Why do people say God gave us free will if he really didn't?

God didn't create us to be harassed by Satan, he wanted us to live happy, but Satan ruined it for us all by turning evil. (John 8:44) He did this by saying humans should worship him, and he took thousands of angels with him. But, this wasn't Jah's fault. (Genesis Chapter 3)

Not everything bad that happens is the Devil's fault. Sometimes stuff happens indirectly, like car accidents and storms. (Ecclesiastes 9:11 - bottom part)

And God does have the power to stop Satan, he has unlimited power over the universe.

However, Satan wanted to rule, as shown in Genesis in the Adam and Eve account. So, Jah is letting him rule, not because he wants to, because he doesnt want to. Its horrible to see all the sufferings that us imperfect humans have, and all our problems and 'devils'. Nevertheless, this has to happen. Satan HAS to rule for a litttle while (long while in human's view). Satan has to have full control and full responsibility over what happens on the Earth. (2 Corinthians 4:4) The Earth HAS to get horrible, it has to almost be wasted. This way, when God brings destruction to all wicked, he will be able to say to Satan:

"See, you thought you could rule over humans, but look what has happened because of you. Now you're done forever. I have universal sovereignty over everything."

Once again, God will claim rule, with Jesus Christ by his side. (1 John 5:19 - Isaiah 9:6, 7 - Daniel 2:44)

We do have free will, and there's no such thing as an everlasting fire for all humans who reject God. Matthew 25:41, the scripture that most people think of when they think of 'hell' speaks of 'an everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his angels'. That's it though; its just for the Devil and the demons, nowhere does it say that humans will be there. Ecclesiastes 9:5 states that the dead are conscience of nothing at all, it doesnt say 'the dead who are bad will be burned forever'. And that is not even a physical everlasting fire. Its merely a symbol of everlating destruction, or nonexistence. Besides, only physical things are affected by a fire. What would a fire do to wicked spirit creatures?? They dont have human feelings of pain or touch. WE cant even see them!

Those are really good questions, by the way.

I believe you on homosexuality, I don't know what the answer is whether it is a sin or no longer, but I do suppose that it's between God and this individual. My job as a Christian is to like them and be sort to them. The query of abortion is one that may be very exceptional and i can answer this as both a Christian and on soley an mental degree. As a Christian, I believe that all life is sacred, that at the moment of conception a living soul has come into the arena to whole God's motive (whatever that may be). Placing my Christian beliefs aside (I recognize that not everybody is a Christian or shares my beliefs), American law errs on the aspect of conservatism (i.E harmless except demonstrated guilty). The American medical organization has determined that at a distinctive point in fetal development (I suppose it's 16 weeks) it can be viewed a existence. Well as soon as we've got decided that at a distinct point it does become a existence (they themselves use the word "around") what if it is 15 weeks or 14 weeks? That being mentioned I also believe that pro-lifers have got to step up and take responsibility for their beliefs (in case you are professional existence, do you volunteer to work with disadvantaged youngsters, are you a foster guardian? Do you give to charities that support youngsters and single mothers? When you possess a trade, do you furnish day care?) since i am a pro-lifer, I additionally consider in family planning and condom use (if the egg and sperm by no means meet, there s no concept)

You are absolutely right sweetheart, it makes no sense at all for an all loving God to burn people forever in fire.

With such an important subject as hell, it is vital we understand what the Bible says about it, and more importantly what it doesn’t say, but merely comes from human thought and invention.

esus said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

The Bereans searched the scriptures daily whether these things are so. Paul told the Thessalonians to prove all things and to hold fast to that which is good.

The King James translators have rendered the Hebrew word Sheol, and the Greek words Hades, Gehenna (or Geena) and Tartaroo as Hell. Is this really intellectual honesty? No, it is not.

Sheol: the grave, the pit, hell.

Hades: place of departed: i.e. the grave.

(Strong’s Concordance, 7585, 86)

Neither of these words have the slightest notion or connotation of a place of punishing or punishment.

