Christians...help me to understand?

Question

Ok..I came across a question as to why Christians believe in a God that created hell. Someone answered it with a statement: God created Hell to punish sinners and gave an example of the Judicial system ie. sentencing someone for a crime.

My question is, What is considered a sin that will get you into hell and what is considered a sin that can be forgiven so you don't go to hell? Where does the line cross at?

Some Christians say believing in Astrology is a Sin, but yet, it isn't considered a crime in Society. Some Christians say believing in Superstition is a sin, but yet, everyone participates in a Superstitious act in one form or another. Some Christians say and believe God is the only one who can judge on judgement day, but yet, many Christians still pass judgement on those that do not follow their step.

So where does the line cross at??

Ok...now I've read some of your answers and they are very insightful but most of you are giving different answers. From the most part I can see that as long as you follow the 10 commandments and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, it's all good, right?

Now, my path is Witchcraft. I live my life to help others in need, protect the innocent, to love, cherish, and protect my family, and do what I can to bring everyone together in harmony. I, too believe in an Absolute One but because I don't accept Jesus Christ as my Savior, I'm going to hell? How could God punish me when I live my life with love in my heart?

Answer 1

Great Question.
The answer you received seems to be a bit of a stretch as far as the Bible explains it.

Any sin will get you into Hell. All of mankind is cursed because of one sin (the apple in the garden). With Abraham, GOD counted his faith as righteousness. GOD promised to provide an acceptable sacrifice for our sins and he sent Jesus to earth to be that sacrifice. The Cross is where the line crosses over from our damnation to acceptance by grace through faith. Salvation is the fact that we are saved from what we rightfully deserve.
As far as GOD creating Hell as an example of our Judicial system is just flat out silly. I won't even address that.
I hope that helps a little. As far as I can remember. Hell was created for Satan and his angels.

Answer 2

This person will say this, and that person will say that. Even practioneers of the same sect will see somethings differently.

THE ONLY REAL QUESTION IS WHAT YOU SAY!!!

There is ALOT of mental vomit out there, which all it really does is CONFUSE a person. Hheheee and give a person an excuse not to be doing what they know they should be doing.

With all the confusion, some people like being TOLD what to do and how to be. Basically, that is all that a religon really is. Taking another person's opinions as your own. Hehehee perhaps this is merely a self defense, so when you err you have someone else to blame.

You already know that christians are hypocrites, so why bother with a silly question you already know the answers. That is what a sinner IS, a hypocrite. They have transgressed the covanent that they themselves have sworn to their god(s) to uphold.

One of the reasons that sinners were so vile in the OT scriptures. If a sinner is willing to LIE and DEFY their own god(s), the truth is NOTHING is really sacred to them.

With the rise of the NT, this concept of you can do whatever ya what, bring truly unspeakable evil into the world man, but its okay 'everyone is a sinner'. You don't even have to take responsiblity for it, the christians have elevated satan to some supreme being that is out there messin with everyone, everywhere. ((If satan hs so much power, why does the advesary have to ask for god's permission before messing with Job?!?)) All the sin doesn't matter anywho since they have a 'bloody lamb' to clean it all up for them.

As to your quesiton, where does the line cross? One answer is that there is NO LINE, there is ONLY LIFE. One's LIFE becomes what they choose to define it ALL.

Answer 3

CJ is incorrect. James (in the bible) writes: "the devils also believe".

For all practical purposes, there is no sin which cannot be forgiven by God. Any sin is great enough to "get you into hell".

Sin and political law are two very different things. The only relationship between them is that Paul tells us to obey the laws of those who rule over us.

The bible does specifically mention that astrology is sinful.

"everyone participates in a Superstitious act in one form or another." - unless you consider Christianity a superstition, this is not true. Although, perhaps you can persuade me that I am superstitious in some way?

The line: if you follow Jesus to the best of your ability, having faith, obedience and good works, and if you are *sincere*, and repentant of all your sins, then you have crossed the line.

Jim, http://www.jimpettis.com/wheel/

Answer 4

lots of people say lots of stuff.
the 10 commandments determine what is a sin and what is not a sin.
the only unforgivable sin is unbelief in Jesus Christ as the only begotten son of God.
the only way to the Father is thru the Son.
if you don't believe that, then yes, you'll be going to Hell rather than heaven.
christians only have the right to judge other christians. only God can judge the unbelievers and that will take place after death @ the gates of heaven. if they believed then they go on in, if they didn't then down to Hell they go. That's it.
i hope you'll be in Heaven with me!
blessings.

