What is the purpose of hell?

[glorydaz]

Universal Reconciliation teaches that all go to heaven regardless of their unbelief. Universal Reconciliationists and Annihilationists do not believe in a literal eternal punishment.

Oh....well it's not well named then, because that isn't what reconciliation means.

I have seen where reconciliation and salvation are used interchangeably, and that's not correct either.

Thanks for letting me know...I must be out of the loop. :biglaugh

 

[veteran]

The "lake of fire" event will be a literal event. In Matt.10:28 the word for 'hell' is 'geena', NOT a Greek word, but a HEBREW word, referring to the valley of Hinnom...

Jer 19:2-6
2 And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee,
3 And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.
4 Because they have forsaken Me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents;
5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into My mind:
6 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.
(KJV)

Isa 30:33
33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; He hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
(KJV)

In Ezekiel 28:18 it's written that the way Satan will be destroyed in final, is with a fire in his midst consuming him, turning him to ashes upon the earth. The "lake of fire" event is to be a very literal event, prepared for the devil and his own.

 

[Sound Silence]

I don't think hell has a "purpose" per se.

It's just a natural consequence of needing somewhere separate from God for those who reject him to go.

 

[Benoni]

Gehenna and the lake of fire are two different things. Gehenna is for believers. The Lake of Fire is punishment.

The "lake of fire" event will be a literal event. In Matt.10:28 the word for 'hell' is 'geena', NOT a Greek word, but a HEBREW word, referring to the valley of Hinnom...

Jer 19:2-6
2 And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which is by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee,
3 And say, Hear ye the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, the which whosoever heareth, his ears shall tingle.
4 Because they have forsaken Me, and have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it unto other gods, whom neither they nor their fathers have known, nor the kings of Judah, and have filled this place with the blood of innocents;
5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into My mind:
6 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.
(KJV)

Isa 30:33
33 For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; He hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.
(KJV)

In Ezekiel 28:18 it's written that the way Satan will be destroyed in final, is with a fire in his midst consuming him, turning him to ashes upon the earth. The "lake of fire" event is to be a very literal event, prepared for the devil and his own.

 

[Benoni]

Carnal man must reject God. He has no freewill or choice until God calls him.

I don't think hell has a "purpose" per se.

It's just a natural consequence of needing somewhere separate from God for those who reject him to go.

 

[Benoni]

God does love the whole world, He is only calling His elect now.

.

If you "believe" that you can't be reached, then that's exactly what you will get.

I suppose there's a doubting Thomas in every bunch, aye? This web forum seems to have plenty of them around here. Atheists, agnostics, doubters... etc. :gah :nag

Maybe on your death bed when you are an old man you will see what you are going to face. In the mean time.... you WILL serve a master whether you want to admit it or not, because what you "believe" IS The Master. And we all have CHOICE to whichever or whatever we will to believe.

Why are you here Orion? To prove or show what? That you are far superior or inferior to be touched by the saving grace and redeeming Hand of God? Devil or angel... Heaven or Hell... Cold, lukewarn, hot... Belief or doubt... Accept or reject... It's all a matter of choice. Choose what you will. This is a Christian based web forum and you only come here to bring your doubt and critique of God in seeing Him as a Heavy Handed Culprit, rather than what Good and Righteousness you find from out of the scriptures? How long have you been a member of this forum? And your tune has not changed one bit. Wow.

.

It isn't entirely his fault. He's been spending a lot of time on another thread listening to how God does not love the whole world, but only the elect. That God does not desire that all men repent, and that He has deliberately created some for destruction. He hasn't been given an accurate portrayal of God or God's Word. I wouldn't want to believe in the God that's being preached over there if I were him, either.

 

[Benoni]

You are right there is a pulling, the Bible uses the word draw/drag or quicken by God before you have the ability to believe.

.

If you "believe" that you can't be reached, then that's exactly what you will get.

I suppose there's a doubting Thomas in every bunch, aye? This web forum seems to have plenty of them around here. Atheists, agnostics, doubters... etc. :gah :nag

Maybe on your death bed when you are an old man you will see what you are going to face. In the mean time.... you WILL serve a master whether you want to admit it or not, because what you "believe" IS The Master. And we all have CHOICE to whichever or whatever we will to believe.

