3 days = Infinity?

I'm trying to find out more about who God is and trying to dig deeper into Christianity.

How does Jesus's 3 days in hell equate for an eternity in hell for people? If Christ only had to stay in hell for 3 days, shouldn't the penalty for humans be for only 3 days in hell?

Christ had to become human for him to be the sacrifice. Because he couldn't take our place if he wasn't. But then why doesn't this apply to the time spent in hell.

Please explain. I am speaking out of confusion.

See, this is the point. Why are there so many debates about Christianity? If this is the ULTIMATE truth, how come there are so many debates about issues like this.

Why doesn't God just come down and settle it all. I'm under incredible stress because I can't figure all of this out. But until we die, we will continually be guessing.

That is why it's so hard for me to trust God because I'm sitting here seeking after God this past year. And this was the thing that was always on my mind. I put health, job, relationships on the side just to figure this out and to this day I can't figure it out. It just seems like it's too hard to figure out.

Is God trying to confuse us? There are so many interpretations of the word and everyone has their thoughts on certain matters but why so much confusion.

I just feel that God is messing with us at times and that there is no point to all of this sometimes because there are no answers and God just sits there silent, not saying a word.

And yes people say, just read the word as an act of worship but it isn't clear most of the time. And topics like this arise out of reading the word.

The only thing that I'm clinging onto is the fact that the world is continually getting worse and I can see the events in Revelations coming about and I never thought I could've said that in my lifetime.

to this day I can't figure it out. It just seems like it's too hard to figure out.

Isaiah 55:9
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

This is why we need the Holy Spirit to speak truth directly into our spirits, which somehow, by a miracle, God enables us to understand spiritually, and as we receive that truth in our hearts, and mediate upon it, and grapple with it in our minds, He brings us through to mental understanding of something more than we 'knew' before.

But we need to give up all thought of subjecting His wisdom and knowledge to the scrutiny of our fallen minds. That, is a lost cause!

EDIT:
To be practical, you have to decide whether you are going to believe God's word. When that is settled, and your mind is fixed on getting to know Him through His word, you will find yourself gaining understanding. I say so with conviction, because of this testimony:

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 [he is] a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

With regard to your particular question, Paul Washer in his famous sermon The True Gospel, deals with the infinite nature and worthiness of Christ as our sacrifice. For the same reason, 3 days in 'hell' would be enough for all the people who will ever live, for whom He died. [It's here on SI, or, the video is on youtube.]

Regarding the concept of 'everlasting' or 'eternal', Young in his literal translation of the Bible, uses the phrase 'age-during', which thereby accommodates the major eras within which God has, or will, reveal Himself to mankind.

God has not revealed much about what will happen in the next age, but He reveals Christ to us, that He may be in us, that we may prove Him faithful to all of His present revelation, and thus honestly, consciously, deliberately, choose to please Him, that we may be with in in the next age, whatever that may hold for us.

Matthew 7:17 "Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor [can] a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 " Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Anther thing to consider, is the perspective of the person dying. To aid you in this, read Ezeziel 18. But remember this was written a long time ago. A necessary question is, whether anything has changed because of Christ's sacrifice. Without doubt, to those who believe, it has changed, because we receive the power to become sons of God. But what of those who don't believe? Is their condemnation GREATER, since Christ has come?

It is useful to remember when reading the New Testament, that the word 'reward' doesn't always mean something good is going to happen to the person receiving it. God will treat them the way they treated Him and others, unless they repented if that was appropriate.

I think you are thinking too hard, trying to figure out too many things. I suggest you focus on the LORD Jesus, allow his spirit to live within and be open to his teaching. There are many things one does not understand but with time illumination will come. And until that happens just know that what God decides will be better then anything you or anyone else could do or figure out. Knowledge and wisdom reside in the Godhead and it will be perfect.

Thanks ginnyrose. I am trying too hard. The reason that is because I don't feel I have a relationship with Christ right a lot of times. Just to clarify a bit, I'm doing all of this to try to have a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus. I'm not doing this to know everything. I just want a RELATIONSHIP with Him. I really don't want to try this hard.

I don't have a good foundation with Jesus. My foundation has been rocked so hard that now I question everything and I trust no one. I can honestly say I don't trust the christians in my life. The christians in my life think there is nothing wrong with what Rick Warren, and sometimes even what Joel Osteen preaches.(I'm not against these people, I pray for them, what they teach is wrong, not all of it but some of their doctrine is off.) A couple of them at church know the truth and do NOTHING about it and tell me I'm very brave and try to not associate with me because it hurts their social standing. (That's why you always judge a person's character by their actions and never their words)

Everyday I tell myself to just give up and quit and that there can't be a God because everything is so messed up. God will not allow you to be the only christian you know.

