Do you have to love god to get into heaven.

[Birthew]

I've been thinking why am I on these forums? I want to find out about God, but only because I don't want to suffer in hell forever. If I accepted a Christian God I and followed the teachings of the bible, I would not love him, merely do what I was told to be saved. The reason I wouldn't love God is because the he has made life so hard and even understanding the after life harder (from a non religious persons point of view). So will I be saved if I obey but not love?

 

[Hakan101]

I've been thinking why am I on these forums? I want to find out about God, but only because I don't want to suffer in hell forever. If I accepted a Christian God I and followed the teachings of the bible, I would not love him, merely do what I was told to be saved. The reason I wouldn't love God is because the he has made life so hard and even understanding the after life harder (from a non religious persons point of view). So will I be saved if I obey but not love?

You do not love God, but do you want to love God? Do you think that would bring you more joy than if you obeyed but did not love? Do you think any of the people who will receive salvation and enter God's kingdom do not love him?

 

[razeontherock]

Here is where Scripture addresses your question. Please read the whole story, but I'm emphasizing the poignant bit:

"thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
(Matthew 25:27) Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and [then] at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten talents."

So this seems to be saying (at the very least) that we need to use this life first and foremost to learn to Love G-d. Simple obedience is not enough, you are correct. There really is a paradox here, that can only be solved by making the transition from law to grace. The Bible calls this "renewing the mind" in English, but the original language pertains more to the metamorphosis a caterpillar goes through to become a butterfly.

The moral being we all crawl through some sludge, and find ourselves guilty of more than just the wrong end of this parable! Don't let that discourage you; there are many here who truly Love you, and will help you in your search as long as you are sincere.

 

[oi_antz]

I've been thinking why am I on these forums? I want to find out about God, but only because I don't want to suffer in hell forever.

It seems as though you see the glass half empty. Have you ever pondered how wonderful the world will be when only holy people live in the world and there is no evil whatsoever? Maybe think about that, because that's exactly what God has in mind.

If I accepted a Christian God I and followed the teachings of the bible, I would not love him, merely do what I was told to be saved.

Yes that is true, but what is more important than obedience to the bible is hearing God speak through the bible. I know in my most desperate times I can turn to the bible and God will help me just by giving me advice. It is this faith in God that He will never forsake me that is why I can love Him knowing that He cares so much for me that He has even offered to give me everlasting life with Jesus as the king of the world. Wouldn't you love Him too if that was His offer to you?

The reason I wouldn't love God is because the he has made life so hard and even understanding the after life harder (from a non religious persons point of view).

You don't need to understand the afterlife, the bible is meant to guide us through this life because you already know that there is evil in the world that would prefer you to be destroyed. We don't even get to see how intense that evil is. If you get to hear God speaking through the bible then you will know you can depend on Him.

So will I be saved if I obey but not love?

That is something for you to sort out with Jesus. I tend to think that if you are obedient to Him then you will love Him. Read John 15 for a contrast:

21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the One who sent me. 22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. 25 This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures[a]: ‘They hated me without cause.’

So this seems to suggest we either love Christ or we love anti-Christ. That's something for you to reflect upon, who do you really love?

 

[Sketcher]

If you don't love him, you can't fully obey him, thus even if it were possible to get into Heaven by doing all the right things, you would fall short.

 

[Lukaris]

I know in Luke 10:25-42, the Lord Jesus Christ illustrates the 2 great commands to love God & neighbor to inherit eternal life and then proceeds to give the parable of the good Samaritan. There are probably many meanings to the parable & one of exhibiting human decency seems obvious and Samaritans were unpopular heretics in their time but the Lord gives praise to one of these. Christians cannot tell someone that whatever good works they do will save them because we would be denying our Lord's saving grace that is needed for a fallen humanity. The thing is you are called to strive to do good upon accepting Jesus Christ as savior (see Romans 10:9-13 and Acts 26:20). Surely it is wrong to say that others will not be saved and much of Romans 2 (esp, vs.11-16) addresses the issue of those who act according to the way of God, or the Beatitudes etc. and ultimately, God's will not man's (see Romans 9:14-18). Still, as we are all fallen creatures and without the salvation of Jesus Christ, I cannot tell you to rely on anything else and ask that you know Him as your savior.

