“The disciples were astounded. ‘Then who in the world can be saved?’ they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.’” (Mark 10:26-27 NLT)
Have you ever had a conversation with someone about hell? Ideas abound regarding what people believe about hell, everything from “it doesn’t exist” to “it’s what people experience on earth” to “God is too kind and compassionate to send anyone there.”
Notice the title of this post – “What Sends Someone to Hell?” not “Who…” The Bible is clear that it’s not God’s will that anyone perish, but that all would repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:9). Anyone who chooses hell must step over the bruised and broken body of Jesus who laid down His life so that no one would have to go to hell. God doesn’t “send” anyone to hell, but neither will He force anyone to go to heaven.
It’s not sin itself that keeps someone out of heaven. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Paul outlines a lot of sins that he says will keep many from the Kingdom of God. But in verse 11 he writes: “Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Sin has a solution, and it’s not complicated, but unless someone is willing to accept God’s provision, they, by default, choose the only alternative. If someone refuses to be forgiven and rejects sin’s payment made through the blood of Christ shed on Calvary’s Cross, there’s no other payment adequate to pay sin’s debt. Keeping the law or being good enough isn’t the answer. Giving money to the church or organizations that help the suffering isn’t the answer. Even sacrificing your life for another, while admirable and noble, it doesn’t get you to heaven.
Charles Stanley wrote: “Jesus’ message was simple. Eternal life is found through faith and faith alone. Both heaven and hell will be full of men and women who have committed every imaginable evil. The difference is not in the severity of their sin, or in the number of their offenses, but in their response to the offer of the Savior.”
Across the years there have been those who have asked me: “How can you be so sure you’re right? What if you’re wrong?” And my response is some form of: “I believe the Bible is true because I’ve known it’s Author for many years. So, the real question becomes, what if I’m right?”
Paul said in Philippians 1:21: “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” People can argue all day about the accuracy and inerrancy of the Bible, but to me I have no doubt that the Bible is accurate and true in it’s message. And it’s not because I’m an authority on the history of the Bible or it’s languages, it’s because I’m a child of my heavenly Father and I know He never lies.
The bottom line to me is simple, saved people go to heaven; unsaved people don’t. So, my mission as long as this old body has life, is to try to help people make an informed decision about the most important issue with which they’ll ever be confronted – where they’ll spend eternity and why!
What sends someone to hell is certainly not a Savior who died to prevent anyone from going who is willing to confess their sin and place their trust in Him, so, it must be a refusal to make that decision. But why would anyone who understands that ever choose hell? That, my friend, is a great question and is the very reason I want to help anyone with whom I have contact to understand what’s at stake.
Will you help me spread the word? Let’s warn everyone we know, or whomever will listen. There’s too much at risk if we remain quiet about such great news.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 