I honestly can understand how those prophets felt when everyone was against them. I've lost all my friends because I didn't keep my mouth shut. I'm not a socially dysfunctional person but because I always try to speak truth ,love, and seek justice, it really kicked me in the behind.

I want to barf everytime I go to church. Now I go and just learned to shut my mouth and go along cause I can't do anything about it anyway. People are sick of it and I get no backup from God. He doesn't say a word.

I don't want to sound like a broken record but basically

-I don't really know God.

-I'm trying to strengthen my relationship with God by doing all this(praying, reading bible(as an act of worship), fellowship, talking to God any chance I get) and nothing works.(all my efforts are to have a relationship with Him but He is very cold to me right now and pretty much all my life. That's why I was so angry with Him cause I gave up a lot and I trusted Him)

-God has to show up in my life or I'll be forever lost.

-I'm running on fumes right now and I feel God really just manipulated me and made a loser here and then He just ups and leaves.

-I can't do this much longer. It's killing me inside.

can't do this much longer. It's killing me inside.

Hebrews 4:11 [His rest]
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Isaiah 45:11
Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.

Genesis:32
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day... 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. {Peniel: that is, The face of God} 31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

Come, O thou Traveler unknown,
Whom still I hold, but cannot see!
My company before is gone,
And I am left alone with Thee;
With Thee all night I mean to stay,
And wrestle till the break of day.

I need not tell Thee who I am,
My misery and sin declare;
Thyself hast called me by my name,
Look on Thy hands, and read it there;
But who, I ask Thee, who art Thou?
Tell me Thy name, and tell me now.

Yield to me now, for I am weak,
But confident in self-despair;
Speak to my heart, in blessings speak,
Be conquered by my instant prayer;
Speak, or Thou never hence shalt move,
And tell me if Thy Name is Love.

’Tis Love! ’tis Love! Thou diedst for me!
I hear Thy whisper in my heart;
The morning breaks, the shadows flee,
Pure, universal love Thou art;
To me, to all, Thy bowels move;
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

My prayer hath power with God; the grace
Unspeakable I now receive;
Through faith I see Thee face to face,
I see Thee face to face, and live!
In vain I have not wept and strove;
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

I know Thee, Savior, who Thou art.
Jesus, the feeble sinner’s friend;
Nor wilt Thou with the night depart.
But stay and love me to the end,
Thy mercies never shall remove;
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

Contented now upon my thigh
I halt, till life’s short journey end;
All helplessness, all weakness I
On Thee alone for strength depend;
Nor have I power from Thee to move:
Thy nature, and Thy name is Love.

Lame as I am, I take the prey,
Hell, earth, and sin, with ease o’ercome;
I leap for joy, pursue my way,
And as a bounding hart fly home,
Through all eternity to prove
Thy nature and Thy Name is Love.

Yes, Jesus was only made sin on the cross. "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46) shows that.

Codek, Madefree's post is on the right track in answering your original question. There's something about Christ being God that made his suffering on the cross eternal, and yet he still suffered as a man. Perhaps this verse sheds some light on this topic:

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who THROUGH THE ETERNAL SPIRIT offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14)

I'd also say there was something about the life of the One being offered. The cross was only the completion of what Jesus had done for 33 years- empty himself, deny himself!

"Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Isaiah 53:12)

"But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Phillipians 2:7-8)

Christ's life, which he offered up through the Eternal Spirit, was worth as much or more to God, as the lives of all men suffering in hell forever would be. I believe this would be the significance of the blood of Christ, as "the life is in the blood" and why redemption can only come by Christ's blood. (Ephesians 1:7)

I hope sharing this is profitable to you in some way. I noticed your latest post while writing this, and I want to encourage you that Jesus shows up and works when all hope in ourselves is lost. Don't give up on Jesus though to come through for you. Every miracle in the gospel of John illustrates this. Looking at those may be profitable to you. Praying for you.

...I want to encourage you that Jesus shows up and works when all hope in ourselves is lost.

I heard this many times but why does he wait for all hope to be lost.

Right now, I don't have that much left. Unless you want me literally sell the clothes off my back and live in the streets. I'm not homeless or anything of that sort but I did lose my job and had to move back in with the parents. My savings is gone. God doesn't want me work right now and that's why I don't have a job. So I'm waiting for Him and I'm surviving for now.

There is no sweeter salvation than that which comes through the darkest night.

There are good and true words, man. Codek, sometimes stuff looks rather hopeless. Look at king David. Promised the kingship of Israel from a young age, but he spend the next 20 plus years in misery, most of the time running for his life. Things probably looked pretty dark for him as well.

