Back to Basics

[Batman]

Yes I suppose it is true that in our day the simple gospel message uses many words that may have to be defined in order for your average joe to understand. I shared the gospel with one of my neighbors once and had to explain what 'sin' was for instance. He was a new Canadian but even with those of us who are generational Canadians we must sometimes also define that word since it has been replaced by 'mistakes' or 'moral relativism' etc. 'Sin' is considered to be a very judgemental and self-righteous word these days.

Simply defined, sin is doing something that we know is wrong and knowingly doing it. Who among us can ever deny doing things that wrong on purpose? Now if we can agree on that definition of sin, then we can reclaim that word and use it without being self-righteous.

So the gospel message may be simple but we are lazy and don't want to spend the time defining our terms.

[KDawg]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Barry Morris</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KDawg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">....I can see some people having a difficult time with this. If God is merciful and loving, it doesn't make sense that He would throw me into the lake of fire. He made me as I am, yet wants to send me to hell. Complete contradictions.

Have at 'er. </div></div>

KDawg, God made you with free will. Would you want to be a robot?? Since He gave us free will, we have the freedom to choose to follow the one who made us and loves us and wants the best for us (since He knows everything!!). Or not to follow. He would not SEND us to hell. He just wouldn't allow you into heaven. Hell is, basically, where God is NOT!!

No contradiction. </div></div>

Barry, I don't know if you were addressing me directly, but I get it. I thought Ay was making this an academic exercise to make these concepts more understandable to non-believers. I've seen those kinds of statements right here on Soonet and I think the explanation will have to be more comprehensive than that.

We are (obviously) man-centred. We always ask the question, "How could a merciful and loving God send anyone to hell?!" That seems to be one of the greater objections to the gospel message.

Consider this perspective though.

How can a JUST and HOLY God allow anyone into heaven?

SO it all depends on which perspective you are coming from.

It is a lopsided argument to ONLY emphasize his mercy and love without also mentioning His justice and holiness.

In order to God to be God, you cannot sacrifice one for the other.

[KDawg]

God is Just. Ay, you mentioned that we are man-centred. That's true, but God has others to think about too, i.e. the other inhabitants of heaven -- Angels. The angels must also be convinced that it is OK for us sinful humans to reside in heaven with them. Is this not only fair? They will see which of us accept Jesus and which ones don't.

God is Holy. We have to accept Jesus and be washed in His blood in order for us to be near God. In a sinful state, we would be utterly consumed by His presence.

I think these are illustrations of God's mercy and love. God may be difficult to understand and mysterious to us sometimes, but He is also practical.

There is nothing as far as I know in the Scriptures that tell us that the angels have anything to say about who is in heaven.

[KDawg]

True. But God has to love angels as much as humans. With His infinite sense of justice, why would He not include them in the equation?

It's difficult enough to understand some of the details of what has been communicated. As far as the unknowns are concerned, all the speculation, as fun as it is, won't bring us closer to the truth.

But be assured that if everyone who will be in heaven has been reconciled to God, the angels will be happy about that.