The Heidelberg Catechism is logically divided into three sections as outlined in Question #2.
- Questions 1-11 involve our need for redemption from our sin.
- Questions 12-85 involve redemption through Christ.
- Questions 86-129 involve how we ought to show our gratitude for redemption.
As such, Q12 is the beginning of the second section regarding redemption through Christ.
Q12. Since then, by the righteous judgment of God, we deserve temporal and eternal punishment, is there no way by which we may escape that punishment, and be again received into favour? A: God will have his justice satisfied: and therefore we must make this full satisfaction, either by ourselves, or by another. Scripture Proofs: Gen.2:17 , Exod.20:5, Exod.23:7, Ezek.18:4, Matt.5:26, 2 Thess.1:6, Luke 16:2, Rom.8:3-4.
God WILL have his justice satisfied!
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I guess you don't believe, then, in the words of Jesus in Matthew Chp 5, when he rejected the concept of "justice," or "an eye for an eye," and revealed that God returns only love for hate, good for evil, and never gives up on anyone. That rules the monstrous notion that God intends to torture billions of people for eternity.
ReplyDeleteAny objective study of Jesus' original teachings tells us there is no Hell.
I've actually written an entire book on this topic--Hell? No! Why You Can Be Certain There's No Such Place As Hell, (for anyone interested, you can get a free ecopy of Did Jesus Believe in Hell?, one of the most compelling chapters in my book at www.thereisnohell.com), but if I may, let me share just one of the many points I make in it to explain why.
If one is willing to look, there's substantial evidence contained in the gospels to show that Jesus opposed the idea of Hell. For example, in Luke 9:51-56, is a story about his great disappointment with his disciples when they actually suggested imploring God to rain FIRE on a village just because they had rejected him. His response: "You don't know what spirit is inspiring this kind of talk!" Presumably, it was NOT the Holy Spirit. He went on, trying to explain how he had come to save, heal and relieve suffering, not be the CAUSE of it.
So it only stands to reason that this same Jesus, who was appalled at the very idea of burning a few people, for a few horrific minutes until they were dead, could never, ever burn BILLIONS of people for an ETERNITY!