If God Is All-Forgiving, Then Why Do People Go To Hell?

Question

God is forgiving. He forgives even the deadliest sinners. In that case, why do people go to hell?

Because they don't believe in God? But what if that person just didn't know any better? Or what if that person DID believe in God but still did horrible things?

When I asked this at my bible camp, they told me that in Hell, people lock the doors from the inside so God can't get in. That doesn't make much sense to me. Who would like to rot in hell when they can go to Heaven by being forgiven?

10 points to the most reasonable answer.

Epitome, so are you saying there is no Hell?

and Debbie, would YOU condemn YOURSELF to hell? Would ANYONE condemn themselves to hell? nobody wants to go to hell, whether you are a priest or a serial killer.

Answer 1

Answer is really simple dear. God is all-forgiving but He forgives those who seek forgiveness, who repent and do their best not to repeat their sins. As for those who don't know for any better, can anybody blame them? God won't :) But a person who claims to beleive in God and still goes on sinning without ever repenting for his/her sins is surely the worst type - hypocritical behaviour, something God doesn't like at all.

As for the answer you got in that camp, I advise you to ask the person who told you that to give you evidence from Bible which will support such ridiculous idea. Who would willingly go to Hell? Please

EDIT: I've just read a few answers you got. How can people read Bible and still deny existance of Hell? What? Hell being an illusion and a metaphor for state of mind. WOW! If you feel better thinking this way ... Oh my! Hell is so real.

Answer 2

I don't care about the points, first of all. People who continually reject God make their own choice about eternity. They don't want to have God in their lives. Read some of the answers on this site. They think that Hell is a bar-b-que party with their friends. It is their choice. Sinners are forgiven by God for their crimes when they realize that they are sinners and need a Savior. For folks who have never heard the gospel then God knows this and will judge according to their understanding. However, if you hear the gospel and reject it then you have chosen Hell. If Hell, disturbs you, then you probably are not going there, because you understand about God. This is why it is important to get the Gospel message out to the world.

Answer 3

If one asks forgiveness 60 times a day, once after every cigarette smoked from three packs day in and day out, will their chances of suffering from lung cancer be nill?

Repentance, turning from wickedness, goes with forgiveness. While there remains much suffering I cannot explain; there is not one person who goes to any type of hell hereafter without a cause.

Today demonic spin is placed on all things religious. For example people say all-forgiving when what they really mean is all-permissive.

Finally, as you note, how can one ask forgiveness of a God they do not believe in? If they have been lied to or face sincere misunderstanding; God knows the heart and situation better than we do.

The best that you or I can do, for ourselves or anyone else, is to be more Christ like. I trust that you will think about this and walk your walk with Jesus Christ. Leave some particulars to God; He will answer them over time. You and I don't have what it takes to judge each individual case.

As for camp. The lock on the door of the human heart has always been on the inside. As for hell, it was prepared for the devil and his angels and not for mankind. Having eternal life, Jesus holds the keys to death, hell and the grave. If you do not have eternal life in Christ Jesus you will not enter the kingdom. Without that life you cannot live eternally in hell or in heaven. I trust you see this.

Answer 4

God is not all forgiving , it's a man made idea .. There must be a payment for sin. A sin is a crime against God's law . Jesus made that payment for those who will come to trust and believe in him and try to do the will of God. If you are a believer and lived the life you want , then God will make your life more difficult , and your rewards in heaven will be taken away at judgment day . God was in hell for three days after he died on the cross as part of that payment for sin. Read the bible yourself ..start in the new testament .

Answer 5

It is more than just being remorseful. A person must turn away from their sins and receive Jesus as their Lord. When we do this, God gives us the Holy Ghost. It is God who gives us the the power to become the Children of God. We only get one life and if we chose Satan over God, that is what He gives us. It is called freewill. That is why us Christians are so persistent with sharing God's salvation. We don't want to see anyone go to Hell because once a person goes there, there is no more salvation for them.

Answer 6

"Who would like to rot in hell when they can go to Heaven by being forgiven?"

Here is a reasonable AND factual answer: lots of people!

