Respecting Hell
As a general rule we don’t like to talk about Hell a whole lot. And for sure, it’s not exactly a pleasant subject. Yet it remains an inescapable fact that it is in the Bible for us to think about. Not that it needs to be at the top of our list of things to think about, for that can cause a problem. Here is a solid possible order for us to think about things:
When you do things in this order you will remain secure in Christ, you will always remember what you’ve been saved from, and you won’t live in fear. Now let’s say you have a condemnation type of view, it would look more like this:
This gets you all messed up. You wind up serving God for all the wrong reasons (although you are serving God at least), and you wind up considering yourself a sinner for the rest of your life. That’s a bad identity.
What then does Eternal Security do? Well, once you are saved and secure, Hell can no more touch you, so our list gets dropped down to just the first two of the original list. Why is this such a big deal? Because should you slip in loving God, you won’t have any respect for Hell, and your sin won’t matter all that much.
As much as we preach against sin, if it cannot kill you, then it’s allowable. If it’s allowable then we can do it without fear, and it quickly turns into a license for sin. See it’s very subtle, yet at the core Eternal Security winds up as a license for sin and Jude has very harsh words about the people who teach that:
“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude verse 4, KJV
The ungodly are going to Hell, and those who give license to sin are called ungodly. I don’t like it, but its truth. Truth hurts and offends, and blessed are you when you embrace truth rather than reject it.
So let me give you some real reasons to still respect Hell regardless of where you stand today. I want you to be sure of your salvation, but do NOT ever drop Hell off the list of possibilities. If you want it to be a way to prove that you were never saved, so be it, but be willing to accept that you were “never saved” should it come down to it.
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” Revelation 14:9-11 KJV
I put this first because it is coming up soon. Yeah we may have a few years left and probably do, but it will be coming. If you don’t heed the Word of God you will take the mark and go to Hell, even if you’re certain that you’re saved.
“Whosoever hateth his brother is a
murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” First
John
Hatred is a subtle problem because it usually comes slowly. Sometime I want to go in depth on it, but it doesn’t happen in one day generally. It starts with an offense that you don’t forgive, and it grows and grows and grows. Very deadly.
“And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut if off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:29-30 KJV
Literal? Perhaps, although I’m of the opinion that these things are outward signs of an inward problem, but the statement remains. If it can cause you to go to Hell, get rid of it!
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8 KJV
Interesting that fearful is the first listed, even before unbelieving. We’re heading into fearsome times, you need to be rock solid in Christ now so you can stand and not wind up fearful.
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” First John 2:4 KJV
The last one proved where liars are heading; this is a very good definition.
“But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.” Ezekiel 18:24
Sin
(willful being the biggest problem) trumps righteousness, even if you were
declared righteous before. God was
messing with
Now some of these are really repeats of others. The thing we have to understand is that our sin trumps our righteousness when we won’t repent. It seems wrong, but God’s way is equal, not ours, as Ezekiel states.
When you declare Hell to have no possibility of ever touching you, sin is no longer a real issue. It means giving up Eternal Security when you realize that Hell can still touch you though. Most will refuse to give it up because it seems right to them (it seems right to me too even though I reject it).
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12 KJV