It is unfortunate that we Christians have been telling the unsaved, including those who have never heard the gospel, that they will burn in hell for all eternity. There are millions upon millions who have lived and died, never having heard the gospel, and we say that it is "just" for God to assign them to hell forever, although they had no chance of being saved.
Well-meaning Christians will jump all over this post, believing that they are actually defending God and His word, even though they are not. At the same time, they perpetuate the lie that he is an unjust monster, creating humans destined for hell unless they receive the Savior, most of whom never hear a word about, until they arrive at judgment when it's too late.
If you would like to hear the whole story of a good and just God and have a true explanation of an essential question, go to www.WhoGoesToHell.com for a brief video summary and the readable study online.
When Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he brought two things into the world.
Since we have been given the knowledge of good and evil, we can determine what is "good" from what is "evil", and what is "just" from what is "unjust".
(This is where Christians jump in to defend God's honor, when in reality, they are defending a doctrine that paints him as an unjust monster.)
Traditional Christian doctrine says that anyone who does not receive Jesus as Savior, even if they never even had the opportunity to hear a single word of the gospel, will burn in hell for all eternity.
Here is what Jesus said...
Jesus says that there are two possibilities, "perish" (death as a consequence of Adam's sin) or "everlasting life", life that only Jesus can give.
Jesus "saves" us from death and gives us "everlasting life". That is "salvation". That happens when we accept his sacrifice and exchange our "mortality" for "immortality".
Those who have never heard the gospel "perish" and return to the dust because they were not able to "put on immortality", never having heard of the Savior or his good news covenant.
God's judgment upon Adam (and the world because of Adam)...
There is no mention of being resurrected into an eternal existence and being sentenced to hell for all eternity. That is a far greater incentive to obey had Adam been warned...
Then... It is only after we have entered the covenant and have been born again by the spirit can we "strive to enter" our promised "inheritance" which has conditions of entry. These conditions are the expectations of the "Lord" over his "servants", those to whom he has given "salvation" and a promised place that they must value and possess. See the parable of the Treasure hidden in a field, the pearl of great price, the parable of the talents, and others...
Most of the parables are illustrations of those who "enter the kingdom of heaven" having met the Lord's reasonable expectations and those who fail to meet them and are cast out. The "servants" who fail to meet his clearly defined expectations of their "Lord" are sent somewhere... Outer darkness where there will be gnashing of teeth in every case.
Examine the relationships in the following parable. All three individuals are defined as "servants" of the same "Lord". Their Lord comes to "settle accounts" with his servants. In order to be a "servant" of the "Lord", you must receive the covenant that only Jesus offers. Then, and only then, will there be an expectation of the Lord for "productivity"...
The Parable of the Talents
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
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.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25
These "servants" have been given eternal life. They have "put on immortality". They can never die. They go to where eternal beings like Satan and the rebellious angels under judgment go... Hell.
Those who do not accept the covenant of everlasting life from Jesus, whether they have heard of it or not, "perish", just as Jesus said they will.
Those who receive his covenant are given eternal life and will be asked by "their Lord" to demonstrate that they have valued the kingdom promised "inheritance" that was theirs to "enter", when their Lord comes to settle accounts with His "servants".
The parables reveal the mystery of the "requirements" to possess what the Lord has purchased for those who receive his covenant of "salvation" from death and promise of and "inheritance", the kingdom of heaven...
Take a look for a complete understanding: www.WhoGoesToHell.com
Well-meaning Christians will jump all over this post, believing that they are actually defending God and His word, even though they are not. At the same time, they perpetuate the lie that he is an unjust monster, creating humans destined for hell unless they receive the Savior, most of whom never hear a word about, until they arrive at judgment when it's too late.
If you would like to hear the whole story of a good and just God and have a true explanation of an essential question, go to www.WhoGoesToHell.com for a brief video summary and the readable study online.
When Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, he brought two things into the world.
1. "Death" because he disobeyed God.
2. "The knowledge of good and evil" because he ate from the tree that imparted that knowledge.
2. "The knowledge of good and evil" because he ate from the tree that imparted that knowledge.
Since we have been given the knowledge of good and evil, we can determine what is "good" from what is "evil", and what is "just" from what is "unjust".
