Comments on: Lenten Quote: The Divine Scandal http://www.thechurchgeek.com/archives/307 thoughts on faith, church, and life Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:35:55 -0500 hourly 1 By: Jim http://www.thechurchgeek.com/archives/307/comment-page-1#comment-8894 Jim Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:33:40 +0000 http://www.thechurchgeek.com/archives/307#comment-8894 Healtheland, Do our souls go anywhere; I mean when we say "hell" are we really talking about some distinct physical place? I'm not inclined to speculate on where the souls of those who die in Christ go before resurrection, it's just not all that clear from scripture. Back to Brunner's quote...from the rest of what he says in the source from which this quote came, "hell" is being in wrong relationship with God and others, and in its ultimate and final form, "hell" is banishment from God. I take that to mean that hell is a death that begins for us in this life. Brunner stresses that since we cannot give our all to God, God in Christ gives his all to us. Descending to the very depths of hell so that we might be freed from it. And consequently that we might have eternal life, that begins for us in this life. Healtheland,

Do our souls go anywhere; I mean when we say “hell” are we really talking about some distinct physical place? I’m not inclined to speculate on where the souls of those who die in Christ go before resurrection, it’s just not all that clear from scripture.

Back to Brunner’s quote…from the rest of what he says in the source from which this quote came, “hell” is being in wrong relationship with God and others, and in its ultimate and final form, “hell” is banishment from God. I take that to mean that hell is a death that begins for us in this life.

Brunner stresses that since we cannot give our all to God, God in Christ gives his all to us. Descending to the very depths of hell so that we might be freed from it. And consequently that we might have eternal life, that begins for us in this life.

]]> By: A Lenten thought from The Church Geek… | Roeminations http://www.thechurchgeek.com/archives/307/comment-page-1#comment-8890 A Lenten thought from The Church Geek… | Roeminations Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:37:18 +0000 http://www.thechurchgeek.com/archives/307#comment-8890 [...] Jim has a good thought up on his blog today about that phrase of the Apostles’ Creed “he descended into hell…” that I thought you might enjoy: I’ve often puzzled over the “he descended into hell” phrase of the Apostle’s Creed. Here are, perhaps, some helpful words from Emil Brunner: [...] [...] Jim has a good thought up on his blog today about that phrase of the Apostles’ Creed “he descended into hell…” that I thought you might enjoy: I’ve often puzzled over the “he descended into hell” phrase of the Apostle’s Creed. Here are, perhaps, some helpful words from Emil Brunner: [...]

]]> By: Mark A Hershberger http://www.thechurchgeek.com/archives/307/comment-page-1#comment-8889 Mark A Hershberger Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:29:53 +0000 http://www.thechurchgeek.com/archives/307#comment-8889 Given that Hell is where God is not, the statement is even more paradoxical. God went to where he isn't. Of course, I prefer the iconic image of <a href="http://www.incommunion.org/articles/previous-issues/issue-41/christ-harrowing-hell" rel="nofollow">Christ opening the gates of Hell</a> but the concept is the same: Freedom from Death. Given that Hell is where God is not, the statement is even more paradoxical. God went to where he isn’t.

Of course, I prefer the iconic image of Christ opening the gates of Hell but the concept is the same: Freedom from Death.

]]> By: healtheland http://www.thechurchgeek.com/archives/307/comment-page-1#comment-8886 healtheland Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:02:32 +0000 http://www.thechurchgeek.com/archives/307#comment-8886 What is "hell" exactly? Is it the grave? Is it the lake of fire? Or is it simply where the souls of those who died outside of Christ are awaiting final judgment? And if that be the case, where do the souls of people who died in Christ go until final resurrection? What is “hell” exactly? Is it the grave? Is it the lake of fire? Or is it simply where the souls of those who died outside of Christ are awaiting final judgment? And if that be the case, where do the souls of people who died in Christ go until final resurrection?

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