The question at hand is “When a Christian sins then dies, will he go to heaven?”.

In Part 1 (above) we discussed what it means to be a Christian as sadly many in this world call them selves Christians but are not. In summary, a Christian is one who has admitted that they are a sinner in the sight of God and deserve judgment; they then understand the reason of Christ’s coming into this world to die for them to pay for their sins and then they believe it and place their faith in God’s promise to save them. For more information please see the previous post.

Part 2

Now, let us address the question that was originally posted. Now that we have addressed what the Bible means by a Christian, we will find that if a person says they are a Christian and yet are truly not, then they are not going to heaven. However, if a person is truly a Christian, born again, saved, a disciple and more words that the Bible uses to address those who have been made children of God by faith in Christ, then God promises them a place in heaven. Let us look at a few verses that show this then we will look at whether a sin will hinder a Christian from going to heaven.

The Lord Jesus said just before he went to the cross to die:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
(John 14:1-3 )

We know that when the Lord Jesus said “My Father’s house” he is meaning a place where the Father is and that is in Heaven. This is confirmed to us by Peter who tells us where the Lord Jesus is right now:

Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. (I Peter 3:22 )

Peter also confirms this again in this same book when he explains that believers (those to whom he is writing this book) will be raised from the dead and receive an inheritance which is “reserved” in heaven for them:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (I Peter 1:3-4 )

So, from these and many other verses (like: 2 Corinthians 5:1-2; 6-11, Colossians 1:5, 2 Timothy 4:18) we find that a believer when they die is promised to be taken to heaven immediately.

However, what does the Bible say will happen to a true Christian (also called a believer, a disciple, a saint, a child of God, etc… as we mentioned in part 1) when they do what is wrong, in other words sin? Do they cease to be a Christian, believer, disciple, saint, a child of God?

Let us look at a few verses. First let us look at what the apostle John said when he was writing to those who have received eternal life through faith in Christ, in other words are Christians:

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (I John 1:8-10 )

This is addressed to those who have already been saved and redeemed by faith in Christ and are children of God. So, it reminds us that once a person is a believer, they can’t say that they no longer sin, but that when a Christian sins they need to be quick to confess it to God so that He can forgive it.

But what happens when a Christian sins? Are they removed from God’s family and loose their status as a believer, disciple, and saint? Are they unborn again and need to be born again another time? Let us look at some verses in the book of the Hebrews which was written to believers in order to help them to keep their focus on the things of God.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 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 bastards, 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? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 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 12:5-11 )

Do we chasten, correct or punish anyone who has done right? No, we chasten, correct and punish those who have done wrong. So, as we read this passage we find verse 6 says that the Lord “chastens every son whom He receives”. This means that when a child of God (Christian, believer…) does wrong they remain a child of God, a Christian, a believer, but they are under the correction of God. In fact, if a believer does wrong and doesn’t experience judgment from God is most likely means that are not a believer. So, God as a holy God and good Father punishes and corrects His children so that they are guided into doing right and might become holy. Verse 11 says that such punishment doesn’t feel nice but those who listen are corrected and guided into a life of righteousness.

How does this help us?

Well the Bible clearly indicates that if a Christian, believer, child of God, remains a Christian, believer, child of God if they sin: God doesn’t remove these things but instead they are punished by being placed under the judgment of God in their life on this earth because of their sin. From this we find out two things.

First this shows us that when a Christian sins, they are not removed from God’s family, their salvation is not removed, their eternal life is not removed, and their home in heaven is not removed. These things are secure because they are given and secure based on a person’s faith in Christ Jesus, not based on if they sin or don’t sin. This is shown in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians when he shows how the church should properly judge a believer who has sinned in a way that repeatedly shows a regular rejection of God’s instructions:

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (I Corinthians 5:4-5 )

Here the person will be judged and in some way destroyed in his flesh, but his spirit will be saved. He is still a child of God, but under God’s judgment and so must be removed from the fellowship of the local church and placed in satan’s domain outside the church. This chapter also shows a second part of what happens if a believer sins and that is that God will judge them in this life. This judgment comes in many forms, but one form is found in this same chapter through the interactions of other believers with the person who has sinned.

