Transcript Slide 1

THE QUESTION: Christianity
says that God is all-loving and
kind, but if that’s true, how can
He send people to Hell to be
tormented for all eternity? It
seems God can’t be loving at all if
He sends people to Hell.
“There is no doctrine I would more willingly remove from
Christianity than [Hell], if it lay in my power…”
- C. S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
• The goodness of God
• The reality of Hell
• The purpose of Hell
• The population of Hell
• The objection to Hell
• The motivation of Hell
• The conclusions about Hell
Biblical foundation for the goodness of God
• Omnibenevolent – All-good and righteous Judge
• “Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with
the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated
alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal
justly?” (Gen. 18:25)
• “And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute
judgment for the peoples with equity.” (Psalm 9:8)
• "Before the LORD; for He is coming to judge the earth; He will
judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with
equity." (Psalms 98:9)
• ”This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who
desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the
truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4)
The reality of Hell…
Recent surveys on belief in Hell
Harris Poll, Winter 2007; Pew Forum, Spring 2008
What is the first doctrine of God that’s denied in history?
Judgment.
“The Lord God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the
garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will
surely die.” … “The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!”
– Genesis 2:16-17; 3:4
Unitarian Universalists – one example of denying Hell
The UU’s started back in 16th century with
Socinus. The Socinian movement, first, denied
the Trinity and said there was only one entity
called God. The end result of this was that Jesus
was stripped of His deity and he became nothing
more than an elevated ideal of humanity. This is
where the Unitarian part of their name comes
from. Next, Socinus understanding of God’s
character was that His Justice and Mercy are not
connected – they are optional. Now which part
do you think people don’t like? Justice! So what
Socinus did was elevate mercy, dispose of the
need for justice, and since Christ died for the
sins of the whole world, everyone is going to be
saved. In other words, no Hell…
Some emerging church leaders (such as Doug Pagitt) hold to this: when you die,
your spirit goes to God, and whatever was bad about you gets resolved.
Everyone ends up with God.
What does the Bible teach about the reality of Hell?
There is a literal Hell.
• Gehenna - burning trash dump near
Jerusalem; literally means “Hinnom
gulch”; the infamous site of high places
where children were sacrificed to Molech
• Sheol – used in Old Testament; means
“the unseen world”. Can mean the grave
or the world of the spirits; temporary
abode of the dead or wicked
• Hades – used in New Testament to usually
signify place for departed unsaved spirits ;
temporary abode of the dead or wicked
• Tartaroo – only used once, in 2 Peter 2:4
in reference to fallen angels, most likely
those found in Genesis 7 and 19. It was a
reference to a place/dungeon even lower
than hades
• Lake of Fire – all encompassing second
death; final
What does the Bible teach about the reality of Hell?
There is a literal Hell – Old Testament.
• “Many of those who sleep in the dust of
the ground will awake, these to
everlasting life, but the others to disgrace
and everlasting contempt.” – Daniel 12:2
• “Then they will go forth and look on the
corpses of the men who have
transgressed against Me. For their worm
will not die and their fire will not be
quenched;” – Isaiah 66:24
• “The wicked will return to Sheol, even all
the nations who forget God. “ – Psalm
9:17
• “For You will not abandon my soul to
Sheol; nor will You allow Your Holy One to
undergo decay.” – Psalm 16:10
What does the Bible teach about the reality of Hell?
There is a literal Hell – From Jesus.
• “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it
off; it is better for you to enter life crippled,
than, having your two hands, to go into hell,
into the unquenchable fire.” - Mark 9:43
• “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the
One who, after He has killed, has authority to
cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” – Luke
12:5
• “Now the poor man died and was carried
away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and
the rich man also died and was buried. In
Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment,
and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his
bosom. “ – Luke 19:2-23
• Hell or Hades mentioned by name 15 times
in the Gospels (never in John) . Other
references to punishment, banishment,
eternal fire, outer darkness, etc.
What does the Bible teach about the reality of Hell?
There is a literal Hell – More New Testament.
• “These will pay the penalty of eternal
destruction, away from the presence of
the Lord and from the glory of His
power” – 2 Thess. 1:9
• “For if God did not spare angels when
they sinned, but cast them into hell and
committed them to pits of darkness,
reserved for judgment;” – 2 Peter 2:4
• “And if anyone’s name was not found
written in the book of life, he was
thrown into the lake of fire.” –
Revelation 20:15
What does the Bible teach about the reality of Hell?
There are degrees of punishment in Hell.
