Today, we’re going to consider a subject - it’s a place,
-it’s a place that is referred to frequently, by many people
-it’s in so many people’s common vocabulary,
-yet, few, very few people, ever stop to think about what it really is like
Far & away, most people, almost everybody, that makes mention of this place
-they don’t even think about what they’re talking about
-even though they will mention this place, repeatedly, some, every day
-most don’t give it much thought
& if they did, they wouldn’t think about it very long
-even though they refer to it frequently
-& they joke about it
Can you guess the place I’m thinking about?
The subject & place I’d like to consider today, is hell
-though people frequently joke about it - it is no joke
-though people make light of it - it’s not a place to be taken lightly
-think of some of the phrases people put the word “hell” into
-aren’t they ridiculous?
“Hey, it’s hotter than hell in here!”
-if they only knew
How about when somebody tells someone, “Go to hell!”
-do you have any idea of what you’re saying?
-people don’t even think
-I heard a man on the news once,
-there had been an extensive regional fire involving the woods
-where this man had a cabin
-as he was walking up to his cabin in the woods, to find it still standing, among the burned trees
-he said, “Oh, man, I’m happy as hell, to see this still standing”
What does hell have to do with being happy?
And, how must God feel, in situations like that
-where God blesses this man, by sparing his cabin in the fire
-to have him think he’s as happy as hell - rather than to praise God?
Even people who believe in hell, & respect hell,
& avoid using the term irreverently
-really don’t like to think about it much
-I don’t like to think about it!
-it’s not easy to think about hell
-being burnt by fire in an accident in this life,
-is something horribly feared by everyone
-& if you look at fire, as in a campfire, or stove
-being in that fire - it’s horrific to think about it
-fire is destructive
-it’s not a pleasant thought - it’s horrifying to think of the fires of hell
“Hell is awful - so, let’s not think about it!” - That would be a big mistake!
-it’s important to think about it & know about it
& even talk about it, in a right way
-the truth is - it’s a real place - HELL IS A REAL PLACE!
-ignoring it - won’t make it go away
-ignoring it - won’t make it become less real
-making light of it, or making jokes about it
-won’t make it a friendly place
-but you might say, or want to think,
“Well, I believe in Jesus Christ to be my Savior & so, I don’t have anything to worry about! “Right?”
“And, I’d just as soon not think about hell!”
“That’s why I believe in Jesus Christ - so I don’t have to think about hell!”
-& that’s good - that’s what’s really important in all of this
-that you do believe in Jesus to have died on the cross as a sacrifice for your sin
-that is the way - the only way, to escape hell
However, for that very reason, we want to talk about hell
-because there’s a good many people who have not yet trusted in Jesus Christ
-& a big part of my motivation in having us consider hell,
-is so that you & I be motivated to do what we can to help
-as many as we can
-to turn to Jesus Christ to be saved from hell
-when every last person in this world believes in Jesus as their Savior
-& we can be assured that everyone yet to be born will accept Jesus as Savior
-than, maybe we could stop talking or thinking about hell
-but, that hasn’t happened, & it’s not about to happen
& in this present world, it will never happen
-so, we need to think about & talk about hell
The very word, “Salvation” has to do with being saved from hell
I suppose, one would go crazy, & at least be depressed
-to the point where you couldn’t function
-if you only, all the time thought about hell
-but, every now & then, a healthy dose of hell does us all good
-it’s been said, if after we trusted in Jesus Christ, if we all could spend a day,
-maybe even a minute
-in hell & come back to this life,
-probably very little would matter to us any longer, other than,
-the importance of helping the rest of the people in the world
-find salvation in Christ - so as to avoid hell
-we would do everything that we could, to help people to be saved from hell
-so, it’s good, for us to have a healthy dose of sober reality - Hell is for real
Jesus, Himself, talked about hell, a whole lot more than He mentioned heaven
Matthew 5:21-22
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
In my experience, calling someone a fool, is a fairly minor sin
-just in the process of growing up, in the on-going fighting with my brother
-I called him worse things than that, sometimes all day long
-we tend to trivialize those kinds of things - calling someone a fool
-but I believe the point here, is sin is serious
-Jesus teaches us in this sermon on the mountain - sin should not be trivialized
-we don’t have to murder someone in order to sin
-& even what we consider, minor sins, those “minor sins” are punishable,
-by being sentenced to hell
But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Hell is a place of fire & of course,
-Jesus knew exactly what He was talking about
Matthew 7:13-14
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
The sad reality, is most people are on a path in life leading them to destruction - hell
-the majority of people are on the path to hell
-whereas, the minority are on the path to heaven
-&, people don’t realize it
-even the people who are religious, who think they’re going to be in heaven,
-are in for a very sad bombshell when they die
Matthew 7:21-23
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
People are going to be,
(& there’s no good word to sufficiently describe this feeling)
-horrified, appalled, in shock
-to find after they die, that they aren’t in heaven, but instead, hell
-sadly, a lot of people will be in that position!
