Is There A Second Chance For Salvation After Death?
Dear Saints
Is there a second chance for salvation after death? No, no, and no. Why?
“He[Christ] has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Hebrews 9:26-28.
As we continue our study of 1 Peter, we will see the source of this false notion, theology, or belief of a second chance for salvation after death.
Bad translation from Greek to English is the primary reason for the false notion of salvation after death. The key word here is “preach” (evangelize) as opposed to “proclaim;” in the case of the King proclaiming His authority and rule). The King James and some other translations used preached instead of proclaim.
Now in the context of Jesus’ suffering, his death and burial, and resurrection, Apostle Peter refers to Jesus "proclaiming" to the disobedient spirits:
“18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.1 Peter 3:18-22.
Did Jesus preach or proclaim to the spirits? I say proclaim. Keep in mind Peter did not say what Jesus proclaimed to the disobedient spirits. Many guess that Jesus may have reminded the spirits what awaits them because of their disobedience. The Bible is consistent by declaring that it’s appointed unto man or woman to die once and after that judgment.
Looking at the text further, Peter also named those who were saved by trusting and believing God and that is Noah and his family.
God warned the living during Noah’s time. The people laughed and scoffed at Noah until the ark was completed. The flood water came and all perished except Noah and family. It’s the same story today. People are ignoring another opportunity for salvation through Christ’s death as sacrifice for all sins. Many will believe and many will perish if they do not first confess/repent of their sins and accept Jesus as Lord and savior.
You cannot obey God after you are dead. Only the living have a choice to obey or disobey God. I know the Catholic denomination has a theology of purgatory. There’s no such place or state in the scripture where you get to be further made ready for heaven after you die. Why would you wait to die and have the living pray you into heaven? What if they don’t? It doesn’t make sense to me.
Remember Jesus told of Lazarus, the beggar and the rich man who was mean when he was alive, but now both are dead. The rich man begged for a drop of water in hell. Listen to the answer:
24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ Luke 16:19-31 for entire account.
The above narrative doesn’t sound like a second chance after death and the rich man’s living brothers cannot pray him out of hell because it’s appointed for all to die and after that judgment.
We must acknowledge that 1 Peter 3:19-20 are difficult passages to understand. There’s another reference in 1Peter 4:5:
“They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.”
It says, “the gospel was preached also to those who are dead.” Without the proper context, one could quickly conclude that the dead get another chance to hear the gospel. But does the text say so? No. The gospel was preached to those who are now dead but will be judged based on what they did with the gospel they heard while living. God’s judgement will be just. Those who believe in Jesus will not be condemned to hell but rather they will “live according to God in the spirit.”
So why is this topic important? Misunderstanding of scripture can wreck a life. We are instructed to study and show ourselves approved and rightly dividing the word of God. We are instructed to test every spirit to see if it’s of God. If someone believes all his life that he can live any how without obeying God and hoping to get a second chance after death, you can imagine the everlasting consequence hell existence for such person.
Please come now and let’s preach to the living about salvation found only in Christ. If you are not saved, this is your chance, not after you are dead. Repent of your sins, ask Jesus to forgive you, and believe and put your faith and trust in Christ. Amen.
Comments