I don’t believe that Hell exists. But IF it did exist, I know there would be millions of Christians there. The reason for this is because Jesus declared that only those who are righteous and do works of righteousness are allowed entry into the kingdom of Heaven. (Mat 25) According to Christology, if one is not saved he/she goes to Hell for an eternity. But where did this idea originate from? First off, how would one get saved to avoid the horrible fate of Hell?
According to “Paul’s Gospel” we are saved by God’s grace and mercy and not by works of righteousness which we have done. (Tit 3:5) And Paul also said, you are saved by grace through faith, and not of our works. (Eph 2:8-9) What’s more, not only is there the requirement that one believes in Jesus, but also one must believe, in his heart, that God raised Jesus from the dead (Rom 10:9) — even though it is extremely unlikely that he even died.
On the contrary, Jesus said that one must “keep the commandments to enter into life”. (Mat 19:16-22) Jesus equated perfection with giving all your riches to the poor. To enter into the kingdom of heaven, to Jesus’ disciples, that is what it meant to be saved (Mat 19:23-25). In a nutshell: It’s impossible to be saved unless you are righteous, do works of righteousness and give up all your worldly riches — plus doing the will of God (Mat 7:21, Lk 13:25).
So which is it? Are you saved by your righteousness and good works as Jesus taught? Or are you saved by God’s mercy and grace, without any of your own works? If you had to choose whether Paul or Jesus was right, it seems that the obvious choice would be Jesus. Either one is wrong, or they’re both wrong, but they can’t both be right — that’s just Logic.
Maybe it would be better if no one even believed in a Hell, seeing that even Christians could end up there. Anyway, how is it that a loving God would create such a place for creations of his go for eternity whether or not they believe in Christ? Jesus said that believers who weren’t ready and doing God’s will, when he came would be cut off and be appointed their portion with the unbelievers, plus be beaten with stripes. If unbelievers don’t go to Hell, then what is Jesus alluding to here?
The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (Lk 12: 47-48)
Maybe it would be better not to believe in such a place. But what is the alternative? The only alternative interpretation would be Reincarnation, but Christians do not believe in Reincarnation.
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (Joh 15:6)
Aren’t the branches supposed to be Christians? I am the vine, ye are the branches (Joh 15:5). So Christians are cast into the fire and they are appointed their portion with the unbelievers. Unbelievers are supposed to be the unsaved, and the unsaved all go to Hell for eternity, right? And Hell is fire, right? So Christians who don’t do God’s will go to Hell according to the Bible — that is IF Hell exists.
Maybe one should go Jesus’ route and play it safe, just in case there is no Hell. Because if you are wrong and Jesus was right, you may end up spending time with the unbelievers and getting “whipped” for not doing God’s will. This sounds like some kind of punishment, or purification. Even if that weren’t the correct interpretation, it sounds like a horrific experience that one should avoid at all costs!
However, if there is no Hell, then this means that there must have been a misinterpretation by someone or a false teaching somewhere along the line.
There is absolutely no teaching of Hell in the entire Old Testament. If the New Testament is born out of the Old Testament, then where did this false doctrine originate from?
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