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Yeah, I never said they didn't get punished. The whole example in the OP was an analogy to point out how the punishment (hell) and reward (heaven) aren't actually keyed to moral behaviors, but rather, to swearing the oath of fealty. Once you do that, you're good to go.
Now, your "true repentance" definition sounds like a No True Scotsman. As an ex-Christian, I was totally taught that death-bed conversions were totally admissible. I understand why you don't want it to be that way (just world hypothesis, and all), but I've never heard anyone actually define repentance in a way that wasn't either:
I didn't say death bed conversions were totally inadmissable. What I said was someone who makes a plan to do what he wants with the intention of sliding into heaven on his death bed wouldn't be forgiven because he wasn't sincere in his repentance. If a person sincerely repents on his death bed then I believe he would be forgiven. I guess you're right in saying getting into heaven isn't directly tied to our behaviors. This is how it is - a person who has faith in Christ will also have a desire to follow him. Jesus has given us a code to live by, which involves commiting to living a moral life in his service. If a person is not commited to living a moral lifestyle, then he also doesn't have faith in Christ. How you live isn't what saves you, but how you live is a demonstration of your faith. True faith is inseparable from a moral lifestyle.
Yeah, I never said they didn't get punished. The whole example in the OP was an analogy to point out how the punishment (hell) and reward (heaven) aren't actually keyed to moral behaviors, but rather, to swearing the oath of fealty. Once you do that, you're good to go.
Now, your "true repentance" definition sounds like a No True Scotsman. As an ex-Christian, I was totally taught that death-bed conversions were totally admissible. I understand why you don't want it to be that way (just world hypothesis, and all), but I've never heard anyone actually define repentance in a way that wasn't either:
- Exactly what I'm describing, or
- Completely unattainable.
I didn't say death bed conversions were totally inadmissable. What I said was someone who makes a plan to do what he wants with the intention of sliding into heaven on his death bed wouldn't be forgiven because he wasn't sincere in his repentance. If a person sincerely repents on his death bed then I believe he would be forgiven. I guess you're right in saying getting into heaven isn't directly tied to our behaviors. This is how it is - a person who has faith in Christ will also have a desire to follow him. Jesus has given us a code to live by, which involves commiting to living a moral life in his service. If a person is not commited to living a moral lifestyle, then he also doesn't have faith in Christ. How you live isn't what saves you, but how you live is a demonstration of your faith. True faith is inseparable from a moral lifestyle.
