Back to the Basics - Hell
June 17, 2012 Morning Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: Hell is a real place, not just an imaginary idea to scare people into being good.
Focus Passage: Luke 16:19-31
Supplemental Passage: "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28 NASB)
Introduction: A man died and went to Hell. He was met by the devil and taken on a tour where he could decide where he wanted to spend eternity. The first place was a room of unspeakable horrors. Demons were tormenting people by poking at them with red hot pokers. The people were screaming and trying to get away, but were unable to. The second place seemed to be a little better, but not pleasant at all. The people were tied to posts, smeared with honey, and had bugs and ants crawling and biting all over. The third place appealed to the man immediately. The place was filled with knee-deep sewer water, but everyone was sitting around drinking coffee. While he didn’t like the knee-deep sewer, he figured it was better than the other places. “I’ll spend eternity here” said the man. He was led in and just before he was served a cup of coffee, a demon came in and said, “All right, everyone. Coffee break’s over. Get back to standing on your head.”
While this is an obvious joke with no basis in correct biblical doctrine, it really isn’t funny. In fact, Hell is a lot worse than the joke makes it out to be. Hell is NOT a laughing matter.
I. A Real Place
a. Jesus did not speak of Hell metaphorically, but referred to it in terms the people could understand, calling it Gehenna, or the “Lake of Fire”.
b. You won’t be without everything in Hell; you’ll still have your memory, your desires, your regrets, your thirst, your hunger, your pain, your anger, and your senses.
II. A Real Purpose
a. Created for Satan and his angels - "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; Matthew 25:41 NASB
b. A place for those who have not believed in Jesus - "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:36 NASB)
i. Satan
ii. The Anti-Christ
iii. The False Prophet
iv. Fallen Angels
v. The Unsaved
III. A Real Punishment
a. "So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:49-50 NASB)
b. "If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED. (Mark 9:47-48 NASB)
Invitation: You do not HAVE to go to Hell. It was never meant for you. The ONLY way to escape Hell is to trust Jesus.
This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3-4 NASB)
