This is what we have often heard from the clergy. I once heard a priest say, ”God even loves those in hell, because, he is a God of love!” Let us see if they are correct in what they’re saying. Let us look at some Bible quotes:
For there is no good for him that is always occupied in evil, and that giveth no alms: for the Highest hateth sinners… Ecclus. 12:3. And again, ‘’ for the Highest also hateth sinners, and will repay vengeance to the ungodly.’’ Verse 7.
“Thou hatest all the workers of iniquity.” Psalms 5:7 , drbo.org.
“All their wickedness is in Galgal, for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their devices I will cast them forth out of my house: I will love them no more, all their princes are revolters.”
[Osee (Hosea) 9:15]
“But to God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike.” [Wisdom 14:9]
“As it is written: Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” [Romans 9:13]
“All these things have I considered in my heart, that I might carefully understand them: there are just men and wise men, and their works are in the hand of God: and yet man knoweth not whether he be worthy of love, or hatred:” [Ecclesiastes 9:1]. St. Alphonsus understood this to mean , if we are in the state of grace, God loves us, but if we are in the state of sin, we are an object of his hatred.
Jesus seems to reaffirm this: “If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; as I also have kept my Father’s commandments, and do abide in his love.” Which means, ‘remain in my love.’ [John 15:10]. In other words, remaining or abiding in his love, we are his friends, If we fall from grace, we are no longer considered a friend of God, but an enemy worthy of hell fire.
“You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you.” .[John 15:14] “If,” Jesus says, “If you do the things I command you, you are my friends.’’ So it logically follows if we don’t do his commands, we are no longer his friends.
So how do we reconcile this with the words God says, “But thou sparest all: because they are thine, O Lord, who lovest souls.” [Wisdom 11:27].
Yes, God loves our souls, and gave up his life to save us, but He does not love our wicked wills when we sin, and in this sense God hates us. “But to God the wicked and his wickedness are hateful alike.” [Wisdom 14:9]. Because St. Alphonsus explains, “As God cannot but hate sin, he cannot help hating the sinner who is united to his sin.” – PREPARATION FOR DEATH.
St. Alphonsus says, “God is merciful. Who denies it? But how many are condemned to hell every day, for God cannot pardon the determination to commit sin.’
[16] ‘’And behold one came and said to him: Good master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting? [17] Who said to him: Why asketh thou me concerning good? One is good, God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.’’ Keep the commandments, Jesus said…’’ [20] The young man saith to him: All these I have kept from my youth, what is yet wanting to me? [21] Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.’’ Many understand this passage to mean the young man lost his soul, but he told the Lord he was keeping his commandments. Jesus just told him if he wanted to be perfect, go and sell what he had and give to the poor. Jesus never said he wouldn’t be saved. He just stressed if he really wanted to lead a holy life and become perfect, then get rid of his wealth and become poor. He must have been a pretty good young man to say he had kept the commandments, for who of us could say that? Very few.
St. Anthony of Padua was one of those who did give us his wealth, and he did reach a high degree of holiness before he died. He worked so many miracles in his life time that they called him the “Wonderworker.” He converted so many heretics to the true Catholic faith that he was also nicknamed “Hammer of Heretics.” He had a great love for the poor, and he fasted so much, he fainted and they had to carry him back to the monastery. He even used a mule to prove Christ’s Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. A heretic was denying Jesus true Presence in the host, while St. Anthony adamantly affirmed it. It was agreed the man would not feed his mule for 3 days, and then bring him out to some oats. St. Anthony would bring out Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, and if the mule, the dumb beast, would acknowledge Jesus in the Eucharist before eating the oats, that miracle would be the proof that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. When the day arrived, they brought the mule out with the oats waiting for the mule to eat, and St. Anthony brought out Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. St. Anthony, holding up the Blessed Sacrament, commanded the mule to acknowledge who created him. The mule turned toward the Blessed Sacrament, walked over and knelt down on its front knees, and acknowledged Jesus truly present there. ‘’ “The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel hath not known me, and my people hath not understood.”
[Isaias (Isaiah) 1:3]. This miracle converted a great many heretics to the true Catholic faith. As Fr. Ronald Tangen said, “Even dumb animals show more respect to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament than some bad Catholics!” ‘’ Israel hath not known me, and my people hath not understood.”
Jesus said he would give us his body and blood to eat for the life of our souls, St. John 6:48-69, and all the Evangelists and St. Paul reaffirmed it, so why is it the protestants say it’s only a symbol, or figurative? Why do they say they believe in Jesus, and accept him as their Lord and Saviour, but they don’t believe him when it comes to this? They don’t accept him as their Lord and Savior when it comes to receiving him in Holy Communion. Jesus, out of his own mouth, said we would not have life without it, St. John 6:54, drbo.org. If I were not in the true Church, I think I would begin to be concerned about my salvation. “He that believeth not the Son, maketh him aliar.” 1 John 5:10. “He that believeth not the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” St. John 3:36.
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