A
Word on Hell
The global community is outraged by
Putin’s incursion into Ukraine, and rightly so. The UN Ambassador to
Ukraine said: “The Russian leaders will go straight to Hell!” These
kinds of remarks perpetuate the false notion Hell is for the worst of
humanity. It is also a tacit admission that (1) Hell indeed exists, (2)
There is a God that determines the destiny of ALL men, and (3) Hell is
a place of punishment and suffering.
We need to understand the TRUTH about
Hell. First, it is a place of “everlasting fire” prepared for the Devil
and his angels (Matthew 25:41). While unbelievers may join the devil
there, it was NOT God’s original intent to send them
there.
Secondly, ALL men are born
spiritually dead due to the sin of one man—Adam (Romans 5:12). ALL men
likewise live UNDER the Law and are therefore GUILTY before God for
breaking it (Romans 3:19). Thirdly, NO man EARNS his way to
Hell, as the UN Ambassador to Ukraine implied. Men born dead in sin are
CONDEMNED ALREADY due to unbelief, in which case the WRATH of God
ABIDES on them until such time as they believe upon the Lord Jesus
Christ (John 3:18,36). Fourthly, there is ONLY ONE SIN that
will send a man to Hell—the sin of UNBELIEF in the Lord Jesus. It is
UNBELIEF that leaves a man to DIE IN HIS SINS. Keep in mind Jesus spoke
this TRUTH to the religious elites in Israel, ones reputed to live by
the highest moral standards, who claimed God was their Father (John
8:24,41). The UN Ambassador to Ukraine, should he die in UNBELIEF, will
join those Russian leaders in Hell if they die in UNBELIEF.
When Jesus suffered and died on his
Cross outside Jerusalem, he “tasted death for EVERY man” (Hebrews 2:9)
and provided for EVERY man the means of avoiding Hell IF they
appropriate by faith the provision God in Christ made for their
sins. The Lord affirmed:” I have NO PLESURE in the death of
the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel
33:11). The Lord will derive NOT ONE OUNCE of pleasure when he casts
Death and Hell into the Lake of Fire at the final judgment! (Revelation
20:14). An UNBELIEVER is seldom as BAD as he can be. But as long as he
persists in UNBELIEF, he is as BAD OFF as he can be.
Neither Hell nor Heaven are EARNED
destinations. Hell is the DEFAULT destination for the unbeliever
without regard to his degree of BADNESS. Heaven is the destination for
believers without regard for their degree of GOODNESS.
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