June 17, 2007

Cawson St. Church of Christ

Hopewell, Virginia

Mural Worthey

 

What About Hell??

 

Introduction: What Jesus said about hell.

 

Jesus said, “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matt. 25:46.) He explained earlier that when the apostles went forth preaching, they should expect two different responses. Some would receive them gladly and obey the Gospel. Others would reject them and disregard their message. Jesus then said, “He that receives you receives me and he that receives me receives him that sent me.” (Matt. 10:40.) This is the context for Matthew 25 as well. The judgment on the last day is based upon the reception given to those who preached Jesus Christ and the Gospel. If they received the messengers and the message, they would be divided over to his right hand and welcomed. If they rejected the messengers of Christ and His message, they would be separated to the left and told to depart. These will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal.

 

Other clear statements by Jesus are these: “For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son. . . Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth. They that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:22, 28-29.)

 

“You serpents, you generation of vipers: how can you escape the damnation of hell?” (Matt. 23:33.) “Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matt. 5:22.)

 

Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus. (Luke 16:19-31.) In that famous story Jesus described the life of the rich man on earth who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who ate sumptuously every day. The poor man who was laid at his gates full of sores desiring to be fed from the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. When the poor man died, he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man died and lifted up his eyes in torment in hell. He pleaded for Abraham to send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool his tongue. When Abraham refused, he asked Abraham to send Lazarus back to his five brothers to testify to them. But Abraham said, They have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them. If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one arose from the dead.

 

For those who know Jesus Christ, his words carry weight. It is not an easy matter to deny the account of Jonah and the great fish because Jesus referred to it. It is not easy to dismiss the Flood of Noah’s day because Jesus said something about it. He called it a cataclysm that carried men away. One cannot easily dismiss the Bible’s teaching on hell because Jesus warned about such a place. To deny the reality of hell is to deny the truthfulness of Jesus’ words.

 

What are some concerns over hell?

 

Churches generally are hearing and being taught less and less about the biblical doctrine of everlasting punishment. One preacher wrote frankly that his congregation would be shocked if he preached on this subject. Our modern society is repulsed by the very concept of divine judgment and punishment for wrong doing. Most industrialized countries around the world have rejected the practice of capital punishment. Murderers spend less and less time in prison for their crimes. Human life is devalued. Man has decided that God cannot punish the wicked eternally. They are opposed to it.

 

This lesson will serve as an introduction to our series on “The Biblical Doctrine of Hell.” We need to be reminded what the Bible says about this subject. There are a few things that are necessary to say at the outset: 1) The doctrine of hell comes from the Bible and the teaching of Jesus Christ; and 2) Man’s feelings about the subject will not change what exists. If hell does not exist, nothing I say will make it exist. If hell does exist, all the protesting in the world will not change the reality of its existence.

 

Why do preachers not teach on this prevalent biblical subject? Why are so many opposed to the reality of hell? Is there some disharmony between hell and other Bible subjects or the nature of God? How did we reach where we are today concerning this theme? Even though about 74% of Americans say that they believe that hell exists, yet the subject is rarely presented in churches and unbelievers attack Christianity over this subject.

 

Due to past teachings on hell. I think we have reached this point today, in part, due to what was taught in the past. Dante’s Inferno and Jonathan Edwards’ sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” placed a strong emphasis on eternal punishment. Dante Aligheiri wrote The Inferno around 1300. Above the entrance into hell, he put these frightening words: “Abandon all hope, ye that enter here.” Jonathan Edwards, an American-born preacher, graduated from Yale University. He became famous for his sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” which was first preached in Connecticut, 1741. An overemphasis on wrath, hell-fire and brimstone, and judgment distorted the good news of the Gospel. Sinners were terrified by such messages. The New Testament teaches that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. (Rom. 2:4.) We should behold both the goodness and severity of God. (Rom. 11:22.) But a distortion of the message occurs when the wrath of God becomes the predominant theme. In the Middle Ages and until more modern days, grace was little known or taught. Now, grace is popular and the doctrine of hell is neglected.

