The Reality of Hell

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Intro

When you think of Hell what do you think of? What image comes to mind? You may think of Fire, Lava, the Devil sitting on a thrown, little red demons with pitch forks. Hell is portrayed in a lot of different ways from TV, to music videos, to Books. and it seems to me that these portrayals of Hell give people the wrong idea. So today I’d like for us to talk about what Hell really is, why it’s important for Christians to know exactly what Hell really is.

It’s fascinating to me the different views of hell even within Christianity, we have authors like Bart D. Ehrman, who wrote “Heaven and Hell” he claims that Jesus didn’t believe in Hell. He says that Neither the Old Testament nor the teachings of Jesus spoke of Hell. and then there is Dr. Matthew Harmon who claims in an article, that no figure in the bible talks about Hell more than Jesus. So things can get really confusing, which is why many Christians choose to ignore it all together, many pastors won’t even talk about it because they don’t feel that it reflects the love of God therefore it shouldn’t be talked about.

And I think people do this especially Christians because they don’t think it’s important to know about Hell once you’ve been saved. But regardless of whether you are saved or not, it doesn’t change the fact that Hell does exist. and there is a reason Jesus spoke to his disciples many times about Hell.

What Does Jesus Say About Hell?

Let’s read our passage for today, Mark 9:42-50

Mark 9:42–50 ESV

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

These words are in red which means they’re pretty important. It was essential to Jesus that we understood how awful Hell is. Now who thinks that Jesus is being literal in this passage? would you be shocked if I told you that I felt he was being literal. That Jesus literally meant to cut off your hands, feet, or eyes. Now I still have both eyes, hands, and feet so let me explain.

When Jesus says sin here he says it in the present tense. what that means is the continuous action of sinning. So really what Jesus is saying is, “If your hand is continuously causing you to sin and you can not bring yourself to stop, and the only way for you to stop sinning is to remove that appendage, it would be better for you to do that than to be thrown in hell.” This is what the greek implies. and Jesus says this because it is a very real situation, he would rather see a person crippled than to spend an eternity in Hell.

Now before we go further Jesus is clearly talking about Hell here, so how can people like Bart D. Ehrman claim that Jesus never talked about Hell?

There are 2 Greek words which are translated to Hell in the new testament. The first and most common word is Gehenna. The second is Hades and most the time the bible won’t even translate it but will keep it as Hades. Now the word Gehenna comes from a Hebrew phrase “gy’ hnwm” which means “valley of Hinnom” Now this valley of Hinnom was a place in Jerusalem during the Old testament which was used to sacrifice to idols. and eventually it was used to burn refuse. So basically this Greek word Gehenna referred to the burning garbage pit. and this is what the Jews used to create an image of Hell.

This passage alone makes it clear that Jesus did believe in Hell and he wanted to make sure that his disciples believed in Hell as well.

And not only does Jesus talk about Hell but it is talked about in the Old Testament as well, and is usually referred to as Sheol. Sheol then is the place where those who turn away from God end up.

When I felt God calling me to preach about Hell I was hesitant. There are a lot of people who turn away from Christianity because of their understanding of Hell, or should I say miss understanding, and they portrayal of Hell in media is also misleading. many times it is represented as though it is some kind of mediocrely bad place.

For example I was watching a TV show which represented hell as a long line you have to wait in that never ends, and though that does sound pretty awful it is nothing near what Hell really is. So let’s take a look at some ways that Jesus has talked about Hell.

Matthew 8:12 ESV

12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

So most passages in Matthew concerning Hell seem to have this same format. Darkness, Weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. In Luke 16:23-24 tells us of the flames of Hell

Luke 16:23–24 ESV

23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’

Now obviously this isn’t the absolute best picture of hell, but it’s clear that there will be darkness and flames, what more picture is needed, and among that there will be great torment.

Loving God > Hell

Now most people once they begin to understand how awful Hell truly is, they ask the question, “If you serve a loving God, how can he send someone to Hell?” and there are lot’s of ways to answer this. But my favorite response can be found in the gospel of Matthew 10:33

Matthew 10:33 ESV

33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.

Those who go to Hell make the decision to do so, by making the decision to turn away from God, or to live in there Sin rather than repenting and turning to Jesus.

Millionaire Ted Turner, said in an interview, "I'm looking forward to dying and being cast into Hell. That's where I belong." You may say he's a fool! But , when you say "No" to Jesus Christ and His payment for your sin — you are saying the same thing! You're telling God — I don't need Jesus Christ — I'll pay for my sins in hell!

