Does the Bible say that the soul is mortal or immortal?

Sincerely,
Tick Tock

Dear Tick Tock,

Our bodies are mortal, but our souls are eternal.  God designed human spirits to live forever.  If we are faithful, we live eternally with Him in heaven, and if we are faithless, we live eternally away from God in hell (Matt 25:46).

What happens to the souls of people that have never heard the actual gospel of Jesus, and are they really ignorant of salvation, and, therefore, excused from hell?

Sincerely,
Concerned For Others

Dear Concerned For Others,

God is the only one who can judge where someone’s eternal destination will be.  The Scriptures give us an insight into how the Great Judge will decide our verdict.  Here are some Scriptures to consider:

1. Just because someone is ignorant, doesn’t mean they aren’t at fault.  God tells us that anyone who seeks the truth will find it (Matt 7:7-8).  The Bible is the most widely available book on the planet – just because someone hasn’t read it, doesn’t mean they didn’t have opportunity.
2. People go to hell because of their sins (Rom 6:23), not because of Jesus.  Jesus’ death on the cross is a cure for mankind’s self-inflicted spiritual death sentence.  It is the same as a disease outbreak – the disease kills people, not the lack of a cure.  If Jesus had never come, and none of us had ever heard of Jesus, we would all have been lost.
3. God tells us that everyone has been given enough information to seek Him.  Rom 1:20 says that the very beauty of the created universe speaks of God’s existence and leaves mankind without excuse.  God has provided an “all call” message anyone can hear through the wonder of His creation.
4. God doesn’t desire anyone to perish (2 Pet. 3:9).  God won’t make any mistakes on the Day of Judgment, and no one will accidentally end up in heaven or hell.

As we said, God is the final judge.  We will all face Him when we die (Heb 9:27).  The best thing we can do is make sure we are prepared for that day.

If the Word says that God will do things for me, will He make heaven all I want it to be?

Sincerely,
Dreamer

Dear Dreamer,

The Bible doesn’t say that God will make heaven what you want it to be, but it does say that heaven will completely satisfy every soul.  Heaven is a place of comfort for the downtrodden and afflicted (Lk 16:25).  In heaven, every tear will be wiped away, and all pain and mourning will be done away with (Rev 21:4).  Heaven is a place lit by the presence of God (Rev 22:5).  In heaven, we will be given spiritual bodies that are fit for a heavenly existence with Jesus (1 Cor 15:52-53, 1 Jn 3:2).  God has already decided what heaven will be like, but in His wisdom, He has prepared a wonderful place for us (Jhn 14:1-2).

My question is if christians go to be with Jesus when they die, where do non-believers go at the moment of death?

Sincerely,
The Other Side

Dear The Other Side,

God tells us that when the faithful die, they go to be in Paradise (Lk 23:43).  At the time of their death, christians are escorted to Paradise by angels (Lk 16:22).  Inversely, when those outside of Christ die, they wake up in a place known only as “torments” (Lk 16:23).  There is a great chasm fixed between Paradise and the place of torment, and it is impossible to cross from one place to the other (Lk 16:26).  The place of torments is described as being a place of anguishing flame (Lk 16:24).  It is a place where the worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched (Mk 9:48).  It is a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt 25:30).  It is the outer darkness away from the presence of God.  ‘Torments’ is the last place anyone wants to go.  This makes it all the more important to ready our lives before this life ends (Heb 9:27).

Does a person who has never heard of God or Jesus go to hell or heaven?

Sincerely,
Curious

Dear Curious,

God is the only one who can judge where someone’s eternal destination will be.  The Scriptures give us an insight into how the Great Judge will decide our verdict.  Here are some Scriptures to consider:

1. Just because someone is ignorant, doesn’t mean they aren’t at fault.  God tells us that anyone who seeks the truth will find it (Matt 7:7-8).  The Bible is the most widely available book on the planet – just because someone hasn’t read it, doesn’t mean they didn’t have opportunity.
2. People go to hell because of their sins (Rom 6:23), not because of Jesus.  Jesus’ death on the cross is a cure for mankind’s self-inflicted spiritual death sentence.  It is the same as a disease outbreak – the disease kills people, not the lack of a cure.  If Jesus had never come, and none of us had ever heard of Jesus, we would all have been lost.
3. God tells us that everyone has been given enough information to seek Him.  Rom 1:20 says that the very beauty of the created universe speaks of God’s existence and leaves mankind without excuse.  God has provided an “all call” message anyone can hear through the wonder of His creation.
4. God doesn’t desire anyone to perish (2 Pet. 3:9).  God won’t make any mistakes on the Day of Judgment, and no one will accidentally end up in heaven or hell.

As we said, God is the final judge.  We will all face Him when we die (Heb 9:27).  The best thing we can do is make sure we are prepared for that day.