Expert: Brian Thompson - 1/5/2007

Question
My A/G church tells me that if I reject salvation my punishment is eternal.  I searched the 16 basic doctrines of A/G and found the statement about eternal punishment.

Can this possible be true or is this a scare tactic?  I read scripture that say that Hell is thrown into the lake of fire were death and unsaved are located and are distroyed.

Question?  Would our loving God cause the unsaved to be tormented for ever and ever?  In my own heart, I am troubled that my A/G church doctrine should teache this.

Answer
that's not just AoG doctrine, that's basic Christian theology. What's makes the AoG different is belief in the gifts of the Spirit not in their theology.

God is a loving God, very patient with us, but there is only one way and that is Jesus. He doesn't ask much, just we put our faith in his son and the benefits are enormous, not just eternal. As we say here; not just heaven in the bye and bye but steak on your plate while you wait.

We pass thought many judgements, the first will be is your name in the Lamb's book of life? if not, you cannot enter Heaven. If so, then you will be judged on your works here on earth to determine reward. But the truth is not a scare tactic, it is the truth. God should have wiped sinfull man out aeons ago but instead sent Jesus to pay the price we could not pay ourselves, he did this so that all might be saved. The way is open to all, but he does require we live according to his rules which include acceptance of Jesus Christ. We have free will, not to sin but to decide where we will spend eternity.

You cannot live how you like and expect to arrive in heaven, so get with the program already