Christians in Hell
Christians in hell is a pertinent teaching lesson that deals with such issues as eternal security which is a false doctrine that says once a person is saved, they are always saved. This false doctrine sends many carnal Christians to hell who believe they can just repeat a salvation prayer then they can live like a devil and still go to heaven when they die! Nothing can be farther from the truth! The bible declares that without holiness no man will see God and only those who use their spiritual resources to overcome sin will enter the kingdom of God.
Romans 11:22 (NASB)
22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
Many Christians do not consider both sides of God. They only declare that God is a God of love and he would never send anyone to hell. It is true that He is a God of love and He is not willing that any should perish and go to hell. For this reason, God sent His Son Jesus to pay for the penalty of sin and die in place of sinful mankind. But if people do not accept the free gift of atonement in Jesus Christ and remain in His grace, then they will be cast into the fires of hell. The apostle Paul admonishes people to consider both the goodness and the severity of God. He is good in providing salvation for all mankind but He is also severe in judging those who refuse to accept the free gift of salvation and severe toward those who do not remain within the grace of God for salvation. God’s kindness provides the free gift of salvation for all whom will receive it but once they have received it, they also must abide in this salvation or God will cut them off.
2 Peter 2:20-22 (NASB)
20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”
These scriptures are speaking of Christians who were saved. This is not just for people who professed to be Christians and were not. These were Christians because they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They had an inner transformation and a regeneration of their human spirits and they were reborn or regenerated by the Spirit of God. But these same Christians returned to the world and to sin from which they were once set free. They engaged sin and were entangled in it again and were overcome by it.
Hebrews 6:4-6 (NASB)
4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
This is talking about Christians who were saved and spiritually regenerated. They were enlightened by the word of God and they tasted of the heavenly gift and they were partakers of the Holy Spirit and tasted the word of God and the powers of the age to come. These things all indicate that they experienced a spiritual transformation within and they were indeed saved. But these saved people had fallen away into sin and it is impossible to renew them to repentance again because they crucify the Son of God and put Him to open shame. There is no other Name that men can be saved by except the Name of Jesus and if they reject Him then there is nowhere else, they can go to be saved. None of the false religions on earth can save a person except Jesus.
John 14:16-17 (NASB)
16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.
This scripture says that the world cannot accept or receive the Holy Spirit. Only those who have been reborn spiritually can receive Him. This is proof that the scriptures that speak of falling away from Christ are referring to true Christians instead of just professors of Christianity. These are true be who left Christ willfully and returned to a life of sin like a dog going back to its vomit.
Hebrews 10:26-31 (NASB)
26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.
28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.”
31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
This scripture speaks of those carnal Christians who go on sinning willfully and have not used their freedom in Christ to walk in holiness. Instead they use their human freewill to sin willfully although they have already been set free from sin.
Mankind has been given a freewill and he has not lost this freewill when he was saved. If a believer will deliberately continue to sin after he has been saved then there is no more sacrifice for sin left. Only Jesus can save a person from hell and if you reject Jesus there is no other place to go to be saved. Those who turn away from Christ can expect to have a judgment of God that will come upon them. They can expect the raging fires of hell to burn them eternally as punishment from God for rejecting His Son. Under the Law of Moses, a person could be stoned to death under the testimony of just two or three witnesses who confirmed that the offender broke the law. But those who knew Christ but then turned back will have a much worse damnation! God will take personal vengeance upon them and then destroy them in hell. This again is speaking of born-again true Christians who turned away from Christ. God will judge His people-this is talking about Christians-not the unbelievers. It is a dreadful thing to fall in the hands of the living God. All unbelievers will burn in hell but a Christian who knew Christ and then rejected Him will have a damnation that is unspeakable. He will personally be destroyed in the hands of the living God.
James 3:1 (NASB)
1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.
This is yet another scripture that says that those who have knowledge will face a stricter judgment. One who is a teacher is presumed to have more knowledge than his students have so a person who has more knowledge will be judged according to what he knows. And so, a Christian who knew the Lord and had tasted of the good word of God and had the Holy Spirit will be much more severely judged if he falls back than a person who never even knew Christ at all.
Luke 12:47-48 (NASB)
47 “And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes,
48 but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
These scriptures speak of the fact that all people will be judged according to their knowledge. Those who knew Christ but willfully turned away from Him will have a much more severe judgment that those who never knew Christ. Therefore, it is better if a person never knew Christ than to know Him and then turn back. All unbelievers will burn in hell but a Christian who knew Christ and then turned back will have an unspeakable judgment and damnation for rejecting Christ after he or she had been saved.
