Would Jesus really promote hell?

Question

"How do you see Jesus Christ? As a stern judge who condemns people to suffer forever in hell for unrepented sins and incorrect religious beliefs, or a loving Savior who will do anything necessary to redeem all souls and reunite us with God? Who is the real Jesus Christ? The Bible tells us many things about Jesus and his teachings, but different Christians disagree about what is the overall message of the Gospel.

Jesus Christ said that some people who call themselves "Christian" have never seen him for who he really is -- never seen the real Jesus Christ, never known him in their heart. Surely Jesus meant people who are liberal in their beliefs and practices, right? Wrong! Jesus said, "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 perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Mat. 7:22-23)." -http://www.christian-universalism.com/index2.htm

READ THE WHOLE STORY
whoever it is that made the second response really did not get the excerpt but then again its her opinion and it counts.

Answer 1

No-one will ever truly know these things until they die.. we are not meant to know.

Answer 2

Hell is nothing else than eternal separation form God, because the person does not want to be close to God. Its tormenting because God is love, acceptance, mercy, and without God there is bitterness, greed, jealousy, fear, isolation.

God did all that he could to keep people from hell (from being godless). First he brought the prophets, then he became human like we are, but we killed him. Then he went straight into people's souls as the Holy Spirit, to be received by those who sincerely wish it - to transform our way of seeing the world - to give peace, optimism, and hope.

This is not a cold and rejecting God. God is Love. he gives his life to prove this. Don't listen to any Christian who will interpret the bible otherwise. Listen to the catholic Church that's been around with the same true teaching about Jesus since the Apostles.

We have hypocrites among us I don't deny it. To them, Jesus gives a warning - change or I will not recognize you on the last day. They are the ones Jesus is talking to in your quote.

But overall, the Church teaching is still the one and only: "God is Love".

Answer 3

Jesus would that we all obey him. There are very few rules to being a Christian. Narrow minded people complicate a simple situation. Most of the things that aaa good person does by plain human nature are in a sense christianlike. We are only asked to ,believe, repent and be baptized for the remission of all our sins. Not much of a price for a life on earth that is much better than constant partying etc, with the promise of eternal life at the end.

Answer 4

What is your question, really? Jesus didn't "promote" hell. He came to save us from hell. He tells us more about hell than anyone else in the Bible, sometimes quite vividly:
"...the unquenchable FIRE,'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'" (Mark 9:43-44)
"...thrown out into the outer DARKNESS. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:12)

Christians may disagree about certain points in the Bible but the main theme of the gospels is that Jesus died for our sins, enabling us to have everlasting life, if we repent and obey God. Christians also agree that we serve a holy God, we are sinners, and if we don't want to repent, we will be completely cut off from the goodness and presence of God - hell.

It seems that you don't agree that unrepented sin is a problem according to the "real" Jesus Christ. The real Jesus said, in Luke 13:5 "I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way." The verse in Matthew that you are quoting is talking about false prophets. Read further in Matthew (7:26-27): "But everyone who hears these words and of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand...and it fell with a great crash."

Heaven and hell are choices. Make the right one, friend. [e-mail]

Answer 5

You need to narrow down your questions. I think you are really giving your opinion than asking a question. All denominations know that Jesus is the Savior and it is through Jesus we recieve eternal life. The message is clear. Jesus saves. There are people who go through the motions of Christianity never really knowing God, wrrying about traditions, those people Jesus will say to them " I never knew you". So keep it simple and love God with all your heart mind and soul and love thy neighbor as thyself. God bless you.

Answer 6

Very good question.

Having been both a witness and a member of the jury in court, one must realise that John's gospel uses a number of court based analogies. It would be good to understand how things work in court, since in the Bible, the english word "Judge" and "judgement" is used for a number of different Greek words all with slightly different nuances.

In a modern law court, the Accused person is accused of a crime. The Judge and Jury must be impartial and must assume the innocence of the Accused. It is the job of the Prosecutor to convince the Jury (not the Judge) that the Accused is Guilty beyond any reasonable doubt. The Advocate defends the Accused person, and speaks on his behalf. It is the Jury who makes the final decision as to whether the Accused is guilty or not (not the Judge). The Foreman then delivers the verdict, and the Judge pronounces the Sentence. It is the Judge's job to decide what the sentence should be based on the Law. (not the Jury) Remember, we do not need proof of innocence. We need proof of guilt.

