Is HELL punishment for SIN ?

There was a young man one time who lived in the west. He had never done anything very wrong. But one day he was playing a game of cards and lost his temper. Picking up a revolver he shot his opponent and killed him. He was arrested and tried. Finally he was sentenced to hang. But because of the wonderful life he had previously lived, his relatives and friends got up a petition for him. It seemed as though everyone wanted to sign it. Before long other towns and villages heard about it, and people all over the state eagerly signed the petition.
At last it was taken to the governor. Who happened to be a Christian, and tears came to his eyes as he looked at the large baskets filled with petitions. He decided to Pardon the young man and so,writing out the pardon, he put it in his pocket, and then made his way to the prison.
As he approached the death cell the young man thinking that he is a Christian worker, sprang to the bars.
“Get out of here”, he cried. “Idon’t want to see you, I have heard several of your kind already. I had enough religion at home”.
“But” said the governor, “wait a moment, young man, I have something for you. Let me talk to you”.
“Listen” exclaimed the young man in anger “if you don’t get out of here at once. I will call the guard and have u put out”.
“But, Young mann” exclaimed the governor, “I have a news for you, the very best. Won’t you let me tell you about it?”
“You heard what I said” responded the young man, “and if you don’t leave immediately I’ll call the warden”.
“Very well”, replied the governor and with a sad heart he turned away and left.
In a few moments the warden approached.
“Well young man”, he said. “I see you have had a visit from the governor”
“What!” cried the young man, “was that man the governor?”
“He was”, replied the warden, “and he had a pardon in his pocket for you, but you wouldn’t even listen to him”.
“Get me pen, get me paper”, cried the young man. And sitting down he wrote, ”Dear governor, I owe you an apology. I am sorry for the way I treated you …. “ and so on.
The governor received the letter, turned it over and wrote on the back, "No longer interested in this case”.

The day came for the young man to die.
“Is there anything you want to say before you die?” he was asked.
“Yes” said the young man. “Tell my friends and relatives of my village and the neighbouring villages that I am not dying for my crime but because I did not accept the prepared pardon. I am not dying because Iam a murderer. The governor has pardoned me. I could have lived. I am dying because I did not accept the governor’s pardon”.

My friend, on the day of judgment before God almighty, if any man is punished to Hell, it is not for the sin that he/she has committed as the sin of the whole world is condoned in sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Cross. Jesus’ sacrifice on cross is the propitiation for the sin of the whole world. If any man is punished in hell fire it is only because of not accepting Jesus’ Pardon on cross or forgiveness of sin through the blood sacrifice of Jesus on Cross.

GOSPEL ACCORDING TO VEDAS

Our ancestors born in our indian soil have cried to God as:

"Asatomaa Sadgamayaa

Samatomaa Jyotirgamayaa

Mrithyormaa Amrithangamayaa " - Bhrihadaranya Upanishad

Meaning : O GOD! lead me from deceit to truth, from darkness to light and from death to life.

Realising the agony of man's soul, our ancestors taught us to pray as:

"Paapoham, paapa karmaham, papaathmaa, paapa sambhavaa, thraahimaam

Kripayaa Devaa ! saranaagatha vathsalaha, anyadhaa saranam naasthihi,

thwameva saranam mamahaa "

Meaning : O compassionate GOD! have mercy on me for I am born in sin and live in sin. I have no refuge except you for my redemption.

The Vedas, dated nearly 3000 years back, declare that man can not save himself from spiritual death and God will incarnate Himself to save us. Man, being fully aware of his soul's pathetic (sinful) state, is trying to please GOD through various oaths, gifts etc. In our country Brahmins perform yajnas and commoners offer sacrifices intending to please GOD and get salvation from eternal death. The importance of yajna as a shadow of real sacrifice is depicted in the following lines of RigVeda:

"Yajna sarvam prathishtitham

Yajnovai sukarmaanauhaa " (1:3:13)

Meaning : Yajna provides means to salvation as this yajna resembles a boat taking us into heaven.

