Heaven: Who Gets There, Who Is Rejected, and Whom Will We Know? by Pastor Walter Snyder Q: I know in the Bible it says that the only way to God is through Jesus Christ. So, does that mean that those who are Jewish are going to hell? A: ~All~ unbelievers are in danger of eternal condemnation. Jews who believe in Him share in eternal life. Jesus said, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44)" Later, in John 14:6, Jesus answered Thomas about the way to the Father: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me." After Jesus' ascension, the Holy Spirit emboldened the disciples at Pentecost. Peter stood before the Jewish crowd, including some of the leaders who'd been directly involved in the crucifixion, and spoke of his Lord, "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)" Pointing to Jesus Christ as Lord God and Savior and creating this faith in us is the purpose of Scripture. He is the only means of salvation which the Bible reveals to us. Q: Upon a believer's death, do all earthly relationships cease? I recently lost my mother, a Godly woman whom I know to be in communion with her Lord and Savior. As her only child, her daughter, left here on earth, the one thing that still causes some heartache is the idea that our relationship is over. When we are reunited either upon my death or upon the Lord's return, will we simply be "sisters in Christ" or will there be that knowledge of past love shared in of the mother-daughter relationship? A: Dear friend, my heart goes out to you. The Lord has already called all of my grandparents to their eternal rest. Unless the world ends first, I know that my parents, my wife, and my children will all die---as will I. I join you in wondering if I will know them after the Resurrection. There is no clear word of Scripture and I hate to set up false hope---especially since our ~real~ hope is for our own everlasting lives with Christ. While our focus certainly will remain on "God and the Lamb" (Rev 22:3) we know that God created us to live in community with each other and he may continue our memories of that community that began on earth. Additionally, we don't know what our resurrection bodies will be like, nor do we know what memories or associations God will allow to continue. We know that the three apostles recognized Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt 17) even though Peter, James, and John lived hundreds of years later. Likewise, God may grant us the ability to know and be known by the saints with whom we now live. Whatever best fulfills God's love for us in Christ will be the love we share in heaven. Q: Hello, pastor. Why is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit unforgivable? What if a person accidently blasphemes the Holy Spirit? What if you're not sure you did it? A: One sins against the Holy Spirit when intentionally and completely pushing Him away, totally denying the faith He creates in us. In other words, blaspheming the Holy Spirit means outright rejection of our salvation through the merits of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 4:30 warns, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Judas did this when he hanged himself in despair (Matt 27:5). Pharaoh did this during the plagues by continually hardening his heart against the Lord until the Lord finally and completely hardened Pharaoh's heart (compare Ex 8:15, 32, and 9:34 with Ex 10:1). On the other hand, David committed adultery and murder, yet believed in God's mercy, repented and was saved. Peter denied Jesus but was forgiven and Paul persecuted the Church yet was restored by Spirit-created repentance and the forgiveness of sins. God always wills to pardon but a sinner may wilfully reject this pardon. Such a person willingly persists until the end of his days in actively rejecting the grace of God in Christ Jesus, forgiveness, and new life. St. Augustine calls this "Final Impenitence." Anyone worrying that he committed this transgression benefits from these words of Franz Pieper: "One who is worried about his sins and fears that they are an indication of his having committed the unpardonable sin, while at the same time his heart is filled with the longing not to be excluded from the remission which Christ has purchased with his blood---in him the Holy Ghost is carrying on his mighty work, as is clearly attested by this worry and this desire. He is a believer." In other words, if your sins concern you and you trust in Christ's forgiveness, you are not guilty of the Unpardonable Sin. Jesus promises you, "Whoever comes to me I certainly will not cast out. (John 6:37)" Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard Version~, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Ask the Pastor © 2005 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer, by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. Translations into other languages should similarly note the United States and any appropriate international copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural injunctions concerning the property of others. Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book ~What Do Lutherans Believe.~