“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2Pet 3:9ESV
There is a new —actually very old— teaching permeating the church. ‘God is such a loving Father, He won’t send anyone to hell, no matter what the condition of the heart.’ This teaching is true and false.
True! 1Jn 4:8KJV “…God is love…” Yes God is the loving Father. God forgives all sins. God sent Jesus to seek and save the lost.
Jn 1:12NIV “But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.” Father God, Jesus “not wishing that any should perish.” Jesus wants everyone to CHOOSE loving him and going to heaven. Yes! There’s that word again! Choose! All of life is about our choices.
People made in the image of God, going to eternal damnation, hell, wasn’t and isn’t God’s idea. God desires absolutely no one to end up in the lake of fire.
Contrary to popular opinion, it’s satan’s idea to take people to hell with him. First, he hates everyone. Second, satan knows how much God loves people. Convincing people to go to hell, hurts the heart of Papa God and makes satan’s day.
False! IF everyone born was going to heaven, then fifty percent of the Bible could be ripped out and thrown in the burn pile.
This makes many questions come to mind, such as i.e.
Heb 12:14NIV “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Okay… the people who don’t make Jesus their Lord and go to heaven… won’t ever see God without holiness, according to this scripture. So how can you live in someone’s house and never see that Someone? Wouldn’t that make you like a tenth class citizen? Sure it would beat a lake of fire but to live on the fringe… Not cool!
I’m asking seriously, this next question, from anyone who’s studied theology. Then is this fringe or outside of heaven revealed in Rev 22:15NIV? “…Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”
My active mind sees this as living in the worst third world ghetto imaginable, while NEVER being able to be the ‘blessed’ living it up in the palace. Wouldn’t that be a type of hell, in and of itself?
What do we do with this scripture? I thought this scripture is very plain. “Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Mt 7:23NIV.
Bottom line— why would anyone risk living throughout eternity without Jesus and God’s love for a ‘maybe-perhaps you can do it all your way’ and still make heaven? Is the risk worth perishing throughout eternity without Love? It’s your choice. You choose.
PRAYER: Papa God, It’s written: “…all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.’” I ask Sir, don’t allow these perishing ones be in among my readers or our families, in Jesus’ name I pray. [2Thess 2:10NIV]
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