WILL NON-CHRISTIANS ENTER HEAVEN?
In June 2001, at the time of performing a seminar, a
question was asked.
"Will non-Christians be allowed to enter heaven?"
An added word was voiced, " After all, belief in Jesus
Christ is required to enter heaven."
" I am not one to judge who or who not is going to be
granted heaven by God. He alone will be the judge."
The initial questioner was asked, " What if a Jew that
followed Judaism kept all 613 Mitzvah (Laws), and obeyed the Ten Commandments
while leading a Godly life died. Would that man be sentenced to
hell?"
Not a reply. Dead silence.
In Romans 11:1 It is written: ...has God rejected
His people, the Jews?...
If you recall that Paul wrote this Book and was a of the
Tribe of Benjamin, a Jew from Tarsus. As Christians we believe that Paul was
saved. The question is, "what about the other Jews?"
Romans 11:2 ...No, God has not rejected His own
people...
Romans 11:5 says: ..a few are being saved as a result of
God's kindness in choosing them.
So, Jews were not rejected by God...at least a few were
not. What happened is that God removed them from His 'tree,' so as to provoke
jealousy within the Jewish people.
The Jews lost all rights to the promises of Salvation
through disbelief. Yet, God, in His mercy and sovereign grace does fulfill His
promise which he made to the Jewish forefathers. (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc.)
We must therefore see that God is the only Judge and He is saving 'a few.' So,
"will Non-Christians be allowed to get into heaven?" Maybe...yes?
Romans 11:12 says: Now if the Gentiles were enriched
because the Jews turned down God's offer of salvation, think how much greater
the world will share when the Jews finally accept it.
We, the Gentiles spoken of, actually benefit from the
disbelief of the Jews that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior. He is the promised
Messiah! It is our duty, a mature Christians, to share this with all. Especially
the Jewish person. We are the adoptees that God allowed to be 'grafted' into His
tree.
Romans 11:17 But some of the branches from Abrahams tree,
some of the Jews, have been broken off, and you (we) Gentiles, who were
branches from the wild olive tree, were grafted in.
Some, I repeat SOME branches have been broken off. Abraham
was the root (God Himself the source of leaf and fruit), and Israel the stem of
the tree. The branches represent the Tribes of Israel, the Jews. When some
faltered in their faith and were pruned, God, in His mercy and with His grace,
allowed we Gentiles to be grafter in. It is with that same mercy that He kept
His promises.
Romans 11:18 But you must be careful not to brag...you are
just a branch, not the root.
We must be ever aware that as a branch we must not
disparage those who do not yet believe. Were it not to fulfill God's purpose, we
would not be amongst His branches. Who amongst us has the right to brag about
this? God is the One who granted us His grace and mercy; no Gentile earned it!
He gave it freely just as He gives Salvation.
If you meet ant man/woman that has yet to be
'grafted in' as a branch of God's tree, PRAY for that person! Do not trample
them; do not think less of them. Pray for God to assist you in revealing
His Word to any that will listen. Should your words fall on deaf ears, do not
fault yourself. God will be that persons judge!
Who is God? He is the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit. Those 'branches' that were broken off failed to see and believe that
Jesus Christ is a Person of God. Although Jesus was the subject of 324
prophesies of the Old Testament, which includes 40 prophesies within the Torah
alone, that Jesus would walk amongst them, all too many refused to believe. He
was the Promised Messiah. In reading Psalm 22, and I ask that you read this
Psalm, you will be one to learn what so many Jews refused to see.
We must remember God's promise to Israel in Romans 11:5.
It is God's WORD that says.."A few are being saved."
Now, to the heart of the matter.
Romans 11:25 I want you to understand this mystery, dear
brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud and start bragging. Some
of the Jews have hard hearts, but this will last only until the complete number
of Gentiles come to Christ.
Who are seen as the, "complete number of
Gentiles?"
Maybe the Latter Day Saints, the Jehovah Witnesses,
Muslims, Buddhists, Confucians, Shinto, and other non Christian faiths? It is
your responsibility to be a bearer of The Good News. As a mature Christian
you must learn the Bible and be conversant in it's meanings. It is your
duty...represent God and tell all of His mercy and grace.
(Closing prayer)
Lord, we praise you. You are our God and You have instucted us to tell
the Good News to everyone. Please give us the strength to deliver Your message
to not only fellow Christians but to non-believers as well with conviction.
Lord we are weak but You are strong. Strengthen our faith and allow us to lead
our fellow men to You. We realize that we cannot make them believe as You are
the only power that can open their minds and ease their hardened hearts.
God of righteousness foergive us our weaknesses and strengthen our
resolve.
In Jesus name we pray who is One with You and the Holy Spirit. One God,
forever and ever.
Amen, amen and amen
--
Pastor Lee S Gliddon Jr
God's Word Christian Ministry
Conservative Patriot http://conpats.blogspot.com
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