Oops, the Deacon's Son is Gay

[St. SteVen]

One question about the beginning of the OP - Genesis was quoted ‘ It is not good for man to be alone ‘ I don’t really see how that is applicable here. Adam was completely alone apart from the animals , so God was communicating that it was not good for Adam to have no other human contact. So to use that as an argument seems a bit odd to me, given that we are surrounded by people. God had given Adam responsibility over his creation and God recognised that he could not do it alone. He provided him with a helpmate.

Good post, thanks.
However, the solution to Adam's problem of being alone was not to create another Adam, it was to create a mate for Adam.
Alone = without a life partner. IMHO

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[St. SteVen]

Not sure I have explained that proberbly

LOL
You failed to even spell "properly" properly.

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[Rita]

LOL
You failed to even spell "properly" properly.

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That’s so funny , I didn’t even notice. Can I blame my age !!!!!!

 

[St. SteVen]

That’s so funny , I didn’t even notice. Can I blame my age !!!!!!

I would blame autofill, but that's just me. - LOL

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[PinSeeker]

...my husband had affairs, he ‘ was in love ‘ with the other women...

Wow. So sorry to hear that, Rita. Adultery... yes, that would certainly qualify as sexual sin, as well as some other things. But beyond that, certainly a painful trial for you to have walked through. The Lord have mercy on you, my friend, and give you peace.

Grace and peace to you.

 

[Rita]

Wow. So sorry to hear that, Rita. Adultery... yes, that would certainly qualify as sexual sin, as well as some other things. But beyond that, certainly a painful trial for you to have walked through. The Lord have mercy on you, my friend, and give you peace.

Grace and peace to you.

Thank you, please be reassured that the healing process ended some time ago, and sadly my ex passed away three years ago from cancer. Yes, a trial at the time , but it’s all part of my journey and it taught me to forgive xxx

 

[Rita]

I would blame autofill, but that's just me. - LOL

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I could do that but I am well aware that often when I am talking to my son I often get ‘ probably ‘ and ‘ properly ‘ muddled up - we often have a laugh about it. So even I know that autofill is not guilty this time round , but age is definitely a factor.

 

[St. SteVen]

I could do that but I am well aware that often when I am talking to my son I often get ‘ probably ‘ and ‘ properly ‘ muddled up - we often have a laugh about it. So even I know that autofill is not guilty this time round , but age is definitely a factor.

I can empathize. - LOL

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[gpresdo]

Before the word "homosexual" was invented around 200 years ago, the only word used to describe two men in an unnatural sexual relationship, was "Sodomites"

The word is still used to this day, I saw a news article where a president of an Islamic country was charged with "Sodomy" that word is synonymous with unnatural sex. I'm not going to specify the act it refers to but I thin k everyone knows.

We don't find any other examples of entire cities being destroyed with fire and brimstone, due to Gods wrath against the sin of Sodomy.

Neither do we see examples of Christ dying for our sins..more that once....et al.

I believe you need to clarify your point?

 

[Christian Soldier]

Neither do we see examples of Christ dying for our sins..more that once....et al.

I believe you need to clarify your point?

My point was that God hates Sodomites more than anyone else, because He never dealt out that kind of punishment to any other kinds sinners.
God ordered His people to stone homosexuals to death, He is still the same God who sits on His throne. He hasn't gone soft on Sodomites, as some think He has because He doesn't punish them right away, but He will when He casts them into the lake of fire.

Gods Words says that "no homosexual will inherit the Kingdom of God". That only leaves hell.

 

[PinSeeker]

My point was that God hates Sodomites more than anyone else...

God hates all sin.

...He never dealt out that kind of punishment to any other kinds sinners.

Ohhhhh... yes, he did... There are instances in the Bible where God has treated all kinds of sin with equal harshness. Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden ~ and died that very day, as God told Adam they would in Genesis 2:17, when they partook of the forbidden tree. Not a physical death, of course, but a very real death, and this is now the natural condition of all human beings from that point up to now. Uzzah is another example; he disobeyed God's command that no one touch the ark (2 Samuel 6). And Ananias and Sapphira are another example; they lied to God... And then of course there is Jesus, who died on the cross for all sin; He is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. Generally speaking, there is no specification or "ranking" with regard to sin in general and its wages, with is death (Romans 6:23).

God ordered His people to stone homosexuals to death, He is still the same God who sits on His throne. He hasn't gone soft on Sodomites, as some think He has because He doesn't punish them right away, but He will when He casts them into the lake of fire.

