Bad News/Good News ()

Introduction

Call from the Dr., 24 hours to live

Bad News

If you want to create an awkward conversation, bring up politics or religion … particularly, Jesus is the one and only way to heaven.

Unbelievers deny its existence … uninformed believers doubt it. Once professing believers have recanted

Called: cruel, inhumane, barbarous

too harsh a punishment, a loving God … my God, etc.

Child molester - “Special place in hell for him/her.”

The Bible certainly teaches it … and Jesus affirmed it

English Standard Version Chapter 10

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

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

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

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

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 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 to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,

And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

God’s Justice Demands it

C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity - “the idea of an objective moral law is inescapable. When we are wronged or exploited, we call for justice. When we encounter people of grit and grace, we praise them as moral examples. Our conscience is more than mere instinct or social conditioning. Yet because there is often a great gap between our ideals and actions, we suffer guilt and regret. Despite our denials and excuses, our consciences dog us throughout our days.”

There must be a reward for good … and a punishment for bad

God has chosen not to finalize judgment in this life … He is gracious, merciful, loving and He suffers long

Desiring that none should perish but all would come to eternal life

“The Son of Man did not come to condemn the world but to save it.”

There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day. 20 But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate. 21 He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man’s table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side.,j The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. 24 ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’

25 “ ‘Son,’ Abraham said, ‘remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.’

27 “ ‘Father,’ he said, ‘then I beg you to send him to my father’s house—28 because I have five brothers—to warn them, so they won’t also come to this place of torment.’

Hell is Eternal and Fixed

29 “But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’

30 “ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said. ‘But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “But he told him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

Hell is a Place of Pain and Agony

Physically - “torment” … “I am in agony in this flame”

“They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Regret - “remember that during your life you received your good things.”

Essentially living life for himself

Moral man - what if a homeless person laid at the end of your driveway.

Hell is a Place of Separation

“great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot”

From God

From Family and Friends “send him to my father’s house … I have five brothers-to warn them.

Hell is Eternal

Hell is Eternal and Fixed

“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Good News

One does not have to suffer eternal damnation in Hell.

Jesus said: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

He lived a sinless life … acceptable sacrifice for the atonement of our sins.

He was crucified and suffered the wrath of sin in our place

The cross is a sham if there is no hell

There is no significance to the cross if there is no separation from God

Conclusion:

“They have Moses and the Prophets”

How, then, can the call on Him they have not believed? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are send? … So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.”

You are the messenger … Harold Danforth “Not going to be judged by what I did, but what I didn’t do”

Have you trusted Christ? If not, why not today?