Is Hell Fair?

One chief objection atheists give for their unbelief in God is that hell is unfair. How, they ask, can a good God send people to hell who never heard of him? I'm sure this question bothers many sincere seekers as well.

Though many people never heard of God, Romans 1:20 (BBE) shows that they still know of him through creation. "For from the first making of the world, those things of God which the eye is unable to see, that is, his eternal power and existence, are fully made clear, he having given the knowledge of them through the things which he has made, so that men have no reason for wrongdoing:"

And if that isn't enough, the next verse shows that the various people groups throughout history rejected the Lord. Romans 1:21 (BBE) declares, "Because, having the knowledge of God, they did not give glory to God as God, and did not give praise, but their minds were full of foolish things, and their hearts, being without sense, were made dark."

There's also the thorny matter of God's sovereignty over whom he's chosen. The human mind rebels against this, yet it's true. Ponder what God said through the Apostle Paul in Romans 9:19 and 20 (BBE). "But you will say to me, 'Why does he still make us responsible? who is able to go against his purpose?' But, O man, who are you, to make answer against God? May the thing which is made say to him who made it, 'Why did you make me so?'"

The truth is that God is sovereign and everything was made by him. As Paul continues in Romans 9:22-24, (BBE), "What if God, desiring to let his wrath and his power be seen, for a long time put up with the vessels of wrath which were ready for destruction: And to make clear the wealth of his glory to vessels of mercy, which he had before made ready for glory, Even us, who were marked out by him, not only from the Jews, but from the Gentiles?"

But this view isn't Paul's alone. Isaiah 64:8 (BBE) expressly states, "But now, O Lord, you are our father; we are the earth, and you are our maker; and we are all the work of your hand."

God also told Jeremiah to go to the potter's house and watch him work. The man made a pot but something went wrong with it. So he reshaped the clay into another pot which pleased him. We read in Jeremiah 18:6 (BBE) that God said, "'O Israel, am I not able to do with you as this potter does?' says the Lord. 'See, like earth in the potter's hand are you in my hands, O Israel.'"

So those folks who criticize God are in the wrong and need to repent of their gross sin. This is one thing I must point out in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Puny humanity feels entitled to murmur against the Lord but all they'll receive in the end is a one-way trip to hell.

On Thursday, I plan on posting about how hell is a sort of jail where sinners await their final sentence.

The Spiritualizing Error

Similar to allegorizing biblical history, spiritualizing actual events is wrong. Studying the context of various verses shows whether the passages are historical or metaphorical. We don't treat secular history that way so why do that to Holy Scripture?

One verse people have misunderstood is John 21:11 (KJV). "Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken."

I heard that some preachers assumed that the hundred-and-fifty-three fish referred to some sort of code which, when deciphered, gave the secret of end times prophecy. The context is clear that the passage was an eyewitness account of the miracle Christ performed to show Peter that his job was no longer fishing for fish but for people.

Another verse which people wrench far out of its context is Isaiah 11:6 (KJV). "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them."

The first five verses of that chapter for tell the coming of Christ. To suddenly assume that the next few verses mean that we'll have animals in the new world is totally alien to the context. Neither does this verse mean that we'll get our beloved pets resurrected, as some people claim. The animals are analogous to adversaries finding peace with each other in Christ, the stem of Jessie.

People also misunderstood the meaning of that verse in 1 Chronicles 4:10 (KJV). "And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, 'Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!' And God granted him that which he requested."

A certain author, whose name I won't mention, misled his followers to paste that verse on their bathroom mirror and recite it for twenty-one days so they could get whatever their wicked hearts desired. The meaning of the verse is obvious. God granted Jabez' request because he was more honourable than his siblings. It isn't a formula to get stuff from God.

It's because of  these misunderstandings that I'm writing my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Far too many sincere seekers are led astray by wicked people desiring fame and a following. I know since I was a victim of just such a man. By God's grace, I escaped from error and into truth.

