans table. does it really matter if we believe that God is living in three bodies or in one? So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. What kind of person would I become if I listened to, and lived by, the words of each song? He said yes, but its not his Name. Sometimes its obvious that a person trusts God with their life. Those who are reconciled to God (as we read in 2 Corinthians 5) can be with Him forever, and those who are not reconciled cannot. Again, Im afraid that someone (or many someones) has led you astray. You may be better off if you try to figure out what that point might be. Dont get me wrong: God loves good deeds. Some of Her greatest Saints have disagreed on this issue: St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, for example, came to different conclusions. You wrote to me to ask my opinion. Seriously. Ill use another passage to illustrate: If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Lucifer is a translation of the Hebrew word heylel, which means light bearer or shining one or morning star. He didnt raise questions and leave people hanging. Until then, let your life be an example for your parents, friends, and family. God can do anything He wants to, including giving angels the ability to look like someone else. I welcome your input and I am not unable to change my convictions. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. Just in 2014, or 2015. He left out a crucial point, right? The important question is whether youve been born again, Deborah. What youve written so far is largely tradition and not Scriptural at all. Sin is bad. Rhythm is just the speed at which we do things. Does that make sense?. He doesnt love you because you know everything, or because you perform good deedsHe loves you because Hes a loving kind of person. The question isnt really what to do with your body after youre dead, but what to do with your spirit while youre alive. Ill be happy to change my mind, retract my articles, and publish new articles that agree with you if you can show me. News stories, speeches, letters and notices. Im not against Rob Bell. The answer is yes. I didnt go to church this morning because Ive been exposed to sick people. What makes something like music good, or bad? Even the dogs came and licked his sores. Jesus was baptized just like everybody else was baptized and the Holy Spirit had descended on Him like a dove. I dont feel like I can condemn a gay person for acting in sin so to speak, when not doing so has that high of a personal price tag. Heaven, by comparison, seems far away and kinda boring. Have a great day, my friend! Thats great! Young people want things now, but thats not usually how God works. I choose to live His way, which by the way is the best way Ive ever found. Have a great day! Music is a combination of sounds and words, sung to a rhythm. I applaud you for choosing to be baptized, of course. Thats very meaningful for people like myself, whose earthly father fell short in significant ways. Hi. I have a question: have you been born again? You might take this part of the conversation over to another page on this site, The Doctrine of the Trinity. First, you should read my article about the doctrine of the Trinity. Thank you in advance. The question isnt whether baptism appears there, but what is SAID about baptism. And suddenly it doesnt seem like its a showstopper for going into heaven either. In my experience, that would be a gigantic mistake. The reasons some people have objections about cremation? If you havent already, I hope that youll make the decision to place your full faith and confidence in Him right now. Can i have a Private Baptism at Home in my pool with a Pastor where its only with some Relatives and Friends. That might seem obvious, but its not. The entire point is a public declaration that you believe as they do, that Jesus is God in flesh, that you cant be saved without Him, and that you desire to serve Him with your whole heart for the rest of your life. I salvation defined by one easy action, or is purgatory deniable? Was that a temporary thing, or a longer-term thing? You may be surprised at the answer: Sin isnt what sends people to Hell, so its not the disobedient who go there. PLEASE Give me some reassuring answers. This world is pretty awesome. What you say makes some sense, but let me encourage you to think a bit more clearly about it. I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the So Jesus is saying here in Acts 1:5. To see that your view of God is skewed, you only need to read the New Testament. Youre now part of the discussion. Baptism cannot be a requirement for salvation. Christianity itself has never been truly explained to me and Im afraid that if I dont do something soon it will be to late. I certainly dont believe that. I have friends who lost their precious son shortly after he was born. Thanks for visiting my website. Atheists (who dont believe in God) borrow the idea of evil to condemn the idea of God, who appears to allow evil. You CAN find a church you enjoy. Fear is something most of us live with, but we dont have to. We simply trust that He really DOES care for us, and that His way is FAR better than our way, and our relationship can go from being estranged to being at peace. What youve written gives me clues to some of those misunderstandings. Any 21st-century person would likely read Acts 2:38 in the way you have. To me, that isnt enough evidence to Change what was said in the Old Testament. Imagine dating someone and never asking them about their childhood, or learning about their family traditions, or about their favorite foodthat would be strange, wouldnt it? God knows that we cant be all that we should be without His help, so He offers His help. All three were present at Jesus baptism, and Jesus