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This is kind of related to my last question about the scripture where Paul talks about those who are Baptized for the dead.


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070301073544AAC0uiO&r=w

Someone mentioned the scripture 1 Peter 4:6. It reads:

"For this reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the Spirit."

Can you die without becoming a Christian, then become one after you die? Or is he talking about the gospel being preached to those who are "spiritually" dead??????

2007-03-01 05:29:25 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

Father K - I respect you and have read your answers often but how can you say that the doctrine of purgatory is true? We don't go to a place to pay for our sins after we die. Jesus payed for them in full on the cross.

2007-03-01 06:08:22 · update #1

18 answers

It seems to me that the most natural and obvious interpretation is to refer it to those who were then dead, to whom the gospel had been preached when living, and who had become true Christians.

This is the interpretation proposed by Wetstein, Rosenmuller, Bloomfield, and others. In support of this it may be said:

(1) that this is the natural and obvious meaning of the word dead, which should be understood literally, unless there is some good reason in the connection for departing from the common meaning of the word.
(2) the apostle had just used the word in that sense in the previous verse.
(3) this will suit the connection, and accord with the design of the apostle. He was addressing those who were suffering persecution. It was natural, in such a connection, to refer to those who had died in the faith, and to show, for their encouragement, that though they had been put to death, yet they still lived to God. He therefore says, that the design in publishing the gospel to them was, that though they might be judged by people in the usual manner, and put to death, yet that in respect to their higher and nobler nature, the spirit, they might live unto God. It was not uncommon nor unnatural for the apostles, in writing to those who were suffering persecution, to refer to those who had been removed by death, and to make their condition and example an argument for fidelity and perseverance. Compare 1Th_4:13; Rev_14:13.

2007-03-01 05:35:29 · answer #1 · answered by Ask Mr. Religion 6 · 2 1

No you can't become a Christian after you are dead.

If you look at the previous verse it talks about God judging the living and the dead, what this verse is saying is simply this, the Gospel was preached to those who are now dead before they died so that... Some might say that it is speaking of those who are spiritually dead but the word used here is used in the same sense as the previous verse speaking of those who are physically alive or dead.

Hope this helps

JB

2007-03-01 13:40:07 · answer #2 · answered by J B 3 · 1 1

http://studylight.org/com/acc/view.cgi?book=1pe&chapter=4&verse=3#1Pe4_3

this might help


what I can find this is a debated verse but if taken in context it can make sense
first remember Peter is writting to persecuted Christians
second he just finished in chapter 3 telling them about the ways to live a Holy life ending in Baptism and chapter 4 starts out how Christ suffered and we will also and that we need to remove ourselves from wickedness
looking at verse 6 Peter says the gospel WAS PREACHED to those who are NOW dead - the preaching being already done in the past tense but the dead in the present - then goes on to say they are alive with God in spirit - if they are alive in spirit then the dead he says must be a physical death but were they preached to while they were dead or before they died - since Peter separated preaching being done in the past and the dead in the present it looks like the preaching was done while they were alive - the middle line - so they might be judged according to men - indicates these people who were preached to were judged/persecuted by man, killed and are now with God in spirit

we must also take into account all of scripture - that purgatory takes away from Christ's death - not scriptural
the dead getting a second chance to change their minds - not scriptural and then also taking Peter's letter as a whole into account - He is not trying to bring in something new here his point was to encourage those Christians that are being persecuted by Rome

I hope this helps - email me if I confused you anywhere

2007-03-01 13:36:51 · answer #3 · answered by servant FM 5 · 0 0

1Peter 3:18-4:6
Christ suffered and died in the flesh to lead us to God; hence, we no longer live according to fleshly desires--even if fleshly people abuse us because we are different

You can die without becoming a Christian for some have never heard of God or his son. But they are still under Adamic sin in that everyone dies. Death itself pays for any sins we have committed except the sin against the Holy Spirit.

There will be a resurrection to life of all mankind that has died except for the judgment periods like Adam and Eve, the day of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah and all will be judged.
There will be a great teaching work going on then. If you accept God you will live if you reject him you will go to sleep forever.

Then satan will be unloosed from the abyss for a short time and try to mislead everyone. He will be thrown into everlasting cutting off and any of his followers.

Let's show Jehovah God that we can all get along. That we will worship him and follow his sons direction how to get eternal life.
Will you be there in paradise? On earth?
The meek will inherit the earth .

2007-03-01 13:54:36 · answer #4 · answered by debbie2243 7 · 1 0

It was me.

The Gospel is being preached to those who are spiritually dead.

No you don't get a second chance.

We are all born here spiritually dead.
Eph 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,

Who is it that makes you alive?
Eph 2:5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

How is this done?
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Eph 2:9 not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
Through His own Mercy.
That is why we should all say, "Lord Have Mercy on Me". We need it.

2007-03-01 13:46:01 · answer #5 · answered by chris p 6 · 1 0

No the dead were resurrected because they died before christ came and never got ot hear the gospel. But us who are alive now, we dont get that kind of a second chance. We have all the time in the world to give our lives to jesus and make him our lord and saviour. If we choose not to, then you deserve the judgement you are given.

2007-03-01 13:46:36 · answer #6 · answered by Kenny 3 · 1 0

When we die, we go to one of two places, Paradise or Prison. The one being for the obedient and the other for the disobedient. In both places, the followers of Christ are present teaching the doctrines of the Kingdom to all that still need that instruction. Yes, the gospel ordinances were performed vicariously for the deceased so that they could have the same choices and chances as those that received the gospel in mortality. How could God be just if most of His children were unable to receive the gospel because it was not available to them. Thus, Jesus set up missionary work among the dead so that the gospel could be taught to all giving the dead a chance to learn, understand and either accept or reject the word. Thus, they can be judged according to the flesh but live according to the spirit. This is one of the most beautiful aspects of the Gospel is the ability to have the gospel taught to our dead ancestors and for us to perform the necessary ordinances vicariously for them so that the path to heaven is the same for them as it is for us.
I would be happy to talk to you more about this.

2007-03-01 13:42:36 · answer #7 · answered by rac 7 · 1 3

This passage, to some Christians, describes the Harrowing of Hell: When Jesus died on the cross, he descended into Hell. There, he claimed the righteous people and led them to Paradise. Until Christ came, there was no 'way' into Heaven. This is a familiar Christian concept, but not widely accepted or discussed today.
There is also a passage (Matthew 27: 52) that describes how, just after Jesus died, many dead people in Jerusalem were resurrected and seen by the living. This roughly corresponds with the Harrowing of Hell.

2007-03-01 13:37:05 · answer #8 · answered by Bombadil 3 · 1 2

This is for the Atheists who are spiritually dead but will have no excuse on Judgement day because the gospel has been preached to them.
I am convinced that Atheists who do the will of God can be saved. I know many people who don't believe in God but are more loving and caring that lots of so-called Christians.

2007-03-01 13:41:03 · answer #9 · answered by gnostic 4 · 0 3

I think he ment spiritually dead. You can't become a Christian after you die, because then there would be no point in Jesus dying for us.

2007-03-01 13:46:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1 0

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