"But a Loving God Would Never Send Someone to Hell!"

WOULD a truly loving God ever         send anyone to Hell?   Many have         tried to resolve this "gross contradiction" by concluding that Hell cannot possibly exist. However, Jesus Christ taught more about Hell than He did about Heaven.   It was Jesus who said: "The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall CAST THEM INTO A FURNACE OF FIRE: there shall be WAILING AND GNASHING OF TEETH."   Mat. 13:41 The Bible teaches a literal, fire-breathing Hell.   Fire is an integral part of God's judgment upon sin.   "For our GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE."   Heb. 12:29    This sin-ridden world is being "RESERVED UNTO FIRE AGAINST THE DAY OF JUDGMENT and perdition of ungodly men..." 2 Peter 3:7 Now, before you vow never to serve any God who would create Hell, start from the verse we just read, and skip ahead to verse

nine: "....The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that all should come to repentance."   2 Peter 3:9 Did you catch that?   Even though God has the world "reserved unto fire against the day of judgment" (verse 7), He still prefers that no one goes to Hell.   He is "not willing that any should perish."   (verse 9) In fact, God did everything possible to prevent anyone from having to go to Hell.   He even gave His own Son: "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."   John 3:16 "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him MIGHT BE SAVED."   John 3:17 But, why would God create Hell, and then sacrifice His Son to keep us from going there?

The same God who created Hell, has provided an escape. In the end, a person goes to Hell of their own choosing.

JESUS SAID the everlasting fires of Hell     were, "PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL and his     angels" (Mat. 25:41).   Few people would argue that the devil doesn't deserve Hell, yet, we are just as guilty of the devil's same rebellious attitude. The Bible says: "ALL WE like sheep have GONE ASTRAY; we have turned every one TO HIS OWN WAY" (Isa. 53:6).   Even the average "religious" person does not automatically seek God's will before buying a house, changing jobs, or even getting married.   You may think these are trivial matters to be bothering God with, but the fact is, He wants total rule over our lives.   And why not?   After all, He created us; HE OWNS US, and He wants the best for us! The Bible also says: "As it is written, There is NONE RlGHTEOUS, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.   They are all GONE OUT OF THE WAY, they are together become UNPROFITABLE; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."   Rom. 3:10-12 Since the fall of mankind, people have been resisting God's rule over their lives--"we have turned every one to his own way" (Isa. 53:6).    We rebel, daily, against God, choosing to do our own thing without regarding His will. Therefore, God looks down upon us and says we are useless, "unprofitable," unable to serve His purpose.

To Judge or not to Judge? We've already mentioned that by resisting God's rule over our lives, we are acting just like the devil.   God is just.   Therefore, if He judges the devil, He has to judge us.   We are both guilty of the same sin. God could justifiably cast us, along with the devil, into Hell--the universe's never-ending "incinerator" for rebellious, useless, creatures-- but God is also love.   He doesn't WANT TO see us end up in a devil's Hell. However, He just can't ignore our sin and forego judgment; being just, He would have to ignore the devil's sin, also. What is a loving God to do? God demands justice for sin, but yet, His love doesn't want to see any of us spend eternity in Hell. God hates the sin, but loves the sinner.   The presence of Hell is ample proof that God will not compromise His justice, while the fact that His Son "took our Hell" proves that He is also a loving God: "But God commendeth [proved] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US."   Rom. 5:8 Look at it this way . . . A truly "non-loving" God would provide no means of escape.   Or, at best, let you fret your entire life trying to "merit" your way out of going to Hell.   The same God who is warning you that Hell is real is also asking you to believe that HE DIED IN YOUR PLACE and "took your Hell"

A truly "non- loving" God would provide no means of escape.   Or, at best, let you fret your entire life trying to "merit" your way out of going to Hell.

in a loving effort to save you.   You don't have to go to Hell--NO ONE DOES!   The choice is your's. You can accept what Christ did on the cross to save you.   You can claim the sacrifice He made to keep you from going to a devil's Hell.   All you have to do is REPENT!   Admit that you are an "unprofitable" sinner in rebellion against God. Turn from your sin and turn toward Christ, submitting to Him as your only Lord and Saviour. You must repent of any self- righteous religious acts you may be trusting in, and instead, TRUST in the fact that Christ has paid for your sins ALREADY!   When Jesus died on the cross He said: "IT IS FINISHED!"   John 19:30 Salvation from Hell is not through religion.   It is through Jesus Christ.   He said: "I AM THE WAY, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, BUT BY ME."   John 14:6 Jesus also said: "I AM THE DOOR: by me if any man enter in, he SHALL BE SAVED, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."   John 10:9 Because Christ died on the cross for your sins, you don't have to end up in Hell--you can choose not to go there! We all have a choice . . . Many are quick to define God as "non-loving" because of Hell's existence, while ignoring the fact that a loving God "took our Hell" in order to

provide us with an escape.   Even though Hell exists, no human being has to go there.   And yet, isn't it curious that even with the prospect of Hell looming under their feet, people will still refuse God's means of escape? Are people so bent on not serving God, that they would sooner go to Hell than let God rule over them?   When someone refuses what Christ has done on the cross to save them, they are saying to God, "I'd rather go to Hell, than submit to you."   Such an attitude shows how rebellious man can be; it's the same attitude the devil has. Therefore, why should unrepentant sinners complain when they do end up in Hell? Isn't that where they chose to go?   They surely wouldn't like it in Heaven, where all they would do is serve God.   So, you could say God is granting their wish: a trip to Hell, where they won't have to serve God for eternity! You can't blame God . . . A person can try arguing that any God willing to send someone to Hell, is not worthy of their submission.   However, this argument won't fly, since the very same God has provided a way out.    Anyone who ends up in Hell, does so of their own choosing--they send themselves to Hell by refusing to repent and believe that God has provided the only means of escape.    You can learn more about God's plan of salvation by reading the back [below] of this tract . . . For more information, write us.

Christ died on the cross for your sins.   You don't have to end up in Hell--you can choose not to go there!

IF you were to die today, are you 100% SURE you would go to Heaven?   The Bible says YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13). BUT FIRST, you must realize that what keeps you from going to Heaven are your sins, because: "...your iniquities [sins] have separated between you and your God," Isaiah 59:2. In fact, in God's eyes YOU ARE A SINNER: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23. SECONDLY, you must realize that there is NOTHING you can do to save yourself and earn Heaven: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."   (Eph. 2:8-9)   Baptism, good deeds, church membership, self-righteousness are all examples of good works that cannot save you, because, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he [Christ] saved us," Titus 3:5. THE ONLY WAY you can get saved is through Jesus Christ.   He said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."   (John 14:6)   THAT'S WHY: "...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."   Romans 5:8-9 THEREFORE: You must REPENT (change your mind); admit that you are a Hell deserving sinner and can't save yourself.   And call upon Christ, and Him alone, to save you.   "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [REPENT], and shalt believe in thine heart [TRUST] that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."   Romans 10:9 SEND THE LIGHT P.O. Box 815   Fargo, ND 58107

[ Christian Helps Ministry (USA) ] [ Christian Home Bible Course ]