Yes, I believe you did but the explanation becomes complex.Then from an intelligent designer point of view, we disagree, which is fine. From a “God is love” point of view, I don’t disagree, but His love cannot be held in exclusion of His justice - and His grace and mercy. His infinite nature requires this conclusion, unless you an are presupposing that His infinite love is infinitely neutral, which means His justice is nonexistent. Which logically would mean there is no hell, which would go contrary to even those religions that each of may not agree with. And that brings up another question: can love exist without justice? Stated another way that is more direct: can Epstein and Hitler be in heaven with the children they abused and killed? If God is neutral in all aspects of justice then that means He had no standard and that Scripture is untrue. I have to reject that. Perhaps I misread what you were saying?
-My take is exactly the same as I believe Christ taught.
God is a spirit (1)and that spirit is Love(2) . See below. That love which is the foundational principal of all creation. That love gave us free will and will allow us to destroy ourselves. It did that because in order to fellowship with him (who though love itself, being omniscient, knows what it would be to be without himself). In other words before the apple eating situation, we were totally innocent...like an infant. Would you want to fellowship with an infant forever or at some point would you wish the fellowship of a matured equal? So we had to fail to become complete and matured, which may include destroying our world so completely that only he can step in and draw us back to himself.
But perfect love cannot be vengeful, it only allow us to violate the principles he set in place and therein bring destruction (seeming vengeance or justice) upon ourselves. If you put diesel in our gas car yore not being punished, you just violate a physical law and it bit you in the ass. So I think that love is essentially neutral and is why we needed Jesus to first show us, and then with his return lead us, out of the hell we've been allowed to create for ourselves.
That said, Jesus, being the perfect embodiment of that love does have the authority to step in and over ride our fubar at times, thus grace and mercy. I received that grace (miracle) at least twice. When young I tried suicide once and by grace it failed. Circa 35 years of age, and in sever physical and mental anguish, I had decided to do some really stupid shit that would have resulted in the death of both myself and many others. I happened to mention it to this sweet old lady and she spun and looked at me and said "No, you will not!!! Jesus, you and I are going to get down in prayer and find out whats hurting you and you will live and prosper> (paraphrased cause it was a long time ago). And here I am almost 40 years later Maggot abides
As to hell, I'll reserve my thoughts for now, but I know that place well.
I'm not saying my take is perfect, its not, (as @Nik H put it "Always learning) but thats the best I can do in a short space and with only words to describe near indescribable ideas.. Understanding this stuff doesnt happen overnight. Ill be 74 shortly so have been contemplating it for over 50 years and still dont get it all, likely wont on this side.. I ask a favor. Before you answer, and try to pick what I've said to pieces, ask God to interpret, then sleep on it. Get back to me tomorrow.
-1-
www.biblegateway.com › passageJohn 4:24 KJV - God is a Spirit: and they that worship ...
John 4:24King James Version. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth
-2-
www.biblegateway.com › passage1 John 4:7-12 ESV - God Is Love - Beloved, let us love one ...
God Is Love. 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love ...