What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Punishment? | thebereancall.org

What Does The Bible Say About Eternal Punishment?

March 14, 2009
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Tom:

In this segment of our program we are continuing on with addressing so many aspects of the gospel.Dave as we have said before it is such a profound subject and such a great encouragement—every aspect of it.Last week we addressed life—what happens when you’re saved, when you receive the gospel, you have life and you have it more abundantly.But there’s a down side to rejecting the gospel.So I want to read a verse that probably all of us know: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.He that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”Now Dave, there are some terms in here—perish, condemned—I’ll read John:3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”Now here’s another aspect- God’s wrath for those who do not receive the gospel.

Dave:

Tom it is something that isn’t preached very often. It is because it’s not popular.But Paul said therefore knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men, 2 Corinthians 5.Well can’t God just—I mean God is so loving and kind—can’t he just forgive everybody?If we are sincere and if our good deeds outweigh our bad then everything is going to be okay.Well that’s like saying look I got a ticket last week but you know I’ve been a pretty good person anyway, I don’t think they are really going to make me pay the fine or it could be something more serious than that.It’s a matter of justice.We’ve talked about this in the past.We have offended—well more than offended—we have broken God’s laws.God is the creator of this universe.He makes the rules and He said the soul that sinneth it must die. He said that there are consequences for rebelling—actually it’s rebellion Tom.Even to reject the gospel is rebellion.God loves us so much.It’s not like the impersonal law of karma, reincarnation into an ant or a tree or whatever.But the God of the Bible loved us so much that He came to this earth and became one of us—He became a man, because He had to become a man in order to represent us before His court of justice and when He took our place He was condemned.You know we’ve talked about it.He pleaded with the Father in the Garden—if it’s possible, don’t make me go through this and the Father said no this is the only way.So Christ literally became our representative before the court of his own innocent justice and there He was condemned by God’s justice.He paid the penalty—this is what’s involved.So those who reject the penalty.I mean John:3:16 one of the favorite verses, most Sunday school kids learn it—should not perish.If you believe in Him then you won’t perish.Well then, the implication is very strong—if you don’t believe in Him you will perish.And of course, you quoted John:3:36 “…shall not see life,” or John:5:24: “…He that hears my word and believes on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”Now if you don’t pass from death to life by believing the gospel, putting your faith in Christ then you are still under the penalty of God’s judgment.

Tom:

Right, and Dave there are consequences.As I said, we’ve been delighting in talking about how wonderful God’s salvation is.But there are consequences for those who reject it.I’ll read 2 Thessalonians:1:7-9: “And to you who are troubled rest with us, 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, and from the glory of his power;…”Now Dave, you didn’t make that up, I’m not making it up.This is what God’s Word says and people have to know what the scriptures teach about this.There are consequences.

Dave:

God is holy, the Bible tells us, and sin must be punished.He loves us so much that He provided a way of escape.But if we persist in our rebellion against God and I think the worst rebellion possible is rejecting the pardon—He offers pardon for everyone!But He only offers pardon to everyone who admits they’re guilty—they need pardon and who admit they can’t pay God off by their good works or whatever and now to reject His gift or well, it’s a rejection if you offer anything.This is a gift. You can’t earn it and so forth.We’ve gone over that many times.But this is rebellion Tom and the writer to Hebrews warns us it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.I can tell you I’m 20 years older thereabouts probably and Tom the older I get the more I realize it’s a slippery slope.This life comes to an end I hope in the Rapture, but if not I am going to be facing God and I often say Lord I’m afraid—not that I’m afraid for my salvation, but it is so awesome to be in the presence of God—the God who created this universe infinite in power and wisdom and so forth to be in His presence, but we can’t even be in His presence if we reject the pardon, the offer.Jesus said I am the way, I am the door, by me you enter in to eternal life the prince of God, you reject that you are lost forever and John:3:36 “—the wrath of God abides on him and it’s an awful thought, but it’s true.

Tom:

You know again, we have an idea of Jesus, the popular idea—it all seems to be very positive, but Jesus himself spoke more about what takes place outside the presence of God.I mean it will be a fearful thing, but it will be a wonderfully fearful thing to be in the presence of God.But to be outside that, the Scriptures—Matthew for example.Verse after verse talks about wailing and gnashing of teeth; cast into hellfire and this was not originally made for mankind.The scriptures say this was prepared for the devil and his angels—those who had the ultimate experience, the ultimate environment in the very presence of God and they rejected that.What else could it be for them, but it ought not to be for us.

Dave:

But those who rebel against God and reject the pardon He’s offered they are in fact, the followers of Satan therefore they will follow him into that Lake of Fire, which you quoted was prepared for the devil and his angels.That’s where his followers end up as well.I mean it’s a horrible thing to talk about—

Tom:

They won’t be torturing humans down there, they will have their own troubles.

Dave:

Right.It’s a horrible thing to talk about Tom, but again we have to face the facts and this is what God says and furthermore, it’s only reasonable, it’s logical.You’ve got some pretty horrible consequences.At 37,000 feet you step out of an airplane, you say well birds can fly, why can’t I?Grandma talked about this law of gravity but I don’t believe that, you know.Well you find out granny was right, there is a Law of Gravity.Even to violate the physical laws there are serious consequences and you don’t get any second chance when you step out of an airplane or off the top of a building.Because this is what happens and surely there would be even more stringent you would say requirements to be in God’s presence and to share in His holiness and His perfection, His joy forever.That’s not just for anybody and Jesus as you said talked more about Hell, He talked more about people who are outside of this more than anyone else.It’s a solemn thought but we needn’t be worried about going to Hell because He offers pardon.

Tom:

Dave that’s the thing that in one sense grieves me because people say well how can a good God let something like that happen?How could He even prepare a place for the devil and his angels for their rebellion?How could a good God do that?On the other hand, my response normally is—well wait a minute, not only is God just and fair, but He sent His Son to die for us!

Dave:

Amen, amen!Tom, somebody just reminded me the other day of an illustration I used to use years ago.Here’s a—well you would like because you are a fisherman.Here’s a fish swimming in a beautiful river and it looks out on the bank and it sees a man sitting up there on a chair smoking a cigar.He’s got his legs crossed and he’s got a fishing pole and the fish looks up and says, “Man now that’s really living!”So it jumps out, wriggles its way up onto a chair, tries to cross its fins, tries to pick up a fishing pole and light up a cigar while its gills are going you know, and it’s gasping and falls over and dies, flopping around dying in gravel and dirt and somebody walks by and says, “what kind of a good God would create a fish to suffer like that?”No, God did not create the fish to suffer like that.He created the fish to swim in that beautiful ocean, or the river, or lake, or wherever it is. The problem was it got out of what God intended for it and that is man’s problem.God loves man and he put him in a perfect Garden and man rebelled against God and he wanted to take his own way. And there are serious consequences and hell is really a continuation.You are going to be alone, you’ve taken your own way, you’ve rejected God and these are the consequences that there are.And Jesus as you said paid the penalty and there is pardon, forgiveness and eternal life offered for everyone who will believe in Him.

Tom:

Amen!

Program Number: 
1209d

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