Mt. Airy church of Christ
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What to Expect
    • Web Links
    • Local Preacher
    • Privacy Policy
  • Directions
  • Words of the Week
    • Words of the Week 2023
    • Words of the Week 2022
    • Words of the Week 2021
    • Words of the Week 2020
    • Words of the Week 2018
    • Words of the Week 2017
    • Words of the Week 2016
    • Words of the Week 2015
    • Words of the Week 2014
    • Words of the Week 2013
    • Words of the Week 2012
    • Words of the Week 2011
    • Words of the Week 2010
    • Words of the Week 2009
    • Words of the Week 2019
    • Words of the Week 2007
    • Words of the Week 2008
    • Words of the Week 2006
    • Words of the Week 2005
    • Words of the Week 2004
    • Words of the Week 2003
    • Words of the Week 2002
    • Words of the Week 2001
  • Monthly Musings
    • Monthly Musings 2023
    • Monthly Musings 2022
    • Monthly Musings 2020-2021
    • Monthly Musings 2013-2019
    • Monthly Musings 2007-2012
  • Five Minutes
    • Five Minutes 2023
    • Five Minutes 2022
    • Five Minutes 2021
    • Five Minutes 2020
    • Five Minutes 2019
    • Five Minutes-2018
  • From a Woman to Women
    • From a Woman to Women 2023
    • From a Woman to Women 2020-2022
  • Sermons

The Reality of Hell

12/1/2009

 
In Matthew 25:31-46 the Bible teaches that at the final judgment while the righteous will enter heaven to enjoy everlasting life, the wicked will go into eternal punishment. The thought of everlasting suffering is repulsive to many. No doubt this aversion lies at the bottom of much of the indifference to what the Bible teaches about hell.

Hell, despite the denials of many, is real. Sin demands it. Sin is a violation of the law of God (1 John 3:4). If there were no punishment for sin, then there could be no law; for law without penalty is null and void. If there is no law, there would be no sin. That would make the death of Jesus useless because if there is no sin there is no responsibility to save anyone from it.

The reality of life after death also demands the reality of hell. Jesus taught in Matthew 22:23-33 that there was life after physical death. In the account of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31, two distinct destinies are presented: comfort for the righteous, but punishment for the wicked—depending on whether or not one serves God while living on earth.

Hell was not originally prepared for man. It was prepared for Satan and his angels (Matt. 25:41). Jude 6 states that fallen angels are placed in chains awaiting judgment. Yet, when men and women join the devil in his work and live in servitude to him, they must suffer the same fate that will befall him.

Hell Is Not Contrary To The Nature of GodMany people find it difficult to accept the reality of hell because they cannot understand or believe that a loving, merciful and forgiving God could create such a place and then place people in it eternally. If no punishment were given for violation of His law, then God would not be just. Being a just God, He will reward the righteous and punish the wicked. Hell is to punish the wicked.

What Hell Is Like• Hell is eternal. It is described that way in Matthew 25:46. In Romans 16:26 God is said to be eternal. The Holy Spirit, in Hebrews 9:14, is also described as eternal. The same Greek word is used in all three passages. The word means "eternal, everlasting, without end, never to cease." Hell and the punishment meted out there will last as long as God—forever.

• Hell is a place of darkness. Jude 13 speaks of "the blackness of darkness" to which false teachers will be confined forever. God is light (1 John 1:5) and the Father of lights (James 1:17). Hell is described as darkness because it is the place farthest removed from God.

• Hell is a place of fire. Matthew 13:42 speaks of it as a furnace of fire. Matthew 25:41 calls it an everlasting fire. Mark 9:44-45 says the fire is never quenched. Revelation 21:8 refers to it as the lake of fire. There will be no relief from its fires because Revelation 14:11 says the smoke from the fires of torment ascends forever and ever.

• There is no rest there. Revelation 14:11 says the wicked will have no rest from their torment day or night. Hell is a place where there is no hope. The punishment is everlasting (Matt. 25:46) with no chance of pardon or parole.

Who Will Go ThereAs already noted, Satan and his angels will be there (Matt. 25:41). Revelation 21:8 says the "cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars" will be there. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 says that those who do not know God and those who will not obey the gospel of Christ will be punished with everlasting destruction. In short, all sinners who choose to remain in their sin will be found in hell.

Why People Will Go TherePeople will not be in hell because God wants them to be there. He desires that all be saved (1 Tim. 2:1-4). They will not be there because God cannot save them. God is all-powerful and the gospel, His power to save (Rom. 1:16), can save to the uttermost. God sent His Son into the world so that all might have salvation (John 3:16) and He has extended His invitation to all who would come to Him (Matt. 11:28-30). If a person ends up in hell, he is lost by his own free choice. He has no one to blame but himself. Many see no need to be interested in spiritual things and are indifferent to the pleas of the gospel. Others refuse to obey the gospel or submit to the will of God. Some refuse to believe. Others just love sin more than righteousness. Some, though once obedient, become unfaithful in service. Many put off obeying until it is too late.

Hell is real. The suffering of it is waiting for the sinful. You can escape the torments found there by giving obedience to Christ now. He will wash away the guilt of your sins and grant you hope of a life of eternal bliss in His presence.

~Gene Taylor
~Via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, November 8, 2009

Comments are closed.

    Archives

    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    July 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007
    October 2007
    September 2007
    August 2007
    June 2007
    May 2007

    RSS Feed

Mt. Airy church of Christ
7222 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia PA 19119
Phone 215.248.2026

James Baker, Preacher
Website by Darin Kennedy
©2018 Mt. Airy church of Christ
Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • About Us
    • What to Expect
    • Web Links
    • Local Preacher
    • Privacy Policy
  • Directions
  • Words of the Week
    • Words of the Week 2023
    • Words of the Week 2022
    • Words of the Week 2021
    • Words of the Week 2020
    • Words of the Week 2018
    • Words of the Week 2017
    • Words of the Week 2016
    • Words of the Week 2015
    • Words of the Week 2014
    • Words of the Week 2013
    • Words of the Week 2012
    • Words of the Week 2011
    • Words of the Week 2010
    • Words of the Week 2009
    • Words of the Week 2019
    • Words of the Week 2007
    • Words of the Week 2008
    • Words of the Week 2006
    • Words of the Week 2005
    • Words of the Week 2004
    • Words of the Week 2003
    • Words of the Week 2002
    • Words of the Week 2001
  • Monthly Musings
    • Monthly Musings 2023
    • Monthly Musings 2022
    • Monthly Musings 2020-2021
    • Monthly Musings 2013-2019
    • Monthly Musings 2007-2012
  • Five Minutes
    • Five Minutes 2023
    • Five Minutes 2022
    • Five Minutes 2021
    • Five Minutes 2020
    • Five Minutes 2019
    • Five Minutes-2018
  • From a Woman to Women
    • From a Woman to Women 2023
    • From a Woman to Women 2020-2022
  • Sermons