FIT FOR HELL

TEXT: Matthew 23:15 (GW)

15 “How horrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You cross land and sea to recruit a single follower, and when you do, you make that person twice as fit for hell as you are.

ILL: RELIGION EMPTY

Let's accompany the British journalist David Pryce-Jones to Hereford Cathedral. While showing the cathedral to a pair of foreign guests, they stumbled upon a service in progress and were rebuked by the vicar. "Not a single worshipper, apart from the vicar, was present in that great nave," writes Pryce-Jones "Evensong was taking place in a vacuum: nunc dimittis, indeed."

D. Bruce Lockerbie, Thinking and Acting Like a Christian, p. 32.

-How many know that religion will only make you fit for hell?

I. THE ISSUE OF HELL

A. A VERY REAL PLACE

1. I’ve heard many people say that hell is hear on earth right now. But that is not what Jesus says about hell. Matter of fact Jesus describes hell as a real place.

2. First of all hell is the place or state of the lost and condemned

Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament. Matthew 5:29 (GW)

29 “So if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it thrown into hell. Matthew 10:28 (GW)

28 Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

a.) The Lord Jesus gives many descriptions of hell. Matthew 13:42 (GW)

42 The angels will throw them into a blazing furnace. People will cry and be in extreme pain there. Matthew 25:46 (GW)

46 “These people will go away into eternal punishment, but those with God’s approval will go into eternal life.”

1. In Revelations it’s known as the second death and the lake of fire. Revelation 2:11 (GW)

11 Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Everyone who wins the victory will never be hurt by the second death.

Revelation 19:20 (NKJV)

20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. (The religious that are there.)

B. RELIGION WILL MAKE YOU FIT FOR HELL

1. In our text the Lord Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees of making converts fit for hell.

2. Listen religion will send you to hell.

a.) It insists that you’re right with God when you’re not. Luke 16:22–23 (NKJV)

22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

1. The Lord Jesus told this parable to the religious Pharisees because they believed if you were rich you were right with God. Listen just because all may be well for you physically doesn’t mean you’ll make heaven your home.

II. YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO THERE

A. YOU HAVE A CHOICE

ILL: One day, when Vice President Calvin Coolidge was presiding over the Senate, one Senator angrily told another to go "straight to hell". The offended Senator complained to Coolidge as presiding officer, and Cal looked up from the book he had been leafing through while listening to the debate. "I've been looking through the rule book," he said. "you don't have to go."

Crossroads, Issue No. 7, p. 16.

1. How many know tonight that you don’t have to go to hell?

ILL: A new believer was on a plane with an intellectual (a man educated beyond his intelligence). He sneered at her reading the Bible. Asked if she believed it? "Yes." "Jonah and the whale story?" "Yes." "How did it happen?" "Don't know, but I'll find out when I get to heaven." "What if Jonah isn't there?" "Then I guess you'll have to ask him for me."

2. There are many who choose not to believe and sadly will suffer. 2 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (NKJV)

11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

3. The scary thing is when you choose not to believe the truth of God, that the day may come that you will given over to believe the lie. I say may come because you still have time right now to choose to believe the truth.

III. JESUS CHRIST CAME TO SAVE US

A. GOOD NEWS, RESCUED FROM HELL

ILL: Before British actor Robert Morley died two weeks ago, he asked that his credit cards be buried with him. Since his funeral, the London Times' letters pages have been filled with the thoughts of readers pondering their perpetual needs. Wrote M.L. Evans of Chester: "In the unfortunate event of the miscarriage of justice and several thousand years ensuing before my sentence is quashed, I will take a fire extinguisher."

Ms. Tanner of Woodbridge specified a good map. "I have immense trouble finding my way in this life," she said, "so am extremely worried about the next." 

A pair of earplugs would accompany Sir David Wilcocks of Cambridge "in case the heavenly choirs, singing everlastingly, are not in tune." 

Maurice Godbold of Hindhead would take a crowbar, "in case the affair proved premature." Even in the hereafter, there will always be an England. 

U.S. News & World Report, June 22, 1992 p. 26.

1. How many know everyone has their ideas concerning the after life.

2. Here’s what Jesus said, John 14:2–6 (NKJV)

2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Christ Answers Thomas

5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

3. Tonight you make a choice to believe in the Lord that you and your house may be saved. Hell is a real place but you don’t have to go there.