Beloved Kinney,
This past Sunday we dealt with a very weighty biblical topic that we cannot ignore just
because it makes us uncomfortable. The doctrine of hell is biblical. It is real. What affect
should its reality have on us? Let me offer three.
1) If hell is real, then we should be overwhelmed with gratitude for grace. Listen to
how Paul makes the connection between the cross and our escape from God’s wrath.
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:9-10) The reason why we are not destined for wrath is because
Jesus absorbed God’s wrath by dying for us. There is no better news! When you come
to terms with the reality of hell, you will be overwhelmed with gratitude for the greatness
of grace. Jesus stepped in your place. He saved us from hell. Amen!
2) If hell is real, then we should feel a greater urgency to evangelize those who
are going there. You’re probably familiar with the story of the rich man and Lazarus in
Luke 16. Both die, one goes to hell, the other to “Abraham’s side” (a way of describing
heaven). Listen to what the rich man says to Abraham across the chasm that separated
them, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his
finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.” (v24)
Take that in. He is in anguish and wishes just for a drop of water. We wouldn’t wish this
on our worst enemy. Shouldn’t this compel us to tell our neighbor about Christ?
Abraham told him that relief was no longer possible. So the rich man responds, “‘Then I
beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—so that he
may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They
have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham,
but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do
not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise
from the dead.’” (vv25-31)
What’s Abraham’s point? The Word of God heard in this life is sufficient to save people
from hell. Implication: Give them the Word! Preach the gospel! We should feel a greater
urgency in evangelism if hell is real.
3) If hell is real, we should be more fervent in cutting off the sins that send people
there. Remember how Jesus put it in Matthew 5:29-30, “If your right eye causes you to
sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than
that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it
off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your
whole body go into hell.”
It is SO MUCH better…FAR better! Let that be a motivation. Jesus says it is better to
sacrifice a little now, than to lose everything later. Let us be all the more diligent in killing
sin by the Spirit as we walk out of the overflow of our union with Christ in his death and
resurrection.
Love,
Pastor Josh
This past Sunday we dealt with a very weighty biblical topic that we cannot ignore just
because it makes us uncomfortable. The doctrine of hell is biblical. It is real. What affect
should its reality have on us? Let me offer three.
1) If hell is real, then we should be overwhelmed with gratitude for grace. Listen to
how Paul makes the connection between the cross and our escape from God’s wrath.
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:9-10) The reason why we are not destined for wrath is because
Jesus absorbed God’s wrath by dying for us. There is no better news! When you come
to terms with the reality of hell, you will be overwhelmed with gratitude for the greatness
of grace. Jesus stepped in your place. He saved us from hell. Amen!
2) If hell is real, then we should feel a greater urgency to evangelize those who
are going there. You’re probably familiar with the story of the rich man and Lazarus in
Luke 16. Both die, one goes to hell, the other to “Abraham’s side” (a way of describing
heaven). Listen to what the rich man says to Abraham across the chasm that separated
them, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his
finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.” (v24)
Take that in. He is in anguish and wishes just for a drop of water. We wouldn’t wish this
on our worst enemy. Shouldn’t this compel us to tell our neighbor about Christ?
Abraham told him that relief was no longer possible. So the rich man responds, “‘Then I
beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—for I have five brothers—so that he
may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They
have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham,
but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do
not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise
from the dead.’” (vv25-31)
What’s Abraham’s point? The Word of God heard in this life is sufficient to save people
from hell. Implication: Give them the Word! Preach the gospel! We should feel a greater
urgency in evangelism if hell is real.
3) If hell is real, we should be more fervent in cutting off the sins that send people
there. Remember how Jesus put it in Matthew 5:29-30, “If your right eye causes you to
sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than
that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it
off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your
whole body go into hell.”
It is SO MUCH better…FAR better! Let that be a motivation. Jesus says it is better to
sacrifice a little now, than to lose everything later. Let us be all the more diligent in killing
sin by the Spirit as we walk out of the overflow of our union with Christ in his death and
resurrection.
Love,
Pastor Josh
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