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Sunday, October 29, 2006
I Have a Friend Who…Believes Hell is a Myth Allen R. Hunt 10/29/06
Luke 12.4-5 Mount Pisgah
I. Hell is not a popular subject and we all usually think it applies only to other people
Are you like the man flying on the plane next to a woman
Sees her reading a Bible and asks, “Do you really believe all that stuff?”
“Why, yes I do,” she said.
“You believe that God made the world in 7 days?”
“Yes.”
“That Daniel survived the fiery furnace?”
“Yes.”
“That Jonah lived in the belly of a whale for 3 days and nights?”
“Yes, when I get to heaven, I’ll ask him about it.”
“Well, what if Jonah didn’t make it to heaven?”
“Then, you ask him.”
We think it applies only to other people
.005% of Americans think they will go to hell – 5 in 100,000 – about 15,000 of us – only size of a small town like Carrollton
And, moreover
1) I have a friend who asks how a loving God could send someone to hell.
Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love….And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. (1John 4:8, 16)
After all, God is love – how could love every do something like that
And a lot of Christians churches are being herded onto a train of false promises called universalism – belief that all persons go to heaven whether they wish to or not
But I will tell you what love is – love is being willing to tell the truth, the whole truth
Not just what people want to hear
And I am sworn to share the whole Gospel truth so let’s start with some basic reminders
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Jesus was sent to help us avoid perishing – not just to tell us that we are all going to heaven
And Jesus spoke a lot about hell
2) Jesus spoke 11 times about hell
No one spoke more often.
He knows what He’s talking about.
Fact of the matter is I trust Jesus a whole lot more than I trust people’s opinions
And I trust the Bible a whole lot more than I do my own opinions
And Jesus was startlingly clear
I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him. (Luke 12.4-5)
Hell is real – it is not something to be dismissed
In fact it is to be feared more than death – because another human can kill your body
But God can kill your soul
Gehenna – valley outside of Jerusalem – became the word for hell
Place where before Christ, pagans would make live children sacrifices and later became a dump – with constant fires
Bible uses other words – so Jesus really spoke more often than 11 times – to describe hell – Hades and Tartaros where folks sent in preparation for hell – and outer darkness, weeping, gnashing of teeth, and eternal separation from God
But make no mistake, hell is a reality
And Jesus teaches two basic things about hell
3) Jesus and the Bible teach:
A) Hell is a place of unquenchable, eternal, fiery judgment
(Luke 12.4-5; Heb. 10.27; Jude 7; 2 Pt. 2.4; Rev. 9.1-2; 19.20; 20.10, 14; 21.8)
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment… (2 Peter 2.4)
…a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God…
(Heb. 10.27)
In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 7)
B) We go there by our choice, not God’s.
(2 Pt. 3.9; John 3.16; Rom. 1.16; 2.4; 3.22; Ezek. 33.11; Mt. 25.41)
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3.9)
God is not some sadistic, vindictive God hoping to send you to hell
He merely gives you the choice
He has sent His son Jesus to save all who believe – remember John 3.16 where we started – whoever believes in Him
Acts – there is no other name under heaven by which men may be saved
Romans – confess with lips and believe in heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and raised from the dead, you will be saved
That’s it – simple as that
But some of us still convinced otherwise – either that if we do enough good things, are a nice person, a loving God will admit us to heaven
Or that we are so stubborn that don’t need God in the first place – my life and I will do it my way
CS Lewis wrote: There are only two kinds of people in the end, those who say to God ‘Your will be done’ and those to whom God says, ‘Your will be done.’
In the end, all who end up in hell choose it for themselves
God’s offer is simple and free
Minister had a strange dream – died and trying to go to heaven
Approached pearly gates and Peter told him he needed 100 points to get in
Proud pastor said, “I was a pastor for 43 years.”
Fine, said Peter, that is worth one point
One point? Is that all?
That’s it. What else can you think of that would commend you?
Well, I visited lots of shut-ins
One more point
And I taught the confirmation class every year
One more point
And I founded a free medical clinic for the poor
One more point. You have 4 points. You need 96 more.
Oh no. I feel so helpless, so inadequate. All I can do is throw myself on the grace of God.
St Peter smiled – Grace of God. That’s 100 points. Come on in!
