Do our chances to be "saved" end when we die?

Question

..im mostly interested in christian views on this but feel free to state ur views watever they are .. So as a Christian i beleive to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord ... but then for an example, consider the american indians that had no access to the Christian covenant of faith in Jesus because they never heard of it for 1500 or more years until europeans brought it over ... so what chances do they get after they die? and isnt it possible that even if an atheist dies and goes to wherever the dead go that are not in Christ already, that they are still given a chance for the heart to accept the covenant of Christ up until the great judgement? This is just one question ive never been clear on so if anyone has any thoughts whatsoever im happy to hear them ...

Answer 1

Romans 1
18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Note the last verse, 20 - since creaetion of the world God has made himself known. He may have made himself known in ways differently that we have seen him. You have to take God's word that he has made himslef known. I think that if these American Indians who did not know the Gospel and Jesus, that they knew of God. Like the people who died prior to Christ being on this earth, Jesus desended with the purpose of telling them the news. I believe that possibly he did the same for those who are like the American Indians who did not know of Christ but were godly people. Also, since Mercy is his only to give, maybe Jesus, who salvation is only through, grants mercy on these people based on their true hearts. That would only be Christ Jesus' choice as salvation is through him only. I think this the same way that I think Jesus shows mercy on infants and children, who although are born sinners, have not make a knowledgable choice to be that way, hence, the Lord shows them Mercy and takes them to be with him anyway. I also believe this in regards to mentally impaired persons.


From Christian Answers.net ....................................

R.C. Sproul says, "We ask about being fair. I don't think God owes it to anyone who doesn't want Christ to give them the desire to want what they need. He doesn't owe that to anybody. The problem is that if God does it for some, why doesn't He do it for all? I can only say to you that I have no idea why He doesn't do it for all. But this I do know and ask you to think about carefully: Just because He does it for some in no way requires that He do it for everybody else--because grace is never required. God always reserves this prerogative 'I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy.' It's not up to us to direct God's mercy."


The traditional Christian position on this subject is that no one can or ever will be saved apart from Christ. Jesus Himself once made the following categorical statement: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." (John 14:6) Yet in the case of a native tribesman living deep in some remote African jungle who has never heard of Jesus Christ, what will God do--if He is, in fact, a just God?

Many theologians teach that "God will give eternal life to anyone who responds to His general revelation in nature and in conscience... [however this] doesn't mean that a person can be saved apart from Christ. It would be that the blood of Christ or the sacrifice of Christ was applied to that person even though he did not have any conscious knowledge of Christ." (as quoted from William Lane Craig in a debate held at Willow Creek Community Church, June 27, 1993). Romans chapters 1 and 2, referring to the general revelation of God in His creation, is often cited for this response. But this position can only be inferred--it is not explicitly stated anywhere in Scripture.

What actually happens to those who have not heard the gospel of Christ depends upon several factors.

It depends first of all (but not finally) on how they have responded to God's general revelation. In the case of those who have neglected or rejected such general revelation (no doubt the case with the vast majority of those who have never heard of Christ), they're lost, condemned for all eternity to a real hell. But note--they are not condemned for what they haven't heard. They are judged for what they have heard and rejected. In this sense, as R.C. Sproul rightly states, "there are no innocent people in the world."

In the case, however, of the one who has never heard of Christ, yet sincerely worships God as he knows Him, and lives consistently with moral law as he understands it, we do have some grounds (Acts 10 et al) to believe that God may be pleased to grant a further special revelation involving the Gospel of Christ Himself, which one would then, in turn, either accept or reject. Exactly how or when would God arrange for such a further revelation? Might I Peter 3:18-20 or 4:6 somehow correlate with Romans 2:16 here? The Scripture allows many such details to remain hidden, while being unequivocal about the fact that God will judge with perfect justice (Psalm 98:9). (Could this be what is happening on a widespread basis in the Muslim world today?)

Does all this detail somehow seem trivial to you? Be certain that it is not! In fact, this subject in all of its related subtlety is absolutely critical. Among other things, for instance, correct Biblical exegesis on this subject provides an unequaled incentive for the continued Christian mission of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. As Romans 10:14 says,

"How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?"

