Hell's Four Walls

Hell’s Four Walls

Matthew 16:1-20; Titus 2:11-15

Jesus said, "The gates of hell would not prevail against the Church." So, if hell has gates, there must also be walls. Because without walls, gates are absolutely of no benefit. Isaiah 26:1 says, "In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks." God must have put walls of mercy around hell.

I. The First Wall – The Blood of Jesus:

a. You can find at least four walls God has placed around hell in His Word. The first one is the precious Blood of the Lamb. 1 Peter, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." The blood of Jesus provides us access to God and keeps us out of hell. It’s the blood that makes the vilest sinner clean! It’s the blood that washes us white as snow. The present, perfect cleansing of the blood of the Lamb - you can walk in it every day! No one is ever going to enter hell without having an encounter with the blood of Jesus, which they must reject in order to pass through hell's gate.

II. The Second Wall – The Gospel:

a. The second wall around hell is the Gospel. Even those who reject it when you share it with them are influenced by its power. Because the Gospel is powerful, it will prick people's hearts and keep them out of hell. That is why Paul writes in Romans 1:16, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." Anyone who goes to hell must reject the powerful Gospel. But you say, "Suppose they do not hear?" Titus 2:11 says that is impossible. The Gospel is in creation, the testimony of nature (Romans 1:18), and today is being preached through missions, over radio, TV, and the internet around the world.

III. The Third Wall – The Holy Spirit:

a. Now, look at the third wall around hell - the Holy Spirit. No one can possibly get into hell without encountering the Holy Spirit because God has sent His Holy Spirit all the way around hell. Jesus explained His coming in John 16:7-11. The conviction of the Holy Spirit is designed to keep folks out of hell. Thank God for the Holy Spirit Who encircles hell with His convicting power, pricking the hearts of men. Every time someone runs up against God's wall, the Holy Spirit says, “You do not want to do this. Move away. Pay attention to God."

IV. The Fourth Wall – The Name of Jesus:

a. The fourth of God’s walls that guard all people from hell is the name of Jesus (Romans 10:13; Acts 4:10-12; Philippians 2:9-11). Can you imagine how much the devil hates the name of Jesus? That Name is above all names! No one goes to hell without having had an encounter with the name of Jesus and rejecting that name – no one. The name of Jesus has kept multitudes out of hell! It kept me out. And it kept you out before you could find hell's open gate. The walls God set up to keep people out of hell are a testimony to the fact of His great love for us. If God placed the blood of the Lamb, the Gospel, the Holy Spirit, and the name of Jesus to restrain people from finding hell's gate, shouldn’t we do everything in our power to lead them through God's gate?