Hello Cool Granny, I agree that the only sin that can keep you out of heaven is final rejection of God. Very often we trade the love of God and reject Him for love of self. That's what Satan did, right? From my point of view, that's where those sins come in that we refuse to repent of and which cause us to ultimately reject God. Yes, I think there will many different people in heaven singing praises when that great day gets here. Have a good evening.
Mary Ann, I also respect your belief system, but the only sin that can keep you out of Heaven is the rejection of Jesus Christ as your saviour. I will look up the new verse and research it. I think the picture of the angels holding the bowls of prayers might be God's way of letting us know that no prayer goes unheard, but I will research the new verse. The passage makes it clear that many who think they are Christians, aren't. There are other passages refering to the road being narrrow, etc. I personally believe that all Christian faiths will be shaking hands and bowing before the Lord in Heaven some day. We will just all be surprised!!!
Hey, Coolgranny, When I had accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior long ago but then later unrepentantly revelled in most of the sins of 1 Corinthians 6:9, I was far from anyone's definiton of a saint. In fact, the word of God said I wouldn't enter the Kingdom of God in 1 Corinthians 6:9 also. Just because someone calls out "Lord, Lord" doesn't mean he's a saint and is going to heaven, Matthew 7:21. I respect your beliefs, but as another poster said, it works for me- and millions of others. Revelation 8:3 also talks about the prayers the angels have received and present at the altar of God: "Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a gold censer. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel." The word "angel" means messenger. "The holy ones" can't be anyone in hell, people in heaven don't need angels to transport prayers, so they must be the souls on Earth who are praying. Orthodox and Catholic Christians and some others believe that these angels participate in the beatific vision and bring our prayers to the throne of God.
Folks, once you have accepted Jesus as your saviour, you are saint on this earth. You may or may not be canonized after death. I just looked up Rev. 5:8. You really have to stretch the imagination to see angels and saints in this verse.The golden bowls were common in the tabernacle. The priests burned incense so the smoke would carry into the Holy of Holies and be swept into the nostrils of God. That symbolized the people's prayers rising to him. Prayers of the saints represent prayers that all of the redeemed have ever prayed concerning ultimate and final redemption. I truly pray that many will understand that yes, God's angels have a lot of power, but they are not intercessors to God. Jesus is our Holy priest in heaven. Yes, anyone who is a believer can pray to God on your behalf. When two or more are gathered in my name (who's name?-Jesus), God hears. Earthly intercession and heavenly intercession are two different types of praying.
I say whatever works do it!!! I can however point out that the bible says you don't need to pray to the saints or have a priest pray to have contact with God. When Jesus died the curtain that separated God's presence for his people was torn in half. God has always wanted a one on one relationship with His children. If you need forgiveness or a blessing just ask Him! But as I said earlier.......if it works for you, do it! May God's blessings, grace and mercy be upon you! Your brother in Christ Jesus, Shawn
You're exactly correct. I know my Lord loves me and wants the best for me; however, I still feel I am not worthy of his blessings. I do pray to my Father all the time. I talk to him. I cry to him. I smile to him. I believe the saints strengthen my petitions. We are all in this together. No man is an island. We are to love each other and care for each other just like HE wants us to. The saints are already there, with HIM. They help me just like when I would ask an earthly friend for help. This is the vision, I believe, that our Father has: love one another and help each other get to the Promise Land.
Well, pogofire, at least you have an honest question. The way I understand the Communion of Saints is that when saintly people die, their souls (will, and memory included) behold the face of God. God is the God of the living, not of the dead. In the Book of Revelation and Tobit (Old Testament) we learn that the angels and saints place the prayers of the holy on earth at God's feet (Revelation 5:8 and 8:3 Tobit 12:12) These are the intercessory prayers that we on Earth ask for. I think this is what nontrad student is doing. You might not agree with it, but I think it is worthy of respect. If we can ask our good neighbor to pray for us and expect God to hear his or her prayers, then it makes sense to many that intercessory prayer, which is asked for by St. Paul, can also be done by our brothers and sisters who are in heaven and see the face of God. The ancient Jews believed in the intercession of saints, and the Jews are our elder brothers and sisters in faith. There's nothing to stop us at all from praying to God directly, but sometimes we can have people who are beloved of God ask for us also.
I never understood why some choose to pray to different saints, it seems wrong to me. As far as I'm concerned, there is only one who listens to us and helps us through tough times, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior!
Dear Jesus, The true intercessor for sinners. Forgive us and bless us, cover our sins with your blood so that God sees you and not my sins. Your faithful servant.
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Hello Cool Granny,
March 10, 2009 at 7:08 p.m.I agree that the only sin that can keep you out of heaven is final rejection of God. Very often we trade the love of God and reject Him for love of self. That's what Satan did, right?
From my point of view, that's where those sins come in that we refuse to repent of and which cause us to ultimately reject God.
Yes, I think there will many different people in heaven singing praises when that great day gets here. Have a good evening.