In my next post, I'll deal with the error of not expecting rejection from non-believing friends.

Joseph Smith: Prophet or Phony

The leader of the Mormons, otherwise known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, claimed to be a revelator and a prophet. But how do we know if he was or wasn't telling the truth? Anybody could claim to have had a revelation from the Lord but how can we tell if it's real or not?

Here is how to discern if a prophet is genuine. Deuteronomy 18:22 (KJV) explains, "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."

But what if a prophet prophecies something that does come to pass? Here's how to know if this person is sent from God or just claims to be his messenger. The Lord explains in Deuteronomy 13:1-3, "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, 'Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;' Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, t
o know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."

Joseph claimed to have seen an angel appear in his room one night and during the following days. He wrote in The Book of Mormon, "he informed me of great judgments which were coming upon the earth, with great desolations by famine, sword, and pestilence; and that these grievous judgments would come on the earth in this generation. Having related these things, he again ascended as he had done before."

The Bible measures a generation as being forty years. Joseph Smith penned these words back in 1830. No great judgements came upon the earth in that time. And there are many other failed prophesies I could list had I the luxury of time and space to do so.

Jesus warned in Matthew 7:15 (KJV) to,  "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

The history of the LDS church is soiled with the carnal misdeeds of Joseph Smith and his followers. Whole books have been written about this subject.

And as for books, I'm working on one called You Think You're Going to Heaven? So many sincere and kind folks are in for a horrific shock when the day of judgement arrives and they're on the wrong side of Christ. My hope is that God will use the work of my hands to rescue as many of them as will come out of their deception.

Jesus: Son of God or Mere Prophet

As I have shown before, Jesus is the Son of God. But Muslims believe he was merely a prophet. So who's right?

Luke 9:18 -20 shows that Christ was thee Messiah and no mere prophet. "And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, 'Whom say the people that I am?' They answering said, 'John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.' He said unto them, 'But whom say ye that I am?' Peter answering said, 'The Christ of God.'"

No true prophet would have let Peter say such a thing but Jesus, who is God, praised him for it. Matthew 16:17 (KJV)says, "And Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.'"

Neither would any mere prophet say what Christ said in John 8:58 (KJV). "Jesus said unto them, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.'" Jesus used the sacred name of God in that seemingly awkward sentence, causing the Pharisees to pick up stones with witch to stone him for blasphemy but he escaped.

But the Qu'ran states in sura 2:135-136, "And they say, 'Be Jews or Christians, and you will be guided.' Say, 'Rather, the religion of Abraham, the Monotheist; he was not an idolater.' Say, 'We believe in Allah; and in what was revealed to us; and in what was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus; and in what was given to the prophets—from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him (Allah) we surrender.'"

Additionally, sura 3:59 claims, "The likeness of Jesus in Allah's sight is that of Adam: He created him from dust, then to him, 'Be,' and he was."

This clashes head on with what Christ himself declared to John in Revelation 1:8 (KJV). "'I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,' saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Now how could a created being say such a thing?

So much more could be written on this topic so I'll save it for my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? People need to know that Jesus is coequal with God and therefore is to be worshiped.

Why Was Christ Crucified?

Continuing on with this month's theme, I need to explain why Christ was crucified. Jesus himself explained why in John 3:16 (KJV). "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

From the beginning, God's plan of salvation called for his son to be the substitute to take the punishment of those who would put their lives in his hands. He promised this way back in Genesis 3:15. The King James Version reads, "And I (God) will put enmity between thee (Satan) and the woman, (Eve) and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." This "seed" is none other than Jesus Christ. The "him" in that passage is the Devil.

Isaiah 53:5 (KJV)foretold Christ's atoning work.  "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Furthermore, Jesus was no hapless victim, as some folks believe but a willing saviour who died and rose to save his followers. John 10:18 (KJV) reads, "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

Being human as well as divine, Jesus still had his qualms about being our spiritual whipping boy. John 12:27 (KJV) records him as saying, "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour:' but for this cause came I unto this hour."