Answer 5

Yeah, excellent questions!
God created hell to punish the Devil and his angels. Man can go there by rejecting God. Any old sin can get a person into hell if the person rejects God and refuses to repent. Sin is an ancient archery word meaning to miss the mark. We all miss the mark every single day. It's not an accounting system, it's a relationship. Jesus said, "All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven man, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven." (Matthew 12:31) It only makes sense to understand that if there is an unforgiveable sin, it is also a non-repentable sin, and one that cannot be committed by accident. The Bible says, "It has been told thee, O man, what is required of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." (Micah 6:8) As Christians, we believe that walking humbly with our God includes confessing our sins and believing in Jesus as Messiah and Savior so that our sins are forgiven - all of them. The Bible also says that in the times of our ignorance, God winked. (Acts 17:30)
The Bible says Hell is a place of separation from God, of burning, of suffering, of torment, and also of destruction. Isaiah 33:12 says the people will be "burned to lime." I.e., unrepentant people are going to suffer justly for the sins they committed, and they will be destroyed to lime (organic ash) in that process. God is just, and He knows that we are but dust. (Psalm 103:14)
As for Christians not agreeing on so many things, remember, this is a faith born from Judaism, where for every 2 people there are 3 opinions.

Answer 6

It's not as simple as "this sin will send me to hell, and this one won't"
Staying out of Hell is based on faith in Christ, works as manifestation of that faith (ie. baptism, serving others, etc.), and full repentance and abandonment of sins that we can leave behind.

These are minor sins at best:
Astrology has its' roots in pagan (read: not Christian, Jewish, or Islamic) religion. Of course, so does the Easter (Eostre) holiday. Christians should avoid embracing primitive pagan celebrations.
Superstitions also come from pagan or culturally non-Christian beliefs and become a mini-mantra in and of themselves that can lead one away from Christian practices.

For Christians who feel the need to judge, Christ counseled:
Matt. 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."

Hell was created because there must be opposition in all things, and there must be justice in the afterlife. Without evil, we would not be able to recognize when the good stands out in our lives.

Answer 7

It depends who you ask. There's no simple answer. Some Christians will tell you that once you're saved you can't become unsaved. To those people the only sin that can get you thrown into hell in not believing in Jesus.

Other traditions have different rules. Catholics, for example, distinguish between "mortal" and "venial" sin. Mortal sin earns you a ticket to eternal hell. Venial sinners can be purified in purgatory which is sort of a temporary hell. But Catholics can erase their sins through the sacrament of Confession so Catholics only go to hell if they die with an unconfessed mortal sin.

Answer 8

first i woudl like to make a comment on the Christians who pass judgement on others..this is true...and the reason i beleive is because they have the rightous Christ dwelling in them..they have started to beleive they are actually rightous themself..forgetting that without him they are just like everyone else..sinners who deserve punishment..most people agree that the 10 commandments are real from G-d...they are even spread to most religions as things that G-d would not accept or like...therefore all of us have broken those commandments...(who hasnt lied or taken something that wasnt theirs like an extra sugar packet in a restaurant)...G-d is rightous...and cannot accept sin against him..ofcourse Jesus made it clear that we should Love our Lord above all...
as for astrology..since i was saved..the Lord has slowly revealed the things in my life that were distastfull, wrong, and sinfull and everytime i have asked clarity he has shown me right from wrong..i no longer follow any astrology because of this...the bible says we shouldnt...and he nugged me lightly when i was trying to continue following it...showing me that its along the lines of the occult...

Answer 9

The line crosses when a person knowingly continues to sin and doesn't try to repent of it. The Bible teaches that the finished work of Christ on the cross was a sufficient sacrifice for all of our sins....

Hebrews 10:11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

...but it goes on to say...

Hebrews 10:26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

As to why God created Hell, the Bible says...

Matthew 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Answer 10

Somehow somewhere someone made the assumption that Christians are perfect saints. As with all faiths, you have your extremest and people who just make stuff up. Don't be prejudice please. I'm not like that at all.

I'm not sure I believe in a real hell. It didn't enter the faith until it was Romanized. The concept of hell is Greek mythology which the Romans believed in. The devil with horns, the river styx, etc. If you really want to understand hell, talk to a Jew. That's what Jesus was.