darth_ender said:
thejediknighthusezni said:
^^If you can read what Jesus had to say about the rebellious and the afterlife and come away with the notion that they will be cool, without the assistance of serious drugs, I will concede your point in this instance.
I'm already taking too much time on this site today, as I have a lot to do this morning (slept for 14 hours straight after sleeping only one hour in 48 or so). Not everyone who doesn't fully accept Christ's gospel is rebellious. Is the Chinese pauper who has never heard of Jesus Christ, yet lived a noble life deserving of heaven? Is the Protestant who simply did not let LDS missionaries through his door rebellious(remember, this is assuming my church is true)? If I know God, I know he loves his children and wants to give as many an opportunity as possible.
Or did Christ simply preach to those in prison as an opportunity to brag?
"...in prison...." carries a connotation of being restrained UNDESERVEDLY.
The people who died before the time of Christ had no opportunity to rebel against the NT. It is possible to be righteous without having an opportunity to hear or read the Gospel. Such people are obedient to the Law and Logos under especially difficult circumstances. Law And Logos are part of the definition of Jesus the Son. These people manage to believe in Jesus without the benefit of Inspired Scripture.
People in Tajikastan or China may be righteous and decent today without having a reasonable opportunity to become "proper" Bible believing Christians. If Jesus doesn't come soon, they will die in their righteousness and decency. Is Jesus finished going down there?
Jesus would have had, and has, every right and reason to brag.