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A Study of Hell
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
IntroductionYou don’t hear many sermons about HELL any more. However in this nation’s history a "Hell, Fire & Brimstone" played a key role in The Great Awakening. The sermon I am referring to is Jonathan Edwards Sinners In The Hand of An Angry God. The message was preached in Enfield, Connecticut July 8, 1741. This powerful message can be read at ..\GreatSermons\angry.htm. For the most part "Hell, Fire & Brimstone" preaching so called, is a thing of the past, even within fundamental circles. The politically correct messages of this era steer around anything controversial. The do not address the issues of sin or God’s judgment on sin, but rather focus on love, unity, and grace. While these are perfectly good topics to preach on, if they are framed biblically, preachers need to follow the pattern of the Apostle Paul who wrote… "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." Acts 20:27 With that in mind, I have decided it is time to preach to you on HELL. Hell is a very real place. And while it was not initially created by God for people but the sinning angels, it will be the abode of all nonbelievers for all of eternity. Turn with me to Matthew 25:41 "Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:" 2 Peter 2:4-9 "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:" Psalms 9:17 makes it very clear that, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations (ywg gowy go’-ee = people) that forget God." Friends, you dare not ignore HELL! Hell In the Old TestamentThe word hell occurs thirty one times in the Old Testament. The first time the word hell is used in our King Jame Bible is Deuteronomy 32:22 "For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains." The Hebrew word commonly translated "hell" is sheol. In the Old Testmanet the word Hell (sheol) has two meanings. Sometimes it means the place where the bodies of the dead are laid (Psalm 6:5; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Isaiah 38:18,19). But it normally refers to the place where the soul and spirit went upon the death of a person. (Genesis 37:35; Psalm 9:17; 16:10; 30:3; 55:15; Proverbs 15:24; 23:14). The common Hebrew word for the grave is not sheol, but rbq qeber (keh’-ber). This word is used in such passages as Genesis 35:20; 50:5, etc. Hell In the New TestamentThe word HELL occurs twenty three times in the New Testament. The first time the word is used in the New Testament is in Matthew 5:22 "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." What Is Hell Like?Hell is…
Hell’s no joke! Hell is a very real, and very horrible place! If you have not believed the Gospel and received Christ as your Savior, it will be your abode for all of eternity. Paul wrote that Christ is coming "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;" 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 Repent of your sins and call upon Christ to save you right now. E-mail: FirstBaptistChurchOC@gmail.com |
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