Will You Be In Hell?
Have you ever thought about this question: “Will you be in Hell”?
Q. What kind of question is that? Hell isn’t real, is it?
A. Yes, the Bible, God’s own Word, discusses Hell and God’s judgment from beginning to end. In fact, the Bible tells us that most people are headed there.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“The wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all the nations that forget God. [Psalm 9:17]
Jesus said: “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.” [Matthew 10:28]
Q. You mean Jesus taught about Hell?
A. Yes. Jesus (God in the flesh) taught more about Hell than any other person quoted in the Bible.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of Hell fire.” [Matthew 5:22]
“And in Hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments” [Luke 16:23]
Q. What is Hell like?
A. Hell is being under God’s anger for our sin, and, eternally, will be more horrible than one can imagine.
Let the Scriptures speak:
1. A place of eternal torment:
“There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” [Luke 13:28]
“And they gnawed their tongues for pain” [Revelation 16:10]
“And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night” [Revelation 14:11]
2. A place of darkness:
“A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.” [Job 10:22]
“Then said the King to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness” [Matthew 22:13]
3. A place of fire:
“For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest Hell” [Deuteronomy 32:22]
“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” [Revelation 20:15]
Q. Why should a loving God create a Hell? Isn’t God all merciful and forgiving of man’s weaknesses and failings?
A. Although God is love and has mercy, God is also just and righteous.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” [Habakkuk 1:13]
[concerning the Lord] …”and by no means clearing the guilty” [Numbers 14:18]
“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” [Hebrews 7:26]
“Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly.” [Nehemiah 9:33]
Q. Aren’t you just trying to scare people?
A. Yes indeed; the Bible, God’s word, is frightening in many, many places, and teaches that only those who fear God, and are humbled by God, can be saved from everlasting Hell.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” [Proverbs 1:7]
“…but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” [Isaiah 66:2]
“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord” [2 Corinthians 5:11]
“Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” [Hebrews 10:30, 31]
“And He humbled you and allowed you to hunger, and then He fed you with manna, which you did not know, neither did your fathers know it, so that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone. But every word that comes out of the mouth of the LORD man shall live.” [Deuteronomy 8:3]
Q. When God made Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, He commanded them not to eat of one tree in the Garden of Eden. He told them that if they did, they would die. They were tempted by Satan, the Devil, and did disobey and ate of the fruit of that tree. Did they actually die?
A. Yes, they began to die physically, and immediately died spiritually and morally, and, unless saved, would die the “second death” (eternal damnation) on Judgment Day.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” [Romans 5:12]
“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” [Hebrews 9:27]
“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” [Ephesians 2:1]
“Death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” [Revelation 20:14]
Q. Suppose I am a sinner, but everybody else is, too; and I’ve done a lot of good things in my life. Won’t my good deeds balance out my bad behavior, errors and the mistakes I have made?
A. Not one bit. Our problem with God is not just “bad behavior, errors or mistakes”. All men have broken God’s law repeatedly, and all men are sinners and no good deed that they do can impress God; in fact, even the good deeds we do are actually seen as disobedience (self-righteousness)by God.
Let the Scriptures speak:
1. All people are sinners:
“There is none righteous, no, not one… there is none that doeth good, no, not one… There is no fear of God before their eyes… For all have sinned.” [Romans 3:10-23]
2. Not only do men commit some sins, they are considered utterly wicked by God:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” [Jeremiah 17:9]
3. God’s says that breaking one of God’s laws means we’ve broken the whole Law.
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” [James 2:10]
4. All men are sinners from the moment of their conception:
“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” [Psalm 51:5]
5. Our good works are considered wicked by God:
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” [Isaiah 64:6]
6. When the first man Adam sinned, the entire human race was plunged into sin because he represented the whole human race:
“For as in Adam all die” [1 Corinthians 15:22]
7. All men love their sin:
“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” [John 3:19]
8. All mankind suffers from three sorts of sins:
“the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” [1 John 2:16]
(in other words: sexual immorality, love of this world’s possessions and self-centeredness)
9. Just as bad as sexual immorality is spiritual adultery or constant unfaithfulness to God our Maker:
“… for thou hast gone a whoring from thy God.” [Hosea 9:1]
Q. How can God be just and send all sinners to Hell forever? Some men have never seen a Bible, nor heard about Jesus.
A. God says we are without excuse.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” [Romans 1:19, 20]
Not only so, but Romans chapter 1 continues (beginning in verse 21) to describe sins that have infected the whole human race:
Ungratefulness to God • Worshipping and making idols of created things rather than the One Who created them • Homosexuality • Adultery and fornication (sexual intimacy outside marriage) • Distorting God’s truth into a lie • Wickedness: disobeying the Bible • Desiring another’s goods • Evil intentions • Envy (jealousy) • Lying (deceitfulness) • Murder (including hatred of others) • Contradicting or ignoring God’s word, the Bible • Depravity • Gossiping • Slandering • Hating God • Spitefulness • Pride • Boasting • Corrupt thoughts • Disobedience to parents • Breaking promises • Loving persons and things we should not • Unwillingness to receive God’s counsel • Showing no compassion for others.