Once, Jesus was coming into town, & a pagan Roman centurion came up to Him to plead with Him,
“Please, heal my servant!”
-but the centurion believed that Jesus could just command that he be healed
-& that He didn’t have to bother coming to his home
-He could just say the word, & it would be done
-Jesus was impressed with his faith
Matthew 8:10-12
When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
That passage speaks of people, in this case, of Jewish heritage
-who by heritage were the people of God
-God’s chosen nation
-but, many of them didn’t believe
& at that time, & even to this day,
-most have not accepted Jesus Christ as the Savior
-& they’ll find themselves, outside of the banquet,
-excluded from the blessings of God - & instead, suffering punishment
-& this will equally apply to people of our nation - or any nation
-even people who have a heritage of being Christian
-& yet, they aren’t Christian
-because they haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior
22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'
A lot of people do a lot of “Christian things”
-but they really aren’t Christians
-when you talk to people about what they believe - they don’t know what it takes to be saved!
-they’re going through life, thinking, “I’m a Christian”
-because, they were, “born Christian”
-or they’ve been “baptized Christian”
-or “confirmed Christian”
-& they might even go to church - a “Christian” church
-but they’re not Christian
-because they haven’t gone through the “narrow gate”-Jesus Christ
-they really don’t know what it takes to be saved!
-they too, when the true believers are enjoying being with God in heaven
-they’ll be thrown outside - in a place of suffering - hell
“. . . outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
They’ve made the fatal mistake, to think, they’re Christian,
-just because they do “Christian” things
-but, just doing “Christian” things, or being born to Christians,
-none of that makes you a Christian
-none of that, other than faith in Jesus to save you
How important is it, for us to do what we can to avoid hell?
Matthew 18:7-9"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
Avoiding hell - is important enough, that we should be ready & willing
-to take drastic measures to avoid hell
-hell is a place of fire & it’s a place of eternal fire
-according to what Jesus just said
-people should do whatever it takes to avoid it
-any sacrifice you can make - is worth it, in order to avoid hell
Jesus used parables - stories He used to get across a meaning
-He used parables to explain, that some people would find their fate in hell
& others in heaven
-there are two basic, very real, outcomes to life
-He told a story of a field with weeds in it,
& as in the end of the season at harvest time
-when you’d harvest the field & then separate the weeds & the grain
-they both have very different destinations
Matthew 13:40-43
"As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
And as with fishing with a net,
Matthew 13:47-50
"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
And later in Matthew when Jesus was talking about judgment,
-He similarly likened it to separating goats & sheep
-to the unbelievers He said,
Matthew 25:41
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
There are similar references in the other gospels,
-but these references serve as a sample of Jesus’ teaching about hell
-when Jesus used the name hell, the Greek word, Gehenna was used,
-which is a word connected to a Hebrew name for the valley of Hinnom
-a valley just south of Jerusalem
-it was a place which had become a garbage dumb
-where the garbage was burned
-& it also had a notorious reputation, as in years before,
-it had been a place used for human burned sacrifices by pagans
-it was a horrible place - with a dark history
So, from these references to hell by Jesus
-there are some definitive points we can make about hell
Jesus teaches us:
1. Hell is a very real place
2. Hell is the sentence for sin - even “minor sins”
3. Hell is a place of fire
4. Hell is a place of pain & torment
5. Hell is a place separated from the blessings of God
6. Hell is an eternal place of torment
7. Most people are headed for hell
8. Hell is a place you want to do anything to stay out of - (help others to stay out of)
Look at another example where Jesus references hell
-this time, He shares a very personal example
Luke 16:19-31
"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'
25 "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'
27 "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'
29 "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.'