• “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you,
Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in
Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they
would have repented long ago in sackcloth
and ashes. “Nevertheless I say to you, it will
be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the
day of judgment than for you. “And you,
Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven,
will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the
miracles had occurred in Sodom which
occurred in you, it would have remained to
this day. “Nevertheless I say to you that it will
be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in
the day of judgment, than for you.”(Matthew
11:21-24; see also Matthew 10:15)
The purpose of Hell…
What does the Bible teach about the purpose of Hell?
“Then He will also say to
those on His left, ‘Depart
from Me, accursed ones,
into the eternal fire which
has been prepared for the
devil and his angels;” –
Matt. 25:41
Originally prepared for the devil
and demons, Hell now also serves
as punishment for those who
reject God.
What does the Bible teach about the purpose of Hell?
• God’s justice demands a Hell – not
all evil is punished in this life
• God’s love demands a Hell – God
cannot force people to love Him –
He allows that separation
• God’s sovereignty demands a Hell
– without it there would be no final
victory over evil
• Human depravity demands a Hell –
only punishment for sin against an
eternal God is eternal punishment
• Human dignity demands a Hell –
freedom to choose God or not
• Cross of Christ implies a Hell – why
suffer for people if there is not an
unthinkable punishment
Annhilationism – The complete ending of a person’s existence
This is the doctrine that the unsaved
will not suffer an everlasting
conscious Hell. Also called
conditional immortality. Unbelievers
will be put out of existence after the
final judgment. One of the
doctrines of the Jehovah’s
Witnesses.
Annhilationism – The complete ending of a person’s existence
Excerpt from : “Letters from a Skeptic – A Son Wrestles with His
Father’s Questions about Christianity”, by Dr. Greg Boyd
“Your last letter put my mind a bit more at ease about who is going to hell, but it
didn’t address the problem of hell itself. This is really the more fundamental
question.... Now tell me, what the hell (excuse the pun) would be the purpose of
torturing someone eternally? What’s the point? Obviously there’s no “lesson” to
be learned .... The character of God is on trial (emphasis mine) in my life, and this
very relevant evidence which needs to be considered.”
… Boyd responds with views of hell, one being Annihilationist…
“Dear Greg - Your response about hell really helped. I especially liked that
“annihilationist” view you mentioned. That was a major obstacle for me..... It
seems to be the only loving and just alternative. Letting someone go on... strikes
me as sadistic. (Then he continues with a follow up letter to his son after becoming
a believer….)
Well, as I told you over the phone, I finally “took the leap.” Hallelujah! Looking
back on it, it seems that things really began to change for me when you convinced
me of the Bible’s inspiration and helped me make sense out of hell. I’m not sure
why, but I think it was at that point that I really started to “see the light.”
The population of Hell…
The skeptic says that they can’t believe in a God that sends
unwilling people to Hell … but is that the case?
God desires the salvation of all:
• “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the
wicked,” declares the Lord God, rather than
that he should turn from his ways and live?”
- Ezekiel 18:23
• ”This is good and acceptable in the sight of
God our Savior, who desires all men to be
saved and to come to the knowledge of the
truth.” – 1 Tim. 2:4
• “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as
some count slowness, but is patient toward
you, not wishing for any to perish but for all
to come to repentance. “ – 2 Peter 3:9
The skeptic says that they can’t believe in a God that sends
unwilling people to Hell … but is that the case?
God desires the punishment of the ungodly:
• “It shall come about that as the Lord
delighted over you to prosper you, and
multiply you, so the Lord will delight over
you to make you perish and destroy you;
and you will be torn from the land where
you are entering to possess it.” – Deut.
28:63
• “But they [the sons of Eli] would not
listen to the voice of their father, for the
Lord desired to put them to death.” – 2
Samuel 2:25
How can this issue be reconciled?
Two important points must be understood.
1. The antecedent and consequent
will of God
2. The distinction between “want”
and “will
Understanding these two key things will
reconcile the supposed “problem” of how
an all-good God and Hell can exist
together.
The antecedent and consequent will of God
“Hence it may be said of a just
judge, that antecedently he wills all
men to live; but consequently wills
the murderer to be hanged. In the
same way God antecedently wills all
men to be saved, but consequently
wills some to be damned, as His
justice exacts….”
– Thomas Aquinas, Summa of the
Summa
Simply consider the prayer of salvation and how that alters the eternal
course of a person’s life.
