Could I theoretically live a life of sin (eg. drug use, greed, lust, sloth, debauchery, etc) then accept Jesus as my saviour just before I fall of the perch, and still go to heaven. The consensus amongst christians seems to be that you get saved and go to heaven by this simple act, beacuse Jesus has already suffered and died for our sins. That makes it all seem a bit too easy and I'm just wondering what motivation there is to live a virtuous life.
134170
yup, you just proved to urself the insanity of christianity.
394627
we're all sinners - God knows that since he made us. If you're making an honest effort to move forward and live a Godly life, then you're doing the right thing. just keep on asking for forgiveness and seeking help where you need it. If you find you're stumbling in the same areas like sexual sin or cheating, etc., find a group of Christians that you can be accountable with. \n\nGuilt is just the devil's way of tripping us up and keeping us from happiness. remember that Jesus died for every sin, none is too great to confess. That's the beauty of grace and mercy.\n\nI've been a Christian for many years and I don't have it all figured out. It's a work in progress. Think of Paul's letters - he stumbled and kept going. and David gave us some of the most beautiful Psalms out of his suffering, disappointment, weaknesses and all the while still praising God.\n\nRemember, Jesus' death on the cross has love written all over it. We're never worthy but we are loved:)
187551
I love this question.  Talk about your Hobson's Choice!  The number of "Christians" [I infer that from specific answers they have given on this and other topics] who are suddenly ready, willing, and able to cease loving others based on the consequences of their actions is astounding.  What happened to "love the sinner, hate the sin?"\n\nI'm not saying there is no God, but the fire and brimstone model just doesn't hold up to scrutiny.  The all loving God has no need for Hell.  If we receive His grace at death, then we will recognise and understand our sins, and realise [as in "achieve"] all we are suppose to be.\n\nThen there's the weak argument that God will remove the pain they'd feel.  Sounds like a lack of free will to me.  So then everything must be predestined?  I guess it doesn't really matter what I do, since God already has it decided.  My stealing your car/wife/lunch money isn't a crime, it's an act of God!  And since it's His will, I won't have to suffer for it.\n\nThe biblical version of God did not provide salvation for abject sinners.  Sort of like today's "three strike" rule.  Once you know you're on your way to Hell, why would you care about what you do?  This is why the Church invented purgatory.  By offering a here-to-fore unavailable path to salvation they were able to extend their control over others' lives.  Clever, no?  And it was also a great way to raise money...\n\nBe good to yourself.  Be good to others.  Don't try telling anyone else what this means for them.  If that ain't enough, we're screwed.
580760
All you have to do is believe that Jesus died for your (and the whole world's) sins and you are good for a ticket to heaven.\n\nA person can't redeem himself, only God can do it.   And he HAS done that through belief in Christ.
209351
Amen. People who don't believe in God (& don't think that there's a heavenly reward for good behavior/deferred punishment for bad) have to take responsibility here and now for their actions. There's no one to credit and no one to blame but ourselves. This means that we really have to live in a way that treats every moment as a unique and irrevocable opportunity. Life is more precious to us if we believe life is all there is.\n\nI think I'm actually a more honest and forthright than when I was a practicing Christian. As I understand him, Jesus took responsibility for his own actions and sacrificed himself for the sake of others. As an example, he's pretty extreme, but embodies something like pure altruism. His ideas about love, forgiveness, and self-abnegation are really extraordinary, but I don't see anything remotely resembling that behavior in the vast majority of Christians I've known. If Jesus is "Thou," then there's no one holier; but I do believe that if JC landed in most Christian environments these days, there would be a lot of people certain they could out-do him. And if not that, they'd be clamouring to get the best seat. \n\nWhen you come to believe that you're not "saved" or "chosen," a huge rush of humility (and relief) settles around you.
218620
If that person does not change their lifestyle(If they continue have homosexual sex)NO,they will not go to heaven.\n\nIf that person does not want to change their lifestyle,they are not showing very much love for Christ,are they?\n\nEven if a person could not choose what they were born as,they can choose not to sin.\n\nIf someone tells you they are a Christian homosexual and they do not abstain from homosexual sex,then they are lying to you and themselves.\n\nIf Jesus could go through the torture he went through for us we can abstain from sin for Jesus.
170665
Is this what you're getting at?\n\nRomans 5:1-21\n\nTherefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.\nFor when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.\nTherefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)\nTherefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.\nMoreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
130861
No, if you are a Christian( that means you have recognized that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus Christ was God and came down to earth to die on the cross for you, rose again on the third day, thus conquering death and offering eternal life; have asked forgiveness and have allowed Jesus to come into your life.) Then no, suicide will not cause you to go to Hell. Yes suicide is sinning, but the moment you recieve Christ all your sins are erased even the ones you haven't even commited yet. That means God forgave you even before you commited suicide. Of course that doesn't meant that if your a Christian you can sin all you want...there are still consequences, but you'll never go to Hell. The Bible says that no one can be plucked from the Fathers hand.
