Who Goes to Heaven and Who Goes to Hell?

[Squared]

Who goes to heaven and who goes to hell?

We’re told that faith alone gets us to heaven but what about people that never hear about the word of Jesus Christ or are brought up to believe in other religions or cults? How about the millions of people that were brought up and died in communist countries? How about the millions of Muslims or Buddhists? God made us all right? If that is correct, why would God make people that he knew were doomed to go to hell?

I’m struggling with doubts in my faith and any help on this would be appreciated.

 

[Brother Lawrence]

Who goes to heaven and who goes to hell?

We’re told that faith alone gets us to heaven but what about people that never hear about the word of Jesus Christ or are brought up to believe in other religions or cults?

You know, every person who has ever asked this question "knows" about Jesus Christ, and about all of them were raised as Christians.

You will be held responsible for what you know, not what you don't know. I think we can trust God with those souls, while we work out our own salvation.

 

[Squared]

You know, every person who has ever asked this question "knows" about Jesus Christ, and about all of them were raised as Christians.

You will be held responsible for what you know, not what you don't know. I think we can trust God with those souls, while we work out our own salvation.

OK I've heard this argument before. So if you never hear of Jesus, you're judged by what criteria to go where when you die? If you only hear a little bit but decide not to follow Jesus you go to hell? If you never hear about Jesus, live a good life, are you judged by your good deeds or what was in your heart throughout your life?

 

[Free]

OK I've heard this argument before. So if you never hear of Jesus, you're judged by what criteria to go where when you die? If you only hear a little bit but decide not to follow Jesus you go to hell? If you never hear about Jesus, live a good life, are you judged by your good deeds or what was in your heart throughout your life?

This raises all sorts of other questions, namely, whose definition of "good" do we use? Mine? Yours? Our neighbor's? Hitler's? Muhammad's?

For every person you ask you are likely to get a different answer.

God is just and he will deal justly with everyone.

 

[Brother Lawrence]

OK I've heard this argument before. So if you never hear of Jesus, you're judged by what criteria to go where when you die? If you only hear a little bit but decide not to follow Jesus you go to hell? If you never hear about Jesus, live a good life, are you judged by your good deeds or what was in your heart throughout your life?

This is explained in Romans 2:

All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

 

[reba]

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:


Romans 1:20

Amplified Bible (AMP)

20For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification],

 

[jasoncran]

as i read up on the science and what is discovered on the creation. there can be no doubt that there is a god who created it all. he wants us to find him.if one sincerly wants to know him.he will show up.

 

[Riverwolf]

You know, every person who has ever asked this question "knows" about Jesus Christ, and about all of them were raised as Christians.

You will be held responsible for what you know, not what you don't know. I think we can trust God with those souls, while we work out our own salvation.

I used to ask this same question. The native americans? The pygmies in the jungle? The blind, deaf and dumb...etc.

Your answer is by far the best that I have seen.

 

[Roof]

Who goes to heaven and who goes to hell?

We’re told that faith alone gets us to heaven but what about people that never hear about the word of Jesus Christ or are brought up to believe in other religions or cults? How about the millions of people that were brought up and died in communist countries? How about the millions of Muslims or Buddhists? God made us all right? If that is correct, why would God make people that he knew were doomed to go to hell?

I’m struggling with doubts in my faith and any help on this would be appreciated.

Where does it say that faith alone gets us to heaven?

 

[Jake]

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:


Romans 1:20

Amplified Bible (AMP)

20For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification],

This verse answers the OP.

 

[Squared]

Where does it say that faith alone gets us to heaven?

OK you're good at nitpicking my post. Well done . I guess this question of mine wasn't worded correctly, but I was genuinely asking who does go to heaven and who goes to hell. On one end of the spectrum you have the likes of Mother Theresa or Billy Graham and on the other end, someone like an Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin. How about all the billions of us that fall into the middle? Try to live a good life, work hard, take care of your family and then at some point, we pass away? What then are we judged by to determine our final destination? Apparently faith didn't work for you then how about good deeds?

I ask again, who goes to heaven, and who goes to hell? Please help me understand.

 

[Squared]

This verse answers the OP.

Thank you Rockie that does help a lot but there are billions of people that are brought into this world in Muslim or Budhist areas and are told all their life that the knowledge of God should be followed down the road of their religion and never hear about Christianity. I really do agree that we're all born with that God knowledge in us as that's where our feelings of love, mercy and sympathy come from. But those are emotions that non-Christians have also.

