Sometimes we downplay aspects of God's character, thinking we're making Him sound better!
For example: “God doesn’t send anyone to hell. People send themselves.”
It's true that God gives each of us an opportunity to accept or reject His offer of forgiveness and eternal life, but we don't send ourselves to hell. That's like saying parents don't punish naughty children. Naughty children punish themselves.
If I'm afraid to say that God sends men to hell, am I suggesting that a good God wouldn't punish sin? In truth, only a bad god would refuse to punish sin.
If I'm afraid to say that God sends men to hell, am I suggesting that a good God wouldn't punish sin? In truth, only a bad god would refuse to punish sin.
God is not ashamed to tell us He will send men to hell, and neither should we be ashamed. God's wrath is part of His holy character.
If you have any doubts about this, see Matthew 10:28, Luke 12:5, Romans 1:18-19, Hebrews 10:26-31, 2 Peter 2:4-10, and Revelation 20:15.
If you were spared from God's wrath by believing in Him, there is no need to be ashamed of the clear message of Scripture. It is God's divinely inspired Word, presenting truths as He wants them presented.
If you were spared from God's wrath by believing in Him, there is no need to be ashamed of the clear message of Scripture. It is God's divinely inspired Word, presenting truths as He wants them presented.
So let's quit sugar-coating this important truth.
Other 1-minute devotions you may find helpful:
Why Would a Loving God Send Men to Hell?
What Jesus Said About Hell
Should We Mention Hell When Sharing Christ?
The Heresy of Universal Salvation (believing all men will be saved)
I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. Read the story behind Wisdom for Life HERE. And find out about the two free Bible studies with purchase HERE. You can read the first 4 devotions in the book by clicking "look inside" or "read sample" on Lifeway or Amazon.
I also encourage you to sign up for a free subscription to Bible Love Notes and get a free e-booklet. Find out more HERE.
Bible Love Notes
Hi everyone I'm new to this group and I am a lover of GOD's word. This subject is very close to my heart. While many religious leaders of today make sure their flock knows of Jesus sacrifice and how he is the only path to GOD, they have forgotten to inform us of who our adversary is. So while the body of Christ slowly forgets they even have an adversary, Satan and the evil spirits who reside on this earth (Jesus cast many of these out of human bodies) are seeping in everywhere. Television programs are a perfect example of this with sparkling vampires, misunderstood demons, Lucifer just wanting to be a good guy, even in kids cartoons we now find demons. These actions have allowed for the last 2 generations to be so descensitized to the evil spirits in our world that they no longer fear them but actually feel empathy for them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this love note,I've probably said the same thing myself about people choosing hell for themselves,will know better in future.xx
ReplyDeleteEverybody is always asking what their purpose in life is...Why we are all here. Well, we are here to get right with God. This is the only chance we get to either believe in God and the incredible sacrifice His son Jesus Christ made for our sins, or to reject it all as nonsense and balderdas and believe that the great human race is the only thing going. Those who seem so proud of themselves for being non believers and think that God is just a fairytale are the most hopeless people..There is NO hope for anything if you don't believe in God...No hope for continuation of life beyond the very short time that we are here...No hope of ever seeing loved ones again...no hope of ever loving anything again or being loved yourself beyond this brief earthly life...etc., etc., etc.NO FUTURE HOPE, PERIOD!!! Why do atheists take such pleasure in all this? Like I said, our existence here is to come to know and enjoy the love of God, or reject Him altogether. If you have spent your life denying God and instead accepting all the real foolishness of this world then He we reject YOU!...and rightfully so...This is the reason that we were all put here on earth ...We had all better get it right , folks, and most of us will have no excuse that we weren't given enough time to do so. It's only you're eternal existence and happiness that is at stake here...I pray that you take it serious...NOTHING could be more serious.
ReplyDeletethat's absolutely ridiculous
DeleteBrendan, What's absolutely ridiculous? And please when/if you answer, answer like a Christian, explaining your point of view graciously.
DeleteHe is patient and kind. But that doesn't mean we should misuse the mercy that is bestowed upon us. We push him away on daily basis and come searching for him only in time of despair. There is a consequence. He is merciful, but you must bear the ramifications that your own actions bring.
ReplyDeleteIt is scriptural to say that, and I will continue to say it.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. From the beginning God desires the salvation of every soul.
Furthermore, hell was not made for man, but for the devil and his angels. So God does not desire to send anyone to hell, through their unbelief and sin, they are saying that is where I want to be, therefore choosing hell.
God does send them to hell, but not because he desires to do so.
Finally, After a life of disobedience, God gives them over to our reprobate mind, But even in that God is longsuffering not willing that any should perish.
Hell is a horrible place and we should warn people of the consequences of disobedience to God, but I think if we say that God's the one that does it, and take away personal responsibility, we have not done the will of God in leading people to Jesus.
God does play a part but it begins with each individual, and what they do with Christ.
Hi Pastor Brad,
DeleteIf you read the linked passages, you will find that God is unashamed to say (in His Word) that He avenges, He throws people into Hell, He destroys the body and soul, He condemns, and He punishes.
Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:5; Hebrews 10:26-31; 2 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 20:15
Luke 12:5: "But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!"
Saying we send ourselves to Hell is the same as saying we save ourselves from Hell. But Jesus does both and we do neither.
I'm not sure why you are afraid to say what God says about Himself
We can say people send themselves to Hell, but why would we. It's not what the Bible says.
If Scripture doesn't try to soften God's condemnation of unrepentant men and women, why should we? Are we ashamed that God throws people into Hell?
I'm not ashamed of a pure, holy, righteous God who sends unrepentant men to Hell. That's part of the gospel that saved me.