As I was cooking eggs this morning – or afternoon – I was thinking about what I wanted to write about on this beautiful sunny day in Columbus Ohio. What came to mind was a conversation I overheard a few weeks ago about God’s love.
I don’t remember much of the details, but I remember the question “if God loves us all so much how come people go to hell?” being posed.
And I understand the question, especially if you are unfamiliar with the Bible. So, I figured on the weekend where the greatest love story ever unfolded would be the perfect time to give a quick answer to this question.
First off, I guess we must establish that God is a loving God.
1 John 4:7-8 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
Well, I guess that does the trick, and if the Bible’s argument is not enough to convince you I say we should look at the crucifixion….
There are 4 Greek words used to describe love:
Eros – sexual or romantic love
Phileo – fraternal or friendly love
Storge – familial love
Agape – self sacrificial love [This is the word used to describe the love God has
for his Son and the Church]
This agape kind of love is very evident in the death of His beloved Son. The perfect sacrificial lamb to atone for the sins of the world.
John 15:13 “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friend.”
You may argue this is another piece of “biblical fiction” but there is an abundance of evidence that Jesus in fact was a man who lived and died on the cross… the only question people argue about is His resurrection.
There are a few main theories that I will quickly explain before we address the main question:
1. Jesus did not actually die on the cross
a. First of all, the Romans were absolute pro’s at crucifixion and had been perfecting
the practice for years. Furthermore, Roman law even laid the death penalty on any
soldier who let a capital prisoner escape – so there was no way they were botching
this death, their lives were on the line.
b. Secondly, medical experts have confirmed that the blood and water had come from
the lance piercing Jesus’ pericardium and was a sign of death.
c. Thirdly, if he was alive when placed in the tomb he would have to remove the
encasing sheets, remove the incredibly heavy rock blocking the entrance, and
overcome the Roman guards.
2. The disciples hallucinated the risen Jesus.
a. 500+ people saw and are witness to the resurrection of Christ. Furthermore, this
'hallucination' hung around 40 days, ate food, and was touched. Which never
happens...ever.
b. Finally, the hallucination could easily have been debunked with the revealing of
Christ’s body.
3. The disciples lied.
a. Would you die for a lie? The sincerity of the disciples’ words was proven in deeds as
11/12 willingly died for Christ.
i. Peter was crucified upside down because he did not feel
worthy to die in the same manner as the Lord.
ii. Paul was beheaded.
iii. Andrew was crucified.
iv. Thomas was pierced through with spears.
v. Phillip was arrested and put to death while on mission. People
argue about the manner of his death.
vi. Matthew was stabbed to death.
vii. Bartholomew was put to death while on mission. People also
argue about the manner of his death.
viii. James was stoned and then clubbed to death.
ix. Simon was killed while on mission. Again, there is debate as to
the manner of his death.
x. Judas Thaddeus [not Iscariot] was killed by arrows.
xi. Matthias was put to death by burning. [He was the disciple that
replaced Judas Iscariot who hung himself after betraying the
Lord.]
xii. John died from old age while exiled on Patmos for spreading
the gospel [one of the 12 not martyred]
b. One might die for what they believe is true, but would someone die a brutal death
for what they know is a lie? 11/12 if you believe this myth.
4. They went to the wrong tomb.
a. Once the lie of Jesus’ resurrection got out, the Romans would have had an easy
way to show everyone that the missing body was in fact still present in the grave.
But this never happened.
5. The body was stolen.
a. To steal the body the disciples would have had to bypass the Roman guards, move
the stone in front of the tomb, and grab the body.
b. And again, the disciples would know that Jesus did not resurrect meaning 11/12
died for what they knew to be a lie.
Okay, so now moving on to address the question – if God loves people why people go to hell. I mean I do not think you can doubt the love of God, as He willingly gave His one and only Son to save ALL of mankind.
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”
My answer is simple: God is a good God, and a just God, and a loving God. And because of this God is not going to force you into relationship with Him, but created a way to enter relationship with us IF WE SO CHOOSE.
The choice is to live with God or to be separated from Him. And God honors that choice even into eternity with the opportunity to live in relationship with Him in heaven or live in separation from Him in hell.
He does not desire the separation, if He did His Son would not have been sent. If He did, the way into relationship with Christ would not be easy. If He did, nothing we could do would allow us to enter that relationship.
But God does not make us achieve perfection before we come to Him, He does not make us perform well on earth to earn salvation.
Romans 5:8 “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Instead “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. [Romans 10:9]”
All God asks of us is faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
See, God would not be good or loving if He forced us into relationship with Him. You do not see a dictator and think of love. Instead, He gave us the ability to choose Him, to enter into a meaningful relationship rather than be forced. He loves us enough to let us choose to deny and reject Him even though He sent His Son for us to die the most painful and gruesome death on the cross.
We will all die someday – that was the cost of our sin in the Garden of Eden – but we have the power to decide what happens next.
Will we accept God’s mercy and love, reach out to His awaiting hand and be welcomed home to heaven? Or will we reject God’s mercy, continue to live in sin, and accept the hell that is eternal separation from Him?
Because of the love of God that is your choice.
Because of the love of God you can choose separation.
Because of the love of God you can choose your future.
Because of the love of God you can reject Him.
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