Hell
The Eternal Results of our Response
The Doctrine of Hell.
Why do we want to talk about this?
Many Chrisitans do not understand the severity of hell and the importance of its doctrine. Many churches will not speak of hell to prevent people from leaving.
“Satan continues his efforts to make sin less offensive, heaven less appealing, hell less horrific, and the gospel less urgent.” - Tommy Clayton, writer for GTY.
Where is our default destination after physical death? Why?
Hell. We have all sinned. We are sinners by nature and cannot earn our way to heaven. The punishment of sin is death (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23).
Is hell necessary?
Absolutely. God is just to forgive the sins of those whose faith is in Jesus and to punish those who reject Christ because they remain dead in their sins.
Think about it like this: If a drunk driver collides with a mom driving her four kids around and kills all of her children but not the mother, would it be loving for the judge to let the drunk driver off without any punishment? How do you think that would make the mother feel?
Hell is the most loving thing God can do to those who do not repent.
What does our culture teach about hell?
That it will be a place of partying and fun, that they will finally be separated from God, that Satan is the ruler and he decides what happens. Some Christians even believe in soul sleep, annihilism, universalism, reincarnation, or that there are simply different degrees of heaven and no true hell.
Is hell separation from God?
“A breath of relief is usually heard when someone declares, "Hell is a symbol for separation from God." To be separated from God for eternity is no great threat to the impenitent person. The ungodly want nothing more than to be separated from God. Their problem in hell will not be separation from God, it will be the presence of God that will torment them. In hell, God will be present in the fullness of His divine wrath. He will be there to exercise His just punishment of the damned. They will know Him as an all-consuming fire.” - RC Sproul.
Satan is not the one punishing those in hell, he is not even in charge of hell, God is. He who can destroy both the body and soul (Matthew 10:26-33).
For questions on 2 Thessalonians 1:9 the word “presence” comes from the Greek word prosópon, which is used here to refer to “the face” of God.
Believers will see the Lord face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12), but unbelievers will be driven from the face of the Lord and never know the joy of being in His presence.
What is hell?
Joe Carter from The Gospel Coalition writes:
“Jesus has more to say about hell than he does about heaven. Jesus uses the term gehenna (which is translated as “hell”) a dozen times in the Gospels, and uses synonyms involving fire about 20 times. He also describes it in vivid detail, saying it is a place of unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43), “outer darkness” (Matt. 25:30), and eternal torment (Luke 16:23). He says it is where the worm does not die (Mark 9:48), where people will gnash their teeth in anguish and regret (Matt. 13:42), and a place from which there is no return, even to warn loved ones (Luke 16:19–31).”
Got Questions also says:
“The punishment of the wicked dead in hell is described throughout Scripture as “eternal fire” (Matthew 25:41), “unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12), “shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2), a place where “the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:44-49), a place of “torment” and “fire” (Luke 16:23-24), “everlasting destruction” (2 Thessalonians 1:9), a place where “the smoke of torment rises forever and ever” (Revelation 14:10-11), and a “lake of burning sulfur” where the wicked are “tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10). The punishment of the wicked in hell is as never ending as the bliss of the righteous in heaven. Jesus Himself indicates that punishment in hell is just as everlasting as life in heaven (Matthew 25:46). The wicked are forever subject to the fury and the wrath of God. Those in hell will acknowledge the perfect justice of God (Psalm 76:10). Those who are in hell will know that their punishment is just and that they alone are to blame (Deuteronomy 32:3-5). Yes, hell is real. Yes, hell is a place of torment and punishment that lasts forever and ever, with no end. Praise God that, through Jesus, we can escape this eternal fate (John 3:16, 18, 36).”
Those in hell will grow in hatred for God.
Why is hell eternal?
“The essential thing is that degrees of blameworthiness come not from how long you offend dignity, but from how high the dignity is that you offend.” - John Piper.
“A man can commit such gross crimes against his fellow humans that he could earn ten life sentences for ten minutes of mayhem. And these are but sins against men. Can the idea of sinning against God — and not only in a moment but for one’s whole lifetime — not merit eternal damnation when one sin justly plunged the world into death and darkness?” - Greg Morse, writer for dG.
When we sin it is against a Holy, Just, Good, Eternal God. Therefore, the punishment is eternal and of His just choosing.
Is everyone punished the same in hell?
Let’s read a few sets of verses.
Luke 12:35-48. Points to greater or lesser torment in hell.
Matthew 10:15 and Matthew 11:21-22. More or less bearable signifies greater or lesser suffering.
This relates to Revelation 3:15-16 in how “lukewarm Christians” will be judged more harshly than those who are either hot or cold. The cities referenced in the verses from Matthew both witnessed Jesus and saw the gospel right in front of them yet they still did not believe.
Romans 2:4-5. The word for storing up in Greek is thésaurizó. This is the same word Jesus uses in Matthew 6:20 in reference to storing up treasures in heaven. However, in this case it refers to storing up punishment in hell.
James 3:1. Those in positions of teaching will be judged more harshly due to their increased responsibility.
Numbers 15:27-31. Different sins required different sacrifices in the OT.
Clearly, not all are punished equally in hell.
What should this drive us to do?
SHARE THE GOSPEL. WE CANNOT JUST KNOW THIS AND SHRUG IT UNDER THE RUG. TAKE ACTION.
Resources:
What Is Hell? Ligonier.
The Truth About Hell Grace To You.
Is hell real? Is hell eternal? Got Questions.
Will Hell Really Last Forever? desiringGod.
Can We Enjoy Heaven Knowing of Loved Ones in Hell? Ligonier.
Hell Is Not Separation from God The Gospel Coalition.
How Dismissing the Doctrine of Hell Leads Us to Hate Our Neighbors TGC.
What Does Hell Say About God? The Truth Many Cannot Bear to Hear dG.
Are all Sins Equal? TGC.
Does James 2:10 imply that God doesn’t consider some sins more serious than others? GQ.
Strong's Greek: 2343. θησαυρίζω (thésaurizó) -- to lay up, store up. Bible Hub.