Having some serious doubts...help?

[lotsandlotsofquestions]

First off, one can only have righteousness through Christ. No one can find the path to righteousness except through Him.

Second...perhaps its because I have yet to finish the bible, but where does it say how old the Earth is?

Third, did you ever in your life feel God's love or had a sign from God?

To answer:

Second - I don't know? I never said anything in relation to this?

Third - not directly that I remember. Main thing I can think of is meeting my wife - may be a blessing / sign.

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

Often the world sees God as evil since He lets people go to hell. But they don't see it from a biblical perspective. God does not wish anyone to go to hell. And He does not force them to. They make that choice themselves (so to speak).

A better example is this. Pretend a group of people are on a boat in the middle of the ocean. The boat starts sinking from an accident and you have to jump off even though there is no life preservers or anything to help you. At this point you will likely drown. Along comes a helicopter and someone throws you a lifejacket and then they lower a ladder (or rope with hook) to get you. If you don't take any of the help you die. If you take the life jacket it won't save you forever. But if you take the rope you can be brought to safety. It will save your life. Its your choice.

See if God were really "bad" He could have simply let us all go to hell. He didn't have to send Jesus to die for our sins. But He did so we wouldn't have to go to hell. He loves us that much that His Son gave it all for us. Jesus is that salvation. Now we have three options (as in the story). We can ignore what God (the helicopter) has given us and go to hell. We can take the life jacket (thinking about becoming saved) and drown eventually (hell). Or we can hold onto that rope and be brought up to safety (heaven).

So as you can see God is not bad at all. If you has a son would you give him up if it meant saving the world? Now we must also remember we have free will. We make the choice to choose heaven or hell (again, so to speak). He could come down and lets say show the world Hes real (for those who don't believe) so everyone becomes saved and goes to heaven. BUT... it would mean He would be be interfering with our free will and hence lying to us when He said we had free will. And God is not a liar nor bad.

That may sound silly to us as mere humans, but we have to accept its how it is. Every lost soul who goes to hell does not make God happy. He gets no thrill from it. This is also why its on us to spread the word and try to lead others to salvation. So people don't have to go there!

 

[lotsandlotsofquestions]

All will hear the Gospel before Jesus comes back.
What you are doing is looking for loop holes or ways to prove you don't need to accept Christ.

Let me ask you this question.
Would God Love you and be a Good judge if you died right now without Christ and was judged to hell?

Don't be to quick to answer because it obvious that you know enough to know about Jesus and the Father but you are not willing to accept this. That's Your Choice and it is the same for many who have had many opportunities to accept Christ but refused.

Think about that.
Blessings
FCJ

In no way am I trying to find loopholes.

I'm just trying to work out what my Christian beliefs are. And as part of this I'm trying to understand, do good people who are non-believers (by choice or circumstance) go to hell? Going by your answers, yes they will go to hell. It's this that I'm struggling with.

I don't know if God will judge me to hell as I stand right now. I'm in no way "refusing to accept". God, who is kind and good according to the Bible, will understand someone having little bumps on their spiritual journeys. At this stage, and there is a lot more reading / understand for me to do, I don't THINK I will go to hell for asking questions and not believing for the sake of believing. God will understand

 

[Jesus4Ever]

To answer:

Second - I don't know? I never said anything in relation to this?

Third - not directly that I remember. Main thing I can think of is meeting my wife - may be a blessing / sign.

You mentioned something about the Earth not being million of years old, according to the bible. But I have yet to come across that.

And you may want to ask yourself if you really found Jesus. I mean that as to strengthen your faith, not to insult you or anything.

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[lotsandlotsofquestions]

It doesn't really sound like the justice that is taught by The Holy Spirit. Could you show us the scriptures you have in mind? Matthew 25:31-46 describes the judgement being about our actions toward others (ie: love) and doesn't even mention that someone is condemned or acquitted for their beliefs alone.

John 3:18

My interpretation (which may be misguided) is that one either believes or doesn't and as a result is condemned or not.

 

[SkyWriting]

.How can we reconcile that we have a kind and loving God when he is willing to cast the majority of humanity into ETERNAL DAMNATION?

If you can imagine spending eternity with an entity
you don't believe in, or you do not trust. That would
be cruel and mean.

The alternative is being alone with your own deeds
and thoughts to torment you. That seems fair.

 

[SkyWriting]

How do you guys deal with the scores of bible verses (I won't list them...) that conflict with scientific, social and epistemological progression? E.g. Those condone murder, sexism, slavery etc. Yes, these were different cultural times, but are we then picking and choosing (e.g. slavery was a product of cultural times whilst homosexuality is not and is definitely a sin).