But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (I Corinthians 5:11-13 )

These verses tell us that if a person calls himself a believer or “a brother” (in Christ) and does any of these things in the list as his habit, other believers are not to keep company or even eat with them! This is done so that believers and unbelievers can identify that God hates sin and will judge each person who sins. The unbeliever is judged in Hell and the Lake of Fire, but the believer is judged in this life time.

When a person trusts Christ their eternity is secure, heaven is their home. Does this mean we can do as we please in this life? Certainly not! Paul, after showing the security of trusting Christ and that once a person is born again and placed in God’s family they are secure and never removed, he goes on to say the following:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Romans 6:1-2 )

A believer, Christian, child of God has been placed in a new family and given a new life to live by faith in Christ. They should no longer seek to sin, but their desire should be to do what is right in the eyes of God and Christ their savior as they are saved, and made new to do things that please God.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10

However, if a believer does sin, they should quickly recognize their sin, repent and ask forgiveness to correct their relationship with their father in heaven. John the apostle says it this ways:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (I John 2:1-2 )

So, where does that leave us with the question at hand: “When a Christian sins then dies, will he go to heaven?”

From the verse above, the Bible tells us that if the person is a true Christian and they sin, they are not removed from being a child of God, nor from going to heaven, nor from being a Christian. Instead, they are placed under the judgment of God as His child. If the Christian dies in this state before they have confessed their sin and made things right, they will still go to heaven because our eternal home doesn’t depend on our actions but our faith in Christ. However, this will mean that when they get to heaven and God looks at the life to reward that person for their life for Him in Christ, God will take that into account when he prepares the reward. When talking about how God will reward a believer when they get to heaven Paul says:

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (I Corinthians 3:13-15 )

Some will be rewarded with much, some with little and some with nothing because their work was burned and nothing remained that was of value to God to reward.

Hopefully this has answered your question comfortm and those who have wondered about this question. I leave you with one question for you who have read this:

If I am a Christian, am I living in such a way that pleases God or will the works of my life be burned up and I enter heaven and “be saved; yet so as by fire”?

Thank you for your question.

First let me lay a bit of a foundation.

As we look through the scriptures, we notice that the Bible is divided into two part, the Old Testament and the New Testament. We are currently living in the times of the New Testament or Covenant, however, as Paul the apostle looks at both time periods, he tells us in Romans that people back then and now are justified (made righteous in the eyes of God) by faith in God.

“For what saith the scripture? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.’ Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth, on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. … now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him ; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” (Romans 4:3-5)

In saying this, Paul shows that both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, the only way to be made righteous (because we have “all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23), is to have faith in God’s way of salvation so they can be declared righteous by Him and Him alone.

In the New Testament, our faith is placed in the Lord Jesus as the sin bearer who is the reality and completion of the sacrifices found in the Old Testament. By His death on the cross He paid the full punishment of sin so that all who place their faith on Christ can be forgiven and declared righteous by faith.

So where does that leave us?

Well, based on the teachings of the apostle Paul, in order for a person to get to heaven they need to believe in God’s way of salvation: believe in the knowledge they had of God in the Old Testament or place their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ for us today.

In other words, when a person is old enough to understand about God, about sin and about the way of salvation provided to them at the time they were living, they could believe God and go to heaven.

BUT, what about those who died before they were old enough to understand the way of salvation God provided? What happens to them?

Well, to be honest, there is nothing much said about such a situation. Likely because the Bible was written so that those of us who are old enough to understand and read can know how we ourselves can be saved. Each one of us who is reading this needs to ask ourselves this question:

                    Am I going to heaven?

It is more important to know that you are going to heaven than to know if a baby, someone else, is going to heaven. However, let us look at a few things which might give us a possible answer for the question at hand.

