Hell Is Real

Hell is REAL!!

Jude 1:4-1:7

The subject of today’s sermon is one of those things that we all believe but none of us likes to talk about.

In a national poll conducted several years ago by USA Today “67% of American adults said they believe in a hell. But less than 25% believed that they would go there, while 25% believe their friends will be there” (1986]. But frankly folks, if Hell is not real, and everyone is going to get to Heaven eventually, we might as well close the doors to this church and go home.

I will concede that you may well be offended by today’s sermon, people often are when any man presumes to preach on the subject of Hell.

Strangely enough a newer poll conducted by US News and World Report (2000) reveals that more Americans today believe in Hell than they did in the 1950’s or even 10 years ago.

But most now think of hell as “an anguished state of existence” rather than a real place. [ US News and World Report. “Hell Hath No Fury.” January 31,2000. p. 46]

I assure you that the Devil believes in a real Hell.

You may not believe in hell this morning, you may think that it is just a state of mind, but as the old revival preacher said to the skeptic, “You not believing in Hell don’t lower the temperature there one degree.”

We don’t like think about the reality of Hell and we often hear the statement, “I don’t believe that a good god will send anyone to Hell.”

The statement is based on error and inconsistency of the highest order. We never make the statement, “How could a good judge sentence a mass murderer to death for his crimes?”

We don’t say that because the judge is not responsible for the man being sentenced to death, his actions are.

The Apostle Paul says in Romans 11:22, “Therefore consider the goodness and the severity of God…”

A.I am here to talk about the Reality of Hell.

It is said that for the Christian, earth is the only hell that he will know. For the Non-Christian, earth is the only heaven that he/she will know.

1. Hell is not a popular subject these days.

2. The Error Taught by Some

3. The Evidence in the Scriptures

4. The Testimony of Jesus

B. You should care about these points, because:

1.You may be sitting next to someone who will be lost forever in the fires of hell.

a. Mothers and Fathers – Look at your children… If you

don’t make service to God a reality for them in this

life ---they will exist eternally in torment

b.They’re not going to care about all the fishing trips, little league games, or movies you ever took them to…

c.Their not going to care that you gave them a car --- or a college education

C. It could be your fishing buddy or your best friend or the guys you work with everyday

1. They’re not going to care that you laughed at their

course jokes --- bought them lunch

D. Or it could be you….

a. If you thinks that you can reject the salvation

offered by God through his son Jesus Christ – Then

Hell is your destiny.

b. If you’re one of those people that have not truly been converted to Christ Jesus – Hell is your destiny.

c. If you’re one of those hypocrites Jesus speaks about – Hell is your destiny.

d. If you’re one of those people who believe that just because your name is in a church roll some where but you do not live for Jesus – Hell is your destiny.

I. There has been a shift in the view of Hell.

A. There was a time that preachers talked about the

destination of the wicked.

1. Jonathan Edward delivers a classic sermon entitled,

“Sinners Falling Into The Hands of A Living God.” And

1,000’s streamed to the altars to be saved!!

2. Some where along the line – people became more

concerned with what came to be called “The

practicalities of Christian Living.”

d. There has been a tremendous emphasis on the Goodness

and Grace of God --- To be sure --- the reality of Hell

has all but disappeared from our pulpits.

2. The Reality of Hell has been undermined in our

society.

A. We’ve all heard the jokes about “shoveling coal”

1. or the salesman who is so good he could sell air

conditioners to the Devil…

2. Man who was happy to be in hell because at

last he could have some peace and quiet for him wife.

B. Willy Nelson’s Birthday Bash on television a couple of years ago – Aero Smith’s lead singer Steven Tyler said, “Happy birthday Willie. Here’s hoping that we’ll have twice as much fun in hell as we did her on earth trying to get there.”