Why are you here Orion? To prove or show what? That you are far superior or inferior to be touched by the saving grace and redeeming Hand of God? Devil or angel... Heaven or Hell... Cold, lukewarn, hot... Belief or doubt... Accept or reject... It's all a matter of choice. Choose what you will. This is a Christian based web forum and you only come here to bring your doubt and critique of God in seeing Him as a Heavy Handed Culprit, rather than what Good and Righteousness you find from out of the scriptures? How long have you been a member of this forum? And your tune has not changed one bit. Wow.

.

Righteous indignation not withstanding, . . . a person can't just "choose to believe". There has to be a legitimate reason to, . . . a significan't pull, . . . or your belief is "just another person's belief that you cling onto". I hope you can see the difference. Currently, I don't know WHAT to believe, but am searching. However, I don't agree with Pascal's Wager.

 

[Solo]

Gehenna and the lake of fire are two different things. Gehenna is for believers. The Lake of Fire is punishment.

Not according to the Scriptures.

 

[Solo]

Carnal man must reject God. He has no freewill or choice until God calls him.

Wrong.

God's will is that all be saved and come to the truth; but man's freewill is what keeps him from believing. God never forces anyone to do anything that they do not choose to do themselves.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved , and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved . 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest , that they are wrought in God. John 3:19-21

 

[Benoni]

Explain your self? You see I see God's fire as spiritual and not literal fire.

The Greek word Gehenna which the preachers love to burn people up; what does the Bible say reference this word?

Gehenna: Referring to the Valley of Hinnom, or Gehenna which is the city dump outside the walls of Jerusalem; a place of constant burning of refuge. Those who go to Gehenna are not sinners of the world; but are sinners of God’s people or the city dump. (how precious is this a type of purification outside of God’s holy city. All things that are not of God will be purified by God’s holy judgment fire.


Matt. 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell (Gehenna) fire.

Notice the word “brother†never you find the words heathen, sinner, lost, unbeliever with the word Gehenna.

Gehenna and the lake of fire are two different things. Gehenna is for believers. The Lake of Fire is punishment.

Not according to the Scriptures.

 

[Solo]

You are right there is a pulling, the Bible uses the word draw/drag or quicken by God before you have the ability to believe.

Belief (Faith) comes from the hearing of the Word of God, and the Word of God is revealed to those called by God as He draws them by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enlightens, or shines the light on the truth for those who are called. Each one that is called has a choice to believe or reject the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who believe are chosen. Jesus tells us that many are called, but few are chosen.

14 For many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:14

Paul tells us that God's will is that all would be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved , and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4

 

[Benoni]

Solo,

Nice opinion based on what? God is not calling all people now.

Man is a slave to sin, man is dead in trespasses and it is his nature to totally reject all things of God; man has no choice or freewill to choose his own salvation; this is a religious myth and not a scriptural fact; if anything the Bible teaches it is God who draws; it is Jesus that saves not mans carnal mind believing on by its own will.


The word freewill or choice are not found anywhere in the NT when it comes to someone freely choosing his own salvation. The word freewill is not even found in the Bible except for the Freewill Offering in the OT; which has nothing to do with salvation even as an example. God saves us by His grace, the and only then can carnal man have faith to believe in God and be saved. It is God who caused the fall not little Adam's freewill or chice. Adam/Eve did not choose to sin, without a fall Adam and Eve would of been nothing more then a puppet on a string automatically doing the will of God.

In John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw (Gk(drag) and I like forces him: and I will raise him up at the last day. and John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw (Gk(drag) all men unto me as you so wisely posted. The word draw is the Greek word from Strong’s 1670: helkuo (hel-koo'-o);or helko (hel'-ko); probably akin to 138; to drag (literally or figuratively):

There are eight examples in the NT that shows this word draw means force; Peter drew his sword is one example; the disciples drew their net; the net did not choose or have a freewill neither did the sword.

