Hell is Real

QUESTION: I know that hell is real, but why does it exist?

ANSWER:

Hell is real and it exists as a result of disobedience, jealousy, and acts of rebellion. Plainly, SIN necessitated hell's creation. Sin is anything against God and His will.

The never-ending inferno was created for the devil, his angels and followers (Revelation 12:7-9). Yet they are not the only ones who inhabit the blazes of hell. For example, in Matthew 23 the Lord denounces the Scribes and Pharisees, who will not escape judgment for their ways. Everyone who rejects Jesus Christ will be condemned when his or her day of judgment comes. According to Matthew 25:41 Jesus will say, "…Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Luke 16:13 and Matthew 6:24 tell us that we cannot serve two masters. All of mankind chooses if they serve God or Satan.

Some may say that this sentencing sounds like a rather fatalistic line of thought. Quite the opposite is true though. There is a saying "that for every action there is a natural reaction" or "for every event or choice, there is a natural consequence." The Bible tells us that God gives us free will to choose Him or not. He does this because he loves us and wants us to freely choose to love Him back. God does not want programmed little robots.

His Word states that the reward of accepting Him, through Jesus, will be eternal life in God's Kingdom with Him. Though everyone has sinned, God has shown His love by offering the gift of Jesus for the way of salvation from hell. However, the consequence for rejecting Him is spending eternity with the devil. There are no other choices, God will look into our hearts and know.

We cannot walk the line between God and Satan and live in the grey area. Jesus states in Revelation 3:16 "So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth." In other words, we are either committed to Him or we are not. Whether we die a natural death or are living at the time of Christ's promised return, we will face judgment for the life we have selected.

2 Peter 3:3-5, 6 says, "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is this "coming" he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men."

1 John 1:8-10 says, "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives."

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-10).

1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 says, "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."