For What Did Jesus Die?

[Wyatt]

This is mainly towards Christians.

If Jesus died for humanity's sins, then how can one go to hell? If one goes to Hell, then what did Jesus do for them?

And what makes his one death equal to all the sinning in the world?

If you believe and are automatically accepted into Heaven, then it doesn't matter whether you do well or badly in life then, right?

If you do believe, but aren't accepted into Heaven because you lived poorly, then what did he die for again? Apparently your sins, so...

I'm confused. :blind: That line that he died for your sins has always confused me since childhood and I was convinced that it was just a pretty phrase that made people feel good. (Though, I'm not saying that that is what it is, but how I felt... so I don't offend anyone. It's because I didn't, and still don't know exactly what it stands for.)

And if you don't believe, but lived life better than another that did believe, who contributed more to God's cause?

 

[mkh4JC]

This is mainly towards Christians.

If Jesus died for humanity's sins, then how can one go to hell? If one goes to Hell, then what did Jesus do for them?

Well, you have to first accept Christ to begin to benefit from anything that he did on the cross. If you don't accept him then you won't benefit.

And what makes his one death equal to all the sinning in the world?

Because his was the perfect sacrifice. Jesus commited no sin, no, not once. He was sinless. And so God placed all of the world's sins (past, present, and future) on him. Here's a good scripture from the Old Testament:

'For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonment for the soul.' Leviticus 17: 11

So this is God's system, as can be seen from the Old Testament. Blood flow is seen as life. We all live by blood. Jesus shed his life on the cross so that we too might have life. When you accept him, he comes to live within you, granting you power over your lifestyle, and delivering you from all the things that you were bound with, so that you can begin to live a holy, sin free life. So that you can receive a new start.

If you believe and are automatically accepted into Heaven, then it doesn't matter whether you do well or badly in life then, right?

If you do believe, but aren't accepted into Heaven because you lived poorly, then what did he die for again? Apparently your sins, so...

Well, if you sin as a Christian (and I can very much attest to this), then almighty God will respond to that sin. It's called chastening:

'For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bast-ards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

...

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.' Hebrews 12: 6-9, 11

I'm confused. :blind: That line that he died for your sins has always confused me since childhood and I was convinced that it was just a pretty phrase that made people feel good. (Though, I'm not saying that that is what it is, but how I felt... so I don't offend anyone. It's because I didn't, and still don't know exactly what it stands for.)

And if you don't believe, but lived life better than another that did believe, who contributed more to God's cause?

Well, it just means that he died in your place. He took the penalty of sin, yours, mine, and everyone elses. The wages of sin is death (ie spiritual death). Separation from God. God will not tolerate a sinner in his presence, because he is holy and there is no darkness in him. So if you die in your sins then you will be separated from God. So God sent Christ into the world to be a remedy for sin. Christ is the bridge between sinful man and a holy God.

 

[YusufNoor]

Well, you have to first accept Christ to begin to benefit from anything that he did on the cross. If you don't accept him then you won't benefit.

if Jesus died for humanities sin, and according to you and some other Christians NOT accepting that Jesus is god and that he died/killed himself for our sins IS a sin, why isn't that one of the sins that he died for?

Because his was the perfect sacrifice. Jesus commited no sin, no, not once. He was sinless. And so God placed all of the world's sins (past, present, and future) on him. Here's a good scripture from the Old Testament:

'For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonment for the soul.'

So this is God's system, as can be seen from the Old Testament. Blood flow is seen as life. We all live by blood. Jesus shed his life on the cross so that we too might have life. When you accept him, he comes to live within you, granting you power over your lifestyle, and delivering you from all the things that you were bound with, so that you can begin to live a holy, sin free life. So that you can receive a new start.



Well, if you sin as a Christian (and I can very much attest to this), then almighty God will respond to that sin. It's called chastening:

'For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bast-ards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

...

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.' Hebrews 12: 6-10, 11




Well, it just means that he died in your place. He took the penalty of sin, yours, mine, and everyone elses. The wages of sin is death (ie spiritual death). Separation from God. God will not tolerate a sinner in his presence, because he is holy and there is no darkness in him. So if you die in your sins then you will be separated from God. So God sent Christ into the world to be a remedy for sin. Christ is the bridge between sinful man and a holy God.

aren't there passages from your bible that conflict with this? consider Job:

6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."

9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."

12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."
Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

it appears that NOT only was Satan in HIS Presence, but they had a little chat!

are you going to stick with your statement?

 

[mkh4JC]

if Jesus died for humanities sin, and according to you and some other Christians NOT accepting that Jesus is god and that he died/killed himself for our sins IS a sin, why isn't that one of the sins that he died for?

