Bible Questions

[Mouko OCS]

Howdy folks,

I had a friend post something on facebook today that got me wondering...not so much about the answer, but, about the question.  I can see what the Bible says, but, I'd like to pick ya'lls brains, or rather, get that gray matter churning.  In fact, I'll likely try to post some new question every week or so, so get those Bibles ready.

The statement was roughly this, that some editor in a paper where she lives wrote that God does not send people to hell, He simply honors their choice.  Let's get those Bible pages turning and brains smoking and let me know what you guys think.  I fully realize there may be some differing thoughts on this, but, I believe we can keep this conversation in brotherly love.

Please keep your responses SOMEWHAT short and to the point...in other words, the opposite of me...heh heh.  Give us your scripture references too if you would.

 

[PureKnight OCS]

I agree with the claimed statement. Not only that God honor their choice, God also follow His own command within Word that build us with. Now... where to find in Bible... geesh... thank a lot... now I had to work those noodle off!

[The Deacon OCS]

There are plenty of instances in the Bible where people are noted to be in hell. There is one of note in Luke. To this parable our Lord added a solemn warning. Ye cannot serve God and the world, so divided are the two interests.

Luke 16:22-17:1

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue ; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

KJV


Luke 16:19-31
Here the spiritual things are represented, in a description of the different state of good and bad, in this world and in the other. We are not told that the rich man got his estate by fraud, or oppression; but Christ shows, that a man may have a great deal of the wealth, pomp, and pleasure of this world, yet perish for ever under God's wrath and curse. The sin of this rich man was his providing for himself only. Here is a godly man, and one that will hereafter be happy for ever, in the depth of adversity and distress. It is often the lot of some of the dearest of God's saints and servants to be greatly afflicted in this world. We are not told that the rich man did him any harm, but we do not find that he had any care for him. Here is the different condition of this godly poor man, and this wicked rich man, at and after death. The rich man in hell lifted up his eyes, being in torment. It is not probable that there are discourses between glorified saints and damned sinners, but this dialogue shows the hopeless misery and fruitless desires, to which condemned spirits are brought. There is a day coming, when those who now hate and despise the people of God, would gladly receive kindness from them. But the damned in hell shall not have the least abatement of their torment. Sinners are now called upon to remember; but they do not, they will not, they find ways to avoid it. As wicked people have good things only in this life, and at death are for ever separated from all good, so godly people have evil things only in this life, and at death they are for ever put from them. In this world, blessed be God, there is no gulf between a state of nature and grace, we may pass from sin to God; but if we die in our sins, there is no coming out. The rich man had five brethren, and would have them stopped in their sinful course; their coming to that place of torment, would make his misery the worse, who had helped to show them the way thither. How many would now desire to recall or to undo what they have written or done! Those who would make the rich man's praying to Abraham justify praying to saints departed, go far to seek for proofs, when the mistake of a damned sinner is all they can find for an example. And surely there is no encouragement to follow the example, when all his prayers were made in vain. A messenger from the dead could say no more than what is said in the Scriptures. The same strength of corruption that breaks through the convictions of the written word, would triumph over a witness from the dead.
(from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database. Copyright © 2000, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

[Mouko OCS]

Before I put my thoughts in, my feel for the statement is that it deals with how a person "gets to" hell.  Thoughts?

[The Deacon OCS]

....how a person "gets to" hell. 

Choice. God has set the rules and we choose to follow or not.

[Mouko OCS]

Yeah, couldn't think of another way at the time to get the idea across.  The ultimate question I'm trying to get at is this...does God send us to hell or do we choose it because we reject Him.

[The Deacon OCS]

Do you want to get into an "Elect" or "predestination" theory here? It could get very deep and confusing if we do that.

[PureKnight OCS]

Do you recall how Jesus say to four virgin women? I believe He say something like this: "Go away, I do not know you." By this, it is implying that Jesus IS sending people to hell DUE to people's free will. Think about this way... Jesus IS the lawyer and Father is judge. Since lost soul do not have Jesus as their attonery thus Father as Judge act on His authorization and send the lost to Hell.

You know... I just learn something new recently... there is a possible that Hell has few different level from severe to moderation. That is something we should also explore.

[Mouko OCS]

Deacon:

As much as I'd like to, I'm thinking sorta middle-of-the-pool and not the deep-end...so-to-speak.  I've always got a purpose to questions like this.  It DOES, as you have noticed, touch on MANY other areas of both Biblical and pop-culture theology, BUT, my goal with this question is not quite going as deep as election and predestination yet...kind of a short answer type thing like what Pure has said.

Ultimately, my goal here is to get everybody thinking and searching the Scriptures about questions that may challenge pop-culture theology.