Eternity: Why Is There a Hell?
Pastor Scott Applegate
“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:2 NIV
How can a God of love allow his own creation to go hell?
“God is just…” 2 Thessalonians 1:6 NIV
“God is love…” 1 John 4:16b NIV
“…As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked…” Ezekiel 33:11 NIV
“The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished…” Exodus 34:6-7 NIV
“…Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” Psalm 97:2 NKJV
What is hell?
• Hell is a place created for the devil and his demons and for those people who want to live and exist apart from God (Matthew 25:41, Revelation 20:7-10, Revelation 20:15, Revelation 21:8)
• Hell is the place of eternal torment
• It is a permanent and irreversible separation from God and all that is good
• Fire (Luke 16:24, Revelation 20:15, Revelation 21:8)
• Darkness (Matthew 8:12, Matthew 22:13)
• Weeping (Matthew 8:12, Matthew 25:30)
• Gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12)
1. The reality of hell is necessary because it exposes what is in our hearts
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9 NIV
• What was hoped for
• Who we trusted
• What we built our life on
Revelation 22:11
“There are only two kinds of people-those who say Thy will be done to God or those to whom God in the end says thy will be done. All that are in Hell choose it. Without that self-choice it wouldn’t be Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it.” C.S. Lewis
2. The reality of hell is necessary for us to understand God’s love
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” Romans 5:8-9 NIV
• Trust in Christ and enter and maintain a relationship with him
• Thank Jesus often for what He did for you
• Tell others how to avoid hell
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV