Expert: x - 4/25/2006

Question
Were all people forgiven and washed of there sins at the time Jesus was crucified? Even the people who were not Christians (non believers of God? What scripture relates to that?

Answer
Hello,

First of all, it is true that God never intended for anyone to die. He didn't create us to live temporary lives. Death is alien to the universe. And clearly-

2Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

it seems amazing to us that one day, there will be no more death or sin, no pain, no tears- it seems like a fairytale. But in reality-- that's the way that things should be. That is what God intended. That is the natural state of things. Death is an abberation.

According to the Bible, there is really no such thing as death- at least as we know it. Humans are spirits, and spirits have no mass- they aren't affected by time, gravity, acceleration etc. There is no end to a spirit. It is only the physical body that dies. So the definition of death, from God's perspective is separation from Himself. Either you live with Him, or you don't. It is our choice.

God didn't create us to live as animals- without the freewill to make moral choices. This is something unique to humans and angels.

Read this following passage, taken during the creation of man--

Genesis 2:18: Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him."
19: So out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.
20: The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him.
21: So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh;
22: and the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
23: Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."


In this, we see that the man is looking for a companion- an equal. He looks among the animals and poor Adam- he finds none. Then, he falls into a deep sleep, the woman is taken from his side, and then brought to him, and he exclaims- "finally!"

This is a story that actually took place long ago, but it was given to us to teach us about Lord Jesus ( as is everything else in the Bible)--


John 5:39: You search the scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness to me (Jesus);
40: yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

So the man, Jesus, wanted a companion- an equal. So the man was put into a deep sleep. In the Bible the death of a believer is frequently referred to as sleep.

John 11:11: Thus he spoke, and then he said to them, "Our friend Laz'arus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep."
12: The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover."
13: Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.
14: Then Jesus told them plainly, "Laz'arus is dead"

The woman/bride (the church) was taken from the man's side. Lord Jesus was murdered (he slept), and He was pierced in the side until His blood flowed out. Because of His deat/ spilled blood, we can be renewed, and brought to Him- prepared as a wife is prepared for her wedding day.

Revelation 21:2: And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband;
3: and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them"

So, in order for God to have an equal- a bride- a companion someone like Him, He had to give us the ability to choose. God will not force anyone to accept His spirit- and that is the only way to enter Heaven--

John 3:3: Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4: Nicode'mus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"
5: Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7: Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.'
8: The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit."


When you become a Christian- an amazing transformation takes place. You don't just "become a better person". That would be useless. A person's spirit, their human spirit they were born with, must be literally destroyed, and then recreated. This takes place instantly when one asks to be saved -- and really means it. Then, God's spirit is able to take up residence within that person.

Revelation 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
21: He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. "

Imagine that- sitting on Lord Jesus' throne- isn't that mind-boggling?

Now, forcing a person to accept God's spirit- that is akin to spiritual rape, and God would never allow that. God will not force anyone to live with Him. It must be our choice. Some people get close to Him, but never seriously make that choice. Look at Judas- one of Lord Jesus' disciples--

John 13:10: Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one of you."
11: For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, "You are not all clean."

Anyone can come to God- there is nothing we have to do to be able to join His family- it is a free gift. He only have to believe that such a gift exists- and we do that by trusting God, and then, we must take hold of it.

Revelation 21:6: And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the fountain of the water of life without payment.
7: He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be his God and he shall be my son."

How many will accept this free gift? Unfortunately not very many. most of the human race will be lost.

Matthew 7:13: "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
14: For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few"

When the cities of Sodom and Gommorah were destroyed, only 3 people made it out alive. When the world was destroyed by flood, only 8 people survived. When the Jews came out of Egypt, only 2 men made it to the Promised land- ( most died in the wasteland- like today). This is not very promising.

Satan, once a mighty angel, and a friend of God chose to reject God, and live apart from Him. He also had a choice. It seems insane to live with God, and be so close and choose to leave all that behind, but we are no brighter. We struggle against God every day- like sheep wanting to go their own way- off a cliff.

It's a miracle that any of us will make it at all. We can't do it on our own-

Luke 1:37: For with God nothing will be impossible."

At our judgement, when we are taken and shown what we were all along, those who are headed for Hell- those who will spend eternity separated from God's love- will be exposed. They never really wanted Him at all. They wanted to be their own God.

Genesis 3:4: But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die.
5: For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."


Isaiah 14:13: You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far north;
14: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High.'
15: But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the Pit. "

People are stubborn, and some delude themselves into thinking they belong to God, but have never repented to the point of humility- to accept God not only as a saviour (we all want that- to be saved), but also as their King (we must also do what He says)--

21: "Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22: On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
23: And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.'

People do not like to hear the truth, not at all-- it is Lord Jesus' way, or the highway--

John 14:6: Jesus said to him, "I am the way (to Heaven), and the truth (about life), and the life (of the believer); no one comes to the Father, but by me. "

In order to accept this truth, and in order to accept THE Truth (Lord Jesus) we must recognize that we are depraved, and sinful beyond measure, diseased and rotten to the core. This is humiliating. There is no way to get to God, no way to redeem ourselves, and this is humiliating. Our looks, our intellect, our degrees, our careers, our wit, our breeding, our riches-- none of these mean anything to God. And that is humiliating. And no one wants to be humiliated.

Imagine how humiliating it was to God to become one of us, and to be a lowly human.

Matthew 11:29: Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly (humble/humiliated) in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

In Heaven, we will all be humble (after being humiliated).

Matthew 5:3: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "

Isaiah 57:15: For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite."

Have you been humiliated yet in life? Keep going, you will be. If you're lucky.

damon