The Gentleness of Jesus
Jesus was gentle. He is portrayed in the Gospels as kind, sinless and a protector of the underprivileged. He is the one that died a cruel death for the salvation of the world. Jesus himself is the very core of the biblical message. Along with that, Scripture clearly asserts the fullness of God dwells within Jesus. If Jesus expresses God's character, then God must be gentle as well. Hence, the name of this website.
But this idea of a gentle God leads to a dilemma for many people. How can a gentle God be reconciled with the horror of eternal torment? As a vivid illustration of this contrast, consider this excerpt from Jonathan Edward's Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God:
That hardly seems like a punishment chosen by a gentle God.
Along with that passage, read this passage in the book of Matthew:
And this passage from Acts:
In these passages, and others, we read that Jesus will the be final judge of man. God delegates the role of final judge to Jesus. So let there be no mistake: If you believe in eternal torment, then you must embrace the truth that Jesus of Nazareth will be the judge that sends people there.
A proper understanding on this topic is tremendously important. Throughout the New Testament, we are told to be imitators of Christ. Should we imitate that part of Christ's nature which will send people to eternal torment? How could we do that? In my mind, a person that would send someone to eternal torment seems closer to Hitler than to Christ.
We are also told that as we grow in our faith, we will become more and more like Christ. What do you think? If we are growing more like Christ, and if Christ is the one that will send people to eternal torment, then shouldn't we become increasingly comfortable with the notion of eternal torment? Is that your experience? I suspect that you have family members or friends that have not embraced Christ. Does an eternity of torment for these people seem like a just and reasonable punishment for their actions? If that is what Christ will decide, then your growing semblance to Him should make that fate seem increasingly acceptable.
At stake is a proper understanding of the character of Jesus himself. We are told by Scripture that Jesus is gentle and will be the final judge of man, and then are told by men like Jonathan Edwards that He will sentence men to a fate that is unimaginable. That is the dilemma we must address.
What is the resolution? I believe the resolution is that the fire of hell is not a fire of eternal torment. The Bible does teach that Jesus will send people to hell, but it does not teach that those sent to hell will be tormented forever.
Please consider carefully and prayerfully the information presented here, so that your understanding of the nature of Christ, and of God, is based upon the truth.
But this idea of a gentle God leads to a dilemma for many people. How can a gentle God be reconciled with the horror of eternal torment? As a vivid illustration of this contrast, consider this excerpt from Jonathan Edward's Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God:
- 'Tis everlasting Wrath. It would be dreadful to suffer this Fierceness and Wrath of Almighty God one Moment; but you must suffer it to all Eternity: there will be no End to this exquisite horrible Misery: When you look forward, you shall see a long Forever, a boundless Duration before you, which will swallow up your Thoughts, and amaze your Soul; and you will absolutely despair of ever having any Deliverance, any End, any Mitigation, any Rest at all; you will know certainly that you must wear out long Ages, Millions of Millions of Ages, in wrestling and conflicting with this almighty merciless Vengeance; and then when you have so done, when so many Ages have actually been spent by you in this Manner, you will know that all is but a Point to what remains. So that our Punishment will indeed be infinite. Oh who can express what the State of a Soul in such Circumstances is! All that we can possibly say about it, gives but a very feeble faint Representation of it; 'tis inexpressible and inconceivable: for who knows the Power of God’s Anger?
That hardly seems like a punishment chosen by a gentle God.
Along with that passage, read this passage in the book of Matthew:
- Then He (Jesus) will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels
And this passage from Acts:
- He (God) will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.
In these passages, and others, we read that Jesus will the be final judge of man. God delegates the role of final judge to Jesus. So let there be no mistake: If you believe in eternal torment, then you must embrace the truth that Jesus of Nazareth will be the judge that sends people there.
A proper understanding on this topic is tremendously important. Throughout the New Testament, we are told to be imitators of Christ. Should we imitate that part of Christ's nature which will send people to eternal torment? How could we do that? In my mind, a person that would send someone to eternal torment seems closer to Hitler than to Christ.
We are also told that as we grow in our faith, we will become more and more like Christ. What do you think? If we are growing more like Christ, and if Christ is the one that will send people to eternal torment, then shouldn't we become increasingly comfortable with the notion of eternal torment? Is that your experience? I suspect that you have family members or friends that have not embraced Christ. Does an eternity of torment for these people seem like a just and reasonable punishment for their actions? If that is what Christ will decide, then your growing semblance to Him should make that fate seem increasingly acceptable.
At stake is a proper understanding of the character of Jesus himself. We are told by Scripture that Jesus is gentle and will be the final judge of man, and then are told by men like Jonathan Edwards that He will sentence men to a fate that is unimaginable. That is the dilemma we must address.
What is the resolution? I believe the resolution is that the fire of hell is not a fire of eternal torment. The Bible does teach that Jesus will send people to hell, but it does not teach that those sent to hell will be tormented forever.
Please consider carefully and prayerfully the information presented here, so that your understanding of the nature of Christ, and of God, is based upon the truth.