Why can't God send us all to Heaven?

[Capuano231]

I'm a Christian but this has bothered me all my life. If God loves us all and wants us all to go to Heaven and to be saved, and if He is all powerful why did he make Hell? Why did he have to make his son suffer?

Don't get offended by this question. I don't know how else to put it into words. Thanks

 

[Paulie079]

Well these are things we know that can help shape an answer to that question...

-God is all-loving
-God is just
-God is holy
-People are sinful
-Holiness to sin is like light to darkness

God created us all to have a relationship with Him but as soon as sin entered the world, that could not happen anymore. We became a people born into sin and unable anymore to be in relationship with a holy, sinless God. And God set sin on a course to be destroyed eternally but also provided a way for people to be free from sin's bondage and to have a relationship with Him.

The Bible says that the wages of sin is death. So the purpose of hell was so that sin would be destroyed and Jesus had to die because death was the only way that payment could be made for sin.

Those that go to hell are going because they did not choose to accept the gift of salvation that was offered to them. And it's not as if they're going unjustly or unfairly. They're going because they chose sin, which is destined for eternal destruction, over God. C.S. Lewis actually said that the gates of hell would be locked from the inside, meaning that people are there because they chose to be. There is no one going there that doesn't deserve it. And that's where you see the beauty of grace--everyone that will be in heaven also deserves hell.

 

[PROPHECYKID]

I'm a Christian but this has bothered me all my life. If God loves us all and wants us all to go to Heaven and to be saved, and if He is all powerful why did he make Hell? Why did he have to make his son suffer?

Don't get offended by this question. I don't know how else to put it into words. Thanks

The reason is because sin cannot go unpunished. The wages of sin is death. Its a natural law just like the law of gravity. That is just what sin is. Imagine, after man sinned thorns and thistles began growing. Sin is just so powerful. God has to deal with our sin problem. There is no hell existing right now except the grave. But for those who do not allow God to handle their sin problem they will have to pay for it in the Lake of fire.

 

[martymonster]

I'm a Christian but this has bothered me all my life. If God loves us all and wants us all to go to Heaven and to be saved, and if He is all powerful why did he make Hell? Why did he have to make his son suffer?

Don't get offended by this question. I don't know how else to put it into words. Thanks

You are right to question this.

God doesn't burn anyone in Hell.
for starters He didn't make a place called Hell to burn people in in the first place.

The place that He prepared for the Devil and His messengers is the lake of fire not Hell.

The lake of fire is the day of judgment where everyone is relieved of the carnal mindedness.
In other words, it's where a flesh is destroyed.

This lake of fire is made up of the elect who are relatively
few in number who's great honor it is to judge the world and bring the second fruits into the Kingdom.


Rom 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.


Now think, if our loving heavenly Father is going to burn most of the worlds population in a pit of fire for all eternity then the above verse doesn't make any sense.

If only the first fruits what about the second fruits?

Why is the creation groaning to see the sons of God revealed?

How is it the creation will be delivered from the bondage of corruption if the burning in Hellfire for all eternity?

The lake of fire is a symbol for those who are going to judge the world with Christ.


1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?


So why are they called the lake of fire then?

They are the lake because they are so few compared to the vast sea of humanity and because God is a consuming fire and His saints are consumed by Him and that fire comes out of their mouths and devours the enemies of God.

Will they be the enemies of God forever in a pit of fire?


1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.


Anyway I hope I have given you enough to think about.
You should go and read the scriptures and see if what I have said makes anymore sense it the light of them.


PS.

If God loses His second fruits does that mean that He has near total crop failure?

 

[Tavita]

I'm a Christian but this has bothered me all my life. If God loves us all and wants us all to go to Heaven and to be saved, and if He is all powerful why did he make Hell? Why did he have to make his son suffer?

Don't get offended by this question. I don't know how else to put it into words. Thanks

Hell isn't a 'place' that people go to after death. Hell is outer darkness, separation from God, etc. We can be in hell right here right now... just ask the Jews who went through the holocaust.

Sometimes God takes us through hell to get to heaven.

The hell that is preached these days is a pagan concept.

If you believe Christ died for all, then all WILL BE (eventually) saved... He reconciled the whole world, not just a few... that means EVERYTHING (which includes everyone).

Col 1:20 and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; ~ through him ~, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.

 

[martymonster]

I just wanted to add this scripture because I feel it is just so true and so beautiful.


Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


That pretty much runs the full gamut of those things that can separate us from the love of God.