Right, well, all sin is an abomination to the Lord. As Solomon says, "The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord..." (Proverbs 15:9), and that "way" can take many different forms.

Gods Words says that "no homosexual will inherit the Kingdom of God". That only leaves hell.

Right, but included in that very verse ~ 1 Corinthians 6:9 ~ is sexual immorality, which includes all sexual sin, some of which would be classified as heterosexual in nature, and idolatry, and adultery. And if we look at 1 Timothy 1:9-10, where homosexuality is also mentioned, there Paul says that "the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine."

So does God hate Sodomites "more than anyone else"? I say that God hates sin and those who practice it (make a practice of it; dwell in it), which doesn't mean that He does not love them, but rather loves them in a very different way, "enduring them with great patience," than He loves those "whom He has mercy and compassion" on (Romans 9). The former "do not see fit to acknowledge God, so God gives them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done; they are filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. They not only do them but give approval to those who practice them" (Romans 1). So, He hates all sin, and for those who remain dead in their sin He punishes equally, in the end ~ this is the second death.

Grace and peace to you.

 

[Christian Soldier]

God hates all sin.


Ohhhhh... yes, he did... There are instances in the Bible where God has treated all kinds of sin with equal harshness. Adam and Eve were cast out of Eden ~ and died that very day, as God told Adam they would in Genesis 2:17, when they partook of the forbidden tree. Not a physical death, of course, but a very real death, and this is now the natural condition of all human beings from that point up to now. Uzzah is another example; he disobeyed God's command that no one touch the ark (2 Samuel 6). And Ananias and Sapphira are another example; they lied to God... And then of course there is Jesus, who died on the cross for all sin; He is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. Generally speaking, there is no specification or "ranking" with regard to sin in general and its wages, with is death (Romans 6:23).


Right, well, all sin is an abomination to the Lord. As Solomon says, "The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord..." (Proverbs 15:9), and that "way" can take many different forms.


Right, but included in that very verse ~ 1 Corinthians 6:9 ~ is sexual immorality, which includes all sexual sin, some of which would be classified as heterosexual in nature, and idolatry, and adultery. And if we look at 1 Timothy 1:9-10, where homosexuality is also mentioned, there Paul says that "the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine."

So does God hate Sodomites "more than anyone else"? I say that God hates sin and those who practice it (make a practice of it; dwell in it), which doesn't mean that He does not love them, but rather loves them in a very different way, "enduring them with great patience," than He loves those "whom He has mercy and compassion" on (Romans 9). The former "do not see fit to acknowledge God, so God gives them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done; they are filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. They not only do them but give approval to those who practice them" (Romans 1). So, He hates all sin, and for those who remain dead in their sin He punishes equally, in the end ~ this is the second death.

Grace and peace to you.

I don't believe that God hates all sin and sinners equally. He hates some people much more than He hates others, just as He hates some sins much more than He hates other less offensive sins.

We know that the lake of fire was created for Satan and His Angels, because God hates them the most. But the vast majority of mankind has joined Satan and His Angels in rebellion against God so they've earned the same hatred for themselves as well.

God hated the men of Sodom and Gamora, more than any other men in human history. He demonstrated His hatred of them by punishing them with fire and brimstone, this punishment is the same as the lake of fire punishment. Nobody before them or since them was punished in that way.

You mentioned Adam and Eve's punishment for sinning against God and it was a walk in the park, compared to what those poor devils got in the cities of Sodom and Gamora. Adam and Eve went on to have many children and live to over 900 years, there is no record of them suffering any painful punishment.

It's only natural that God has a tailor made punishment for every type of sin, so it's certainly not a one size fits all deal as you eluded to. Just as all of Gods elect will receive a different reward according to our deeds, likewise those who die in their sin will be punished according to the severity of their sins. History shows that the sin God hates the most is sodomy, He confirmed it by meeting out the worst punishment to those who practiced it.

Here are a few verses of scripture where God describes the kinds of people He hates and the kinds of sins He hates. There are many more in the bible but, these are the ones that stand out the most.

