Is There Really A Hell?

Question

If God is so perfect and loving, why would he condemn millions to a fiery fate when he's the one who created them with sin in the first place?

I'm beginning to think there isn't a Hell but rather a type of limbo where people go until they repent their sins for good. Then, they go to Heaven with everyone else. It seems to make more sense than a loving God punishing so many for eternity for sins that can be forgiven in time.

If he tells us to forgive no matter what, why doesn't he follow suit?

I don't believe that humans chose to be sinful. Why should we be punished for the misdeed of two people from so long ago. This seems to be the flaw in Christianity in general.

After reading all the irrational comments from Christians, I have affirmed my disgust with Christianity. Thanks, "Christians!"

Answer 1

yes and we are living in it when we die we go to a better place

Answer 2

First of all, God DID NOT make humans to have a sin nature. That happened in the garden of eden when Eve chose to listen to the serpent instead of the commandments that God gave her.

Second of all, God gives chance after chance after chance to repent of our sins. Look at this way: your mom continually tells you NOT to do something; you do it anyway. Eventually, you WILL be punished. Now times that times thousands and you might get an inkling of how serious spiritual disobedience is. God is our father and He can allow us to sin only so many times before punishment is needed. If you repent of your sins, you will be forgiven and you will be allowed into heaven. If you don't repent, you run out of chances. Hell was not made for humans, but unfortunately untold numbers of people CHOOSE to put themselves there.

And last of all, there is no such thing as "limbo." When you die, you immediately face judgment and you will get your reward or punishment then. I hope that you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and if not, I hope that come to know Him very soon. God bless.

I should have known that this was just another attempt to bash Christians and not a serious question. If you didn't want to hear our answers, why ask the question in the first place? What do you get out of it?

Answer 3

While Christians affirm unequivocally that God is essentially good and loving, it must be emphasized that complementary to these attributes is the characteristic of justice. A loving being that ignored evil or that treated bad acts and good acts equally would not be good. Hence, if God is good, then God is also just - he must treat evil as evil. So, if any creatures merited the existence of hell, then God could remain essentially good and loving by giving them justice, even if that means sending some creatures to hell.

Another misconception has to do with how one is "sent" to hell. Often objectors claim that God randomly picks people to be damned as if on a whim. Additionally, they envision that the one sent to hell is absolutely innocent in the matter and had nothing to do with the outcome. On the contrary, Christians have long held that hell is a choice that is made by the one who arrives there (e.g., in Matt. 7:13-14 Jesus says those who choose the broad path walk to destruction). Essentially, then, God does not send people to hell. Rather, people send themselves.

A final misconception about hell is that it is a place of physical torment and torture. Rather, most Christians have understood these descriptions to capture symbolically that hell is final and utter separation from God's saving grace. Some Christians, like C. S. Lewis, take hell to be a real place where sinful people make themselves miserable. Similarly, thinking of heaven as a place of hedonistic pleasures is wrongheaded as well. In fact, those who choose hell would not enjoy the pleasures of heaven since those pleasures essentially flow from a right relationship with God.

Answer 4

Hypothetically... if I was to kill your son. and you were a christian and you obeyed God by forgiving me and letting go of your desire to avenge your sons death by leaving the punishment up to God who is a holy and righteous Judge. do you think that would make you a good enough person to get to heaven?

Actually the answer is no but that's beside my point really...

a perfect God can't just let sin go unpunished.

Loving? He Gave his own Son to take the punishment for you.

God doesn't send anyone to hell. they choose to go there because they reject his gift of salvation by the the sacrifice he made when he KILLED HIS OWN SON to save you from it.

your question has the answer to why God can't be in the same place as sin because he is PERFECT. Hell wasn't created for man but for the devil and his angels who are [hell] bent on decieving you into trying to reason some other way to get to heaven other than the way he has provided. unfortunately there are or will be people there too.

The idea of Pergatory which is similar to the "limbo" place you mentioned is a catholic one which has no relevance to anything in the bible. Jesus spoke more about hell than he did about heaven. it's not a scare tactic.

If your parents never punished you when you acted like a spoiled brat what kind of person would you have become?

I think of it like this. Did your parents ever say to you something like "if you keep doing that you'll end up a bum on the street?"

Question God all you like. Just remember He loves you. He doesn't wish for anyone to perish. If you want to accept Jesus into your heart all it takes is a quick prayer from the heart in humility and a little faith and God WILL do the rest. Believe me I know. I've asked all those questions before myself. But now I know God in my life for real. And I can assure you it's worth any kind of persecution or trial.
This life in Christ is truly abundant. everything else leads to death.

Answer 5

First off, to say their is no hell is to call God a liar.

God can't lie. Titus 1:2

Read Luke 16:19-31.

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. Heb. 9:27

We are judged by the Ten Commandments.

Ever told a lie?
Ever hated anyone? See 1 John 3:15
Ever lusted after someone? See. Matt. 5:27-28
Ever blasphemed?

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. James 2:10

Lawbreakers go to hell.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Cor. 6:9-10

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Gal. 5:19-21

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Rev. 21:8

This is clear and humbling. However God made a way so we wouldn't have to go to hell. Jesus (God in flesh) came to earth, lived a sinless life, and was crucified on our behalf. He rose three days later defeating death and in turn giving us an escape route from hell. But Jesus did command us to repent. That means to turn from sin to God. The perfect example of repentance is found in Psalm 51.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15

I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:3

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

You see when you repent God gives you a new heart and new desires and they are desires to serve Him. As a result you are biblically born again! That my friend is good news!

Answer 6

LDS perspective: There is a form of "Hell" reserved for Satan's followers and the like (nobody who has received a physical body goes there)
Even big ol' sinners get to see a "nice" heaven after repenting of their sins (which when faced with angels and stuff, you're gonna do really aren't you?)

This is because he loves the sinner but hates the sin.

Answer 7

There is no actual physical hell.

However, you can sentence yourself to a psychic hell of depression and misery while you're on this earth.

But don't expect Christians to give you a rational answer to why God punishes people for all eternity. The whole concept of God is irrational in the first place.

Answer 8

God does forgive, when we seriously seek forgiveness.

He will condemn those that chose to not seek His forgiveness and enter into His Covenant with Jesus Christ, because these are the people that are making life a living hell for the rest of us.

Answer 9

yes and first off,he dont condemn you to Hell, you condemn yourself. he didnt create you with sin, you chose it. and even if you do sin, Jeus came to make it possible for the imperfect to enter into the kingdom of Heaven

Answer 10

God desires all to be saved, but some people are just bound and determined to send themselves to hell, there is nothing God can do.

Answer 11

I agree with most of what you say. I personally think we all go to the same place, we just realize with perfect understanding what we've done to others and it can cause pain (sort of like acheiving a perfect conscience and perfect remorse) And God forgives.
One point though God did not create us with sin we put sin in ourselves.