Does God want everyone to go to Heaven?

[Marie1234]

I assume the answer is “yes” as is stated directly in certain Bible passages.

1 Timothy 2:3-4 God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is … not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But I’m just confused about some passages that seem to state otherwise.

Proverbs 16:4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Romans 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned.

I’m probably just misunderstanding these passages. Does anyone know what they mean? Thanks!

 

[ExGratia]

I assume the answer is “yes” as is stated directly in certain Bible passages.

1 Timothy 2:3-4 God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is … not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But I’m just confused about some passages that seem to state otherwise.

Proverbs 16:4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Romans 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned.

I’m probably just misunderstanding these passages. Does anyone know what they mean? Thanks!

Why did God create us?
To know, love, and serve Him in this life and to be happy with Him forever, in Heaven. (Baltimore Catechism)

As Catholics, we have Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture…and Tradition says the above! Aren’t we blessed to have an authority (Holy Mother Church) to interpret for us! Sola Scriptura is not Catholic teaching, and answers you seek can be found in other sources. Oh, and get yourself a good Catholic Bible commentary if it’ll make you happY!

 

[farpinho]

Yes.

 

[Robbinson]

Why did God create us?
To know, love, and serve Him in this life and to be happy with Him forever, in Heaven. (Baltimore Catechism)

As Catholics, we have Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture…and Tradition says the above! Aren’t we blessed to have an authority (Holy Mother Church) to interpret for us! Sola Scriptura is not Catholic teaching, and answers you seek can be found in other sources. Oh, and get yourself a good Catholic Bible commentary if it’ll make you happY!

I certainaly agree (and that is wonderful indeed! )- although of course, that Tradition does this through interpretation of scripture. There is nothing in Tradition that contravene’s the word of God. So to the OP question about those specific verses (and other similar verses), our belief is that these refer to individuals who have already chosen to believe in the lie, or have already closed their heart and mind to the gospel, thus God hardening their heart, for example, is a completion of their chosen disposition. A good example of this is God hardening Pharoh’s heart (he had already chosen to reject Israel’s plea and God).

It is verses like these, however, that led to the great debate between calvinists (those who believe in pre-destiniation and the “elect”) and Catholics (or among Protestants - Arminian thinkers - who believe we have “free will” to cooperate with grace, or not - with God hardening the hearts of those who choose not to embrace that grace.

Blessings,

Brian

 

[Skye_Ariel]

Hell was created for the devil and his angels, it was never meant for humans to go there. God wants everyone to join Him in heaven.

 

[Marie1234]

So to the OP question about those specific verses (and other similar verses), our belief is that these refer to individuals who have already chosen to believe in the lie, or have already closed their heart and mind to the gospel, thus God hardening their heart, for example, is a completion of their chosen disposition. A good example of this is God hardening Pharoh’s heart (he had already chosen to reject Israel’s plea and God).

Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut everyone! I think I understand better. I’m just still a bit confused about the last quote about God sending delusions to people. What does that mean?

Also, what exactly does “hardening of the heart” entail?

Thanks!

 

[Skye_Ariel]

I’m not sure about the delusions part either, but I think I understand the hardening of hearts. With the hardening of hearts, it means that some people no matter how much you try to reach them will become more and more stubborn and more and more determined to hold on to the wrong mindset. So when you try to reach them all you do is harden their hearts or make them more determined or stubborn. That’s what I think it means. The more God reaches out to people the more stubborn they become, like how pharoh was when after all the plagues and things God did, pharoh’s heart became more and more hardened or stubborn.

 

[fhansen]

I certainaly agree (and that is wonderful indeed! )- although of course, that Tradition does this through interpretation of scripture. There is nothing in Tradition that contravene’s the word of God. So to the OP question about those specific verses (and other similar verses), our belief is that these refer to individuals who have already chosen to believe in the lie, or have already closed their heart and mind to the gospel, thus God hardening their heart, for example, is a completion of their chosen disposition. A good example of this is God hardening Pharoh’s heart (he had already chosen to reject Israel’s plea and God).

It is verses like these, however, that led to the great debate between calvinists (those who believe in pre-destiniation and the “elect”) and Catholics (or among Protestants - Arminian thinkers - who believe we have “free will” to cooperate with grace, or not - with God hardening the hearts of those who choose not to embrace that grace.

Blessings,

Brian

Yes. I think some of those verses actually relate to how God *uses * evil to bring about a greater good, without causing the evil. And even then we don’t necessarily know the eternal fate of those whose hearts were “hardened”.

 

[LaMusicaSenior]

I look at God as the ultimate father. We are all His children (whether we acknowledge that fact or not.)

Becasue a father wishes nothing more than to see all of his children gathered around the dinner table, I assume the ultimate father’s wishes would be even more so.

I’m pretty sure that God would want hell to be empty - one more soul in Hell is a soul He doesn’t see in Heaven.

 

[aragonjohn1]

I assume the answer is “yes” as is stated directly in certain Bible passages.

1 Timothy 2:3-4 God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is … not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But I’m just confused about some passages that seem to state otherwise.

Proverbs 16:4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

Romans 9:18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

2 Thessalonians 2:11-12 God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned.

I’m probably just misunderstanding these passages. Does anyone know what they mean? Thanks!

GOD Is LOVE so yes " He has prepared a place for everyone" John Chapter 14 Verse 2-3

Shalom
God Bless

 

[Skye_Ariel]

I look at God as the ultimate father. We are all His children (whether we acknowledge that fact or not.)

Becasue a father wishes nothing more than to see all of his children gathered around the dinner table, I assume the ultimate father’s wishes would be even more so.

I’m pretty sure that God would want hell to be empty - one more soul in Hell is a soul He doesn’t see in Heaven.

Exactly! And if everyone was on their way to heaven except one person Jesus would have died for that one person.

 

[stevekehl]

There’s a lot of nice fluffy and cuddly comments here, but the fact is that most people will not be saved.
Matthew 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
God does want everyone to be saved, but gave each of us free will, therefore many will choose sin over God. So God did make those who are wicked, which is all of us. If God chooses to blind some people spiritually or send delusions so accomplish His plan then He has the authority to do so. Just be grateful God made a way for us to be reconciled to Him.