1. God hates the workers of iniquity (Psalm 5:5)
2. God hates the wicked (Psalm 11:5)
3. God hates the sacrifices of the wicked (Proverbs 15:8)
4. God hates the ways of the wicked (Proverbs 15:9)
5. God hates the thoughts of the wicked (Proverbs 15:26)
6. God hates feet that make haste to run to evil (Proverbs 6:18)
7. God hated Esau (Malachi 1:1-3; Romans 9:13)
8. God hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6)

 

[PinSeeker]

I don't believe that God hates all sin and sinners equally. He hates some people much more than He hates others, just as He hates some sins much more than He hates other less offensive sins.

Disagree. Certainly there are sins that are more heinous than others, but the penalty for sin, regardless of the heinousness, is death.

...the vast majority of mankind has joined Satan and His Angels in rebellion against God so they've earned the same hatred for themselves as well.

Agree. Actually, we were all in this rebellion, but some of us have been the recipients of God's mercy and compassion (according to His will).

God hated the men of Sodom and Gamora, more than any other men in human history. He demonstrated His hatred of them by punishing them with fire and brimstone, this punishment is the same as the lake of fire punishment. Nobody before them or since them was punished in that way.

Sin ~ without exception ~ is punishable by death. The wages of sin is death.

You mentioned Adam and Eve's punishment for sinning against God and it was a walk in the park, compared to what those poor devils got in the cities of Sodom and Gamora.

Hmmm... well again, God warned Adam that if he (or Eve, who wasn't yet created) disobeyed Him, that he would surely die in that very day, and die he (and Eve) did.

Adam and Eve went on to have many children and live to over 900 years, there is no record of them suffering any painful punishment.

Well, you might read Genesis 2:17... and Genesis 3:16-19 again... I agree that it can sound... mild... to the undiscerning ear...

It's only natural that God has a tailor made punishment for every type of sin...

According to whom? You? <smile>

, so it's certainly not a one size fits all deal as you eluded to.

That would be 'alluded to.' I was speaking in more the eternal sense. Not that I am eternal, certainly, but... you understand. Hey, remember what James says, that "whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it" (James 2:10).

Just as all of Gods elect will receive a different reward according to our deeds, likewise those who die in their sin will be punished according to the severity of their sins. History shows that the sin God hates the most is sodomy, He confirmed it by meeting out the worst punishment to those who practiced it.

Disagree. I say he used Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of the consequence of unrepentant sin of any kind. Look at what Peter says in 2 Peter 2:4-6... "...if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes He condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly..." You see?

Here are a few verses of scripture where God describes the kinds of people He hates and the kinds of sins He hates. There are many more in the bible but, these are the ones that stand out the most.

1. God hates the workers of iniquity (Psalm 5:5)
2. God hates the wicked (Psalm 11:5)
3. God hates the sacrifices of the wicked (Proverbs 15:8)
4. God hates the ways of the wicked (Proverbs 15:9)
5. God hates the thoughts of the wicked (Proverbs 15:26)
6. God hates feet that make haste to run to evil (Proverbs 6:18)
7. God hated Esau (Malachi 1:1-3; Romans 9:13)
8. God hates the deeds of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:6)

There is no differentiation among sins in any of these verses, Christian Soldier. "Workers of iniquity," "the wicked," "the ways* and "thoughts of the wicked", "feet that make haste to run to evil"... these descriptions are all about sinners, not sin, so specific to persons, and very general and all-encompassing regarding what they do and who they are because of their general disposition toward Him.

Grace and peace to you.

 

[Christian Soldier]

Disagree. Certainly there are sins that are more heinous than others, but the penalty for sin, regardless of the heinousness, is death.


Agree. Actually, we were all in this rebellion, but some of us have been the recipients of God's mercy and compassion (according to His will).


Sin ~ without exception ~ is punishable by death. The wages of sin is death.


Hmmm... well again, God warned Adam that if he (or Eve, who wasn't yet created) disobeyed Him, that he would surely die in that very day, and die he (and Eve) did.


Well, you might read Genesis 2:17... and Genesis 3:16-19 again... I agree that it can sound... mild... to the undiscerning ear...


According to whom? You? <smile>


That would be 'alluded to.' I was speaking in more the eternal sense. Not that I am eternal, certainly, but... you understand. Hey, remember what James says, that "whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it" (James 2:10).


Disagree. I say he used Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of the consequence of unrepentant sin of any kind. Look at what Peter says in 2 Peter 2:4-6... "...if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes He condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly..." You see?


