I was asked by a person the other day, "does it do any goodfor a minister/preacher to pray for a dead person"?
I didn't know the answer.I wanted to say no but I'm not sure or have the biblical wisdom to answer it. Once a person is gone from this life isn't his final destination secured? If he was "saved" his soul will live in heaven, well if not, his soulwill burn in hell.
Praying for the dead is a Catholic belief as they believe in Purgatory.
II Maccabees 12:43-46: "And making a gathering, he [Judas] sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection, (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins."
If we can pray for the dead and have them saved, that goes against all of what the Bible says about accepting Christ before we die. We just get someone to pray us to heaven. This is not what the Bible teaches. The Bible is clear as to how to get to heaven. Salvation is found only in Jesus Christ and one can only be saved by a relationship with Jesus Christ, not someone else praying to Jesus for them after the are dead.
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In Christ alone I place my trust.
Christians aren't perfect, just sinners saved by grace.
Love to fish, hunt, ride atv's, music at church, football, family and friends.
If we can pray for the dead and have them saved, that goes against all of what the Bible says about accepting Christ before we die. We just get someone to pray us to heaven. This is not what the Bible teaches. The Bible is clear as to how to get to heaven. Salvation is found only in Jesus Christ and one can only be saved by a relationship with Jesus Christ, not someone else praying to Jesus for them after the are dead.
That's the way I believe!
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
I believe.
my description:
When in purgatory you have allready secured Eternal life, I think of it as cleaning up to meet the Lord. In another words even thoughI have been forgiven I am not worthy to be with him. Thank God there is no time in pergutory as old Den might be there a long time if there was.
Now I will go to teachings to see for sureI guess that will still be what I believe
Oh just one more thought,if you beleive in Eternal life then you are not dead are you?? Unless of course.........
Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment
Once someone dies, the opportunity they had on earth to place their faith in Christ is forever lost. They have only the judgement now . . . and it will not go the way they want.
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Today' s small bucks are tomorrow' s trophies.
[image]http://www.whitetails.com/deer8.html[image]
Old Jewish custom, taken up by the Church along with a whole boatload of other Jewish customs. Like fasting for special events, anointing with oil, baptism, etc.
Helps to remember that Christianity is a Jewish sect. So there's gonna be some carryover from mainstream Jewish practices.
Praying for the dead
I guess that will still be what I believe 
