|
The
Bible describes hell as:
1.
A furnace of fire
Matthew 13:42, 50, "And shall
cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing
and gnashing of teeth."
2.
A place of suffering
(both body and soul)
Matthew 10:28, "And fear
not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill
the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy
both soul and body in hell."
3.
A place separate from all that is good and true
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful,
and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers,
and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and
all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth
with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
4.
Forever
Revelation 20:10 The devil, who
deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone
where the beast and the false prophet are. And they
will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Jesus
affirmed the reality of hell several times, and preached
on the subject of hell more than the topic of heaven.
Many people doubt the existence of hell because they
believe that God would never send people to such a terrible
place. But hell was NOT created for humanity -- hell
was created for the devil and his angels. Look at what
the Bible says in Matthew 25:41:
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand,
Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared
for the devil and his angels."
THE
REASON FOR HELL
In
a word, SIN. The Bible teaches that God is holy and
man is fallen. When Adam and Eve first disobeyed God
in the Garden of Eden, the Bible says "by
one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin;
and so death passed upon all men, for that all have
sinned." The very first of the Ten Commandments,
"You shall have no other
gods before Me," shows us that we are all
sinners. Who can honestly say that we have never put
ANYTHING (recreation, media, relationships, entertainment)
above or before God? When we put our way before God's
way, that is sin. Please take a moment and review the
other commandments.
Please
take a moment and review the other commandments.
You
shall have no other gods before Me
You
shall not make unto yourself any graven image
You
shall not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
Remember
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
Honor
your father and your mother
Do
not kill
Do
not commit adultery
Do
not steal
Do
not bear false witness against your neighbor (lie)
Do not covet any thing that is your neighbor's
Many
people say that the way to avoid hell is to obey the
Ten Commandments. Obeying the Ten Commandments is great,
but it will not get you to heaven! Rather, the Ten Commandments
show us our need for forgiveness. Galatians
3:24 says "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring
us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
Don't despise God's law it might be the very
thing that shows you your need for Jesus Christ. It
might be the tool God uses to keep you from hell.
So
what is the big deal about sin? After all, every one
does it, right?
Please
read James 2:10: For whoever shall
keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he
is guilty of all.
In
God's eyes,
the person who breaks one rule is as guilty as the one
who breaks all the rules. One sin truly is enough to
keep a person out of heaven.
The
Bible says in Psalms 5:4: For
You [God] are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
Hell was created out of necessity because evil (sin)
cannot live with God. The dominating factor of hell
is that it is a place separate from God. In fact, look
at God's standard for heaven: "For
I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds
the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you
will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."[3]
The Pharisees were the "religious" group of
the day. They gave lots of money toward religious causes,
prayed openly, and did good deeds. But Jesus said that
their righteousness wasn't enough (see Isaiah 64:6).
Have you ever considered the fact that you have offended
God by your thoughts, actions, and attitudes and that
you stand in need of forgiveness? Sin has severed our
relationship with God. Until we realize our need to
be forgiven by our Creator, we will not and cannot have
fellowship with Him. "God's
holiness and justice demand that all sin be punished
by death: "The soul who sins will die" (Ezekiel
18:4). That's hard for us to understand because
we tend to evaluate sin on a relative
scale, assuming some sins are less serious than others.
However, the Bible teaches that all acts of sin are
the result of sinful thinking and evil desires. That's
why simply changing our patterns of behavior can't solve
our sin problem or eliminate its consequences. We need
to be changed inwardly so our thinking and desires are
holy.[4]
For
years, people have tried to excuse themselves of their
sin. They have seen guilt as an enemy that causes fear
and depression. But guilt is not always our enemy; God
uses guilt to show us our need for forgiveness! Perhaps
you have tried to find rest, comfort, and real peace
in this life only to come up short time and time again.
Maybe you've tried to bury your feelings of guilt and
the doubts that ring in your conscience with busy-ness,
recreation, therapy, entertainment, or even drugs. But
there is nothing we alone can do to remove the effects
of our sin. Everything has a price; some things cost
more than others. The price to pay for a life of sin
is extremely high the price is an eternity in hell.
|
|
What
must I do to be saved?
How
can I be forgiven?
How do I escape punishment and gain heaven?
Do
you realize that the price for your sin has been
PAID IN FULL by Someone Who loves you more than
words can express?
Do
you realize that if you call out to God believing
what the Bible says about Christ He will remove
your sins "as far as the east is from the
west?"[6]
Come
to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and
I will give you rest.
