Good morning! Are you among the people who can’t love a God who sends many to hell? Or are you in mourning because one of your loved ones doesn’t believe that Jesus is their Savior? I believe that God wants us to be encouraged because He is merciful! God also wants all Christians to be united, so if you don’t believe what I believe and have written this morning, we can and should still love each other. You may be right, and I may be wrong! What is important is that Christ was crucified and resurrected. I’m sure all believers agree on that!
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified, those he justified, he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30)
We discussed verse 28 yesterday, but I don’t want to take verses 29 and 30 out of context, so I also included it today. In verse 28 God is clearly speaking about those who worship, praise, and pray to Him. God works for the good of those who love Him now, and in the future God will work for the good of those who love Him then.
Verse 29 is speaking about those whom God foreknew. Most commentaries say that God is only speaking about Christians in verse 29 because verse 28 is only talking about Christians. Verse 28 does not specifically say Christians, it says those who love God. Jewish people and perhaps others also love God. But verse 29 is specifically talking about those whom God foreknew. The question is, “Is God limited to foreknowing only some newborns and not others?” Did God knit all of us together in our Mothers’ wombs – or just David? (See Psalm 139:13). I don’t believe that God is limited in any way. I believe He foreknew every child that was and is born on Earth and that He knitted everyone of us together in our Mothers’ wombs. I also believe God doesn’t want Christians to be conceited and think that all others are doomed to hell. Let’s look ahead to Romans Chapter 11, verses 25-32. I am summarizing here, but read the whole thing for yourself, we will later look at these verses in depth. “I do not want you (Gentiles) to be ignorant of this mystery…so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved….For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.” These verses speak for themselves. “All Israel will be saved.” This says that all Jewish people will be saved. Most Jewish people have died not knowing Jesus. So, how is it possible for them to be saved? Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) I believe that is true also because it is written in the Bible. But how can these two seemingly conflicting Bible verses both be true? I believe the only way for both of those verses to be true is that when non-Christians meet Jesus at their time of Judgment, they will fall on their knees and repent. They will feel the love of Jesus and know that He died on the cross for them also. “For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all.” (Romans 11:32) At the time of Judgment, I believe God will have mercy on the unbelievers, and after Jesus calls them to Judgment, they will believe. He will open the door to heaven for them to enter and be with Him.
I think that we might be very surprised when we get to Heaven! I agree completely with your thoughts on this subject. If there is a Heaven, then is there a Hell? Do we have our Hell on Earth for the sins we have committed..karma?
The Bible talks about hell, so yes there is one. It is reserved for people who don’t believe in Jesus and don’t want to be with Him. I believe that non-believers will meet Jesus at the Judgment after they die and will still have a final choice whether to accept His love or deny it. I will give you a couple of verses that support my belief. John 5:25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. John 10:16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. Other Christians have different views of what these Bible verses mean and believe differently than I do, and I respect that.
The fires of hell could be a metaphor or it could be true. I don’t pretend to know that. However, hell is a place where God is not — sins aren’t forgiven; there is no prayer, no hope. Earth is hell if you decide to live life with your own strength, not God’s. We who believe in Jesus, pray, and listen to God speak have our sins forgiven, live life with a purpose, and have hope. Whenever a tragedy enters our life, we depend on God for direction and healing. We have hope.