I get this question all the time when talking to people about Christianity and really there are a few issues that come up here. Let’s take the time to explore them together so that we can learn how to overcome obstacles like this.
The first thing that’s wrong with this statement is that the person has an idolatress view of who God is. The God of the bible is Holy, Powerful, Perfect and Just. As humans we get in the trap of comparing ourselves with other humans when we should be comparing ourselves with God. Let me explain this a little further.
If I tell a lie to my kids, nothing will happen to me. Even if they find out, there is nothing they can do about it. If I tell the same lie to my wife, there are greater consequences for it. She could divorce me, take me to court, get mad and make my life miserable. If I tell the same lie to the government, there are even greater consequences. I can get thrown into jail, prison and even be put to death for treason. Now let’s take it one step further. If I tell a lie to a Holy and Perfect God, the very God who gave me life and the air I breathe, if my own government can put me to death, what should a Just God do?
You see, the offense is greater against the one whom we commit it. The same lie has different consequences against those with greater power.
The next thing is the person doesn’t realize God is a Just God. He cannot let sinners into heaven. He is so Holy He can’t even be in the presence of sin. Should everyone be let into heaven? No. If you get caught robbing a store at gun point, and you’re standing in front of the judge, should that judge let you go free just because you say you are sorry? Nope, justice has to be served. Your fine must be paid.
How stupid must we look if we think we are going to stand before God and say, “Yes God, I have stolen before, I have lied. Nope, I didn’t listen to my parents the first time they asked. What’s that? Oh, um, yes, I have used your Holy name as a filth word. Yes God, I know I shouldn’t have looked at that website and downloaded that music but look at all the good things I have done!” How foolish. We have committed those crimes and justice must be served for them.
If you are not a Christian and are reading this, that is why Jesus was crucified. That is why the Christ had to die. God is so angry at sin and what we do on almost a daily basis that only He could pay our fine. Someone had to Die so the wrath of God could be appeased. Jesus took the punishment that we deserved for us so justice could be served. That’s like a guy who walks into the courtroom just before you are about to be sentenced because you couldn’t afford to pay a $5,000,000 fine and says “I gave everything I have but I would like to pay this persons fine so they can be set free. All they have to do is repent and believe that what I have done has paid it in full.”
I don’t know about you but to me that is great news. I know I have blown it. I know there is no way I could have paid my own fine and I deserve hell. But since God is so loving, He sent His only Son, born of a virgin, lived a perfect sinless life, was brutally beaten and murdered as the perfect sacrifice so that justice could be served. Jesus took that beating and death for us, the punishment that we deserved so that we could be set free. How great is God. Here in is love, that a man would lay down his life for another. But the only way we can receive that tremendous gift is to repent and but your faith in Jesus Christ who was the propitiation for our sin.
Hell is a real place and it really does suck and unless we repent and put our faith in Christ, we will go there because we deserve it. But we don’t have too if we humble ourselves before God.
You have got to be kidding me. Jesus never sinned??? He pushed one of his peers off of a roof. He also slept with Mary of Magdelen and he wasn’t married. So are telling me that when I stole all those things when I was in college that I have a one way ticket to hell???
***** ******* *****, you’ve got to be the most dilusional person I know. You are obviously a christian extremist who is blind to your own sins. People like you usually preach up and down to everybody about being a good christian, yet you probably sin more than the rest of us. Do you have any children?? If so, I feel sorry for them. You and your brainwashing techniques. I bet that when you die, you’ll donate all your money to the child molesting, money hungry, perverted war machine known as the Catholic church.
If you read the Bible closely, you’ll find that for every side that you may think your god takes, there is another side that completely contradicts it. God is not a peaceful god… the bible also says that he is a war loving god.
Have fun with this blog.
Very interesting points. However, putting movies that you have seen but have no truth aside, you are correct in saying Jesus never sinned (I guess you will actually have to read the Bible to understand that).