Keep on waiting and trusting in the Lord. Your time will come, if you stay faithful, and don't take your eyes off of the One through whom your salvation from this dark time will come. These words probably sound generic, but I can think of none other to give. Sometimes everything appears to go wrong before it goes right. I've tasted this myself. I hope it encourages you.

hi brother,i was too harsh in saying you are judgemental for i have a judgemental spirit to those who are judgemental.there is no such thing as sinless perfection in this life,that is why His mercies are new every morning...selah on micah 6 verse 8 and try to live in that light.jim

no worries. well there is too kinds of judgement right. I forgot the technical terms but there is a righteous judgement when something is wrong. Just like when Nathan corrected David, the prophets corrected the people, etc. I'm sorry if my comment came off like I was judging in a way saying I'm better than anyone. I'm not better than Joel Osteen, Paul Washer or even Adolf Hitler. I'm just trying to call out what's wrong because it needs to be done. Trust me I don't like to be the one pointing it out but I do it because no one else around me will do it.

btw, you can rebuke, judge me all you want. As long it is for correction and not as a "I'm better than you contest".

That kind of judgement is welcome.

There is no sweeter salvation than that which comes through the darkest night.

There are good and true words, man. Codek, sometimes stuff looks rather hopeless. Look at king David. Promised the kingship of Israel from a young age, but he spend the next 20 plus years in misery, most of the time running for his life. Things probably looked pretty dark for him as well. Keep on waiting and trusting in the Lord. Your time will come, if you stay faithful, and don't take your eyes off of the One through whom your salvation from this dark time will come. These words probably sound generic, but I can think of none other to give. Sometimes everything appears to go wrong before it goes right. I've tasted this myself. I hope it encourages you.

Usually those words would be generic and ineffective but I think those words at this time were timely. I was about to give up again today, denounce God, pick up the remains of my shattered life and move on and try to get it back together on my own but after reading these posts I will hang on for another day

Those bible stories are true and so often we forget the hardship that Joseph, David, Abraham, Moses, Job and others went through. At church, they make being a Christian sound like there are never any problems for more than 5 seconds and that suffering means that you are a weak christian. But in actuality suffering means that you a genuine christian.

I'm sick of this. I'm 31 years old even though I sound a lot younger. My body is rejecting this suffering. I should've thought about marriage, family and the rest of what people my age thought about but God doesn't want me to do anything but just sit here and wait. I don't want to wait. (I don't want my posts to sound like I'm whining. I'm just being as honest as I can be.)

I just want to do it on my own. I can get myself out of this suffering but I feel He wants to me just sit here and wait................wait while my life passes me by.

It's a slow, painful suicide in the eyes of non-believers.

Brother codek,

I appreciate your last post a lot. I know another 31 year old who has sacrificed everything in the hope of getting a PhD - for the last eight years - and he's just as unhappy as you are. We have had many conversations about what he has learned from the difficulties he's faced - many of which are in himself, rather than the task.

It's a slow, painful suicide in the eyes of non-believers.

[GaryE]

"How does Jesus's 3 days in hell equate for an eternity in hell for people? If Christ only had to stay in hell for 3 days, shouldn't the penalty for humans be for only 3 days in hell?"..............CODEK.......................

Christ was without sin, and without judgment.He was never sentenced to Hell. There never was an equation, but an overcoming of the grave, AND A SACRIFICE. He died to defeat Hell, and it , being God's judgment for sin and the sinner, had no power over Him. He's the only one who could, being all man, and all God.

For those who he chose, and who received His sacrifice, Himself; He made a path, a WAY, to eternal life and Heaven. He did not have to do this, but did so willingly.

"For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."Psalm 16
..............
He led captivity captive unto Himself. He obtained the keys to Death and Hell.
JOHN 16
16. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

17. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."....................JESUS

WHY DID HE HAVE POWER TO TAKE IT AGAIN? Because He was without sin, and the only reason he went to hell was to triumphantly lead those in PARADISE out; of the old world; "ABRAHAM'S BOSOM" The scripture says that this was very public, and triumphant.

Here is a thought to consider about the Death, descent, and ascension of Jesus.

8. "All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
9. If anyone has an ear, let him hear."

There was infinity involved in the Crucifixion. The blood was Eternal blood. "Before the foundation of the World." This happened before Adam, before man. All of the Law of moses, and the traditions of the old world....{ABRAHAM] REFERRED TO THIS....THE SHEDDING OF BLOOD.

Remember when the bible talks about 30 minutes of silence in heaven?...and the severe darkness that came upon the cross?; so much weight of eternity that the Centurion cried out, and believed?

I believe that this is when Eternities met; the cross given to Jesus before man was, manifested in Jerusalem then..eternity, or infinity, kissed earth during that time you speak of.

Thank God it did, and Jesus for choosing to suffer and die for all in the world, and the Father for giving His only begotten Son for US! God will not leave our soul in Hell, though we so deserve it! We are covered by the BLOOD!