Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: farkas@eng.sun.com (Frank Farkas) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Preaching to the dead? Message-ID: Date: 6 Dec 90 08:20:06 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 65 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , wagner@karazm.math.uh.edu (David Wagner) writes: >[This is a discussion of I Pet 4:6, which talks about Christ having >preached "to them that are dead." At first glance, it seems to imply >that they got a second chance after dead. David believes that because >it says "are dead" and not "were dead", it is not talking about people >who had physically died. I pointed out that this distinction isn't >present in the Greek, which simply says "the gospel was preached to >the dead." --clh] > I just would like to clarify that LDS doctrine doesn't teach that there is a second chance. All those who have heard the gospel in this life, and rejected it, will have no opportunity once again in the spirit world. However, there are billions who have lived and died without the oportunity to hear the gospel. These will be provided with the oportunity to hear the gospel and to respond by either accepting it or rejecting it. Once again, we need to ask the question, how does a doctrin reflect on the character of God? Being just and fair is one of the atributes of God. Condemning billions because they had no oportunity to hear the gospell is neither just and fair. Therefore, any such notion must be faulty. Paul said the following: Romans 10:12-15 =============== "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him." "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" How can it be made any clearer then this? We need to hear to believe and there must be one who will preach. We all know the doctrine that we are saved by grace through faith. Now, if we have not heard it, how can one believe it? And if we don't believe, how are we going to be saved without faith? >Incidentally, Heb. 9:27, 28 says: > >"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement, so >Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will >appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who >are waiting for him." >I wouldn't say this is a rock-solid proof text, but it is supportive of the >statement above. > >David H. Wagner >a confessional Lutheran. > Of course this passage by no means negates I Peter 3:18-19 and 4:6. The answere lies in the understanding that not all statements in the Bible are all inclusive. We need to read all of the passages which deals with a given subject. What Paul said is correct. We do live once, however, judgement doesn't come until the resurrection. What Peter is talking about is what happens between death and resurrection. With brotherly love, Frank