 

[Jake]

OK you're good at nitpicking my post. Well done . I guess this question of mine wasn't worded correctly, but I was genuinely asking who does go to heaven and who goes to hell. On one end of the spectrum you have the likes of Mother Theresa or Billy Graham and on the other end, someone like an Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin. How about all the billions of us that fall into the middle? Try to live a good life, work hard, take care of your family and then at some point, we pass away? What then are we judged by to determine our final destination? Apparently faith didn't work for you then how about good deeds?

I ask again, who goes to heaven, and who goes to hell? Please help me understand.

Ultimately God is the only one who really knows who will be saved and who will not be saved.
Yet, the Bible does tell us to believe into Christ, be obedient and persevere, be holy and perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect, etc.
By "live a good life", "taking care of your family", etc is not good enough, atheists do these things as well.

 

[Jake]

Thank you Rockie that does help a lot but there are billions of people that are brought into this world in Muslim or Budhist areas and are told all their life that the knowledge of God should be followed down the road of their religion and never hear about Christianity. I really do agree that we're all born with that God knowledge in us as that's where our feelings of love, mercy and sympathy come from. But those are emotions that non-Christians have also.

No, they are not feelings, it is the Holy Spirit teaching the truth in us, that is why we are made in God's image, body, soul and Spirit, the spirit in us tells us who God is, when we are made of aware of His existance and He draws us, we are then given the Holy Spirit, which testifies with our spirit, that we are now in God's family. Being saved is not a one time event, it is a process, the reason for Paul telling us to persevere, be holy, be perfect.

 

[Roof]

Where does it say that faith alone gets us to heaven?

Please accept my apology. I was not trying to pick on you. It is a genuine question that has been on my mind before you started this thread.

 

[Squared]

Please accept my apology. I was not trying to pick on you. It is a genuine question that has been on my mind before you started this thread.

No need to apologize and maybe I was a little quick to be defensive. I don't think I'll be getting an answer to this question. It'll probably go up there with questions unanswered like explaining the holy trinity. Take care and I hope you get your question answered.

 

[stovebolts]

Who goes to heaven and who goes to hell?

We’re told that faith alone gets us to heaven but what about people that never hear about the word of Jesus Christ or are brought up to believe in other religions or cults? How about the millions of people that were brought up and died in communist countries? How about the millions of Muslims or Buddhists? God made us all right? If that is correct, why would God make people that he knew were doomed to go to hell?

I’m struggling with doubts in my faith and any help on this would be appreciated.

You raise a very valid question. One I struggled with early on when some good friends helped me to understand these passages. I hope that this helps.

Romans 2:12-16 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

 

[Elijah674]

You raise a very valid question. One I struggled with early on when some good friends helped me to understand these passages. I hope that this helps.

Romans 2:12-16 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Then you agree that God does not really need us, huh?;) --Elijah

 

[yoamocuy]

I've heard of more than one account of someone who had no prior knowledge of who Jesus was seeing Jesus in a dream or vision. Maybe God gives everyone a chance to accept or reject Him? I don't know. I do believe that everyone must choose to follow Jesus to be saved however because Jesus did command us to make disciples of all nations. If those who never hear about Jesus still go to heaven, then it would seem reaching those who have never been reached would be the worst thing we could do because we would then be endangering their souls. It doesn't seem like Jesus would have commanded us to reach all nations if doing so would open up the possibility of them going to hell that wasn't previously there.

 

[TRUTH over TRADITION]

Who goes to heaven and who goes to hell?

We’re told that faith alone gets us to heaven but what about people that never hear about the word of Jesus Christ or are brought up to believe in other religions or cults? How about the millions of people that were brought up and died in communist countries? How about the millions of Muslims or Buddhists? God made us all right? If that is correct, why would God make people that he knew were doomed to go to hell?

I’m struggling with doubts in my faith and any help on this would be appreciated.

Your question has far more layers than you probably imagined. The fundementalist idea that one dies and goes to Heaven or Hell starts falling apart when placed under the microscope and pressure of scrutiny. Rather than sharing a brand of dogma with you, I challenge you to drop whatever preconceptions about the subject you currenylp possess and then take a deep look at scripture letting it properly define for you exactly what the hell(s) are. Once you get what the Bible's explanation of the term is, then consider what scripture tell us salvation is from (hint, Romans 6:23).


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Starting with a false premise often leads to an errant conclusion........