United---probably the best--and only--thing to say to someone who has lost a loved one is--"I am sorry for your loss. What can I do to help you?"

Period.

Having worked as a Victim Witness Advocate with people who have lost loved ones--usually under violent or other unexpected circumstances I can say that no one is receptive to witnessing or preaching in their time of grief.

If you truly want to be of help--ask them what they need--and then offer to do what they have asked.

Sending good thoughts your way.
WGal

[QUOTE=Whisperingal;605486]WGal waves to VC[/QUOTE]

Wave back:)

Matt. 7:21-27 speaks of the importance of "doing" the will of the Lord....Keeping his commandments.....John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
   Acts 2:37-38....Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
   Romans 2:6-8 "Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath."  Revelations 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
      One might ask, how do we get our names written in the "Book of Life" mentioned here?  Verse 15 states, "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."   It would seem to me that this is something very important for us to understand. My question is, does baptism by immersion by those having proper authority, cause our names to be so written in the book of life?

[QUOTE=Lookbeyond;606260]...    The free gift of salvation from the grave can never be lost....it is given to all who are born to this earth. Christ and the thief on the cross are examples of where our spirits go when we die....to Paradise...or a waiting place before the judgement. Christ taught the spirits in prisoned there.according to scripture! 1 Peter 3:18-20
   In 1 Peter 4:6 it tells us why He taught the "dead"...."For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 
   There are some who claim there are no "second chances" but the scriptures infer there are, especially for those who have never heard the gospel, which are countless millions who have lived and died when the gospel in it's fullness was not available.  Baptisms for the dead was a known practice in the ancient Church, and 1 Corinthians 15:29 tells us! Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?  As you read the entire chapter, you see that the people were still learning about the concept of resurrection and they did not understand that the resurrection is the free gift of salvation.....but baptism remains a requirement to enter the Kingdom of God![/QUOTE]

Look Beyond,

I am trying to understand your theological position, but it is somewhat difficult.  Forgive me if I am just missing your points.  It appears in one moment that you are suggesting universal reconciliation, yet in another that we can lose our salvation if we have not good works.  Can you clarify your position for me?

Also, you suggest that there are 'countless millions who have lived and died when the gospel in it's fullness was not available.'  The gospel of the grace of God in its fulness was preached by the apostle Paul and made it all around the world, everywhere.  Paul preached the message of grace, not law and this revelation went to everyone. (See Acts 17).  This message of salvation can be found as going to all in the world in several passages:

Rom 16:25-27  Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began  (26)  but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith--  (27)  to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever.

Col 1:3-6  We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,  (4)  since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;  (5)  because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,  (6)  which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, [2] as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;

Col 1:23  if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Rom 1:8  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

As for baptism for the dead, I would have to disagree again.  Although it is true that a group (called the Marcionites) practiced this 'being baptized for the dead' Paul is NOT speaking of that practice here.  How do we know?  Two hints:

1.  This pracitce had not yet taken place when Paul wrote this.  The Marcionites and others who practiced this sprang up much later in history.  There is NO record anywhere of anyone practicing this before them.  For this reason, Paul could not have addressed this pagan practice.

2.  If we read the passage in its entirety, we understand the meaning.  In a nutshell, in verse 29 when they ask, "What shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?    Why are they then baptized for the dead?", we see this question is referring back to verse 19, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

The context of the passage is the resurrection.  Many did not believe there was a coming resurrection.  Paul explained that if there was not, then what was the hope in Christ.  If our hope in Christ is only for this life than we are most pitied among men. 

The question reads 'why are they baptized for the dead', meaning, "Why are we baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit unto life eternal if their is no eternal life, no resurrection?"  Why would we be transformed (made new) in Christ just for death? 

This has nothing to do with water baptism, but refers to a beleiver's baptism into the death of Christ, the baptism performed by the Holy Spirit that places us in Christ.  This is the one baptism for today spoken of in Ephesians 4.  There are no other baptismal requirements for the Body of Christ.

[QUOTE=Lookbeyond;606334]The God I believe in is not so uncharitable! There are so many who have never heard the gospel, not to be counted as their fault, simply because the gospel was not upon the earth in it's fullness!    To receive salvation from the grave....all have the gift given to them through Jesus Christ! The gift of eternal life, after all that we can do to show our committment to God as true disciples, exercising our faith unto repentance, receiving the ordinances of baptism for the remission of our sins, and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and thereafter remaining steadfast in the gospel, then we have hope not only in the resurrection, but of receiving the reward of Eternal Life........Celestial as spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15.....[/QUOTE]

My God is not that uncharitable, as the one you have spoken of requires works for salvation.  Scripture tells us repeatedly that no one is righteous, no not one; our works are not good.  We are bankrupt when it comes to having anything to  pay God with for our sins.  The punishment is eternal death and no works can achieve this payment--save the works of Christ who had victory over death because He was sinless.

Yes, all have this gift offered to them, based on the merits of Christ.  And all God requires is that one accept the gift as there is no other way to be made righteous in His sight except through the blood of Christ.

It has been nice talking to you, but this is not a debate board and further, I started this thread asking for Christian advice and encouragement in a particularly difficult time--as I deal with a loss and try to minister to the inndeiate family. 

Now I find another member of this very family, the deceased's brother, in the hospital in ICU and facing some great challenges.  Instead of debating approaches to salvation, can you offer up a prayer for this person?

Thank you for caring.  May God richly bless you as you trust in Him.
UBG