How Can a Loving God Send Anyone to Hell?
God doesn’t “choose” to send anyone to Hell. That choice belongs to each and every individual.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
The idea of a loving God choosing to torment people in eternal Hell is not only difficult to accept, it is simply not true according to God’s Word. The Bible teaches that God is love, and yet it warns that those who choose to reject God’s offer of salvation will face everlasting punishment. Because humans are given free will, people choose for themselves whether to accept Jesus or not. Therefore, they choose where they will spend eternity. Make no mistake, God wants every person to love Him. When we choose to accept Christ as Savior, our lives are transformed. We are accepted into the Kingdom of God and the promise of eternity in Heaven becomes ours. God doesn’t “choose” to send anyone to Hell. That choice belongs to each and every individual.
Our starting point
Have you ever watched children playing? Usually, there’s a lot of joy but sooner or later, a disagreement starts. No one needs to teach a child to be selfish or disobedient - that comes naturally to us. The Bible says that all people have sinned - gone our own way instead of God’s way (Isaiah 53:6). We can’t live up to God’s standard for our lives (Romans 3:23). The wages, or payment, for that waywardness is death (Romans 6:23) and without Someone to help us, we already stand condemned (John 3:18).
Who can help me?
God doesn’t want anyone to go to Hell. John 3:17 tells us “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” God generously provided a way out of condemnation. He arranged for Someone else pay our death penalty (Isaiah 53:6). That Someone is Jesus. God wants us to choose Heaven - the free gift of eternal life, through Jesus (Romans 6:23). How do we know who has that life? Those who have Jesus, the Son of God have that life (1 John 5:12)!
How do I choose Heaven?
God tells us that we can choose Heaven by believing in Jesus: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Believe who Jesus says He is - the Son of God, Savior of the world (John 4:42). Trust Jesus with your eternal destiny (Isaiah 12:2). By faith, receive Jesus into your life as your Lord (John 1:12).
Pray this week:
Jesus, I believe that you are God. I believe that You paid the penalty for my sin. Please rescue me from sin and hell. I invite You into my life to be my Lord and Savior. Please give me Your free gift of eternal life so I can experience life with You now and in Heaven always. Amen.
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