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What if a relative has not been baptized?

What do you say at the funeral of a non-Christian?

Introduction

  1. When some obey the gospel and others do not = homes divided.
  2. This was common in first century. It is also common today.
  3. Becoming a Christian is NOT a family activity. It is an individual decision.
  4. There are some important Biblical matters to understand here.

OBEDIENCE IS REQUIRED

  1. I can do no less than preach and teach what the Bible says.
  2. God requires obedient faith. – Romans 16:26; Hebrews 5:8-9; Matthew 7:21
  3. Those who do not obey are lost. – 2 Thessalonians 1:8; Romans 2:8
  4. God commands some things of us – With conditions and promises.
    Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Worship, Study, Pray, Anger, Tongue, Love neighbor, Golden Rule, etc.

WE ARE NOT THE JUDGES OF ETERNAL DESTINY

  1. I can not preach anyone into heaven OR hell.
  2. I can not know their heart, intent, knowledge, understanding, or opportunity to obey.
  3. Sometimes we ASSUME they know and refuse to obey.
    Do they really know? Do they understand?
    Are there other factors to consider?

GOD’S JUDGMENT IS ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE AND OPPORTUNITY

  1. Knowledge – Luke 12:45-48; James 3:1
  2. Opportunity – John 3:19; Mark 6:11; John 9:41
  3. Many attend, listen, exposed – does not mean they fully understand or make application.
  4. Last Sunday – "Mark of the Beast" – Explain it to me.
  5. Attend a lecture – nuclear physics, heart surgery – exposure does not mean complete understanding.

WICKED PEOPLE DO DIE

  1. Wicked people do die – town drunks
    Ecclesiastes 8:10 "I saw the wicked buried."
  2. 1 Peter 3:1-5 – We must seek to teach, influence and convert the lost.
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:12-16 – It is not wrong to be married to an unbeliever.

IF I AM BAPTIZED, THIS WILL MEAN MY PARENTS ARE LOST

  1. "Did they desire to obey God, follow His will?"
  2. "If they learned what you have learned, what would they do?"
  3. Illustration – Worn out yard stick in store. You discover it is one inch short – 35 inches long.
    Does replacing the yardstick mean your father was a cheat?

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