-- Jesus[9]
|
|
The
Bible describes heaven as:
1.
A place where God is
Revelation 21:22-23 And I saw no temple therein: for
the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of
it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of
the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten
it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
2.
A place of great joy
Revelation 21:4 And God shall
wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall
be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former things
are passed away.
3.
A place for God's children
Revelation 21:4 And God shall
wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall
be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the former things
are passed away.
4.
A place without sin
Revelation 21:27 And there shall
in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither
whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but
they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
5.
A place prepared by Christ for those who will believe
in Christ
John
14:2-3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it
were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare
a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself;
that where I am, there ye may be also.
Heaven
sounds like a wonderful place, doesn't it?
THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR HEAVEN
The requirement for you to go to heaven is that you
be absolutely perfect and sinless! That means you've probably
already blown it.
BUT
. . .
Jesus
has fulfilled the requirements for you.
The requirements for you to go to heaven were met when
Jesus offered His life for you. The Bible says that
"greater love has no man than this, that a man
lay down his life for his friends."[5] Remember,
the penalty or price to pay for sin is death. Someone
must die in order for the sin to be covered or forgiven.
Jesus became our substitute for sin so we would not
have to pay the price by being separated from God for
eternity. Jesus, Who was and is Creator God (Col.
1:16-17), humbled Himself and allowed His creation to
murder Him on the cross.
The
Bible says concerning the cross:
2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to
be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness
of God in Him.
Colossians
1:20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself,
by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven,
having made peace through the blood of His cross.
1
Peter 3:18 Christ ... died for sins once for all, the
just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us
to God.
John
19:30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said,
"It is finished!" And bowing His head, He
gave up His spirit.
God
loved us so much that He provided a way of escape from
punishment, and a way to life everlasting. In the Old
Testament, a little lamb had to be taken and killed
so the sins of the people could be covered. The fact
that blood must be spilled (Hebrews 9:22), and a life
taken to cover sin shows us that sin must be horrible.
The
Bible says that Jesus was the Lamb that takes away the
sins of the world! Just before Christ died he cried:
"It is finished."
To those around him, they understood Him to say -- "it
is PAID IN FULL." Christ's death satisfied the
demands of God's justice, thereby enabling Him to forgive
and save those who place their faith in Him (Romans
3:26).
Do
you realize that the price for your sin has been PAID
IN FULL by Someone Who loves you more than words can
express?
Do
you realize that if you call out to God believing what
the Bible says about Christ He will remove your sins
"as far as the east is from the west?"[6]
The
Bible teaches good news:
1Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you
the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received
and in which you stand, by which also you are saved,
if you hold fast that word which I preached to you;
unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you
first of all that which I also received:
that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third
day according to the Scriptures, and that
He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
Jesus
Christ died for your sins, was buried, and then rose
again to prove His victory over sin and death. Remember
. . .what brought death into the world in the first
place? -- SIN! But Jesus Christ showed that He has power
over sin. We can be confident that since Jesus won the
victory over death, we who trust in Christ will also win a victory
over death.
What
must I do to be saved? How can I be forgiven? How do
I escape punishment and gain heaven?
TURN
(repent)
Are you willing to turn from your sinful thoughts, actions,
and attitudes? Will you turn from things you have trusted
in to gain you merit with God (i.e. baptism, parents,
communion, good works)?
The
Bible says that we must repent (be willing to change)
from our old lifestyle. This is not reform or "doing
better." Repentance means a complete change of
your inner self. Repentance is not a work of man. You
cannot muster it up on your own no matter how hard you
try. The Bible says that God alone grants
repentance -- it is a gift from God. If you want it,
He will give it! (2 Timothy 2:25)
Acts
17:30-31 "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked,
but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because
He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world
in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He
has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from
the dead."
Acts
20:21 says: Testifying both to the Jews, and also to
the Greeks, repentance
toward God, and faith toward
our Lord Jesus Christ.
The above verse shows us that both repentance (turning
from sin) and faith (turning to Christ) are necessary.
TRUST
(have faith)
"...Without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and
that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
The only way to please God is through the avenue
of faith. The Bible describes faith as "being
sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not
see."[7]
God
gives to you the faith necessary to believe as a gift.
You cannot muster up enough faith on your own to believe
in Christ. In fact, the Bible says that to preach and
believe what the Bible says about Jesus and His cross
is foolishness to those who are dying in their sins.[8]
God,
in His grace, gives to you the faith necessary to believe
exactly what the Bible says about Him. Not only has
He given you His life, but He also gives you the faith
necessary to believe He is the Truth!
