Quote:
Originally Posted by deacon blues
On the minister's forum I started this thread with quite a bit of healthy debate, but alas some wearied of the challenge to OP doctrine and requested that I cease. Since I know there is a variety of opinion here and freedom of ideas is allowed I wanted to continue the debate here. I offered that some would come over here to keep the conversation going.
Simply put, if a man was dying, with moments to live and he repented of his sins, I believe his sins would be forgiven and he would be cleansed from all unrighteousness. If Jesus can't save him in those circumstances, He's not much of a savior.
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If a man or woman were sick and dying, and was repentant and pleading for my prayers, I'd only have two Scriptures to stand upon:
John 20:23
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
James 5:14-16
14Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
I lean towards using Apostolic authority in these cases. But that's just my personal conviction on the matter. I believe that our just and loving God has made provision for those in such circumstances. For many, the first time they really hear the fulness of the Gospel or understand their need of Christ is before death.
My ex-grandmother-in-law was dying in the hospital. She was an Episcopalian. Of all the people she desired to pray for her (even to the exclusion of her priest) was me and my now ex-wife. We anointed her with oil and prayed the prayer of faith with her. It was my only recourse. I commit her soul to the Lord. I know that He is just and loving... desiring to save us far more than we desire to be saved... because He alone knows what truly awaits the condemned after death.