Can the living help the dead to know the Lord?
Categories: Bible Questions and Answers Tags: Bible Lessons on Judgment, Bible Lessons on the Dead, Bible Lessons on the JudgmentWhat can a living Christian do to help their loved one who is dead and did not known the Lord?
There is nothing that a living Christian can do to help a dead relative to come to know the Lord. The Bible teaches that judgment comes after all men die (Hebrews 9:27) and that it is only in this life that we have the opportunity to be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 6:2). If one will study the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31, it is clear that after death there is no opportunity to repent of sin. Note also Acts 17:30, 31 and 2 Peter 3:9 in that regard; both of those passages teach that men must repent while they are upon the earth if they expect God’s forgiveness. Finally, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 teaches that those who do not know God and obey the gospel will not be saved. That opportunity only happens in this life (2 Corinthians 5:11).
Those whose relatives have died without knowledge of God can be sure that God will be just (Genesis 18:25), merciful (Psalm 89:14), and that these will not be punished above that which they deserve (Luke 12:48). Beyond that, there is nothing that one living may do to help a dead, lost, relative. Even prayer would be inappropriate as God does not desire for us to pray for those who have sinned unto death (1 John 5:16).