Let's take a randomly picked example. Satan.
Satan obviously believes in Jesus. Jesus was in Hell for 3 days, for sure they met. So Satan believes in Jesus. Fact.
God is All-Powerful and stuff, so he could do with satan whatever He wanted. This means Satan is in Hell because he's judged on his deeds, not for refusing to believe in Jesus.
I don't believe in Jesus, but I'm a very nice person. Which means I'm the exact opposite of Satan. God won't be that stupid to deny my ticket to heaven.
2006-09-25 11:08:44 · 28 answers · asked by Thinx 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I agree that belief is not enough. I agree with qualification that Satan is in hell because of his deeds. It is his deeds and the intent of his heart. He wants to be God. It is his jealousy and refusal to obey God and acknowledge Him as Sovereign that landed him in hell.
Haven't you ever been in a relationship with someone who technically did what you said, but somehow their actions failed to satisfy what you were looking for?
Someone can sit and listen to you when you need to talk, but if they're distracted, or act resentful, it doesn't fill the longing to be heard.
If you need affection, a hug from someone who hates you is not going to work.
Those needs are filled in the give and take of relationship.
Some people look at the "rules" in the Bible as earning their way to heaven. I think that's like making yourself listen to a friend when you would rather not. You may give yourself points for it, but in the end it's been rather worthless. It doesn't make your friend feel valued, but patronized. All you've done is wasted your time.
I don't think we can buy a relationship with God any more than we can buy one with each other. God tells us what it takes to be in a good relationship with Him, but it's not that we tick the items off a list. It's becoming a certain sort of person. It's a certain way of relating, of living, of loving.
Belief is one part, as is knowing and having respect for God. Obedience is another aspect necessary for salvation. Not buying our way, like doing chores to earn privileges, but by interacting with God and with each other in loving ways.
And, yes, I believe that means being sensitive to what He requires of me in the same way that I would seek to be sensitive to what another person needed of me in a relationship.
It's great when people are nice to you. But having someone be nice to me is not as good as someone loving me. Loving means giving of yourself.
Satan won't give of himself. To be the exact opposite of him, would be to give completely.
2006-09-25 12:01:55 · answer #1 · answered by Contemplative Chanteuse IDK TIRH 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Satan is not in hell. He goes around the world looking for those people he can devour.
Being a nice person won't get anyone to Heaven. Not me, not you, not anyone! Nor will good deeds, good works, or any other good thing. The Bible tells us that we have all sinned. The ONLY way to get to Heaven is by faith believing in Jesus Christ, that He died on the cross for your sins and rose again on the 3rd day, that you trust Him as your savior and Lord, asking Him to forgive and wipe away all your sins, and come into your heart and life and change you.
You said "God is All Powerful and Stuff" ... so this means you believe in God then. Jesus said, "You believe in God you believe also in me".
Why not trust in Jesus Christ now? He loves you so very much, more than you could even realize.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world (you, me, all of us)
That He gave his only begotten son
That whoever (you, me, all of us) believes in Him
Shall not Die but will have everlasting life.
2006-09-25 18:31:58 · answer #2 · answered by son-shine 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Wow. I don't know where you've been getting your information from, but this is not the Christian view, nor is it in the Bible.
What do you mean that Satan "obviously believes in Jesus." He may know He exists and knows who He is, but satan still hates God and is doomed for destruction.
Just because you know that Jesus exists, doesn't make you a believer.
If you want to go to heaven, you better find out what the Bible says by reading it. You don't want to be wrong about this.
2006-09-25 18:25:57 · answer #3 · answered by DL 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The only way that a person can enter the kingdom of heaven is that they have to accept the fact that Jesus died for them and shed his blood for them and come to know him through believer's baptism. You say you don't believe in Jesus---if you do not believe in Jesus then where do you think that you came from?
Where do you think that your life was given to you from. A man cannot give it to you. I pray that you will one day come to realize that Jesus is the only one that can offer you the salvation that you need to make it into heaven. Yes, you are right Jesus met Satan.
Have you watched the movie, "The Passion" of the Christ.
If you watch this movie, watch it 3-4 times each on different occasions and see if you come to a different opinion about your belief in Christ. For without Christ, there would be no world.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting Life.
17: For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.
Satan is the one that is here to deceive our minds and thoughts off of Christ and I hope that you will realize that God died for you too and wants you to come to know him before it is eternally too late. God Bless You.
2006-09-25 18:18:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Satan knows Jesus exists but doesn't follow the word of god which is what we are all suppose to do. Jesus is god and proclaimed the word of god to the world and sacrificed his mortal life for the sins of the world. Satan continues to sin by rejecting Jesus. by rejecting Jesus he rejects god. you might be a nice person however you like Satan, are rejecting Jesus, which is the same as rejecting god in your life. god would therefore have a basis to reject you and your ticket to heaven. i don't know if he will or not but you really should rethink your current stance regarding your rejection of Jesus/god.
2006-09-25 18:17:01 · answer #5 · answered by fenian1916 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Boy are you screwed up in your theology. Satan and God meet in heaven, not hell, (read the Book of Job). The Bible says that Satan believes in God and trembles. (see the book of James)
God can do whatever He wants with Satan and He wants to throw him into hell in the judgment. The Bible makes a distinction between believing something and having faith in something. God is not stupid, He has told you what you need to do and you are the foolish one for not doing it.
2006-09-25 18:16:46 · answer #6 · answered by oldguy63 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Being nice doesn't get you into heaven. Believing that Jesus died for you is the only way to get into heaven. Plus once accepting Christ you have choose to live your life for him. If you accept him and then turn your back on his works - You haven't truly accepted him - you are going through he motions, so to speak. You have to be genuine in your acceptance and be a nice person. You can't do one with out the other.
2006-09-25 18:14:30 · answer #7 · answered by Hebrews 11 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is not only belief, God said that we are sinners. WE ARE SINNERS! YOU ARE A SINNER! EVERYONE ELSE IS SINNER! The Bible says, NO SINNER CAN ENTER HEAVEN! The only way to become sinless, is to believe, accecpt, trust, and love Jesus Christ, who died that we may become sinless.
It may seem stupid, but when you really love Jesus, it is not hard to believe. It is beautiful. It is the greatest gift I have ever recieved.
Being "nice" is not good enough, because sins will still remain in your soul whether you chose to acknowledge them or not.
2006-09-25 18:15:31 · answer #8 · answered by Emmie 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You are partially wrong. We don't need to believe in Jesus to be saved. The truly religion is not the christian, or Budhist, or Islam. the truly religion is that where you dont wish nothing bad for nobody, where you live in peace with yourself and among others, when you are not envy for the possesions others has. Have your soul in peace, do not hurt nobody and you will be saved. God is bigger than religions, religions sometimes wants to shrink God's size.
If you dont believe in Jesus I dont blame you, but believe me that if you are a nice guy, you will be there sometime knocking at heavens door, and these will be open for you.
I can tell you that there in hell are people who lived their life believing in God, but not practicing their legacy of love others like you love yourself. Excuse my english.
2006-09-25 18:18:46 · answer #9 · answered by Campaneris 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Blame it on Paul. He said that that "a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ." (Gal 2.16)
Faith in this sense does not mean belief, but trust.
Of course, there are still many people who take this to mean that to go to heaven you don't have to follow the law or be a good person--all you have to do is have faith in Christ.
2006-09-25 18:35:32 · answer #10 · answered by orpheus 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