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April 6, 2025
L. John Bost
Sing to Me of Heaven – Praise and HarmonyIntroduction
Hell is a hot topic, no pun intended. But is Hell real? Will God really send sinners to a place of eternal torment by fire, brimstone, and darkness? Some claim God would not do such a thing. What does the Bible say?
Sin Is Real
What is sin? To do anything in violation of God’s word is to sin. How serious is sin? Paul writes, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Sin separates us from God (Please read Isaiah 59:1-2). Separation from God is spiritual death (James 2:26). It was sin that made it necessary for our Lord to die! (See The Greatest Savior). So sin is very serious! Is it serious enough to send one to Hell?
What Does Jesus Say?
Jesus warns in Luke 12:4-5, “And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” Jesus says that it is better to fear God, who has “power to cast into hell,” than to fear one who only has the power to kill the body. Please read Mark 9:43-48. Here Jesus gives a warning: It is better to go into life with one hand, one foot, and one eye than to be cast into hell. Matthew records two separate accounts of Jesus giving this warning (Matthew 5:29-30 and 18:8-9). Jesus says Hell is a real place and warns of its severity and importance of avoiding going there!
The Bible Presents Hell as a Real Place
The word, hell, is found about thirty-two times in the New King James translation of the Bible – nineteen times in the Old Testament, and thirteen times in the New. Jesus mentions it eleven out of the thirteen times in the New Testament! It is always presented as a real place. It is always presented as a bad place. In every case except two, it is mentioned in a context of fire. Additionally, it is referenced, but not named, as a place of fire in Matthew 13:42, 50 and 25:46; Jude 7 and Revelation 14:10; 19:20; 20:10; and 21:8. It is presented as a place of eternal punishment in Matthew 25:46, Mark 9:43-48; and Revelation 14:11.
Yes, Sinners Will Go to Hell
So, the answer is, “Yes, God will send sinners to Hell. But is Hell inevitable for the sinner? Can He avoid it? Certainly!
God Does Not Want Anyone to Go to Hell
Though God will send sinners to Hell, He does not want to send sinners to Hell. Neither is Hell inevitable. God begged Israel in Ezekiel 18:32, “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.”Please read 2 Peter 2:4-9. Peter writes, in verse 4, “God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” He then reminds his readers that God destroyed every li ving person in the flood, except Noah and seven of his family members (Genesis 6-7), and all of Sodom and Gomorrha, except Lot and his two daughters (Genesis 19). His point is to show that God will destroy sinners, sometimes on this earth, but certainly in Hell. But, that is not what He wants to do. As Peter concludes in verse 9, “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.” Peter writes in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Do you know what the whole purpose of the Bible is? It is to make the salvation of sinners possible! God wrote the entire Bible as a means of bringing sinners to repentence so that they might avoid going to Hell! Since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden (Genesis 3), God has worked to make salvation possible through His Son. Jesus said in Mfatthew 9:13, “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” No one has to go to Hell. Salvation is possible for all (See The Good News).
Conclusion
Why not contact a member of a church of Christ near you today and let him/her help you learn how to be saved?
Contact the Strasburg church of Christ at strasburgcoc@yahoo.com or 540-465-3311.
