3 Short Questions About God?

Sounds like you are on the virge of finding out gods non-existence.

1. You're right; we can't burn in hell in the literal sense that our bodies will singe and fuel a fire, since our souls aren't bodies. But apparently eternal detachment from God was described to the ancients as a simile to being submerged forever in a lake of fire.

2. I don't see a contradiction. Parents test their kids all the time when they already know whether or not they will fail, though.

3. Yes, it's free will. The fact that atheists and other non-Christians exist shows that if God exists, then we aren't robots, but instead, we have the free will to follow or not follow him. Choosing an eternal punishment is still an option. We aren't allowed to murder people in our civilization, but we have the free will to do it if we want to. And of course there are major consequences for that. Enforcing those consequences doesn't mean a man isn't free in will.

I don't know the answers to everything. God is the only one who can tell you the truth. I can try to answer your questions though.

1) I don't know if I can explain it very well but some people have gone hell and have come back and shared their experiences with the world, so you could read their books or watch something on the internet, youtube? It's actually like a body form and your senses are much more stronger than here on earth so you can feel the burning sensation even worse... I have not experienced it myself so I suggest watching or reading Mary K Baxter's experiences in Hell (and Heaven)

2) I think God tests us to allow us to call out to Him for help and trust and believe in Him more. When something's happened and I've looked to God, I end up having more faith in Him than before.

3) We are granted free will because God is a gentlemen and He will only ask things of us when we let Him into our lives and are ready to serve and follow Him. He will make opportunities for us to tell people about Him when we are ready and want to love Him. The punishment for sin is death but because He loves us so much, He has taken away this punishment for those who believe in Him. He has paid the price by dying on the cross in our place. God is not a mean God. He is a loving God and if you see Him in any other way it is because you don't know Him as much as you should. I hope you get to know Him because He has changed my life and I am so grateful.

God bless you, and thanks for asking these questions. Also, if you want to know anymore... don't be afraid to ask Jesus :)

I am a Christian, nearly 13 years since I was saved....just so you know,

1) THAT is a really good question, can't believe I never considered it. I would have to say that one doesn't need soul-separation upon entering hell. OR- Hell is the literal sulfur, brimstone agony which is only for lucifer and the fallen angels; and those humans which never took to Christ, would merely cease to exist. *Of course, I must note that my idea's here do not line up with Scripture, so I admit, that Q#1 has me stumped.

2) His omniscience (all knowing) is not to be correlated with trial, temptation and testing. For example, I know an elderly man who will die one day. I KNOW this in advance, yet cannot tell you the exact date. Then there is the variables to take into account, Will he change his diet? Will a cure be found? Could he end up on life support for an indefinite period of time? Just because God knows the End from the Beginning does not equate Him or liken Him to a Marionette. As it was with Abraham, whom was told to rescue Lot and his family from Sodom/Gomorrha....It would have seemed that the LORD's Judgment upon the wicked city was inevitable. Yet Abraham was allowed to bargain and argue with God over saving those cities. Anyhow, He tests us to strengthen us, to shape our character, mature us, and test the mettle of our seriousness of faith and trust in Him.

3) In the short and simple truth, I tell you this: Can the clay say to the Potter ANYTHING at all? No, it is the Creator of the pottery who cannot be told what to do with His Creation. The idea of free will, I believe, has been misunderstood. To whatever end God must intervene and fulfill His will, so it will be.

1). If our souls are not physical, how can we burn in hell?

We don't have a soul; we are a soul; we have a spirit. No one burns in hell. That is a blasphemous pagan lie against our loving God.

2). Why does God 'test' us? Isn't he all-knowing?

He is creating character in us; we only learn that in the down times and difficulties. He is all-knowing; we are the ones learning.

3). Why are we granted free will if our duty in this life to God is to do as we are told? We are told to follow rules upon threat of eternal punishment. Is that really free will?

God is sovereign; nothing can thwart him; not our so-called 'free will'.

We have caused choices; not free will. There is no threat of eternal punishment.

The words translated eternal mean 'age-lasting' referring to this evil age or the age to come (the millennium).

The Gospel (GOOD news) of God in a nutshell is:

1 Timothy 4:10

...we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of ALL men, and especially of those who believe.

Isaiah 26:9

...When your judgements come upon the earth, the people of the world LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS...

- NOT BURN IN HELL FIRE.

Any scriptures that appear to contradict have been mistranslated or misunderstood.

1) Hell is not physical

2) I assume you mean that if He tests us in order to see if we are obedient, but He already knows how we will act, then why test us in the first place? Well maybe the test isn't for God's benefit, but for ours

3) There is a bit more to it than '"following rules upon threat of eternal punishment". But it's still free will, we choose to obey Him, or choose not to. The consequences don't really change the fact that it's free will

I've come to realize that there are just certain things about God which we cannot understand in our human capacity... :)

1. The Bible never says if in Hell are body is psychical or not psychical. The Bible doesn't really describe is Hell is psychical or not. I can only assume not physical.