30 "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'
31 "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead."
Jesus teaches us:
1. Hell is a very real place
2. Hell is the sentence for sin - even “minor sins”
3. Hell is a place of fire
4. Hell is a place of pain & torment
5. Hell is a place separated from the blessings of God
6. Hell is an eternal place of torment
7. Most people are headed for hell
8. Hell is a place you want to do anything to stay out of - (help others to stay out of)
9. Hell is a place from which there is no turning back
There are no second chances - once you’re in hell, you’ll always be there
-your only chance of avoiding it, is during this one lifetime
-& that’s done by believing in Jesus Christ to be your Savior
Jesus, was the most loving man who ever lived
-& yet, He talked about the reality of hell
-when you think about it - it actually is a very loving thing to talk about hell
-like telling someone their house is on fire
-we should talk about hell,
-because there’s an escape - salvation - that anyone & everyone can accept
-as with Jesus, we need to warn people of hell
What about the rest of the Bible?
-not that we need confirmation - if Jesus said it, that’s all we need
-but, the rest of the Bible does confirm what Jesus said about hell
God is loving & forgiving - but God is just & righteous
-He will uphold the law
-& He has provided a way to be forgiven, that also upholds the law
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10
God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
God is to be taken seriously - hell is not a joke
-& God is not a, “forgive & forget, absent minded, jolly ole chap”
-remember, He is holy, righteous & just - a keeper of the law
-but, in love, He painfully paid the price for everyone to be justly forgiven
-but each has to receive His gift of forgiveness & salvation
-read from Hebrews, the warning to those who knowingly reject God’s gifts
of salvation:
Hebrews 10:26-31
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
God has provided a way to be saved - if you reject it - there’s no hope for you
-you’re destined for the fires of hell
-there is no other salvation from the judgment of God!
God is to be taken seriously - hell is not a joke
-& the opportunity to accept God’s gift of salvation from hell
-is NOW - this lifetime
-when life is over, than we’ll face judgment
Hebrews 9:27-28
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
And let’s look at what happens at the judgment of those who don’t accept Christ
Those of us who accept Christ, will be judged also
-however, we’ll all be destined for heaven
-but our judgment will have to do with how we’re rewarded for our service for Christ
-all non-believers, will be destined for hell - or the Lake of Fire
-& they’ll be punished according to how evil they’ve been
Revelation 20:11-15Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Is it forever?
Some believe in annihilation
-they think non-believers will just suffer for a moment
-& then everything will be over
-but, you’ve already seen how Jesus referred to hell as being eternal
Matthew 25:46 "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
-eternal punishment is compared to eternal life
-& the Lake of Fire is certainly eternal,
Revelation 20:10
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
The Bible teaches us:
1. Hell is a very real place
2. Hell is the sentence for sin - even “minor sins”
3. Hell is a place of fire
4. Hell is a place of pain & torment
5. Hell is a place separated from the blessings of God
6. Hell is an eternal place of torment
7. Most people are headed for hell
8. Hell is a place you want to do anything to stay out of - (help others to stay out of)
9. Hell is a place from which there is no turning back
This is a horrible subject - because hell/the lake of fire, is a horrible place
-worse, than any, “hell on earth” - & it’s forever
-I don’t want to think about it
So, why do we study this?
As Jesus emphasized, it’s a place that we should take whatever measures it takes to avoid
-even drastic measures
-any sacrifice would be worth making, if that sacrifice kept us out of hell!
What can we do?
First, believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior so you can be saved
Second, once you’ve trusted in Jesus yourself,
-I want to emphasize - we have a mission - a mission of rescue
-we’re the light of the world
-we’re to help the lost find salvation
-I think it’s fair to say, just as we would do whatever it takes to save ourselves from hell
-we should be willing, in love, to do whatever it takes
-to help others to be saved from hell
Hell is a tremendous motivation for us to do whatever we can to reach the lost
The fact that most of the people in this world
& probably most of the people around us
-are destined to be in Hell forever
-that is reason enough for us to do whatever we can,
& make whatever sacrifice that we need to make
-to help them to be saved
With this sober reality of hell - I leave us to think about -
What can we do to reach & rescue the lost?
-those on the road to destruction?
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