Subject: The Devil cannot be punished, can he? |
Bible Note: Hello He-man, I am a bit confused by why your comments here conflict with the scripture that you used to create your profile. You said here: "Everyone has the freewill choice to accept or reject Jesus; not by coercion. ..." co·er·cion : the use of express or implied threats of violence or reprisal (as discharge from employment) or other intimidating behavior that puts a person in immediate fear of the consequences in order to compel that person to act against his or her will; Is it a "threat" to warn people that their enemies are coming down the street to destroy them? (Eze 33) Or, is it a "threat" to ask a drowning person to grab hold of the Life Line to be saved? Or, is it a threat to tell someone to leave the house because it is on fire? If they refuse to listen to the warning they are already condemned by their situation. Jesus spoke about this condemnation in John chapter 3: Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. Then you said: "... The result of rejecting the dictates of your own heart(accepting Christ) is simply eternal separation from immortality." This is where the confusion comes. Because in your profile you quote: "These are things which I hold as truths and duties:... ... Matt 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth" So I repeat the scripture: Jeremiah 23 16Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the LORD. 17They continually say to those who despise Me, "The LORD has said, "You shall have peace"'; And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, "No evil shall come upon you."' While most of us agree that the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the best, but it is incomplete without also proclaiming the consequences (hell fire). Pastor Glenn |