Guitar Jams: MAX LIFE Ezine Lesson -- Why would a loving God send people to Hell?

Why would a loving God send people to Hell?
Remember---the video teaching is at the bottom of this page.

This is not a real "fun" topic to talk about. Although, I've seen some preachers who really seem to love it-like Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the hands of an Angry God." But, I don't necessarily enjoy it. However, Hell is a reality. The Bible teaches a good bit about it and we need to understand it.

I believe with all of my heart that this teaching could change lives� It's certainly motivated me in a lot of ways as I've prepared to share it with you.

The word "HELL" found only 14 times in the NT (NIV). 12 of those 14 come straight from the lips of Jesus. I think that's significant-that our Savior� speaks of HELL more than anyone.

Jesus talked about Hell in two ways:
1. As a Horrible Place

A place of weeping and gnashing of teeth, utter darkness, torment, sorrow, everlasting destruction, fire, hopelessness, unsatisfied desires, worm never dies (Gehenna)

Genhenna was a real place on earth in Jesus' time� a rubbish dump outside of Jerusalem� it burned and smoldered constantly. Executed criminals were dumped there to decompose. The smells, as you an imagine, were horrible. Maggots were numerou, and this is what Jesus was refering to when he spoke of this being a place where "the worm never dies". Once, when Jesus was trying to paint a picture of what a horrific place Hell really is-he pointed at this garbage heap and said-THAT is what hell is like!

2. As The Enemy/Antithesis of The Kingdom of God.

Jesus thought and taught with a "kindom" mentality. He was poignantly aware of His Father's Kingdom� and the other one.

Mark 1:14-15 "After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Matthew 6:9-10 "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Matthew 16:18 (Msg) "I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out."

Jesus taught that Heaven is a spiritual reality & that we as "citizens of God's Kingdom" are to bring that kingdom to earth. The reverse is true as well - Hell is a spiritual reality & it manifests itself all over the place here/now - people are trapped behind the gates of Hell everywhere we look. We see the fruits of this dark kingdom everywhere in sorrow, torment, shame, brokenness, dysfunction, destruction, addiction, denial, hopelessness, injustice, bondage, suffering, dissatisfaction. If you close your eyes and think for 5 seconds-I bet you can see a person who is trabpped in hopelessness, bandage, adiction, etc� or to whom injustice has been dealt. I submit to you are evidences of HELL manifesting itself - right here in this world - all over the place! It's all around us. And Jesus said that as citizens of the Kingdome of Heaven we are to run-not away from the gates of Hell-but TOWARD them - every time we see evidence of Hell around us. We are called to stand/fight against that loneliness, depression, hopelessness, etc when we see it.

Ephesians 6:10-12 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Two Kingdoms at war.

Colossians 1:11-13 "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves�"

We were rescued to be rescuers� reconciled to be reconcilers� to run toward the gates of Hell.

Jude 21-23 "Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22Be merciful to those who doubt; 23snatch others from the fire and save them."

Jesus' teaching on hell isn't a teaching on condemnation. It's a warning against it! And it's a call for God's people to be liberators, freedom fighters� peace makers� ministering servants, and hope givers�

And as we fight, daily, against the forces of Hell we must keep in mind that our labor is not in vain. This is a huge them throughout the NT---"be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power�" "you are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus!" "I can do all things through Christ who give me strength!" "Do not become weary in well doing-for at the proper time you will reap a harvest if you do not give up!" There will come a day when the skies will split and Christ will return and all wrongs will be righted! Justice will be done! So, until that day we wait and we stand, as soldiers in God's army-against the hellish forces of darkness in this world. Using the powerful weapons God's given us-Faith, Hope and Love.

That's what Jesus had in mind: Horrible place� & A Kingdom.

That brings us to the question: What Will God do with people who refuse Christ's offer of freedom and grace? What is God supposed to do with people who push Him away their whole life and don't want Him to rule/reign as King in their world? Who instead choose to build their lives around their own agendas and desires?

Romans 1:28-32 (NLT) "Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. 31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too."

Rob Wegner, "Most people would never say they are anti-God/Jesus, but when pressed-when push comes to shove and the daily life style choices that they've made are confronted-it becomes pretty evident that God's not on the throne-and they've decided to take something-maybe it's a good thing-career, a talent, pleasure, comfort, family, money, having control of their life� whatever it may be, they take that thing, and they say USUALLY WITH THEIR ACTIONS far more than their words---"THIS is what I value� which is code for, "This is what I worship." And I'm telling you-it's a deceptive thing� I can speak from experience in saying that we all can be pretty good at DENILE� at BLAMING other people and circumstances for our choices and a whole host of other behavioral mechanisms that human beings employ to avoid the truth of our struggles and our sin�. There's just something about the human heart that hates to let go and come clean."

It's so easy to fall into the trap of blaming/denying other and circumstances� to sooth our conscience ...so that we feel okay about ourselves and so that we can avoid confessing� an repenting� and surrendering to Christ.

C.S. Lewis, "In the long run the answer to those who object to the doctrine of Hell -- is itself a question. What are you asking God to do? To wipe our past sins and at all costs give them a fresh start?" (Is that what we're asking God to do?) He did that on Calvary. To forgive them? But they don't ask for forgiveness. To leave them alone? That's what Hell is. There are only two kinds of people. Those who say, 'Thy will be done,' to God. Or those to whom God, in the end says, 'Thy will be done.' All that are in Hell choose it. Without the self-choice it wouldn't be Hell."

Here's the deal---If anyone ends up in Hell by any means other than their own choice-then is not just/fair� and if God is anything---He is just/fair� So God doesn't "send" anyone to Hell-we make our own choices and then we reap the fruit of those choices.

Rob Wegner, "Hell is not a declaration that God does not love us. Hell is the declaration that God will not force us to love Him."

He won't thwart your free will� he will grant you the dignity and freedom to make your own choices through life. He's not trying to send ANYONE to Hell. As a matter of fact-Jesus paid for Hell on the cross for you so that you wouldn't have to� He is currently doing everything He can-through life experiences.. His Spirit� this articel� to get your attention and let you know how much He loves you and wants to have a relationship with you and for you to enjoy Him forever! He's doing everything short of forcing you to choose Him� God will never do that.

Revelation 3:20 "I stand at the door and knock..." (Jesus can kick it in any door he wants� but he won't do that) � "If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in�"

And if you do� Jesus will move into your life. And the fire of the Holy Spirit (a brand new kind of fire) will begin to work and move and spread and help you to grow and see life from God's perspective. No-all your problems won't magically disappear-you'll still struggle and wrestle with issues in this life, but you'll have the power of God in your life---walking with you/working in you to produce godly desires - desires to help love, bless and serve� Desires to run toward the gates of hell� and be God's man/woman and bring Him glory in this life and enjoy Him forever in life - both here and here-after.

It's an awesome thing to surrender your life to Jesus Christ. The Bible calls Salvation. I like that term-it's an accurate one. That's exactly what Christ does-he saves us-from eternal Hell---yes, but more immediately-from hell here/now... He saves us from yourselves -- from selfishness, greed, and whatever other self-destructive hellish issues we've got growing in our lives. It's awesome! Embrace Jesus today.