Many
people are offended by the gospel of Jesus because it
is so exclusive. Many people are comfortable believing
some facts about Jesus, but they are unwilling to trust
Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins.
The
story is told of a man who was drowning in an ocean.
He cried out for help so the lifeguard quickly swam
out to the man. "Let your body go limp, just relax
and Išll rescue you" said the lifeguard to the
man. The man, in a panic, refused to relax and tried
to save himself. The lifeguard continued to plead with
the man but to no avail. The man drowned in the sea
because he would not trust the lifeguard alone. The
man tried to save himself and in doing so, condemned
himself to a watery grave.
What
would have happened if the man would have simply trusted
the lifeguard and relaxed his body? The lifeguard would
have rescued him! Jesus Christ says the same thing to
you: "Not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved
us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing
of the Holy Spirit." Friend, nothing you
have done or can do impresses God. To put any stock
whatsoever in your goodness is to make a mock of what
Christ did on the cross. After all, if your goodness
could save you, then why did Christ need to die? If
there exists another way to be made right with God,
then why did Jesus shed His blood so people could be
forgiven?
Jesus
Christ is like that lifeguard calling out to you to
trust Him alone. But will you listen? Will you obey
by yielding your will? Will you let yourself be humbled
and trust in Christ alone?
Come
to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will
give you rest. -- Jesus[9]
TAKE
(obey!)
Whosoever will may come! Revelation
22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!"
And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let
him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take
the water of life freely.
If
God is showing you your need for Him, then receive what
Christ has done for you. Believe that Jesus died for
you and rose from the grave. In simple, child-like faith,
just ask God to save you! He will!
1
John 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not
have the Son of God does not have life.
The
issue at stake is whether you will humble yourself and
admit your need for Christ and take Him into your life.
"It
isn't enough to believe certain facts about Christ.
Even Satan and his demons believe in the true God (James
2:19), but they don't love and obey Him. Their faith
is not genuine. True saving faith always responds in
obedience (Ephesians 2:10). Jesus is the sovereign Lord.
When you obey Him you are acknowledging His lordship
and submitting to His authority. That doesn't mean your
obedience will always be perfect, but that is your goal.
There is no area of your life that you withhold from
Him."[10]
Jesus
Christ wants you to be saved (2 Peter 3:9), it is His
will -- the question is, will you obey?
Acts
16:31a, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and
thou shalt be saved."
Romans
10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name
of the Lord shall be saved."
If you are ready to TURN, TRUST, and
TAKE what Jesus has to offer, then tell Him!
God will save you right now, right where you are!
Read
these words spoken by a servant of God:[11]
"I offer you salvation this day; the door of mercy is
not yet shut, there does yet remain a sacrifice for
sin, for all that will accept of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will embrace you in the arms of his love. O turn
to him, turn in a sense of your own unworthiness; tell
him how polluted you are, how vile, and be not faithless,
but believing. Why fear ye that the Lord Jesus Christ
will not accept of you? Your sins will be no hindrance,
your unworthiness no hindrance; if your own corrupt
hearts do not keep you back nothing will hinder Christ
from receiving of you. He loves to see poor sinners
coming to him, he is pleased to see them lie at his
feet pleading his promises; and if you thus come to
Christ, he will not send you away without his Spirit;
no, but will receive and bless you.
"O come unto him--he is labouring
to bring you back from sin and from Satan, unto himself:
open the door of your hearts, and the King of glory
shall enter in. What, do you think
your souls of no value? Are your pleasures worth more than your souls?
Had you rather regard the diversions of this life, than
the salvation of your souls? If so, you will never be
partakers with him in glory; but if you come unto him,
he will supply you with his grace here, and bring you
to glory hereafter; and there you may sing praises and
hallelujahs to the Lamb for ever. And may this be the
happy end of all who hear me!"
Christ
is the ONE way to life everlasting. Are you trusting
in Him? Which eternity will be yours
HELL or HEAVEN?
John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting
life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not
see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
If
you TURNED from your sin, TRUSTED in Christ, and TOOK
the free gift of eternal life as a result of this article,
please e-mail
us and let us know.
As a ministry of a local church, we would love to give
you some more faith-building material. If you still
have questions
about eternity, please e-mail
us as well. It would be our privilege to
serve you!
|
