Expert: Carl Fuglein - 1/31/2010

Question
Hi! Me again... this time a totally different subject though, and I actually have more that one question.

First off, can people who don't believe in God go to heaven if they are great people and haven't committed anything that God considered a sin? And what if they have committed a sin (because I guess everyone does at on point or another) is there any way that non-Christians go to heaven (still assuming they are over all good people) if they haven't asked for forgiveness from Him? Maybe someone who does believe asked for forgiveness for them and prays for them?
What if they never learned about religion? Like, if they lived in a family where they had never heard of anything religious at all, and had no religion? If they were great people, but were never exposed to Christianity, could they go to heaven?


Also, can people who go to Hell ever be somehow forgiven by God and go to heaven? I don;t see how they could...just wondering if you've ever heard of some way they can...?



Thank you so much!
I really appreciate what you do to help people so much, and so does God!

Answer
Hi Jenny-

good questions.  Everyone sins, even those who have not heard of God.  I believe that there is some sort of judgement for those who have not heard of God.  the Bible says we are going to stand in judgement in front of God.

In Romans 14:7-13 it says:

7  For we are not our own masters when we live or when we die.
8  While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord. So in life and in death, we belong to the Lord.
9  Christ died and rose again for this very purpose, so that he might be Lord of those who are alive and of those who have died.
10  So why do you condemn another Christian? Why do you look down on another Christian? Remember, each of us will stand personally before the judgment seat of God.
11  For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow to me and every tongue will confess allegiance to God.'"
12  Yes, each of us will have to give a personal account to God.
13  So don't condemn each other anymore. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not put an obstacle in another Christian's path.

Look at verse 12.  I have to believe that those who have not heard of God will stand before him also.  Jesus says that "no can come to the Father but by me" and I think Jesus will figure out a way that's going to happen.

And I also think that it is our job to let everyone know about Jesus, and I don't thin He's coming back until the DO all heat about Him.

Yes, Jenny, they're good questions, but we need not be so concerned about them as we are about ourselves.  try to live your life the right way, and let God worry about such questions.

Hope this helps.  Take the time to rate my answer.

Blessings,
Carl