Some questions about sinning and Leviticus

[BonScott1980]

Hello all! I’m not Catholic but this seems to be the best forum about Christianity so hopefully I can get a few answers.

I have began looking into the bible a bit. As many of you know, the bible can contradict sometimes, and when that happens we could use an answer. So anyways if you sin you go to hell right? And the bible lists a bunch of things that are considered sins. So if you do these sins and don’t repent, you go to hell. But John 3:16 says basically as long as you truly believe that Jesus is the son of God and died for our sins, then you will go to heaven no matter what. So what does this mean? This confuses me a bit. I tried to search this up on the internet but I get the same answers. Half of the people say you sin, you go to hell. The other half quote John 3:16.

Also, quickly about Leviticus, is it relevant? I mean we say its okay to eat pork and grow our hair as we please. We also don’t make as big a deal about menstruation as Leviticus does. But everyone always throws out the man shall not lay with man thing like its law.

 

[Della]

Hello all! I’m not Catholic but this seems to be the best forum about Christianity so hopefully I can get a few answers.

Welcome to CAF! I agree that Catholic Answers is the best forum about Christianity. We’ll try to answer your questions or give you good resources for your own research.

I have began looking into the bible a bit. As many of you know, the bible can contradict sometimes, and when that happens we could use an answer.

Coming to the conclusion that the Bible contradicts itself is a result of reading it “cold.” You need a bit of history and solid theology to understand how it all hangs together.

So anyways if you sin you go to hell right? And the bible lists a bunch of things that are considered sins. So if you do these sins and don’t repent, you go to hell. But John 3:16 says basically as long as you truly believe that Jesus is the son of God and died for our sins, then you will go to heaven no matter what. So what does this mean? This confuses me a bit. I tried to search this up on the internet but I get the same answers. Half of the people say you sin, you go to hell. The other half quote John 3:16.

Hell is the destination for sinners, yes. However, Jesus came to save us from our sins so we won’t have to go to hell. So, you see there is no contradiction here.

Also, quickly about Leviticus, is it relevant? I mean we say its okay to eat pork and grow our hair as we please. We also don’t make as big a deal about menstruation as Leviticus does. But everyone always throws out the man shall not lay with man thing like its law.

Leviticus is relevant or it wouldn’t be in the Bible. However, some of the prohibitions cited there were fulfilled in Christ, such as the dietary laws. Other laws cited there, though, are moral laws which do not change. The 10 Commandments, for example, are moral laws. So, homosexual sex, like all sex apart from traditional marriage, is sinful.

 

[BonScott1980]

Thanks! I didn’t mean to disrespect the bible or anything, it can just be confusing sometimes

 

[Della]

You’re welcome. And don’t worry, I didn’t think you were disrespecting the Bible, only voicing a common misunderstanding regarding interpretation.

 

[EphelDuath]

I have began looking into the bible a bit. As many of you know, the bible can contradict sometimes, and when that happens we could use an answer.

I don’t think the Bible contradicts itself. It only takes an iota of creativity to get around most of the stumbling blocks.

So anyways if you sin you go to hell right? And the bible lists a bunch of things that are considered sins. So if you do these sins and don’t repent, you go to hell. But John 3:16 says basically as long as you truly believe that Jesus is the son of God and died for our sins, then you will go to heaven no matter what. So what does this mean? This confuses me a bit. I tried to search this up on the internet but I get the same answers. Half of the people say you sin, you go to hell. The other half quote John 3:16.

Your interpretation is mistaken. John 3:16 does indeed say that one who is faithful to Christ will have life everlasting. But also keep in mind that Jesus said “Not all who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of Heaven”; meaning if we are living an evil and sinful lifestyle, we are only pretending to love Jesus and instead are loving the Devil. This doesn’t mean that if you sin you’re going to Hell, because only God can judge that. It also doesn’t mean that Jesus won’t or can’t forgive all of your sins, because he can. But it DOES mean that having faith in Jesus doesn’t guarantee you will go to Heaven, as Protestants often claim. Man is justified solely by the grace of God through faith and good works.

Also, quickly about Leviticus, is it relevant? I mean we say its okay to eat pork and grow our hair as we please. We also don’t make as big a deal about menstruation as Leviticus does. But everyone always throws out the man shall not lay with man thing like its law.

The laws of Leviticus were part of the Old Covenant, which is meant for Jews living in ancient Israel. In the Book of Acts, the Apostles of Christ convened and ruled that it was not necessary for one’s salvation to be Jewish and live under the Law. So Leviticus is not binding on Christians.

That being said, “man shall not lay with man” is not just a ritual command, it’s a moral imperative. This is reflected in the New Testament, the teachings of the Church Fathers, and the ancient Sacred Tradition of the Catholic Church.