Fundies love to yell context, context so please let us look at the context of Ephesians 2: 1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

(Eph. 6:17). Then the writer to the Hebrews declares that the sword of God’s word is "QUICK ."Quick means living and active — LIFE-GIVING! "For the word of God that speaks is alive and full of power — making it active, operative, energizing and effective; it is sharper than any two-edged sword" (Heb. 4:12, Amplified).

2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast

Notice the order, God must quicken us be we are dead in sins; then He saves us by grace; then and only then do we have faith and I will add once this has happen we had no choice or freewill.

Carnal man must reject God. He has no freewill or choice until God calls him.

Wrong.

God's will is that all be saved and come to the truth; but man's freewill is what keeps him from believing. God never forces anyone to do anything that they do not choose to do themselves.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved , and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4

[quote="King James Version":k2fmmap3]19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved . 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest , that they are wrought in God. John 3:19-21

[/quote:k2fmmap3]

 

[Orion]

You are right there is a pulling, the Bible uses the word draw/drag or quicken by God before you have the ability to believe.

And the "pulling" transcends another person's personal experience. What may "pull" one person, may not "pull" another.

As for "Hell", . . . . . I would still like to know how non-coporeal entities are affected by a literal fire?

 

[Benoni]

Belief and faith comes after God quickens man, draws man.

How does some one have a choice if he is being drawn/dragged? If I tied you up a team of horses and dragged you where is your choice or freewill when those horses start pulling. The supernatural power of God's drawing man cannot resist. Carnal man could careless if he is saved, he could care less if there is a God for he is dead in trustpasses and sin. If takes the supernatural power of God to awaken man out of the death state to see, or hear God.

Belief (Faith) comes from the hearing of the Word of God, and the Word of God is revealed to those called by God as He draws them by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enlightens, or shines the light on the truth for those who are called. Each one that is called has a choice to believe or reject the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who believe are chosen. Jesus tells us that many are called, but few are chosen

 

[Benoni]

If you get drawn by the most powerful force in the Universe your personal opinion means NOTHING.

I do not believe in hell or literal fire, God is a spirit and has no use for such means. Spiritual fire is far more meaningful and powerful.

You are right there is a pulling, the Bible uses the word draw/drag or quicken by God before you have the ability to believe.

And the "pulling" transcends another person's personal experience. What may "pull" one person, may not "pull" another.

As for "Hell", . . . . . I would still like to know how non-coporeal entities are affected by a literal fire?

 

[Solo]

Gehenna and the lake of fire are two different things. Gehenna is for believers. The Lake of Fire is punishment.

Not according to the Scriptures.

Explain your self? You see I see God's fire as spiritual and not literal fire.

First we all should quit looking at things from the way we see them, and look at them the way that God says that they are. I would agree that the fire/torment takes place in the spiritual realm as Jesus describes what happens immediately after the physical body dies in Luke 16:19-31. The Rich man is in torment in the never ending fire in the spiritual portion of Sheol/Hades for the unrighteous, while Lazarus is in Abraham's bosom, paradise, resting in the spiritual portion of Sheol/Hades for the righteous.

The Greek word Gehenna which the preachers love to burn people up; what does the Bible say reference this word?

Gehenna: Referring to the Valley of Hinnom, or Gehenna which is the city dump outside the walls of Jerusalem; a place of constant burning of refuge. Those who go to Gehenna are not sinners of the world; but are sinners of God’s people or the city dump. (how precious is this a type of purification outside of God’s holy city. All things that are not of God will be purified by God’s holy judgment fire.


Matt. 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell (Gehenna) fire.

Notice the word “brother†never you find the words heathen, sinner, lost, unbeliever with the word Gehenna.

The only ones who are in danger of the fires of spiritual Gehenna are those who reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. All who believe are born again, born of God and are no longer condemned to eternal punishment.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned : but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved . 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest , that they are wrought in God. John 3:18-21

Do not forget that Jesus tells us that some have aionos eternal life and some have aionos everlasting punishment. Those who are in Christ have no punishment for they are no longer condemned.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matthew 25:46

And do not forget that Sheol/Hades will be cast into the lake of fire.

