WHY I BECAME A CHRISTIAN - Sultan Muhammad Paul

Good-Way ^

[projectile]

Here is an excellent Testimony from a Muslims who converted to Christianity. "In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10).

[notyourregularhandle]

Personal Question:

If Jesus Christ is God, and God is all loving, all knowing, etc...How come every person (Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, atheists, etc) who does not believe he was our saviour will burn in hell and/or the lake of fire?

What happened to the people before Jesus died on the cross?

These are just questions that i've been struggling with for a long time...can anyone help me out?

[Paradox]

I can't believe I read the whole thing, but I found it fascinating. The lengths to which this guy went, to find his ultimate spiritual truth, were incredible. I think it is safe to say that no one I know, and I doubt anyone on FR, has gone through anything like this. This guy went waaaay back to Zoroastrianism fer chrissake!

His dedication to his quest is as much a story as his eventual conversion.

[Romulus]

.How come every person (Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, atheists, etc) who does not believe he was our saviour will burn in hell and/or the lake of fire?

The Catholic Church teaches no such doctrine. I can't speak for anyone else.

[Russell Scott]

I will answer all your unanswered questions with the following. Don't worry about things beyond your understanding. Just know that Jesus died for YOU.

When you get to heaven, you will understand ALL things and know that God's love, justice and judgement are perfect. We are way too carnal and imperfect to begin to understand so many things of an infinite and divine nature.

Its like trying to figure out how God could always exist, never having a beginning or ending. Impossible to understand on this plane.

I will say this, nobody will ignorantly go to "hell", whatever that is. See, even the nature of hell is a mystery. Some people say a burning fire, some say eternal darkness, some say non-existance. Again, just know Jesus died for YOU, and let God take care of everyone else, trusting everything in the end will end up exactly where it was meant to end up based on perfect judgement, not our imperfect preception of judgement.

[notyourregularhandle]

Thanks for your response...I know I will never know...but I do know this...I wouldn't want to be in heaven if those people were in hell...you know?

[Darheel]

People who follow the ten + 11th commandment 'do unto others' don't go to hell

I too have struggled with what happens to the ancients, the philosophers, the decadent Romans. I think the overriding factor to deal with is in fact Love, the presense or absence of it with the ancients. Surely there was Love!

[notyourregularhandle]

Agreed. ;) thanks for your response...

[connectthedots]

What happened to the people before Jesus died on the cross?

God judges the hearts of those who have not heard the Gospel. As for before Jesus Christ, the tribe of Levi served as preists and interceded on behalf of God's people. The question really isn't about what happens to others. that is left up to God. But you must decide for yourself who Jesus Christ is and what you will do with him. Wouldn't it be awful for you to reject Christ as your personal Savior just because you cannot answer your question and especially so if God has made a provision for those you profess to be concerned about. How ironic it would be that they might be saved but you would be condemned to hell simply because you did not have an answer to your question. They would have a benefit and your uninformed decision would condemn you. You have the opportunity to know the truth and reject Jesus; they did not, yet may be in heaven anyway. Does your decision really make that much sense when you consider all the possiblities. They have an excuse; you don't!

[WolfsView]

Those who died before Christ martyered himself on the cross lay in the breast of Abraham. On the judgement day they will come before God and will be shown Christ, they will then either reject him or accept him. This also goes for those who never knew of Christ after his death (Native Americans before the missionaries ect.)

[AmericanCheeseFood]

The Old Testament . They had their chances etc to get close to Him . Most blew it . Jesus(God) came and fullfilled His promises of Salvation and made it easier to understand as He came in the form of Man and obeyed, took up His own word .

Jesus waits at your heart bud . Repent and ask Him in because who knows how long anyone has to live for one . For another life with Him is all the better do to the fact you can talk with Him and get to know Him through prayer and His word .

Simply talk to Jesus now, it's not hard, tell'em you're sorry and realise you've sinned and allow Him in .

Afterwards find yourself a good Christian church to go to .

Cheese.

[Myrddin]

A simple principle: Where there is no law, there can be no transgression. Those who do not hear the gospel during their mortal lives will have an opportunity to do so in the after life. That covers most of the people who have lived on this earth. Missionary work will continue until the time for resurrection and judgement arrives.

[Havisham]

The world over, wherever Muslims predominate, Christians are targeted for death. They unashamedly hate Jews, too. Tell me one country that calls for the death of Muslims. Exactly. None. And the peaceful muslims are in complete denial of the hatred and death-mongering their religious culture encourages and, by now, is rightly famous for. Islam is a blood-thirsty orthodoxy with a terrifying influence over the average muslim.

[Mark17]

Those who do not hear the gospel during their mortal lives will have an opportunity to do so in the after life.

What? At physical death, one's fate is sealed, totally, completely, irrevocably, forever. There won't be any more chances after that. I feel that even those who are burning in hell fire, would still reject God, and would rather remain in hell, than serve Him.

[Texas_Jarhead]

Just a note from personal experience. WHen I was younger I attended Catholic mass with a friend. During the Mass I heard, with my own ears, the Priest attest that non-Catholics would go to hell. Including "Baptists" of which I am one. I could not believe my ears. Of course this is just one Mass out of a number that I have attended. I guess there are all kinds of people (including priests).

FReegards

[Darheel]

I think Jesus died for the sins of all mankind and doesn't doom everyone but instead offers forgiveness and salvation.

[wai-ming]

From this point forward, you are now saved forever and ever.

Thank you.

What if I later convert to Islam, Buddhism, Mormonism, or something else? Does my "saved forever and ever" status change?

[WolfsView]

Where did you get doom everyone? I never said that. Christ offers salvation to everyone all you have to do is accept it.