New Testament Hades. Here we find this Word used eleven times and it is translated

hell in all instances except in I Corinthians 15:55,

which is the resurrection chapter.

If Hades refers to a place of punishment, then how could these most uplifting scriptures of hope be recorded here as our victory over hell (the grave) through Jesus Christ? It would make no sense whatsoever!

However, does this mean there is no place of punishment? No it does not. It is called the second death,( Rev 20:6 ) Death being the key word, being burned to ashes almost instantly never to exist again, gone and forgotten, but this is only for the very very wicked who will not comply and be repented. Matthew 5:22, 29. The victims of Gehenna fire (second death ) are described in Malachi 4:1-3 as merely ashes left under our feet —that’s all you have left after a fire of any physical material—ashes, that’s all. The fallen angel’s fate is described in 2 Peter 2:4,

It is Satan’s fate to suffer eternally because Spirit cannot burn and cannot die. It has only to do with Satan and his demons.

That is why it is he who has perpetuated the lie of the immortality of the soul and an ever-burning hell and eternal punishment. That is his fate—not mankind’s.

In review, Sheol, and Hades mean grave.

Tartaroo is the place of final restraint for Satan and his demons.

Gehenna is the punishment for the wicked and the end of their existence.

Thank God for being God and loves us so much that all people will being given a 1 real chance to know Yeshua ( Jesus ) thats what the resurrections are for, also found in Rev 20.

Let me take your first misconception. No where in the Bible does it say there is eternal torture. That is a myth and simply not true. What an evil God he would be if it were. The lake of fire is an all consuming fire. total destruction of the soul, it is no more, not even ash would remain or even be remembered. And it is the LAST thing. God takes no pleasure in that. Sure you love your child, but You could not live in a house where your child was violent and destructive all the time either.

What God wants is LOVE. Love can not be bought, or forced. It is the one thing that only be given by someone who has freewill to give it.

We are not random created beings, we were with God. We screwed up. Instead of destroying us all as we deserved. God loved us and wanted to redeem us.

Briefly, God didn't create us out of nothing. We have always existed. God just made a place for us, organizing existing material, so that we could come down to earth and receive a mortal body. In this life we are tempted and tried, which helps us become stronger, independent, wise, and develop the power of faith. We develop real character living in this fallen world. God allows it because it is for our own good.

We have the freedom to choose our actions, but the laws of the universe are such that we cannot choose the consequences independent of our previous choices. You can choose to tell lies but you cannot then choose to be a truthful, honorable person until you also choose to stop lying. The first choice sets us on a path, and we cannot choose a different destination without repenting or turning around and picking a different path. God is not responsible for your choices, but he will see that the laws are enforced as to the consequences of our choices.

Your idea of hell is incorrect. When we die we are given more chances to repent, with more knowledge, as spirits waiting for the final resurrection. But if we never repent we must suffer the consequences. The consequences will be severe pain and regret, but we will not be in torment forever. After we have paid the price for our unrepented sins, we will be given a kingdom of glory. There are many kingdoms in heaven, and the greatest gifts and kingdoms are given to those who first repent of all their sins and develop Christlike characters, which should be our goal in life. The unrepentant will be damned in their eternal progression, but ultimately will be happy and at peace and content after paying the price.

I think God loves humans and gave us freewill but knows that only those who obey him can live in paradise, not because he won't let the others but because they literally can't.

Put a bunch of people with conflicting ideas together and you get a "not so peaceful world" like ours. The best you can hope for is a place like the US where we are all free to hate each other and cuss and argue. We are not in paradise because we can't stand the free choices of some of those around us. So, if you want the after life to be free for all you are saying you want to live on earth forever. If you want paradise you must accept God's plan and be separated from those who do not.