There is no differentiation among sins in any of these verses, Christian Soldier. "Workers of iniquity," "the wicked," "the ways* and "thoughts of the wicked", "feet that make haste to run to evil"... these descriptions are all about sinners, not sin, so specific to persons, and very general and all-encompassing regarding what they do and who they are because of their general disposition toward Him.

Grace and peace to you.

The penalty for sin is most certainly death, I'm sure you know Gods was speaking about spiritual death and not antihalation, or ceasing to exist. We know that everyone was born in that dead state we inherited from our parents.
But God purposed to quicken a remnant to life, before He created the world. He wrote he names of His elect in His book, so they will be redeemed, while the rest will die the second death.

Like the first death, the second one is also a spiritual one and it doesn't mean they are annihilated, nor does it mean they cease to exist. It just means that they are permanently lost, without any hope of salvation ever again. They are cast into hell, where they are tormented for all eternity.

God does make distinctions between types and severity of sins. We know that fornication is a sin against our body, so it's unique in that sense. Then there are sins against others and sins against God Himself, and there's a sin that is not pardonable so it's unlike any other.

1 Corinthians 3:14-16
14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

As we see in the above verses, God rewards His children according to their works. So they are all saved but they receive different rewards according to their works. So if He does that for believers, He does likewise for those who die in their sin, they are punished according to how offensive their sin is.

There will be degrees of punishment during the day of wrath. James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.. Yet some acts are worse than others and deserve harsher punishment (Num. 35:9–29).

As bad as Sodom was, her sentence will be lighter on Judgment Day than Bethsaida’s because Sodom never saw Jesus

Matt 11:20-24 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

The sinner who never hears of Christ will go to hell, yet his pain will be less intense than those who hear the Gospel each Sunday and refuse to repent.

 

[PinSeeker]

The penalty for sin is most certainly death, I'm sure you know Gods was speaking about spiritual death and not antihalation, or ceasing to exist. We know that everyone was born in that dead state we inherited from our parents.
But God purposed to quicken a remnant to life, before He created the world. He wrote he names of His elect in His book, so they will be redeemed, while the rest will die the second death. Like the first death, the second one is also a spiritual one and it doesn't mean they are annihilated, nor does it mean they cease to exist. It just means that they are permanently lost, without any hope of salvation ever again. They are cast into hell, where they are tormented for all eternity.

Sure. You're preaching to the choir; you're talking to a well-versed, five-point Calvinist, here. :) You're straying into other topics, though.

God does make distinctions between types and severity of sins.

I have not said otherwise.

We know that fornication is a sin against our body, so it's unique in that sense. Then there are sins against others and sins against God Himself, and there's a sin that is not pardonable so it's unlike any other.

Sure.

1 Corinthians 3:14-16
14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

As we see in the above verses, God rewards His children according to their works.

Sure.

So they are all saved but they receive different rewards according to their works. So if He does that for believers, He does likewise for those who die in their sin, they are punished according to how offensive their sin is. There will be degrees of punishment during the day of wrath.

Yeah, disagree. All we really know, because Scripture is very clear on these things, is:

• the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor stand in the congregation of the righteous (Psalm 1)
• the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God but rather be sent away from the New Heaven and New Earth
• they will enter into;
  • eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:9)
  • hell (Matthew 5:29; 10:28; Mark 9:45; Luke 12:5; others)
  • outer darkness... a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth... (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30)
  • (you may or may not agree with this) "live" in a state of torment (but not literally be tormented by anyone other than themselves; their torment will be their own anguish (Luke 16), and this is "their worm that will not die" of Mark 9:48), totally immersed in God's fiery judgment (Luke 16:24... the "lake of fire" of Revelation 20 is not a literal description of hell but symbolizes the total immersion in judgment that hell is)...

There is no Biblical evidence that any of the unsaved suffer more than others; we can only know that all will suffer this unimaginable "second death" and... dwell there for eternity.

There will be degrees of punishment during the day of wrath. James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.. Yet some acts are worse than others and deserve harsher punishment (Num. 35:9–29).

As bad as Sodom was, her sentence will be lighter on Judgment Day than Bethsaida’s because Sodom never saw Jesus

Matt 11:20-24 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

The sinner who never hears of Christ will go to hell, yet his pain will be less intense than those who hear the Gospel each Sunday and refuse to repent.

Numbers 35 is part of the civil law that is no longer in effect. As Paul says in Galatians 3:24-26, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus we are all sons of God, through faith. By 'guardian' (other translations have it as 'tutor'), Paul means it was instituted by God to the Isrealites of old to teach them God's hatred of sin and their need of redemption by salvation through the true Lamb without blemish to come, Christ Jesus.

