The REAL religion?....

[PaulaSB12]

If the way to heaven is to be just and good and believe in jesus. What happened to all the people who died before christ? Also what happened to all the people living in the rest of the world who hadn't heard of christ?

 

[rie'smom]

The people who died before Christ and didn't know Him went to Heaven after He died and was resurrected."He was crucified,died and was buried. He descended unto the dead. On the third day, He ascended into Heaven...".

 

[disney_family_1247]

I believe that all of those people are in Limbo (correct me if I'm wrong because I am not a follower of that religion). Even little babies who die right after they are born are in Limbo. You have to be baptised to go to Heaven if you are Catholic. The story goes that the souls in Limbo will be judged by God on Judgement Day (end of the world).

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

I was raised Roman Catholic, but my mother became a born again Christian when I was a young teen and I was baptized again. My dad stayed Catholic. We then went to many different churches and it became somewhat traumatic as the born again churches told me my loved ones who had died and the rest of my Catholic family were condemned to hell. The Catholic church never said anything about their church being the main one that I recall. After 20 plus years of spiritual searching, I came to the very simple conclusion that GOD IS LOVE. Anything that is loving is of GOD and when you love you are in GOD and HE in you, and thats my spiritual belief. I also believe in the Biblical verse that states "I am a rewarder of those that diligently seek me." I think that means that anyone no matter how, that searches and prays and seeks GOD will NOT be condemned to hell, no matter what their faith. I won't say that if you don't believe in GOD you will go to hell either, bc my GOD says Judge NOT. So to answer the question do I believe in one true religion, my answer is unequivocally no. I pray to Jesus and do consider myself Christian but no religion, but I have learned from the Tao and Hinduism and Buddhism, etc. I am a great respector of Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer and those guys who I really feel I learn from.

 

[cabanafrau]

If the way to heaven is to be just and good and believe in jesus. What happened to all the people who died before christ? Also what happened to all the people living in the rest of the world who hadn't heard of christ?

Well, I'm in the group that believes we can't get to heaven by our actions, but merely by faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior, who was sent by the grace of God the Father. However, the questions you have posed lead to something else I cannot say is true, although I strongly suspect may be so --

for those who consider themselves Christians & followers of Christ, no matter what brand name anybody wants to slap on it, does anyone think it likely that when people die (Christian or not) & are faced with judgment, we come face to face with God, where all is revealed and there is yet one more chance to accept and be saved? With so many chances & so much love given over countless centuries, I strongly believe God truly wants to save all of us & will personally offer yet another chance to each & every one at the end.

Like I said, I cannot prove it, it's not in the Bible, but somehow it just seems to fit a God who has remained endlessly faithful to us & sent his own Son to die for our sins.

This thread has been very enlightening, no matter if I agreed with things that were said or not. I've enjoyed listening to what everyone has had to say.

 

[Chris2597]

I work for an Episcopalian church, although I am Catholic. I asked the priest at the Episcopal church about this and he said that Catholic/catholic means universal. I havent looked that up myself but it would make sense. Isnt the C in the Catholic prayer book a "C" and in the protestant prayer books it is a "c".

 

[jimmiej]

If the way to heaven is to be just and good and believe in jesus. What happened to all the people who died before christ? Also what happened to all the people living in the rest of the world who hadn't heard of christ?

According to Ephesians 2, we are not redeemed by works, but rather by the grace of God through faith in Jesus.

People who lived before Christ were redeemed by their faith in God (Hebrews 11). That also included animal sacrifices offered for the remission of sins (Leviticus 17).

For those who have not heard of Christ:

Romans 1

20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.