And it is Why We
Try to Win people to Faith in Jesus Christ!
June 23, 2013 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
I.
Introduction (Matthew
10:28; 2Cor 5:11)
A.
Have you noticed? Something is
missing…
1.
Modern man’s life now is Fat
free, Caffeine free, Sugar free, Calorie free, Salt free, Gluten free, Additive
free, … (Taste free) …
2.
But it doesn’t stop there! It
also has become Commitment free, Care free, and worst of all, Hell free! Modern
religion (almost every church you could visit) is basically 99.9% hell free
today! Hell has “disappeared!”
3.
In other words, Most people do
not believe in hell anymore!
4.
They don’t talk about hell, and
they don’t worry about people going there!
5.
And so people aren’t getting
saved much today!
B.
Something DIDN’T happen to hell –
it didn’t shrink, or cool off, or become exposed as a myth
1.
No.
People’s view of GOD has changed. People
think God is not holy and pure and righteous like He used to be. God is ONLY
loving and nice and “understanding” now.
2.
People have changed their view of
justice, and love, and righteousness, and eternity!
3.
No. Our generation’s view about
hell changed when God’s men, Christian preachers, people who were supposedly
followers of Jesus and not of the world, stopped preaching the hard things in
the Bible like hell!
C.
The ignorance about hell has a
very bad effect on people
1.
People now live like God is just
going to overlook all our sinful living – we all are going to end up with God
someday - universalism
2.
People don’t care about souls
getting saved from the wrath to come! Less and less soul-winners out there
3.
Fewer and fewer missionaries
going into the hard to reach places to win the lost!
D.
If there is no hell:
1.
There is no need for the Gospel,
no need for men and women to be changed, to be saved, no need for preaching
2.
We are all going to get to heaven
anyway, all we need is “teachers” who teach us how to be good people (not Godly
people)
E.
But according to the Bible,
whether you like it or not, there is a hell – and it is eternal – and most
everyone is headed there!
1.
Matthew 10:28, "And fear
not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear
him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."
2.
Jesus wanted us to know that the
people or things of this world are not to be feared, that there are worst things
than whatever this world throws your way. Christ wanted you to be concerned
about what would happen to you eternally after you died.
3.
2Cor 5:11
“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men!”
4.
And I aim to persuade some men
this morning!
II.
Message
A.
Problems People Have with
Hell
1.
So many Misconceptions - People
have strange ideas about hell:
a.
It is a party down there – Rock
and Roll concert
1)
Living easy, living free, Season
ticket on a one-way ride
2)
Asking nothing, leave me be,
Taking everything in my stride
3)
Dont need reason, dont need
rhyme, Aint nothing I'd rather do
4)
Going down, party time, My
friends are gonna be there too
5)
yeah
6)
I’m on the highway to hell - on
the highway to hell
7)
highway to hell - I’m on the
highway to hell
b.
Only the very very very bad go
there
1)
You know, like Hitler, and Benito
Mussolini, and Idi Amin, Satanists like Anton Lavey, mass murderers like Thomas
Hamilton who killed 15 5,6 year olds at the Dunblane Primary School on 13 March
1996
2)
Those kind of people go to hell!
At least many think so!
c.
It is only a “state of mind” –
not really real – just separation from God – and that is not that bad!
1)
Every recent Pope including John
Paul 2nd, and Francis say this!
2)
Every psychologist says this
d.
They say that life here on earth
is the real hell – that sure is popular!
e.
Anything but the truth!
2.
To those who say, "hell is
right here on earth," you haven't seen the half of it. Think about it.
a.
No matter how bad things seem
here on earth, your life here will some day end. You will live what? 60 years?
70,80,90 years? Then your death would put an end to this earthly so-called hell.
Death is your “wonderful” escape.
b.
But the real hell which awaits
those who have no Saviour – who have never been born again – THAT HELL, IS NEVER
OVER.
c.
Jesus in Matthew 25:46 tells us,
"And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous
into life eternal."
d.
And in Revelation 14:11 we read,
"And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever; and they
have no rest day nor night..."
e.
Ladies and gentlemen, a heart
attack cannot end the true hell. Nothing will put an end to the torment of the
real placed called ‘hell’.
f.
Your worst experience here on
earth pales in comparison to the place called hell that Jesus spoke of. There is
no comparison!
3.
Do you realise what the worst
problem really is? That the majority of ‘Christians’ don’t believe in hell
anymore! Not really!
4.
If you do not believe in hell,
you obviously have not read your Bible, and, secondly, in denying the existence
of hell, you are calling Jesus a liar.
B.
The Bible’s Teaching About
Hell - Extensive
1.
WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT HELL?
2.
Jesus made it clear that hell is
real and that you should do everything possible to avoid going there.
3.
The Parable of the Wheat
and Tares (Matthew 13: 24-30).
a.
The kingdom of heaven is
like:
1)
A man, Planting good seed,
In HIS field
2)
During the night, His
enemy, Planted tares – "darnel weeds" –
tares are fake wheat stalks. it was illegal by the Romans
to do this to your enemy because it was such a bad thing! It would starve
out a community
3)
AMONG the good seed – intermingled them
4)
Both wheat and tares appeared to grow together, but the farm workers discerned
right away that there was not only wheat in the field. They wondered if they
should start separating them from the wheat
5)
The Farmer declared, No because they would pull of the wheat along with the
tares
6)
The conclusion was to WAIT and let both grow together. At harvest, it will be
easy to tell the difference then!
7)
THEN you will burn the tares!
b.
The Parable Explained
(13:36-43)
1)
The sower / farmer is
Jesus
2)
The field is the whole world
3)
The good seed are the children of the kingdom – followers of God
4)
But the tares are the children of the wicked one – Pharisees,
Sadducees (John 8:44) – the religious fakers
5)
The enemy that sowed them is the DEVIL
6)
The harvest is the end of the world - Armageddom
7)
And the reapers are the angels (see Rev 14:14-19)
8)
As
therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall
it be in the end of this world.
9)
Hell fire is for:
a)
Tares, fakers, frauds, liars, reprobates – those who refuse to get into God’s
kingdom
b)
All things that offend GOD, and sin – that go against God
c)
There shall be wailing and gnashing of TEETH – what are TEETH doing in HELL and
how are they gnashing, and burning, if it is only the grave?!
c.
THEN, at the beginning of the millennium, at the establishment of the kingdom of
heaven will the righteous shine forth!
4.
Luke 12:4-5, "And I say
unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that
have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear
him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto
you, Fear him.”
5.
Matthew 5:29-30, "And if
thy right eye offend thee (if it is causing you to sin against God),
pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one
of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into
hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for
it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that
thy whole body should be cast into hell."
6.
And Jesus illustrated in a very
dramatic way that you should do whatever you have to do to keep yourself from
hell. It is better to give up something (or someone) now than to hold on to
those things (or people) and suffer eternal loss in hell later.
7.
And I don't know about you, but
since Jesus said that hell is real, I'm going to believe Him and heed His
warning.
8.
The Problem is not with God –
it is with People – we are part
of the reason why hell exists
C.
The Purpose of Hell
1.
One main purpose of hell is
RIGHTEOUS JUSTICE against wrongs!
a.
That justice would be served upon
all that do wrong!
b.
The Judgment of Satan and his
angels brings justice (Isaiah 14:12-15)
1)
Mat 25:41
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
2)
In Rev. 14:10-11 it describes
their experience, "he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God,
which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be
tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the
presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever;
and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and
whoever receives the mark of his name."
3)
This describes the final location
of the devil, and those who followed him willingly or by being deceived.
c.
The Judgment of Sinners
1)
Hell was made for the devil and
his angels, it was not first intended for man. But hell has plenty of room for
all who reap the consequences of their sins!
2)
Lawbreakers, sinners, the unholy,
ungodly (those that are not like God)
3)
Judgment of those that OFFEND
God! Mat 13:41,42 “The Son of man
shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things
that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of
fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
4)
We all break God’s laws – we owe
God for MANY crimes against HIM (James 2:10) – guilty of all!
5)
But modern man is only worried
about offending other people
a)
Don’t won’t to racially offend
someone
b)
Don’t want to offend the
homosexual crowd
c)
Don’t want to offend other
religions and cults – no no!
d)
You could be sued and taken to
court and be punished!!!
e)
BUT! What about offending the all
holy Creator God of this universe?!
6)
There IS evil, that MUST be
judged!
a)
Richard Dawkins doesn’t believe
anything is evil – just not acceptable right now – give it time!
b)
The MAXIMUM time a person now can
spend in prison here for a violent crime is only 10 years,unless it is murder!!!
c)
Mandatory “Life imprisonment” for
murder only lasts and AVERAGE of 12 years here in
d)
Mankind does not know about
justice! But GOD does!
7)
We are dealing with eternity
here!
8)
Eternal life, or eternal
damnation!
9)
No purgatory, no limbo, no time
out for good behaviour – only Hell!
d.
But there is a second reason for
this awful place called hell…
2.
The Second Purpose for Hell is
the Fear of God
a.
No one takes God seriously unless
they know He has authority
b.
