Board Thread:Bible Questions/@comment-36455791-20190111180601/@comment-5175866-20190114163150

As you said, God allows free decision in our actions, regardless if this lines up what is best for us. In a sense, all people "send themselves" to Hell. By this I mean, every person can control whether or not they receive eternal life, they have the choice of a relationship with God or not to have it. God loves everyone to be saved.

In another sense God is the one who throws people into the lake of fire, the place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. People who are wicked are punished accordingly. This is God's nature, therefore it is the law of nature and largely society itself. God allows free will, but simultaneously he has control over everything that happens. I am not saying he makes people sin, but rather he knows people will sin and has designed everything that will happen. That is one of those concepts we can't grasp. It is one that we have been given that we have to accept, even without complete understanding. God respects free choice, but he cannot allow evil to go unpunished. The government (in many countries) allows free choice of actions. We do not have to obey the law of the country and the country (if it is democratic) will respect our free will. As soon as we break a law, however, the government will enforce the law and bring us just punishment. It seems you have a misunderstanding. You (or TV tropes) is comparing it to the prodigal son. The message of that parable is that people repent from the evil ways- God wants this and wants everyone to turn from the evil and run to him (their father in a sense). Our evil actions cause suffering in themselves. You could say that God doesn't always punish, rather he allows disobedience to punish someone in itself. At the same time, God is in control of everything. This is very confusing but its an oxymoron. Sin, by its own nature and merit leads to death. Yet God designed and controls nature. God respects and allows our free decision. The way he created and allowed the world to be, living in sin causes suffering by its own merit. All this to say- this is one of those great questions. "Why does God allow sin if he knows we will sin anyway"? I honestly can't answer that. I don't have to have an answer to that though. I trust and understand God's will and character enough to asses whether or not I want to be in a relationship with him.

Here is a good resource: http://www.livingwaters-asia.com/ask-dennis/why-did-god-give-man-a-free-will-if-he-knew-well-just-use-it-to-do-evil-things

In Christ, Superdadsuper, Sr. Content and Community Manager (Bible Wiki) 16:31, January 14, 2019 (UTC)