Mary Ann, I also respect your belief system, but the only sin that can keep you out of Heaven is the rejection of Jesus Christ as your saviour. I will look up the new verse and research it. I think the picture of the angels holding the bowls of prayers might be God's way of letting us know that no prayer goes unheard, but I will research the new verse.
March 10, 2009 at 6:16 p.m.The passage makes it clear that many who think they are Christians, aren't. There are other passages refering to the road being narrrow, etc.
I personally believe that all Christian faiths will be shaking hands and bowing before the Lord in Heaven some day. We will just all be surprised!!!
Hey, Coolgranny,
March 10, 2009 at 5:34 p.m.When I had accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior long ago but then later unrepentantly revelled in most of the sins of 1 Corinthians 6:9, I was far from anyone's definiton of a saint. In fact, the word of God said I wouldn't enter the Kingdom of God in 1 Corinthians 6:9 also. Just because someone calls out "Lord, Lord" doesn't mean he's a saint and is going to heaven, Matthew 7:21.
I respect your beliefs, but as another poster said, it works for me- and millions of others.
Revelation 8:3 also talks about the prayers the angels have received and present at the altar of God: "Another angel came and stood at the altar, holding a gold censer. He was given a great quantity of incense to offer, along with the prayers of all the holy ones, on the gold altar that was before the throne. The smoke of the incense along with the prayers of the holy ones went up before God from the hand of the angel."
The word "angel" means messenger. "The holy ones" can't be anyone in hell, people in heaven don't need angels to transport prayers, so they must be the souls on Earth who are praying. Orthodox and Catholic Christians and some others believe that these angels participate in the beatific vision and bring our prayers to the throne of God.
Folks, once you have accepted Jesus as your saviour, you are saint on this earth. You may or may not be canonized after death. I just looked up Rev. 5:8. You really have to stretch the imagination to see angels and saints in this verse.The golden bowls were common in the tabernacle. The priests burned incense so the smoke would carry into the Holy of Holies and be swept into the nostrils of God. That symbolized the people's prayers rising to him. Prayers of the saints represent prayers that all of the redeemed have ever prayed concerning ultimate and final redemption.
March 10, 2009 at 3:17 p.m.I truly pray that many will understand that yes, God's angels have a lot of power, but they are not intercessors to God. Jesus is our Holy priest in heaven. Yes, anyone who is a believer can pray to God on your behalf. When two or more are gathered in my name (who's name?-Jesus), God hears. Earthly intercession and heavenly intercession are two different types of praying.
I say whatever works do it!!! I can however point out that the bible says you don't need to pray to the saints or have a priest pray to have contact with God. When Jesus died the curtain that separated God's presence for his people was torn in half. God has always wanted a one on one relationship with His children. If you need forgiveness or a blessing just ask Him! But as I said earlier.......if it works for you, do it! May God's blessings, grace and mercy be upon you!
March 10, 2009 at 2:43 p.m.Your brother in Christ Jesus,
Shawn
You're exactly correct. I know my Lord loves me and wants the best for me; however, I still feel I am not worthy of his blessings. I do pray to my Father all the time. I talk to him. I cry to him. I smile to him. I believe the saints strengthen my petitions. We are all in this together. No man is an island. We are to love each other and care for each other just like HE wants us to. The saints are already there, with HIM. They help me just like when I would ask an earthly friend for help. This is the vision, I believe, that our Father has: love one another and help each other get to the Promise Land.
March 10, 2009 at 2:18 p.m.Well, pogofire, at least you have an honest question.
March 10, 2009 at 2:08 p.m.The way I understand the Communion of Saints is that when saintly people die, their souls (will, and memory included) behold the face of God. God is the God of the living, not of the dead.
In the Book of Revelation and Tobit (Old Testament) we learn that the angels and saints place the prayers of the holy on earth at God's feet (Revelation 5:8 and 8:3 Tobit 12:12) These are the intercessory prayers that we on Earth ask for. I think this is what nontrad student is doing. You might not agree with it, but I think it is worthy of respect.
If we can ask our good neighbor to pray for us and expect God to hear his or her prayers, then it makes sense to many that intercessory prayer, which is asked for by St. Paul, can also be done by our brothers and sisters who are in heaven and see the face of God.
The ancient Jews believed in the intercession of saints, and the Jews are our elder brothers and sisters in faith. There's nothing to stop us at all from praying to God directly, but sometimes we can have people who are beloved of God ask for us also.
Pogofire, do you have any friends? Do you like to talk to them? Works the same way with saints.
March 10, 2009 at 2:06 p.m.I never understood why some choose to pray to different saints, it seems wrong to me. As far as I'm concerned, there is only one who listens to us and helps us through tough times, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior!
March 10, 2009 at 1:26 p.m.Legend has it even the fish loved to listen to St. Anthony Padua. Wow, he was like Aquaman!
March 10, 2009 at 10:23 a.m.Dear Jesus,
March 10, 2009 at 10:19 a.m.The true intercessor for sinners. Forgive us and bless us, cover our sins with your blood so that God sees you and not my sins. Your faithful servant.
Wow.
March 10, 2009 at 8:29 a.m.