mentioned both the Father and Spirit, separately, at the Last Supper. I am so very sorry to hear about your grandsons. This is known as modalism, where the one God reveals Himself in three different modes, like fitting Himself differently into different situations. The quandary goes something like this. This is a lot more common than most people think. Thus the greater urgency to advance the Churchs Great Commission (Matt. (Going based off the idea that one must atone for sin before entry into Heaven). If someone ends up in Hell, it wont be by accident. I was baptized in seventh grade. I dont know. One songwriter put it this way, and I believe its true: If you love me, you will love the church. All through the Gospels, Jesus refers to Himself as the Bridegroom, and to us as the Bride. In this vision, he was to tell the city of Salem, Oregon that they would be devastated by an earthquake if they didnt repent and turn toward God. If you accept. Being baptized only gets you wet. I hope he is. There are groups of people out there who call themselves Christians who insist that believers have to be baptized using very specific words, in a very specific way, or it somehow doesnt count or that its wrong, and that God would be displeased by it. Sorry for hijacking the baptize thread. We can turn to a passage of Scripture to see why Im so concerned. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. All it takes is surrender. Im happy to have been even a little bit helpful. 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. 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. Every analogy falls short. Have you been born again? You may have a hard time thinking of God as loving and caring and perfect, but Jesus didnt. Be super kind. It also tells us that the same are not in a state of "limbo," as some believe, or else David would not be able to "go to him.". I have a question for you, Jen. You and I may not meet here, but we will meet there if you belong to God. This is about one death every 11 minutes. 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. For now, what we have isnt quite what it should be. The bible speaks of being asleep unconscience not knowing of anything at all until jesus returns and calls you up. The picture is of dyeing fabric. Not some other person than God. Have a great day! Love, instead, is a decision to act for the benefit of others, even if it costs you. Will god be able to forgive me? If your child has come to faith in Christ as well, they should be baptizedbut its not an act that accomplishes something spiritual. The same notes are used in good music and bad. The rhythm cant be good or bad, either. Sometimes we see what we want to see, and our feelings will often confirm our hopes. CHRISTIANITY Christians use the verse in mark ( I forget which chapter) to defend their view. Let me know what you think about Awesome Christian Music, would you? LOL. You dont need to become a formal member of a local congregation unless you want to play a part in things like voting on leaders. In Matthew 17 we see Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus on a mountaintop, in front of Peter, James, and John. Were not all great at it yet, but we want to be like God. I had it almost every night and the setting never changed. If you trust Jesus, you should also trust Him to be RIGHT about the Father. They cannot, of course. Let me know if it raises more questions than it answers. When you finish a Rob Bell book, do you feel more informed or more unsure? Im thirteen and I will not be able to be baptized because my parents are not christian. Thats something different. Meet with them regularly. When someone tells you something like you must be baptized to become a Christian or you were baptized wrong, check with the Scriptures. I dont think if a person doesnt baptized will go to heaven. Take a moment to read my article Is Christianity about Being Good?. Worried Grandma. Also, we dont even know whether he was a Jew let alone whether he kept the law at all. This brought about a few changes in their lives. Jesus says no one comes to the father except through me, my problem is I would rather rest with Jesus most sacred heart any day than be with a wrathful angry God.I ask Jesus to protect me and hind me in his most sacred wounds and his precious heart from gods wrath, anger, ultimate power, destruction and vengeance.My secret is out I do not want to be with God I want to be with Gods gentle, loving, kind, peaceful and only begotten son. Well am sort of confused! Government activity Departments. He believes, as many oneness folks do, that baptism only works if you do it exactly right. First, a full life. We dont know when Jesus is coming back. In Matthew 25 we read that Jesus speaks of the resurrection of the dead: When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. Did you catch that? Is it because we want things we shouldnt have? Start now, where you are. Its nice to meet you! Tats why asked to clarify myself. The only decision to make here is whether to look for, and live by, the truth. Youll want to find some other people near you who follow Jesus closely. Youre communicating with God, telling Him what you think and feel and hope for. Youve asked some good questions. The truth is that some people wont be in Heaven. What exactly is your own thing? can a guardian angel appear as a family member. but later on, I hadnt attended church in a while. It obviously had nothing to do with pork itself, as Gods people ate pork before that, and after that. This might not describe you. Heres an important question: reading through the whole New Testament, what can we learn about the requirements for salvation? Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. Righteousness equals belief), then you deserve to access all of the realms and Kingdoms in the heavens with God ? Christianity teaches that its the other way around: God takes the first step to convince us that He loves us. Thats all. Dont take MY word for anything Im just going to point you to the Bible so you can understand God a little better. If it were, the account of Cornelius and his household would be false. >> Do the rules change about sin or have we gotten the whole Gay and Christian thing wrong? Spending quality time with other people who follow Jesus will help you trust God better. >> does it really matter if we believe that God is living in three bodies or in one? First, it shows that Augustine does not view ignorance as something that makes us culpable at the judgement-which obviously applies to infants. Jesus died to demonstrate Gods love for us. Your sins have already been forgiven. So: because all sins for all time were covered by Jesus death, nobody would go to Hell for not being baptized. Youre borrowing those ideas from Christianity, but dont seem interested in the rest of the story. When we think about a good family, though, that changes things. What happens to unbaptized babies when they die? Salvation is both a here and now and a not yet kind of thing. 3 The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. Ask Him to help you, and He will. I truly hope that youre right, and that your grandsons are in Heaven. I was actually Bi. Combining all of Pauls writings about conversion we see that because of Gods establishment of a new covenant through Jesuss death and resurrection, we can die to our life and live for Him. Nov 3, 2010. Thanks for asking! Youre writing to tell me Im wrong, but youre not arguing. You can pretend to not be arguing, but its better if you own it. I dont like the idea, but its the truth. Do you belong to Him? God doesnt judge people based on what they dont know. The sounds (notes) cant be good or bad. Baptizing a dead person just gets them wet. Is it possible that you could trust that the Father really IS good because Jesus really IS good? You want them to avoid the rich mans fate. The point is NOT to attend a church, but to BE the church. The verse says what comes out of your mouth defiles you, not what you put in. No, Willissathey are not. Thats also in John 3 (and in many other places). Turner begins the chapter on the scrutinies by pointing out that these rites should not be omitted saying, "Reducing the number of scrutinies is a dispensation the bishop may grant, not the local priest.". You will become part of Gods family! 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. Which is why Im curious on what you have to say my next question: If Gods word is infallible why do Christians eat pork and shellfish? We believe. I am Jewish and Catholic and was Baptized I am very concerned about cremation I hope I am doing the right thing it is cheaper on the cost I want my Daughter to have the money to help her out thank you for answering back deborah. Theres nothing wrong with having doubts and asking questions. The question behind your question is what is baptism?. The simple answer is that He doessort of. Dr Mannix suggested that dying is just a state of unconsciousness - and if you've ever been unconscious, you'll know it was not scary. So far the only solution Ive found is cutting out all of my triggers for lust. Baptism is just getting wetbut its getting wet in front of people to tell them you want to walk with them in faith. Nobody should be manipulated into being baptized but, to be baptized as we see in the New Testament, new converts need to understand the nature of the commitment theyve made. And God is helping me. It doesnt sound like you do. Can we really condemn someone for something they cant control? They dont. We dont know. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. This is preferable to Johns baptism: I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. My wife and I took those 4 pages home and looked up every Scripture. There are some things about Jesus that im confused about. It has to do with money, as with balancing your checkbook, or making sure you got the right change after you buy something. You appear to base this confidence on the idea that youre a good person that the suffering youve endured is greater than the suffering youve caused. All we have to do is trust God with our lives. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich mans table. Yes, obedience is important but we dont start out being obedient. Being reconciled with God is simple, but its not always easy. I am not baptized but want to but my parents dont have the time to . Does God know all those that will God to heaven? Then their corpses rot and fertilize the ground. After becoming a Christian, you should be baptizedbut not being baptized does not make you not a Christian. And here's the command from Jesus to his disciples in Matthew 28:19; Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This life IS good, and you should work hard to enjoy all that God has made. Because theyre worried about the cells in their body being dispersed and then being irretrievable. Basically bell seems to be asking me what kind of God do i worship a god who is loving and wants to reconcile everyone or a God who is angry and hateful just waiting for someone to sin so hell can throw them in hell. If the thief was saved and Im pretty sure we agree that he was then it wasnt because he kept the law. You may have noticed that I didnt mention baptism. He says Baptism should be in jesus name and we say it should be in the father,son,holy spirit. Im sorry that you felt ridiculous. What happens in limbo? The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. Its a good thing that Jesus died for us, isnt it? First, thanks for taking so much time to write to me.