Protestant View

[apriltherese]

As an ex-Baptist, here’s my take on it:

From what I understand of my previous faith, it would not matter that he sinned just moments before death. “Once Saved Always Saved” means exactly that - sin cannot get rid of his salvation, so he’d be up in Heaven (since they also don’t believe in Purgatory).

What I was taught about sin (as a Baptist) is that Christians will still sin on occassion, but not as much as they used to. This sin would bring trouble into your daily life - you’d have to deal with the immediate consequences of your actions - but you would not lose your place in Heaven.

 

[EHRAM]

When I was a child going through a Protestant confirmation class, I remember being worried because it seemed that the only way to get rid of sin after baptism was through Holy Communion. This was particularly worrisome since that particular denomination did not have a Communion service frequently. Later I came to believe that we can place our trust in God’s mercy and goodness and that one would be saved even if hee have sinned since he last took Holy Communion.

 

[Pax]

Instantly with the Lord.

2 Cor 5:8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

This verse should be looked upon as the expression of the desire that every Christian should have toward life in heaven vs. life in the body, but it in no way supports your viewpoint.

 

[Angainor]

A soul MAY NOT enter heaven if stained.

You are correct in this. This is why Christ died.

The soul is cleansed through the regenerative washing of baptism. It is this that makes a person fit for heaven. Trespasses are no longer scored against the person, they are forgiven in the name of Jesus.

This does not mean that a person no longer sins. The sins that the person does commit come from the weakness of his fallen human nature. It is his nature sinning and not his self*. At the resurrection, the man will be born with a renewed nature that will be paired up with his already regenerated soul to live in glory.

This is the good news.
*For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
Romans 7:14-20

 

[R7thD]

New Member

And I think that if a man trips and swears or uses God’s name in vain then he isn’t walking with God because once a man is truly side by side with God these words vanish from his vocabulary. Right? Of course this applies to women as well. Therefore, this man or woman is not worthy of Heaven. That is why we should be careful of what we say, hear, see, do, and of what enters our mouth.

 

[Brooke]

New Member

And I think that if a man trips and swears or uses God’s name in vain then he isn’t walking with God because once a man is truly side by side with God these words vanish from his vocabulary. Right? Of course this applies to women as well. Therefore, this man or woman is not worthy of Heaven. That is why we should be careful of what we say, hear, see, do, and of what enters our mouth.

but we are only human and seventh day adventist, catholic, lutheran, orthodox, or any other protestant, WILL make mistakes again. we are NOT perfect, we WILL slip… that is why God is so forgiving… God knows we will sin again… he practically expects it again, thought does not wish for it…

 

[Zenas]

I’ve never seen such civility on such a controversial topic. The posts are all courteous and thoughtful and I have enjoyed reading them. As for the question raised in the O.P., the OSAS view is the man goes straight to Heaven. All sins were forgiven in 33 A.D. and the only thing necessary for salvation is to accept Jesus as your personal savior,* i.e*., come to Him through faith. I know this glosses over a lot of scripture, 1 John 1:9 being one of many examples, but it is the view of most evengelicals.