Romans 7:4 (NASB)
4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.
The reason that believers were set free from sin was for the purpose that they might bear the fruit of holiness to God. God is expecting Christians to be fruitful in producing the fruit of holiness in their lives.
Romans 6:22 (NKJV)
22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
When a believer is set free from sin, they are no longer slaves to sin but rather slaves to God. They are free from sin and therefore they are free to produce fruit of holiness to God. In the end if their fruit of holiness remains, they will receive eternal life.
Romans 6:6 (NASB)
6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
When a person accepts Christ, their old self that was a slave of sin is dead and gone. They no longer have to obey the sin nature because they have been made free in Christ. Believers are free to walk in holiness and follow the newly recreated human spirit within them that they have received from Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:9 (NIV)
9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
When a person accepts Christ, their old self has been crucified or killed. They have a new human spirit that is holy and pure like God. Their human spirit has been reborn or made new like God. They have received the ability to walk in holiness because their born-again recreated spirit is holy and pure like God. Those who are spiritually regenerated will not continue to go on sinning after they are saved and there will be evidence of fruit of holiness in their lives.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
When a person accepts Christ as their savior a great miracle takes place within them and they become a new creation in Christ. The old things have passed away and new things have come. The old self that was a slave to sin is gone and replaced with a new human spirit that is holy and pure like God. A believer does not have to sin anymore for they have been freed from following the sin nature.
Romans 6:11 (NASB)
11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
A believer is dead to sin and does not have to sin any longer. They are alive to God and have a new human spirit that is holy and pure like God.
Romans 6:12 (NASB)
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,
A believer is free from sin and therefore they do not have to allow sin to rule their lives any longer. They are free from sin and free to walk holy.
Romans 6:13 (NIV)
13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
A believer has a choice as to whether he or she yields themselves to sin or if they yield themselves to God. They have been set free from sin so they have the freedom to walk in holiness. They are no longer a slave to sin. It is expected that a Christian should use their God-given freedom from sin to walk in holiness and yield themselves to God.
Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
A Christian must renew their mind to understand that they have been set free from sin and they do not have to sin any longer. They are free to put off the old self and its deceitful desires and they can put on the new self-created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. The new self is the new born again recreated spirit on the inside of a man when he accepts Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
Romans 6:16 (NIV)
16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey–whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
If a believer yields themselves to sin then they are slaves to sin. But if they yield themselves to obedience to God’s commands then they will produce righteousness. A believer can yield themselves to sin, which will result in spiritual death or to righteousness that will result in eternal life. They are free to choose and God expects that they will choose the way of holiness and exercise their freewill to walk holy instead of walking in sin.
Galatians 5:13 (NIV)
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
Christ has set the Christian free from sin by killing the old unregenerate human spirit within them and giving them a new human spirit that is holy and pure like God. The Christian is not to use their freedom to indulge the evil desires of the sin nature. They should instead to use their freedom to walk in holiness before God.
Luke 13:6-9 (NIV)
6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.
7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8 “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.
9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'”
This parable is speaking of a Christian who is set free from sin and is expected to bear fruit of righteousness to God. When a person accepts Christ, they are like a fig tree planted in the Lord’s vineyard. There are many things that take place when a person accepts Christ. They have the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome sin. They have a new human spirit that is holy and pure like God. They have been given the Name of Jesus and dominion in Christ. They have the word of God and authority over demons. The Son of God intercedes for them at the right hand of the Father. They have inexhaustible spiritual resources in Christ, so there is no reason for them not to bear fruit of holiness. A Christian has no excuse for not bearing fruit to God. This tree was in the garden for three years but it still did not have any fruit. Three is the number of completion. The Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are three in one. Three days and three nights were complete for Jesus when He paid the price for the sin of all mankind. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights so “three” is a number of completion.
This parable teaches that the Lord gives the new convert a complete growing season to mature in Christ. This does not necessary mean three consecutive years but it does refer to a complete time for a person to mature spiritually and begin to bear fruit of righteousness. The Lord understands that it may take some time for a newly saved person to put away some of their old habits and become renewed in their mind that they are a new creature in Christ. He gives them time to grow and mature spiritually. But after the growing season was completed the master of the vineyard was expecting some fruit on this tree.
