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NASB | Romans 9:20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, "Why did you make me like this," will it? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 9:20 On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers [arrogantly] back to God and dares to defy Him? Will the thing which is formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" [Is 29:16; 45:9] |
Bible Question:
I had a question concerning the purpose of Hell, or, more specifically, what God hopes to achieve by damning a person to Hell. Also, was there another purpose for the creation of Hell other than to hold Lucifer and his daemons? I've been thinking about this a lot recently, perhaps too much, and have come to a (perhaps ill-drawn) conclusion that God may have had alterior motives in the creation of Hell (motives other than just creating it for Lucifer). I think that perhaps God created Hell so that He might instil a certain degree of fear into the peoples of the world, that they might seek Him and be saved, etc. The reasoning for this is why would anyone desire to get into heaven when there is no fear of eternal punishment? Sure, a few would undoubtedly still seek to be with Him, yet the majority would not, and would, instead, revel in all of that which the world does provide, as there are no consequences. As I understand it, Hell is a place of punishment. Now, when one is punished isn't the punishment applied for the sole reason of ensuring that the crime/sin/"bad thing" will not occur again? If this is correct, then Hell's whole existence is in a way contradictory (not sure if this is the right word), for what lessons will be learned and applied when the punishment is eternal? Hopefully you have some answers to these questions. |
Bible Answer: Hi Horripilation, You write, "As I understand it, Hell is a place of punishment. Now, when one is punished isn't the punishment applied for the sole reason of ensuring that the crime/sin/"bad thing" will not occur again?" I submit that this is a false assumption. DISCIPLINE is a MEANS to an end, the improvement of the one disciplined. PUNISHMENT is an end in itself, not a means to an end. Disciplin: Heb 12:6, 7 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? Punishment: Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Both are painful, but the pain punishment is the end (payment) for our rebellion, while discipline looks beyond the pain to righteous living. (I know in ordinary conversation, we interchange the terms. So I am using punishment in the strict sense.) Peace, Lionstrong |