If God is any kind of reasonable being, then She has to make allowances for the Honest Mistake. There are no flaring neon signs pointing at the "right" religion, so there are obviously people out there who honestly want to be good people but never picked the "right" religion (if there is one "right" religion). So, if God is any kind of being worth worshiping, then either He will let people into heaven based on their deeds rather than their beliefs, or She will give everyone a last chance, with the flaring neon sign evidence of what the right religion is, to pick that. Either way, any kind of God I'm willing to acknowledge would not send a "good" atheist to hell.

You may find this interesting (and amusing): http://www.cracked.com/article_15759_10-things-chr...

The question of why God allows evil is... a tricky one, and better (or at least more-focused) minds than mine have pondered it at length. I kind of go with "I do not know enough to understand the mind of God". It may be that the existence of evil is an intrinsic result of free will. It may be that this is a stage we need to go through to get to some better destiny. It may be that, as Hinduism and the like believe, bad things happening to us are the karmic result of bad things we have done in the past. I don't know the answer, and I don't know if the answer is knowable.

First God is the ONLY reason anyone has free will, Matthew 1:23 Jesus Christ is God with us,

John 1:1-3 Jesus our Creator and Redeemer made Humans to Love, however Love in order to be Love must have the power and right to say No. they did Adam and Eve picked satan and because that effects us because we are there children we have the nature of the one mankind picked,

Isaiah 14:12-14 tells us his nature, me me me, as children we are born with the devils nature "no choice" in fact Job if you go to chapter one, read verses 1-11 in verse 11 the devil [satan] is going to attack Job [me and you] and blame God for it, he admitted it go look. it IS the devils fault however Jesus Christ our Redeemer gave us "if" we will but ask for it forgivness [1 John 1:9] and His Loving nature instead of satans it is ONLY in Jesus we have any change in how we are, it is because of the fact God SO Loved that He gave...

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

3:18 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.

3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

So if any Goes to Hell its because they refused the gift God gave, "IF" You Love me [then] keep my commandments John 14:15 salvation is a gift The Lord took our Death and gave us His Life. its simple not hard Loving not hate, Peace not harm is God's intent, but the choice is yours. and your Choice is someday going to be "forever" unchangeable and forever is a long time isn't it?

i understand your confusion. I would encourage you conduct some serious studies of the bible becasue your speaking a faulty premise. God didnt put us here to be harassed by Satan, God made us so we could glorify him, and in doing that, we would have peace, joy and purpose in our existence. Problem is we all sin against God, and there are consequences for sin. Humanity is in the predicament that it is in becasue of disobeying God. Satan is the tempter who influences us to keep us from doing the will of God! You must realize that God is eternal therefore his rewards are eternal and so are his punishments

you are lost. Study the holy word of God, the Bible. Both OT and NT.

Lucifer rebelled against God and God sent him and his followers out of Heaven and instead of destroying them God made hell for them to live in forever. Hell is in the center of the earth. That's were we get fire and brimstone from. Satan is an angel and the demons are the other fallen angels. They can only tempt us. They can't force us to do anything unless they possess our bodies and minds. God has all power. He allows Satan to tempt humans. It's up to us to follow the temptation or avoid it. God gave us 10 common sense commandments to follow to have a good earthly life and tells us how to gain eternal life with Him in Heaven later on.

Free will allows us to do as we please. My parents raised me with certain house rules. My mom punished me with kneeling in the corner and spankings when I disobeyed. She hugged me and gave me a snack when I did well. God gives us heaven when we obey and hell when we disobey. Eternal life is the ultimate ending.

When, if, you go to heaven, you will be anew. You will be God's child. You will no longer have earthly parents, siblings, relatives and friends. We are all friends in Heaven and God's children. So if you father or your child ends up in hell, you (in heaven) will not cry a tear for him. You will be rejoicing with others toward God. The souls in hell will suffer in accords with Satan's rules there. Which we aren't aware of on earth yet. That's why it's called hell, eternal separation from God and constantly being reminded of it from Satan. Souls in hell won't think of the souls in heaven and the souls in heaven won't be thinking of the souls in hell.