Every person will spend eternity in one of two places – heaven or hell
To go to heaven is a simple choice – welcome Jesus and accept the magnificent grace of God - today
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Luke 12.4-5 Mount Pisgah
I. Hell is not a popular subject and we all usually think it applies only to other people
Are you like the man flying on the plane next to a woman
Sees her reading a Bible and asks, “Do you really believe all that stuff?”
“Why, yes I do,” she said.
“You believe that God made the world in 7 days?”
“Yes.”
“That Daniel survived the fiery furnace?”
“Yes.”
“That Jonah lived in the belly of a whale for 3 days and nights?”
“Yes, when I get to heaven, I’ll ask him about it.”
“Well, what if Jonah didn’t make it to heaven?”
“Then, you ask him.”
We think it applies only to other people
.005% of Americans think they will go to hell – 5 in 100,000 – about 15,000 of us – only size of a small town like Carrollton
And, moreover
1) I have a friend who asks how a loving God could send someone to hell.
Whoever does not love does not know God because God is love….And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. (1John 4:8, 16)
After all, God is love – how could love every do something like that
And a lot of Christians churches are being herded onto a train of false promises called universalism – belief that all persons go to heaven whether they wish to or not
But I will tell you what love is – love is being willing to tell the truth, the whole truth
Not just what people want to hear
And I am sworn to share the whole Gospel truth so let’s start with some basic reminders
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Jesus was sent to help us avoid perishing – not just to tell us that we are all going to heaven
And Jesus spoke a lot about hell
2) Jesus spoke 11 times about hell
No one spoke more often.
He knows what He’s talking about.
Fact of the matter is I trust Jesus a whole lot more than I trust people’s opinions
And I trust the Bible a whole lot more than I do my own opinions
And Jesus was startlingly clear
I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him. (Luke 12.4-5)
Hell is real – it is not something to be dismissed
In fact it is to be feared more than death – because another human can kill your body
But God can kill your soul
Gehenna – valley outside of Jerusalem – became the word for hell
Place where before Christ, pagans would make live children sacrifices and later became a dump – with constant fires
Bible uses other words – so Jesus really spoke more often than 11 times – to describe hell – Hades and Tartaros where folks sent in preparation for hell – and outer darkness, weeping, gnashing of teeth, and eternal separation from God
But make no mistake, hell is a reality
And Jesus teaches two basic things about hell
3) Jesus and the Bible teach:
A) Hell is a place of unquenchable, eternal, fiery judgment
(Luke 12.4-5; Heb. 10.27; Jude 7; 2 Pt. 2.4; Rev. 9.1-2; 19.20; 20.10, 14; 21.8)
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment… (2 Peter 2.4)
…a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God…
(Heb. 10.27)
In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 7)
B) We go there by our choice, not God’s.
(2 Pt. 3.9; John 3.16; Rom. 1.16; 2.4; 3.22; Ezek. 33.11; Mt. 25.41)
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3.9)
God is not some sadistic, vindictive God hoping to send you to hell
He merely gives you the choice
He has sent His son Jesus to save all who believe – remember John 3.16 where we started – whoever believes in Him
Acts – there is no other name under heaven by which men may be saved
Romans – confess with lips and believe in heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and raised from the dead, you will be saved
That’s it – simple as that
But some of us still convinced otherwise – either that if we do enough good things, are a nice person, a loving God will admit us to heaven
Or that we are so stubborn that don’t need God in the first place – my life and I will do it my way
CS Lewis wrote: There are only two kinds of people in the end, those who say to God ‘Your will be done’ and those to whom God says, ‘Your will be done.’
In the end, all who end up in hell choose it for themselves
God’s offer is simple and free
Minister had a strange dream – died and trying to go to heaven
Approached pearly gates and Peter told him he needed 100 points to get in
Proud pastor said, “I was a pastor for 43 years.”
Fine, said Peter, that is worth one point
One point? Is that all?
That’s it. What else can you think of that would commend you?
Well, I visited lots of shut-ins
One more point
And I taught the confirmation class every year
One more point
And I founded a free medical clinic for the poor
One more point. You have 4 points. You need 96 more.
Oh no. I feel so helpless, so inadequate. All I can do is throw myself on the grace of God.
St Peter smiled – Grace of God. That’s 100 points. Come on in!
Every person will spend eternity in one of two places – heaven or hell
To go to heaven is a simple choice – welcome Jesus and accept the magnificent grace of God - today
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)