But the tree still had no fruit so he ordered it to be chopped down. The keeper of the vineyard represents the Holy Spirit who is at work with the hearts of men to get them to repent and change. He asked for one more year and he would fertilize it and water it and dig around the roots. He wanted to work with the barren tree longer to see if it was possible to still get it to bear fruit. This speaks of the Lord’s mercy to give a new believer a full period of time to grow and mature spiritually. This parable shows that the Lord’s mercy is great and He will even go beyond the prescribed period of time for the tree to bear fruit.
But it must also be noted that a time will come when that the tree will come to the end of his extended grace periods and he will be held accountable for his fruitless condition. So, it is with a new believer in Christ. They are given a full growing season but if they persist and go on beyond all the extended grace periods given to them and they still refuse to produce fruit of righteousness, the time will come when they will be held accountable for their barren state. A Christian who does not eventually produce fruit of righteousness will be thrown into the lake of fire. This is like a barren tree that is chopped down and burned because it is useless and does not produce fruit. Christians are set free from sin and it is expected that they will bear fruit of righteousness to God. If they do not, they will eventually be thrown into hell.
Jude 1:12-13 (NKJV)
12 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
These scriptures speak of men who were among the Christians but they remained in a fruitless state of ungodliness. These men are like autumn trees that have come to the end of their growing season without fruit of holiness. The growing season is over and they have not produced any fruit. Therefore, they are uprooted by the Lord and rejected and cursed. These men are twice dead. They were spiritually dead before they knew Christ. They accepted Christ and became born again or made alive with Christ. But then they rejected Christ by their wicked actions and they were rejected and blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life. So they became dead a second time (just like they were before they were saved). So they are twice dead and have no more hope of being renewed to repentance again. They are like waves of the sea foaming up their shame. They cannot hide their sins but their sin will be made manifest for all to see. For them is reserved the blackness darkness forever. Jesus described hell as a place of outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Hell is a place of darkness with a fire that burns without light. There is intense burning pain and torment that will last for all eternity. Such will be the final abode for all those who are fruitless Christians and who have come to the end of their growing season and have not produced fruit of righteousness in their lives.
Revelation 3:5 (NIV)
5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
Those who overcome will not have their name blotted from the book of Life. This implies that those who do not overcome sin will have their names blotted from the Book of Life.
Revelation 20:15 (NASB)
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Those who do not have their names written in the book of life will be thrown into the lake of fire. This will include all unbelievers who were never saved and did not have their name recorded as well as all carnal Christians whose names were removed because they loved their sin more than they loved God and they denied Christ by their sinful actions and unrepentant sin. These carnal Christians will have their names removed from the Book of Life by having it blotted out. If their name is no longer found written in God’s book they will be cast into the lake of fire.
Philippians 2:12 (NIV)
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
This scripture speaks of working out your salvation with fear and trembling. This refers to walking carefully and watchfully so that you do not fall short of the mark and end up as a barren fruitless tree at the end of your growing season. A person who has a fear of the Lord will not take sin lightly or indulge in evil desires in order to be counted worthy to escape the fires of hell.
1 Peter 4:18 (NIV)
18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
This scripture speaks of the requirements for those who accept Jesus to walk in holiness. They have been set free from the power of sin so they have no more excuse for living in sin any longer. The righteous (or the born-again Christian) can have his or her name blotted out of the book of life. They must also fear and not live their life in a haphazard manner or play with sin.
Philippians 3:12 (NIV2011)
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Paul speaks of the fact that he has not yet finished his race. He is not yet perfect but he was striving for his finish line. He knew that if he was faithful to produce fruit of holiness all the way to the end of his race then he will receive a reward. But many Christians have disqualified themselves from the race by sin in their lives. Christ has started a work of redemption in the lives of believers and this work continues throughout their lifetime as they strive toward the goal of becoming like Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:27 (NASB)
27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Apostle Paul understood that there were still evil desires present that he had to deal with and say no to. He disciplined his body and refused to give into the demands of the fallen Adamic nature that wants to indulge in sin. Paul knew that he must cast aside all sin in order for him to finish his race. If he did not resist the temptation to sin then he too would be disqualified from his race and go to hell. Paul was a minster of the gospel and an apostle but a minister is no different than a lay person in that if they do not finish their race they will also go to hell. They must utilize the resources that belong to them in Christ that they might finish their race in holiness.
Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
There is a great cloud of witnesses composed of all those who have finished their race in past generations before us. They are watching us attentively from heaven just as people watching a sporting event or a marathon race. They are watching to see us finish our race on earth and be faithful to the end. Paul tells the Christians to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles them and run their race with endurance. If a Christian will say “NO” to sin and utilize these God-given resources then he or she can make it to the end of their race.
The believer has been given great resources such as God’s grace, anointing, word of God, blood of Jesus, Name of Jesus, authority, dominion, the Holy Spirit dwelling in believers, ministering angels, prayer, and tongues which are all part of their spiritual resources in Christ. Upon salvation the believers have received a new human spirit that is holy and pure like God. Jesus also intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. This is part of their spiritual inheritance freely given to the believer who is in Christ. There is no excuse for them not to produce fruit of holiness in their lives and by utilizing their spiritual resources every believer can make it all the way to the end of their race.
But if a carnal Christian chooses to fall into sin and lives a reprobate lifestyle then they will be disqualified from the race and have their name removed from the book. All those whose names are not found written in the book of life will be thrown in the lake of fire.
Matthew 10:22 (NIV)
22 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
In Christianity, it does not matter how you start but it only matters how you finish. Many Christians will be persecuted for living a righteous lifestyle because their lifestyle will condemn those who are living in sin and this will cause the righteous to receive persecution. Some Christians will join the unbelievers in sin to avoid persecution that comes from the world. But they will also become disqualified if they do not repent and in the end, they will go to hell with the unbelievers. Those Christians who stand firm to the end of their race on earth will receive a crown of righteousness for crossing their finish line. They will join a multitude of others from previous generations who all remained faithful until the end of their lives. Only those who endure to the end of their race will be saved. All others who are disqualified will have their names blotted from the book of life.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 (NIV)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Paul speaks of fighting the good fight and this speaks of struggling, and striving and putting in every effort like a long-distance marathon runner who does not give up until he finishes his race. This gives the idea that believer is to overcome rather than just sitting around presuming they were finished when they repeated a salvation prayer. Salvation is not the end of the race but only the beginning of their race and they have to finish their race before they can obtain eternal life.
The Apostle Paul fought the good fight against sin and he resisted temptation and he walked in holiness and finished his race on earth. He kept the faith until the end of his life. He wrote these words just prior to being killed for his faith. He said that all those who finish their race on earth would receive a crown of righteousness. This is a special reward that will be given by the Lord Jesus to all who are faithful to the end of their race. Those Christians who love the appearing of the Lord are those who are walking in holiness and are not ashamed to see the Lord. Those Christians who fear the coming of the Lord are those who have sin and worldly affections in their lives and they are not ready to meet the Lord. They must repent and put sin out of their lives or they will be disqualified from their race and they will burn in hell.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NIV)
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
In a natural race only one gets the prize so there is intense competition to be the one to win. We are to run our race with the same intensity as those who compete for a prize in a natural race where only one wins. But in the kingdom of God everyone who finishes their race will receive reward so the heavenly race offers reward for every person who crosses their finish line.
In a natural race they receive a reward if they win but in the heavenly race every person who crosses their finish line will receive the crown of righteousness.
Revelation 3:11 (NIV)
11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
Paul uses the analogy of running a race to describe to the Christian the importance of them making it to the end of their race on earth. If they finish their race and do not fall back, they will receive the crown of righteousness. Christians in this era had a much different attitude than those of present times. They were all conscience of the importance of finishing their race so that they might receive their crown. This scripture speaks of not allowing anyone to take their crown. How could someone take the crown of a Christian? This could be done if someone is able to distract or sidetrack a Christian from the race that he or she is running. A Christian must be single in purpose and not allow anything to distract them from the race that is set before them. They are to strive for the high calling in Christ and finish their race.
Ezekiel 18:24 (NIV)
24 “But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die.
Even the Old Testament states the same principle. If a person is living a godly life for many years but then turns aside and goes after wickedness before they cross their finish line, then all the good things that they have done will be erased or cancelled out. This principle teaches that a man’s salvation is completed and secured only after he crosses his finish line. Paul remained faithful until the end and just before he died, he wrote that he had finished his race and now he would qualify to receive a crown of righteousness. A person may have lived righteously for many years but if they turn from God and do wickedness at the end of their life they will still go to hell.
