At the time that Jesus was walked on the Earth, and preached in the temples, Jesus did NOT rebuke the Jews for the Old Testament Books contained in the Catholic Bible, which Martin Luther later found objectionable.
Maccabees, in particular, clearly shows that God intends for us to “pray for the dead”. Under Catholic doctrine, I can see where someone who had led a good, just life but had not accepted God, could be given that chance. Purgatory would allow for such a situation.
I find it hard to believe that those who have not had an opportunity to know Christ would be sent straight to Hell.
My God is better than that.
Those are not Holy Scripture, but rather, Catholic texts, if you will. Christ does not preach praying for the dead.
Boy O’ boy are you smart, can I have your autograph? Please?
“My God is better than that.”
Your god? Created in your own image perhaps?
If God sends people to Hell for unbelief, who are you to criticize Him? Where were you when he made the Heavens and Earth?
That’s the plain teaching of scripture, FRiend. The Bible makes it clear on this point.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”
That’s why TODAY is the day of salvation.
“For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Today is the day of salvation because there are no second chances. In the first chapter of Romans Paul made it clear that people are without an excuse for their unbelief, to wit:
18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.