Does that mean that no matter how kind and good I am, that I am destined to go to hell according to you guys? Mind you, I don't drink, smoke, do drugs, I love my family, have never murdered...blah, blah, blah. I still have to go to hell according to you...is that right?!
2007-04-20 07:32:13 · 36 answers · asked by Primordial Soup 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not trying to sell myself as perfect, of course I'm not!!! Sheesh!
2007-04-20 07:39:44 · update #1
I'm not trying to be saved, just interested in your answers. Thanks!
2007-04-20 07:41:06 · update #2
So, by what a lot of you are saying. Being a good, decent, kind human being is really worthless if you don't love jesus. We're WILL go to hell anyway. So, by that token, we're just as well off being murderers, rapists, child molesters, etc. Do you see an inconsistency there?
2007-04-20 08:16:13 · update #3
Please excuse the typos in that last post...not sure what happened there!
2007-04-20 08:17:46 · update #4
Christian or not, I appreciate your honest answers, thank you. For the one who insulted me...do you feel good about yourself now?!
2007-04-20 08:20:48 · update #5
Officially, every christian cult that I know of requires baptism as a sign that you accept Jesus. Their theologies and canon law would send you to hell along with Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, and any other good people who are not christians. Heaven is reserved for baptized christians like Hitler and Mussolini although depending on the cult you accept baptism may or may not be enough.
2007-04-20 07:36:00 · answer #1 · answered by Dave P 7 · 3⤊ 4⤋
Sadly according to some people, yes, you would. According to me and many, many others, no you wouldn't. First off, faith in God isn't about what you do or don't do. Faith in God is striving your best to follow Him and love him. No matter how great we all are, we still cannot be "good enough" to "earn" our way into heaven. It doesn't work like that.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
Being baptized can be one of two things depending on the church. Some churches do what is called believer's baptism when is a public profession of one's faith. There are others that do an infant baptism that is the acceptance of God's grace upon us as a free gift. It's an outward symbol of that inward grace. It is also the parents' committment to raise a child in God. However, that child still later has to choose or not choose to make a profession of faith in God.
If you have made a profession of faith to God, and you follow Him, then you are a Christian. You do not NEED the outward, public profession in order to make it some official thing.
When Christ died, there was a criminal next to him that begged him to remember him in His kingdom. Christ said, "Assuredly, I say to you, today will be with Me in paradise." Luke 23:43 That criminal certainly wasn't baptized. Do not worry so much about what others say. The relationship between you and Christ is between you and Christ. If you want to be baptized, then you may certainly do so in a church. But, if you don't, it doesn't mean that you are doomed.
2007-04-20 07:44:47 · answer #2 · answered by One Odd Duck 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You'll get as many different answers as there are denominations. Baptism to coin a phrase is "an outward and visible sign of an inward and hidden truth". It's a symbol, nothing more or less. It's the throwing off of old self and a self centered life. I believe Christians are more readily identified by what they do as opposed to what they refrain from doing. Lastly, heaven or hell or whatever may await is not the concern of the living. Love God, love his creation and all in it, express that love every day of your life and the rest will work itself out.
2007-04-20 07:56:52 · answer #3 · answered by webned 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Bible plainly teaches that baptism is essential to salvation, despite what some denominations claim. These verses are absolute proof.
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16).
(The inverse "he that believeth not and is not baptized" is not necessary, if you don't believe you won't be baptized. This is a common argument against baptism that really "doesn't hold any water".)
We are also to exactly what saves us.
"he like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" 1 Peter 3:21
Water baptism (total immersion) is absolutely necessary, to believe otherwise is contrary to the Bible.
