Dec 9

Romans 3:10-23
Memorise 1 John 1:8-10
“For all have sinned…”

Those who deny the existence of hell, or eternal punishment in hell do so because they assume that (1) people are generally good, and deserve better, and (2) God is all love, and only love. Let us examine these assumptions one by one in the light of the Bible. The Bible is God’s Perfect Word—our sole and supreme authority of faith and practice. It is not what man says, but what the Bible says that counts.

Is it true that people are generally good, and so ought not to be punished forever in hell? The Apostle John says in 1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”. If we    think that we are generally quite decent and upright people, we are merely deceiving ourselves! By our very low standards, we may perceive ourselves to be good and decent people, but how does God see us?    The Apostle Paul, quoting from various portions of the Old Testament, passes a very damning verdict upon all mankind – “As  it is written,  There is none righteous, 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… For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:10-12, 23).

Perhaps you may say, “I am not so bad. I am a good citizen. I am not a criminal. I am not a thief or a murderer or an adulterer. Surely I do not deserve hell”. What is God’s reply? Jesus in Matthew 5:22 says, “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (i.e. Idiot), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool (lit, Moron), shall be in danger of hell fire”. In verses 27-28, Jesus continues, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart”. How many of the Ten Commandments have we broken already? The apostle James tells us that when we break one, we break all (James 2:10). Truly, “there is none righteous, no, not one”.

Thought: “God would not be God, except he were to punish sins” (Calvin).
Prayer: Lord, I want to be in heaven, not hell.