Bible Answer

Why would God want anyone to go to hell?

I am currently going through the book of John. It says that God has chosen who will be saved and who will not be saved before they were even born. Why would God want anyone to go to hell? If God has the power to bring people to understand, believe, and accept Christ then why wouldn't He do that for everyone? How can I be sure I am one of the "saved" He chose before I was born?

We agree this is a difficult doctrine of scripture. In fact, the Lord knew we would struggle with this concept, so He provided answers for us in scripture. Paul himself asked the very same questions you posed:

Rom. 9:14 What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be!
Rom. 9:15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
Rom. 9:16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.
Rom. 9:17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.”
Rom. 9:18 So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
Rom. 9:19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?”

Notice Paul addresses your specific questions…why does God find fault with anyone (i.e., why does God send any one to Hell)? Is there injustice with God then? Paul addresses these questions in turn, which we explore in our study of Romans.

We also believe the following articles will be helpful to you in understanding how and why salvation does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy:

Wrestling with God, Part 1 & Part 2.

Our Ephesians Bible study addresses these issues as well.