Sin is when your know what God asks from you specifically, but you act differently.

 

[lotsandlotsofquestions]

Often the world sees God as evil since He lets people go to hell. But they don't see it from a biblical perspective. God does not wish anyone to go to hell. And He does not force them to. They make that choice themselves (so to speak).

A better example is this. Pretend a group of people are on a boat in the middle of the ocean. The boat starts sinking from an accident and you have to jump off even though there is no life preservers or anything to help you. At this point you will likely drown. Along comes a helicopter and someone throws you a lifejacket and then they lower a ladder (or rope with hook) to get you. If you don't take any of the help you die. If you take the life jacket it won't save you forever. But if you take the rope you can be brought to safety. It will save your life. Its your choice.

See if God were really "bad" He could have simply let us all go to hell. He didn't have to send Jesus to die for our sins. But He did so we wouldn't have to go to hell. He loves us that much that His Son gave it all for us. Jesus is that salvation. Now we have three options (as in the story). We can ignore what God (the helicopter) has given us and go to hell. We can take the life jacket (thinking about becoming saved) and drown eventually (hell). Or we can hold onto that rope and be brought up to safety (heaven).

So as you can see God is not bad at all. If you has a son would you give him up if it meant saving the world? Now we must also remember we have free will. We make the choice to choose heaven or hell (again, so to speak). He could come down and lets say show the world Hes real (for those who don't believe) so everyone becomes saved and goes to heaven. BUT... it would mean He would be be interfering with our free will and hence lying to us when He said we had free will. And God is not a liar nor bad.

That may sound silly to us as mere humans, but we have to accept its how it is. Every lost soul who goes to hell does not make God happy. He gets no thrill from it. This is also why its on us to spread the word and try to lead others to salvation. So people don't have to go there!

Thank you for your message.

What about those who don't get the choice??? By your reply, it sounds as if you believe that these innocents will go to hell (and God doesn't like it), and it's up to us to help save them. Is that the right interpretation?

 

[SkyWriting]

I've just come to a realisation that the Bible is an ancient text written by and for a small group of Middle Eastern tribesman. What other than our belief (which may be misled / uneducated) helps us place the Bible ahead of any other ancient text (e.g. Qaran)?

If the scriptures are correct, Adam started writing the first book based on his experiences.
If not, somebody tells interesting lies.

 

[SkyWriting]

Someone could live a righteous and perfect life without having the opportunity to learn about Christ and suffer eternal damnation whereas someone who has sinned but repented will go to heaven?

Jesus forgives ignorance. Rejecting the Holy Spirit is the only unforgiven sin.

 

[lotsandlotsofquestions]

If the scriptures are correct, Adam started writing the first book based on his experiences.
If not, somebody tells interesting lies.

Please stop spamming random quotes - its not helping at all.

This one I found the most amusing because even as a Christian of 25+ years I feel it is completely unfounded.

You're saying the first man - first living being with capability to reason - wrote the first book? So language and writing pre-dates man? What language did he write in? What did he use to write?

 

[SkyWriting]

Please stop spamming random quotes - its not helping at all.This one I found the most amusing because even as a Christian of 25+ years I feel it is completely unfounded.You're saying the first man - first living being with capability to reason - wrote the first book? So language and writing pre-dates man? What language did he write in? What did he use to write?

He may have written history, spoken it to others, or sung it. History is a fabrication of a guess. Some guesses are accurate, most are likely not.

 

[SkyWriting]

Please stop spamming random quotes - its not helping at all.

I'm not sure what that means, but I will do what I do.

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[FireDragon76]

Read 2 Peter 3:9. God doesn't will that any should perish.

At my church, hellfire and torture is not a significant part of our faith.

 

[mcarmichael]

YW

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[vinsight4u]

/nvm

 

[com7fy8]

Sorry but I'm not sure how this helps me. Yes, ideally all you said is true but I am struggling with believing for the sake of believing.

Believing means trusting in Jesus. There is personal submission to Him, then discovering how He changes us and has us learning how to relate with and please God and how to share with one another Jesus people while reaching to others.

So, it is not only intellectual agreement.

My interpretation (which may be misguided) is that one either believes or doesn't and as a result is condemned or not.

It depends on what you mean by believing.

God is personal with each of us. We can be deeply quiet and sensitive to Him, and discover what He pleases to do with us in His peace.