First of all, we must look at the character of God. God is fair, “just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26b). He judges all sin and always does what is right and has provide a way of salvation for those of us who are old enough to believe. He is also a God of mercy and grace and He “is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

From these and many other verses, we should understand that although we don’t have specific teaching about where a baby goes when they die, we can be sure that God who is “just” and “not willing that any should perish” will do what is right with them.

There is one verse in the Old Testament, however, which seems to hint that they will go to the place of comfort and not the place of suffering.

First of all let us ask a questions. King David, when he died, where did he go? Well, as an Old Testament believer from what I understand from the bible he went to the place of comfort, or paradise, where Abraham went (Luke 16:22-25).

When King David’s son which was born out of adultery with Bathsheba was put to death by God as a judgment for the sin King David had done, King David said “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:23) If King David was going to go to paradise when he died, he is possibly saying that in paradise he would find his baby son.

Other than this one obscure verse which is only a possible hint at where the baby went, God has not chosen to tell us what happens to babies when they die. It seems probable that they will go to a place of comfort, but we must believe that God will do what is right.

I hope this helps.

Thanks for asking the question Comfort M.

The again question is: “When a Christian sins then dies, will he go to heaven?” I think I’ll answer this question in two parts and so I’ll put it in two posts. The first part will focus on what it means to be a Christian. Once we have sorted that out, in the second post we will then look at the question as a whole.

Part 1

First of all I would say that the answer really depends on what you mean by the phrase “a Christian”.

You see, many people today call themselves a “Christian” today, especially in countries like Zambia which are classified as “Christian” countries. When you ask these kind of people how they became “a Christian” they will give some of the following answers:

• I was born a Christian since I was born in Zambia which is a Christian country
• I was born a Christian because my parents are Christians
• I was sprinkled as a baby in the church so I am a Christian
• I go to church regularly so I am a Christian
• I was baptized so I am a Christian

Although there are more answers that could be given, these are some of the main answers that people give and are enough to help us go forward with our question.

Since this is a question regarding the the word “Christian” and the place Heaven, we need to get our information from the most appropriate source which is the Holy Bible instead of hearing what this person or that person or this church or that church says.

Let us first look at the passage Acts 11:20-26

And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (Acts 11:20-26 )

The last sentence tells us the original definition (when the word was first used) of a Christian and says that “disciples were called Christians”. Let us look at who these people are and who a disciple is and from there we will be able to understand what the Bible means when it says “Christian”.

Looking at the surrounding verses (the context) which include Acts 11:20-26 as we have posted, we find that a group of people heard preaching about the Lord Jesus (vs20) and “believed, and turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:21b) These same people were assembled as the church and taught by Barnabas and Saul, they are in vs26 called disciples (which means learner or pupil who follows) also, as we have mentioned there at Antioch the learners were first given the name “Christians”

This pattern of: hearing the gospel (good news) about the Lord Jesus, believing, turning to the Lord, and learning the truth of God through the apostles is a common pattern found in the book of Acts and in the Epistles. 

When Paul himself preached to King Agrippa the gospel of the Lord Jesus, King Agrippa said:

“‘Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.’” (Acts 26:28b )

So we notice that a person can be persuaded to become a Christian. They hear the gospel, believe it and once they have believed it they are a Christian who should gather regularly to hear the teachings of the Apostles and learn or be discipled in the way they should walk.

Let us look at another verse:

“The word of God continued to spread, the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large group of priests became obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7 )

Once again we notice that after the preaching or spreading of the Word of God, people became disciples and it specifically mentioned that some priests were “obedient to the faith”. The Gospel as preached by the Apostles focused on the Lord Jesus as we have already mentioned. Paul, one of the main preachers mentioned in the book of Acts had been given the gospel message he preached directly from the Lord Jesus, he summarizes the Gospel in this way:

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (I Corinthians 15:1-4 )

So the message of the Gospel focuses on the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus specifically that He died “for our sins according to the scriptures” and “rose again the third day according to the scriptures”. Once a person recognizes they are a sinner, hears the gospel message above and believes it by obeying the command that accompanies the gospel of the Lord Jesus: “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved”(Acts 16:32b), they become a disciple or a Christian. Other names for this are “saved”, “born again”, “saint” and many more.

