There is such a place as hell. Let no one deceive you with vain words. What people do not like–they try hard not to believe.
1) I know that some people do not believe that there is any Hell at all. They think it impossible, that there can be such a place. They call it inconsistent with the mercy of God. They say that it is too awful an idea to be really true. The devil of course, rejoices in the views of such people. They help his kingdom mightily. They are preaching up the devil’s old, favorite doctrine, “You shall not surely die!” Genesis 3:4
2) I know furthermore, that some do not believe that Hell is eternal! They tell us it is incredible, that a compassionate God will punish people forever. They imagine that He will surely open the prison doors of Hell at last. This also is a mighty help to the devil’s cause.
3) I know also that some believe that there is a Hell–but never allow that anybody is going there! They imagine that . . .
- all people are good,
- all are sincere,
- all mean well, and
- all, they hope, will go to Heaven when they die!
Alas! what a common delusion is this!
If I never spoke of Hell–I would think I had kept back something that was profitable, and would look on myself as an accomplice of the devil.
Reader, I beseech you, in all tender affection–beware of false views of the subject on which I have been dwelling. Beware of new and strange doctrines about Hell and the eternity of punishment. Beware of manufacturing a god of your own:
- a god who is all mercy–but not just;
- a god who is all love–but not holy;
- a god who has a Heaven for everybody–but a Hell for none;
- a god who will make no distinction between godly and the ungodly in eternity.
Such a god is an idol of your own imagination! It is as truly an idol–as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple! The hands of your own imagination and sentimentality have made it! It is not the God of the Bible–and beside the God of the Bible, there is no God at all.
JC Ryle (Grace Gems)
If this is in response to Rob Bell’s LOVE WINS:
The book is not universalist. The book does not deny hell. I cannot wait for the apologies from John Piper, The Gospel Coalition, and Joshua Harris, as well as all the other people who maligned Bell.
This is tragic. Simply tragic. Twitter was a cesspool before, and now Christians are taking a swim.
The above, written by JC Ryle, (1816-1900) wasn’t posted in response to Rob Bell or anyone else. I’m frankly somewhat confused as to what would possibly lead you to think it was…
Quote from article’
) I know that some people do not believe that there is any Hell at all.
End quote
Why would you need to believe in hell when for the most part the gospel that is taught neglects to call the sinner to repentance, the two go hand in hand.
That’s very true Ray…you made an excellent point.
Every one is going to Hell, “shoal,the grave, the lake of fire is the second death,,, where all unbelievers and Satan and the false ones will go… for eternity,
The word hell in scripture has multiple meanings. One, indeed, is the grave, the other is the lake of fire.
[KJV] Psalms 9:17
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
[KJV] Proverbs 23:14
Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
[KJV] Matthew 5:22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
[KJV] Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
[KJV] Matthew 23:33
Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
[KJV] Mark 9:43
And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
[KJV] Luke 16:23
And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
[KJV] II Peter 2:4
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
Not believing in hell is sort of like *hoping* there isn’t a hell. I really don’t think too many people are really *confident* that there isn’t a hell even though they might proclaim it loudly. I think it is perhaps just as dangerous a teaching, if not more so, that going to hell is somehow based on works and not relationship with God, as in, you know, only Hitler and other mass murderers end in hell. The one’s who *deserve* it in *my* not so humble opinion. The reality, of course, is that all those who don’t receive willingly God’s free gift of heaven will end in hell by their own free choice and long before they end there they will be incapable of repentance because their will becomes hardened against the God who loves them and desires to rescue them from themselves. Heaven IS God. It is choosing to be with God for eternity. The God of the Bible is the only source of Life through His Son, Jesus Christ. To be removed from His presence is eternal hell and suffering with no hope of repentance. It is the unfortunate fate of the eternally Lost. I hesitate to think of hell as “punishment”, since punishment implies escape if you don’t disobey again, but hell has no escape. Thus hell is beyond punishment. It is where one ends when all hope for redemption is lost.
Rob Bell’s new (unreleased) book started a Twitter storm because it seems that he denies hell. He doesn’t, but leaders of the faith thought it was necessary to make him a trending topic before reading the book.
Hi…
i don’t follow twitter so am not aware of this latest or Bell’s book (never read any of his material).
The post was made for the purpose of pointing out another all but forgotten doctrine; hell.
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