I’ve been having a long email conversation with a non-EU friend, which has been quite edifying, even though he’s not convinced (please pray for him). Anyone today he pointed out that Jesus was saved from Hell postmortem! I hadn’t thought of that, but I think he’s right!
well, depending on how we view “hell” in this case…ie, it should really be the grave, but then there’s that bit about preaching to those dead in the flood, so who knows.
but yes, that also ties into how Christ is the first fruits of the dead…that hints at a harvest to come, a bountiful one.
i think your friend has indeed provided some support for post mortem salvation on that basis!
i’m personally unconvinced that it’s necessary (i may be a UU, apparently), but it’s definitely supportive!
That… rather depends on what kind of atonement theory and/or what kind of descent-into-hades theory is true.
Still, there’s quite a bit in the NT about Jesus saving captives postmortem, which would amount (one way or another) to Jesus saving other people from “hell” post-mortem (in whatever way “hell” would be most accurately described there.)
Obviously, I (currently) find and believe that Jesus saved sinners who had not yet repented from hell at that time; and if the Father raised up the Son (as it is written in several places, as well as that the Son raised Himself) then in a broad sense of “saved” the Father saved the Son from hell, too. But people who add up the scriptures (currently ) in other ways would come to different conclusions about that, of course.