...you know, by keeping the ten commandments, feeding widows and orphans...that kind of stuff.
2006-11-26 02:31:53 · 43 answers · asked by Calvin James Hammer 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What did Jesus mean when he said that if someone offers a cup of water to a disciple he will not lose his reward?
2006-11-26 02:39:03 · update #1
What did Jesus mean when he said that if someone offers a cup of water to a disciple he will not lose his reward?
2006-11-26 02:44:33 · update #2
I found this verse:
James 1:27
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
2006-11-26 02:47:34 · update #3
How about this one:
Matthew 7:21 (Jesus is speaking)
"Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father in Heaven."
I realize that some could say that believing is God's will, but Jesus seemed to strongly emphasize action...Godly action.
I have met atheists, who seemed to demonstrate with their words and deeds more faith than many believers...could they end up taking the place of people who "say" they believe, but demonstrate they do not?
2006-11-26 02:57:42 · update #4
By doing good and parting with evil on all levels, even the most subtle, heaven arrives whether you like it or not.
2006-11-26 02:55:22 · answer #1 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No: have you read the Bible? Not to be offensive, but its pretty clear that this is impossible.
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Acts 4:12
The name given being Jesus.
and from the mouth of Christ Himself:
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6
Pretty clear, huh?
Also, NO ONE can keep the ten commandments, at least not by Jesus' standards. He said, "Whoever looks upon a woman with lust has commited adultery with her in his heart." Vice versa for the ladies. The Ten Commandments are there to show how woefully inadequate we are. Salvation can't come from being good, because we can't be good. It can only come through Jesus.
I know this might not be the answer you're looking for, but its completely Biblical.
2006-11-26 02:43:00 · answer #2 · answered by Kay-ro 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No one can get to Heaven by being good.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
What Jesus meant by saying that someone who gave a cup of water to his disciples wouldn't lose their reward was that because they had faith to believe that the disciples were disciples of the Messiah or Savior they were showing that they had faith in Christ Jesus so they would not lose their reward.
2006-11-26 02:43:19 · answer #3 · answered by Martin S 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus said, "In my Father's house there are many mansions." How do any of us know whether a life spent in a Godly way wouldn't allow God to save that person after death, even though the person never believed in God before. Jesus also said, "with God, all things are possible." I believe that God can do anything, and can save even those who don't ask for it in life.
2006-11-26 02:38:47 · answer #4 · answered by Holly R 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Since most atheists have no belief in an afterlife, they are not concerned with how to get into heaven -- there's no such place. I choose to behave properly because I know it works, and I choose to be charitable because I can and because the day may come when I need similar help.
2006-11-26 02:51:11 · answer #5 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Only God is the final judge.
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11: 25-26
2006-11-26 02:41:07 · answer #6 · answered by rapturefuture 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
According to most christians just being good is not enough. You have to accept god or jesus plus the other 33.33333% of him, her or it.
So best to be a serial killer and repent and accept god on your death bed.
Strage thought hey. Not to worry, faith requires no logic.
2006-11-26 03:18:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, he will not enter, Jesus said: in that day many will tell me Lord in your name I feed the widows, in your name I cast out devils, in your name I healed the sick and I will have to tell them depart from me, I never knew you, you who commit iniquities.
2006-11-26 02:40:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could be mother teresa or save the world from an atomic bomb but if you dont believe in God, His son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit and live right by the Word.....sorry. By the way, if one says they're an atheist they shouldn't believe in heaven either. So where did that come from?
2006-11-26 02:39:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
God says in the Bible that before the end of time every person will have heard the word in some time of their life and have the chance the except it and live by it. by rejecting it and living as they will they shall perish. also remember psalms 14:1 the fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. they are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. if they say there is no God and still do good works the works are no good in Gods eyes.
2006-11-26 02:39:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