There has been an active war against hell in the Church, particularly sparked by the heretical “Love Wins” by Rob Bell who denounces heaven and hell. The reality is that abaddon (hell fire) is part of orthodox and traditional Christianity, in specific Jesus Christ our Lord and God preached about the destination known as hell on numerous occasions, as dis His apostles:
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” (Matthew 5:22)
“And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:43-48)
“They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:42)
“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?” (Matthew 23:23)
“Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41)
“But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” (Luke 12:5)
“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment..” (2 Peter 2:4)
“Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” (Jude 1:7)
“A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name." (Revelation 14:9-11)
“And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.” (Revelation 19:20)
“Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10)
“And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)
I am not trying to slant anyone into fear of Jesus, He loves us and fully understands us, He suffered snd died for us on the cross so we would never experience hell by faith in Him, but I do not want to gloss over hell, pretend the place of wrath does not exist, when it does. If you knew a plague was coming and had the cure, would you refuse to speak of the plague; for to convince people they need the cure they need to know what the disease and diagnosis is? Part of knowing about the inferno is to know what Jesus has rescued us from and how He so loves us and wants not one to perish in flames, “The Lord (Jesus, Romans 10:9, Philippians 2:4-12) is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9), and, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior (Jesus, see Titus 2:13), who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4). If we cease to preach that the fiery furnace exists, are we preaching the whole gospel?
Jonathan Edward’s famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God,” related the torments of hell and what awaited unbelievers. The words so frightened people, many fainted in the pews. Today many fear to preach about the blazing furnace, because it might offend and while ai agree coercing people with fear alone into faith is not the best way, but the inferno is a reality we ought to be preaching. Why are we not more alarmed and willing to shake a few people’s nerves with the images of the eternal flames? Anyone who does not believe in Jesus is headed on a elevator to the hell fire and we just stand by and say nothing?! Omitting hell is far more dangerous than including it; we must emphasize God’s love (1 John 4:18, John 3:16), but also not sweep under the rug His Wrath.
Jesus is a kind and loving God, He created hell not for us but for the revel Satan and his angels (Matthew 24:51), but includes all who serve Satan too (Revelation 14:9-11) and anyone who is not Christian is possessed of Satan and doomed for his destination (Ephesians 2:1-4). It is time to take stock, do you want to burn in hell? There is shadow (darkness) and perpetual flames and torment without end (see verses earlier). There in hell no hope exists, no end to the anguish, but for those who trust in Christ sorrow ends, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) and heaven awaits. Jesus suffered s brutal death on the cross and rose from the dead so you could be spared from the blazing fires of hell by having faith in Him (Philippians 3:9, John 3:16-18, Romans 10:8-10). Christ wants all to be saved, but His invite to heaven and eternal life is here and now; He leaves you to choose freely (free will) but after death it will be too late, “For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
So how do you avoid hell? How do you escape the flames? The answer is to believe in the only get out of hell free card, Jesus Christ:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus Christ), that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” (John 3:16-18)
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)
If you believe and have faith: trust and believe Jesus is God (Lord) And He became man and died for your sins on the cross and rose from the dead you are saved! You are now written in the Book of Life!l
The God you now believe in is The Holy Trinity. God is three and yet one, One God in Three persons of Father, Son/Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. The Father is in the Son and the Son in the Father (John 17:20-23), the Father and the Son in are in the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is in the Father and Son. In Jesus is the full Godhead (Trinity) in bodily form (Colossians 2:9) and the Father Has elevated His name above all names (Philippians 2:4-11); “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). Each person of the Godhead, The Trinity has a distinct personality and talks with each other (Hebrews 1:1-14, Genesis 1:26-27) and yet the Three Persons of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One God, each is God and Co-substantial (one essence, substance, they are God). This can be hard to grasp totally, because He’s God and if we could wrap our whole mind around how The Holy Trinity works, we would be God. I ask you this would you rather burn in hell fire forever or have to be humble and not fully fathom how The Holy Trinity works and yet believe in The Trinity? The truth is God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and so believe! Do not doubt! God’s very nature as One God but Three, Three that is One, humbles us and we must place our faith in the Divine Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
I suggest you get baptized next:
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19)
Also get baptized in the Power of the Holy Spirit, “Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.” (Acts 19:4-7). If you have no one to lay hands on you, just ask for the Baptism if the Spirit (Acts 2, Matthew 3:11). The Gifts you will receive from the Holy Spirit will range from healing to tongues and more (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
Read and memorize the New Testament in The Holy Bible. Start with The Gospel of John, then Colossians, Galatians, Ephesians, 1 John, Romans, Philippians, Hebrews, The Gospel of Luke, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, Titus, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Jude, Philemon, James, and Revelation. Make sure to soak in the Gospel of John, Galatians, Colossians and Philippians so that you do not fall into the trap of the Law and fall from walking in Grace (Galatians 5:4, Galatians 2:21).
Now go and live for Jesus Christ every day of your life in a deep relationship (Philippians 3:8, John 17:3) with The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment