Monday, November 2, 2015

What About Hell?

Surely not one single, solitary person is hoping to go to the hell described in God’s Word. But it is rather common for everyone who experiences the death of a loved one, a family member, a close friend, husband or wife, son or daughter to believe the one who died has gone to heaven. But according to Scripture that simply is not true.

    There is only one way to heaven and that is through the finished work of Christ. The Bible tells us that all who have been born physically have inherited a sin nature. We “… have all sinned and come short of God’s glory” (Romans 3:23). Those outside of Christ will be “… thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone … there they will be tormented day and night forever and ever” (Revelation 20:10).

    The same Bible tells us clearly that Christ died in the sinner’s place. He paid the sinner’s debt. Christ is the sinner’s Substitute. Before any of us can be sure of heaven, each one of us must acknowledge that we are hopelessly lost and cannot earn our way to heaven. We must all acknowledge our lost and hopeless state and accept Christ as the Son of God who died in our place, paid our debt completely, and we accept that payment by faith. Salvation according to God’s Word is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. That acceptance brings us eternal life. Christ paid our debt completely and when we accept Him as our Savior, He gives us eternal life. Salvation is by God’s marvelous grace and through faith apart from works. Salvation cannot be earned. It is God’s gift to all who receive it.