What about all of the sinners and saints that have come and gone well before Jesus even existed? What about people that lived their whole life without ever knowing of Jesus, before during and after his existence?
2007-02-28 05:29:00 · 10 answers · asked by joshnya68 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Romans 6:23 says "For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord." When Adam and Eve sinned they passed sin and thus death to all mankind. Before Jesus came to earth and was a ransom sacrifice the Israelites sacrificed animals to God for forgiveness and cleansing of their sins. In order to right the wrong of the first perfect man, another perfect man was to be sacrificed as an antonement for all ie Jesus. This established a new covenant with mankind and the old covenant was done away with. (1 Corinthians 3:14) In other words since the day Adam and Eve sinned God has been taking action to restore his creation, the earth and its inhabitants to their original purpose. Since one of Jehovah's main qualities is justice we can have confidence that he has made provisions for those who never had the chance to know him or Jesus.
John 5:28, 29 says "Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who did good things to a resurrection of life, those who practiced vile things to a resurrection of judgement."
Noah, Job, Samuel, Abraham, Moses, and countless others were faithful servants of Jehovah and yet did not know Jesus. So again we can have confidence that provisions have been made for all matter of circumstance with perfect justice by a loving God.
2007-02-28 06:49:48 · answer #1 · answered by luvmybabies 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question. Certainly many people never had the chance to hear about Jesus and the Christian God.
There are answers from within the Christian mythos that say "Jesus went to Hell and saved all the deserving Pagans". This doesn't work for me, for the following reasons.
Let's say you're in Hell, or the "bosom of Abraham" if you prefer. It's reasonable to assume that at that point, having entered the afterlife, you have SEEN the reality of the afterlife and of Hell/God.
Therefore, when Jesus comes to ask you to come with Him, any sensible person, presented with that evidence, would agree to follow Him. (The same argument applies if you assume that this event still lies in the future, by the way.)
Now let's compare that to the state of affairs with human beings today. We are in a world where the the proof of Hell/God is obviously NOT as evident as it was to those pre-Christian Pagans who were already in the afterlife when Jesus came to them. How can it be fair to ask us to make that same choice and come to the "right" decision, based on our relative lack of evidence?
What it amounts to is that the Pagans in Hell/the bosom of Abraham had a monstrous advantage over us, the people of the modern era. Therefore, this version of God is at best unfair, at worst capricious.
Personally, I prefer to believe that God (if God exists) loves His creation and will turn away no one. I think that the concept of a Hell for unbelievers is a projection of the hopes and fears of His followers rather than a true reflection of His nature.
2007-02-28 06:23:40 · answer #2 · answered by prairiecrow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi Josh,
Those who came prior to Christ's Ascension were under the Old Law. They will be judged from it if they were Jewish. They will be judged outside of it if they were not. Those who were exposed to Christ but did not accept HIS INVITATION are probably in trouble. Those who were never exposed to HIS WORD will be judged differently than those who have been exposed to HIS WORD. We who have become Christians will also be judged. Each and every person will face the Judgment. We will be judged at the time the FATHER has chosen. We will be separated as goats and sheep, some to the left and some to the right. Which way are you headed? I hope that we are both on the road to heaven. Can I be of any assistance to you? Have a great day!
Eds, Christian
2007-02-28 05:38:00 · answer #3 · answered by Eds 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let us rejoice in this saying and receive the free of grace for the belief and faith in the Resurrection of jesus christ. The answer to your question is somewhat of a mystery, but if you know the living god I'm sure they are given a chance somehow.
2007-02-28 05:48:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God knows all, and understands each individual persons story. Adam and Eve were there to tell of God and teach their children to be Good and not to Sin, there was also Noah, and Moses, These people all had guides and even direct SIGNS with God, if there were bad people that did bad things, then of course they will go to Hell, if there were Good people that did good things, they will go to Heaven...
God is all knowing and Merciful.
2007-02-28 05:50:59 · answer #5 · answered by January00 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus actually meant that for the people who lived in his time AND he meant that they had to follow his example, not literally pray to him to get to God. That would be putting mediums between you and God and thats a sin in monotheism
2007-02-28 05:33:16 · answer #6 · answered by Antares 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All the ones that weren't tainted by missionaries were saved by default.
Then the missionaries came to convert them and if they didn't want to be converted then they went to Hell.
In order to go to Hell you first have to hear about Jesus.
In Hell you burn and rot forever. How can you burn and rot at the same time? That's a whole other question.
If you heard about Jesus and don't believe in him and his magic you are doomed to Hell. Oh and by the way, everyone in Hell has worms.
Makes you hope you never hear about Jesus so you can be saved by default.
2007-02-28 05:37:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
Live as Jesus lived, don't hurt others, do what is right. Live unselfishly.
Christianity doesn't promote hate, it promotes uncondtional love.
2007-02-28 05:36:53 · answer #8 · answered by Freebird 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Catholics do no longer attitude God by Mary or the Saints. absolutely everyone who tells you otherwise is puzzled. Catholics ask Mary and the saints to help them attain God by JEsus.
2016-11-26 20:32:07 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They go to Hell! Ahh, nothing like the love of God!
2007-02-28 05:31:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