If you reject God's gift of eternal life and forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ then you are choosing Hell. two more points in this section and I want you to write them down.

# 1

You’re not built for Hell!

So in Matthew 25 we see Jesus telling his disciples of the coming judgement. and Jesus makes the distinction between the sheep and the goats, or in other words those who followed the teachings of Jesus and those who did not. and he says that those who followed my teachings and fed me and clothed me will enter the kingdom and those who did not… Let’s read Matthew 25:41

Matthew 25:41 ESV

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

We aren’t built for Hell because Hell wasn’t built for us, it is the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels, but for those who choose to follow satan will follow him the whole way through.

#2

God desires the best for us!

Some people struggle to believe that God actually wants the best for us, they feel that if God cared for us he wouldn’t let bad things happen to us. Thankfully, or rather hopefully, we know that God allows bad things to happen because it produces in us strength and endurance. If that ‘s not enough to convince you Listen to what Peter says about how the Lord sees us in relationship with our judgement.

2 Peter 3:8–10 ESV

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

God desires for all of us to choose him but he allows us to make that decision because he loves us.

A Promise is a Promise

So why am I telling you this?

Some would say that Hell shouldn’t scare you, Hell should scare you! Hell is a scary place, the idea of going to Hell should be enough to make sure that you do everything you can not to go there.

When I was a kid, I remember my dad explaining to me and my sister what drugs were and what would happen if he ever found out that we were doing drugs, and you know what that threat was all I needed to hear. Do I believe that my dad would have went through with his threats, yes I do.

In the same way when the God I serve tells me that those who continue to sin and continue to turn away from him will go to Hell for eternity. I believe him because I know that he is an honest God, one who has never broken a promise before.

Hell is Taboo

Some people, even some pastors are so scared of scaring people or hurting their feelings that he won’t even talk about Hell. But Jesus certainly didn’t have a problem telling his disciples about Hell. In fact Jesus talked about Hell more than he talked about Heaven, and he did this to warn people about it’s reality. I can think of 3 really good reasons why we as christians should understand Hell. The same 3 reasons I felt the need to preach about it today.

Why Talk About Hell?

Reason 1

Because Hell is the consequence to those who turn away from God and follow the Devil.

We all struggle with Sin and the devil is unbelievably crafty in how he tempts us. Thankfully we have the spirit of God within us to help us avoid such temptation. But sometimes it seems that we just can’t bring ourselves to stop sinning. We want to but we can’t bring ourselves to do it. and we don’t want to talk to God about it because then we are admitting that we are doing something wrong. I’ve been there, and I think if you’re being honest with yourself so have you.

But we can’t continue to live in our sin. we need to overcome our temptations, after all it’s a matter of our eternity. That being said, we are all going to sin from time to time, but there is a difference between making a mistake, and living in our sin. That means we sin and don’t want to stop sinning, even knowing that we are going against God in that moment. That is the moment when Jesus says, “it would be better for you to cut off your foot, hand, or eye.”

Reason 2

True evangelism happens when we realize the fate of non believers.

We all know non believers, and I’m sure you deeply care about those non believers. So let me ask you, if the Lord came tomorrow, how do you think they would face judgement, and what could you have done to warn them.

I remember writing a paper in college on Jonathan Edwards view of Hell, and one of his statements in his sermon titled, “Sinners In the Hands of an Angry God”, he describes life as an unbeliever. This is what he said about it,

“Living an unconverted life day to day is a scary and dangerous game. At any moment we could fall through the rotten covering we walk on and fall to hell; therefore, we should hold on to the Lord for dear life.”

We are holding on to the Lord safely and yet we are okay with our unbelieving, friends and family walking through a minefield with no guide. Let’s move to reason number 3, and I saved this for last for a reason, I want to close with this point.

Reason 3

Realize how amazing it is that we serve a God who sent his son to die so that we wouldn’t have to face eternal punishment.

If we don’t have an understanding of Hell or if we don’t believe in Hell, then what Jesus does for us is pointless. If there is no Hell then what are we being saved from. Hell is real and we serve a graceful God who has provided us with eternal life through his Son.

I want you to say this with me, “Thank you God… For saving me… from an eternity of punishment… that was prepared for the devil and his angels… so that… I can spend an eternity with you!”

Close

Hell is real, and it is very important for us to understand. and we should keep in mind the danger it presents to those who live in their sin. we should never fail to see the eternity of peace that God has waiting for us who choose to follow him. Let’s pray.

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