Who would be more likely to go to Heaven?

Question

The kindest person in the world at this moment in time who dedicates their life to helping others, but who doesn't believe in God

or

A lifelong sinner who does believe in God but honestly repents shortly before they die?

I have to admit, i'm not an expert on the Bible but is it true that all non-believers will go to Hell? and if someone repents for their sins they will be forgiven?

Dragon - That is a VERY good point! Gandhi wont have gone to Heaven. God is terrible!

Zeezizi - Another GREAT point. I hadn't thought of that. Christianity now seems wicked to me

**'wicked' in the sense of 'bad and horrible', not good......

Majik - you clearly don't have the brain power to answer a simple question. Or the brain power to understand that if you can't answer a question then don't answer it

Dela - I liked your answer, it answered the exact question i asked lol! some people cant accpect their religions double standards i think

Answer 1

The lifelong sinner goes to heaven.
The kind person may go to purgatory :)




This is assuming "heaven" is being used in the biblical term (which it is in the question). The bible is very explicit about belief in Christ being the one and only direct passage to heaven.



LOL, I can't believe people have a problem with this answer. The question is basically, who has better odds of getting into heaven according to the bible. Not, who has better odds of going to heaven in What Dreams May Come. I hate to break it to anybody who likes to think Ghandi will go to a Christian heaven, but he's not getting in. You can say God has final choice and we don't know what it is, but according to the bible He is the one making the rule that only people who believe in Christ will get in and He doesn't seem like the kind of deity who contradicts Himself... then again...

Answer 2

According to some circles of faith, then yes, the sinner would go to heaven but the kind person wouldn't as they didn't believe in God.

Personally I think that's pretty awful, and serious manipulation of the faith, if a person is good then it shouldn't matter. After all, Jesus once said something about all the different kinds of people in the world, and he was the shepherd trying to bring them into God's flock. Not an exact quote, but the gist is there.

Point is, how could a kind and wonderful person be denied the "right" almost to go to heaven purely because he doesn't believe?

Toodles

Answer 3

The kindest person who dedicates their life to helping others is serving God even if they don't know it. And for that, they will not lose their reward. See Mathew 25:31-40. See also Matthew 10:40-42 Anyone who "honestly repents" is definitely forgiven. They will both be in heaven.

Answer 4

What can perfect the dream of heaven? Jesus. To be the region he's, to communicate over with Him head to head continually and ever, to the contact His nail-scarred fingers, it basically would not get any more advantageous perfect than that! The Lord is so marvelous that it's going to take distinct eternities earlier we are waiting to thoroughly study carry close His options or comprehend the scale, the finished, the width, the intensity of His love for us. i'm no longer the least apprehensive about beautiful any aims in heaven because basically being there with Jesus is more advantageous than sufficient for me.

Answer 5

I'd hope it'd be the good person, and not the sinner just because he worships God. Don't know if I believe in Heaven at all (oh well that's blown my chances now, if there is! ) I like to think that there is something after death, but not necessarily Peter and the Pearly Gates!

Answer 6

The book of John Chapter 3
16. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

As for the good man or Ghandi or anyone else. We don't know what is in a persons heart at the moment of their death, so we really can't say who will go to heaven and who won't.

Answer 7

well the first person would be very surprised to arrive in heaven not being a beleiver. The second person would be very releived.

I think outside the pearly gates the two should have a game of paper rock scissors the winner then gets to go in, the second should then be reincarnated as a tv quiz show host (the devil works in mysterious eays)

Answer 8

That's exactly how the bible puts it. In a nutshell, our efforts to make ourselves better can never match the grace and mercy of God. If we thought we could better ourselves we would be stumbling at the very first hurdle; our trust in God and humility before him is the key that unlocks his favour. Trying to demonstrate our self reliance in our own works is the stuff of suicide bombers as well as goody goody two shoes and self righteous demi gods the world over.

Answer 9

All believers will have heaven as their home and they know that already in their hearts.

There is nothing that can change anything concerning their home and being with their Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. He has given them this promise, "He whom the Father gives me will come to me. The one who comes to me, I will by no means cast out. " and in another place, "My Father is greater than all, no one shall snatch them out of my father's hand." and we also know that, " heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words will by no means pass away" says the Lord.

Non-believers will go to hell, not because of the sins they have committed - but they will go there because of their refusal to accept the gift of eternal life that God gives them in the person of Jesus Christ. They choose to accept other things rather life in Christ and God confirms their choice.

There is, however, also a punishment for believers who refuse to live the kind of life that Christ offers - but I will not get to that at this point!

Answer 10

It is plain and simple "no one comes to the Father except through me".If there is another way every Christian is wasting their time and effort.
No body is forcing anybody to believe anything and nobody uses scare tactics against me.(as the person above me claims)