I asked this question a while ago...
Many of you believe that those who do not accept Christ will spend eternity suffering in the fires of hell. You also believe that if you accept Christ you will spend eternity in heaven because He paid the price for your sins. Does that mean that Christ will spend eternity in hell suffering for your sins or does God play favorites?
God is a fair judge and is not a respecter of persons.
Please explain to me how He can punish unrepentent sinners to eternal torment and yet have a different punishment for His own Son who paid the same price for repentent sinners?
by the way...I am a Christian...thanks,
2007-02-21 05:22:26 · 9 answers · asked by Mr. E 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I have often wondered that as well! How is jesus chilling in heaven when sinners have to burn in hell. I know that he suffered a painful death, but if he took the place of the sinners, shouldn't hebe subjected to eternal hellfire and damnation? I asked a preacher that once and he got really mad at me!
2007-02-21 05:26:58 · answer #1 · answered by country_girl 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
1) You are basing your question upon a misunderstanding of heaven and hell. The "mainstream" Christian interpretation of this defies common sense and the scriptures.
2) Jesus suffered for sins He did not commit. How is that fair? It's not. It's merciful. That's the whole point.
2007-02-21 13:29:43 · answer #2 · answered by Open Heart Searchery 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe Jesus (since he was God) underwent an infinite amount of torment in a finite amount of time.
According to one theory, Hell is not so much about punishment, as it is simply the default state that a person is in when God simply "leaves him alone". If someone does not like God, then why should God continue to give that person pleasure, or beauty, or peace of mind, or happiness (all of which God created)? Hell is where God removes all of his gifts, and finally stops interfering with your life by taking back all of the good things that he created for you (like food, warmth, light, pleasure, etc.) and leaves your soul to try to create its own pleasure out of nothing.
Another way to look at it is to point out that a sinful person wouldn't like Heaven anyway; it would also seem like Hell. The Greek Orthodox church defines Hell as being in the pure presence of God, but you won't like it. I find it interesting that their definition of Heaven & Hell are almost identical.
2007-02-21 13:42:26 · answer #3 · answered by Randy G 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Jesus did go to Hell, and Preached The Everlasting Gospel to The Spirits in Prison there. Then He rose, and carried the Righteous Dead to Heaven with Him.
2007-02-21 13:31:52 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The wages sin pays is DEATH, NOT eternal life being tortured.. - Romans 6:23
At death, one is freed from sin. - Romans 6:7.
Jesus died, thus paid the penalty. No need to be torutred. After he paid the penalty he was resurrected.
Torture eternal is nor Scriptural. The dead are unaware of anything according to Ecclesiastes 9:5 and Psalm 146:4.
Not even the soul continues alive, it itself will die, according to Ezekiel 18: 4 & 20.
Hell is the common grave of mankind, which along with death will be destroyed. - Revelation 20:14, 15; 1-Corinthians 15:26.
2007-02-21 13:27:06 · answer #5 · answered by Abdijah 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
First off, you have to understand what Hell is and what sin is.
Hell is a state of being that God has set aside, where the occupants "survive" but without him or his love. We are spiritual beings experiencing a physical existance now. Our spiritual essences YEARN to be with God.
Sin is a breaking of one's good relationship with God. That is what God wants ... a relationship with YOU! However, he gave us free-will. We can CHOOSE to not have a relationship with him. When we do things that are contrary to what God wants, we are sinning.
That being said, Hell is that state of being, seperated from God (and here is the clincher) and there is NO HOPE of EVER being in union with him again. There is no fire in hell. There is NOTHING physical in Hell. The suffering is being permanently seperated from God and knowing it.
Up until one dies, there is hope of being in union with God, or in reconciling with God.
If you die unreconcilled, with a broken relationship with God, he will NOT force you to join him. He will respect YOUR choice, and place you in that "place" he has set aside known as hell.
Now, there are LOTS more details, but this is a highlevel response. I hope it helps.
2007-02-21 13:39:10 · answer #6 · answered by azarus_again 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
all confusion comes from thinking that acepting Jesus on your heart saves you, the salvation is a personal thing and God sees how he saves everyone, there are no shorcuts, just good deeds, and love for God.
The point in wich this infludes its, that if someone acepts Jesus on his heart he will try to behave beter, if he acpets it, but doesnt change his behavior,why what that for.
So, good deeds, cause salvation is something personal.
2007-02-21 13:48:18 · answer #7 · answered by davidhaoman 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
So, you're suggesting that either Jesus is in Hell, or We're all going to heaven... or nowhere? hmm... good point.
2007-02-21 13:29:17 · answer #8 · answered by B-Hole 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Um.....Christ redeemed us from the curse of sin and death by His blood.
That's all that was necessary for our salvation.......
I still don't see where you're going with this.
2007-02-21 13:27:14 · answer #9 · answered by primoa1970 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