Q. What can I do to avoid going to Hell forever?
A. Nothing whatsoever, but God has, in His great mercy and grace, decided to save some from the lost human race, and to take them to be with Him forever in Heaven.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” [Matthew 1:21]
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” [John 10:11]
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” [Ephesians 1:4, 5]
Q. Now wait just a minute, if God has decided all this already, there’s no point in my getting all upset about going to Hell forever. There’s nothing I can do about it — it’s all decided.
A. No one knows whom God has chosen. If you do not fear God, do not plead with Him to save you; you are simply proving that it is unlikely you are one of God’s elect.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory.” [Romans 9:18-23]
Q. Doesn’t the Bible say “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”? Can I simply believe on Jesus as my personal Savior, choose Christ, decide to follow Jesus?
A. No. There’s not a word in the Bible about accepting Jesus or choosing Jesus. In the Bible God gives many commands to men like: believe, repent or be perfect: commands that man is utterly incapable of obeying in and of himself.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“Be ye therefore perfect” [Matthew 5:48]
“Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” [Matthew 3:2]
Q. Then no one can be saved, isn’t that what you’re really saying?
A. No.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” [Luke 18:27]
“That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” [Luke 16:15]
Men have invented their own salvation system — in it, they choose God, He does not choose them. It’s a game of Let’s make a deal with God, a 50-50 deal, it’s a Do it yourself salvation. Men want to be God; they insist on making the ultimate decision. They want to accept Jesus as their Savior, they want the make or break decision — they will be the kingmaker. Men want only to trust in themselves to save themselves, to make the final decision. Appearing to seek salvation, mankind has invented a very wicked, totally man-centered, self-centered false gospel of salvation.
Q. Can’t I just have faith in Jesus Christ, and be saved?
A. No, even the devils profess He is the Savior. The only faith that can save one from sin and Hell is Christ’s own faith — His personal property, His personal possession.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified…I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” [Galatians 2:16, 20]
“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” [Philippians 3:9]
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: as it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” [Galatians 3:10]
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” [Galatians 3:13, 14]
“And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” 1 John 2:25
The promise of eternal life (salvation) for His people was established in two ways:
1) By Christ becoming sin (2 Co. 5:21) for every Christian and then suffering the punishment of eternal Hell as their substitute. In fact, God the Father had promised God the Son that His (Christ’s) soul would not be left in Hell.
“He [David] seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.” Acts 2:31 (See also Psalm 16:10.)
2) By Christ’s perfect obedience in thought, word and deed (Psalm 40:7, 8), Christ fulfilled all the Scripture; and thus He is able to transfer His Righteousness (goodness) to every Believer.
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” [Romans 5:19]
As a gift, Christ gives His own faith to those whom He came to save,
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” [Ephesians 2:8]
Q. Would joining a Christian church and being baptized in water insure my salvation?
A. Absolutely not. These things cannot insure one’s salvation from eternal Hell, nor can they enhance one’s salvation, once God has actually saved someone.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” [Mark 7:7]
Whenever possible, a true Christian will join only a church that faithfully teaches all of the Bible, and only the Bible. Whenever possible, he will be baptized in water as an outward sign that God has already done something to him, saved him — giving him a new birth through the life-giving sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of God.
Q. Many people today talk about supernatural healing and miracles, and special heavenly speech called speaking in tongues, do I need to experience these things?
A. Not a bit; these are signs of a false gospel and a great delusion. God gave all supernatural healing, miracles, signs (like tongues) and wonders during Bible times, to prove that those who were speaking for God were precisely from God.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“God… spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” [Hebrews 1:1, 2]
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” [Hebrews 2:3, 4]
“Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” [2 Corinthians 12:12]
“Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you” [Acts 2:22]
When God finished writing the Bible, He withdrew these supernatural signs; those who claim to practice them are called false Christs and false prophets in the Bible.
“If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” [Revelation 22:18, 19]
“There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” [Matthew 24:24]
Q. How can Jesus Christ be the only Savior from sin?
A. He was sinless and God from Heaven, and fully a man at the same time.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.” [John 1:34]
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” [Acts 4:12]
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” [1 Timothy 2:5]
And the Lord Jesus Christ is coming soon to judge the whole earth.
“…when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on 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” [2 Thessalonians 1:7-9]
Q. Can I still beg God to save me from my sin and from eternal Hell?
A. Yes, indeed.
Let the Scriptures speak:
“All that the Father giveth me [Jesus] shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” [John 6:37, 44]
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto Heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” [Luke 18:13]
So will YOU be in Hell?
This tract produced by “Encounter With Christ”, ewc@osu.edu
SEE ALSO: Does God Love You?