Is heaven only for Christians? - That's convenient

[soberxp]

Was Isaiah 53 prophetic?

On another forum, I ran into some proponents of Open Theism, which holds that while God does have a plan, He is not able to know the future choices of creatures with free will with absolute certainty, so He has to wing it as we go. You meet all kinds on an internet forum.

"God knows all things, and Jesus said, 'Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered' (Matthew 10:30)."

"In my view, the discovery of computer programming—with its debugging tools designed to detect and correct errors—parallels a profound biblical metaphor.

Genesis reveals that God intentionally created the serpent with a ‘debugging mode’ of cunning (Genesis 3:1). This allowed it to test humanity’s free will, much like a debugger tests a program’s integrity. Scripture clarifies that ‘God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone’ (James 1:13). Yet the serpent, exercising its free will under divine allowance, became an agent of trial.

From this perspective, I see everything as part of God’s sovereign plan: to craft beings who, through free will, attain perfection—neither losing themselves to rebellion (like Adam) nor becoming robotic automatons. The end goal is a humanity that freely chooses holiness, mirroring Christ’s sinless obedience (Hebrews 4:15).

Key Analogy Breakdown:

1. Debugging Mode: The serpent’s role as a ‘tester’ of human obedience.
2. Free Will: The capacity to choose, essential for genuine love and worship (Joshua 24:15).
3. Divine Sovereignty: God’s ultimate purpose—to refine, not destroy (Zechariah 13:9).

This framework harmonizes human responsibility with God’s redemptive design, culminating in ‘new creations’ (2 Corinthians 5:17) who are both free and flawless."

Biblical Support:
Romans 8:20–21: Creation was subjected to frustration "in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay."

Revelation 21:5: "I am making everything new!"

The tension between free will and divine perfection finds resolution in Christ’s reconciling work (Colossians 1:20).

 

[Lambano]

1. Debugging Mode: The serpent’s role as a ‘tester’ of human obedience.
2. Free Will: The capacity to choose, essential for genuine love and worship (Joshua 24:15).
3. Divine Sovereignty: God’s ultimate purpose—to refine, not destroy (Zechariah 13:9).

@St. SteVen will likely agree with point 3 there.

Yet I cannot help but be concerned for those who will be destroyed by the refining process.

 

[St. SteVen]

Yet I cannot help but be concerned for those who will be destroyed by the refining process.

Is a ship destroyed by barnacle removal?

[

 

[Lambano]

Is a ship destroyed by barnacle removal?

[

The barnacles were the only thing plugging the hole in the stern.

Eh, that sounds pretty vulgar. Let's make that, "The barnacles were the only thing holding the ship together."

 

[Lambano]

You refine gold by burning off the dross. But you may find after you burn off the dross there ain't no gold in there.

 

[St. SteVen]

"The barnacles were the only thing holding the ship together."

You refine gold by burning off the dross. But you may find after you burn off the dross there ain't no gold in there.

The great physician can resurrect a soul from the shipwreck of life and make it sea-worthy again.

1 Corinthians 3:14-15 NIV
If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.
15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—
even though only as one escaping through the flames.

[

 

[Jack]

Hell will be filled with BILLIONS of humans who don't believe in Hell!

Rev 20 They will be tormented day and night FOREVER!

 

[St. SteVen]

This was the "Why only us?" question I had to grapple with as a young adult.

Is it true? Heaven is only for Christians? What does that even mean?

Graffiti on a college building wall.

If only Christians go to Heaven, then I'd rather go to Hell.

What's wrong with this picture?

[

 

[Rockerduck]

This was the "Why only us?" question I had to grapple with as a young adult.

Is it true? Heaven is only for Christians? What does that even mean?

Graffiti on a college building wall.

If only Christians go to Heaven, then I'd rather go to Hell.

What's wrong with this picture?

[

Because the "world" is under the dominion of Satan. We were born into this world and learned how to negotiate through it, you know, lie, cheat, steal, fight. When receiving Christ as your savior, all things have become new, 2 Corinthians 5:17. You become more Christ like through the sanctification process. You change over time more and more like Christ. So if you party and drink and like women, the Christian life is not for them. In fact, we are called not to conform to the world. Romans 12:2

 

[soberxp]

This was the "Why only us?" question I had to grapple with as a young adult.