Luke 13:23-24 (NIV)
23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them,
24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
This scripture speaks of making every effort to enter and that speaks of striving to finish the race. This is vastly contrasted to those who believe in eternal security and presume their race is over when they repeat a salvation prayer and they can do any sort of sin and still make it to heaven. But obtaining salvation does not come by accident but only by paying the price and overcoming sin.
When someone asked Jesus, if only few would be saved, He answered them that they should make every effort to enter by the narrow door. He was speaking of the fact that only those who finish their race will be saved. Many will think they will enter because of Church membership or because of good works but they will end up in hell. Making every effort to enter, speaks of a runner who is striving with all his strength and ability to cross the finish line.
Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Jesus says that the way to heaven is a narrow way and there is only a few that find it. The way to hell is broad and there are many ways that lead to hell and just making no effort at all will put a person in hell. But a narrow way speaks of a deliberate and determined choice and act of the will to enter. Any person who calls on the name of the Lord can be saved and each of them have the gifts and supernatural grace and equipment to finish their race and enter through the narrow gate. A Christian should strive according to God’s grace to be counted as one of those who makes it in through the narrow way to eternal life.
Acts 4:12 (NIV)
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
There is no other Name given under heaven by which mankind can be saved except the Name of Jesus. All religions on earth lead to hell and none of them can save any person. All of the different religions and cults on earth are part of the broad way that leads to hell. It requires no effort to go to hell and all religions will lead to hell. If a Christian makes no effort to enter the narrow and difficult way, they will also end up in hell. Salvation can only be found in the Name of Jesus so membership to a church or religion has no power to save anyone. The person who believes in Jesus and experiences regeneration within has the grace and ability of God to make it through the narrow gate and cross their finish line. Only if they get sidetracked by sin or laziness or something that would distract them from their race will a Christian fail to inherit the crown of righteousness that is laid up for them in heaven. But to make no effort at all is like floating down the river toward destruction and those who make no effort will go to hell. They are to strive according to the power that has been given to them in Christ. They have all power and authority to overcome on earth but if they fail to overcome it is because of being passive and not using what belongs to them in Christ. Jesus is the narrow way to salvation and there is no other way available on earth by which men can be saved. But he has given the Christian power and authority and ability to overcome sin and walk in holiness. If a Christian does not use his or her spiritual resources to walk in holiness, they will not finish their race and they will end up in hell.
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
It is not the Lord’s will that any person perish and go to hell. The Lord desires that every person ever born on earth since Adam would all go to heaven. God gave His only Son as a sacrifice for sins to pay for the sins of all mankind. They can receive the free gift of righteousness and be saved from going to hell. But mankind has sought out many ways and means of going to heaven apart from the one way that God has provided through his Son Jesus so all of these ways will take them to hell.
The Lord waits patiently for men to repent and turn from sin. This is the only reason that His judgment is delayed in order that He may give them time to repent. His mercy is great toward those who have accepted Him as well because He also gives the time to repent and change and use their spiritual resources to finish their race. But if the unbeliever does not accept Jesus they will go to hell and if the Christians do not finish his or her race they will also go to hell as well. Both the unbeliever and the Christian have a choice about avoiding hell.
Deuteronomy 30:19 (NIV)
19 This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
Mankind has been given a freewill and he has the capacity to make a free choice. If he chooses to reject God’s only salvation and try to work it out his own way he will go to hell. He will send himself to hell by his own free choice. But if he decides to choose Jesus he can enter into life’s race. He has the opportunity to make a run for the finish line and enter into the narrow gate. But if on the way he chooses not to continue or tires of running his race, he can choose to go back to his old sinful lifestyle. In choosing against finishing his race he is choosing death and cursing. He will be cursed upon the earth and will receive eternal death in hell when he dies. But to choose life is choosing Jesus and choosing to finish your life’s race. So, accepting Jesus is not the end of the race as some would suppose but it is only the beginning of the race. If they finish this race and endure to the end like Apostle Paul they will be saved. Otherwise they will go to hell.
2 Timothy 2:19 (NIV)
19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
Those who know Christ are to turn away from wickedness and sin. The Lord knows who are His and a person who is living in continual wickedness is testifying by his or her actions that they have denied Christ. Their actions are denying Him because all that know Christ are to turn away from all wickedness.
