In particular, what is the meaning of Romans 9:22-24:
"What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath--prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory--even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?"
Does "prepared for destruction" mean hell, and does "prepared for glory" mean heaven?
2006-11-26 09:59:33 · 12 answers · asked by Kidd! 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There are some who believe that most people will go to Hell no matter what, because God didn't choose them, but most Christians such as myself don't believe that. First of all, I think that in Second Peter it says that God is "patient toward you, not willing that ANY should perish, but that all should come to repentance." This does not mean that everyone will be saved, but it means that everyone has the opportunity, I believe, to put their trust in Christ. Also, Jesus said in Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me." Also, in Hebrews it says "Today, if you hear His voice do not harden your hearts." There are also many other verses that I believe teach that everyone has the opportunity to be saved. Also, knowing that God is gracious, merciful and loving. Furthermore, if no one had any choice, then love would be rendered meaningless because no one would choose God, therefore how could it be love? But it's important to realize that people choose God because He first calls us. Also, Jesus said: "Many are called, but few are chosen." I believe that everyone has the opportunity to be saved, and that God predestines us both by His sovereignty and foreknowledge of how each person will respond to His calling. If a person chooses to respond to God, then He will enable them to put their faith in Him, if a person chooses not to respond to God then He will acknowedge their choice. That's what I believe. www.equip.org
2006-11-26 10:18:21 · answer #1 · answered by jamesdkral 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hell is not a literal place. How can an all loving God create a place of eternal punishment? You do not exist after death. The idea of the immortal soul came from the pagans. They bible even states that Jesus went to hell. The bible never mentions that all righteous people go to heaven. Some will have to wait in death for the resurrection. After the resurrection, man will live on a paradise earth, not heaven. The word Sheol means 'the grave' not a place of punishment. Rev. 20:13,14 KJ: "The sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire." (So the dead will be deliverd from hell. Notice also that hell is not the same as the lake of fire but will be cast into the lake of fire.) This scripture proves that hell is not a place of eternal punishment because it says that hell is going to be destroyed.
2016-05-23 06:03:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I will say this without any offense to the man that said there is not enough room in heaven he is dead wrong. Do you think that if all humanity choose to live a life worthy of heaven that God could not expand heaven? That haowever is not a clear desribtion I mean to say that heaven is the glory of Gods presence so heaven could not run out of room.
Then to answer you question no he was just say what if that happened how would be the glory of God? He was not say some of us are predetermined.
2006-11-26 10:10:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe what Paul is talking about here is IF God chose to show his wrath there are those who will not go to heaven. They mock Him like Pharaoh did in Exodus. God predestined Pharaoh to hell for the sole purpose (Exodus 9:16) of showing His power and glory to the Israelites, who are His chosen people and who he removed from Egypt. When the Israelites saw God's wrath, then they believed in God's power. Roman's 9:17 states what is also in Exodus. Go back to verse 14 and read it thru. In God's master plan, there are folks who are predestined to hell for His purpose and will here on earth. His great powers and His name will be proclaimed in all the earth. As God's chosen people,we have a choice today.
2006-11-26 10:45:19 · answer #4 · answered by Deborah K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, most of humanity is predestined for Hell cause there's not enough room in Heaven. You got a problem with that?
You can find many other references in the Bible about predestination, and the fact of the matter is, Heaven is really quite small and cannot contain or support a huge number of souls; so by far the greatest portion of humanity will fry in Hell, and their screams will resound throughout all corridors and mansions of Hell, and this will be an eternal situation.
I will say this without offense to the guy who said I am wrong: I'm a saint and I'm holy so you better listen to what I tell you.
2006-11-26 10:04:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Everything in the cosmic system moves according to karma. As we sow so shall we reap... nothing less or more! As you perform so shall be your destiny.
No doubt for the common man... destiny is fixed! But for those who believe in the concept that the destiny can be changed they are right. How?
If we perform good deeds we earn Punya karma. Bad deeds result in papa karma. If we have a balance of Punya karma at the fag end of physical life... we shall be awarded a seat in heaven (aka Swarga in Hinduism)... negative balance of karma leads directly to hell (aka Naraka in Hinduism).
God has nothing to do with our balance of karma. As we lead our daily life... so shall be the returns. Everything in the cosmic system is an open balance sheet. The closing balance of the day becomes the opening balance of tomorrow. Does this mean our future is in our hands... yes the absolute truth is so! But most people do not admit it... for they do not have the capacity to exercise their will power!
A common man exercises his ego... on the contrary a wise man exercises his will. It is this distinction that differentiates a master from the common man.
To take control of our destiny we need to exercise absolute control over the five senses and the mind. It is only then we can control our destiny in almost totality.
Bill Gates, JRD Tata, Henry Ford and Florence Nightingale were not a produce of a day. They had toiled day and night unseen to mankind to reach the status they exercised in their lifetime. Success is not a matter of hours.
Beyond success lie the roots of taking control of senses and the mind. This faculty of taking control over the senses and the mind is what differentiates a King and a laborer.
We may have been born in a cobbler's house yet we need to have the guts and the planning to marry the Princess of the state. Our being born in the cobbler's house owes its existence to the resultant balance karma of the past lives. But by marrying the Princess of the state and becoming a Prince or a King is taking destiny under control in present life.
All is the result of a system that cannot err... the system of God is never disordered at any stage as has been expressed by Stephen Hawking in his book, "a brief history of time". It is not for the scientists to dwell in the domain of the sacred scriptures. Spirituality starts where science ends.
Stephen Hawking neither has the capacity nor capability to assess any sacred Scripture. Sacred scriptures are devoid of proofs. Absolute spirituality is based upon faith and faith alone. In the domain of God only those are permitted to tread who have absolute faith in the system of God.
In a nutshell, if we desire to go to heaven then we need to have a positive balance of karma at the end of our present life. A negative balance of karma would land us in hell. More on Karma, heaven and hell here- http://www.godrealized.com/karma.html and http://www.godrealized.com/Swarga.html and http://www.godrealized.com/Naraka.html
2006-11-27 00:46:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God knows who will accept and who will reject Him. He knows the beginning and the end. Man has the freedom to chose and He knows what you will end up choosing. The things of God seem to either soften or harden the hearts of men.Some people just continually harden themselves to the things of God. Ask Him to give you a soft heart.It is Way better.
2006-11-26 11:33:58 · answer #7 · answered by angel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nobody is predestinated to hell.
The predestinated are ones who fought against Satan's rebellion. God can use them without worrying about freewill.
2006-11-26 10:03:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
We choose where we go, it's called free will.
2006-11-26 10:02:43 · answer #9 · answered by St. Mike 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no way hose
2006-11-26 11:07:51 · answer #10 · answered by george p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