2007-04-20 08:16:25 · answer #4 · answered by TG 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost
See the Bible never says that you deserve salvation. No one does! You sound like a better man than most. I am a thief, a liar ans a murder, and an adulterer. This according to what my Lord considers to be included in those sins.. I have looks at what other have and lusted (that stealing), I have been angry with a Godly cause ( that's murder) I have had my lustful thought of women (that's adultery)... I am a terrible sinner and need His blood to cover my sins. If He didn't give me His righteousness I would have no hope for His mercy.. Jim
2007-04-20 07:45:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being baptized doesn't save you, but believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of the LIving God; confessing Him your Lord & Savior; And believing He raised from the dead an everlasting body,soul & spirit will.
But then some Christian religions think water baptism must be done.
Read the story of the thief on the cross next to Jesus. He rebuked the other thief negative comments, He confessed he was a sinner, he asked Jesus, "Lord, please remember me when you enter your Kingdom." Jesus said, "Today you will be with me in Paradise.". He confessed Jesus Lord, He believed Jesus King of Heavens Kingdom. That was all that was necessary. Jesus saw his honest heart. He went to heaven.
2007-04-20 07:40:51 · answer #6 · answered by LottaLou 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Baptism is not an entry pass to heaven. Being baptized a Christian does not guarantee you paradise. Christianity is a way of life. You can be an atheist and still live a Christian life. You don't have to be a Christian to be saved. How fair would it be for someone who has never even heard of Christianity to go to hell when he dies, even after living a life that is perfectly moral and good? Though I am a Christian, I believe my God is not that close minded. My God is much more intelligent and fair than that. But that's just me.
2007-04-20 07:40:44 · answer #7 · answered by bored_dude 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Being a good person won't get you to heaven baptised or not. Jesus did not come to save the good, but to save the sinner.
I always refrain from pronouncing somenoe as going to hell or heaven...I am not God and have no business condeming someone to hell. Only God can do that and I know that when that time comes...the people who are in hell will deserve to be there.
2007-04-20 07:38:58 · answer #8 · answered by Misty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It has nothing to do with being baptized. You do not have to be baptized to enter Heaven. You do have to be saved. You have to believe that Jesus died for your sins. That He rose from the dead and sits on the right hand side of the Father. Your good works will not buy you into Heaven. Salvation is only found in the blood of Jesus.
2007-04-20 07:37:48 · answer #9 · answered by TripleTattoo™ 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO its not right!! Jesus says Himself that no man shall come to the Father but by Me. You getting baptized is just being obedient to God. Say a man accepts Jesus 5 minutes before He dies, does He go to hell cause he wasnt baptized? No, it is only if we do not have Jesus in our hearts that we will be in hell. Im glad that u do no drugs,drink,and u love ur family but make sure u love Jesus Christ above all these things because He is the one who gave His life up for u to even have the oppurtunity to enter Heaven.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever SHALL BELIEVE IN HIM will not perrish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Nowhere in this promise to us does it say u have to be baptized to enter Heaven. I do encourage u to do it however because this is a sign of u killing ur old self and becoming a new person in Jesus Christ.\
God Bless U
2007-04-20 07:45:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
walk into any Church of Christ, everywhere in the U.S., on a Sunday morning, or a Wednesday night (and probably fantastically plenty the different time that somebody is in the workplace). They constantly have their baptistry complete - and that i recommend that truly. tell them which you incredibly pick to be baptized, and that they'll do it. they don't could understand you, and you do not could be area of their church or ANY church. you basically could take place and tell them what you pick, and that they'll do it. the only question they'll ask you is whether or not or not you have self belief Jesus is your savior. as long as you answer "definite," they'll baptize you, end of sentence. They practice baptism by potential of immersion, so deliver a spare set of outfits. i understand, because of the fact I married a Church of Christ guy some years in the past, and attended many, many centers. they have self belief in baptizing human beings instantaneous - no waiting around. I incredibly have actually by no potential been in a Church of Christ the place the baptistry grew to become into not complete. to maintain it on the up-and-up: For the record, i'm now not a member of that particular faith.
2016-10-13 01:20:31 · answer #11 · answered by rode 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