Re: [TruthTalk] Eternal Judgment

[Terry Clifton]

Dave Hansen wrote:     As I see it, you further believe that God is going to extend his punishment of death (upon which we agree) beyond a finite event of limited pain to a vindictive and punitive physical torture by throwing the unrepentant sinner into a literal lake of fire.  Is that your belief, Kevin?   I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I assume that is how you see it.....that God is essentially an ogre as described in Perry's post.     IF that is how you perceive it, Kevin, I do believe you are drawing unwarranted conclusions as to how a merciful and just God dispenses his justice.  What possible reason would God have to physically torture a person forever?  What justice is served by such cruelty?  Death yes....we can agree.  Torture???......No, on that we must disagree.  My God of love and mercy is not one who relishes such.  If you prefer to believe God tortures people, may the Lord have mercy on you. ====================================================== Is it possible.Dave, that we cannot realize what a terrible thing it is to reject the sacrifice by God of His only Son?  Could this not be such a terrible crime that eternal agony is the only just punishment?  If you sacrificed your only son for your enemy, and the response of your enemy was to spit on the sacrifice and walk away, what would you feel?  Keep in mind that you do not hate sin as God hates sin, and your son is a sinner, not a spotless lamb. Therefore, though you can get the picture, you are seeing it through frosted glass. I cannot think of any other reason why God may write one off in such a manner, than that the crime deserves the punishment. Selah. Terry