catholicsphere

We know and believe that on Good Friday, Jesus died on the Cross to save us. But, save us from what?

There are a number of answers to that which are all aspects of the same reality, but I’d like to focus in on one point in particular.

Recently, Pope Benedict XVI, speaking in a local parish as the Bishop of Rome, said that hell “exists and is eternal” (which is different from how it was reported, and accords completely with what has been proclaimed by others throughout history — even Pope John Paul II).

Yet there are those who say that they do not believe in Hell because they believe that a God who is good would not possibly send anyone there, at least not for all eternity as is a common Christian teaching.

What are we to make of this belief? Can the existence of a good God and an eternal hell be harmonized?

Absolutely!

Hell exists. It is an eternal separation from God. And God, precisely because He is good, offers freely the way for all persons to escape from it.

Because God is good and loved us so much, He sent Jesus to be the Sacrificial Lamb slain for our sinfulness, that through acceptance by faith we might receive the grace and peace and love that He offers. No other god in human history has given and offered as much.

Those who do not escape the eternal “fires” of hell are those who have chosen to remain separated from Him; chosen some thing(s) before Him; and thus have decided those things are preferable to Him.

It is not for me — or any of us — to decide exactly who those separated ones are/will be, but only to spread what He has revealed about His love, that He wants all to be saved. But, we also know, as is recorded in First Corinthians, chapter 6, verse 9:

Do you not know that the unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God?

Those who do not “inherit the kingdom of God” will have done so because of their own actions in not reaching out in faith for the salvation that God has promised to those that love Him.

For we know, as James said in his letter (chapter 1, verse 12):

Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.

Let us approach the Cross of Christ, that our sins may be nailed to it, and we may receive forgiveness in order to receive the inheritance of God’s kingdom as children in His family.

Today’s song: “The Wonderful Cross” (The Crowd or the Cross video) - sung by the Robbie Seay Band.

[tags]easter, catholic, christian, resurrection, crucifixion, cross, good friday, holy week, faith, sin, jesus, god, salvation, catholicsphere, reflection, meditation, hell[/tags]