by jimwalton » Sat Dec 26, 2015 9:25 pm
Yep, that's correct. He would have known that some would go in there, despite his efforts and desires. Anticipating your next move, I'll say this: With regard to final fates, the Bible only uses "prepared" in only two senses: Heaven and kingdoms and feasts and salvation were prepared for humans, and eternal fire was prepared for the devil and his angels. The Bible is quite consistent in this.
The Bible pictures it this way: Let's suppose there are two doors, one leading to eternal separation from God, and one leading to eternal joy in his presence. Door #1 was only prepared for Satan and his sycophants, and door #2 was prepared for all people. Jesus is standing between the doors, and as people approach, he expresses his love for them and invites them to enter door #2 and bliss. But when people grab the handle to door #1, he cries out to them, "Don't do that. It's a terrible thing. You don't want to go there. Come this way, into door #2." But they choose to enter door #1 anyway. He knew some would do this, but that fate was never meant for them, and he's still doing everything possible to prevent anyone from going through door #1. His knowledge that many will still go through door #1 has nothing to do with his intent that none do it, and his having prepared that place for Satan and his demons alone. Knowledge has nothing to do with causality.
We are free agents, and the choices we get to make regarding spiritual truths are real choices. God does not force anyone towards heaven or hell. Those choices are ours alone to make. Jeremiah 18.1-12 is instructive in this way, even pertaining to prophecies, let alone issues like salvation. Our freedom and free will are so vibrant that despite the Lord's purposes, God adjusts his plan and actions based on our responses.
Why would he make people who are bound for hell? 2 Peter 3.9 says that God doesn't want anyone to go to hell, and Mt. 25.41 says that hell was never prepared for people to be in it—that was not the intent. God is always pulling all people towards himself (Mt. 11.28; Isa. 55.1-3). God didn't make anyone bound for hell. There is always a legitimate choice people are invited and encouraged to make to come to God.
Yep, that's correct. He would have known that some would go in there, despite his efforts and desires. Anticipating your next move, I'll say this: With regard to final fates, the Bible only uses "prepared" in only two senses: Heaven and kingdoms and feasts and salvation were prepared for humans, and eternal fire was prepared for the devil and his angels. The Bible is quite consistent in this.
The Bible pictures it this way: Let's suppose there are two doors, one leading to eternal separation from God, and one leading to eternal joy in his presence. Door #1 was only prepared for Satan and his sycophants, and door #2 was prepared for all people. Jesus is standing between the doors, and as people approach, he expresses his love for them and invites them to enter door #2 and bliss. But when people grab the handle to door #1, he cries out to them, "Don't do that. It's a terrible thing. You don't want to go there. Come this way, into door #2." But they choose to enter door #1 anyway. He knew some would do this, but that fate was never meant for them, and he's still doing everything possible to prevent anyone from going through door #1. His knowledge that many will still go through door #1 has nothing to do with his intent that none do it, and his having prepared that place for Satan and his demons alone. Knowledge has nothing to do with causality.
We are free agents, and the choices we get to make regarding spiritual truths are real choices. God does not force anyone towards heaven or hell. Those choices are ours alone to make. Jeremiah 18.1-12 is instructive in this way, even pertaining to prophecies, let alone issues like salvation. Our freedom and free will are so vibrant that despite the Lord's purposes, God adjusts his plan and actions based on our responses.
Why would he make people who are bound for hell? 2 Peter 3.9 says that God doesn't want anyone to go to hell, and Mt. 25.41 says that hell was never prepared for people to be in it—that was not the intent. God is always pulling all people towards himself (Mt. 11.28; Isa. 55.1-3). God didn't make anyone bound for hell. There is always a legitimate choice people are invited and encouraged to make to come to God.