Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | 1 Peter 2:8 and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Peter 2:8 and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"; for they stumble because they disobey the word [of God], and to this they [who reject Him as Savior] were also appointed. [Is 8:14] |
Bible Question: My sister asked me if I knew why God would want to create people who He knows will end up in Hell. In fact, the majority of people will end up there. I know God is perfectly just, and would be perfectly just to send the whole planet to hell, but she is not to accepting of that either. She doesn't see how God can fault people who were born with a fallen nature that is unable to not sin, and then send them to Hell forever because of it. Tough questions. I know God created Adam and Eve perfectly and without sin, and that we are suffering the consequences of their sin since they perfectly represented all of us. We can choose men to represent us in politics but they won't represent all of our wishes perfectly, but God can and did pick someone to represent us perfectly when He picked Adam and Eve. And I realize that God uses evil, suffering, and Hell to demonstrate His own glory, grace, love, mercy, justice, etc. But it is still tough to accept that we may have suffered forever, and that people we care about will suffer forever. My sister is just marveling over her new baby girl (number four child for her!) and the idea that any of our children would not be saved is just too painful to think about. Anybody have any comments or verses that I could share with her to help her (and me) to be able to see the glory in all this and to be able to praise God for it? |
Bible Answer: Love is not love if a person is forced to do it. Therefore God gave us a free will. If the reward for love and accepting God's love is eternal life in heaven, then there has to be an opposite result of not accepting it. Hence there is Hell. Satan rules in hell, (on earth too. Rule of earth was given to Adam, he in turn gave it to Satan.) Satan revolted, God threw him in hell and now God uses hell and Satan for His will. So all have a choice to love and accept God's Love by accepting Jesus Christ. God wanted beings that would be able to choose. He had beings that loved Him, the angels. They HAVE to Love Him. When Satan revolted he was instantly cursed without the option of forgiveness because he was not given the right to choose. God is slow to judge. He will give us EVERY opportunity to repent and accept Jesus and His salvation. Up to the last minute. Up to the last days, then, JUDGEMENT! No more chances. He wants us to live with him in Heaven for eternity, but only those that want to be there with him. Everyone gets a chance to make a choice and God is sovern to respect that choice. If a person chooses not to accept Jesus and his salvation, thus choosing eternal damnation, that is their choice and God will honor that. So all in Hell, and destined for eternal damnation are there, or will be, by their own choice and are there to stay. (Their choice.) On the same note, all in heaven, and all destined for heaven, are their by their choice. Just by the sheer grace (Eph 2:8) of God, and by accepting that grace and salvation thru Jesus Christ. This is just my understanding of the situation. I hope it helps. God Bless and Merry CHRISTmas! :-) |