The Biblical reality of Hell!

Matt.25:31-46

By:Ysrael De la Cruz

I have Heard people say that they refuse to believe in a God who would send people to hell.  I too would have difficulty believing in a God who would condemn people just because he wants to.

According to Lifeway Research (2014) 61 % of Americans believe that hell is a real place, but you have to be real bad to go there.  67 % of Americans believe heaven is a real place.  45% believe there are many ways to heaven.  What does the Bible teach about hell? The Bible has a lot to say about both places.  Jesus spoke extensively about the Kingdom of heaven, but he also taught about the reality of hell.(the kingdom of darkness).  We must refuse the temptation to believe in these places according to our liking or perceptions.  We must embrace the belief taught in the Bible, God’s authority.  There are people who would love to erase certain teachings from the Bible because they go against their preference.

As followers of Jesus we must believe what he teaches us in his word, whether we agree or disagree.  Jesus believed in hell as a real place and he spoke many times about this dreadful place.

Matthew 24:31-46

This is where Jesus taught about judgment day.

At his return, there will be a separation among people.  This is like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  Two kinds of people in the world. (Sheep or goats)

Sheep on the right and the goats on the left (v.34)

-The sheep are blessed, and they inherit the kingdom of heaven. They served God on earth through their deeds. (v.35-39)

–They are called righteous (v.37).  They became righteous because they believed in Jesus while they were on earth. 2 Cor.5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

They asked, Lord when did we see you in such conditions? V.37-39

The king would say (v.40) Whatever you did for one of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.

These people served God by serving others.  We are reminded to work for the Lord with all our heart and strength.

Colossians 3:23-24

23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

The fate of the goats: (v.41-46)

-They find themselves on the left; they are cursed into eternal punishment.

Eternal fire (hell) : Created for the Devil and his angels.

Hell is a place created for Satan and his angels and the wicked or unrighteous people will end up there as well.  Matt.25:41

Jesus taught about two destinations. Heaven or hell.  He taught that the righteous go to heaven and the wicked to hell.  In this text Jesus calls the righteous (sheep) and the unrighteous (goats) to illustrate the two kinds of people in the world.

IN Matt. 13 Jesus used a parable in which he called the righteous (Wheat) and the wicked (weeds).

Matthew 13:40“As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.

The righteous inherit the kingdom of God and the unrighteous will be punished in hell.

Jesus teaches us that hell is an eternal place; Satan, his angels and the unrighteous (wicked, sinful) will go.

(v.41).  Jesus described hell as an eternal fire (you find this description throughout the New Testament), eternal punishment (v.46)

Hell is known as the 2^nd death. (rev.21:8)

Hell was created for Satan and his angels and those who rebel against God would be punished there.

The wicked, or unrighteous.  They are cursed or condemned into this place. Why? Because they refused God’s offer of salvation.  John 3:18  Whoever believes in Jesus is not condemned but whoever does not believe is condemned already because he had not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Believers in Jesus know they live to serve God on earth.  Unbelievers do not serve God but serve other masters.  The unrighteous do not worship nor serve God. (v.42-43) I was hungry, and you gave me no food to eat.  I was thirsty and you have me no drink……

Lord when did we see you in such condition and did not help you? (v.44)

(v.45) Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these , you did not do it to me.  (You did not serve me while on earth)

(v.46) These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.  They were not righteous, but wicked therefore, they end up in hell.

Hell exists because evil must be punished.  “Sin has no excuse” (Randy Alcorn).  Satan sinned, he will be punished in hell.  People sin, then they will be punished in hell for their sins.  The wicked in the Bible are those to whom Jesus said” Depart from me, I never knew you.  They are the ones who do not follow God.

God has determined to punish evil and sin in hell.

Every society in the world has a justice system.  Prisons or punishments for those who break their laws.  The justice system is a system of accountability, you break the law, then you will pay the consequences.  God will hold everyone responsible who breaks his law.  Justice will be served at Judgment day.

Hell is a testimony to God’s justice.  Jude 5-7

5Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

 God will put an end to wickedness, evil and sin.  This is comforting to know that God one day will end all the evil and suffering in the world.

God is not sending people to hell, but we ourselves choose hell when we refuse salvation in Jesus Christ. God is giving the world the chance to choose him, choose life.  Refusing to believe in Jesus is to embrace hell as your destination.

God would honor your choices; He sent to us the solution by which we can live forever with him.  He showed us how people can escape judgment.

Whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life. Those who do not believe in Jesus will not see life (no heaven), but the wrath of God remains on them.  They are destined for hell for not believing in Jesus.

Choose life, choose Jesus.