Explore the difficult topics of God's righteousness, the reality of Hell, and its purpose in God's plan, emphasizing that ignoring these truths does not change their reality.
Good morning, Church Family! Today, we are going to delve deep into a topic that can be uncomfortable, but is absolutely critical to our understanding of the Gospel. We're going to talk about God's righteousness, the reality of Hell, and its purpose in God's plan. Our key verse today is Matthew 23:33, where Jesus warns the Pharisees, saying, "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" A stern and sobering reminder of the reality of hell in the face of unrepentant sin.
We often hear about God's love, which is boundless and beautiful, but we also need to remember that God is righteous. As A.W. Tozer rightly said, "God's justice stands forever against the sinner in utter severity." It's a difficult truth, but it's still the truth. Hell isn't a popular topic, but ignoring it doesn't change its reality.
Let's bow our heads in prayer.
Lord, as we open up your Word today, we ask for your guidance and wisdom. Help us to understand even these tough topics, and to grow in our faith and our reverence for you. Let our hearts be open to your truth, no matter how hard it might be to hear. We ask all this in your Holy name, Amen.
Let's dive in, shall we?
God's righteousness is a fundamental attribute of His character, a divine quality that is intrinsic to His nature. It is His righteousness that sets the standard for what is good and just. It is His righteousness that allows Him to judge the world in fairness and truth. It is His righteousness that necessitates the existence of Hell.
God’s law: The righteousness of God is not a concept we can fully grasp with our finite minds, but we can begin to understand it through the lens of His law. The law, as given in the Bible, is a reflection of God's character. It is a standard of moral perfection that no human can fully meet. When we break God's law, we sin, and the Bible is clear that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). This is not because God is cruel or vindictive, but because He is perfectly just. His righteousness demands that sin be punished.
Hell is a taboo topic: Hell is not a concept that sits comfortably with our modern sensibilities. We prefer to focus on God's love and mercy, and rightly so, for these are beautiful aspects of His character. But we must not ignore His justice and righteousness. Hell is the ultimate expression of God's justice. It is the place where the punishment for sin is carried out. It is a place of separation from God, the source of all goodness and life. It is a place of torment and despair, a reality that should fill us with a sobering fear of the consequences of sin.
Why is Hell necessary?: Couldn't a loving God simply forgive everyone and do away with Hell? The answer lies in God's righteousness. If God simply overlooked sin, He would not be righteous. He would not be just. His law would be meaningless. Hell is necessary because it upholds the righteousness of God. It shows that His law is not to be taken lightly, that sin is a serious offense against a holy God.
God is not evil: This does not mean that God takes pleasure in the punishment of the wicked. The Bible tells us that God does not delight in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live (Ezekiel 33:11). God's desire is for all people to come to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, who took the punishment for our sins on the cross. But for those who reject God's offer of salvation, Hell is the just consequence of their sin.
Can be difficult to understand: It challenges our notions of fairness and love. But it is a crucial part of understanding the Gospel. It underscores the seriousness of sin and the amazing grace of God in providing a way of salvation through Jesus Christ.
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