Unbelief in the Christian sense IS a sin. And sometimes Christians have times of unbelief or doubt. So those kinds of instances would be covered, as Jesus died for that. But once you leave this physical world into eternity then your fate is sealed. God is not going to force anyone to live with him if they don't want him. That's why we aren't robots. He respects our free will.

aren't there passages from your bible that conflict with this? consider Job:



it appears that NOT only was Satan in HIS Presence, but they had a little chat!

are you going to stick with your statement?

Well, the Bible says that the devil roams all and about through the second heaven (the universe). He was kicked out of heaven. So him 'being in God's presence' at the time of Job could have just been an instance where God manifested himself in the Earth and the devil appeared before him. There were many times in the Old Testament for instance where people had conversations with God. Cain for instance spoke with God after murdering Abel.

 

[glo]

Hi Podarok

I like your question.

This is mainly towards Christians.

If Jesus died for humanity's sins, then how can one go to hell? If one goes to Hell, then what did Jesus do for them?

And what makes his one death equal to all the sinning in the world?

Fedos has already explained the Christian understanding of atonement.

We believe that by his death Jesus overcame all sin - sin, which is inherent to our human nature, and which causes a separation between God and humans.
By his death Jesus enabled us to be in relationship with God yet again (as - according to the story of the garden of Eden - he once did) - without having to resort to cleansing rituals and animal sacrifices (as was the case before Jesus' death)

Now, that doesn't of course mean that we have stopped sinning.
I sin every day of my life!!

If you believe and are automatically accepted into Heaven, then it doesn't matter whether you do well or badly in life then, right?

Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".
Sometimes I wonder what exactly he meant by that.
Different Christians may have different thoughts on this - but there clearly is a concept here of 'recognising and acknowledging Jesus as who he is' and 'being willing to follow his teachings'. Those are the things which allow us entry into the kingdom of Heaven.
It also means, that 'only though Jesus' can we reach God. No other means alone will do - not even leading a 'good' life, not even 'being better' that some believers may be ...

By dying for us, Jesus gave us a choice: to choose to follow him or not.

With regards to our understanding of heaven or hell, simply put Heaven is the place where God is, Hell is the place where God isn't.
Hence, if someone doesn't believe in God, doesn't love him, doesn't desire to serve him, then hell is the right place for him/her. (I have spoken to atheists who argue that indeed they would wish to be in that place where God is absent!)

With regards to committing sin, I do believe it does matter whether we try to abstain from sin or not.
The Bible gives clear references to people being judged for their actions on the day of judgement.

Like I said before, I sin every day of my life. Most of the time I try to repent and ask forgiveness (which I believe God grants me)
But there will be other sins, which perhaps I haven't repented of, or which perhaps I have committed unknowingly. For those I will have to give account to God one day.
I trust that God - being loving and gracious and just - will deal with me according to his nature.

I'm confused. :blind: That line that he died for your sins has always confused me since childhood and I was convinced that it was just a pretty phrase that made people feel good. (Though, I'm not saying that that is what it is, but how I felt... so I don't offend anyone. It's because I didn't, and still don't know exactly what it stands for.)

Don't worry about it. It's good to ask questions!
When I was younger I thought just like you do.

I don't know if my ramblings have helped you at all.

Peace

 

[Grace Seeker]

For what did Jesus die? For my sins, to bring me back to God.

The turning point in my life was when I came to the conviction that even if I was the only person on earth who needed it, that Jesus' love was so great that he would have gone to the cross and died just for me in order that I might re-establish the relationship with God that was broken because of my sin.

 

[Follower]

For me, my family, friends and you.

GOD is righteous and just. When a sin is committed a payment, must be paid. A punishemnt served- sent away from GOD, hell. Our deeds can never erase the sins we commit. GOD loves us and wants us to be with Him, heaven but we are not holy enough, through Jesus we can be with GOD in heaven.

 

[mrsonic]

God, in His infinite wisdom, created us with the capacity to sin and knowing
full well that we would sin He created no mechanism through which we could
free ourselves of that sin. Forgiveness is apparently impossible and God has
to send everyone to hell to burn forever because we are all sinners. What a
dilemma. God loves us everyone so whatever is He to do to rectify the
situation? Perhaps He has a Son, who is Himself, to send to earth. There God
would be delivered as a baby, presumably have his diaper changed until he
was old enough to be potty trained and then when he grew up He would wander around for a couple of decades or so before delivering a few sermons and then have Himself killed. He had to have Himself killed to wash away the sin of those who are just dim-witted enough to accept such a ludicrous scheme. Being God, He didn't actually die but those who accept His "death and sacrifice" are ushered into His good graces and blessed with the Holy Spirit though it seems to do them no good at all and they go on sinning the same as before. However, those sins are not held against them since they believe God killed Himself for their sake. Its enough to make one want to praise Jesus

and weep tears of joy, is it not?