Yeah, it's amazing, but some people actually don't want to go to Heaven because it means not only repenting and being forgiven of sin, but TRYING NOT TO SIN AGAIN. That's the key. Many people don't want to make that day to day commitment to conquer sin. It is a lifelong battle and so many just throw the towel in saying "it's not worth it - I'm going to get my kicks while I'm here."

Many of these people eventually try to deny Hell exists so they don't have to fear it anymore. Stick around Yahoo Answers and you will see just what I'm talking about. Nearly everyday you've got someone on here talking about how Hell is an illusion or asking how a good God could let people go there.

Answer 7

It's one of those problem spots found in all religions where you are not suppose to think about it too much. Hell is just a device to scare you into behaving according to what the Church deems appropriate. No one who spends at least 5 minutes thinking about it will think a kind loving god will send someone to hell for eternity for what the person did in a 1-120 year life span.

Give someone 1 trillion years in hell for every offense that may have occurred in their life, and it still doesn't add up to eternity or a loving god. It's a completely ludcrious concept that may have worked when they were burning witches, but doesn't hold up with the slightest bit of thought. Something that religions frown upon, thinking.

Answer 8

People go to hell because they don't allow God to remove the sin from them. He throws SIN into the fire and if it's still attached to you, you are going with it. He doesn't WANT you to go in, but you NEED to have it removed.

If they didn't know any better, they are shown mercy. There are ways God shows himself to us even if you have not heard of the bible, the question is did you listen? If you did and began to seek Him out, you will not be punished for not understanding. Every person has a homing beacon in them that is hard wired to seek God, many confuse this and find substitutes that aren't what they are supposed to be focusing on.

If you believe in God and still do horrible things, I would have to call into question your belief in God. Jesus said which 2 commandments are the most important, and if you follow those 2, you will follow them all. If you are following them in such a way, how can you do horrible things? I think you are talking about a zealot who has taken it upon themselves to do bad things in God's name, that does not mean God told them to do it.

When you see God, you will be amazed at the peace and power He radiates. After you see this and are put on trial, you will have to go forever being away from it. You will know how much He loves you at that time and what you are missing out on forever, hence the gnashing of teeth and weeping often used to mean hell in Jesus' stories. These people after being told and shown time again have hardened their hearts toward the Lord. They will relize they did not make the correct choice, but by then the time to make it is past. They will know what they have done as soon as they see Him. He will read from the books each and every thought/word/deed they did and show them why they are getting the punishment they are getting.

Answer 9

You must ask for forgiveness to recieve it. ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE. You must also repent of your sins to be forgiven. You can say you are sorry, but if you are not truly sorry and want to change your behavior God will know what is in your heart. If you have NO intention of not doing a sin again, God knows this and will not forgive you. If you don't know any better, it is not considered a sin in God's eyes. You must make an actual attempt at reform, not just speak the words. Actions speak louder than words. I gave you a star for this one. It is a good question.
I am NOT condemming myself to hell. I have asked for forgiveness for my sins and I try not to committ them again at all cost. I think your bible camp is wrong.

Answer 10

That is not a biblical reason your church camp gave. Hell is a lake burning with fire and is also called "outer darkness". Hell has no gates. The grave has gates, but the only one with the keys is Jesus (Rev. 1:18). Tell your Bible Camp to read the Bible rather than give pat answers.

If God were not forgiving, He would have never sent His only Son to be tortured and crucified on the cross. The reason why He DID, is because He loves the world and desires that all should be saved.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." - John 3:16

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

However, in order for free will to be a reality, there needs to be a definite choice. For free will without choice is an illusion. So God has made every effort to provide a free gift of salvation without any need to work for it. Just accept. If you choose not to accept, that is your own fault. Jesus illustrated free will when He warned...

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." - Matthew 7:13-14

The gospel is simple, and everyone who hears it WILL know better. I have met children and special needs children that understand that God loves them, and they love God back. My daughter has known that Jesus died for her since she was 5.

Remember, we are going to be judged by how much revelation we have been given, and how much access we have been provided to seek and know the truth. Ignorance of the plan will be no excuse. Everyone who has access to a Bible will be without excuse on that day.