Taking A Byte Out Of Lies
How Can A Loving God Send People To Hell?
THE LAKE OF FIRE
Your Q:"I'm trying to understand how God who is love can send people to be in hell. What's the thought behind going to hell?"
Our A:From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham:
God doesn't send anyone to Hell. The Bible declares that Hell was never intended for man but for the devil and his demons (Matthew 25:41). Those who reject Christ choose to follow Satan, and they will follow him right into his ultimate destiny, in spite of all that God has done to save them from the fiery abyss.
Here are some things to consider:
(1) God has given all people enough evidence to know that he exists.
- "...What may be known about God is plain to them [people],
because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the
world God's invisible qualities -- his eternal power and divine nature
-- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so
that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:19-20)
- "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." (Psalms 19:1)
(2) Nonetheless, people choose not to know him.
- "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and
served created things rather than the Creator." (Romans 1:25)
- "The fool has said in his heart, 'there is no God.'"
(Psalms 14:1)
- "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to
his own way." (Isaiah 53:6)
- "God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there
are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, they
have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even
one." (Psalms 53:2-3)
- "There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." (2Timothy 3:1-4)
(3) Therefore, God is giving people what they want.
God wants all people to be rescued from their sins and know His truth (1Timothy 2:3-4). He desires all to repent and come to know him (2Peter 3:9). However, the Bible also reveals that God does not force Himself on people. He allows people to reject Him even though He doesn't like it. God is love (1John 4:16), but God allows people to reject His love, and to remain in their sins.
There will be a judgment of all people, where all people will be presented before God's throne (Rev. 20:11-13). Anyone whose name is not found in the "book of life" is thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15).
God told the Israelites, "I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19). In a way, that's the choice before all of us: the blessing or the curse, life or death, God's love or God's wrath.
It seems illogical to some that God could be loving and wrathful at the same time. However, much of God's character is beyond our comprehension. God's wrath and His love are compatible, even if in a way that we do not currently comprehend.
Even though we don't fully understand it, the decision is still before us. God says that we all deserve his wrath and judgment, even at this very moment. Jesus plainly said, "...unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24). But He welcomes everyone to turn to Him for forgiveness, even at this very moment, so that instead of being condemned by him we can be forgiven and reconciled to him. Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24). To find out how to begin a relationship with God and receive eternal life, please see: Knowing God Personally.
How Can A Loving God Send People To Hell?
Got Questions?
GotQuestions.org is a ministry of dedicated and trained servants who have a desire to assist others in their understanding of God, Scripture, salvation, and other spiritual topics. We are Christian, Protestant, evangelical, theologically conservative, and non-denominational. We view ourselves as a para-church ministry, coming alongside the church to help people find answers to their spiritually related questions.
We will do our best to prayerfully and thoroughly research your question and answer it in a biblically based manner. It is not our purpose to make you agree with us, but rather to point you to what the Bible says concerning your question. You can be assured that your question will be answered by a trained and dedicated Christian who loves the Lord and desires to assist you in your walk with Him. Our writing staff includes pastors, youth pastors, missionaries, biblical counselors, Bible/Christian college students, seminary students, and lay students of God's Word.
Some of the following links will take you away from Benderbytes site. Although we have links to other sites, we do not endorse products, or services you may find there. What we do endorse is the truth. That you will find at these sites.
I have a question or
comment...- How Can I Know God?
- Yes, Tell Me More About Jesus
- Basics of Christianity
More of Bender Bytes
-
January 10, 2016
IMbeggar is about finding new, different, creative, positive, entertaining, hard-hitting, and most importantly, accessible ways to talk about God (without being preachy, judge-y, didactic, sappy or boring… we hope). Whether you are part of the choir, on the fringe, angry-annoyed-fallen away, still searching, or just struggling to figure it all out like the rest of us… you're in the right place. We ask the questions we all ask, address the obstacles we all face, and present an opportunity to re-consider, or maybe even re-discover, God. The door is open, the choice is yours. See more about Imbeggar
Why Do I Feel So Empty?
Is God Good?
Who Are You?
You May Also Like:
Trending Posts
Education
It's Time To Know The Truth
Does Size Really Matter??
Knowledge
Is There Only One Truth?
What Is Truth
Spiritual Growth
Find The Truth
