2006-10-02 05:18:45 · 32 answers · asked by TropicalSun 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Sort of... The way it works is this... God is Merciful.. and he KNOWS we mess up ALOT. If you do something anything and then you truely know you were wrong and you truely ask for forgiveness God is willing to forgive you. He is bigger and more powerful than anything we could do wrong. He is also able to change the heart of even a mass murder making them into a holy and loving person. Some may see this as being unfair... they don't deserve to be forgiven. Problem is... Forgiveness isn't about what you've done... it's about where you are now... where is your heart now! Forgiveness is about knowing what someone has done in the past and loving them and caring for us anyway. This does NOT mean that a man who commits murder and then Repents ... does not have to go to jail.. God will forgive us.. but he doesn't save us (for the most part) from the earthy consequences of our actions. It's not a free pass do get away with everything.... or to do what ever you want. Because if you Go into murder someone thinking I can bump this guy off and God will forgive me.. he knows that your taking advantage... and he knows when you ask for forgiveness if your truely repentant.
Also Getting to heaven isn't just about repenting for sin... it's about believing in Jesus Christ and God... knowing who they are and loving them with all you are. It's that that causes us to want to repent to be sorry for going against them. And it is that that gets you into heaven. Basically it works like this.. if you love the lord and you want to be with him for eternity... he brings you to heaven... but if you deny him and don't want to have anything to do with him... he gives you exactly what you want and he separates him self from you entirely. Here in this world God is with us weither we choose him or not... in hell he is separated from us... that is why hell is torture. Because Human beings are created to be in the presence of God.
I hope this makes sense to ya... God bless you and keep you always
2006-10-02 05:35:02 · answer #1 · answered by Jembee1720 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My sons, when they were little, would brush their teeth, they'd spray toothpaste all over the mirror, and when I'd correct them, they'd say sorry, and the very next time they brushed their teeth, they'd do it again and say sorry again. They weren't truly sorry, and for that, the apology meant nothing to me.
Now that they're older, if they happen to get toothpaste on the mirror, they still say they're sorry, but I can tell they know that it upsets me, and they realize what I have to do to clean up after *their* mess, and I can tell their apology is heartfelt. It's usually a few months before I see any splatter again, and even then, it's not that bad, only a few drops. I can tell it was entirely unintentional, and they truly are sorry. Their apology means something to me, and they are forgiven.
Here is the difference... when they were younger, there was no repentance, no realization as to what they put me through on a nightly basis, no effort to stop, and the apology was simply to get out of trouble. This is what an immature Christian does... they don't understand how bad sin is, they don't understand what Jesus went through on their behalf, there is no heartfelt change, and the prayer for forgiveness is simply used as a "get out of Hell free" card. There is no real forgiveness, if there is no real repentance.
My sons, now that they're older, they still mess up, but they've put the effort into not covering the mirror with toothpaste, and instead, whatever does get on there is accidental, and they're truly sorry. This is what a mature Christian does. They realize the extent of the mistake, and feel horrible about what they've done. They make the effort into never doing it again. And through all this they are gravely sorry. There is real repentance, there is real change, and hence, there is real forgiveness.
And yes, even if you commit murder. In God's eyes, lying, theft, disrespect to parents, becoming obsessed with anything other than God, hate, lust, non-marital sex between a husband and wife, greed... it's all equalivalent. All sins are equal and forgivable, save one : to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit.
2006-10-02 05:47:18 · answer #2 · answered by seraphim_pwns_u 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A person who murders has a lot of karma to deal with. They may spend many many life times trying to atone for their action.
I don't understand the people who drive down a street and shoot someone, anyone, even children. I'm told they do this to show their "manhood", prove themselves worthy of gang membership. Manhood is meeting life with courage, loving, building, not destroying. A monkey could pull the trigger. Killing doesn't make anyone anything except a killer. Nothing they can gain by doing that balances the pain and loss they cause. It must be bad enough if it happens by accident (causing a death) but when it is done on purpose...it is like ripping their own soul in parts too. To take an innocent life for no reason except ones own gain....must mar the soul for a very long time. I don't think saying "I'm sorry" will do it....I think they owe equal energy both to the injured (person, family, friends, society) and yourself. I think it costs a major payback in time and energy. Life times of repaying.
2006-10-02 05:31:34 · answer #3 · answered by Pleiades 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many christians actually do believe that. Constantine for example, who had slaughtered uncountably many people through his lifetime, he really thought he just has to say sorry on his deathbed and he'll still be "saved".
Now, this belief of course is only for christians. The whole "heaven and hell" story was invented by the church, and therefore it only serves christians. Other religions have other ideas about what happens with you when you die.
In my faith it is Hekate who picks you up when it is your time, she will carry you with the wind (she is the wind's bride) in a state of unconscienceness, until it is time again for you to be reborn into another life.
This will happen to all dead, whatever they did during their lifetimes, killers, rapists, good people, bad people. The point is: to learn our lesson during our lifetimes.
Once we have learned all, we will not be reborn. But I don't know what might be waiting then. I don't think I am ready for the final state soon. I most likely will be reborn seveal more times, so I am not thinking about the last state yet.
2006-10-02 05:30:22 · answer #4 · answered by albgardis T 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the Christian churches' position on that is that if you truly repent, are sincerely sorry for what you have done, God will fogive you and let you into His kingdom. However, this was a commandment, God's law. The Bible says basically that, "The law of God provides for killing ONLY under two circumstances: (1) by a direct command of God, and (2) self defense in a trespass that requires resisting to blood." I have the link to that below, it's a Mormon website, but it's the same as Christianity. In the end, it comes down to the murderer's true feelings and God's decision. He will judge us all on our own account, I don't believe this answer can be generalized. But, my final answer is, we are tought in church that, no matter what our sin, if we truly repent, we will be accepted by God to be with Him in the afterlife.
2006-10-02 05:37:20 · answer #5 · answered by V B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It isn't merely saying "sorry" that will do the trick.. By asking if a person can still go to heaven, I'm going to make an assumption that you have a belief in God. If a person commits murder, then only God can can save that person.. Only God can give salvation..
2006-10-02 05:23:39 · answer #6 · answered by KIm Z 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The negative karma created by such a serious crime would mean certain reincarnation and probably you would need to experience being murdered to fully atone for your crime but in the long term if you have genuine remorse you will still evolve spiritually. God will forgive all sins but it is a matter of whether we can forgive ourselves because guilt prevents any spiritual development.
2006-10-02 05:41:36 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not what you say, that would be like the pharasees in the Old Testament. It's what you really and trully feel inside that God looks at. If we truly feel sorrow and make amends in our life, then yes we can go to Heaven.
2006-10-02 05:23:19 · answer #8 · answered by SeraMcKay 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the person believes in God and gives a true repentance (and only God knows this person's heart) and he turns from his sin, then yes. Moses committed murder and I believe his soul is in the presence of the Lord.
2006-10-02 05:21:26 · answer #9 · answered by Gail R 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Saying "sorry" isn't the same as meaning it. If you mean it, and you repent, you most likely could still go to Heaven.
2006-10-02 05:20:47 · answer #10 · answered by luvwinz 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