Now as for me, I don’t think you even read my post. I admit I have probably sinned more then anyone reading this. My heart is so deceitfully wicked at times. I only speak of what I know, how God radically changed me and how all must come to repentance (myself included).
And no, I am not Catholic so I will leave that part alone. Also, no where did I say God was peaceful as God is truly angry at sin and unless you repent (myself included), you will perish.
I have to say though, I have read the Bible almost every day for, oh, I don’t even know how long, and I have yet to see one of these so called contradictions you speak of. I have gone to school for it, researched many who have claimed contradictions and still have yet to see one. You see, there are two little things called presuppositions and hermeneutics (sorry, those may have been big words for you) that you must understand. To take just a few passages out of the bible and say “They contradict each other.” would make you a hieratic by any Biblical standard.
Anyway, thank you for posting and reading. I look forward to many learning from this blog but please, I have one request, tray to filter the potty mouth.
WOW! I don’t know what version of the Bible you are reading but in mine…….NEVER have I saw where it says “He pushed one of his peers off of a roof. He also slept with Mary of Magdelen and he wasn’t married.” In my Bible it says that there was no guile found in Him. I would LOVE to give you a Bible study and help you find the truth that the devil has blinded you to.
Bob, nice comments. I liked your illustration of telling a lie, how the consequences depended on whom the lie was told to. I read the other comments above, and I’m wondering where did these guys get so misinformed, e.g. Jesus pushing someone off of a roof, sleeping with Mary M., etc. Must be some of that garbage from that book or movie DaVinci code. The DaVinci Code is all lies people. Another point, if people don’t want a relationship with Jesus Christ and his people while on earth, why do they think they’ll spend or want to spend eternity with Jesus and his followers? Thanks Bob, keep up the good work
Too much religion here people… too much…
Christian Blog here people… Christian Blog…
I find it interesting, that a blog such as this puts some people on the defensive.
OK, so maybe there isn’t a hell. But, what if there is? Do you want to risk it?
I am interested to know if Jesus, himself, used hell as a part of His gospel message? Did He tell the woman at the well that she would go to hell? Did He tell the rich young ruler that he would go to hell if he didn’t give all that he had?How about Zaccheus? I find it interesting that Christians today include hell in their gospel presentation more than Christ himself did. If I am wrong, please tell me. I have been studying this out for some time-and find it to be an endless pursuit without any sure answer.
woadoubt,
Luke 16 comes to mind. There surely must be others.
Jesus in fact did talk about hell. He talked more about hell then he did heaven.
The rich young ruler was a Jew. He new the law and he new about hell. Jesus convicted that man of his sin and never once told him how to be saved because the man didn’t have a repentant heart. In fact He told the ruler the opposite. He said, “There is one thing you lack, go and sell all that you have and come follow me or you will not enter heaven.” And the ruler went away sad because he loved money more then God.
The lady at the well, same thing. Jesus convicted her of sin before even mentioning the things of God. He said “Go call your husband.” To which she said, “I have no husband.” Jesus replied, “You are right in saying you have no husband, for you have had five and him who you live with now is not your husband.” But unlike the rich ruler, she repented and Jesus gave her the Gospel.
When you follow those teachings with whom they were being taught too, you realize these people knew full well about hell.
I find it interesting that there are those who try to change the Gospel and leave out hell. Romans tells us the law is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. You break the laws, you will be judged and end up in hell. To leave it out is just not biblical. To only preach about love would be to rob the sinner of true repentance and true salvation. Hmmm, I may have to write an article about God’s love as this post would just get way to long.
Not to mention, to only talk about Gods Love makes hell seem very un-reasonable. You must explain the sinner has broken Gods Commandments and their just punishment is hell, before they will see how MUCH God truly does love them.
Point them to the Cross. A sacrifice had to have been made to save us from hell. Now that is true love.
we suffer because of our sins and temptation inside us. Jesus has never sinned. I don’t know where in Bible someone can quote Jesus has sinned.
Read your Bible thoroughly, not just quote from books and movies. Be an independent thinker.