Close Topic Options

Death Bed Repentence

Do you feel it is possible for someone to feel so much sorrow and regret just before they become aware of their impending death that they can be forgiven of their sins by the Most High?

One such 'story' for some churches is to show that Christ, while on the cross, turned to the theif and because of his simple utterence was forgiven by Jesus and was promised paradise.

What are your thoughts? If you feel there really is no such thing as death bed repentence then you must ask... how much time would be needed? An hour, a day, two days, a week?

Repentence Bed Death

Of course repentance can come at any moment but it never absolves us of the evil we have committed (we will still pay for our bad deeds).  Repentance only turns us around and starts us on the right path.  
I find it interesting to note that since ancient Greek had no punctuation (so as to save parchment), how did the translators of Luke 23:43 decide to place a comma after thee instead of after today? In this case, it would read ..."verily I say unto thee today, thou shalt be with me in paradise."  The comma placed before 'today' has a completely different meaning that makes no doctrinal sense ..."verily I say unto thee, today thou shalt be with me in paradise."
Anyone else have any insights into this?

Death Bed Repentence Studies Doctrine Mormon

Interesting analysis nephiproject. There are numerous places within the scriptures where a comma seems to have been dropped in the wrong place. The best example we actually have of death bed repentence is the story of Sherem in Jacob 7:1-23. It is interesting to note that because of Sherem's death bed confession that "...It came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored again among the people" (vs. 23) and his inital sin was 'healed' as the people hearkened to his previous words no more. So this will be credited to Sherem I guess.

Repentence Bed Death

Interesting Nephiproject, I remember learning that from a Institute Teachers some years ago, glad you bring it up in here. I personally think that all is possible for God, He's a merciful God and He knows not only our minds but also our hearts. It is so hard to know if someone can repent just before they die, after all, we cannot really know what's in the heart of people only God can know that and He's the only one who has the ability to forgive everybody.

Repentence Bed Death

I don't neccessarily believe in a deathbed repentance. You're sins will not just be taken away because you all of a sudden realize you didn't lead a good life. There are steps to repentance and the first is to recognize the wrong done and then you have to go about fixing it if you can and prayer etc...also in the verse Jesus said to the thief that he would be in paradise not the celestial kingdom.

Death Bed Repentence

I agree with bink. It must be repentance before our sins are forgiven. I think like I said before we need to remember that God knowa each one us individually and he will judge us according not only to our actions but also how we really feel inside. He knows all things and He is a just God.

Check my reply in the thread called: 'Paradise, who goes?'

Death Bed Repentence

Death bed repentence is as legite as sprinkling is for Baptism. In order to repent you must be allowed to show that what you did is wrong and that you are sorry for it. If a person has a Death Bed Repentence and dies how will he prove that he is changing and wants to follow God.