Luke 6:46 (NIV)
46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
The word Lord has a strong meaning as it speaks of being master, ruler, or even slave driver. A person who has made Jesus Lord of their lives has made Jesus the supreme ruler of their life. If Jesus is ruler of your life then you will obey all that He tells you to do. This would include putting away all the sins that were practiced as an unbeliever and living your life in holiness. Some have made Jesus their Savior because they want to escape hell but they did not make Him their Lord and have not allowed Him to rule and reign as supreme in their lives. They wanted accept Him as fire insurance to escape the fires of hell but did not want to change or be holy in living. This will not help a Christian get to heaven however for they will not be able to finish their race unless they cast away all the sin that so easily entangles them. Jesus must be made both Lord and Savior of their life if they want to pass through the narrow gate to eternal life and finish their race on earth.
Titus 1:16 (NIV)
16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
This scripture says that those who claim they know God but continue to walk in sin are actually denying God by their wicked actions. If a person knows God then they must also apply their spiritual resources in Christ and put away sin and walk in holiness and finish their race. Without holiness no man will see God so Christians are expected to mature and produce fruit of righteousness in their lives. They have no excuse for not doing so because they have been made free from the slavery to sin.
Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. This means that there are many Christians who call Him their Lord but yet their actions dictate otherwise and show that Jesus is not their Lord. If He was their Lord, they would obey Him and depart from lawlessness. They deny the Lord by their actions and their sinful lifestyle of unrepentant sin.
Many people have prayed a repentance prayer to become a Christian but many of them have not run their race with endurance and set aside sin in their lives. They may even do various Christian things and even good works like prophesy, casting out devils, and even performing miracles. These are all things that Christians can do. But their reprobate and sinful lifestyle denied Christ by their wicked actions. Let everyone who names the Name of the Lord depart from iniquity. But they did not depart from sin but lived unrighteous before the Lord. On judgment day these Christians with a wicked lifestyle will all be cast into hell with the devil and his angels.
THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SINNING WILLFULLY AND OCCASIONALLY STUMBLING
1 John 1:9 (NIV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
This scripture was given as a blessing to those Christians who are running their race upon earth. If they happen to stumble and fall in sin, they can immediately confess their sin to the Lord and receive forgiveness and cleansing. This is an important scripture to teach a new believer in Christ because they will need it often on their road of life as they run toward their finish line. This is a scripture to be used for the times when they stumble in sin. But this scripture is not for a person who is willfully living in sin in a rebellious manner. They cannot just expect to live a reprobate lifestyle continually and expect that the Lord will just forgive them. Those who live in continual wickedness for decades are developing a hardened heart toward the Holy Spirit who is convicting them of sin.
Hebrews 3:15 (NIV)
15 As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”
Every time a believer falls into sin there will be an inward conviction of the Holy Spirit that convicts him of sin. The purpose of this conviction is to bring the person to repentance. Therefore, whenever they sin, they should immediately repent and leave no door open to the adversary Satan. But if a Christian decides to indulge the flesh and live in continual and habitual sin then they are in danger of becoming hardened in heart. Every time the Holy Spirit convicts of sin but the Christian ignores the conviction and continues in sin, then this Christian becomes more hardened in heart. This can lead to a state where the Christian no longer has any conscience and can sin willfully without guilt. Such a state is near to be cursed to hell as a barren fruit tree cut down and thrown in the fire.
1 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)
2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
This scripture speaks of a conscience being seared or burned with a hot iron. A new believer in Christ has a sensitive conscience and if he or she does wrong they will feel the immediate conviction of the Holy Spirit for their sin which leads them to repentance. But if the Christian hardens his heart in rebellion and ignores the conviction of the Holy Spirit, they are in danger of having a seared conscience. A seared conscience is like if a person placed their hand upon a hot stove. They would feel pain and pull their hand back quickly. But if they do this many times, eventually a time would come when the feeling in their hands would become seared and the nerves damaged. They would no longer feel the pain but could put their hand on the burner and smell it burning but feel nothing. It is like this with the conscience of a Christian. If they sin, they will feel the pain of conviction as the Holy Spirit convicts them of sin and brings them back to repentance. But if they continually ignore the Holy Spirit and His conviction and press forward with sin then they will have a seared conscience. Eventually they will not even feel guilty any longer because their conscience has been seared and they do not even feel conviction of the Holy Spirit any longer. This is a dangerous state to be in because if they cannot feel conviction for sin, they have no more way for them to repent. Without repentance of sin they will end up in hell.