What does Islam say? Man must strive towards God but we know that though man may reach upwards it will only be to stumble back because Man is weak and: "Surely the soul is prone to enjoin evil..." [Quran 12:53]

When a person with a conscience sins he will feel guilty and be repentant.
All of us are, to varying degrees, disgusted or disheartened by our own
behavior and are repentant. A person can not achieve "goodness" on his own
and, as the Christian is so fond of pointing out, it is only through the
grace of God that man overcomes sin. A person who strives towards God and
keeps failing will obviously be repentant and suffer due to his weakness
which keeps him from his goal. A person may repent, time and time again and
may even despair of improvement. The cumulative effect of a persons striving and failing and feeling the pangs of conscience is that God takes mercy on such a person and strengthens him with the "Holy Spirit" to lift him above his weakness.


"As for such, He has written faith upon their hearts and has strengthened
them with a Spirit from Him, and He will bring them into Gardens underneath
which rivers flow, wherein they will abide. Allah is well pleased with them,
and they are well pleased with Him." [Quran 58:22]


The question should be, how do we receive this gift from God? What path or
actions should we undertake so that we may have faith inscribed in our
hearts? Certainly God would tell us how we may reach this stage? What path
should we travel? The straight path is that we should be wholly devoted to
God and engage all of our faculties in 'ibadat'(worship). For the Muslim
that path is outlined and detailed by the religion of Islam.

"Show us the straight path, The path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace," [Quran 1:7]

 

[mrsonic]

one thing i don't understand is that why the almighty had no other option but to jump into a human meat puppet disguise and then enjoy the pain and suffering like many sado machonists do.why did the almighty not reveal his true self ? what is great about hiding behind a disguise? many hindu and greek gods wore " fleshly disguises" for thier causes. god has many "prophecies" narrated to his prophets,but his mother mary defied him by sacrificing 2 turtle doves. didn't the man god inform her about his big sacrifice before he over shadowed her?

 

[mrsonic]

The turning point in my life was when I came to the conviction that even if I was the only person on earth who needed it, that Jesus' love was so great that he would have gone to the cross and died just for me in order that I might re-establish the relationship with God that was broken because of my sin.

there are martyrs who go to thier deaths without making a "gospel" out of thier deaths, they make their sacrifice unknown.they are greater than your god.jesus was saved with the blood of the children of Bethlehem according to the bible.

 

[mkh4JC]

God, in His infinite wisdom, created us with the capacity to sin and knowing
full well that we would sin He created no mechanism through which we could
free ourselves of that sin.

This is not the case. Through Christ we can be free from all unrighteousness.

Forgiveness is apparently impossible and God has
to send everyone to hell to burn forever because we are all sinners. What a
dilemma.

Yes this is true. We are all born in sin and have sin nature, a natural inclination to do that which is wrong. When you accept Christ, he gives you a new nature, you are allowed to partake of his divine nature, and you can begin to live a supernatural life. It is natural to live a life a slave to sin, it is supernatural to be able to live above it.

God loves us everyone so whatever is He to do to rectify the situation? Perhaps He has a Son, who is Himself, to send to earth. There God would be delivered as a baby, presumably have his diaper changed until he was old enough to be potty trained and then when he grew up He would wander around for a couple of decades or so before delivering a few sermons and then have Himself killed. He had to have Himself killed to wash away the sin of those who are just dim-witted enough to accept such a ludicrous scheme. Being God, He didn't actually die but those who accept His "death and sacrifice" are ushered into His good graces and blessed with the Holy Spirit though it seems to do them no good at all and they go on sinning the same as before. However, those sins are not held against them since they believe God killed Himself for their sake.Its enough to make one want to praise Jesus

and weep tears of joy, is it not?

Well, it takes divine intervention for one to come to know Christ. I can quote you scriptures all day long but as Jesus said, if the Father who sent him doesn't draw you then you will remain in your sins. And it may seem like believing that God has a Son is foolishness. Or that he being God would sacrifice himself to reconcile sinful man back to himself. But it only seems that way. Here's a good couple of scriptures:

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given unto us.

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.' I Corinthians 2: 12-14.

Let me also address this:

though it seems to do them no good at all and they go on sinning the same as before.

