DOES GOD SEND PEOPLE TO HELL?
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from the Afrikaans Version: Stuur God mense hel toe?
Translator: Lynda Botha
I know that I have previously written about this subject, but the topic came under discussion once again when a question was raised. I then thought it vital to write something about it again and share my view regarding this matter with you.
The question was:
"Why does a loving God send people to hell?"
My immediate reaction was to realise that this statement within the question was so utterly false that this question and accompanying statement could only have originated by satan himself.
God does not want a single person to go to hell.
No! God wants all people to be in heaven with Him.
He wants us so eagerly that He allowed His Son to be murdered, so that we can choose the path to Heaven.
JOHN 3:16-18
16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
17 “God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.”
18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Him. But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.”
God wants all people to go to heaven, but He respects my wishes and accompanying choices.
I chose God because I love Him.
How does my wife know that I love her?
She can see it in my actions.
How does God know that I love Him?
JOHN 14:15 “If you love Me, obey My commandments.”
The Amplified Bible reads as follows:
JOHN 14:15 “If you (really) love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments.”
JOHN 14:21 “Those who accept My commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me. And because they love Me, My Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal Myself to each of them.”
JOHN 15:10 “When you obey My commandments, you remain in My love, just as I obey My Father’s commandments and remain in His love.”
JOHN 15:11 “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”
Which commandments does Jesus refer to here?
It's so straightforward and I always told you that people try to make the Bible too complicated.
Just see how uncomplicated it is to know what Jesus' commandments are:
MATTHEW 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”
37 “Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.”
38 “This is the first and greatest commandment.”
39 “A second is equally important: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”
40 “The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
If you love God…
MAT 22:37 “… with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.”
…then you will endeavour to do what pleases Him.
If I love my neighbour as myself…..
MAT 22:39 “A second is equally important: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”.
..then I will not gossip, steal, despise, hate or whatever else, simply because I abide by Jesus’ commandments and I respect and love my neighbour just like I love myself and would not do such foul things to myself because I know to love my neighbour in Jesus’ eyes have just as much value for Him as my love for Him.
MAT 22:39 “A second is equally important: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”.
If I obey these commandments, I am actually doing what Jesus expects from me.
MAT 22:40 “The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
As for myself, I would like to encourage you, if I may be so bold, to also look at it from this perspective:
I fail my God every day in this matter, but He sees the sincerity in my striving to fully obey His commandments. Therefore, my loving God lets me understand this; that He sees my daily struggle and knows that I love Him dearly.
Greetings,
Sakkie