218881
This concept comes from the idea that if you don't repent from a sin, that you will go to hell, and that there is no opportunity to repent from commiting suicide. However, most people view repent here as "ask forgiveness." Repent does not mean that. It means change the way you think and act. If we had to ask forgiveness for every sin we ever commit NONE of us would ever go to heaven. Grace is not such a fine line that if you sin, you are lost, if you ask for forgiveness your saved again, sin again and you're lost again, etc. There is another problem with this... There are many ways to commit suicide in which you have time to ask for forgiveness. Jumping off a bridge, for example. While I certainly believe it would be a sin to take your own life, I don't think that one sin would necessarily negate the grace that comes from accepting Jesus as your savior.
160417
Sin offends God. Not everyone makes heaven but those who believe will have eternal life, that is with prayer and sacrifice. you cannot have possession of worldly belongings for everthing u have is givento u to hold by the Father. I cant remember where it is but 1 of the parables a man asks what he must do to go to heaven. Jesus replies give all u have and follow me. and so on i dont know ehere it is off hand im at school and dont have a bible on hahd but i can put up the scripture later..\nLuke 8:4-15 \nMatt 13:24-30; 36-43\nMatt 13:47-50\nMatt 21:28-32
502872
Sweety God has given us the Bible and told us the many ways to kill the flesh witch is what causes you to sin, trying to please your flesh instead of your spirit makes you sin and keeps you sinning. If I listen to my flesh I would curse out every doubter here, but because I love God and I know that everything I do should give him glory I chose not to listen to or make provisions for the flesh, and yes you can live free of sin once you willingly accept the blood of Christ that's why he died. So not only do I have the word of God to live by I have the strength of the Holy Spirit to resist sin and be free from sin. Fasting and praying allows you to live by the spirit and not by the flesh..... SO NO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SIN But, doesn't it feel good to know that if I do slip up God will not turn his back on me but, keep giving me chances to get it right, living for Jesus and ending up perfect in God's will is what I strive for as a Christian.\nMatt 26:41\n41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.\n(KJV)
276125
Well I'm agnostic but will answer this anyways...\n\nI find this one of Christianity's few logical points.  All people carry some form of greed, arrogance, conflict, etc. in them.  No matter how good a person you are, you WILL sin...its bound to happen.  What the concept of being a sinner means is that Christianity is admitting that its followers will not lead a sinless life (which is realistically true).  Basically, we're imperfect and we know it...but God loves us anyways.\n\nFor non-Christians, its an excuse for Christians to admit they're imperfect while still maintaining that their beliefs are.
622853
What a wonderful question.....NO!!!....Sin is something that although is inherited from our forefather, is totally against all the God stands for.  To me, people who think that repentance gives them the right to continue living the way they want as opposed to the way the Bible says we should are living in deep denial..........What's the sense in asking for forgiveness if you're just going to turn around and repeat the offense again....Also, how sincere is an apology when you continue to repeat the same behaviors that you apologized for in the first place?
538309
A lot of people have replied to this question by saying that you must accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, welcoming Jesus into your heart and life, and admitting you are a sinner and asking for forgiveness.\n\nThese are good starts, but these are ONLY a start.  To be a Christian means to be Christ to others.  Read the Gospels and see what Jesus did.  He forgave people, he fed the people, he cured them of ailments that kept them from being part of society.  These are the things we must do if we are to be Christian.  Read the 25th Chapter of Matthew and you will see what you must do.\n\nBeing a Christian is more than just believing, it is DOING.
114280
Doesn't work that way. If you sin/crime and you honestly accept Christ's death as paying for all your sins, and you beleive in your heart that he was the son of God and that he rose from the dead, your sins will be forgiven and you will be saved. However, you must truly beleive and submit your life to God's service. It's not a "Get out of Jail Free card" but a life commitment.\n\nYou don't need a priest for this and your crimes might not be forgiven on Earth, but you will be redeemed to God.\n\nEmail me to talk more: jacquefromtexas@yahoo.com
493397
Dear Bill, I would Like to explain why a person goes to hell and Howwe can escape the consequences of hell. I would like to ask you a few questions.............\n\nHave you ever lied (even once--fibs, white lies, etc.)? Ever stolen (anything--the value is irrelevant)? Jesus said, "Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery already with her in his heart." Have you ever looked with lust? If you have said "Yes" to these three questions, by your own admission, you are a lying, thieving, adulterer at heart; and we’ve only looked at three of the Ten Commandments. Nothing you’ve ever done is hid from His holy eyes. Will you be innocent or guilty on the Day of Judgment? Listen to your conscience. You know that you will be guilty, and therefore end up in Hell. That’s not God’s will. He provided a way for you and I to be forgiven. \nHe sent His Son to take our punishment: "God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." He was bruised for our iniquities. Jesus then rose from the dead and defeated death. \nYour own so-called “goodness” can’t get you into heaven any more than mine could.  Jesus is the only way to Heaven. He is the "Door," the only "mediator." There is salvation in no other name, and if you will repent (turn from sin) and place your faith and trust in jesus, God will forgive you of your sins and grant you eternal life. A person dosent go to Hell because they are foolish, but raher because they have trasgressed the Law. Please, turn from sin and trust in the savior today.\nGod Bless\nWDJD
653653
no if u r a real christian then u would know that being a christian means accepting christ as your lord and savior and trying your best to be christ like and you will be saved as long as u truly repent. If you are a christian, then you shall not go to hell. The Bible teaches us that only those who have not been saved and have not accepted christ as our lord and savior will be doomed to eternal damnation