Perhaps you've been in contact with the wrong "Christians."

'Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whomsoever committeth sin is the servant of sin (ie not the servant of God).

And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.' John 8: 34-36. This is talking about freedom from sin, no matter what your background is.

'Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.' II Corinthians 5: 17. This is not just referencing your mindset, but your lifestyle, you completely throwing off the sinful man and putting on the righteousness of God. It also references the new birth.

Here's two more verses:

'What shall we say then? Shall we contine in sin, that grace may abound?

God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?' Romans 6: 1-2.

Or here:

'All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not, but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.' 1 John 5: 17-20.

When the Bible says that Jesus died to take away the sins of the world, that's exactly what it means. It doesn't just mean that he died in all of our places, it means that he came to enable us to live victorious lives, no matter what kind of past we may have. Which is why I can say with great certainty that Christianity then is the cure for sin nature, while everything else just masks it.

 

[Grace Seeker]

jesus was saved with the blood of the children of Bethlehem according to the bible.

Why do you say this? If you are referring to Herod's killing of the children, that act didn't save Jesus. It is true that Jesus was saved from this event, that doesn't mean the event saved him. God didn't order it for the purpose of saving Jesus, it was simply the act of a megalomaniac.

one thing i don't understand is that why the almighty had no other option but to jump into a human meat puppet disguise and then enjoy the pain and suffering like many sado machonists do.why did the almighty not reveal his true self ? what is great about hiding behind a disguise? many hindu and greek gods wore " fleshly disguises" for thier causes. god has many "prophecies" narrated to his prophets,but his mother mary defied him by sacrificing 2 turtle doves. didn't the man god inform her about his big sacrifice before he over shadowed her?

I don't see it as God "hiding behind a disguise." First off, he revealed who he was to those who had "eyes to see and ears to hear." But let me address your question and the OP's question with a true story:

A wildfire was being whipped up a box canyon by strong winds. The inferno advanced quickly, consuming everything in its path. One family, seeing the impossibility of outrunning the blaze, nor driving out through it, left their home. In a nearby meadow, they lit a backfire that quickly consumed several acres of dry grass. With time running out, they lay down in the midst of the freshly burned area and covered themselves with earth. Almost immediately, the roaring fire met the backfire and it burned right up to the edge of the smoking meadow. Then the blaze went right around this burned-out area, continuing its hungry race.

Everything around them was destroyed, but that family was saved. How? They understood that the only safe place would be where fire had already burned, and they ran to that place in simple trust.

Similarly, people must realize that the fire of God's holy wrath, which burns against sin, has already touched down on the one who, as the Lamb of God, took the world's sin upon himself. God's wrath touched down in one particular point in human history. And when it did, it completely consumed the man Jesus on the Cross. It did not consume everything, but it did finalize God's work of judgment. The result is that when the final judgment comes in the sifting of the entire world, that those who take refuge in shadow of the Cross will find it a safe haven, for the wrath of God has already come against all the sin that was taken nail to that cross. And it is now a place of refuge.

Sadly, some people have instead taken these things back and claimed them as their own again. They are either trying to run outrun God, deny his reality, or think that they are safe in the houses they have constructed for themselves. But they are wrong. The only safety is to live within the shadow of the cross. In other words, to trust in the work of Christ. And that is why Jesus had to die, because on our own none of us are good enough for a holy God, and he will destroy us in the process of destorying the sin we attach ourselves to.

 

[Zamtsa]

An Nisa (4):153 The people of the Book ask thee to cause a book to descend to them from heaven: indeed they asked Moses for an even greater (miracle) for they said: "Show us Allah in public" but they were dazed for their presumption with thunder and lightning. Yet they worshipped the calf even after clear signs had come to them; even so We forgave them; and gave Moses manifest proofs of authority. 657
154 And for their Covenant We raised over them (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai); and (on another occasion) We said: "Enter the gate with humility"; and (once again) We commanded them: "Transgress not in the matter of the Sabbath." And We took from them a solemn Covenant. 658
155 (They have incurred divine displeasure): in that they broke their Covenant: that they rejected the Signs of Allah; that they slew the Messengers in defiance of right; that they said "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah's Word; we need no more)"; nay Allah hath set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy and little is it they believe. 659 660 661
156 That they rejected faith: that they uttered against Mary a grave false charge. 662
157 That they said (in boast) "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary the Apostle of Allah"; but they killed him not nor crucified him but so it was made to appear to them and those who differ therein are full of doubts with no (certain) knowledge but only conjecture to follow for of a surety they killed him not. 663
158 Nay Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power Wise. 664
159 And there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in him before his death; and on the Day of Judgment He will be a witness against them. 665 666
160 For the iniquity of the Jews We made unlawful for them certain (foods) good and wholesome which had been lawful for them; in that they hindered many from Allah's way. 667
161 That they took usury (interest) though they were forbidden; and that they devoured men's substance wrongfully; We have prepared for those among them who reject faith a grievous punishment.
162 But those among them who are well-grounded in knowledge and the believers believe in what hath been revealed to thee; and (especially) those who establish regular prayer and practice regular charity and believe in Allah and in the Last Day: to them shall We soon give a great reward.


