Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

B. J. Clarke

Introduction

Statistics clearly show that modern man does not view the subject of hell in the same way as men of even 50 years ago.

There are definitely ever changing attitudes toward hell.

This message will concentrate on three of these changing attitudes.

Attitudes have changed about:

I. THE EXISTENCE OF HELL

We have already observed current statistics regarding those who do and do not believe in hell.

Why is the percentage of those who believe in hell diminishing?

Some do not like to retain God in their knowledge because they view His will as an interference to their fleshly lusts

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Evildoers do not like to be reminded that they will receive punishment for their iniquities–thus, they close their minds to the consequences of their conduct

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Some are so wrapped up in their riches that they forget God, and presume that they will escape any punishment from Him ().

Some are so wrapped up in their riches that they forget God, and presume that they will escape any punishment from Him ().

The following quotation is taken from the George Barna website: “One of the intriguing findings from the research is that education and income are negatively correlated with belief in Heaven and Hell.

In other words, the more education a person gets or the more income they earn, the less likely they are to believe that Heaven or Hell exists.”

No wonder Jesus said that it is hard for a rich man to enter into heaven

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Some believe in God, but mistakenly conclude that He is too loving to punish them in hell.

They have forgotten !

They have forgotten God’s holiness!

God is love (), but He is also holy and therefore must punish sin (; ).

II.

THE NATURE AND DURATION OF HELL

Even some who believe in hell have changed the definition and description of it from the one given in Holy Scripture.

The Bible description of hell is as follows:

It is a place of unquenchable fire

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Matt 13:49; 18:8-9; 25:41; ;; ; ).

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It is a place of outer darkness

Matt 25:30; ; , ).

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It is a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth

It is a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (; , ; ; ; ; ).

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It is a place of eternal separation from God

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Matt 25:46

Matt 25:46

The biggest objection to hell seems to be its duration.

Many have argued that sinners will go to hell, but that they will be annihilated, i.e., completely burned up and extinguished from existence.

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the wicked absolutely cease to exist at death.

They equate hell with the grave.

An increasing number of denominational theologians argue for something they call “conditional immortality.”

This view affirms that the wicked will be raised to suffer a punishment that is equivalent to their wickedness.

After they have received adequate punishment for their sins, they will be annihilated.

In our own brotherhood, there are those who deny that hell is eternal.

Edward Fudge, who served for several years as an elder in the Bering Drive Church of Christ in Houston, Texas, has affirmed the following proposition: “The judgment of God against sinners will be eternal extinction rather than unending conscious torment.”

F. LaGard Smith has publicly endorsed the views of Edward Fudge.

John Clayton has also given a ringing endorsement of the book written by Edward Fudge, “The Fire That Consumes.”

Despite the denials to the contrary, the Bible still teaches that hell is eternal.

The fire of hell is “unquenchable”

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The fire of hell is “everlasting”

The punishment of hell lasts just as long as the “eternal life” enjoyed by those who go to heaven

The same Greek word is used to describe the duration of both heaven and hell!

This is not a pleasant doctrine, but it is a Bible doctrine.

It is also a motivational doctrine

III.

THE POPULATION OF HELL

Attitudes have definitely changed about who will populate hell.

The Bible supplies a number of lists categorizing those who will populate hell.

In short, all who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ will experience flaming fire and everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord

Some do not follow the Scriptures in identifying those who will be lost.

Some do not follow the Scriptures in identifying those who will be lost.

Some are more than willing to accept the fact that the murderers of this world will go to hell, but these same folks reject the truth that adulterers will also go to hell.

Some act as if anyone who is religious will go to heaven, but Jesus taught otherwise

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Brother W. A. Bradfield said that there were two reasons why we are not more evangelistic.

Because we really do not believe that the lost will be lost.

Because we really do not believe that we will be lost if we fail to take the gospel to the lost (; ).

Conclusion:

The world will continue to vacillate and change in its view of hell.

Let us never veer from the truth of God’s Word!

Let us make sure that we are ready to go to heaven!

The following statistics come from the George Barna website, October, 2003.

8 out of 10 Americans (81%) believe in an afterlife of some sort.

Another 9% said life after death may exist, but they were not certain.

Just one out of every ten adults (10%) contend that there is no form of life after one dies on earth.

Moreover, a large majority of Americans (79%) agreed with the statement “every person has a soul that will live forever, either in God’s presence or absence.”

79% of Americans believe in Heaven; 71% believe in hell.

What do Americans believe about hell?

Four out of ten adults believe that Hell is “a state of eternal separation from God’s presence” (39%)

And one-third (32%) say it is “an actual place of torment and suffering where people’s souls go after death.”

A third perspective that one in eight adults believe is that “Hell is just a symbol of an unknown bad outcome after death” (13%).

Other respondents were “not sure” or said they that they do not believe in an afterlife (16%).

What Americans believe about hell is not really the issue.

Who believes in hell anymore?

IV.

JESUS CHRIST BELIEVES IN HELL

The words of Jesus Christ carry great weight because He is God the Son (; ).

His words have the authority of heaven behind them (; ; ).

Jesus said more about hell than He did about heaven.

The following passages clearly show that Jesus believes in hell.

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Matt 5:29-30

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matt 13:49-50

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Matt 25:46

Matt 25:46

: Even though the Greek word “hades” is used here, those who go to the torment compartment of Hades will certainly end up in “gehenna.”

The point is that Jesus taught that the unrighteous would die and go to torment!

Even though the Greek word “hades” is used here, those who go to the torment compartment of Hades will certainly end up in “gehenna.”

The point is that Jesus taught that the unrighteous would die and go to torment!

V. THE HOLY SPIRIT BELIEVES IN HELL

In addition to the words of Christ, which the Holy Spirit revealed to the gospel writers, the Holy Spirit also inspired a number of men who affirm the existence of hell.

Paul believes in hell.

Although Paul does not used the word “gehenna” in any of his writings, he taught the equivalent thereof.

The following passages show that Paul believed in eternal punishment: