There’s a new earth or do we stay in heaven once we’re raptured?
Will there be sex in heaven or the new earth?
Can a transgender Christian get in (as in if they fully believe that Jesus is their savior, ask for forgiveness of their sins [but they don’t see transitioning as a sin], & try to be a quality Christian example)?
The Rapture and Great Tribulation happen first (there's debate on the order, but I like to think the Rapture happens first). At the end of the Great Tribulation, there's a war between the evil forces that have taken over Earth, and God's forces that are trying to save it. Obviously, God wins handily. God restores the Earth and wipes evil and destruction from it, making it anew. Christ rule Earth for a thousand years before wiping away Satan once and for all.
It's interesting that you ask this, because those in Jesus' era had the same question. According to Matthew 20, the answer is no to the former. To the latter, it's nuanced depending on your stance on the previous point. I'd answer probably not for people who died/were raptured, but some theologians contend that if the pre-Tribulation Rapture is accurate, those who come to Christ after the Rapture but before the end of the Great Tribulation will still have earthly bodies for a while, meaning that for them, it's a possibility. That would answer some theological questions that I could go into if you wanted. But a general answer to that is probably not.
Being saved is a product of two individual components: repentance and acceptance. As a Christian, we have to repent of our sins, meaning that we need to be sorry for the evil that we do and striving to move away from it (i.e. "I'll do whatever I want because God will forgive me anyway" is an extremely dangerous place to be). The second component is that we have to accept Jesus' sacrifice on the cross as a payment for our sin. There are absolutely people stuck in their sins who are saved because they're making an effort to escape. I would say that it's possible that somebody in that particular circumstance to be saved, but they're in the critical danger zone if they reject that their behavior is a sin, especially since engaging in that is usually tied to other sins. Obviously, nobody knows the state of their heart other than them and God (and sometimes just God), but I would urge that person to really take a look at the Word and pray, because that's a dangerous deception.
I hope that answers your questions. If you have any others or want to follow up on something I said, don't hesitate.
I totally understand the concern about number 3 because it’s sad how a lot of LGBTQ folks struggle with things like substance abuse, etc. I live a pretty boring life, I tear up when I discuss my faith in God (a ton of transgender people blame God and walk away from him, but regardless of whether I decide to transition or not- God has been emotionally beneficial for me as I see that He’s there for me; it’s a medical issue but even if I transition it will be teaching me to lean on God). I’m getting into some online LGBTQ Christian communities and I’m taking my faith journey back after working through spiritual trauma with the help of my autism therapist.
But yeah, I don’t believe in things like astrology, fortune reading, etc. People easily think that I’m somewhat of a holy roller because I’m a nerd who does not party- and I’m highly spiritual myself anyway 😂.
My advise to you would be to seek help making you comfortable as who you are. I think most people on this site can tell you that the surgery really isn't what people think it is (although they'd say it in much harsher terms). Our bodies are supposed to be temples of the Holy Spirit, and we ourselves were made in the image of God. Our identity is supposed to be in him rather than our earthly struggles, even if they seem so woven into us. And so to make good on my number 3, I would strongly urge you to dive into the scriptures and see what our identity is supposed to be in Christ, and that we are to be ruled by the spirit rather than the flesh. Especially since we all only get one chance.
You can do your bucket list on the New Earth.
There’s a new earth or do we stay in heaven once we’re raptured?
Will there be sex in heaven or the new earth?
Can a transgender Christian get in (as in if they fully believe that Jesus is their savior, ask for forgiveness of their sins [but they don’t see transitioning as a sin], & try to be a quality Christian example)?
The Rapture and Great Tribulation happen first (there's debate on the order, but I like to think the Rapture happens first). At the end of the Great Tribulation, there's a war between the evil forces that have taken over Earth, and God's forces that are trying to save it. Obviously, God wins handily. God restores the Earth and wipes evil and destruction from it, making it anew. Christ rule Earth for a thousand years before wiping away Satan once and for all.
It's interesting that you ask this, because those in Jesus' era had the same question. According to Matthew 20, the answer is no to the former. To the latter, it's nuanced depending on your stance on the previous point. I'd answer probably not for people who died/were raptured, but some theologians contend that if the pre-Tribulation Rapture is accurate, those who come to Christ after the Rapture but before the end of the Great Tribulation will still have earthly bodies for a while, meaning that for them, it's a possibility. That would answer some theological questions that I could go into if you wanted. But a general answer to that is probably not.
Being saved is a product of two individual components: repentance and acceptance. As a Christian, we have to repent of our sins, meaning that we need to be sorry for the evil that we do and striving to move away from it (i.e. "I'll do whatever I want because God will forgive me anyway" is an extremely dangerous place to be). The second component is that we have to accept Jesus' sacrifice on the cross as a payment for our sin. There are absolutely people stuck in their sins who are saved because they're making an effort to escape. I would say that it's possible that somebody in that particular circumstance to be saved, but they're in the critical danger zone if they reject that their behavior is a sin, especially since engaging in that is usually tied to other sins. Obviously, nobody knows the state of their heart other than them and God (and sometimes just God), but I would urge that person to really take a look at the Word and pray, because that's a dangerous deception.
I hope that answers your questions. If you have any others or want to follow up on something I said, don't hesitate.
I totally understand the concern about number 3 because it’s sad how a lot of LGBTQ folks struggle with things like substance abuse, etc. I live a pretty boring life, I tear up when I discuss my faith in God (a ton of transgender people blame God and walk away from him, but regardless of whether I decide to transition or not- God has been emotionally beneficial for me as I see that He’s there for me; it’s a medical issue but even if I transition it will be teaching me to lean on God). I’m getting into some online LGBTQ Christian communities and I’m taking my faith journey back after working through spiritual trauma with the help of my autism therapist.
But yeah, I don’t believe in things like astrology, fortune reading, etc. People easily think that I’m somewhat of a holy roller because I’m a nerd who does not party- and I’m highly spiritual myself anyway 😂.
My advise to you would be to seek help making you comfortable as who you are. I think most people on this site can tell you that the surgery really isn't what people think it is (although they'd say it in much harsher terms). Our bodies are supposed to be temples of the Holy Spirit, and we ourselves were made in the image of God. Our identity is supposed to be in him rather than our earthly struggles, even if they seem so woven into us. And so to make good on my number 3, I would strongly urge you to dive into the scriptures and see what our identity is supposed to be in Christ, and that we are to be ruled by the spirit rather than the flesh. Especially since we all only get one chance.