 

[elopez]

I've been thinking why am I on these forums? I want to find out about God, but only because I don't want to suffer in hell forever. If I accepted a Christian God I and followed the teachings of the bible, I would not love him, merely do what I was told to be saved. The reason I wouldn't love God is because the he has made life so hard and even understanding the after life harder (from a non religious persons point of view). So will I be saved if I obey but not love?

If you are not loving God you are not obeying.

You say you are fearful of eternal torment and desire to stray from that experience yet you also say you are not willing to love God, when it is loving God that will avail you from damnation in the first place? Do you not notice the flaw in that thinking?

If you loved God you would not fear Hell. Guilt is what makes us fear Hell, yet for those who sins are repented of and love God in all seriousness have nothing to dread in this life or the next one. Yes the thought of Hell is naturally frightful, but we shouldn't fear God as we would percieve Him as some threat. We ought to trust God.

Isiah 41:10 tells us, "Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." The psalmist in Psalms 56:11 writes, "In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Thus, if you do not love and begin to trust God you will never lose that fear of Hell.

However Proverbs 1:7 declares, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." Fear in this sense does not mean to be afraid like we would be of a robbery situation where we are the victim, but in the sense that we do not wish to offend God exactly because we love Him yet we must acknowledge that in our moral weakness we have that very potentiality to offend the loved One. It is this 'fear' that leads to life (Proverbs 19:23).

Also, in what way(s) has God made life hard for you?

 

[Pure760]

I've been thinking why am I on these forums? I want to find out about God, but only because I don't want to suffer in hell forever. If I accepted a Christian God I and followed the teachings of the bible, I would not love him, merely do what I was told to be saved. The reason I wouldn't love God is because the he has made life so hard and even understanding the after life harder (from a non religious persons point of view). So will I be saved if I obey but not love?

Don't worry God forgives and loves all, there is no eternal hell. Everyone will learn eventually to return to God and no Christians ar'nt better off than anyone else. You can't love God, he is love so you'd be saying you love love and if you had love in the first place you would'nt have a need to say somthing like that.

 

[zaksmummy]

I've been thinking why am I on these forums? I want to find out about God, but only because I don't want to suffer in hell forever. If I accepted a Christian God I and followed the teachings of the bible, I would not love him, merely do what I was told to be saved. The reason I wouldn't love God is because the he has made life so hard and even understanding the after life harder (from a non religious persons point of view). So will I be saved if I obey but not love?

I was talking to one of my very good friends yesterday. She said that when she became a christian there were many things about God and the bible that she didnt like. However having spent some time with God and studying the bible, she has now changed some of her views about things, and believes that they are more in line with what God thinks. The difference she said is that before she believed she did not have the input of the Holy Spirit, whereas now she does.

I think this is true for us all, we have our views and ideas, but as Christians we seek God and he changes us from the inside out.

If you decided to become a Christian Im sure you will find that you will want to get to know God and learn to love him as you get to know him better.

 

[GarrickBrewer]

God IS love, you cant worship him without loving him. I will quote John 3:16 : "and God so love the world that he gave his only begoten son, so that whomever beleives in him shall not perish but have evrylasting life" God loves you so much he let his son die so you wouldnt suffer for eternity, and His sone Jesus loved you so much he let himself go though more pain that is imaginable so you could go to heaven. If you want to worship God, i cant see how you could worship him an not love him.

 

[.Iona.]

Loving God comes with understanding God.

It seems that you do not fully understand Christianity, which is why you are finding it so hard to love Him.

Life is about challenges - as daft as it can sound - challenges do make you stronger. If God just made everything in life easy for you, then you wouldn't grow as a person, you wouldn't see your potential. There would be no reason to live, if everything was just handed to you on a silver plate. The thrill is in the chase as they say.

The thought of hell can appear to be evil - but look how simple it is to avoid going there! All you need to do is accept Jesus into your life - what wrong has Jesus ever done to you?

You are free to choose your own destiny - God has given us enough guidance on the matter. He is not asking us to pass a test or anything complicated.

Look into Christianity more - I am happy to talk with you if you'd like. I do believe the more you understand it, the more you will come to love God. After all - His own Son died for you, that's pretty loving.

 

[If Not For Grace]

God set a plan in motion & gave us choices "(we call that free will) if we did not have
choices we would not be capable of love; we would only be little toy robots. Our
choices have consequences true enough; sometimes that makes things hard for us and or for others, but God loves us enough to forive us our poor choices.