The antecedent and consequent will of God
Albert Camus’ (d. 1960) argument against physical evil and God, using a
plague brought on by rats:
• Either one must join the doctor and fight the plague or else join the
priest and not fight the plague
• Not to fight the plague is anti-humanitarian
• To fight the plague is to fight against God who sent it
• Therefore, if humanitarianism is right, Theism is wrong
The distinction between “want” and “will”
Do people “want” to go to Hell? No. But do they
“will” to go to Hell? Yes.
Unfortunately, people act contrary to
evidence and fact all the time. They know
the truth about something, yet choose to
behave differently. Why is this? Because
they may want one thing, yet will
something entirely to the contrary.
“It is our preference that rules against
Christianity, not arguments.” – Nietzsche
“The door to Hell is locked on the inside.”
– C. S. Lewis
"There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, 'Thy
will be done,' and those to whom God says, in the end, 'Thy will be done.'
All that are in Hell chose it.“ – C. S. Lewis
Objections to Hell…
Questions and Answers
• Objection: Why not reform instead of
punish in Hell?
• Answer: The time of reformation is this
life. Hell is not for the unreformable and
unrepentant. “ No soul that seriously and
constantly desires joy will ever miss it.
Those who seek find. To those who knock
[the door] is opened.” – C. S. Lewis
• Objection: Isn’t eternal damnation for
temporal sins overkill?
• Answer: Only eternal punishment is fitting
against sins committed against an eternal
God. The crime must be gauged according
to the worth or dignity of the person it is
committed against.
Questions and Answers
• Objection: Why did God create people He
knew would go to Hell?
• Answer: God created free beings who
would have the free will to choose to do
right or do wrong – choose God or choose
separation. No other possibility makes
sense.
• Objection: It’s not right to send people to
Hell when they can’t help being sinners.
• Answer: While sin is inevitable, the effects
of sin are not unavoidable.
Questions and Answers
• Objection: Christians are just using the
fear of Hell to persuade people to believe
• Answer: One of the greatest revivals in
America began with Jonathan Edward’s
preaching Sinners in the Hands of an
Angry God. First level fear gives way to
good fear, which is what Christians have of
God (the fear to please)
• Objection: Why not annihilate sinners
instead of allowing them to go to eternal
torment
• Answer: This is one possible view. But,
opponents say that men and women are
created in the image of God and
annihilating them would be, in essence,
God annihilating Himself
Questions and Answers
• Objection: Hell is contrary to the mercy of
God
• Answer: Justice and mercy go hand in
hand; mercy without justice is simply
weakness. God does everything short of
robbing them of their free will to repent
and do right.
• Objection: Doesn’t the Bible teach
degrees of punishment? If so, why not
end the punishment?
• Answer: Scripture does teach degrees of
punishment (Matt. 11: 22, 24), but yet
there is no second chance at salvation.
Annhilationism is a possible view, but the
same word used for ‘eternal’ life is the
one used for ‘eternal’ punishment.
Motivation of Hell…
Follow up on “A Letter from Hell”
• Could Josh have asked Zack about Jesus? “Why didn’t you tell me
about Jesus? vs. “Why didn’t you care enough to ask me about
Jesus?”
• What might the “degrees of punishment” play for Josh?
• Our responsibility: “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the
house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them
from Me. “When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not
warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may
live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at
your hand. “Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from
his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you
have delivered yourself. “ (Ez. 3:17-19)
Conclusions about Hell…
“They [religious doctrines and ideas]
are illusions, fulfillments of the oldest,
strongest, and most urgent wishes of
mankind. We call belief an illusion
when a wish-fulfillment is a prominent
factor in its motivation, and in doing so
we disregard its relation to reality, just
as the illusion itself sets no store by
verification”
- Sigmund Freud
Question: Do you think it’s possible
that Freud and his pupils have a wishfulfillment issue? What greater thing
to hope and wish for than to not have
to answer for your sin to God on the
day of judgment? To hope that they
won’t have to give an account to God
for their actions?
• “ The wheels of God’s judgment may grind
slow but they grind exceedingly fine”
• - A. W. Tozer
• “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for
whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”
– Galatians 6:7
• “Man is destined to die once, and after that
to face judgment” – Hebrews 9:27
• “So it will be at the end of the age; the angels
will come forth and take out the wicked from
among the righteous, and will throw them
into the furnace of fire; in that place there
will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “ –
Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:49-50)
Hell is real. God does not commit unwilling people to Hell, but He does will
that those who, through their own free will, reject Him be eternally
committed to eternal separation from Him. Those who reject Jesus in this life
will have their request honored in the next.
"If sinners be dammed, at least let them
leap to hell over our bodies. If they will
perish, let them perish with our arms about
their knees. Let no one go there unwarned
and unprayed for.“
- Charles Spurgeon