Other than that, I think you're misunderstanding, to some degree, these passages, Christian Soldier. But, it's okay. I think we can agree that hell is... to put it mildly... certainly not where we want to be in eternity, or anyone else for that matter. For us believers, though, thanks be to God that "nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39), that "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6), and that we have been "born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. and that we will obtain the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls" (1 Peter 1:3-9).

Grace and peace to you.

 

[Christian Soldier]

Sure. You're preaching to the choir; you're talking to a well-versed, five-point Calvinist, here. :) You're straying into other topics, though.


I have not said otherwise.


Sure.


Sure.


Yeah, disagree. All we really know, because Scripture is very clear on these things, is:

• the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor stand in the congregation of the righteous (Psalm 1)
• the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God but rather be sent away from the New Heaven and New Earth
• they will enter into;
  • eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46; 2 Thessalonians 1:9)
  • hell (Matthew 5:29; 10:28; Mark 9:45; Luke 12:5; others)
  • outer darkness... a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth... (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30)
  • (you may or may not agree with this) "live" in a state of torment (but not literally be tormented by anyone other than themselves; their torment will be their own anguish (Luke 16), and this is "their worm that will not die" of Mark 9:48), totally immersed in God's fiery judgment (Luke 16:24... the "lake of fire" of Revelation 20 is not a literal description of hell but symbolizes the total immersion in judgment that hell is)...

There is no Biblical evidence that any of the unsaved suffer more than others; we can only know that all will suffer this unimaginable "second death" and... dwell there for eternity.


Numbers 35 is part of the civil law that is no longer in effect. As Paul says in Galatians 3:24-26, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus we are all sons of God, through faith. By 'guardian' (other translations have it as 'tutor'), Paul means it was instituted by God to the Isrealites of old to teach them God's hatred of sin and their need of redemption by salvation through the true Lamb without blemish to come, Christ Jesus.

Other than that, I think you're misunderstanding, to some degree, these passages, Christian Soldier. But, it's okay. I think we can agree that hell is... to put it mildly... certainly not where we want to be in eternity, or anyone else for that matter. For us believers, though, thanks be to God that "nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39), that "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6), and that we have been "born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. and that we will obtain the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls" (1 Peter 1:3-9).

Grace and peace to you.

I didn't mean to get off topic, but the doctrine of hell and the varying degrees of punishment in hell is appropriate here, because all homosexuals will be cast into hell, if they don't repent of it before they die.

I agree with everything you say, except for the "Degrees of punishment in hell" part.

There is strong Biblical Evidence for the Concept of Degrees of Punishment in Hell. Below are some passages of Scripture that speak directly of degrees of punishment in hell.

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt. 12:36–37).

“And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more” (Luke 12:47–48).

“But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed” (Rom. 2:5).

“How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?” (Heb. 10:29)

I don't believe that God will meet out the same punishment to everyone in hell. It wouldn't make sense to give a child raping murderer, the same punishment as someone who adhered to some ethical or moral code, but never believed in God.

The punishment of hell will be in keeping with divine justice. The all-knowing God will assess each individual life, counting exactly the extent of abandonment to sin, the influence of others to sin, and the light and privilege abused, and he will assign punishment accordingly—exactly fitted to each person.

 

[PinSeeker]

I don't believe that God will meet out the same punishment to everyone in hell.

"Mete out"... Sorry; not to correct you, but just chalk it up to... oh, anal retentiveness or something... :) But okay, fair enough. I say the punishment is so bad that degrees are not necessary. Total darkness, total aloneness, no rest, from God absolutely no grace and only judgment, utter anguish and sadness... for eternity. The picture Jesus gives in Luke 16 is terrible; even to describe it as a torment is to me an understatement. It's just unthinkable.

The punishment of hell will be in keeping with divine justice.

Agree. And it'll be as... well, as bad as it can possibly be... for all the wicked. Jesus certainly talks about the greatest and the least in heaven, but never is anything like that said of the ones consigned to hell.

The all-knowing God will assess each individual life, counting exactly the extent of abandonment to sin, the influence of others to sin, and the light and privilege abused, and he will assign punishment accordingly—exactly fitted to each person.

Hmmm, well, in certain senses, I both agree and disagree. But we can leave it at that, I think.

Grace and peace to you!