Hell is a turn off

[Absolute Truth]

Originally Posted by onesiphorus

Welcome back davelook forward to some "interesting : conversations

Thank you ONE, I am hoping God gives me some time to continue discussion for awhile once again.

God bless, Dave

[Onesiphorus]

Dear Dave . why not open one up yourself in theology or bible study

[Absolute Truth]

Yes I think that would be a great idea.

I think the most widely misunderstood parable is that of the Rich man and Lazarus, especially since it is erroniously used in defence of eternal suffering in literal fire.

I will take a little time to prepare my opening post in order to promote serious deep thought on the subject.

This will ensure any detractors are forced to weigh out the facts and weed out the propegated opinions and assumptions of the popular creed which has caused this deception which holds closed the eyes of the called from ever seeing the truth and the mystery of the kingdom.

Please allow a few days for me to get that thread started, as God wills.

God Bless, Dave

[Absolute Truth]

Originally Posted by Jon-Marc

Well, I suppose different people turn to Christ for different reasons. However, I'm just trying to say that if there was no fear of punishment, I personally wouldn't have seen any reason to ask God for forgiveness. I can't speak for others--only for myself. However, the reason so many turn Him away is because they have no fear of Him or of hell. I've heard the phrase, "Well, all my friends are going there, and we'll have a great time." Satan really has them fooled and blinded to the truth doesn't he?

Hi Jon-Mark,

I believe I have already addressed this issue in numerous previous posts here.

This is a very popular argument for eternal punishment and justice, etc, etc but it holds no water at all.

You see, there is punishment but not in the sense of what the carnal mind considers punishment.

1: God promises judgement. The length or duration of it does not take away from the FACT that there is still punishment or chastisement. If is widely assumed (eroniously I might add) that if the punishment is not endless that it could not be sufficient. This in itself is contradictive since puinshment is always for the purpose of correction and teaching. "for when my judgments are in the earth, the world WILL LEARN righeousness".

2: The carnal mind is still back in the old testament grasping onto "an eye for an eye" while Jesus (who was the express image of God. This is not a physical image but one of character and spiritually and love) teaches that we are to forgive our enemies and do good to those who do evil unto us. We are to turn the other cheek and bless those who curse us.
Jesus was not only teaching us of what we are to do to be perfect but he was teaching us to do that which is perfect "even as my Father in heaven is perfect". He was revealing to us the very character and personallity of our all loving merciful Father who will make right all things that are evil. All of this is accomplished in love, especially puinshment, chastizement and justice. Puinshment, chastizement and judgment are all done IN love and not without it.
When we puinsh or chastize our children it is done in love for the sake of the child. This false doctrine of eternal punshment teaches that God punshes and chastises for merely His own gratification with no purpose for the creature it is exacted on.

How we view God is indicative of who we believe Him to be. Our image of Him must be true to His character and personality. If I were to assume that you were the biggest heathen in this world would that be accurate? Would you assume immediately that I must be speaking of someone else?

Most importantly you would say "that is a false assessment of me and from this I can only see that YOU DO NOT KNOW ME."

Do you know Him? Or, Do you know of Him?

God Bless, Dave

[Onesiphorus]

Dear Dave , before I enter into the scriptures regarding Lazarus, creeds and dogmas are found in all areas of belief and I will ask "everyone " involved to just see what sayeth the scriptures and that "everyone" you and me included can disgard propegated opinions and assumptions

[Bloodbought]

There is an issue which we sometimes forget. While we are alive and on earth we are subject to time. On the other side of death there is no time. God Heaven Hell Death etc are eternal ie "neverending". So if we die without God in our lives and without His forgiveness we will spend eternity without Him. While here on earth men enjoy what is regrded as teh common grace of God which applies to all men. This will NOT be available beyond death and men will be left to the consequences of sin and eternity without the grace of God.

Those who accept God and his special grace of forgiveness to those who believe wil lenjoy that grace eternally in the presence of God.

After we die or are taken when Christ returns there is a "Great Gulf Fixed" and we cannot go fromone sphere to the other.

[Sine_Deus]

^That's a scary thought. So what you're saying is that if I die tomorrow I will spend the rest of my life in pain and torment because I never believed in Jesus?

[Onesiphorus]

Yes thats it

[Sine_Deus]

^You believe an omnibenevolent God would do that to me?

Even though I've been a good citizen all my life. I've never stolen, murdered, commited adultery or done anything considerably nasty to anyone. (Of course I have my faults, but my life's been pretty tame on the evilness factor). And whilst I've been friendly to most people and been brought up in a non-Christian background...

And I would be punished eternally, just for getting my beliefs wrong? Sounds very harsh to me.


Thank God God doesn't exist, eh.

[canny]

No one is saying you are going SD could be the very last milisecond of your life when you meet Jesus. Not up to us is it ?