In Reply to: something interesting for you Ray posted by lydia on June 09, 2004 at 12:38:08:
The first page of the history of theology is similar to the last chapter of Acts, where we read the Apostolic warning about a protracted three years of warning; about making sure that God's flock really understood solid doctrine, and would be able to defend itself from "grievous wolves entering in and destroyimg the flock", by speaking "perverse things to draw away disciples".
Pretty unequivocal.
I CAN ansewr for myself, to say that, yes, after hearing a precise explanation of the Gospel, that, if I had continued to reject Christ, rather than having accepted Him as I did, had I died I WOULD have gone to Hell, but I didn't.
Hypotheses about narrow time frames regarding people's salvation in Christ aren't really very useful.
WE do know from Scripture that Jezebel WAS given "space to repent", that the murderer of Christians, Paul, was spared because it had something to do with his "ignorance and unbelief".
When a person knows enought to ask the question, they know enough to either accept or reject Christ.
Ray--I'll try to address your question a little better at a later time (got some other things to do right now!).
These are really emotional issues, Bro', but not everyone who doesn't believe in OSAS is your enemy, or someone for you to initially attack or mock, right off the bat. That's discernible from your first response to my post.
Later! GBY