Jesus could have easily chickened out but he staid the course. John 18:37 (KJV) describes how he was resolute in his purpose. "Pilate therefore said unto him, 'Art thou a king then?' Jesus answered, 'Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.'"

Christ knew what his sacrifice would eventually accomplish. Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) explains, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

In addition to having all power and authority in heaven and earth, Christ is our go-between, advocating our case to his heavenly Father. As Hebrews 9:15 (KJV) explains, "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance."

Additionally, Christ always had the long view in mind. 1 Corinthians 15:28 (KJV) shows this when Paul wrote, "And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all."

What an awesome truth this is! From before creation, the Trinity agreed on this mighty plan to provide Christ a gift, meaning those who would believe in him, so he could lay us at the Father's feet as a token of his love.

I hope to write much more on this mind-boggling rescue mission and gift of love in a book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? If people could have even a glimpse of how comprehensive the Lord's plan is, it would astonish them and even cause them to surrender to Christ's will.

What is the Unforgivable Sin?

Before I say what the unforgivable sin is, I need to explain what it isn't. Far too many ignorant teachers have rambled on about what they think it is when they actually don't know. It isn't a single sin such as saying "mad dog" backwards. Neither is it turning away from God for a season.

Jesus said in Mark 3:29 (KJV) that it's blasphemy of the holy Spirit. "But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:"

And what is this blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Hank Hanegraaff has wisely said that it's the steadfast resistance to the Spirit's conviction until death. When Stephen confronted the Pharisees and gave them the history of Israel's apostasy, he recognized that they refused to listen to him. But it wasn't him only but the Holy Spirit speaking through him. In Acts 7:51 (KJV), He summed up, "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye."

The reason we can tell that the Holy Spirit was speaking through Stephen, a man filled with the Spirit, is because of what Christ said in John 14:26 (KJV). "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

And as we saw at the first Pentecost after Christ's resurrection, it was the Holy Spirit preaching through the disciples. When the gospel is proclaimed, preachers are speaking for the Lord and the words from the Bible are those which the Holy Spirit inspired men to write.

I'll be explaining much more about this topic in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Many people, including those who profess to be Christians, resist the Spirit by not obeying and totally following Christ. They'll be in for a horrible shock on the day of judgement when they find themselves on the left side of Christ with the condemned souls.

Does God Send People to Hell?

One of the most-often cited reasons people have for rejecting God is the idea that he sends folks to hell. Critics argue that people who never heard the Gospel or never heard of God are damned unfairly. The truth is that human beings choose to be apart from God's love and dominion over their lives.

From the beginning, God allowed humanity the choice of obeying him and being blessed verses disobeying him and being cursed. Adam and Eve had only one rule to obey. Genesis 2:17 KJV() shows God's warning to them regarding disobeying it. "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and  evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof  thou shalt surely die." Though they didn't physically fall down dead, they became cursed because they listened to Satan.

We can also see how God allowed the Israelites abundent opportunities to obey and live or disobey and perish. Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV) plainly states, "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:"

Another example of choice is given in Joshua 24:15 (KJV) where it says, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Choice was extended to the New Testament people as well. Matthew 4:17 (KJV) reads, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Jesus likewise warned people about hell in Luke 13:3 (KJV) when they asked him about the spiritual wickedness of some people who died. "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

The Disciples likewise warned people to repent. Peter said in Acts 3:19 (KJV), "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;"

Paul also stated in Acts 17:30 (KJV) to the Greeks,  "And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:"

I've presented only a few verses here to show that all people have a choice whether to obey or disobey the Lord. I'll be able to expand fully on this topic in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Some people think God is cruel to send sinners to hell but it's actually a mercy. After all, they hate God and his people. Being dragged into the Lord's holiness for all eternity would be torture for them since They would rather not be with him or us.