This week the topic is hell and there are two questions that we are going to address. First, is hell real? Second, would a loving God allow someone to suffer there? I will reference a lot of Scripture in this post, but for the sake of space I will let you read it from your Bible. Please take the time to read the Scripture I reference. This is God’s Holy Word.
The English word hell, translated by the KJV from the Hebrew word “Sheol,” comes from the German root word for “concealed place” or “underworld.” The KJV also translated the Greek words “Hades” and “Geenna” into the English word hell. Geenna another name for the Hinnom Valley was known as a place where children in the OT where offered as burnt sacrifices to the god Molech. Jesus is the only one who used Geenna to represent hell in the NT with the one exception of James in 3:6. [1] The practice and place was well known at the time at the time of Jesus and offered a great illustration for the burning of flesh.
So, the first question asks if hell is real. Jesus clearly taught that hell is real. A fascinating result from a survey conducted is that more people believe heaven exists than believe hell exists.[2] Additionally, there is a continuing decrease “in the belief of a biblical hell and absolute judgment.”[3] Why is this the case?
It is my opinion there are several factors that leads to this outcome. First, there are a lot of people who only want their ears tickled. They will go to a church that only teaches about the carrot of love and does not teach about the stick of judgment. This is the reason for my second statement. Second, there is very little teaching about hell because preachers, teachers, and Christians want to avoid at all cost alienating congregants and making them feel unwelcomed. Third, church attendance is decreasing across the country. If a person never darkens the doors of a Bible preaching church or is exposed to biblical teaching about hell, then they will never understand.
Jesus talking to His disciples tells us that hell is real. During one instance Jesus said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”[4] Another time Jesus said, “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”[5]
Now let’s address the second question. Would a loving God allow someone to suffer in hell? The straight up answer is yes. Jesus Christ died for every person on earth (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Romans 5:12-21, 6:10; 1 Timothy 4:9-10), but each person must believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior. Please take a few minutes to read about the judgment in Matthew 25:31-46.
If a person wishes to deny God and not want to have anything to do with Him while they are on earth for this brief time, then God will continue to honor that person’s wishes throughout eternity. There will be many church goers who have never had a personal relationship with Christ. They also will realize when Christ declares, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”[6]
I encourage you to seek Christ. He is the only thing that can fill that hole in your heart. Eternal separation from God is indescribable.
In Christ,
Don
[1] Moisés Silva and Merrill Chapin Tenney, The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, H-L (Grand Rapids, MI: The Zondervan Corporation, 2009), 116–117.
[2] Got Questions Ministries, Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2002–2013).
[3] Mark Morris, “A Theology of Strategic Risk in the Advance of the Gospel,” The Southern Baptist Journal of Missions and Evangelism (Fall) 1, no. 2 (2012): 51.
[4] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 10:28.
[5] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Lk 12:5.
[6] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 7:22–23.