THE TRUTH ABOUT HELL
Luke 16:19-28
In a recent survey, it was determined that 35% of Baptists; 54% of Presbyterians, 58% of Methodists, and 60% of Episcopalians do not believe in a literal place called hell!
I. IT IS A PLACE OF ETERNAL TORMENT
A. The Lies About Hell
1. A place of annihilation
2. A state of mind
3. Only a temporary thing
B. The Description of Hell
1. A place of real fire (Luke 16:24c)
2. A Place of real pain (Luke 16:23a)
3. A Place of real separation (Luke 16:26)
C. The Permanence of Hell (Rev. 20:10) “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. “
II. It Is A Place of Eternal Memory
A. The memory of opportunities (Luke 16:25)
B. The memory of lost friends and family (Luke 16:27-28)
C. The memory of the plan of salvation (Luke 16:30-31)
III. It Is a place That is Completely Avoidable
A. It Was not created for You
B. You must make a choice
1. Choose eternal life (I John 5:12 – “He who has the Son has life…..”
2. Choose eternal torment (John 3:18 – “….he who does not believe on Him is condemned already.”)
C. It is a place that many almost miss (Acts 26:28 – “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost presaude me to be a Christian.’”)
Don’t waste the goodness of God. Christ shed enough blood for you. No matter what you have done or what you haven’t done, Jesus provided salvation on your behalf. If you go into eternity without accepting that gift, then you will have condemned yourself to hell.
Back in 1830 George Wilson was convicted of killing a man that caught him robbing the United States Mail. He was sentenced to be hanged. President Andrew Jackson issued a pardon for Wilson, but he refused to accept it. The matter went to Chief Justice Marshall, who concluded that Wilson would have to be executed. A pardon is a slip of paper, wrote Marshall, the value of which is determined by the acceptance of the person to be pardoned. If it is refused, it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged.¡¨
