Sobering Truths

I ran across some notes recently that I have on the subject of hell over the years. Maybe you’ll be interested in them too. Most of them are referenced in Matthew 7:13-23.

Matthew 7:13,19 – There is a real place called hell.

• It’s a place of consciousness; those who are in hell know they are in hell. (Luke 16:23-24)
• It’s a place of torment. They don’t call it hell without good reason! (Luke 16:23,24,28)
• It’s a place of darkness. (Matthew 8:12)
• It’s a place of eternal separation. (2 Thessalonians 1:9)
• It’s a place of memory and regret. Those who are in hell know why they are in hell. (Luke 16:27-28)
• It’s a place of intense misery. There is nothing good in hell. (Matthew 13:42)

Matthew 7:13-14 – There is a population in hell.

• There are more people in hell than there are in heaven. (Isaiah 5:14)
• In the days of Noah, there were only 8 people saved from the entire world’s population. The rest went to hell.
• In the days of Sodom, there were only 3 people spared in those two cities. The rest went to hell.
• Today most people live in non-Christian countries. So even if we could assume that everyone in a Christian country (e.g. the U.S., U.K. Australia, etc.) were a true Christian and were definitely destined for heaven, that would still leave 98% of the world’s population headed for hell. (This is why evangelism is so critical in today’s world!)

Matthew 7:15-23 – There is a paradox about hell that most of us need to understand.

• Many who expect to make it to heaven will actually wind up in hell. Jesus said, “Not everyone who cries ‘Lord, Lord,’ will see the Kingdom of Heaven.”
• Anyone who is rich will be especially challenged to find themselves in heaven in the end. Not because they are rich, but because of what accompanies wealth in this life. (Luke 16:19-31)
• Many church members are actually not saved. (James 1:26 tells us we can’t judge a book by its cover, but we can always know a tree by its fruit!)
• Even good, morally upright people will still go to hell because they are not saved. Being good and morally upright are not the criteria. (Romans 3:33 & 6:23)
• Perhaps the most horrible words ever to fall on the ears of a human are those recorded in Matthew 7:21-23: “Knowing the correct password—saying 'Master, Master,' for instance— isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'” (The Message)

There is a permanence to hell. It’s not a temporary location by any means.

• Hell is eternal. There is no escape, pardon or death from hell. (Matthew 26:46, Hebrews 6:2, Revelation 14:11).
• It appears that there may indeed be one day when the inhabitants of hell get out. But what awaits them next is even worse than hell. (Revelation 20:11-15)

The issues with salvation --- or lack thereof --- are multiple --- and need to be comprehended by everyone on earth as quickly as is possible.

• Our salvation can be certain and secure. (Matthew 11:28, Acts 16:31 and John 5:24). But you have to act now.
• Jesus could return today. (Matthew 24:44). When He does, all our chances at salvation may be over.
• Any one of us could die today. (Luke 12:16-21).
• There may not be time for a “death bed salvation.” (Proverbs 27:1 & James 4:14)
• One can “sin away his day of grace.” (Genesis 6:3, Exodus 8:1, Hosea 4:17, Romans 1:26-28 and Jeremiah 13:23)
• Despite the security of our salvation, it is possible to accomplish what some might perceive be losing one’s salvation. (Jeremiah 12:7-13, John 3:36 & Revelation 21:8)

So what do we make of all this? I think the point is simply that hell is for somebody. There is a population in hell. If I don't want to join that population, then I have to be intentional about that now.

Any questions?