Is Paradise Heaven?

[BLAZEr]

Jesus' sacrifice was for all men right?

Then why is there still evil? Why is it that even sincere Christians still commit sins?

If

we've been made Holy and Righteous

Then what happens when we do unrighteous things?

Certainly the Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross paid our debt, but he did not make us perfect . . . so what is a believer to do, when he has received Christ into his heart and been baptised and then commits sins?

Worse yet, what happens to those who choose to abandon Christ later . . . for whatever reason? Those who were once sincere believers but turn their back on Christ . . . do you jsut say "Aww, they were never believers in the first place?"

Now, if somoene can go to hell after accepting Christ into their heart . . . then what does God do in his justice to those who have accepted him in their heart but still commit sins (even though the sins they commit aren't worhty of eternal damnation)?

[Freaky Chik]

Bear with me, I have a response to yer last post... but I have a feeling it'll be a lengthy one. So if you don't see an immediate response, don't fret hehehe.. I have to go to work soon. I'll start writing it now but may not be able to send it straight away until after work tonight. Okay?

B)

[Uncle Gus]

And then there is the question, "what did Jesus mean by 'today' when he said to the good thief that he'd be in paradise with him today?"

Heaven is outside of time, no? So what relevance does "today" have?

[RUN-D.R.E.]

About the Thief:

Keep in mind that on that day, no one else took up for Christ!! No one person defended Jesus or helped Him at all out of love. Remember the person who helped carry the cross was forced to do it. All the disciples and apostles were no where to be seen until John shows up at Calvery. Yet John says nothing to defend Jesus. Only the thief "works his faith" by raising up on the cross to exhale in order to speak and defend the Christ! How appropriate that the least of all people to defend Christ is a condemned person dying with Him. Kinda fits the first shall be last and the last shall be first idea.

About the Today question:

You are absolutely right Guss, God is outside His creation and therefore time. The significance of the "today" comment is twofold. First, Jesus is saying to St. Dismas that Jesus will be in Heaven and second that Dismas will be in Heaven with Him. St. Dismas is playing one of OUR ROLES. We could be like the "other thief" and not believe. But as believers like Dismas, we deserve our death on a cross for our sins, Jesus doesn't. Yet Jesus takes our sacrafice for Himself so we don't have too. Dismas has the blues and he has it bad! Real BAD... Dismas believes and still pays the price for His sins... Think about it. Not only as one of those saved by Jesus who deserve the same death as Jesus, Dismas gets the same death as Jesus! As a believer Dismas is not allowed OUR benifit of NOT being on a cross. Hence, His great reward that very day. Like when Jesus tells John (and us) to behold our Mother... Jesus is telling Dismas (and us) we will join Him in Heaven... To eat with Him like when Moses and the seventy ate with God on the mountain.

I could go deeper into the "Today" comment in regards to the true day of rest and how that is accomplished by Jesus at this very moment, but I will simply refer you to Hebrews 3 & 4

About Purgatory:

Also keep in mind that Purgatory is an entrance way into Heaven. We know that no unclean thing can enter into Heaven. Paul states it is like we are purified like gold. Therefore when the last soul is purified, there will not be anyone in purgatory. It is a place for a time and is not permanent like Heaven or Hell. Think of Purgatory as a Gate in Heaven that we have to enter through. Everyone in purgatory eventually goes to Heaven.

JC is my MC,

RUN-D.R.E.

[cmotherofpirl]

Yeh, we all fall short of God's glory... but through the blood of Jesus we've been made Holy and Righteous (that does not mean we can go keep on sinning intentionally though!)

But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present yholy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation." Colossians 1:22

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious dutes; again and he offers the same sacrifices, whiccan never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy.

The Holy Spirit also testifto us about this. First he says:

"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."

Then he adds:

"Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."

And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

How much more severely dothink a man deserves to be punikshed who has trampled the son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covernant that sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

Hebrews 10:11-23,29

THe death of Jesus paid our debt and opened the gates of heaven, so we might be baptised and have the Mark of Adam (the stain of original sin) removed from our soul and so enter the Kingdom.

After Baptism our soul is clean. However if we sin, our soul is restained and marked.

Nothing stained can enter heaven.