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[Couch Ouch]

Okay, so I will be the first to say that I have extremely limited knowledge of the bible.

A Christian friend I have was telling me about how I'm living in sin, not going to go to heaven, being a horrible person... but especially stressed I have sin I was born with. I know humans don't measure up to God's standards, but why would an eternal being basically punish/curse his loved creations with something that will ensure their passage into a torturous place for all eternity (Hell)?

Also, as I have extremely limited knowledge of the bible, which version would you suggest someone picking up to read for the first time?

Thank you for your replies and/or suggestions.

[jimwalton]

Original sin doesn't mean that we're all born evil, but that we're all born separated from God. Adam and Eve were in relationship with God and noting his presence, but when they willfully rebelled against him, choosing to do things themselves, they separated themselves from God, and the rebellion and separation are called "sin". Imagine, for the sake of analogy, they left God's country and went to another country. Now all of their children, through no fault of their own, are citizens of country #2 rather than God's country. That's what original sin is: rebellion caused a separation from God, and now everyone is born separated from God. It doesn't mean you're evil, just that your relationship with God doesn't exist. Now, don't misunderstand me: it's also true that we all do things that are wrong. So we're separated from God on several levels: by nature (citizens of country #2), and by action (none of us is perfect).

So now we all have a sin nature; we're born with it, and can't escape from it. That's why we're not going to heaven, not because you're "a horrible person". But Jesus, because he loves us, says, "I know you can't fix yourselves, so I'll offer you a fix. Come back to me (country #1), and I'll change your nature, and we can be together as a family, not separated any more. It's your choice. If you don't come back, I can't help you. But anyone who wants to can come."

The only people who are separated in real life are the people who refuse the free offer of grace and choose to stay separated. And if they choose to stay separated, that's what "hell" is: separation from God by personal choice. Hell is not so much a punishment as a decision by each individual of "I don't want to be reunited with God in relationship," and to stay in country #2. Don't blame God for that; he wants you back. But if you choose to stay separated, when you die, you'll stay separated from him. Hell is to be separated from God's presence.

What version to read if you're reading it for the first time? The Message and the New Living Translation are VERY readable. Other than those, one that is both readable and quite accurate is the New International Version (NIV). Feel free to ask more.