No. not for simply not believing, for living a life in complete rebellion against His authority. He owns you whether you want it or not. He created you.
Ezekiel 18:4
“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
Except God made a way for you to be saved which you reject to your own peril
Romans 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
You will earn your way into Hell, that is the wages of sin, your fault, not His
You can accept His free gift of Salvation that He has provided lovingly and mercifully. Again, your choice, He will not force Himself on anyone.
Or you can just keep on kidding yourself that a day of reckoning is never coming. Many people meet with a sudden end when they thought they had all the time in the world left to them. Someone swerves on the freeway all of a sudden you are a swept away to face eternity. Everyone will live somewhere forever. Heaven or Hell. It is your choice.
I get your arguments. I made them myself for many years. They're logical, and from the standpoint of someone with good intent who is skeptical yet curious, they're made with moral incredulity. How can this purported entity of unfettered love also damn those who don't believe?
I'm no bible scholar, but it feels like there's some elasticity in interpreting the Word. People present their interpretations in different ways. Fire and brimstone may help lead some whereas guidance with lenience may work better for others. (Raising my hand)
My suggestion is be open to a the Word. Read and pray the way you feel natural. God works in mysterious ways, and there are many ways to sheppard. What route an individual takes is ultimately, to paraphrase Q, "part of His plan".
He works in different ways sometimes
Romans 2:4
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
This verse says His Goodness leads men to repentance.
Sometimes He uses fear of death, fear of hell and suffering, He knows best and what it takes to reach someone.
I personally took a bad fall, was life-flighted, and had a Pastor ask me a very poimted and simple question, " If I died today, do I know for certain that I would go to heaven? " I said yes, but I really didn't know, and that question haunted me for years until I finally started asking serious questions and being serious about God. And this is what I learned
Jeremiah 29:13
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
none of this answer the fundamental question of why i want to be associated with an entity that demands i worship it or be damned to a hell dimension upon my expiration? This is nuts.
No. not for simply not believing, for living a life in complete rebellion against His authority. He owns you whether you want it or not. He created you. Ezekiel 18:4 “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
Except God made a way for you to be saved which you reject to your own peril Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." You will earn your way into Hell, that is the wages of sin, your fault, not His You can accept His free gift of Salvation that He has provided lovingly and mercifully. Again, your choice, He will not force Himself on anyone. Or you can just keep on kidding yourself that a day of reckoning is never coming. Many people meet with a sudden end when they thought they had all the time in the world left to them. Someone swerves on the freeway all of a sudden you are a swept away to face eternity. Everyone will live somewhere forever. Heaven or Hell. It is your choice.
He owns me? So God is now a slaver? We are property? Get out of here with this rubbish man, this God is not somebody I want to be associated with.
I get your arguments. I made them myself for many years. They're logical, and from the standpoint of someone with good intent who is skeptical yet curious, they're made with moral incredulity. How can this purported entity of unfettered love also damn those who don't believe?
I'm no bible scholar, but it feels like there's some elasticity in interpreting the Word. People present their interpretations in different ways. Fire and brimstone may help lead some whereas guidance with lenience may work better for others. (Raising my hand)
My suggestion is be open to a the Word. Read and pray the way you feel natural. God works in mysterious ways, and there are many ways to sheppard. What route an individual takes is ultimately, to paraphrase Q, "part of His plan".
WWG1WGA
He works in different ways sometimes Romans 2:4 “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” This verse says His Goodness leads men to repentance. Sometimes He uses fear of death, fear of hell and suffering, He knows best and what it takes to reach someone. I personally took a bad fall, was life-flighted, and had a Pastor ask me a very poimted and simple question, " If I died today, do I know for certain that I would go to heaven? " I said yes, but I really didn't know, and that question haunted me for years until I finally started asking serious questions and being serious about God. And this is what I learned Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”
none of this answer the fundamental question of why i want to be associated with an entity that demands i worship it or be damned to a hell dimension upon my expiration? This is nuts.