this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2023
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Explain Like I'm Five

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ELI5: If you're a Christian, why do you have to be good if Jesus will forgive you no matter what? (self.explainlikeimfive)
submitted 2 years ago by minorninth to c/explainlikeimfive
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I grew up going to church but I'm not religious now and I never really understood this part.

Please, no answers along the lines of "aha, that's why Christianity is a sham" or "religions aren't logical". I don't want to debate whether it's right or wrong, I just want to understand the logic and reasoning that Christians use to explain this.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago (2 children)

It varies significantly between denominations, I know that much. Guaranteed salvation is protestant-specific, at the very least, and isn't even held by all denominations within.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Yeah, if you're a more "reformed"/Calvinist type, broadly speaking, God is pre-determining who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell. You can't REALLY know for sure you're among the chosen, and continuing to sin would be accruing evidence you're NOT among the chosen. More or less.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Latter-day Saint beliefs are that one's intent and internal desires play a role. Thus, a non-repentant person wouldn't desire forgiveness, and wouldn't be forced by Jesus to accept it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Under their rules you're allowed repenting after death, as well. Actions in life only determine which of the three tiers of heaven you go to if you don't decide to send yourself to "outer darkness".

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

You're right, some repentance after death is technically an LDS doctrine, however it isn't widely accepted. But yes, our concepts of heaven and hell are more inclusive than the standard Christian binary.