In John's writings, a number of Greek words are used for judge and judgment.

(a) Krites is used for someone like an umpire or arbiter - he has authority to weigh things up and make a decision. The Krites does not pass judgment but is like the modern Jury. This is the word used in Acts 10:42

Acts 10: 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he (Jesus Christ) is the one whom God appointed as judge (arbiter/juror) of the living and the dead.

Jesus Christ is the Jury.

(b) Krino is to actually sentence, condemn or pass judgement. In modern courts, this is what the Judge does. This is the word used in John 5 and 12.
(c) Krisis is similar to the word verdict/decision. This is used in John 5.

John 5:22 "For not even the Father judges (condemns/sentences) anyone, but He has given all judgment (reaching a verdict) to the Son,

John 12: 47 "If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge (sentence/condemn) him; for I did not come to judge (sentence/condemn) the world, but to save the world. 48 "He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges (sentences/condemns) him; the word I spoke is what will judge (sentence/condemn) him at the last day.

The Word that Christ spoke is the Judge.
Jesus Christ is the Jury/Foreman = the one who gives the verdict.

There are also a few other court related words.

(d) Diabolos (Devil) means False Accuser. He is called the Accuser of the Brethren in Revelations, and accused Job to God in the Old Testament. He is the one who continually tries to accuse/prosecute us and convince the Jury of our guilt.

(e) Parakletos means Advocate, one who speaks on behalf of another. This is used of both the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ.

1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
John 14:16 "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Advocate), that He may be with you forever;
John 15:26 "When the Helper (Advocate) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me,

1. Accused = All of humanity.
2. Prosecutor/Accuser = The Devil.
3. Defence/Advocate = Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
4. Jury/Foreman = Jesus Christ
5. Judge = The word that Jesus Christ spoke.

John 5:28 "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, 29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. 30 "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

It would seem that our deeds are the primary thing in question. If we think we can 'believe in Jesus' and live wicked lives we've got another thing coming! Matt 7 and 25 really talk about the so-called Christians who think that just because they believe enough to do miracles, call Jesus Lord, and prophecy, they think they won't be judged. We have been saved by grace, but faith without works is dead or ineffective. One's true faith is proven by one's works. If one thinks they can do evil deeds (e.g. Christian KKK / Christian Nazis / Christian slave-traders) and still be a Christian, Jesus Christ will say, "I never knew you."

Matt 25:41
"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels ;

Matt 25:46
"These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Those who are truly wicked will be punished for it, regardless if they believe in Christ or not, while those who are righteous will be rewarded with eternal life.

The reality of Judgment is this. If we are truly innocent and done the right thing in every situation (righteousness), then God will not let an innocent person suffer a miscarriage of Justice and be guilty of a crime they did not commit. The punishment will fit the crime. However, we do not really know who is truly righteous and who is not.

Unbelievers may or may not go to heaven or hell.
However, those who are truly wicked will go to hell.
The truly righteous will receive eternal life. The Pharisees thought they were righteous, but made things difficult for the poor. Their deeds were wicked. Those who know they are not righteous are the ones who can receive the Righteousness of Christ. A self-righteous Christian has no place in the Kingdom of God. Only the Unrighteous can receive Christ's righteousness.

John 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Jesus did not promote Hell. The word (Gehenna) is mentioned 12 times in the New Testament and none at all in the Old Testament. Jesus Christ promoted Life, Compassion, Freedom from oppression, sickness, and good news for the poor.

Answer 7

Actually Jesus is both. First He is the loving savior who "did" do everything to keep people from hell. Second, He will insure that if you reject Him you will burn in hell. Its called justice-He is just.

Answer 8

Jesus tells much more about hell than He talks about heaven. He does not want to lose anyone of us. He keeps His word. We have a choice to make with our free will and God will respect it. He will do what He promises. That goes to hell subject too. The only reason we are in hell, is if we do not choose heaven. : )

Answer 9

Remember after Jesus rose from the dead he went into hell and preached to the souls there.

Answer 10

He means that many will say how they preached about God but never really accepted it into their hearts. they never really believed. Jesus only accepts those who accept Him.

Answer 11

What Jesus did was to WARN about hell, not promote it!