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HELL

Hell is a serious reality according to the Bible. It is a place of eternal separation, suffering, and judgment for those who reject God's grace. However, God's heart is that no one should go there, and He has provided a way through Jesus Christ for all to be saved.   It is not a place created for God's people, it is for those who choose to live apart from His grace.

Biblical Perspectives on Hell:

  • Hell is a place of eternal separation from God:
    Hell is depicted as a place where people are separated from the presence of God forever. In Matthew 7:23, Jesus speaks of those who will be rejected by God, saying:
    "Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'"
    This separation from God's presence is the essence of hell—being cut off from His love, grace, and peace.

  • Hell is a place of suffering and torment:
    The Bible describes hell as a place of intense suffering, often referred to as "the lake of fire" or a "place of weeping and gnashing of teeth." In Matthew 13:50, Jesus describes the fate of the wicked:
    "and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
    The suffering is not just physical but spiritual and emotional as well, as people are forever separated from God.

  • Hell is eternal:
    The Bible describes hell as eternal, where there is no end to the punishment for those who reject Christ. In Matthew 25:46, Jesus contrasts the fate of the righteous and the wicked:
    "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
    The eternal nature of hell makes it distinct from temporal suffering, emphasizing the lasting consequences of rejecting God's grace.

  • Hell was not created for humanity, it was created for the devil and his angels:
    Hell was originally prepared for Satan and his fallen angels, not for humans. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus says:
    "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'"
    While hell was not created for humans, those who follow the ways of sin and reject God’s salvation will end up there.

  • Hell is the result of rejecting God’s salvation through Jesus Christ:
    The Bible teaches that the way to avoid hell is through faith in Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus declares:
    "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
    Those who reject the salvation that Christ offers remain under judgment, as seen in John 3:18:
    "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."

Key Aspects of God’s Heart on Hell:

God does not delight in the punishment of the wicked. In Ezekiel 33:11, God expresses His desire for the wicked to repent and turn from their sin:
"Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?'"
God's desire is for all people to come to repentance and be saved from eternal separation from Him. Hell is a result of human choices, but it is not God's will for anyone to end up there. He offers grace and forgiveness to all who turn to Him in faith.

God’s heart on hell is one of profound sorrow, not delight. While hell is portrayed in the Bible as a place of eternal separation from God and punishment for those who reject His grace, God's desire is for everyone to be saved and reconciled to Him. Hell was never intended for humans, but for Satan and his fallen angels, and it was not designed as a destination for people. God’s heart is one of love, mercy, and justice, and He does not take pleasure in the eternal punishment of the wicked.

  1. God Does Not Delight in the Death of the Wicked: In Ezekiel 33:11, God expresses His grief over the destruction of the wicked, desiring their repentance and salvation: “Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’”
    God desires that all people come to repentance, turn from their sin, and be saved from eternal separation from Him.

  2. Hell Was Not Created for Humanity: Hell was originally prepared for Satan and his angels, not for humans. In Matthew 25:41, Jesus speaks of hell as the place for the devil and his followers:
    “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”
    Although hell was not created for people, those who choose to live in rebellion against God and reject His salvation through Jesus Christ are the ones who end up there.

  3. God's Desire Is for Everyone to Be Saved: God’s heart is for all to be saved and to avoid eternal punishment. In 2 Peter 3:9, it’s clear that God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish but for everyone to come to repentance:
    “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
    God desires that all would choose to receive His grace and be reconciled to Him.

  4. God’s Ultimate Goal Is Reconciliation, Not Condemnation: God’s plan for humanity is always to draw people near to Himself. In John 3:17, the Bible says that God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but to save it:
    “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
    God's heart is not to condemn but to redeem and restore.

  5. God Offers a Way of Escape from Hell: The Bible makes it clear that God has provided a way for people to escape hell through faith in Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus says:
    “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
    Jesus is the way of salvation, and God's heart is that everyone would believe in Him, be saved, and avoid eternal separation from God.

  6. Hell Reflects God’s Justice: While God desires all to be saved, He also upholds His justice. Those who choose to reject God’s grace and live in opposition to His truth will face eternal separation. In Revelation 20:15, it says:
    “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”
    God’s justice is a reflection of His holiness and righteousness, where evil and sin cannot go unpunished. However, His justice is always tempered with mercy, giving all people the opportunity to repent and be saved.

God’s heart toward hell is one of deep sorrow and longing for all to be saved. Hell is not something God desires for anyone, but it is the consequence of rejecting His grace. God’s heart is that people would turn to Him, experience His love, and receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. While hell is a real and serious consequence for those who reject Christ, God’s ultimate desire is for all to come to repentance and live in communion with Him forever.

Key Scriptures on Hell:

  • Matthew 25:41 – “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”

  • Revelation 20:15 – “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

  • Mark 9:43-44 – "If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out."

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:9 – “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”

  • Matthew 13:50 – “and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

  • Luke 16:23-24 – “In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’”

Hell is a serious and sobering reality according to the Bible. It is described as a place of eternal separation, suffering, and judgment for those who reject God's grace. Yet, God's heart is that none should perish. His desire is for all to come to repentance and receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ, who offers a way of salvation from this eternal separation.

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