Amen!

 

[oi_antz]

I'm a Christian but this has bothered me all my life. If God loves us all and wants us all to go to Heaven and to be saved, and if He is all powerful why did he make Hell? Why did he have to make his son suffer?

Don't get offended by this question. I don't know how else to put it into words. Thanks

Some people are wicked to the bone, they cannot exist in the presence of God, which is why their heart becomes hardened, they don't like to be close to God, they prefer to run to sin. God is a holy God, that means any sinners cannot be in His presence, which I think is why hell is viewed as the opposite of heaven - full of darkness and hate. Sure, many people live in that state, but I think there is something about the human that is lost when it dies.. yep its the body. We are then appointed to face God for judgment for all the good and bad we have done.

Jesus came so that everyone could be saved (as we are all sinners and none worthy to be in God's presence), and two changes happen:
1) the sinner is brought out of sin for a price in Jesus' name, forgiving sin forever
2) the convert is trained in righteousness through daily repentance

 

[ebia]

I'm a Christian but this has bothered me all my life. If God loves us all and wants us all to go to Heaven and to be saved, and if He is all powerful why did he make Hell? Why did he have to make his son suffer?

Don't get offended by this question. I don't know how else to put it into words. Thanks

The problem is with the whole framework. The biblical story is not about getting us to heaven when we die, but putting us and all creation right again - about God's Kingdom coming to earth.

So we need to be put right in and for that Kingdom. Jesus is the means of doing that.

And since God isn't in the business of forcing people, people can decline that - but thereby they exclude themselves from that Kingdom.

 

[xGodsGracex]

I'm a Christian but this has bothered me all my life. If God loves us all and wants us all to go to Heaven and to be saved, and if He is all powerful why did he make Hell? Why did he have to make his son suffer?

Don't get offended by this question. I don't know how else to put it into words. Thanks

Originally we were put on this earth to live. Because of sin we die. That is the penalty for sin. However because God loves us so much and don't want us to die he sent his only begotten Son, (Jesus), to save us.

He told us to believe in him and do God's will.

Because most people prefer sin and hardened their hearts at God's words, those that don't believe will perish.

The bible makes it clear it's not when you die, but it's when you are resurrected or if you're alive on judgement day is when you'll face God and he'll determine then whether you go to hell, (fire), or heaven, (paradise).

As we're all sinners it is only by God's grace that we may be redeemed at all.


Many are called - few are chosen.

 

[martymonster]

Many are called - few are chosen.

You mean many are called, few choose, don't you?

 

[Emmy]

Dear capuano231. God loves us, and God wants us ALL in Heaven. Adam and Eve lived, were with God in the Garden of Eden, they were good and without sin. But when the Tempter came, in the guise of the Serpent, they believed his lies, and did not trust and love God enough, and ate of the tree of Knowledge. They were not innocent anymore, and because God loves us, they, and all who came after, were send to Earth to learn to love God with heart, soul and mind, and to learn to resist all temptation. To start with, we needed a Saviour, to pay God`s Holy Law, and to help and guide us back to God our Heavenly Father, again. Jesus God-Son died that we might live, Jesus reconciled us to God. Jesus also told us to REPENT, to exchange our selfish and unloving character into loving God and loving each other. God gave us free will to choose to follow His Commandments to love selflessly, (loving advice) Or to follow our own will, go our own way, and learn the hard way. God is Love, capuano, but God`s Law of Justice will stand for eternity: We Will Reap What We Sow. Follow our Lord`s Commandments to love, Or end up without God`s Love or Light. I believe it will be a Place in Outer Darkness, which must be sheer hell. God is Love, and God will NOT FORCE ANYONE, we have free will to choose God`s Love, or go our own way. Imagine if Heaven was open for all Mankind, as we are now, how long would it take to become hell in Heaven, instead of hell on Earth? I say this humbly and with love, capuano. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[xGodsGracex]

You mean many are called, few choose, don't you?

The actual words are what I wrote ... Matt. 22:14

 

[bling]

A God that has been around forever would have the best of the best by all standards. Of all God’s attributes the best “Love” would be the greatest, controlling all other attributes (Love is the most power force in all universes). God which is described as Love would be compelled by His Love to make beings that could Love like He Loves. Unfortunately, Godly type Love cannot be directly programmed into the being (instinctive) for that love would be a robotic type of love. If God forces the Love on the being (take it or I torture you) that would not be Loving on God’s part and again would not be Godly type Love. God has to allow (give up some of his power) beings to have free will and choose (it must be a real choice and not forced) Love over some likely alternative (in our case it is the perceived pleasures of sin for a season).