2. Yes, indeed. Isaiah 46:10 declares He not only knows everything, but He controls everything as well. God does and allows things to fulfill his purposes.

3. I believe in predestination not free will, the Bible denies free will. (Romans 9:11,Romans 8:29-30, Ephesians 1:4-6,Ephesians1:11-12).

1. I think Hell is more a mental anguish than a physical one. How would you feel if you were forced to spend eternity away from your family, away from God, thinking about what you did wrong. Eternity. With no way to change it. That sounds extremely hellish even without the fire.

2. How would you feel if God said "Well, since I'm all knowing, I happen to know that if I put you on Earth, you would choose wrong. You're going to hell. Good luck." Personally, I'd want a chance to prove myself. Since He's all knowing, I think He knows human nature very well. Everyone gets a fair chance to prove themselves.

3. Are you forced to love/obey God? If you say "I don't love God" out loud, does your mouth catch on fire? Are you struck by lightning? No, God lets us choose our actions. He does not, however, let us choose our consequences. If you were forced to love God, I can't see you being very happy. I for one, am not happy when I'm forced to do anything at all. I like to choose my own destiny. When my parents said "Don't do that", that was the first thing I did. Even if it was for my own good. But then I learned the things that will hurt me and the things that bring me joy. And now my parents don't have to tell me what to do, I do it of my own free will. If you learn through your own experiences that a lack of God in your life leads to sadness, you'll be much more grateful when you return to God. But He will never force you to do so.

1. You're right, our SOULS are not physical but our body is.

When the last day occurs, when Jesus returns, our physical bodies will be resurrected from the dead. Our bodies will no longer be in a decayed & dead state. Our bodies will be complete, imperishable, without fault sickness or disability. We'll be fully alive, perfect in body and mind. Those that are saved will go to heaven in a perfect body, mind, and spirit. They will live forever in the unending bliss or heaven.

Those that are not saved will have new bodies too but the new body will not be perfect and without fault. They will experience pain, agony, stress, wickedness, and hate everyday. They will want to die--but can't

2. Yes, God is all knowing. He knows what we will decide to do and not do but the choice is ours to make. God doesn't force us to conduct ourselves as He desires. We know right from wrong. We know good from bad but the decisions are up to us. aka=free will. We aren't like a robot or puppet doing only what programed or made to do. God leaves our actions, words, and deeds up to us. God may know what we will do, but He doesn't force us to do it. He gives us choices and we decide what to choose.

3. Yes, that is free will. If we understand what God desires we have the free will to do it or not do it. Maybe God didn't want us to use foul language today. God didn't want anyone to commit murder and steal things today. But did we listen? Did we follow the rules? Did we do the things God wanted us to do and abstain from doing the things He didn't want us to do? No.

You know the law about speeding. You know what the speed limit is. Do you ever drive too fast? You know the rules about what speed you can drive and you know there is a threat of punishment (speeding ticket, loss of money paying the ticket, and maybe the loss of driving privileges._ But do people speed anyway? Yep..Is that free will? Yes. Do we know what our free will to drive the speed limit or to speed could do to us? Yes. We still had the free will to decide what speed to drive. It's the same way with having the free will to do as God desires or not to do as God desires.

Answer to Q.1 Both the souls and bodies of the those who don't get right with God during life will be cast into hell. Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

It seems hard to comprehend that hell is eternal, that our bodies wont deteriorate and perish in hell's flames, but God is capable of accomplishing this.

Answer to Q.2 The fact that God is all knowing and still acts and interacts with us as if he was constricted by time is one of the mysteries of life. It's just one of the ways God works. Isaiah 55:9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Answer to question.3 God didn't create us as robots, we are made in the image of God and part of that is having free will. Yes it is free will, we have the choice of good or bad, punishment or reward, heaven or hell.

No worries. I enjoyed answering your question (to the best of my ability).

God bless you I pray in Jesus name.

I observed this play and that i remember the "verdict" from the three "judges" stumbled on God to blame of breaking his covenant with Israel. They concluded that the God of Abraham had made a clean covenant and that their God became not solely the God of Abraham and of Israel. to respond to your question, how would Hitler fare if he became in God's courtroom being judged by using God's regulations? If I have been area of the jury, i'd be compelled to herald a verdict of to blame based on the very fact he committed genocide (to the music on some 6.5 million people) and, on the grounds which you point out the ten Commandments, broke all of them besides. inspite of the undeniable fact that, none people are suited. all of us sin. it somewhat is only that some people know it jointly as something are in denial. lack of know-how is by no potential an excuse. Ever attempted telling a site visitors cop which you probably did not know you have been in a 30 miles according to hour limited section once you have been clocked doing 40? Like, you probably did not see the line lights or the advisory velocity shrink indicators before you got here into the geared up up section? which you have been in a hurry and your organization became extra considerable than the life of a individual you will kill? the certainty is we refuse to take duty for our movements - in my view and at the same time. on the grounds that lack of know-how of the regulation is by no potential a defensible excuse, according to risk we would desire to continuously be paying extra interest to God's regulations before we stumble on ourselves answering to God for our movements.