God is merciful - revisited?

Question

The previous question about this made me think of this:

Do you think mass murderers have a chance even on their death beds to accept God? Jesus?

If so, and they get to go to heaven, then what's the point? Why bother being a "good person" throughout life? Why deny yourself anything, and try to live by God's code, if you can be the worst b*stard that ever lived and as long as you say you're REALLY REALLY sorry before you die, you get to go to heaven anyway?

Answer 1

This is a rather tough question for the asker to handle. Because one needs to remember God's perspective on people and his salvation. He says everyone has done him wrong so there for we're all the same in his eyes. So yes, a deathbead repentance of a murderer is the same as a deathbed repentance of humanitarian. The only ones who are actually better off are those who repented earlier in life and lived by it.

Answer 2

Firstly, the bible says and it is true: no man knows the day or the hour... that we will die. Many don't die on a death bed where they have a chance to repent.
Secondly, you have put mass murderers at the top of your list as if God has a scale by which He measures sin. He doesn't! All sin is deplorable to Him. Willful sin is the worst and when it is not repented of, even by believers, there is a passage in the bible that cautions that that person may not be forgiven. NO ONE IS RIGHTEOUS. (Romans 3:10) A liar, a blasphemer, a pedophile, a cheater, a fornicator, all the same in God's eyes without repentance. Only the blood of Jesus washes or hides our sins.
Thirdly, what the "use is" or what the "point is" is called GRACE. We are saved by grace in Jesus and called to live, not just live, but to live abundantly and gracefully. In heaven, we will be given crowns and rewards to place at the feet of God, whom we were created for. Some rebelliously hate this idea, but in our limited thinking, that is somewhat understandable.
So, let Grace and Mercy follow you all the days of your life. Only THEY can see when you'll be snuffed out. Gratittude will get you everywhere.
Peace,
~Sleek

Answer 3

Life is about learning and growing. I don't believe in Heaven, Hell, or a reward and punishment system. We are all equal. The predator and the prey. When someone is killed the reaction spreads through not only the family but the surrounding community. We learn from these events. We learn how we don't want to be, and compassion,sympathy, even about our own anger and limits. We are souls having a human experience. We are evolving over many lifetimes. We choose our interactions and the situations that bring us to our lessons. I believe that the mass murderer and the victims agreed to the interaction before ever being born. You can only truly learn through experience. The reason to try and be the best soul you can is so that your spiritual growth will be easier.
Love & Light
Sharon
One Planet = One People

Answer 4

God will judge us by what is in our hearts. If someone spends their whole life being a mass murderer, then gives lip service to a "confession" on his deathbed, do you really think God is going to be hoodwinked?

To answer your question about "why bother being a good person throughout life..." the answer is the same as I just said. God will judge us according to the knowledge and wisdom that we have and the desires of our hearts.

Does this mean that he will automatically condemn the savage in a jungle somewhere because that person never read the Bible? Of course not. God is just and merciful and everyone will have a fair chance. Have faith.

Answer 5

First of all, the Bible doesn't teach 'death bed conversion.' As long as a person is living, he has a chance to repent and to obey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8). But that's not just 'praying a little prayer' or 'asking Jesus into your heart'; that's not in the Bible.

Why live a righteous life? For one thing, you don't know when you're going to die; waiting until then is a very dangerous game.

More than that, though, is that by living as God intended, you're not really 'denying yourself' of that much. Jesus said that He came to give life more abundantly (John 10:10). Love, joy, and peace come from following God's ways (Galatians 5:22-23); anything else is "looking for love in all the wrong places."

Follow God's ways; it's more than worth it.

Answer 6

Who are you to judge who will or will not be saved. That is God's job. For only God knows if a person has truly repented and can make it to heaven. If you had a family member that was a bad sinner and would not change their ways then all of a sudden on their death beds or in their last days they saw where they had been wrong would you want God to forgive them and allow them into heaven or make them go to hell for eternity. Just because it does not seem fair so what it is the soul that matters and only God can judge that. He also tells us that we should not judge lest we be judged. I hope this gives you some food for thought.

Answer 7

I realize your confusion. I used to ask myself the same questions before I was a Christian. Salvation is a gift to all. If it were not, then none of us would deserve it. We grade sins, God does not. Sin is sin. God is a just God. He cannot look upon sin of any kind. Jesus died on the cross, so we could be forgiven of our sins. Jesus died for ALL sin. Sin is bondage not freedom. Think about those things you think that you would have to deny yourself.....what are they.....drinking, sex, cussing, lying, cheating, stealing, what are they??? Take a hard look and see the sin is bondage not fun. Sure some seems to be wrapped up in fun---but open that package and beneath the ribbions and confetti you will find pain, loss, regret. Christians are free! Free to worship Christ. Free from sin. (not sinless) Being a "good person" doesn't get you into Heaven. Believing that Jesus is Lord, that He took away your sins and rose again and then confessing that in prayer to him----that is Salvation. Living a clean life is sanctification. That comes with growing in the Lord. My wants changed. I thought I was happy partying. I wasn't . I am joyful now. I have a savior who loves me and guides me.

Ok, ok, so yes, ANYONE can accept christ. We are human and our brains cannot comprehend that kind of love. Yes, LOVE. God so LOVED the world He gave his only begotten son....John3:16. Would you sacrifice your child to save anyone?? I know I wouldn't. It was the only way to freely give salvation. Jesus died for us---we should live for him. So, what is the point, you ask? The point is to live a life full of real joy! To lead others to a life of joy. Not to have some fun times along the way of heartache.

Answer 8

God's mercy and love are limitless, but that doesn't mean that we are not accountable for what we do. On earth, for example, someone might commit murder and afterward, be honestly and truly sorry and repent. That person would have God's forgiveness, but he would still have to serve jail time, deal with having a record and the attached stigma for the rest of his life.

We can't know what experiences we will have after death. I believe that someone can repent on their deathbed, but that doesn't automatically mean they will go to heaven. God is merciful and loving, but God is also just.

Answer 9

it's not that simple there's a lot in telled with that. just because one says there sorry for something that doesn't save them. God tells us that when we do wrong and we know that we're doing wrong is like looking into a mirror and walking away forgetting how you look. You have people that have a conscience and some that just don't give a damn and if there one of those people that just don't give a damn there not going to bother asking for his forgiveness an way so they don't count. but he also states that the evil people which there are many continue being evil. So I just advise you to try not to concentrate on others but concentrate on yourself because you can't save the next person and they can't save you.

Answer 10

1. Yes

2. It's more than "saying" you're really really sorry. If you can sin horribly and "know" you'll repent later, it's more than likely that repentance isn't real. And it's not just saying you're sorry and repenting in the heart, it's trusting in Jesus to save you.

Furthermore, it should go without saying you don't know when you're going to die, so it's a pretty big risk to even consider that.

Being saved is not about magic words. It's about a change of the heart, and you can't plan a change of the heart in the manner you're talking about.