If faith is a gift from god, and most people haven't been given the gift of faith, is it really reasonable to think that god would send them to hell?
Isn't it more true to say that those who have been given the gift of faith but refused to use it would be the ones going to hell?
If you think about this, it would mean that those condemned to hell would only be christian unbelievers, not atheist/agnostic unbelievers or those of other faiths.
2007-02-28 07:21:28 · 28 answers · asked by Dharma Nature 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My source - when I used to be a churchgoer, I was told that faith is a gift from god and that the gifts of god were not often given.
2007-02-28 07:23:33 · update #1
Ephesians 2:8 states that: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" from the new international version.
2007-02-28 07:32:42 · update #2
Faith is not a gift given from God. I don't know if maybe you heard something and took it out of the context or maybe they were just misleading you, but FREE WILL is a gift given from God and everyone has it because he wanted people to be able to choose, faith is part of free will.
Answer to your question is this, yes, people who choose not to put faith in God will go to hell according to the Bible.
THE gift from God is this, while we were yet sinners he sent his only son to die for us, knowing that some would still choose not to accept this gift of their own free will, because God is a gentlemen he would never force himself on anyone, he'll meet you where you are, but only if you want him too.
EDIT:
Answer to your new edition: the gift that the verse is talking about is God's grace, not faith.
2007-02-28 07:29:37 · answer #1 · answered by Chenielle 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Faith is not a gift from God. If you repent your sins and ask for forgiveness and it comes from the heart he forgives you. You receive salvation. The Bible lets us know that when the end is here, everyone will have been presented with the truth. It is every ones "CHOICE" to believe or not. That is the faith, that God knows better than we do and he does not make mistakes! There is information of this in the Bible.
2007-02-28 15:29:48 · answer #2 · answered by WRF 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When you were going to Church you were mislead. There are some gifts that God does not give to everyone. But the best gifts, those that have the possibility to save, are given freely to all who seek. Which puts the ball in our court individually to seek out Christ. This is also why Christ commissioned all Christians to seek out the unbelievers. How else are they to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ if not by the mouth of people who already know.
No, you cannot be saved in ignorance.
2007-02-28 15:30:10 · answer #3 · answered by rbarc 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Since you used to be a churchgoer by your own admission, then using your logic, you are going to hell -- since you rejected the gift that was given you.
How do you reconcile your lifestyle with the obvious conclusion of your arguments?
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It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.
~2 Peter 2:21(NIV)
2007-02-28 16:20:08 · answer #4 · answered by Randy G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I understand what you are saying but every one will get the opportunity to either accept Jesus or not, their choice. Contrary to what the non- Christians believe , they still are refusing to accept Jesus. I have never heard of this gift of faith. According to common belief, If you put your faith in Jesus, (Jesus as your personal Savior) you will go to heaven.
2007-02-28 15:30:09 · answer #5 · answered by Icey 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes faith is a gift from God,your gift is,that you can read,RIGHT!and that you understand like normal human beings RIGHT! so you yourself have the chance in life to explore religion and take the straight path
so take it while you are still alive,who knows what tomorrow God will bring!
2007-02-28 15:31:34 · answer #6 · answered by Jo 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are many different things to think. Your suggestions are a drop in the bucket. So what sets one aside from all the rest? You can make countless suggestions of possibilities - it's limited only by our imagination. Our knowledge of the truth, however, is limited by our lack of knowledge, and we are all severely lacking in it. I would hardly believe that we are destroying the planet deliberately, and these are simpler things to understand than God and faith.
2007-02-28 15:30:02 · answer #7 · answered by rgtheisen2003 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The second part of your answer answered your question.
To the third part of your question consider this. If a person is given salvation, and then turns their back, they stop following Christ, so are they still a christian if the definition of a christian is "follwer of christ?"
2007-02-28 15:30:25 · answer #8 · answered by sunscour 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
People without the free gift of salvation cannot enter heaven.
2007-02-28 15:24:16 · answer #9 · answered by Eartha Q 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yah know, it's like saying you've won an all expense paid vacation to the wonderful city of Atlantis or The Emerald City of The Wizard. It's a fictional place to evoke emotions and fear into a certain kind of person. Which most in the world aren't.
2007-02-28 15:27:21 · answer #10 · answered by Terry 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