Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Different Views

Jerry Sandusky will spend the rest of his life in jail for sexually abusing several boys over the last couple of decades. As a coach for Penn State University, Sandusky had access and freedom and influence. He misused all that. He ought to spend the rest of his life in jail.

Listening to Dan Patrick on the radio this morning, Dan said that Sandusky will spend the rest of his life in jail and then die and go to hell. I understand the sentiment but not the theology.

At the base of this kind of thinking is the idea that sin sends a person to hell. Maybe it has to be a really big sin. Like sexually abusing children.

The Bible says that breaking one point of God's law is the same as breaking all the law (James 2:10). The Bible says that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23). And the Bible says that all sinners deserve death (Romans 6:23). If that is the totality of what the Bible says about sin, then Jerry Sandusky is undoubtedly going to hell.

But the Bible says more about the subject. The rest of Romans 6:23 says, "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." That's good news because it means that any sinner can have eternal life!

The Bible also says that "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13). And if we confess our sins God will forgive us of our sins (1 John 1:9).

If only the first part is true then we are all going to hell. But if all of this is true then it's possible that anyone can go to heaven.

I understand that you may be uncomfortable with the thought that anyone can go to heaven. I am, too. But I wouldn't have it any other way because I could be going to hell if it were not for the grace of God.

Grace is what makes it possible for Jerry Sandusky to go to heaven. But if he doesn't put his faith in Jesus Christ he will go to hell.

A person's eternal destination depends not upon their sins but upon their decision to accept by faith (or not) the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. Would you consider accepting this gift by faith? Message me in the comments if you would like to talk more about it.

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