We have the earthly objective (that can only be done on earth) of obtaining Godly type Love so we can Love God and others with all our heart, soul, mind and energy. Love is defined by all Christ said and did (you can also look at 1 Cor. 13 and 1 John 4.) Obtaining Love is accepting it as a free undeserving and unconditional gift (Charity). Man due to survival instincts does not like to accept charity especially from a Giver that paid a huge price. The easiest way to accept it is to accept God’s forgiveness (…he that is forgiven much will Love much…)

God’s objective is the most unselfish objective (an attribute of Godly Love) in that God is doing all He can to help people (those willing to accept His help since they have free will) to fulfill their objective. That “all” includes allowing Christ to go to the cross, satan to roam the earth, tragedies of all kinds, some unwilling individuals to go to hell, and even sinning.

Christ shows us what Love really is, so we know if we want it or not and His going to the cross shows us that God/Christ Love us.

People that repeatedly refuse God’s Love and want selfish type love will not be happy in heaven since it is one huge Love feast.

As far as Christ going to the cross, that was totally for our benefit, to help us Love.

 

[Paulie079]

<staff edit>

You can't really equate humans and animals, though. Animals don't have souls. They simply act the way they were created to act. And it's important to remember that we're talking about spiritual death here. When the Bible says that "the wages of sin is death" we're talking about spiritual separation from God, not physical death.

 

[PROPHECYKID]

<staff edit>

Animals were not made to die either. Sin changed everything. Thorns began to come upon the earth when sin came. The ground was cursed as a result of sin. Death came in as a result of sin. Animals are therefore affected by sin just as mother nature was affected by sin.

btw Animals also are souls. The are living breathing creatures.

 

[texastig]

God doesn't burn anyone in Hell. for starters He didn't make a place called Hell to burn people in in the first place.

What about the Rich man and Lazarus?

The place that He prepared for the Devil and His messengers is the lake of fire not Hell.

Don't forget it's for all of those whose names are not found in the book of life.

The lake of fire is the day of judgment where everyone is relieved of the carnal mindedness.
In other words, it's where a flesh is destroyed.

Where is that in the Bible?

This lake of fire is made up of the elect who are relatively
few in number who's great honor it is to judge the world and bring the second fruits into the Kingdom.

Where is that in the Bible?

 

[texastig]

I'm a Christian but this has bothered me all my life. If God loves us all and wants us all to go to Heaven and to be saved, and if He is all powerful why did he make Hell? Why did he have to make his son suffer?

Don't get offended by this question. I don't know how else to put it into words. Thanks

Hell is for those who don't want to go to Heaven
(yes, there's people like that).

There had to be a sacrifice for sins and God Himself came down into a man's body to die for us. Jesus died for everyone but they must choose as evidenced in John 3:16

 

[texastig]

I just wanted to add this scripture because I feel it is just so true and so beautiful.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

That pretty much runs the full gamut of those things that can separate us from the love of God.
Amen!

Where do you get your doctrine at? The verses above do not say 'can separate', they say those things cannot separate us from the love of God.

 

[xGodsGracex]

It seems there are lots and lots of different beliefs and ideas about every thing, who knows what's what? different people tell you so many different things even from one church to another.
Do animals have souls or don't they? I think they do.

that's why you must never stop praying ...


(I believe animals don't need to be saved but they suffered because of our sins - they will be made different in heaven - lion lie down with lamb - lion shall eat straw Isaiah 65:25)


*the 'someone' btw is me ...*

 

[Quasicentennial]

It would be a lot more comfortable and simpler if God showed himself every day to everyone to prove himself that he exists .:*:. Because people have lived and died many centuries ago, they did not have video technology to record God's appearance .:*:. In those days, God was described in writing as scriptures in the holy bible .:*:. Intelligent non-Christian men and women of the past, present and future have confused and will confuse Christians about God's existence by using science based on evolution and the Big Bang Theory where life began with the atom that constantly brings life from energy - nothing to do with God who they think is like a Greek mythical being imagined by Greek poets .:*:. We as Christians must use faith to fight all kinds of opposition, such as confusion, that is a deception from Satan who was the first and most powerful angel to challenge God's highest position as king of heaven and earth .:*:. There are many beautiful people born on Earth and if they do not go to church to believe in God by faith then they miss out big time .:*:.