I recently have been participating in a weekly youth study in which over 15 kids in the area get together to have fun, fellowship, and study God’s word. As part of these studies the kids have been given the opportunity to ask anonymous questions by writing them down and placing them into a box. I decided to record those questions on here and provide my answer. It is my hope that other kids that have these same questions might stumble across this blog to receive biblical answers to the questions they are asking.
Question: Did Mahatma Gandhi go to Heaven or Hell?
I have seen the picture of Mahatma Gandhi, I think I saw a film about him several years ago, but to be honest I don’t know much about him. When I am faced with questions such as this one I usually turn my attention away from the person in question and towards the standard that is able to answer such questions.
When we speak about heaven and hell, saved or lost, Christian or non-Christian we are speaking about terms found in the standard that is the Bible. I don’t believe I or any man created by God has the personal authority within themselves to judge who is going to heaven and who is going to hell. What we do have is God’s inspired word which is God’s authority that judges and tells us who is saved and who isn’t.
God tells us that we can know, nothing doubting if we are going to heaven or hell (1John 5:13). It is by comparing our faith and our lives to God’s divine blueprint that we can know where it is we stand (Romans 6:17-18). The Bible has what some have called life or death statements. What I mean is that there are verses that clearly state that if you haven’t done something or are doing something then you are not saved. Here is an example of a life or death statement provided by Jesus…
‘Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” John 8:24
Do you see the life or death statement in this verse? Jesus clearly states that it is essential to believe in Him to be saved, if you don’t believe in Him then you will die in your sins. In allowing the Bible to interpret itself we must ask the question, what is it about Jesus that we must believe in? From a biblical perspective we must believe that Jesus is God, that He came to earth, that He is the savior of mankind, and that He is the mediator between God and men (John 1:1-2, 14; 1Timothy 1:15; 2:5).
There are other life and death statements in the scriptures that can help us to understand our condition in relation to God. Those that are going to heaven believe that Jesus died, was buried, and was resurrected (1Corinthians 15:1-4). Those who are going to heaven have repented and are no longer subjects of sin (Luke 13:3; 1Cor. 6:9-11). Those that are going to heaven recognize and confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9). The scriptures teach that one must obey the gospel by being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins in order to go to heaven (Acts 2:37-38; Romans 6:17-8; 2Thessalonians 1:7-8). After being baptized into Christ, a person must live faithfully in subjection to the Lord and His will in order to go to heaven (1John 1:6-10).
We can look in the mirror of God’s word to know for sure, no doubting, if we are going to heaven or hell (James 1:22-25). Where are you going? Why not take some time and compare your faith and life with the divine standard of God’s word to determine if you are going to heaven or hell? There is no need to be surprised on judgment day because you can know for sure where you are going today.
So did Mahatma Gandhi go to Heaven or Hell? I believe the best way to answer this simple question is by holding this man’s faith and life up to the perfect standard of God’s word. I don’t really know what Mahatma Gandhi believed nor do I know how he lived his life but if his faith and life were in harmony with the standard of God’s word, than we can know for sure that he went to heaven. If his faith and life were not in harmony with the divine standard, than we can know for sure that he didn’t. Did Gandhi believe in Jesus, repent and make Him Lord, confess Him as Lord, be immersed in Christ for the forgiveness of His sins, and live a life in devotion to God’s will as given in the scriptures? If we know the answers to these questions then we can know if Mahatma Gandhi went to heaven or to hell.
I think he should have surrendered to the aithority and since he knew about the gospel of salvation if he understood it why didn he frilly loved his own people and thus the whole world and in the name of Jesus saved them from true condemnation. Now there is a nation on it’s own led by demonic religions and in total poverty spiritually and materially speaking and like in the whole world the only things that his movemen achieved where for this phisical world and nothing else.
Thanks for the comments Bolano. It is sad when someone has access to the word of truth and doesn’t respond to it. There are so many influential people in this world that could probably have a huge affect on this worlds spiritual condition if they simply obeyed God and encouraged others to do the same.