one for the christains

[indian]

If you believe in and live like a christain, but haven't been baptised or haven't porperly converted in any ceromeny or anything, would you still go to hell?

[Jude123]

This is a prayer I was given. It doesn't belong to any religion at all. Just to whatever the person saying it wants it to belong to.

Here I am.....

Just as I am.....

Be with me,

And all those I love,

Today and always.

I hope you understand. It was offered by a person with no deep religious beliefs who was terminally ill.

[indian]

wow, thanks Jude123, thats a really powerful poem.

[beehive]

If a belief in Jesus is necessary for salvation what happens to all those who lived and died before he was born and therefore never knew him? Same applies to young babies who die at birth.I've never been able to resolve this one to my own satisfaction.Welcome people's views.

[dakota3]

Jesus told the thief on the cross next to his that he would be with him this very day in the Kingdom of God. The thief previous to this was not a Christian, baptized, church attender, Bible reader or anything but a thief. But, because he believed at that moment he was saved. Jesus knew that and it was all that needed to be done.

[berlynn]

I think "born again" and being baptised are 2 different things. Being born again means you've accepted Jesus as your Savior and confessed your sins. Then, you try, w/God's help, to live accordingly. Being baptised is just a symbolic outward expression of the belief you've chosen. I don't believe the Bible says anything about needing to be baptised to go to Heaven. The Bible says, There is no way to the Father but by Me, and John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not die, but have eternal life. That doesn't say that you need to be baptised. An analogy is a wedding ceremony. You may get married by a Justice of the Peace and still be in fact married. The ceremony is just a public display of it. But, God judges the heart and He knows your intentions and desires.

[DarnT]

Remeber...the thief on the cross was not baptized yet Jesus said to him..."today thou shalt be with me in Paradise."  NO baptisme is NOT a prerequisite to heaven.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  John 14:6

[astaff]

beehive, your question is both noble and difficult to answer. There is ongoing debate as to exactly how God handles that, but ultimately that is for God to decide. We don't have to fear that they were just cast into hell forever, however. According to Hebrews, chapter 11 (New Testament), God credited the faith of those who lived before Christ, as righteousness. They are described in Hebrews 11, but if you could read all of Hebrews to get the context, that would be best.

How He credits that, I don't know for sure, but those who had listened to God and obeyed His commands were counted as faithful, or having faith, and received credit for it.

We, on the other hand have the blessing of looking back in history and reading the accounts of Jesus, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Because of that, our faith has to be in the final sacrifice of Jesus as sufficient to remove our sins. This is a personal, intimate decision that each person must make. I can't make it for you, and no one could make it for me.

As for the child who dies, the Scruptural base is that until a person reaches an age of moral understanding (or aware of right and wrong), they are deemed unaccountable for moral decisions. They are not innocent, mind you, just unaware of moral law. Although I cannot currently recall the reference for that statement, it is a firmly held belief which is based in Scripture.

[astaff]

Here's a good article on "age of accountability".

http://www.gotquestions.org/age-of-accountability.html