The apostle Paul emphasizes this a bit more when he writes:

For the scripture saith, ‘Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.’ For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:11-15

Paul emphasizes that God has sent people to preach the gospel of peace, so others can hear, then they can believe then they can “call on the name of the Lord and be saved”. These people are save and also called disciples who seek to learn and follow the Lord Jesus then preach to others the gospel message that changed them.

This should not surprise us because it is what the Lord Jesus instructed when He told His disciples the following:

Then Jesus came up and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 )

From this I want to first notice that it clearly states in verse 19 “baptizing them” that is the disciples, so disciples should be baptized, and not that they should be baptized in order to become disciples. In other words, baptism is something that is done to a disciple (also known as a Christian) and does not make someone a Christian.

By this we notice that:

• A person can not be baptized in order to be come a Christian as only Christians should be baptized
• A baby can not be baptized or sprinkled in order to become a Christian because the baby needs to be a Christian first before baptism has any meaning.
• Hearing, understanding and believing the gospel message about Christ leads to one becoming a Christian, so you can not be born a Christian.

In reality, many who call themselves a Christian are not actually Christians according to the Bible. Since that is the case, these people who call themselves a Christian but are not, will actually go to hell when they die, not to heaven. It is only those who have believed the gospel that God gave to the Apostles, as we have heard from the Apostle Paul, that will go to heaven when they die.  

This is because the Lord Jesus told His disciples (who are later called Christians), that he was going to prepare a place for them and would take them to Himself (John 14:1-3). Disciples, those who have believed that Christ died for their sins, was buried and raised again, are promised to be with Christ in heaven when they die. Hopefully this is clear. 

So, to answer your question: If a Christian sins then dies, will they go to heaven?

From what we have seen, a person who calls himself or herself a Christian but is not a Christian according to the Bible, will not go to heaven, because he or she is not fit for heaven to start with.

However, what about a true Christian who has placed their faith in the work of Christ on the cross alone as the one who died to save them from their sins. He or she is truly on their way to heaven, but if he or she sins, will he or she go to heaven? 

We will answer this in the next post.

Here is a question I want to leave you with. Are you a true Christian? One who had believed in the work of Christ on the cross to pay for your sins and his death, burial and resurrection?

Good evening, I've heard this question asked a lot, can you help me answer it?

Where did Cain get his wife?

Thanks

This question is really hard and I have heard people say many different things but I still don't know the answer.

Where do babies go when they die?

Can you please help me.

I have heard many people ask this question:

When a Christian sins then dies, will he go to heaven?

So I thought i'd ask it here so that I can know how to respond when another person asks or I hear someone ask another time.  Could someone please help me?

A very common question I've heard youth ask in various locations is:

What was the fruit that Eve ate in the garden?

The fruit has been the discussion of many for years and has been used in various ways as pictures of something else.

Was it an apple or an orange? Or, was it an allegory (picture) of something that is often not talked about like sex?

Let us use the scripture to give a clear understanding of what we know and what we don't know about the fruit that Eve ate in the garden.

In the communities around where I live there has been a rise in the number of young people who have come to the conclusion that suicide is their only option out and have taken their own lives.  There are lots of reasons why these young people have ended their own lives.  Some have impregnated yet another girl, others were found to have stolen large sums of money, others had their boy friend divorce them and many more...

However, is Suicide truly the answer for all these problems and more?  I wrote a letter to others, maybe you, who are thinking about committing suicide entitled "Is suicide the answer?"  I would like some of you to comment on that letter or on ways to help people recognize the truth about suicide and give people hope who feel they have no hope and would like to end it all.