Is it true? Heaven is only for Christians? What does that even mean?

Graffiti on a college building wall.

If only Christians go to Heaven, then I'd rather go to Hell.

What's wrong with this picture?

[

I don't think you realize that you're in hell right now!!!!!

 

[St. SteVen]

Because the "world" is under the dominion of Satan. We were born into this world and learned how to negotiate through it, you know, lie, cheat, steal, fight. When receiving Christ as your savior, all things have become new, 2 Corinthians 5:17. You become more Christ like through the sanctification process. You change over time more and more like Christ. So if you party and drink and like women, the Christian life is not for them. In fact, we are called not to conform to the world. Romans 12:2

So... only Christians in heaven?

[

 

[St. SteVen]

I don't think you realize that you're in hell right now!!!!!

That's one way to look at it.
Where do we go when we leave here?

[

 

[soberxp]

That's one way to look at it.
Where do we go when we leave here?

[

Usually it's the "Hades"( but in the Bible the word is hell, a darkness place ), waiting for the resurrection with Jesus Christ, or for the divine judgment,

 

[Rockerduck]

So... only Christians in heaven?

[

Yes. that's the reason for God choosing a people for Himself.

 

[Behold]

This was the "Why only us?" question I had to grapple with as a young adult.

Is it true? Heaven is only for Christians? What does that even mean?

]

It means that Heaven is for those who are like God.

Holy and Righteous.

So, because "all have sinned, and there is none righteous, no not one"......a unforgiven sinner, won't be going there.

This is why Jesus said that you must be born again, on earth........as then you have been forgiven all sin, and given the "Gift of righteousness".....and now being forgiven and """made righteous"", the person is now acceptable to God, and can go to Heaven.
In fact they are already in heaven.... "seated in heavenly places, In Christ".

 

[amigo de christo]

This was the "Why only us?" question I had to grapple with as a young adult.

Is it true? Heaven is only for Christians? What does that even mean?

Graffiti on a college building wall.

If only Christians go to Heaven, then I'd rather go to Hell.

What's wrong with this picture?

[

what is wrong is you keep allowing the actions , the carnal wisdom of men
the actions of others DICTATE to you what is wrong .
Sorry friend but i dont heed the world or the worldy for advice .
BIBLE UP . GOD is who the sheep trust and IN HIS WORDS we do trust .

 

[amigo de christo]

I don't think you realize that you're in hell right now!!!!!

We are not in hell my friend .
When many are in the lake that burns with fire
THEY WILL CLEARLY understand a far worse place awaited those who rejected CHRIST .
Bad as this world is and bad as it can get for sheep in this world , SHEEP GOT ONE LOVELY END my friend
AND even now we can HAVE JOY and PEACE in the LORD .
But i have seen a great evil in this world .
And worse i have seen the church embrace this evil .
What it is .
Even the wicked can suffer things in this world
and can be so down and depressed
they even want to end their life .
BUT the moment they do
THEY GONNA REALIZE TOO LATE
oh dear we didnt end our suffering
ITS ONLY REALLY JUST BEGAN . THE LAKE OF FIRE IS REAL . BUT SO IS ETERNAL LIFE .
A place of torment of the soul is real , BUT SO IS THE PLACE OF FOREVER JOY IN THE LORD too .
AND I DARN SURE HIGHLY SUGGEST we all get busy in that bible
and get busy pointing ONLY TO that JESUS . cause I KNOW HE SAVES .

 

[lforrest]

Graffiti on a college building wall.

If only Christians go to Heaven, then I'd rather go to Hell.

What's wrong with this picture?

]

If you take the word for what it says, it is actually only believing Jews that go to heaven. The gentiles are grafted into the olive tree. We are united with the heritage of the faithful Abraham Issac, and Jacob through our faith in Jesus.

 

[Rockerduck]

If you take the word for what it says, it is actually only believing Jews that go to heaven. The gentiles are grafted into the olive tree. We are united with the heritage of the faithful Abraham Issac, and Jacob through our faith in Jesus.

Not so. Jesus removed the Kingdom of God from the Jews.

Matthew 21:43 - “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.

 

[Ezra]

Not so. Jesus removed the Kingdom of God from the Jews.

they will be grafted back in .