Hell

 Is hell real?  If God is love, why did He make a place for punishment?  Is it really fair for me to suffer in hell for eternity just for rejecting Jesus?

 Is hell real?  The Bible (which is inerrant, accurate, and trustworthy) says it is.  Why don’t people believe in hell?  Contrary to their personal preferences.  We have a deficient concept of evil and its deserved punishment.

 How does the Bible describe hell?  Matthew 13:41-42 & Matthew 13:  Matthew 25:46 Matthew 25:46  2 Thessalonians 1:9 2 Thessalonians 1:9  Revelation 21:8 Revelation 21:8

 The nature and location of hell  Place of darkness – Matthew 8:12, Matthew 22:13Matthew 8:12Matthew 22:13  Away from God’s presence - Matthew 25:41Matthew 25:41  A place of torment, anguish, and regret – Luke 16:28Luke 16:28  Torment - self inflicted, Torture is harm inflicted by others.  A place of eternal fire  Imperishable bodies that will not burn up.  Other descriptions in scripture:  Bottomless pit – Revelation 20:1-3Revelation 20:1-3  Prison – I Peter 3:19I Peter 3:19

 The duration of hell  Eternal  God will endure forever –Psalm 90:1-2Psalm 90:1-2  He has no beginning and no end – Revelation 1:8. Revelation 1:8  God’s nature can not tolerate sin, therefore, evil must be separated from God forever.  Hell will last as long as heaven does. The Bible teaches that believers will have everlasting life. John 3:16John 3:16

 Important points regarding hell 1. The Bible clearly affirms hell’s reality. 2. Jesus taught his followers about hell. 3. The reality of hell is tied to the person and work of Jesus Christ. 4. God’s love demands that hell exists. 5. Hell is necessary because God’s character demands that unrighteousness be punished. 6. The sovereignty of God demands a hell.

 The Bible clearly affirms the existence of hell.  Revelation 20:10 Revelation 20:10  Revelation 20:15 Revelation 20:15  Psalm 9:17 Psalm 9:17  2 Peter 2:4 2 Peter 2:4

 Jesus taught his followers about hell  Real story relayed by Jesus  Luke 16:22-23 Luke 16:22-23  Serious business  Mark 9:43 Mark 9:43  Place of destruction  Matthew 10:28 Matthew 10:28

 Jesus taught his followers about hell  Reserved for imitators  Matthew 13:40 Matthew 13:40  Representation of evil  Matthew 16:18 Matthew 16:18  Final judgment  Matthew 25:41 Matthew 25:41

 The reality of hell is tied to the person and work of Jesus Christ  Revelation 1:18 Revelation 1:18  The sacrifice of Jesus is manifested by the reality of the horrors of hell. He died for our sins to keep us from having to suffer eternal damnation.  The magnitude of Christ’s death is trivialized if there is no eternal separation from God for those who reject him.

 Hell is necessary because of God’s love  Love does not act coercively, only persuasively.  God does not force people to love Him  I John 4:16 “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”  I John 4:19 “We love him, because he first loved us.”  “He cannot ravish. He can only woo.” - Screwtape

 God’s justice demands that hell exists  God is just  Romans 2:2 Romans 2:2  He does not show favoritism  Romans 2:11 Romans 2:11  Not all justice will occur in this life –  Psalm 73:16-17 Psalm 73:16-17  Luke 17:25 Luke 17:25

 God’s sovereignty demands a hell  There must be a hell or there can be no final victory over Satan and evil  I Corinthians 15:24-25 I Corinthians 15:24-25  Daniel 7:11-14 Daniel 7:11-14  Daniel 7:25-27 Daniel 7:25-27

 Common objections about hell  “Hell is just annihilation”  Bible clearly affirms that individuals will be conscious  Matthew 8:12 Matthew 8:12  Annihilation would be contrary to God’s eternal nature.

 Common objections about hell  “It’s not fair to have eternal punishment for sins committed during a brief lifetime.”  Only eternal punishment will suffice for sins against an eternal God.  Sin can not be tolerated or condoned by God – therefore, separation must be permanent.  Only Christ’s temporary suffering can provide an eternal atonement for our sins.  Do you want heaven to last forever?

 Common objections about hell  “Hell is not real, God just uses it as a threat.”  It is absurd to suggest that the God of truth would use deliberate lies to manipulate human behavior.  Even a heathen prophet knew this: Numbers 23:19 Numbers 23:19

 Common objections about hell  “How could anyone in heaven be happy knowing people were suffering in hell?”  Presupposes we are more merciful than God.  God knows not everyone will go to heaven.  We will be transformed and be like Christ. We will truly love what He loves and hate what He hates.

 Common objections about hell  “Why would God create human beings if He knew some of them eventually would go to hell?”  That is not his desire.  2 Peter 3:9 2 Peter 3:9

 Summary  Hell is real.  It is a place of eternal punishment for our sins.  It is beyond our power to fully comprehend how awful it is.  The perfect character of God’s makes hell necessary.  It’s reality should stir us to action.  Family Friends Neighbors Missions