Daniel P. Barron

DEATH WIZARD: Okay, what about a atheist satan worshiper: would he go to heaven after death?
Cobraaahhh: Like I literally just said: I can't say one way or another.
DEATH WIZARD: Why?
Cobraaahhh: Christ sits at the dread judgement seat. Not me.
DEATH WIZARD: Of course, but what do you think would happen? Out of your understanding of the gospel.
Cobraaahhh: I reckon that it would rather difficult for them to achieve salvation in those circumstances, but not impossible. Radical atheist satanist types really do have a genuine search for meaning in their hearts, I believe, but they have not truly seen God with open eyes.

Daniel: If you believed, you could say, for judging is believing.

Cobraaahhh: I don't understand.

Daniel: Believers have "the mind of Christ." ⁱ

DEATH WIZARD: Okay so now you don't believe in Faith + works, Cobraaahhh? How is salvation achieved for you?
Cobraaahhh: It is precisely because they have not manifested many good works that salvation will be very difficult for them. But we do believe in a state of purgation after death. Not a "purgatory" as a specific realm, as Romists do. But a state of purgation nontheless.

Daniel: I don't, because such is a false doctrine not supported by the Bible.

Cobraaahhh: Are you sure about that?

Daniel: If I am wrong, show me with scripture.

Cobraaahhh: What of the parable of the wedding, where the king's servants bring the guests before the king?

Daniel: The one with the wrong clothing?

Cobraaahhh: Yes, Matt 22. ⁱⁱ

Daniel: Those found with the wrong clothing were cast into hell.

Cobraaahhh: We see the guests all gathering in the hall before being judged, ultimately.

Daniel: Those guests were people who thought they were saved, and even appeared to be saved to other believers, but it turns out they were not.

Cobraaahhh: Keep in mind that, in those days, kings would have wedding garments stored at his house for those guests too poor to afford proper dress. So even if you arrived without proper garment, you yet had an opportunity to dress properly. Purgation is like that.

Daniel: Where does it say they had opportunity to change?

Cobraaahhh: That is how weddings functioned in those days. The point is that, even if you arrived without garment, you yet had the opportunity to put on the garment. If you squandered that opportunity, then you had no defense. And thus were making a direct affront to the host.

Daniel: You are adding to the Word; it says no such thing. Proverbs 30:

5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in
Him. 6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a
liar.

Cobraaahhh: That's how weddings functioned back then.

Daniel: The Bible doesn't say that! How am I to know such a thing?

Cobraaahhh: Do you think no history exists at all except for what was recorded in the Bible? Should we just throw out everything we know about history?

Daniel: Do you think I need to know extra-Biblical history to know the Word? You are a liar, and you need to repent.

Cobraaahhh: When Christ is using a parable to explain complex ideas using well-understood cultural references, yes, I think it would be wise to try and understand what He was talking about.

Daniel: Christ used parables so that people like you would not understand, so that you won't turn away from your wickedness, and He will destroy you forever in the lake of fire. ⁱⁱⁱ

Cobraaahhh: Okay.

1. 1 Corinthians 2:
   

   16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

    ^

2. Matthew 22:
   

   1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

   11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

   14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

    ^

3. Matthew 13:
   

   10 And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

   11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

   ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
   And seeing you will see and not perceive;
   15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
   Their ears are hard of hearing,
   And their eyes they have closed,
   Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
   Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
   So that I should heal them.’

    ^