Psalm 51:1-4 (NIV)
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
King David spoke these words after Nathan the prophet rebuked him of his sin of adultery and murder. David understood that his sin was against God because God is holy and expects his children to live by his moral standards. David confessed his sins and repented and asked God to forgive him. The entire chapter of Psalm 51 speaks of David’s confession of sin and repentance before God. David never did this sin again and never killed another man to steal his wife and never committed adultery again. He was forgiven but some have used this, as an excuse to live in continual adultery with a woman every day and think that God will just forgive them as God forgave David. Such people are self-deceived and they are hardening their hearts toward the Holy Spirit who convicts them of sin and they will go to hell.
John 8:11 (NIV)
11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Jesus forgave the sins of the prostitute but he also told her to leave her life of sin. There is a difference between occasionally stumbling and living a life of sin. A life of sin is a habitual lifestyle that continually engages in sinful practices. A Christian is forgiven of their sins but they also should leave their lifestyle of sin.
Romans 2:4 (NIV)
4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?
Some have wondered why God does not just destroy some of those who are living in wickedness for a long period of time. The Lord is kind toward them and gives them time to repent. He is tolerant and patient giving them a chance to turn from their sins. But a time will come when they have not repented and it is the end of their season to bear fruit of righteousness. Then they will be cut down and thrown into the fires of hell.
Proverbs 29:1 (NIV)
1 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed–without remedy.
A stiff-necked Christian is one who is not pliable toward the Holy Spirit or one who is not willing to repent. They may receive many rebukes but if they do not listen, they will eventually be destroyed and there will be no more room for them to repent any longer. A believer who hardens their heart against the Holy Spirit and refuses to repent is in great danger of being eternally damned forever. Those who go beyond the point of repentance have crossed the line of perdition and they can no longer repent anymore.
Revelation 2:21-23 (NIV)
21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.
22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.
23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
God gave a wicked woman (who called herself a prophetess) time to repent of her immorality. God’s goodness gives time for mankind to repent. But this woman was hardened in her heart and she refused to repent and change. She persisted to continue in her sin and immorality. Therefore, the judgment of God struck her and she was cast upon a bed of suffering. Also, those who committed immorality with her also would suffer intensely if they did not repent. Repentance means to turn away from sin and do it no more. When God warned the people of the city of Nineveh and they all repented. They were scheduled for destruction because of their wickedness but the destruction was diverted by their repentance. The goodness of God gives time for people to repent but His justice will bring punishment for sin after the period of grace time has run out.
Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)
14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
This scripture is speaking to Christians and it warns them that without holiness no one will see God. When a person accepts Christ, they become a new creature in Christ and they are set free from sin. They do not have to sin any longer for they have been set free. So, there is no more excuse for a Christian living in sin. If they are in sin it is because they chose to live a wicked lifestyle. But the scriptures assure them that no person who is unholy will see God. They must use their new freedom in Christ to walk in holiness or they will go to hell. Without holiness no one will see the Lord!
Romans 8:12-14 (NIV)
12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation–but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.
13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
A believer in Christ has an obligation to the Lord to walk in holiness. They have been set free from sin so they should not walk in sin any longer. If they choose to live according to the sinful nature then they will die and to go hell. But those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. The Spirit of God will always lead a believer into what is holy and convict them of sin and cause them to be righteous like Jesus. So, if they follow the Spirit of God and obey Him, they will be holy. Only those with the fruit of holiness in their lives will enter into heaven all the rest will be cast into hell.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
No believer can say that they had no control and could not help to sin. The Lord will not allow a believer to be tempted beyond what they are able to bear. When a Christian sins it is because they have chosen to do so by their own freewill. But God has not tempted them and He provides a way of escape for them.
Romans 11:21-22 (NIV)
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
The Jewish people are God’s chosen people because they are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who pleased God. But when God’s people sinned and did not repent, He destroyed many of them and scattered the survivors as exiles among the nations. If he did not spare His natural branches (the Jewish people) then He will not spare those wild branches (Gentiles) that were grafted in. This is an example of the character of God.
Romans 13:14 (NIV)
14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
A believer should learn how to renew their mind to the fact that they are a new creation in Christ and they are set free from the slavery of sin. They should not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Meditation on evil desires will only cause them to grow. Yes, a Christian will still face temptations to sin for the rest of their lives but they have been given the power and ability to overcome all temptations and live a life of holiness.