Hell is not a popular topic. Some have suggested it doesn't exist. Others say that it's not as bad as it seems. But most people tend to think that eternal torment is not, likely, in the final analysis, eternal torment. Simple as that.
It may come as a shock, then, that Jesus was so prolific on the topic of Hell. Yes, Jesus. He spoke of "Gehenna." the local dump where bodies and trash were burned ... continually ... without ceasing, as a metaphor for Hell. He described it as a prison and outer darkness. He said that there was weeping and gnashing of teeth. In the story about Lazarus and the rich man (Luke 16:19-13), the rich man was in torment after he died, and there was no escape. He said He would tell those He never knew to depart from Him.
The Gospels are full of Jesus's warnings on Hell. The one angry with his brother without cause is in danger of hell fire (Matt 5:22). It's best to lose a body part than to be cast into hell (Matt 5:29). Don't fear those who can kill your body, but Him who is able to destroy you in Hell (Matt 10:28). The gates of Hell will not prevail against His church (Matt 16:18). Capernaum was hellbound (Luke 10:15). The broad gate leads to destruction (Matt 7:13). The tares would be burned with fire (Matt 13:42). The unprofitable servant would be cast into outer darkness (Matt 25:30). Hell is where the worm does not die nor the fire quenched (Mark 9:44). "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned" (John 15:6). And on and on.
"What's that all about?" some may ask. I think it's obvious. He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). Why? If there is nothing to be saved from, why bother? On the other hand, if that from which He came to save is as horrible as He described, it's a big thing. A very big thing. Jesus was the Great Theologian when it came to Hell, which only made His sacrifice and salvation so much sweeter because it was ultimately significant. Mission accomplished.
No comments:
Post a Comment