We Believe in Hell
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
We believe that hell is the place of eternal punishment of the wicked.
We believe that hell is the place of eternal punishment of the wicked.
The Scriptures emphasize that hell is eternal not temporal.
The Scriptures emphasize that hell is eternal not temporal.
And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew
‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’
Matt
and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
The Bible uses images of the familiar to provide us a comparison to the unfamiliar.
Biblical Images of Hell
Biblical Images of Hell
Fire
Fire
Using fire as a symbol of judgment communicates the need to satisfy God’s holiness.
Using fire as a symbol of judgment communicates the need to satisfy God’s holiness.
Throughout the Scriptures the execution of judgment is frequently portrayed with images of burning. In the sacrificial system the burning of the animal produced an aroma “pleasing to the Lord” (; )
5 Then Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
The aroma produced by the burnt offering was a reminder that God’s righteousness had been satisfied through judgment.
The point of burning seems to be that it destroys something offensive to God’s holiness and that the smoke acts as a sign that the offensive thing is in fact being destroyed.
Fire also points us to another important aspect of God’s Judgment..
Using fire as a symbol of judgment communicates that suffering is extensive.
Using fire as a symbol of judgment communicates that suffering is extensive.
Using the symbol of judgment by fire also communicates the suffering of those facing God’s wrath.
Using the symbol of judgment by fire also communicates the suffering of those facing God’s wrath.
10 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.
Poured Full Strength -
Dr. Craig Keener notes,
“Ancients diluted wine with two parts water to every part wine, except when they were trying to get drunk.” Craig Keener
“Ancients diluted wine with two parts water to every part wine, except when they were trying to get drunk.” Craig Keener
Unmixe
“Ancients diluted wine with two parts water to every part wine, except when they were trying to get drunk.” Craig Keener
It means that the judgment of hell will be the undiluted wrath of God.
Prior judgments of God were limited by time and intensity! But hell comes with the full strength of the holy wrath of God.
Sulfur - “Sulfur” or “brimstone” was a type of asphalt found particularly in volcanic deposits and produced both intense heat and terrible smell.
“Sulfur” or “brimstone” was a type of asphalt found particularly in volcanic deposits and produced both intense heat and terrible smell.
Darkness
Darkness
The place of eternal punishment is also depicted as deep darkness.
The place of eternal punishment is also depicted as deep darkness.
11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.
12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;
13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.
12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1 John
Hell is the place where man is cut off from the goodness of God permanently.
Hell is the place where man is cut off from the goodness of God permanently.
Billy Graham
The only thing I could say for sure is that hell means separation from God. We are separated from His light, from His fellowship. That is going to hell. When the Scripture uses fire concerning hell, that is possibly an illustration of how terrible it’s going to be—not fire but something worse, a thirst for God that cannot be quenched.
Hell is not so much a place of physical suffering as it is the awful loneliness of total and final separation from the Lord.
Hell is not so much a place of physical suffering as it is the awful loneliness of total and final separation from the Lord.
Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology., 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1998), 1248.
19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.
20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried,
23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’
25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’
Luke
Hell as darkness provides us a picture of hopelessness so that there is no rescue, no redemption, and no deliverance.
Hell as darkness provides us a picture of hopelessness so that there is no rescue, no redemption, and no deliverance.
The Rich Man might scream his lungs out but God is not coming to save.
The Rich Man might scream his lungs out but God is not coming to save.
The severity of punishment in hell will perfectly reflect God’s exacting justice.
The severity of punishment in hell will perfectly reflect God’s exacting justice.
"If I never spoke of hell, I should think I had kept back something that was profitable, and should look on myself as an accomplice of the devil."
“Sulfur” or “brimstone” was a type of asphalt found particularly in volcanic deposits and produced both intense heat and terrible smell.
21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
Application!
Application!
1. Spiritual Presumption is Deadly!
1. Spiritual Presumption is Deadly!
Almost every natural man that hears of hell, flatters himself that he shall escape it.
Almost every natural man that hears of hell, flatters himself that he shall escape it.
Self-Evaluation
Self-Evaluation
2. Gospel Passion is Indispensable.
2. Gospel Passion is Indispensable.
Wayne Grudem states well.
If our hearts are never moved with deep sorrow when we contemplate this doctrine, then there is a serious deficiency in our spiritual and emotional sensibilities.
If our hearts are never moved with deep sorrow when we contemplate this doctrine, then there is a serious deficiency in our spiritual and emotional sensibilities.
Read more: https://www.christianquotes.info/quotes-by-topic/quotes-about-hell/#ixzz54wfEkTWL
If the reality hell doesn’t break you and me down then we need to check our spiritual pulse.
If the reality hell doesn’t break you and me down then we need to check our spiritual pulse.