Frequently Asked Questions
I cannot answer to everyone’s satisfaction every question raised about my faith. Like Paul, I only know in part (1Co. 13:9-11). Furthermore, God’s judgments are unsearchable and past finding out (Ro. 11:33), and this book, after all, is a treatise on judgment. Only God can reveal His truth to you. “You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes” (Mt. 11:25 – the context of this verse is judgment). “He who has ears to hear, let him hear. (Mt. 13:9). Please pray for God’s light.
Here are a few questions I have had and wrestled with over the years. Thanks to others who have addressed these questions and the Lord shedding His light, I have been able to draw some conclusions. I pray they help you. Lord willing, I will address more questions in the future on our website. I also invite your answers to any of these questions and others so that I can learn from you as well. Leave a comment. Please be patient for my reply.
1. What is fire in the Bible all about? CLICK HERE
2. Why doesn’t the Bible make this Hope clear? CLICK HERE
3. What does “Appointed once to die then the judgment” mean? CLICK HERE
4. Does “all” really mean “all”? CLICK HERE
5. What does “the world ‘might’ be saved” mean? CLICK HERE
6. Why preach the Gospel? CLICK HERE
7. Shouldn’t we party, since grace abounds? CLICK HERE
8. Must we not be righteous to enter God’s Kingdom? CLICK HERE
9. What about Losing the soul, Narrow gate, and Depart from me? CLICK HERE
10. What about Jn. 3:16; 3:36; 5:24; 5:29; 15:1-2, 6? CLICK HERE
11. Is there a sin that shall “never” be forgiven? CLICK HERE
12. Did God really hate Esau? CLICK HERE
13. What are “coals of fire?” CLICK HERE
14. Would it have been better had Judas not been born? CLICK HERE
15. What if we do not seek Him “while” He may be found? CLICK HERE
16. What did Paul mean by “the terror of the Lord?” CLICK HERE
17. Can you explain what “everlasting destruction” means? CLICK HERE
18. Why did Jesus say some people will gnash their teeth? CLICK HERE
19. What about the rich man and Lazarus? CLICK HERE
20. Can we trust those who claim to have had visions of hell? CLICK HERE
21. How do you explain the cruel acts of God in the Old Testament? CLICK HERE
22. If God is good, why is there so much suffering in the world? CLICK HERE
23. If this Hope is true, why would God hide it from us? CLICK HERE
24. Is this Universalism? CLICK HERE
IMPORTANT
I do not have all the answers. God does! Hopefully some of them were helpful to you. The essential thing is beyond facts themselves. It is the simple willingness to accept truth no matter what it might be. Craig Nolin writes in quoting Dr. Drew Westen:
When people draw conclusions about particular events, they are not just weighing the facts. “Without knowing it, they are also weighing what they would feel if they came to one conclusion or another, and they often come to the conclusion that would make them feel better, no matter what the facts are.” Dr. Weston found that knowing an individual’s predisposition proved to be a perfect predictor of their ultimate decision 84% of the time, which suggests that no amount of facts would change their original position… regardless of whether we are talking about diets, exercise, politics, religion, or business… This characteristic is the inspiration of the old line, “Don’t confuse me with the facts. My mind is made up!” (23)
I pray you will be among those who will honestly accept the truth based on the facts. Augustinian teaching, as unsettling as it is when reflected on, has nonetheless brought us a certain degree of selfish security. When confronted with facts that challenge that security, we feel threatened. “Better that the lost suffer judgment forever than I suffer it at all!” Sadly, many subconsciously feel this way. The thought that we, as believers, may suffer some measure of judgment from God, is for most, not a welcomed idea. Keith Morrison, of NBC News wrote: “Hell is for other people! Fully three-fourths of surveyed Americans felt pretty sure they will be going to heaven while just 2 percent expected they would go to hell.” (24)
(Check in from time to time for additional answers to questions)
References:
23 Nolin, Craig. “Student of the Word Ministries.” http://studentoftheword.com/ConfusinFacts.html
24 Morrison, Keith. From an email received Aug. 2006 quoting Keith Morrison of NBC News giving a preview description of an interview with Bishop Carlton Pearson to be aired on NBC’s Dateline Sunday, Aug. 13, 2006.
Taken from Hope Beyond Hell page 206-234
