Posted on 06/16/2008 10:12:34 AM PDT by NYer
You’re right. Just as he forgave Peter when he repented. Both disciples betrayed Jesus, but Peter asked for forgiveness.
Have you reviewed Matt 7; 21-27?
At face value, this seems to contradict Scripture in as Paul preached, you are saved by faith and your deeds are an outward sign of your faith and love for God. By her own admission, she wasn’t very religious, I take it she may have called herself a Christian and that was pretty much it. In this situation she was judged solely on her deeds. Maybe because she was coming back. I wonder what her spiritual life consists of now? Interesting nonetheless.
Amen!I am saving this article on my favorites.It affirms for me many other similiar experiences regarding near death.
I have spent the past few years taking journeys into my past and recalling the times when I chose to inflict hurt and humiliation rather then give love and comfort.I had to ask God for forgiveness first,then the people i hurt,if possible,but finally I had to forive MYSELF for being so cruel and petty.
My sins were many and even today I often have to catch myself for an ugly thought or a sarcastic word.Way too often the cause is our flase pride.He or she offended me so now I must “get back”.Thats old thinking.I just walk away now and have a talk with God.
Calms and focuses me like nothing else could.
Then this one will truly amaze you.
How can we be assured of our own salvation if St. Paul wasn’t (1 Corinthians 9:27)?
That is something that I try to remind myself regularly. You said it very well.
The most profound experience of my life
I dont think it was Heaven - I was only in His presence, with no spirits - but the light and peace was unreal - In the times Ive been very ill since (few) I feel that same peace
In the Lord's eye's, while this is not what brings us salvation, the good deeds we do for our fellow man, and the respect and kindness we show to all, if done with love and good intent, must be very pleasing to the Lord who simply showed us same through the love and sacrifice of his son. I only wish I was a better person at doing same. I can only imagine for every time I please the Lord, a hundred times fold he must be disappointed with me. For his forgiveness, and fro the forgiveness of those I have hurt I am thankful.
Very touching...thanks for posting.
bookmark
There is definately a difference between being saved and being religious.
She may have had faith and a relation with Christ but for what ever reason, never got deep into the religious trappings.
Hmmm...the Saviour I know promised to throw my sins into his sea of forgetfulness. The only good thing you can do to reach Heaven is accept Jesus as your saviour.
Could be a misinterpretation on your part, could be an oversimplified explanation of the non-judgment of a loving G-d. But they are great lyrics, aren’t they ;-)
So you believe Judas went to heaven?
I beleive the whole point of the theology in those lyrics is purely a Christian construct. Judas went to heaven only if he accepted Jesus as his savior.
No mention of a near-death experience here! Just a lapsed Jew who adopted Roman Catholicism. Not at all amazing. No more unusual than a Catholic becoming a devotee of Hare Krishna, a Lutheran becoming a Buddhist, or an atheist becoming a Muslim.
Regards,
“If I knew God I’d be Him.”
My friend said that the guy was a different person after his heart attack...much nicer; "it really changed him, whatever experience he had."
This is not, I repeat this is not an attempt to evangelize you...It’s a question, just a question and nothingmore.
What is the current state of your heart? If you forgave someone wouldn’t it be for you as if the event that had come between you had never occurred? I mean in human terms, think about it: The love is there, the desire to forget is there, but the damage is still done. It’ imprinted now and takes work to make it go away, but it’s a decision, which is oftentimes much stronger than things done on simple loyalty, affinity, or attraction. It has become a sincere desire at that point. One that has owned up to something being seriously wrong to have made it happen, and is willing to tax the entire universe if only it could be made right again.
What do you think about things like that? It’s true that out of those beginnings some of the healthiest relationships are forged. For one, they have been tried by fire and have endured the test. For another they require total transparency...complete honesty, with ouselve before anyone else. Moment by moment when it has to be that way.
IMO, the thing that makes that theology so potent, is just that: the human analogy that runs smack through the heart of it. It’s the thing we aspire to be. It symbolizes the very best in us.
Who wouldn’t want that?
"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in the presence of the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged by those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and hell gave up their dead that were in them; and they were judged every one according to their works." Apocalypse 20:12-13
"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing in the presence of the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged by those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and hell gave up their dead that were in them; and they were judged every one according to their works." Apocalypse 20:12-13
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