The Greek word ????? (puros) is translated into English in the King James Version as fire 73 times, and fiery 1 time. The whole counsel of God in His Word reveals that the Lake of Fire is forever, and that all who are in the unrighteous portion of Sheol/Hades will be cast into the Lake of Fire with satan and his angels to be tormented forever.

And the beast was taken , and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Revelation 19:20

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. Revelation 20:10

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Revelation 20:14

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15

 

[Benoni]

First we all should quit looking at things from the way we see them, and look at them the way that God says that they are. I would agree that the fire/torment takes place in the spiritual realm as Jesus describes what happens immediately after the physical body dies in Luke 16:19-31. The Rich man is in torment in the never ending fire in the spiritual portion of Sheol/Hades for the unrighteous, while Lazarus is in Abraham's bosom, paradise, resting in the spiritual portion of Sheol/Hades for the righteous.

I never get deep in God’s Word until someone want to go deeper, that is why I put vague comments out to see if some one truly wants to go there. God hides His deep spiritual Word from the religious, the letter killeth. You are right we should never look at God’s Word the way we see them, in fact we should never look at scripture thought the eyes of religious eyes, we should be open to what God’s Word is saying, not man. If Jesus got up set with anyone during his walk on earth it was the religious of his day, not the sinner.

We have not even began to speak of fire or torment



THE RICH MAND AND LAZARUS: Luke chapter 16
Mark 4:34 says, "But without a parable Jesus spoke not unto them but when they were alone He expounded all things to His disciples." This scripture proves that the story of the rich man and Lazarus is only a parable. Contrary to traditional teaching, the rich man does not represent the wicked; neither does Lazarus the beggar represent the righteous. Psalm 37:25 says, "I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." This parable is not a type of the righteous begging bread from the wicked.
The rich man in this parable represents Judah who had "five brethren." Judah retained the throne of Israel, which is typified by the purple the rich man was clothed in. Judah retained the priesthood which is typified by the fine linen that he was clothed in. And Judah retained Jerusalem, the prosperous headquarters of Israel, which "fared sumptuously."
Lazarus represents the rest of Israel who lived outside the gates of Jerusalem. They had lost the kingship. They had lost the priesthood, and they depended on Judah for both natural and spiritual government. Because of their rebellion against the Lord they had become spiritually starved and sick. The dogs represented the Gentiles, who shared the crumbs from the Master's table and were more of a comfort to the ten other tribes of Israel than Judah was.
The beggar died first, which represents the ten norther tribes going into captivity. "He was carried by the angels" represents God's control over their journey into captivity. And, he was comforted in Abraham's bosom, represents the spiritual revival that took place while they were in captivity.
Later on the rich man died. This represents Judah being taken into captivity about 100 years later. It says that Lazarus was carried to Abraham's bosom, but it says that the rich man was "buried." It does not say that Lazarus was buried. Judah, as a nation, was buried, never to be a nation in its own right again. The people of Judah will find restoration only when God reunites them once again with their brethren in the other tribes. It is true that some of Judah returned to their land after captivity, but they have lived out a miserable existence and have never been recognized as a nation in their own right again. Not even the present day state of Israel is the restoration that God is going to bring about.
The scripture says that Jesus came to his own, but His own received Him not. And Jewerey has been in a veritable lake of fire ever since they rejected Christ. There was a great gulf fixed between Lazarus and the rich man. This represents the division that was predicted in Zechariah 11:14. "I cut asunder my other staff that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel." And verse ten says they lost the covenant blessing. This great gulf is fixed so that even though Christ rose from the dead, they will not, indeed they cannot believe.
But thank God, this gulf is not eternal. A time is coming when God is going to purify and untie Israel once again and establish them as rulers in His millennial kingdom. Hosea 1:10 & 11 predicts, "In the place where it was said unto them Ye are not My people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together and appoint themselves on head (even Jesus Christ the Messiah whom they had before rejected).
Christ has bridge the great gulf and will restore the covenant blessing to a united Israel when the time is right to do so. Then will all Israel, including Judah, benefit from Ephesians 2:12-16, "That ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise. But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby."

