What is hell?
After such beautiful rainbow I debated wether I should post such a sober subject, but I decided to. For my Sythematic Theology class we had to write 10 reflective papers based on questions the professor posed. This one was the most challenging to write, so I decided to share it.
Chapter 14- What is hell?
Hell is an uncomfortable subject. It is so uncomfortable that preachers avoid it. The muting of the subject of hell has diluted our preaching and weakened our evangelism. We so want to avoid being called fire and brimstone Christians that we have ran as fast as we can to the other side of the pendulum where the word hell is never mentioned.
According to Romans 1, the persistent wickedness of man puts him in a place where God gives him over to sinful desires, shameful lusts and a depraved mind. Romans 2:8 says, But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. Judgment does not begin when a person dies as it is often assumed. It is manifested throughout the sinner’s life as he loves darkness and rejects the Light. “As C.S Lewis puts it, the man who loves only the self is finally removed from all external grace toward what he desires: And what he finds there is Hell” (p. 897).
Hell is where unbelievers find themselves immediately after death. However their final destination is not hell, but the lake of fire (Rev 20:14-15). The deciding factor will be the names found in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Those whose names are written in it will be saved. Those names that are not, will not be saved. The names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life represent the men and women who trusted Jesus Christ as their one and only sufficient Savior (Eph 2:8-9).
For the believer, the reality of hell is heart-breaking because of the many people who have heard about Christ and still choose to reject Him. For the non-believer, the idea of hell is unthinkable because it is only through the conviction of the Holy Sprit that a man knows he is worthy of condemnation. That is why many have sought to ignore the idea that eternal horrific punishment is real and that it awaits many. As Dr. Moore affirms, “Our response to such horror should not be denial, but the fervent evangelism of the nations” (p. 901).
If the denial of hell is dangerous then so is the notion of purgatory which does not exist. There is no mention of it in the Canonical Scripture and certainly never mentioned by Jesus or the apostle Paul. The Bible clearly teaches that there are only two possible eternal destinations for human kind, heaven or hell, eternal life or eternal damnation (1 John 5:12). Purgatory is one of many man-made falsehoods. Religion for centuries has been man’s attempt to reach God and attain righteousness on his own. But the Bible states that we all are sinners and that the only way to God is Christ. There is nothing man can do to deserve heaven. Left to ourselves, we all deserve hell (Rom 3).
Christians call the Gospel message the Good News for good reason. Our otherwise inescapable destination toward hell was high-jacked by Jesus of Nazareth. At Calvary the wrath of God which we deserve was poured on Him. Our absurd and futile attempt to be good comes crashing down at the foot of the Cross, where He alone paid the price. He alone saves. Not religion, not tradition, not man.
There is only one Holy, Merciful and all-sufficient Savior: JESUS CHRIST.
There is only one time to accept His gift: NOW.
“In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