Answer 2

One this is certain: we do not know. Jesus said that those who do not hear and do not believe will be punished with few stripes (Luke 12). So apparently there are consequences for not hearing. Or are there? For those who say that those who never heard the gospel will be given that opportunity during the millennial reign need to account for that passage. How can there be any who have not heard if all will be given the chance to hear? We know that God is Spirit and we believe that God is love. We are taught that to love God and to love our neighbor is the ultimate state and those who do so have "kept the law." But no flesh is justified by the law. We are saved by grace through faith. How can we have faith in something we don't know exists? Easy. No one "knows" that God exists in the empirical sense of knowing. But He has given us faith, a gift. Paul says that not all of us have faith though. So are some created without faith, or do we receive faith due to a spiritual exchange we make with God at some point in our life? To me, the only way I can reconcile this dilemma with the ultimate goodness and mercy of God is to think that He reveals Himself to everyone in one way or the other, and each one of us must receive his gracious salvation in that context. Jesus said that He is the ONLY way to the Father. But does that mean that you have to actually know the name of Jesus or to hear the exact gospel message to be saved by Jesus? I don't think so. Calvinists may disagree. Most Baptists probably disagree too. I believe that Jesus Christ will offer salvation to "all men (and women)" and will forgive us our sins, even if we don't know exactly what is happening. In fact, I doubt very seriously that anybody knows exactly what is happening, even after reading the Bible for 50 years. I believe that God is good and will do what is right. And I most certainly do not believe that that the failure of a missionary to witness to some isolated tribe in some remote area of the planet is going to result in the eternal damnation of those people. Do you? Does that sound like the God you worship? On the other hand, there is always the possibility of purgatory, which I have no idea whether or not is true. But I do believe that God is good and loving and merciful and isn't going to abandon someone to eternal death just because certain messages weren't deliverd to them in a language they speak. Love God and love your neighbor. Maybe then things will be clearer to us. Peace.

Answer 3

First- the Bible says that "as long as there is breath there is hope". This would lead me to believe that at death there is no longer any hope.
Second- we get a hint in Romans 1:19 that man, outside of knowing Jesus, will have a chance.
The whole purpose of the Bible is to tell us about redemption. I can not imagine that God would allow anyone to go to hell unknowingly. The American Indians had a spiritual belief. Where did it come from? Who was their great father in the sky? I do not believe God condemns those who have no chance to reject him, or accept him.

Answer 4

Hebrews 9:27 says "it is appointed to man once to die, and after this comes judgment." That being said, once you die, there are not moy chances. So far as those who have not known Christ; No one will go to hell because they haven’t heard of Jesus Christ. The heathen will go to hell for murder, rape, adultery, lust, theft, lying, etc. Sin is not failing to hear the gospel. Rather, "sin is the transgression of the Law" (1 John 3:4). If we really care about the lost, we will become missionaries and take the good news of God’s forgiveness in Christ to them.

Answer 5

Yes. That is why eternal death is the second one, not the first. Acts 24:15 KJV 15And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. Revelation 20: KJV 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Psalm 37 KJV 9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 10For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 18The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. Isaiah 11 KJV 6The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. 9They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. The earth will be very different then. Debbie

Answer 6

i am a strong beleiver of christianity and i come from a family who is also and they educate us all the time on the rapture and heaven. so your answer is that the people who did not hear about christ than they will be judged on there works on judgement day. for the people who chose not to beleive will be judged on their works but remember they chose not to beleive so that will be held against them. so it is all up to god.

i just thought i would inform you on the rapture death too.
well, all the beleivers willl go to heaven and all the non beleivers will stay down on earth. santan will rule for 7 years and during that 7 years money will not be used but, you will have a chip inplanted into your head or hand to be able to buy things. the people who get that chip have to bow down to satan and the people who don't will be killed. the people that will be killed will have to wait 1000 years til judgement day and if they converted during the time on earth to beileve in christ than they will go to heaven. also for the people who start to beleive in christ and don't get caught or die will go to heaven after the 1000 years also. the people who still chose to not beleive will be sent to hell and god will destroy hell and earth and will create a new heaven and earth and the people who are saved will enter the golden gates and will live for ever with no sin.


p.s. i highly suggest reading the book heaven. it is the best book you will ever read. i personally don't like reading but i loved this book. all your questions will be answered with this book. good luck and god bless you.

Answer 7

I say that is up to God's compassion and mercy, since his Wisdom and power is unlimited, who are we to make a judgment of yes or no.

When and if you arrive in heaven, you will either be wearing the robe of righteousness, or the gown of salvation.
If your wearing the gown, God had compassion on you and his mercy saved you from hell, therefore eventually you will get to see God, but first you have to learn what it was you were to learn on the earth..... The oracles of God.

Answer 8

Sure, so you'd better get to pimping your faith to the elderly! You have to conquer the planet before your God will return to destroy the Earth. You'd better hurry up!

Answer 9

Yes, that's why today is the day of salvation, because we are not promised tomorrow.

Answer 10

Yes, this ends when we die! Our choice is made!