What’s not clear now? The idea of having to believe, or the part about people being thrown and burned like wheat?John; Who is suggesting here, me, or God? God is the one throwing people in fire and burning them, it is not 'my' suggestion. God has made it clear, He sent His Son and we must make a ‘choice’.
Steve: Really? Clear? I have not found this to be so. But then, I am not approaching the question with my mind already made-up.
(Why do you think you are so removed from a mind made up position, that you can use this accusation against someone?)
Where did 'I' get this idea of the wicked unbelievers being thrown into fire? Only from one book, or, that is from Jesus and God.
(I don't have any 'other' book that I grew up with that said this)
I believe the Bible was written to the whole world, that a person could read or hear, and clearly and quickly know His standing before God, what we need to do, and the reasons for our dilemma. It is not the work of hypothesizing that maybe hidden behind all the judgment and punishment God is really planning to ignore all that and just reveal some other plan post-mortem, because why? Why, because the scriptures weren’t clear enough?
"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.… (John 3:17-18. Isn't this clear enough? The world is made up of believers and unbelievers, the choice is ours in 'this world', Jesus isn't talking about the next world, or post-mortem)
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20"For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:19-20. He sent His Son into the 'world' not the post-mortem existence, this is the judgment - 'here - a test. You don't seem to think it is a 'good enough' test, or good enough plan)
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.… (1 John 4:7-9. Some do not know God, thus they do not receive life. They are not sons, and they do not live)
God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.… (Gal 4:4. What were they before being adopted? Right, 'not' sons)