The Wages of Sin are Death (Galatians 6:7-10)
Gary McManus, 04/13/2014Part of the Why Hell? series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
April 13, 2014 Palm Sunday Galatians 6:7-10 (p. 1155)
Describing hell:
In these descriptions, Pastor McManus is focusing
on Jesus’ own words. Other scripture passages also
give some description of hell. [See Revelation
19-20, but there are MANY more in the New
Testament. ]
Matthew 25:31-46 (often referred to as “the sheep and the goats”)
is the LONGEST and MOST detailed account of Judgment Day
in all the Gospels. There Jesus refers to hell as an “everlasting
fire” (vs 41) and an everlasting punishment (vs. 46)
Hell is the result of choices
Matthew 5:29,30, 18:9, Matthew 25:31-46
Hell is described as fire:
See Matthew 18:9 and then compare to
Matthew 5:29,30. Then check Mark 9:45,47.
By parable: Matthew 13:30, 40-43, 49-50
Hell is described as miserable darkness:
Again, by parable: Matthew 22:13, 25:30
Hell: a place of annihilation or never
ending torment:
Matthew 10:28, Matthew 18:8, Mark 9:44,48
(alluding to Isaiah 66:24)
Jesus’ story of the rich man and Lazurus
(Luke 16) shows a picture of a person in
agony and agony of fire (vss 24-25) although
it may depict a pre-judgment day scene.
As mentioned above, hell is the result of our choices.
Hell is something we choose. We start choosing hell
in this life. We read, see or even know people who
have chosen hell already in this life. They can still
choose the Lord, but someday the choice will be gone.
Pastor has shared dramatic examples. But it isn’t always
so dramatic. Sometimes it isn’t what we DO that chooses
hell, it is what is in our hearts.
[Some references above also apply here, but see Matthew
15:19, Matthew 5:28.]
One beautiful example of things not being what they seem
and the real truth behind what we see is one from
Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol. It is a special
example because it speaks of living life and it’s eternal
RESULT!
The Pharisees also outwardly lived exemplary lives.
But their hearts were far from God (Matthew 15:8,
Mark 7:6)
Let’s ask ourselves, what am I WORKING on?
What am I working FOR?
“WHO am I working for? If you’re not working for the Kingdom,
then you won’t enter the Kingdom. (Matthew 6:31-33)
Look at it this way: if we have trouble trusting the Heavenly
Father in this life; why would anyone want to live in Heaven
with Him forever?
Jesus was concerned enough to come to warn us.
Jesus was concerned enough to come and rescue us
from the path we were on. (see John 3:16) Amen.
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