"Yajnovaa avathi thasya chaayaa kriyathe

(Athmada) (Baladaa) Yasya chaayaamritham yasya mrithyuhu " (10:121:2)

Meaning : Yajna is a shadow of future sacrifice only and salvation will come only through this.

"Prajaa pathirdevebhya aathmaanaam Yajnam krithwa praayaschit " - Bangala patra - 410

Meaning : Prajaa pathi(Saviour) sacrifices Himself as an atonement for sins of men.

"Thasya prajaa pathirardhameva

Marthyamaasi dhardhamamritham " - Satpath Brahman

Meaning : Saviour is partly immortal and partly mortal being i.e., He possesses both divine and human natures.

Thaandya Mahaa Braahman also declares :

"Eesa putranchamaam vigdhi

Kumaari garbha sambhavam

Mlechhadharmasya pravaktharam "

Meaning : Son of God will be born to a virgin in order to transform sinners to righteous ones.

"Prajaa pathischarasa garbhetwameva

Prajaayathe thubhyam

Praana prajaasthi maabalim haramthiyahe

Praana prathishtithihi "

Meaning : Saviour born to a virgin offers his life as an atonement for sins and comes back to life.

The Rig Veda describes sacrificial offering as :

1. A Goat without spots is to be offered

2. Thorns are to be kept on Goat's head

3. Goat has to be nailed to a pillar through its four legs

4. Somras (sura) is to be given to it

5. None of the bones of Goat should be broken

6. The garments of the Goat is to be shared by its offerer’s

7. The life of Goat is to be restored and its flesh to be eaten.

As a conclusion, Saviour must be the God-incarnate with both divine and human natures with holy life according to Hindu Scriptures (Vedas). He would give his life as a ransom to redeem men from eternal death. He would overcome death to give eternal life to men. Our Indian Scriptures/incarnations do not speak of any such God-incarnation. But in our Asian Continent only in the land of Palestine (present state of Israel) near the Mediterranean Sea, God was made manifest in flesh through virgin birth in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, nearly 2000 years ago. If you go through the manner of life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ which are recorded in the Holy Bible, you will be amazed to know how truly our Indian Scriptures tally with the eternal sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the whole world. Jesus lived sinless life and crown of thorns was put on His head as he was crucified on the cross. He was nailed to the cross in his hands and feet. His garments were shared by Roman soldiers and none of his bones was broken. Jesus Christ is the only Saviour in entire human history as He died for our sins and was buried and rose again from death the third day to provide salvation for the whole world. JESUS CHRIST COMES AGAIN TO EARTH SECOND TIME AS A KING TO RECEIVE THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM AND OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS.

The message of the Bible can be summed up as follows in four steps:

1. God loves you and wants you to experience his peace and life."For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)

2. Being at peace with God is not automatic, because man is naturally separated from God as a result of the curse given to Adam and Eve. "There is none righteous, no, not one. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (Rom 3:10,23; 6:23a, Heb 9:27, I John 1:8)

3. God's love bridges the gap of separation between God and you. When Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again from the tomb, He paid the penalty for your sins. "Without shedding of blood is no remission (of sins). Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us. Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name (except Jesus) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Jesus Christ is the propitiation (self sacrificial death) for the sins of the whole world" (Heb 9:22, 1 Tim 1:15, Rom 6:23b, 1 Thess 5:9,10, Acts 4:12, 1 John 2:2)

4. You will cross the bridge into God's family when you receive Christ by your personal invitation. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. As many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the children of God, even to them that believe on His name" ( 1 John 1:9, John 1:12)

Kindly do not ignore the invitation of Jesus to you:

"My blood is shed for many for the remission of sins. Come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy laden (with sin) and I will give you rest (to your soul). I am the way, the truth and the life; no man comes unto the Father (God) except by me" (Mt 26:28; 11:28, John 14:6)

Dear Friend, Accept the invitaion of Jesus and become child of God through the forgiveness of sin which Jesus is offerring.

How to accept the forgiveness of sin offerred by Jesus: follow 3 steps -

1. Acknowledge that you are sinner and you need forgiveness of sin

2. Pray the same to Jesus in your heart in your own words

3. Believe that Jesus has paid fully for your sin on the cross