There is no clear and uncontradictory indication that some of us will go to hell and stay there eternally.
Now regarding the quotes you brougth.
QUOTE
Matt 18:8: (Jesus speaking)
"If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.
This quote comes from a passage where Jesus speaks against temptations, particularly people who will tempt innocent children, etc. The fire is eternal, yes, but will a human soul stay in the fire eternally? This quote does not answer that question.
QUOTE
Matt 25:41: (Jesus speaking)
"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;"
and,
Matt 25:46: (Jesus speaking)
"These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
These quotes come from Mathew's "Final Judgement" passage. First of all, out of 4 gospels only Matthew has this passage, this makes one wonder if the final judgement is such an important concept that Jesus has taught then why it is not found in the other Gospels. There are also other gloomy, contradictory passages in Mathew that are not found in the other Gospels.
Secondly, if you read the whole passage, something is not clear. It is said that the fire is prepared for the devil and angels, not human souls. Then it may follow that whoever is sent there is either the devil or the angels. The final judgement may be very well for the evils spirits, not human souls. The reference to sheep and goats maybe a reference to good and evil, not human souls. It is not clear.
In general, there are many minor and not so minor contradictions in the Bible, including the Gospels. Therefore, one concludes that if there are 2 conflicting accounts one of them must be wrong, it is not possible that something is both white and black.
The overwhelming message of Jesus is that we shall be forgiven, that if we ask something from our Heavenly Father He will give. If one believes in eternal punishment that means that a human soul which is nothing else than God's child will ask for salvation from eternal hell but God will not give. This is clearly a contradiction.
Therefore, I personally do not accept the concept of final judgement where some souls will go to eternal punishment, and some souls will go to eternal life. I do not force my view upon anyone, but I will point out the contradiction.
To believe in a cruel God one must reject some of the fundamental messages of Christ that show the inherent holiness of human souls. (e.g. Jesus says that Kingdom of Heaven is inside ourselves. This seems like a contradiction if we consider that the Kingdom of Heaven will spend eternity in hell. Even a limited time in hell seems like a contradiction, which makes one wonder what hell is. Another example would be Jesus addressing the crowd and calling them the "light of the world". Obviously, to send the light of the world to eternal hell is a contradiction)
I believe all souls will in time go to eternal life. In the meantime, there will be many lives for each soul, and many times the soul will spend limited times in heaven and hell, depending on how one lives the preceding life. This is the case of soul reincarnation. Jesus has hinted of reincarnation. He may have said more about reincarnation that has not been recorded. If necessary I will post the appropriate quote.
Onnig, I understand your stance, you are quoting some gloomy passages. You are right, those passages do exist. In questioning you I had neglected the Mathew contradictions that often Old Testament believers like to quote. However, the gloomy passages contradict to the majority of passages in the Gospels. When the minority of accounts contradict to the majority it is safer to follow the majority.
As to John's Revelation, it is better not to even discuss, as it is not an account of what Jesus has said per se, it is a vision that is not so easy to interpret. My questions are concernting the Gospels anyway.
And finally, there maybe many ways to understand and interpret Jesus. However, they should not be taken with hostility, which was the mistake the apostles did before Jesus taught them the right thing, which is "
whoever is not against us is for us" Mark 9:41. This statement alone should eliminate all sectarian fights between various Christian paths and churches. Unfortunately that is not the case. If one believes in Jesus s/he cannot be considered wrong or somehow un-Christian. That's how I understand, and I strongly object anyone who will call me un-Christian or God-hater ...
If you want I can bring all the necessary quotes to support my position, but I believe you should be familiar already.