02-15-2005, 03:35 PM
Hey lifutushi,
I'm a little nervous about this and we have to take this "offline" (i.e, PM messages). I know this site is not intended to discuss the Bible or Christian beliefs in-depth, so I'll try to at least give you a direct answer in as short a manner as possible about what I believe.
Quote:<b>Original sin.</b>
"Original sin" is frequently and properly used to denote only the moral corruption of their whole nature inherited by all men from Adam. This inherited moral corruption consists in, (1) the loss of original righteousness; and (2) the presence of a constant proneness to evil, which is the root and origin of all actual sin.
It influences and depraves the whole man, and its tendency is still downward to deeper and deeper corruption, there remaining no recuperative element in the soul. It is a total depravity, and it is also universally inherited by all the natural descendants of Adam (Rom. 3:10-23; 5:12-21; 8:7).
If you just look around the world, you can see that things aren't getting better over time. People become more and more corrupt and evil as time goes by.
Anyway, as to those who lived before Jesus: There were the Jews and the Gentiles; basically people were grouped this way.
We believe that even though Jesus had not appeared physically as the sacrifice for sins, God's revelation from the time of Adam and Eve onward POINTED TO Jesus. They developed faith IN the coming Messiah.
It is still all about FAITH. For without FAITH it is impossible to please God. You have to 1) Believe that He exists and 2) Believe that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. So, anyway, Jews were saved by this faith.
Now, Gentiles, those who worshipped idols and false gods.... I don't claim to be able to describe or explain how God judges each and every individual. But I *DO KNOW* that God has placed evidence of Himself throughout the earth so that EVERY MAN IS WITHOUT EXCUSE. There is enough evidence within creation to demonstrate that there is a Creator - One God of Heaven and Earth. So, to those who worshipped false gods or multipe gods... I believe they went to hell, yes.
Now, if people believed in the One God, I believe that God was able to reveal more abut Himself to those individuals so that they could come to a SAVING FAITH in Him. Because, of course, it takes more than just believing in One God to see heaven. Even the devil believes there is One God; there is nothign to brag about with that.