It takes Faith-& Love to know God. Joy comes from giving. God is the ultimate giver.
Think about that. The only obediance that counts is that done in love. I do not want
my spouse to be faithful to me because I would leave him if he were not, I want him to want me and only me-it is a smiliar kind of thing.

 

[Jere209]

Don't worry God forgives and loves all, there is no eternal hell. Everyone will learn eventually to return to God and no Christians ar'nt better off than anyone else. You can't love God, he is love so you'd be saying you love love and if you had love in the first place you would'nt have a need to say somthing like that.

Ahh, but you are incorrect in what you say. There is an eternal hell as well as an eternal life. There will be a chance for all to love God and choose Him, with strong emphasis on the word choose, and those that do not He will cast aside.

 

[Jere209]

I've been thinking why am I on these forums? I want to find out about God, but only because I don't want to suffer in hell forever. If I accepted a Christian God I and followed the teachings of the bible, I would not love him, merely do what I was told to be saved. The reason I wouldn't love God is because the he has made life so hard and even understanding the after life harder (from a non religious persons point of view). So will I be saved if I obey but not love?

Hmm, I wonder why you are on these forums as well. I would tend to think you have been drawn here, because you are a seeker, and seeking for the Truth. God's word says to seek Him while He will be found, and if you do seek Him, you will find Him. I am sure you don't want to suffer in hell, no one does. Many deny it's existence, but it's real. very real.
God already knows your decision, whatever it may be. Jesus prays for you daily that you would choose life, that you would live forever. John 10:10 says that the thief (satan) comes to steal, kill, and destroy, however, Jesus has come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.
God does not make life hard. You may have life hard because you have not chose to accept Him. You don't know what will be opened to you once you accept Him, and learn to walk in His ways and His wisdom.

 

[razeontherock]

I've been thinking why am I on these forums? I want to find out about God, but only because I don't want to suffer in hell forever. If I accepted a Christian God I and followed the teachings of the bible, I would not love him, merely do what I was told to be saved. The reason I wouldn't love God is because the he has made life so hard and even understanding the after life harder (from a non religious persons point of view). So will I be saved if I obey but not love?

Jesus' words are often hard. He said you cannot separate Love from keeping His commands. I find the rest of the Bible gives insight into His words, but it is His words that matter most.

The important this is to do what you can NOW. "Take no thought for tomorrow, for sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."

 

[docpotter]

Birthew ,

Did you ever think that God , the author of life , the creator of all things made you ?

Everything that is unique about you , every little nuance , your looks , your voice , your talents , all was made special by the God of the universe . He made you . How could you not love Him for that ?

 

[FutureAndAHope]

The bible says:

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1Jn 4:10 - 11

The fact is none of us started out by loving God. Why God says so. It is not that we loved God. God loves us, and shows us our need to love others. It is as we recieve that love that we become more worthy (in a sense) of heaven. But no one is actually saved by loving others, only by God's grace, his love and free gift of salvation as extended in the sacrifice of his son Jesus on our behalf. The big word propitiation means, appeasing or making well disposed, so basically God has show us in Christ he is well disposed to us, i.e. loves us, is pleased with us. He hopes that love will motivate love in us.

 

[HeathenWarrior]

You grow into Heaven, not go to Heaven. When you perform deeds putrely out of love for your fellow man, then you bring out the light within you, and your spirit is built up to the point where paradise is the only place you can go. Your beliefs in deities does not matter. Your actions will show your true beliefs. Love, unconditional love, is the key to paradise.

 

[Pure760]

Ahh, but you are incorrect in what you say. There is an eternal hell as well as an eternal life. There will be a chance for all to love God and choose Him, with strong emphasis on the word choose, and those that do not He will cast aside.

There is no eternal hell. The only hell that exists is that which we give ourselves, only love is eternal.

If what God created is eternal why would he create hell as part of it? Hell is not part of God's creation it is man made and therefore not eternal.

 

[oi_antz]

There is no eternal hell. The only hell that exists is that which we give ourselves, only love is eternal.

If what God created is eternal why would he create hell as part of it? Hell is not part of God's creation it is man made and therefore not eternal.

Is this a biblical belief? What about Lazarus and the rich man?