God is not this old man who just
waves off all our sin and just “loves” everybody in spite of the evil we do!
c.
No! God is the absolute righteous
judge, who knows what’s in your heart, what you have said, what you have done,
and will judge you for EVERY THING that was ever wrong!
d.
Pro 16:6
“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD
men depart from evil.”
e.
2Cor 5:11 “Knowing
therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men!”
3.
The third purpose of hell is to
convince us that the consequences of our sinful lifestyles, and rebellious
attitudes against God is not worth it!
D.
The Reality of Hell
1.
Deu 4:24
For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous
God.
2.
Heb 12:28, 29 “Wherefore we
receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may
serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (WHY?) For our God is a
consuming fire.”
3.
Deu 32:21,22
“They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have
provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with
those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish
nation. For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest
hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the
foundations of the mountains.”
4.
Mat 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:
but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
5.
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 also shows
us that those who die without believing in Christ will go to hell: "Them that
know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall
be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from
the glory of His power."
6.
So, anyone who dies without
repenting of their sin and asking Christ to be their Saviour and Lord will end
up in hell.
7.
Keep in mind that there is no sin
too big that Jesus' sacrifice cannot cover it. But if you insist on rejecting
Christ’s attempt to save your soul, and you die in your sins, these verses show
you the fate that awaits you:
a.
A Second Death – infinitely worse
than any death you can experience here! Revelation 21:8, "But the fearful, and
unbelieving, and the 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.
The judgment of GOD. Psalms 9:17,
"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."
c.
You will miss heaven! 1
Corinthians 6:9-10, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the
d.
Righteous Torment, for all
eternity! Revelation 14:11, "And the smoke of their torment
ascendeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship
the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."
E.
The Only Way of Escape
1.
Is salvation actually possible?
(Matthew 7:13,14)
a.
Jesus said few there be that will
find life
b.
Many will go into destruction
(hell)
2.
JESUS made it possible!
a.
Luke 2:11 “For unto you is
born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
b.
John 3:16-18 “For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved.
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.”
c.
There are a lot of so-called good
people who are going to find themselves in hell, and there are a lot of people
that this world would label as bad, who are going to make it to heaven. Why is
that?
d.
Because the only truly "good"
thing that you can do that counts towards your salvation is to repent and accept
Christ’s death in your place as enough to pay for all your sins against such a
holy and righteous God.
e.
Acts 16:31, “Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” Believe ONLY
on Him! Not on your best efforts, your religion, your baptism! They will do
NOTHING for you in the day of wrath!
f.
When you accept Christ as your
Lord and Saviour, your name is written in the Book of Life. If you die and your
name isn't written in the Book of life, Revelation 20:15 warns "And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire."
3.
Listen to a sinner's praise! Psa
86:13 “For great is thy mercy
toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.”
4.
THAT is the GOOD news!
III.
Application – Hell is Why
We Persuade Men
A.
Hell ought to have an effect on
US
1.
It ought to scare everybody – I
want to scare the hell out of everyone of you!
a.
I am so glad for a place called
‘heaven’!
b.
But heaven doesn’t motivate
people to humble themselves before God!
c.
But HELL will!
1)
Some, save with fear… Jud 1:22,23
“And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save
with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the
flesh.”
2)
Some people try and talk about
God’s love and grace and goodness
3)
But they ignore the very reason
why hell exists – because of sin in us!
4)
The world needs to hear hell
preached! The WORLD uses the word hell more than Christians do!
5)
They need to see sinners fleeing
once again from the wrath to come!
6)
Have YOU any fear of God? Not
just reverence, but TERROR?
d.
My job is to preach the whole
counsel, the whole Bible
e.
That includes all the negative
stuff too!
f.
So, I preach it so that you can
be saved!
2.
It ought to humble us – we FALL
at the presence of God almighty – HE is LORD
3.
It ought to motivate us, to care
about a whole world going to hell
a.
I preach the realness of hell so
some young men and women would care to obey the Lord Jesus and go out into the
highways and hedges and compel people to get born again before it is too late!
Eternally too late!
1)
Rom 10:11
For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
2)
Rom 10:12
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same
Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
3)
Rom 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
4)
Rom 10:14
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how
shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear
without a preacher?
5)
Rom 10:15
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How
beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad
tidings of good things!
b.
Paul walked and travelled 10,000
miles to tell people of a Saviour from the wrath to come
c.
Peter travelled throughout
d.
Thomas to
e.
They all went and preached
f.
Not because people loved their
message
g.
But because they loved people’s
souls! And wanted people saved!
B.
Let’s let the reality of hell
motivate us today! Who will YOU warn about hell, and who will you win to Christ
this week?