Bertrand Russell in his book Why I Am Not a Christian stated, “I do not myself feel that any person who is really profoundly human can believe in everlasting punishment…I must say that I think all this doctrine, that hellfire is a punishment for sin, is a doctrine of cruelty.”
Obviously, hell is not in vogue. Many say it is a cruel, inhumane technique to guilt people into a religious system. But as out of style as it may be, Jesus thought it was quite important. In Luke 16 He told a story that described hell in very real terms.
Here are five reasons hell still matters:
Hell welcomes anyone.
Jesus described the rich man much like one would have described a Pharisee. Later in the story, Abraham described him as a “child.” He was a descendent of Abraham. He was religious. He was affluent and enjoyed a well-connected social network. He was a good guy.
Hell is not an exclusive club for the Hitlers of society. Rejection of Jesus Christ in whatever form it takes is the only thing condemns a person.
Hell is a real place.
Verse 23 states, “In Hades he lifted his eyes…” “Hades” is a word used 11 times in the New Testament to describe the temporary dwelling place of the wicked dead. The word “gehenna” is used 12 times by Jesus Himself to describe a place of eternal suffering. The Valley of Hinnom was a garbage dump that burned continuously.
Earlier in history it was a place of child sacrifices to Molech. It was an awful place. The word “tartaros” is used only in 2 Peter 2:4 as a place where God cast the fallen angels until the Day of Judgment. John used the term “lake of fire” in Revelation on at least five occasions. The term “bottomless pit” is used nine times in the New Testament. “Outer darkness” and “place of torment” is also used this place of suffering.
Hell is not a bad day, a dysfunctional environment, or some other state of mind. Hell is a literal location.
Hell hurts.
Four times in this brief story, we read about the “torment” of hell. This rich man was not only in pain, he was in conscious suffering.
Mark Twain once said, “Go to heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.” But Jesus was not so optimistic. Hell is no party for the rough and rowdy crowd. It is a place of intolerable suffering that must be tolerated for all eternity.
Is God a mad man who enjoys inflicting pain? Never. But He is holy, and there is no compromising His character for the comfort of those who distort the glory of God to seek their own ends.
Hell is forever.
Jesus said there is a “great chasm fixed.” Hell is permanent. Jesus never even hinted that souls would be annihilated or that suffering would somehow be extinguished in time.
This is the fire that is not quenched—Mark 9:44. This is the torment the devil and his hosts will endure “day and night forever and ever”—Revelation 20:10. This is the punishment that is “everlasting”—Matthew 25:46.
Why is hell so permanent? Because sinful man is not fit for heaven. No amount of time can change the nature of man.
Hell is necessary.
Verse 26 says, “and that none may cross over from there to us.” There is no crossing over. God cannot look the other way. He cannot minimize the very real corruption of fallen man.
You say, “Can’t God show kindness at this point?” Divine generosity is not an option, for God cannot undermine the holy demand for justice in order to show His kindness. His grace and love were fully demonstrated and His demand for justice was fully met in the infinitely costly sacrifice of His only Son Jesus Christ.
As Lewis Sperry Chafer wrote, “Let it be restated that, if God could save one soul from one sin by mere generosity, He could save all souls from sin by generosity and the death of Christ thus becomes the greatest possible divine blunder.”
But the Cross was no blunder. Instead, the Cross is our only hope.
You see, hell still matters because it mattered to Jesus. Because death is so final, hell is so severe, and the love of God so important that He left all the confines of glory and took on the form of a man and died on the Cross to make a just payment for our sins. And three days later He rose from the dead as the one and only Victor over sin, death, and hell.
He did not do that for a figure of speech, a state of mind, or an abstract idea. He did that because He loves us and He knew we were helpless to save ourselves from our sin.
Hell matters because it reminds us of the horrible nature of our sin, the infinite glory of Holy God, the centrality of the Cross, the high honor of knowing the Bible, the depth of God’s grace, and the power of the Gospel.
Your feedback is welcomed. Click the “Comment” button below.
