This past week our Pastor, David Platt, had one of the most powerful 15-minute introductions to a sermon that I have ever heard (that says a lot!). He challenged everyone to consider whether or not they have been saved from their sin and the coming wrath of God. In light of the unforeseen death of his precious mother-in-law, our Pastor challenged all of us to consider our present condition in light of our impending death.
And then he said something that is very unpopular today.
He stated that if all you have is cultural Christianity (i.e., prayed a prayer, attend church, trying to be good, participate in religious activity, only have intellectually belief in Jesus) then you are on a road that leads to hell.
Hell is not an easy doctrine. However, the level of difficultly of a particular doctrine is never a litmus test for its reality. The question always is, “Does the Word of God teach this to be true?” In answering this question J.C. Ryle goes says, “If you doubt hell, then there is no fact or doctrine in the Bible that you cannot also doubt. You may as well throw your Bible away, for there are only a few steps from “no hell” to “no God””.
I know that there has been a ton of buzz out there, even on this college blog (see here and here), addressing those that are trying to undercut the biblical teaching of a real, eternal, horrible place called hell. But, in light of our pastor’s stern biblical warning, which might leave some college students asking, “Really?”, I thought I would challenge us all to consider this difficult doctrine by pointing out some of JC Ryle’s challenging thoughts regarding hell.
J.C. Ryle’s Practical Religion-
Do you believe the Bible? Then depend upon it,
Hell is real and true: If you doubt hell, then there is no fact or doctrine in the Bible that you cannot also doubt. Disbelieve hell and you unscrew and unsettle everything in Scripture. You may as well throw your Bible away, for there are only a few steps from “no hell” to “no God.”
Hell will have inhabitants: The wicked will certainly be sent to hell, and all the people that forget God. “They will go away to eternal punishment.” (Matthew 25:46) The same blessed Savior who now sits on a throne of grace, will one day sit on a throne of judgment, and men will see that there is such a thing as “the wrath of the Lamb.” (Revelation 6:16) The same lips which now say, “Come: come to Me!” will one day say, “Depart from me, you who are cursed!”
Hell will be an intense and unutterable misery: It is vain to talk of all the expressions of hell, as only being figures of speech. The pit, the prison, the maggot, the fire, the thirst, the blackness, the darkness, the weeping, the gnashing of teeth, the second death—all these may be figures of speech if you please. But beyond all doubt, figures of speech, in the Bible, mean something, and here they mean something which man’s mind can never fully conceive.
Hell is eternal: It must be eternal or words have no meaning at all. Forever and ever—everlasting—unquenchable—eternal—all these are expressions used about hell and expressions that cannot be explained away. It must be eternal or the very foundations of heaven are destroyed. If hell has an end, heaven has an end too. They both stand or fall together. It must be eternal or else every doctrine of the gospel is undermined. If a man without faith in Christ or without the sanctification of the Spirit can escape hell, then sin is no longer an infinite evil and there was no great need for Christ making an atonement. And where in the Bible is there warrant for saying that hell can ever change a heart or make it fit for heaven? It must be eternal or hell would cease to be hell altogether.
Hell is a subject that ought not to be kept back: It is obvious to note the many texts about hell in the Scriptures. It is interesting to observe that no one said so much about hell as did our Lord Jesus Christ, that gracious and merciful Savior, and the apostle John, whose heart seems full of love. Truly, it is doubtful whether we ministers speak of it as much as we ought. I cannot forget the words of a dying person to his minister, “Sir, you often told me of Christ and salvation, but why didn’t you often remind me of hell and danger?”
In conclusion, JC Ryle pleads with his readers…
I implore every one that reads this paper, with all tender affection, to beware of false views of the subject on which I have been dwelling. Beware of new and strange doctrines about hell and eternal punishment. Beware of manufacturing a God of your own—a God who is all mercy, but not just—a God who is all love, but not holy—a God who has a heaven for everybody, but a hell for none—a God who can allow good and bad to exist side by side on earth, and will make no distinction between good and bad in eternity. Such a God is an idol of your own creation as real as Jupiter or Moloch—as true an idol as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple—as true an idol as ever was molded out of brass or clay. The hands of your own notions and emotions have made him. He is not the God of the Bible; and aside from the God of the Bible there is no God at all.
Finally, below are some suggested resources to help you consider whether or not the Gospel of Jesus Christ has saved you from your sin and God’s wrath to come. Also, if you have any questions or desire to talk to someone regarding salvation, please don’t hesitate to email us at college@brookhills.org.
+The Story (Gospel presentation by Spread Truth)
+Two Ways to Live (Gospel presentation by Matthias Media)
+LifeBlood (Teaching series by David Platt)
