20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?
Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?”
21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump
one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?
22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power,
has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy,
which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called,
not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?
-Romans 9:20-24
Dr. Al Mohler is a uniquely gifted man of our time. He is a scholar, a seminary President, a theologian, an apologist, political commentator and Christian worldview communicator. He is an under-shepherd of Christ at his home church; he is a preacher of the gospel; and a servant. I am proud to call him friend and am blessed that we live in this same hour to serve the Lord and impact others for the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here is a powerful message that our brother recently preached. It is on the theme of: "How can a God who is loving and good send anyone to hell?" A daunting and stirring question. He was asked to address that question recently at Idlewild Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida. It is a tremendous message that I highly commend to you all.
What do you say? Does a loving and good God send anyone to hell?
13 comments:
In order to adequately answer that question, one needs to recognize the primary truth that God loves His glory. God’s “first love,” as it were, is namely Himself; and that is a good thing for us as the elect because His love for Himself is our good. Because God loves His glory, He simply cannot allow unbelief, rebellion, unbridled sin and abased rejection of His Word to stand in His Presence. Hence, He justly sends people to hell and eternal damnation. This should bring great tears of joy at the grace given us who deserve hell, but have received salvation through Christ only due to God’s good pleasure and nothing in and of ourselves. So, God lovingly sends people to hell (as they also carry responsibility themselves) for His glory, which ultimately leads to our good…for, God would not be a loving God if He did not vindicate His Name and renown among all!
Steve,
I am more amazed that a Holy God would allow me into heaven than I am that He would send anyone to hell.
Praise God for a theologian still willing to teach on hell. I recently asked several people I know when was the last time they heard a Bible teaching on the docrine of hell. All said they can't remember when they have heard a sermon on hell. How sad. How vital that we proclaim that hell is a very real place that awaits those who do not repent.
Powerful message; thanks for linking it, Steve. Very sobering and honest.
Important considerations about the idolatry of making even a "christian" god for ourselves (that is, one approved in modern evangelical circles), who in any way differs from the God who IS, and who reveals Himself in His word. Also regarding the fact that mitigating the doctrine of hell also robs from the gospel, taking away the incredible extent of grace shown to us believers by Christ.
The whole world is in turmoil and I do not hear 1 Christian speaking out and trying to mend the damage done by they’re own leaders in past years. Since the discussion is Hell, and since it is upon us all, and since while dreaming of God just lifting us up and carrying us away to a safe place, I believe it is just that, A Dream. He has placed us to make a difference, to offer peace and no war. As sinners, Compassion and not division which is exactly what Christians work hardest towards. We have an opportunity to show Gods glory by being seen and being proud of what He accomplished in our past history, WHEN WE BELIEVED. Yes, when we believed. The evil consuming our country is our fault, it is not Gods fault and it is not Satans fault, We made our choice, no one forced us. That is the truth, now believe and get in the streets and make your feeble voice heard, You can change and reverse all the evil or you can go to Hell, again it is your choice. Below is a simple but truthful thought from Ben Stein, a Jew. How Ironic……..
I only hope we find GOD again before it is too late ! !
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves..
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit.
If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
Why does sin exist:::
Because You choose and create it, He has allowed you to go on your way and spend the inheritance you once had and wander among the thorns and thistles until you discover where you are. Then, Maybe you will cry out for help, Maybe you will discover He never left you, You left Him.
No, we were never with Him. We were born in sin, children of wrath, alienated from God.
It is only by His grace that He has brought any of us to Himself.
You were expelled from the garden because you chose to have what was not good for you. You gave away what was right for what was wrong. You chose a lie over what was truth. I did not come to judge, but to tell the truth, all the truth. every generation clouds the truth with interpretation of there own making.
We walk among ashes of what once was and can not see because we chose not to believe. All denominations are in some way at odds with each other, A house divided against its self. Each with pieces of truth but, divided only lies. You have not yet grown to understand what it means, Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it, Luke 17:33. You seek to save it, with your head is in the sand.
Go and stand up and say no to the evil that surrounds you, and you will lose it. This is what Jesus did. Just think if He had hidden his words among the church, where would you be. If you continue to hide your words then your children will pay the ultimate price for your fear. There was never offered safety in these times but, You were expected to carry your cross.
Psalm,
If you're speaking of mankind, as in the garden, wouldn't "We" be more appropriate? Or are you excluded? I was refering to us as inidividuals - of course in Adam there was initially fellowship with the Lord. But not in fallen man, unless God restores it.
Your words tend to seem quite smooth and accusatorial, but I don't think they convey much substance or purpose. I would hope that in the future you might be more brief, scriptural and clear.
I don't mean to be offensive and hope that I'm not. May we both grow in grace and knowledge.
I appreciate what you said but, I am not sure it will do much good if your voice is still.
So that you know I am not speaking from the outside, I was raised in a baptist church in Georgia, so I know what you are trying to say, However...
A candle is to be a source of light in the darkness, We are surrounded by darkness, if it is gone out, of what good is it?
That brief enough.
Amen. I must walk in the light and that light should flood into this dark world. May He give me grace and may I be obedient to be a part of this work.
Grace to you.
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