A PEEK INTO HELL
Luke 16: 19 – 24
Intro:A. Let me begin this morning by saying unequivocally that there is a literal place called hell with literal
fire & torment for those who go there
1. If you believe the Bible is the inspired word of God then you must believe in hell
B. Hell is a real place just as Hawaii, Japan, & China are real places
1. It isn’t a mindset or a spiritual metaphor --- It is real
2. We aren’t living in hell now --- It is a place where people who refuse to accept Jesus Christ as their
personal Savior will go to when they die
C. Hell is a place where many thousands of people have gone & many thousands of people will be going
but it will never be full
Pro 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
D. Hell is described in many places in the Bible
1. It is a place of torment & suffering and a place with a literal burning fire
2. It is a place that should be avoided at all cost
Mar 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:
E. This morning I want to open a window to hell and look at some people that we can assume are there &
examine the reasons that these people went there.
I. First --- We See The Young Rich Ruler
A. As far as we are told in the bible he went away never to accept Christ as Savior
1. We are told in the story that this man was a good moral man
(a) Hell is full of good moral people who never give their all to Christ
(1) We sometimes get the impression that good people go to heaven & bad people go to hell
(b) You can never be good enough to get to heaven
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
B. Jesus told this man that he lacked ONE THING
1. This one thing was that the things of the world were more important to him than eternal life
2. Many people are in hell & many more will go there because worldly goods are more important to them
than eternal life in heaven
Mat 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
II. Next --- We See The Thief On The Cross
A. Here we see the opposite of what we said about the young rich ruler
1. This was a man who was guilty of crimes that he had been sentenced to death
2. Yet his crimes were not the cause of his going to hell
(a) The other thief was also guilty of crimes worthy of the death penalty but he went to heaven
3. The thing that sent this man to hell was his concern for the physical life rather that the spiritual and his
lack of faith in Jesus Christ
(a) His request to Jesus was to save Himself and us but the request was saving of the physical life
(b) And his statement was IF THOU BE CHRIST
B. Many people are in hell & many more will go there because they can only believe what they can see
1. They can’t rationalize Christianity so they don’t accept it
2. They can see & experience the physical but can’t or won’t accept by faith what they can’t see
C. Accepting Christ doesn’t take a blind faith
1. There is plenty of evidence & proof for those who choose to believe
(a) But there will never be enough proof to convince those who do not want to believe
III. Next --- We See Pilate
A. Again – as far as we are told in the bible Pilate refuse Christ and never came to know Him as Savior
B. Pilate had 2 failings that condemned him to eternal hell
1. First --- He allowed the world to sway him in his decision
(a) Although he could find no fault in Jesus he went along with the crowd and had Him crucified
2. Second --- He washed his hands of the matter
C. Many people are in hell today & many more will go there because the allow the world to sway them
1. If you choose the popular way --- The way of the world you will end up in hell
Mat 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: (14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
2. We live in a day when there are many different religions & people telling us that there are all kinds of
different ways to get to heaven
(a) But the bible is very plain in saying that there is only one way --- A complete commitment of your life
to Jesus Christ
D. Many are also in hell & many will go there because they wash their hands of the matter
1. They go through life without giving the matter of their eternal life due consideration
(a) The most important decision that we could ever make in this life and people don’t seriously consider it
2. You don’t have to make a choice or decide to go to hell --- No decision at all is a decision for hell
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
IV. Next --- We See A Lot Of Confused Religious People
A. According to Jesus words in the book of Matthew many people are going to stand in the day of judgment
with the impression that they were saved but will hear Him say “ I NEVER KNEW YOU “
B. This line of thinking is being propagated by Satan & by many churches & pastors in our day
1. These people are fooled by Satan into thinking that if they believe that God exist & that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God that they are Christians
2. They are being led to believe that if you walk the isle and get baptized and put your name on a church roll
that you are a Christian
3. They are being taught that commitment isn’t necessary --- Just make a decision to accept Christ and you
are on your way to heaven
C. The bible is very plain about this matter
Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
1. In order to be a Christian and to go to heaven a person must fully commit their life to Christ
V. Lastly --- We See King Agrippa
A. When Paul witnessed to king Agrippa about Christ he said “Almost thou persuadeth me to be a Christian “
B. Hell is filled with people who would say “ I almost walked the isle and gave my life to Christ “
1. I decided to wait until another day and that day never came
2. I intended to give my life to Christ but I never got around to it
C. The last verse of the song “ Almost Persuaded “ says
Almost persuaded, harvest is past, Almost persuaded doom comes at last
Almost cannot avail, Almost is but to fail, Sad, sad that bitter wail, Almost but lost
Hell is eternal, - No reprieve – No pardon – No escape – And no time off for good behavior
