I was asked recently how can God send people to Hell when He says that everyone is forgiven by the sacrifice of Jesus?
Now, this is an incredibly difficult question, one that has perhaps been grappled with for many years if not centuries.
How can God profess to love absolutely everyone, yet condemn some to eternal damnation in the depths of fire and brimstone?
Well, the answer really is a simple one and is refered to in the Bible. But in order to explain what I believe, I need to explain the whole situation. You see, God created men and women in His own likeness, so they are perfect in every way, right down to the sub-atomic particles. Nothing is around without God saying it should be. God also gave men and women that gift of Free Will, which basically gives us the ability to choose our own way of life. It gives us the ability to decide how we feel; how we react to a given situation; how we proceed in life; what we do for a living; wether we want chocolate or strawberry ice cream, (or even, heaven forbid - BOTH). So your free will is a free gift from God that allows us to choose to Love Him back. So, you have this creator who wants his created to love Him, yet, He doesn't want them to be robots and love Him because He told them to. Understand? Excellent - so you have a choice whether you Love your creator or not.
Now, an inherent problem with this fantastic gift that God has given us is that we CAN choose how we live and interact with others around us. Sometimes, our wills clash with other wills. Sometimes our choice has major repercussions for someone else. That is life. You see, because we can choose, some of us have chosen a particular way of life that is, shall we say, against the plan that God has planned for us. If you think of a parent with a child. The parent has the child's life planned out (irrespective of whether that child follows that plan), well it is the same with God. He has written a plan for us, but most of us do not know that plan and so choose our own plan, whether it is part of God's plan or not (I am so glad that God is adaptable!).
Anyway, what I am getting at is that some of us choose the right path, some of us choose the wrong path and make a right balls up of their lives. Perhaps you said something wrong and hurt another, which lead them to do something bad, or perhaps you committed a crime or something like that. Whatever it is that has detracted you from God's Plan, it was because of a choice that you and you alone made.
Now, we all know the story of how Jesus came, not to judge but to save mankind from their eternal damnation. Well if you don't, read the Gospels - excellent reading. For those who can not be bothered to pick up their dusty old Bible (thats the one with HOLY BIBLE on the front), here is a quick run down of the story.
Jesus was born in a humble setting - a stable as fortold by prophets years before.
Jesus was worshiped by shepherd - the lowest of the low during the times of the birth.
Jesus was worshiped by wise men - the smartest of the smart during the times of the birth.
Jesus grew up to be a man who walked for three years bringing healing and relieving suffering to those who needed. He has been known to raise the dead, give sight to the blind and forgive the worst of sinners (think Mary Magdalene). Jesus lived an all-round life with 12 of his closest friends - His disciples, who continued His work when he was killed.
Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death by hanging.
Jesus died earlier than the other prisoners on the cross, giving him the control of His death, not those who hung Him.
Jesus died so that every sin can be exponged, whether it was before, at the time or in the future - so you see any sin you commit has already been forgiven.
Jesus returns to heaven when He rises from the tomb.
I do not give the story justice in that extremely brief rundown, but essentially that is it. So the question, 'how can we be forgiven if people are still being sent to hell?" still comes to mind.
Okay, first we know that all sin has been written off with the sacrificial death of Jesus. His blood smothered our sin, never to be seen again, ever. Yet we continue to sin every single day. We tell a lie. We think an impure thought. We say an impure word. We do an impure thing. We chose to do something other than glorify God. What ever it happens to be, we do it, knowing full well that Jesus died for us.
Now, second, we know that God judges all men and women at the end of time, sending those who 'did not know him' or 'did not clothe him' or 'did not give him food or drink' or anything else to show your love, to Hell.
So, how does God distinguish between thsoe who go to hell and those who do not?
Jesus also taught that you must repent of your sins to be forgiven. Repent? Whats that mean? Before you say it or even think it, it doesn't JUST mean 'I'm sorry'. It means so much more. You must try NOT to do it again. It is easy to say, 'I'm sorry for hitting that man.' or 'I'm sorry for swearing at that old lady who pulled out in front of me in the car.' Anybody can do that, even the demons. But you must believe it. You must live it. You must never do it again. You must try to rectify it. Do something kind for the person who you swore at or something like that - that is your choice and conscience.
So, in order to stay clear of the eternal damnation of fire and brimstone, you must repent of your sins. Totally iradicate them from you. Never do them again. Believe that God has forgiven you and has taken that dark part away from you. You are a clean person. Someone heading for Heaven, because you have repented, you have been forgiven.
Those who do not repent, that is, continue to do the same things again and again, even if they say sorry, they really do not mean it and so are the ones who will question why Jesus did not know them at judgement. those who repent are forgiven and head for Heaven.
Which group will you be in? Its your - yep you guessed it - choice!
'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40 (KJV)