 

Concerning the death of Jesus on the cross, there is a concern over saying that Jesus bore the wrath of God for us. Some think that there is a problem if we teach that the Father poured out his wrath against the Son. Some teach that the cross is all about love changing the hearts of men, rather than Jesus being our substitute bearing our punishment for sin. Is the cross about wrath or love? According to Galatians 3:13 and John 3:16 is about both wrath and love.

 

Questions over what Jesus really taught. Since Albert Schweitzer’s book, The Quest for the Historical Jesus, 1910, many have questioned whether Jesus actually taught the things attributed to him. One way, therefore, to avoid the power of Jesus’ teaching on hell is to say that Jesus may not have actually said those words. The Jesus’ Seminar sits in judgment on what Jesus said. As scholars, they decide whether Jesus would have said what is attributed to him by the gospels.

 

Punishment is counter to modern culture. We have removed punishment from our homes, schools and courts. One may murder another person and spend less time in prison than for bank robbery or embezzlement. Children growing up today cannot imagine being punished eternally when they have never been punished for anything that they have done wrong. Jesus said, These shall go away into everlasting punishment. (Matt. 25:46.) “He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God.” (Heb. 10:28-29.)

 

Because some seem to delight in the reality of hell. I have presented a message titled, “Why I Wish Hell Were Not So.” If we present hell as something that gives us delight and pleasure, then others will rightfully reject it. Even though hell exists, God does not delight in anyone going to such a place. The prophet speaking for God said, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that they wicked turn from his evil ways and live.” (Ezek. 18:23, 32.) “God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9.) What Peter said negatively, Paul affirmed positively.  God would have all men to be saved. (1 Tim. 2:4.) John Calvin falsely taught that Jesus died only for the elect.

 

William Lane Craig, a Christian philosopher, wrote, “No orthodox Christian likes the doctrine of hell or delights in anyone’s condemnation. I truly wish that universalism were true, but it is not.” (Faith and Philosophy, “No Other Name,” April 1989, 186.)

 

Atheists use it as a means of argument. If one does not believe in God or have respect for His Word, then they are not likely to believe what the Bible says about hell. Unbelievers have opposed Christianity on two major grounds: 1) the existence of natural and moral evil in our world, and 2) the doctrine of hell.

 

Bertrand Russell said, “There is one very serious defect to my mind in Christ’s moral character, and that is that He believed in hell. I do not myself feel that any person who is really humane can believe in everlasting punishment.” (“Why I Am Not a Christian,” Bertrand Russell, lecture presented on March 6, 1927, to the National Secular Society, London.)

 

Another unbeliever, John Stuart Mill, wrote: “I will call no man good who is not what I mean when I apply that epithet to my fellow creatures. And if such a Being can sentence me to hell for not so calling him, then to hell I will go.” (quoted in Wisdom of Israel, John Patterson, 14-15.)

 

Atheists argue that eternal punishment is not just. Why should sinful man be punished eternally for only a few years of sinful behavior? Why would basically good people suffer along with those who committed unspeakable crimes against God and humanity? The Bible teaches that our punishment will be just and dependent upon the wrong committed. Jesus said to Pilate, Those who have delivered you to me have committed the greater sin. (John 19:11.) “That servant which knew his lord’s will and prepared not himself shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not and did commit things worthy of stripes shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, much shall be required.” (Luke 12:47-48.)

 

Abraham asked, “Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?”  (Gen. 18:25.)

 

We could divide humanity into four groups concerning their responsibility toward God. This division is based upon Jesus’ words in Luke 12 above. There are: 1) Those who knowingly disobey God, 2) those who unknowingly disobey God, 3) those who obey God out of faith and purpose, and 4) those who do good without faith in God or purpose to serve Him. Each of these is very different in their responsibility before God. All sinners will not be punished the same. Even in our judicial system, all law breakers do not receive the same judgment. It would not be just to punish all law breakers with the same fine or penalty.