The scenario
A man, "John", was driving his car through various towns on his journey. He unknowingly crossed an unmarked town line. A town police officer pulled him over, telling him that he was going 30 MPH in a 29 MPH zone. John said that there were no signs indicating that the speed limit was 29 MPH and that he was only 1 MPH over the limit, even if there were signs (and there were none).
The officer said, I am not the judge, you are under arrest. John was brought before the judge.
John pleaded with the judge saying that there were actually no signs indicating the speed limit, and had there been signs, he would have obeyed.
The judge sentenced him to life in prison with no possibility of appeal or parole.
QUESTION: Is this "Just" or "Unjust" sentencing?
A man, "John", was driving his car through various towns on his journey. He unknowingly crossed an unmarked town line. A town police officer pulled him over, telling him that he was going 30 MPH in a 29 MPH zone. John said that there were no signs indicating that the speed limit was 29 MPH and that he was only 1 MPH over the limit, even if there were signs (and there were none).
The officer said, I am not the judge, you are under arrest. John was brought before the judge.
John pleaded with the judge saying that there were actually no signs indicating the speed limit, and had there been signs, he would have obeyed.
The judge sentenced him to life in prison with no possibility of appeal or parole.
QUESTION: Is this "Just" or "Unjust" sentencing?
(This is where Christians jump in to defend God's honor, when in reality, they are defending a doctrine that paints him as an unjust monster.)
Traditional Christian doctrine says that anyone who does not receive Jesus as Savior, even if they never even had the opportunity to hear a single word of the gospel, will burn in hell for all eternity.
Here is what Jesus said...
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3)
Jesus says that there are two possibilities, "perish" (death as a consequence of Adam's sin) or "everlasting life", life that only Jesus can give.
Jesus "saves" us from death and gives us "everlasting life". That is "salvation". That happens when we accept his sacrifice and exchange our "mortality" for "immortality".
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
(1 Corinthians 15)
(1 Corinthians 15)
Those who have never heard the gospel "perish" and return to the dust because they were not able to "put on immortality", never having heard of the Savior or his good news covenant.
God's judgment upon Adam (and the world because of Adam)...
17 To the man he said: Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, You shall not eat from it,
Cursed is the ground because of you!
In toil you shall eat its yield
all the days of your life.
18 Thorns and thistles it shall bear for you,
and you shall eat the grass of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you shall eat bread,
Until you return to the ground,
from which you were taken;
For you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.
In toil you shall eat its yield
all the days of your life.
18 Thorns and thistles it shall bear for you,
and you shall eat the grass of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you shall eat bread,
Until you return to the ground,
from which you were taken;
For you are dust,
and to dust you shall return.
There is no mention of being resurrected into an eternal existence and being sentenced to hell for all eternity. That is a far greater incentive to obey had Adam been warned...
Then... It is only after we have entered the covenant and have been born again by the spirit can we "strive to enter" our promised "inheritance" which has conditions of entry. These conditions are the expectations of the "Lord" over his "servants", those to whom he has given "salvation" and a promised place that they must value and possess. See the parable of the Treasure hidden in a field, the pearl of great price, the parable of the talents, and others...
Most of the parables are illustrations of those who "enter the kingdom of heaven" having met the Lord's reasonable expectations and those who fail to meet them and are cast out. The "servants" who fail to meet his clearly defined expectations of their "Lord" are sent somewhere... Outer darkness where there will be gnashing of teeth in every case.
Examine the relationships in the following parable. All three individuals are defined as "servants" of the same "Lord". Their Lord comes to "settle accounts" with his servants. In order to be a "servant" of the "Lord", you must receive the covenant that only Jesus offers. Then, and only then, will there be an expectation of the Lord for "productivity"...
The Parable of the Talents
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, you knew that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
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.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25
These "servants" have been given eternal life. They have "put on immortality". They can never die. They go to where eternal beings like Satan and the rebellious angels under judgment go... Hell.
Those who do not accept the covenant of everlasting life from Jesus, whether they have heard of it or not, "perish", just as Jesus said they will.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3)
Those who receive his covenant are given eternal life and will be asked by "their Lord" to demonstrate that they have valued the kingdom promised "inheritance" that was theirs to "enter", when their Lord comes to settle accounts with His "servants".
The parables reveal the mystery of the "requirements" to possess what the Lord has purchased for those who receive his covenant of "salvation" from death and promise of and "inheritance", the kingdom of heaven...
Take a look for a complete understanding: www.WhoGoesToHell.com