 

[Benoni]

You see the Lake of Fire is only mentioned in the Book of Revelation, the most spiritual and least understood in the whole Bible. Show me where it says Revelation is literal or practically literal, John declares he was in spirit on the Lord’s day he never said anything about being literal?

Yes the whole Bible is very spiritual and symbolic as but most important spiritual; but no where in scripture does it declare it like the Book of Revelation, note the very first verse.

If it the Book of Revelation is literal; line and verse please.

John was in spirit on the Lord ’s Day; He was looking a literal church; but a spiritual church. All that you have post is symbolic in nature; this is what God’s Word declares unless you can show me where it is literal?

Revelations 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass (not 2000 years); and he sent and signified (signs and symbols) it by his angel (messenger) unto his servant John:

John was in Spirit on the Lord’s Day; this makes the Revelation a spiritual book; not literal, not carnal, not prophetic. Revelation or the unveiling of Jesus Christ; it is the most spiritual Book in all the Bible; and I always put Genesis in second place. It is a book full of hidden spiritual symbolisms and for those who have the spiritual eyes or ears to see or hear it.

This one little word is so reverent to the whole book Revelations; ‘signified†or signs and symbols. The Book Revelations can only be understood but as a very deep and awesome spiritual book by using signs and symbols that can only be found in the Bible. Where do you find these signs and symbols; all thought the Bible; written yes by the hands of deep spiritual men from many ages.

The Book of Revelation is all symbolic and spiritual.

 

[Solo]

I never get deep in God’s Word until someone want to go deeper, that is why I put vague comments out to see if some one truly wants to go there. God hides His deep spiritual Word from the religious, the letter killeth. You are right we should never look at God’s Word the way we see them, in fact we should never look at scripture thought the eyes of religious eyes, we should be open to what God’s Word is saying, not man. If Jesus got up set with anyone during his walk on earth it was the religious of his day, not the sinner.

Then the starting point of this conversation should be, "How is a person saved?"

 

[Benoni]

I already posted Eph. 2 where it shows a step by step process in context how God declares it is done.
Faith comes only after God quicken the carnal man who is dead in trespasses and sin.

CONTEXT! CONTEXT! CONTEXT! CONTEXT! CONTEXT! CONTEXT!

Eph, 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

(Eph. 6:17). Then the writer to the Hebrews declares that the sword of God’s word is "QUICK ."Quick means living and active — LIFE-GIVING! "For the word of God that speaks is alive and full of power — making it active, operative, energizing and effective; it is sharper than any two-edged sword" (Heb. 4:12, Amplified).

2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved

6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Notice so far it is God doing this work of salvation not little man in his dead carnal nature who rejects all things of God.

8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9Not of works, lest any man should boast

It is a strange theory that obsesses men that the human will is greater in power than God, and that, no matter what the will of God is for His creatures, man is able finally to wreck it. Although the Holy Spirit seeks to woo all men to Christ, since God loves all mankind and wills to save all men, still, the omniscient God has boxed Himself into a corner, since the will of God is bound by the will of man, and the Omnipotent Spirit can be resisted by finite man if man so chooses.

Such faulty reasoning actually brings into prominence ANOTHER OMNIPOTENCE which, because it baffles the omnipotence and love of God, is by far the greater. Man will not so God cannot! What makes this notion so tragic is that it DEIFIES MAN, elevating him to god-hood, and aligns all who embrace it with the very sin that caused the fall in the beginning!

It is true that man has a will, but so also has God.
It is true that man is endowed with power, but God is all-powerful.
It is true that, speaking generally, the material world is regulated by law, but behind that law is the law-Giver and law-Administrator. Man is but the creature. God is the Creator

I never get deep in God’s Word until someone want to go deeper, that is why I put vague comments out to see if some one truly wants to go there. God hides His deep spiritual Word from the religious, the letter killeth. You are right we should never look at God’s Word the way we see them, in fact we should never look at scripture thought the eyes of religious eyes, we should be open to what God’s Word is saying, not man. If Jesus got up set with anyone during his walk on earth it was the religious of his day, not the sinner.

Then the starting point of this conversation should be, "How is a person saved?"