Now lets say a man has committed some very bad crimes against god's commandments.eg. Murdered a manNow as say he realized what he did was wrong and found the truth in Christ. Turned his life around. Asked for forgiveness and lived his life doing the work of Jesus.If he was truly remorseful and tried his best to sin no more. He will most likely go to heaven.Now for the second part.A man from Tibet is a devout Buddhist and his whole life has done his best to avoid sin (or whatever he believes to be impure things) he does not ask Jesus for forgiveness but anytime he has a negative thought or does something wrong, he apologizes with all his heart to the universe and every living being it it.Now who do you believe/think is more likely to go to heaven and if you believe the man who has asked for forgiveness from Jesus, do you think it is fair? and will the Buddhist go to heaven.
John 14: 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.Acts 4: 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.John 3: 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. God knows whom are seeking Him and whom are not. God knows whom will receive Him and whom will not.Acts 16: 6Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.So if that devout Buddhist was truly seeking God, God would get the Gospel to him. If the Buddhist was a religious stuck up, then come gospel or not, he would reject Him.The promise of God is that all those that seek, shall find. All those that knock, the door shall be open. This is God being God.Romans 10: 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.I have read about a catholic missionary that came back from some backwood place in the wild and saw how these people of the tribe were so open and honest and loving that he coulod not perceive them as people God would go to hell. And by that, preached that some that do good deeds may go to Heaven as well. It got adopted by the late Pope John Paul, and yet not one catholic chasten the missionary for not sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those people.We can try to look for exceptions, but it doesn't excuse us from sharing the Gospel. God knows all those that seek Him. Those that seek Him will get to hear the Gospel.1 Corinthians 9:16For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
First and Last, no one on this planet has a right to say who will go to the Lake of Fire. And no one on this planet has a right to say who will go to Heaven. Only God can make that call.
God gave a heads up on that coming judgment.Revelation 19: 19And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
20And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.Reads as pretty definite to me.Revelation 20: 10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 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. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.FYI only.
With all due respect Polar, if works is required along with Christ, the Saviour of the world (John 4:42, I John 4:10, I Timothy 4:10) then Christ is useless.Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.Romans 11:6 - And if by grace, then is it no more of works: [color="Red]otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.[/color]Let me remind you that when Paul and James using works in their sayings, they are both completely different definitions.Blessings
Yeah!! Amen!! Whoo whoo!!Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.