You know, spend your whole life as a nasty puppy-eating heathen and then, just before you die, recant, repent and accept Jesus as your saviour. Would God buy that? If you were sincere?
Then, as a bonus question - just an hour later after you've died. If you're standing at the Pearly Gates saying, 'hey it looks like this God stuff was right all long', would it be too late _then_?
And why would that one hour make any difference?
2006-08-09 07:55:36 · 26 answers · asked by XYZ 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
BTW for those who have made the assumption, there is no chance whatsoever of such a thing happening. I'm proud of the way that I've chosen to live my life and if there happens to be a God who is willing to disregard who I am and only look at some kind of 'blood of Christ' stuff, then I'll be happy not to spend eternity with that entity. The question is, as far as I'm concerned, is about inherent hypocrisies in some people's interpretation of religion. That's all.
2006-08-10 22:51:50 · update #1
Absolutely not. If you truly understand the meaning of repentance, God will not accept this. There are steps in the repentance process that take time and effort on the part of the sinner. Restitution being one of them.
Take for example, sins against your neighbors. Let's say you stole their boat and sank it in the lake. Fast forward to your death bed. Your in the hospital never to leave your bed. How do you replace the boat?
Repentance isn't simply saying or feeling sorry... nor is it feeling bad for what you did now that your life is coming to an end or because you got caught. It is a process where you dedicate your soul to becoming more like God and changing your actions to be more like him. It's not a feeling or an emotion of regret only.
So the only true answer is 'No way!' There is no way a just God would accept a death-bed confession as repentance. Would that be just to the millions of people who live their life as God would have them live? Can he accept the "forced verbal repentance" of a life time sinner acceptable for a lifetime of disobedience? No Way!
2006-08-09 08:11:49 · answer #1 · answered by Chuck B 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dear EdSawyer: There is no moment ABOVE any other moment to SINCERELY ask for forgiveness. There is more than enough time for everything to be accomplished. Life is a continuum.
"A mind that is stretched to a new idea never returns to its original dimension." by Oliver Wendell Homes
This Religions/Spirituality category is so filled with LIMITATIONS:
1. You have only one life to live. On your deathbed it is too late.
2. You better say it quickly or go to your hell and eternal damnation!
3. God is the boss - do as He says - or you are finished.
Why do these things fill one with despair - dishearten the spirit within?
"Your birth is not a beginning; it is a continuing."
". . .anger, in whatever form, will drop the heavy curtain once again...you must lay down your sword. . .[the heavy curtain drops over truth.] "
Would you be willing to know you are Eternal? As is the Father/Creator?
Would you be willing to know He loves?
Would you be willing to know Hell is not a location nor a destination - but is simply within - a hellish mind?
Would you be willing to know the Plan for your Return gives you all the time necessary to work through Jesus and the Holy Spirit that you may come to stand before your Father once again and know Him again?
One hour still later wiIl make no difference to your Reality and Truth either. It all remains the same - it's never too late - continuum of life exists, the Plan is in place and so is your Return - appointed by the Father.
I hope some of the above lines are profitable in your contemplation.
2006-08-09 08:40:58 · answer #2 · answered by Lana S (1) 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All you need to know is give it a try it couldn't hurt you any.
"As regards the Word particularly, it has existed in every age, though not the Word we possess at the present day. Another Word existed in the Most Ancient Church before the Flood, and yet another Word in the Ancient Church after the Flood. Then came the Word written through Moses and the Prophets in the Jewish Church, and finally the Word written through the Evangelists in the new Church. The reason why the Word has existed in every age is that by means of the Word there is a communication between heaven and earth, and also that the Word deals with goodness and truth, by which a person is enabled to live in eternal happiness. In the internal sense therefore the Lord alone is the subject, for all goodness and truth are derived from Him" (Arcana Coelestia n. 2895).
2006-08-09 08:03:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Will people believe with the heart. One of the effects of sin is it also hardens our heart- so for someone to make a deathbed confession- only truly Jesus would know how sincere they are. As Romans 10:9-10 says we confess with our mouth but we believe with our heart. God knows what's real and what isn't.
In terms of the picture of the "pearly gates" it's not biblically supported, your decision about where you go is made before you die... that's why people should not pray for the dead...
hope that helps,
Nickster
2006-08-09 08:02:28 · answer #4 · answered by Nickster 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ask John the Baptist when you get there...his last hours were spent pondering exactly that.
Or Judas if you go there...two days would have made all the difference for him, had he waited like the other eleven, and seen the Ressurection.
People might want to look at the pre/mid/post millenialist arguement, from a personal point of view. John and Judas would be examples of post millenialism, on a personal level. It's an allegory...
2006-08-10 19:32:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let me ask you, "Do you believe God will consider you "sincere" if you are making a deathbed conversion only to escape punishment"?
The answer to that is going to be between you and Him at that moment and there will be no second chances. Do you want to wait until the last moment of life to determine your fate?
What happens if you get smacked by a truck 30 minutes from now? Surprise! No time to choose!
"..... now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation. "
(P.S., there is no "purgatory", that is a religious invention, you will not get a second chance.)
2006-08-09 08:14:29 · answer #6 · answered by steve 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it would, but you might spend some time in pergatory!
Why would anyone want to take the chance? Do you KNOW you will get a chance for a "deathbead conversion" what if you wait for that but get killed in an instant car wreck first?
An hour late, you would not be standing at the Pearly Gates, sorry.
I would not want to take that chance.
Peace!
2006-08-09 08:15:16 · answer #7 · answered by C 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
So god can do whatever he wants and he is beyond time and all of that, but once you are dead then your time is up and too bad if you made a mistake because he isn't THAT forgiving? Is that how it goes?
I've asked this before, it's the same as every other damn thing they never look at things differently - ever.
2006-08-09 08:17:18 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only God knows if it is sincere repentance, and if it is, you aren't going change your mind at the "Pearly Gates." If someone is just saying that on their deathbed because they are afraid of death, God will know!
2006-08-09 08:02:51 · answer #9 · answered by Nelita C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are given this mortal existance to choose... up to the last mortal breath God waits for all. If you do not repent and come to God in The Way He proscribes... then after you have taken that last mortal breath you will be eternaly seperated from God...
God makes the rules... play by God's rule or you lose...
No second chances.
2006-08-09 08:02:30 · answer #10 · answered by IdahoMike 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