General Christian Discussions

Why is there a hell? – windrider

windrider

Member

Posts: 10
From: Pearl,MS, United States
Registered: 12-26-2004
I was always told that if you ask God for forgivness that you would go to heaven that he would forgive you. If he does forgive us, why is there a hell?

------------------
kel kel

Max

Member

Posts: 523
From: IA
Registered: 09-19-2004
God gives us the free choice to love him and accept him, or to deny him. He created everything, he makes the rules. People that don't believe in him/ have faith in him usually don't live the typical "Christian" lives.
Ultimately, Hell/ the Lake of Fire is the eventual death of Satan and everyone that follows him (AKA anyone not with God).

Are you worried about something? Or just inquiring?

------------------
* Eagles may soar, but weasels aren't sucked in jet engines.

Simon_Templar

Member

Posts: 330
From: Eau Claire, WI USA
Registered: 10-25-2004
there are two places in the bible which people commonly refer to as "hell". The idea most people have of hell is somewhat confuddled between the two.
However, most people, when they refer to hell, mean a place of eternal punnishment. In the bible this place is refered to as the lake of fire, basicly an eternaly burning garbage dump (in greek Gehenna). The bible specificly states that this place was prepared for the devil, his angels and the beasts of revelation (anti-christ and false prophet). Those people who end up going there will only do so because they ultimately chose to side with Satan and thus they share his fate.

------------------
-- All that is gold does not glitter,
Deep roots are not touched by the frost,
The old that is strong does not wither,
Not all those who wander are lost.

windrider

Member

Posts: 10
From: Pearl,MS, United States
Registered: 12-26-2004
I am worried that I might end up in hell becase of things that I have done.
I do not understand alot anymore. I worry that I am always making bad choices.

------------------
kel kel

Simon_Templar

Member

Posts: 330
From: Eau Claire, WI USA
Registered: 10-25-2004
Windrider,

I know how you feel, I've been through times in my life when I questioned all my beliefs. Most people do go through that time when they are becoming an adult.. up to this point you've mostly gone on what your parents believed and now your getting to the point where your beliefs have to become your own. At least thats how it was with me. This is one of the reasons that one of my all time favorite verses in the bible is where Jesus says "all who seek shall find". Thats a promise.. whatever you seek, that is what you will find. So just make sure you seek the truth.
As christians we must also always remember that everything we are and need comes to us from God.. we can not be what we need to be, or do what we need to do unless we ask, and allow God to do it through us. That includes faith. Our faith flows to us from God, there was a man in the bible who wanted Jesus to heal his child and Jesus said that the child will be healed if he believes, he replied, "Lord I believe! Help my unbelief!"
The man recognized that he could not have enough faith by himself so he asked God to give him the faith he needed. God also says that he will give wisdom to all who ask for it. So I would encourage you to ask God for faith whenever you need it, and ask him for wisdom as well. I know he will answer those prayers

As for making bad choices, I know all about that too (of course I think I know everything ) I've made alot of bad choices in my life, repeatedly giving in to temptations, and often feeling condemned as a result. There were many times when I worried about wether I was going to make the final cut, if you know what I mean
God, however, showed me some things that helped me out. First off, christianity has alot of rules, alot of do's and don'ts, and those things are important. They are not, however, the ultimate point. Its not all about wether you obey all the rules or not. When God made you, he had something in mind that he wanted you to be.. the same is true for all humanity. He wants us to be loving, humble, pure in heart, poor in spirit, peaceful, truthful, and zealous (or persistant) and so on. All of the rules that exist are there to show us the way to becoming those things. Jesus is the way, or the narrow path as he called it to becoming all those things. In proverbs it says a righteous person is he that falls seven times and seven times gets up.. In the new testament Paul also says "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". That means that as long as you are on your way.. as long as your trying to walk the path to becoming what God wants you to be.. it doesn't matter how many times you fall, how many times you fail, as long as you get up and keep going.
God knows that this life is a learning process (he made it that way) and people in a learning process always make mistakes... the mistakes are often times part of the process. This is especially true with God because he says that He will work all things together for the good of those who trust in him... that means even the mistakes you make God can turn to good if you trust him. So don't be let mistakes hold you back or condemn you.. In Jesus they are removed from you as far as east is from west.. just continue on.

------------------
-- All that is gold does not glitter,
Deep roots are not touched by the frost,
The old that is strong does not wither,
Not all those who wander are lost.

Max

Member

Posts: 523
From: IA
Registered: 09-19-2004
to put it in a short view, if you believe in Christ Jesus and accept him into your heart, God will forgive EVERYTHING that you have done. That is so reassuring to me. No matter what you do, if you can honestly repent it and go back to Jesus, he will always take you back; You are his chid.

Thanks for clearing me up Simon, I didn't make them clear.

I've worried about making the cut as well, I mean, what if I become too sinful, or evil? Then I come back to the verses, especially John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

I'm adding another perspective, and yes, everyone at some point doubts and worries. I hope you end up where it makes you content. I have.

------------------
* Eagles may soar, but weasels aren't sucked in jet engines.

goop2

Member

Posts: 1059
From:
Registered: 06-30-2004
What has happened in the past is done. Just ask forgivenes and forget it. Ask someone about the "ABCs of... of something... I forgot what it was, its in the On Course magazine.anyone here know what it was?

As far as I can remember its sumthin like:

1. Ask forgivenes
2. Beleive that Jesus died for you
3. C... dont remember C... what was C...

------------------
------------------------

I dont like siggys. They are to hard to think up :(

CheeseStorm
Member

Posts: 521
From:
Registered: 11-28-2004
The past cannot hurt you, but dwelling on it can. As long as we try to leave the world a bit better on our way out, I don't see how we could end up in a hell, not that I believe in it anyways.

Maybe meditation would help for sorting out thoughts and decisions?

goop2

Member

Posts: 1059
From:
Registered: 06-30-2004
C is confess. confess your sins.

------------------
------------------------

I dont like siggys. They are to hard to think up :(

Klumsy

Administrator

Posts: 1061
From: Port Angeles, WA, USA
Registered: 10-25-2001
simon answered the initial question good enough, windrider so i'd listen to him.
Are you in a local church? do you have some solid christian friends, and some christian role models, people who could mentor you?

cheese,

quote:

The past cannot hurt you, but dwelling on it can. As long as we try to leave the world a bit better on our way out, I don't see how we could end up in a hell, not that I believe in it anyways.

you are right that dwelling on the past can hurt you, and everybody knows many people are a stuck by something in their past, and can't go on living "normally", however even if you don't dwell on something the past can hurt you, like somebody say who suffered and lost a spouse, child, or even had an abortion, who felt they might have dealt with it, but 20 years later after trying to ignore it, pushing it down, something happens that brings everything to the surface and it cripples them emotionally, after all this time.
Also consequences happen, say if you have an affair, you might 'get over it' and not dwell on it, but the damage it does to your marriage, the trust issues can last forever,
or say somebody who rapes somebody but gets away with it, and forgets it, many a times, 20 or 30 years after the fact the law, and justice catches up with them, and Yes it does "hurt" them, lands them up into jail.

------------------
Karl /GODCENTRIC
Visionary Media
the creative submitted to the divine.
Husband of my amazing wife Aleshia
Klumsy@xtra.co.nz