The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 1301-D, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 6."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1976. All Rights Reserved.

Question

I have heard that after death, those who have not believed will be given a last chance--is this so?

Answer

I wish I could say it was, because the hardest thing for me to believe is the concept of an eternal hell, and that once a person dies that's it--but there is no other thing taught in Scripture than that.  In Hebrews, chapter 9, and verse 27, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment"--"...once to die, and after this the judgment."  There isn't anything in between.  Death ends the possibility of salvation.  That's why I said to somebody the other night as I was talking with them, "You know you need Christ?"  "Yes."  "You believe all these things?"  "Yes."  "Are you willing to commit your life to Christ?" "I can't do it."  "Do you realize that if you died in that situation you would be confirmed in that?"  That's true.

Listen to John 8:21, very important passage, "Then said Jesus again unto them..."  He's having a little dialogue with the Pharisees.  Jesus said to them, "I go my way, and you shall seek me," now listen, "...and shall die in your sins..."  And what is the result?  "...where I go," What? "...you can't come."  Once you die in your sins the door is closed--"'Where I go you cannot come.'  Then the Jews said, 'Will he kill himself? because he says, Where I go, you can't come?'" [John 8:22].  That's a despicable answer.  You see, the Jews felt that the deepest pit; the blackest death; belong to people who killed themselves.  Why?  Because they saw man created in the image of God, and to take your own life was a crime, and so they believed that the deepest pit was for those who killed themselves.  So, when Jesus said, "You are going to die, in your sins, and where I go you can't come,"--in mockery they said, "Oh, you're going to kill yourself?  Are you going to go to that lowest level of the pit where we won't ever come?"  And Jesus really got strong in verse 23, He said, "You are from the pit; you are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world.  I said therefore unto you, you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins.  And where you won't go is above, where I am from."  Do you see the point?  There is no second chance--a man has his lifetime.  A woman has her lifetime--that's it.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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