Anthony Bradley
This Year Don't Forget To Warn About Hell

Jesus, in an act of compassion, warns about eternal punishment and calls all to repentance. Jesus did not shirk from preaching the truth about the disastrous future awaiting those who do not confess Jesus as Lord. Many of today's preachers, out of cowardice, are not warning people about the impending justice of a holy and righteous God. In fact, it is entirely possible that people are confused about the necessity of the atonement because they are confused about the reality of hell. Preaching the gospel includes both dimensions of God's grace and his justice.

Robert Peterson in his book, Hell On Trial: The Case for Eternal Punishment, offers an accessible defense of the neglected doctrine of hell to refute many false teachings. First, for example, many people believe that there is no life after death. False! The word of God teaches that those who follow Jesus and those who reject Jesus both have eternal destinies. Second, everyone goes to Heaven. False! This is true only in the land of make-believe. Jesus makes clear distinctions between heaven and hell because they are both real. Third, after you die God gives you a second chance. False! The Scriptures are clear that this life, here and now, is your only opportunity to put your faith and trust in Christ. Fourth, those who reject Jesus are ultimately destroyed. False! Those who reject Christ will be raised up for eternal punishment.

God, the creator of all things seen and unseen, is a God of love and justice. Prior to the teachings of Jesus God provides us with several images of the fact that unrighteousness will not be tolerated in a moral universe and that God himself will punish sin. We are reminded of this in the story of flood (Genesis 6), the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19), the plagues of Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14-15); and the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities of Israel (2 Kings 17). In these passages, we are reminded that the holiness of God does not tolerate wickedness for too long. After warning sinners of the consequences of rejecting his love and constant grace, he punishes men and women who rebel against him.

Jesus talks about eternal punishment in ways that should not be neglected. If there is no hell Jesus was either nuts, wrong, or an outright liar--and if any of those are true Christianity is not only silly but we're all in trouble. Jesus' teachings in Matthew, for example, give a good introduction to the fact of eternal punishment.

(1) Hell is real (Matthew 5:21-22; 27-30; 23:15, 33). The Greek word Jesus used in Matthew 5 is 'gehenna" which reminded his hearers of 'Valley of Hinnom." In this valley human sacrifices were made to the pagan God Molech (2 Kings 16:3; 21:6) and through the first century A.D. had a reputation for being a desperately wicked and evil place. When Jesus warns of 'gehenna" his hearers understand that he is speaking figuratively about a future factual reality for the wicked: suffering at the hands of a God of justice. Many will be 'thrown into hell" by God himself (Matthew 5:29).

(2) Hell is ruled by God, not Satan (Matthew 10:28; 25:41, 46). The master of Hell is not the devil, it is God himself. If your theology is influenced by cartoons you may believe that hell is Satan's kingdom. This is false. God sovereignly rules all things, heaven and hell alike. Satan will not rule hell, he will suffer excruciating punishment in 'the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).

(3) Hell involves rejection (Matthew 7:23; 8:11-12; 22:13; 25:30). On judgment day Jesus will say to some 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers!" (Matthew 7:23), others will be 'thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 8:11-12). For those who hear these warnings, repent, and unite to Jesus, instead of experiencing the justice of God they partake of sweet victory won by his death and resurrection. Instead of justice God's people receive mercy.

(4) Hell involves pain (Matthew 13:30; 40-43, 49-50; 18:6-9; 24:51). Jesus provides astounding images of the destiny of those who reject the grace of God: weeping and gnashing of teeth, being burned in fires, furnaces, drowning, and so on.

Jesus' teachings are not to be used in order to scare or guilt-manipulate people into the Kingdom ('fire and brimstone" preachers). Instead, Jesus' teachings are calls to repentance and faith in the substitutionary work of the cross on behalf of those who are not capable of saving themselves from the justice of God. Preachers, teachers, evangelists, and church planters who avoid the topic of hell are avoiding fully teaching the gospel of the Kingdom. Eternal punishment is a theme in the entire biblical story (Mark 9:42-48; Luke 16:19-31; John 5:28-29; Romans 2:5; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Hebrews 6:1-3; Jude 7; Revelation 14:9-11; and so on) and to neglect it distorts the redemptive message, that Jesus incurred the justice of God, so that people could fully experience the grace of God.