Assalamu manit taba'al huda (May peace, development and safe from guile be upon who follow the guidance).

 

[Grace Seeker]

An Nisa (4):157 That they said (in boast) "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary the Apostle of Allah"; but they killed him not nor crucified him but so it was made to appear to them and those who differ therein are full of doubts with no (certain) knowledge but only conjecture to follow for of a surety they killed him not.

How does the above respond to the original post:

This is mainly towards Christians.

If Jesus died....

 

[Pygoscelis]

There is a bit of a problem with the idea of sacrifice for forgiveness of future sin. It leads to some rather peculiar conclusions.,,,

If Jesus died for my sins, I'd better commit them. I'd hate for Jesus to have died for nothing. And the more I sin the more Jesus' sacrifice is worth. So sinning brings glory to the lord.

 

[Follower]

The Jews are saying this in a boast, when in reality we know that GOD had complete control over the whole situation. Muslims have mis-interpreted this verse since it was written. I am thinking it was written so the Jews would not be condemned and hated for killing Jesus when it is because of all of us that Jesus was sacrificed.

662
157 That they said (in boast) "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary the Apostle of Allah"; but they killed him not nor crucified him but so it was made to appear to them and those who differ therein are full of doubts with no (certain) knowledge but only conjecture to follow for of a surety they killed him not. 663
158 Nay Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power Wise.

 

[Follower]

Pygoscelis show me one person that has not sinned!

So do your knees bend backwards?

 

[Grace Seeker]

There is a bit of a problem with the idea of sacrifice for forgiveness of future sin. It leads to some rather peculiar conclusions.,,,

If Jesus died for my sins, I'd better commit them. I'd hate for Jesus to have died for nothing. And the more I sin the more Jesus' sacrifice is worth. So sinning brings glory to the lord.

That's the sort of thinking I employed with my brother when we were both younger. Whenever there was a conflict my parents were of the opinion that I, being older, should know how to avoid it and therefore it was my responsiblity. My brother, being no dummy, used this to his advantage for sometime and would fake that I was doing something to him in order that I would get in trouble and he could get his way. But I had the last laugh, realizing that I was going to get in trouble no matter what, I just decided that I could and should routinely beat up my brother with impunity, because, after all, if I was going to get in trouble for it, I might as well have actually committed the crime I was going to be punished for.

Of course, we were both still a juveniles when we behaved that way, are you?

 

[THE END]

So if you accept jesus than you are guranteed heaven, even if you SIN, is this what christianity teaches?

 

[Grace Seeker]

So if you accept jesus than you are guranteed heaven, even if you SIN, is this what christianity teaches?

Not quite. It teaches that no matter what sins you have in your past, that they can all be forgiven. Forgiven people are just that, forgiven. Their sins are no longer held against them, and thus as people who are then viewed as sinless, they can of course be accepted into heaven.

But Christianity does not teach that accepting Jesus automatically grants you a license to continue to sin. Indeed, the scriptures are rather clear that what is expected of those who are in Christ, is that they live a holy and sinless life.

Now the reality is, that even those who come to Christ often have trouble making the 180 degree turn necessary to live a sinless life. This is where the misunderstanding that one can sin and go to heaven comes from. Because if one is in Christ and desires to live in accordance with God's will, but still stumbles not out of willful disobedience, but because one is still learning and growing in righteousness, then there is still the promise of forgiveness. But for those who having accepted the gift of Christ's forgiveness of sin and regeneration with the gift of a new life, if they then turn their backs on God and intentionally walk away from this gift of new life, then they have to expect to pay the consequences of their sin. Should they remain apostate, they would be doomed to hellfire as much as any one else. Or they can realized their sinfulness and repent of it -- where repentance means a change of direction in one's life, it is more than just saying I am sorry. I have every reasons to believe such repentance, when genuine, is accepted by God and restores the individual to a healthy relationship with God. Those who merely repent in words but not in their heart are perhaps fooling their neighbors and most certainly themselves, but God is not fooled. They will be judged accordingly.