Hell - What it’s like and how to get there
Joke about hell.
Hell is a topic we’d rather avoid. We agree with C.S. Lewis: “There is no other
doctrine which I would more willingly remove from Christianity than [hell], if it
lay in my power. . . I would pay any price to be able to say truthfully: ‘All will be
saved’ (When Christ Comes 117).”
“Jesus himself spoke more often of hell than of heaven (Revell 480).”
“Thirteen percent of the teachings of Christ are about judgment and hell. And
more than half of his parables relate to God’s eternal judgment of sinners. (When
Christ Comes p.118)”
Hell was not created for humans. According to Matthew 25:41, Hell was prepared
“for the devil and his angels.”
1. Hell is immediate upon death. (22-23)
2 Cor 5:8 “To be absent form the body is to be present with the Lord.” Phil 1:22 “I desire to depart and be with Christ...”
Just as the believer goes immediately to the presence of Christ when he/she dies, so the unbeliever immediately departs to hell. There is no purgatory,
holding tank, or “soul sleeping” after death. We are “living beings” (Gen 2:7).
Note verse 22 “the rich man...died”. Verse 23 says, “In hell. . .” Hell was immediate upon death.
2. Hell is Characterized by pain and suffering
Note the words used to describe it. Torment, agony, fire. . .
3. Hell is permanent (v. 26)
Note the word “fixed” Illustration of Eternity (. . scraping away at a rock the size of your house. . .by
the time the rock is whittled down to the size of a pea, you have just spent one day in eternity)
4. Hell will make a believer out of you (v. 27)
For the first time the rich man cares about someone else. After 5 minutes in hell he’s wanting to start an evangelistic campaign.
5. How do we get there?
The rich man knew exactly how to get there
and how not to get there. Take a look at verse 30. If someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.” The rich man knew he never repented of Sin. Read Acts 20:21 for the necessity of repentance.
FYI: Jesus rose from the dead and people still do not believe.
