I seem to recall the chruch's teaching being quite clear on matters of suicide.

 

Make sure that we differentiate between church teaching and biblical teachings. No where in the Bible does it state that suicide is an unforgiveable sin. The only sin mentioned as unforgiveable is blasphemy.

 

If a person has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and believes he died and rose again for the forgiveness of sin, and acts according to that belief, then I beleive they are forgiven for their sins and receive salvation. Keep in mind that none of us earn heaven or deserve to go.

Its only threw the blood of Jesus that a person makes it to heaven. Ask him to come in our hearts. Which leads to to a personal relationship with Christ.

Make sure that we differentiate between church teaching and biblical teachings. No where in the Bible does it state that suicide is an unforgiveable sin. The only sin mentioned as unforgiveable is blasphemy.

 

If a person has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and believes he died and rose again for the forgiveness of sin, and acts according to that belief, then I beleive they are forgiven for their sins and receive salvation. Keep in mind that none of us earn heaven or deserve to go.

 

 

But murder is a sin, when killing oneself you are in essence murdering yourself. At what point can you ask for forgiveness when in the midst of killing yourself. The odds are good that you are not going to get a chance to ask, thus you punch your ticket then and there.

But murder is a sin, when killing oneself you are in essence murdering yourself. At what point can you ask for forgiveness when in the midst of killing yourself. The odds are good that you are not going to get a chance to ask, thus you punch your ticket then and there.

 

What if I have forgotten to ask forgiveness for a sin I committed last year and I die tomorrow? Ephesians clearly say that we are saved by GRACE, through faith, and that grace is a gift from God. When we are baptized then we are washing our sins away and recieving the gift of the holy spirit. Thus we no longer need to offer individual requests for each sin. God's grace covers all.

 

Church and denominational teaching are of great value. But we need to make sure that Church doctrine does not superceed what the Bible actually says.

What if I have forgotten to ask forgiveness for a sin I committed last year and I die tomorrow? Ephesians clearly say that we are saved by GRACE, through faith, and that grace is a gift from God. When we are baptized then we are washing our sins away and receiving the gift of the holy spirit. Thus we no longer need to offer individual requests for each sin. God's grace covers all.

 

Church and denominational teaching are of great value. But we need to make sure that Church doctrine does not supersede what the Bible actually says.

 

 

It depends entirely on how you view the Bible. This is not where I plan on getting into a Catholic-Protestant debate, just wanting to leave it at that.

I recently read "The Shack" which is a wonderful book about spiritual healing and coming to terms with tragic events. Anyway............

 

I know that book is a work of fiction, but the theories on religion discussed in that book very closely resemble how I have always felt about "getting into Heaven". The message conveyed was that people get much too caught up in "religion" and miss out on what is truly important. Also, it was noted that people of all faiths will qualify for entry into Heaven through acceptance of "Christ's ways" instead of just Christians who proclaim Christ to be the Son of God. It mirrors my beliefs because I have never accepted the belief that the vast majority of the population of Earth is doomed to hell because they are either of a different religion or simply never had the chance to experience God's word in any form whatsoever.

My x father in law was a southern baptist preacher who was truly touched by the spirit. One of his close friends who was also a preacher commited suicide. It was very hard on him, but I remember the sermon like it was yesterday when he said "Just hope you're not sitting there holding a shotgun when the Lord calls you home." It kinda put things in a different light for me.

It has nothing to do with religions to determine who's going to heavan.

It doesn't matter what your faith or "religion" believe. It matters what YOU believe.

 

If YOU personally accept Jesus Christ as your savior, you know he endured more than hell itself because he loves us more than we could possibly imagine.. If you declare him Lord of your life.... you're going to heavan.

 

There is NOTHING, and I repeat, NOTHING, this world can muster, satan can muster that will EVER seperate us from the Eternal One's hand once we're inside it.

But murder is a sin, when killing oneself you are in essence murdering yourself. At what point can you ask for forgiveness when in the midst of killing yourself. The odds are good that you are not going to get a chance to ask, thus you punch your ticket then and there.

 

Ok then.. lets say I lead a sinless perfect life.. never do anything wrong. Right before I die.. I have one impure thought about a female.

 

Am I going to hell?

What factors will determine who gets in and who doesn't? Jesus Christ...those who accept him as their Lord and Savior will be in heaven. Those who reject him, won't be.

 

Acts that will keep you out forever? The Bible says blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is an unpardonable sin. But, if you look at that logically, the Spirit is God's agent to convict you, reveal truth to you and draw you to him...if you reject/blaspheme the Spirt, you're rejecting Christ and God by default. So, no, I don't think there's any act(s) that can't be atoned for by Christ's sacrifice.

 

Acts that will get you in? Accepting Christ...that's it.

 

Beautifully said.

5wide and LBBC have summarized it quite nicely. You must ask and accept. That is the only action required, there is no sin that cannot be atoned.

 

:thumb:

Ok then.. lets say I lead a sinless perfect life.. never do anything wrong. Right before I die.. I have one impure thought about a female.

 

Am I going to hell?

 

If you have accepted Jesus CHrist as your Lord and Savior, His Blood and Sacrifice covers over your sins no matter when you have committed them.

Nothing to see here

Edited July 21, 200917 yr by PepRock01
Snarky comment, thought better of it.

If you have accepted Jesus CHrist as your Lord and Savior, His Blood and Sacrifice covers over your sins no matter when you have committed them.

 

exactly

 

:thumb:

That is what I was trying to get at with the Native American reference. I would guess not one Indian had heard of Christ or even the nature of Christ. Does that mean that all Native American's prior to Christians coming to American are burning in hell?

 

Is says somewhere in Romans, and I don't remember it verbatum, but something to the effect that those who never hear the word of Christ will be judged by works, and their belief to do right because they believe in a higher power. Something to that effect any way.