If my good works won't earn me a spot in heaven, will my evil works earn me a spot in he**- well, you know?
God doesn't want anyone to perish or to be separated from Him which would be he** - well, you know. God sent Jesus to save us. God is patient as evidenced that it's been 2000 years since Jesus was bodily here the first time. He is coming back - His followers believed his second coming would be soon - most of us don't think 2000 years as soon. So why the delay in Jesus coming back?
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
God is slow, patient, delaying judgment because He doesn't want anyone to perish. He is waiting for us all to come around to accept his amazing gift. I don't mean to say that He will wait forever - just that He isn't ready to pull the plug yet.
There have been times when I wonder or comment about certain sins keeping someone out of heaven. I've said, "well, I don't think that [insert sin here] will prevent them from going to heaven." So about individual sins, I've somehow determined that sins don't keep us from heaven and God. Except one......to refuse the gift of God's mercy.
If only one sin prevents us from entering heaven, other sins don't cause us to spend eternity in he** - well, you know. Right? A person can sin and sin and sin, really horrible stuff and not have to spend eternity separated from God. People can call out to God on their death bed with an earnest heart and be saved. So other than that, my deeds are not going to save me or condemn me.
Only 1 thing saves us (or condemns us) and that is the blood of Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection. Period. We either accept that gift or we refuse that gift.
Sometimes we believe we can tell if a person has accepted the gift......by watching their actions. Some people though are just kind, generous, caring, etc. They appear to the observer that they have accepted the gift. Sometimes [we think] we can tell if a person has refused the gift. They seem to be evil. However, we cannot see the heart. Only God can do that. Only God knows if a person has accepted the gift or not.
Therefore, we must accept everyone as though they have accepted or will accept God's gift. That is what we should do. We should treat people as though we expect to bump into them walking the streets of gold someday. What a different world that would be!
God doesn't want anyone to perish or to be separated from Him which would be he** - well, you know. God sent Jesus to save us. God is patient as evidenced that it's been 2000 years since Jesus was bodily here the first time. He is coming back - His followers believed his second coming would be soon - most of us don't think 2000 years as soon. So why the delay in Jesus coming back?
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
God is slow, patient, delaying judgment because He doesn't want anyone to perish. He is waiting for us all to come around to accept his amazing gift. I don't mean to say that He will wait forever - just that He isn't ready to pull the plug yet.
There have been times when I wonder or comment about certain sins keeping someone out of heaven. I've said, "well, I don't think that [insert sin here] will prevent them from going to heaven." So about individual sins, I've somehow determined that sins don't keep us from heaven and God. Except one......to refuse the gift of God's mercy.
If only one sin prevents us from entering heaven, other sins don't cause us to spend eternity in he** - well, you know. Right? A person can sin and sin and sin, really horrible stuff and not have to spend eternity separated from God. People can call out to God on their death bed with an earnest heart and be saved. So other than that, my deeds are not going to save me or condemn me.
Only 1 thing saves us (or condemns us) and that is the blood of Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection. Period. We either accept that gift or we refuse that gift.
Sometimes we believe we can tell if a person has accepted the gift......by watching their actions. Some people though are just kind, generous, caring, etc. They appear to the observer that they have accepted the gift. Sometimes [we think] we can tell if a person has refused the gift. They seem to be evil. However, we cannot see the heart. Only God can do that. Only God knows if a person has accepted the gift or not.
Therefore, we must accept everyone as though they have accepted or will accept God's gift. That is what we should do. We should treat people as though we expect to bump into them walking the streets of gold someday. What a different world that would be!