[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

I still have an impossible time believing one aspect raised here and elsewhere.

The premise is that God respects your choice to reject him and lets you do so in hell. But I believe in an all merciful God. God, in his incomparable love, can’t possibly love me less than my parents do. God the Father is the ultimate parent.

Yet, my parents never “respected” my bad, ignorant, self-destructive choices. They continued always to try and help save me from my bad behavior. They never gave up on me ever, but always kept trying.

Am I to believe my loving God would give up on me to indulge greater foolish, stupid mistakes than even my mortal parents wouldn’t tacitly accept?

I refuse to accept this premise.

[Silly]

Am I to believe my loving God would give up on me to indulge greater foolish, stupid mistakes than even my mortal parents wouldn’t tacitly accept?

I refuse to accept this premise.

Well, that is your whole problem -- it is "your" God who would never do that. You created a concept of a God to suit your beliefs. You aren't letting God to be bigger than you. You somehow expect that a God who you don't understand or agree with to not exist.

"Your" God is a God who doesn't disagree with you or offend you.

But God is a real person, with his own identity. You can't have a real relationship with a person who never disagrees with you.

God is who He is, whether we like it or not.

[American Constitutionalist]

When you demand God to be merciful or that God is obligated to be merciful, then, it's not mercy anymore.....
God is not obligated to be merciful to anyone, God does so out of his own free will and love for us........
The same thing with grace, grace is not grace if we think we have to work for it, then, if it's by works, then, it's not grace anymore.....
We can not point our finger to GOD and demand and shout to him that he would be merciful to us.
How can the clay say to the potter " why have you made me like this " ??
Now ? if we admit we are wrong, or have sinned, and come to him humbly and ask him to have mercy, and forgive us, then, God is ready to forgive us.... he wants to forgive us, but, we can't come to him as spoiled brats and demand it from him.
Another point to make, do you actually believe that God would allow one of his beloved children to go out and do what ever he or she wants without and consequences ?
Do you actually think God would not correct us of some kind of behavior that is not pleasing to him ? the bible tells us that he chastises us as a loving father would do...

[American Constitutionalist]

HEY FREE ? ..... one day ? you will look back and realize you won't hold that view anymore.... GOD will work on your heart by the Holy Spirit, that is ? if you let him .....
Actually ? I do not believe that is what you really believe, I believe ? you might have been hurt in the past, and in some way, that is your way of dealing with it... FREE ? turn all your pain and cares unto GOD, he is there ready to listen to you, if only you come to him in humility and a sincere heart.

[presently no screen name]

The premise is that God respects your choice to reject him and lets you do so in hell.

Why reject Him when you know He loves you? God says He wants no one to perish. If they do, it's not because of God - He gave us a Savior. He did it all for us, our part is to accept His salvation and then renew your mind by reading His Word.

How can anyone expect to have something, if they reject it? It doesn't make sense. We are all sinners; yet saved by grace through faith (believing God). It's a free gift and too awesome to pass up. There's a reason why it's called the Good News!

I believe in an all merciful God. God, in his incomparable love, can’t possibly love me less than my parents do.

You are right on!

[mlizzy]

Am I to believe my loving God would give up on me to indulge greater foolish, stupid mistakes than even my mortal parents wouldn’t tacitly accept? I refuse to accept this premise.

I have read that God gives up on no one, and sends no one to hell ... they send themselves.

[RoadGumby]

God WILL keep after you, but He also says that eventually He will let your heart harden and turn you over to a reprobate mind. That’s why it is so important to listen, to have the ears to hear, when He knocks on your heart.

That is the time to let Him in! Even a parent will eventually write off a prodigal. Allow the child to reap ALL that he has sown. Consider it a learning experience. Maybe that is what it takes, a broken, bottomed-out life, where there is no where else to look but up, to God and His Son, and ask for help and forgiveness.

Yes, God will let you run and eventually ruin your life. Be thankful for that.

[ShadowAce]

God never gives up on you throughout your entire life. He's always willing to accept you.

But He won't force you. It's gotta be your decision--not His.

Once your life ends, that's it. The time for decisions is over. The time for sentencing begins.

[Gamecock]

.....I believe in an all merciful God. God, in his incomparable love.....