June 02, 2007
Newsletter Archives

Dr. H.A. Ironside, the great preacher of a former day, told of an occasion when Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll, the agnostic lecturer of the last century, was announced to give an address on hell. He declared he would prove conclusively that hell was a wild dream of some scheming theologians who invented it to terrify credulous people. As he was launching into his subject, a half-drunken man arose in the audience and exclaimed, “Make it strong, Bob. There’s a lot of us poor fellows depending on you. If you are wrong, we are all lost. So be sure you prove it clear and plain.”
The problem is that hell is real and no amount of reasoning can nullify it. The Lord Jesus spoke as surely and plainly of a hell for the finally impenitent as of a heaven for those who are saved. He solemnly recorded the history of a rich man who “….lifted up his eyes , being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame.” Luke 16:23,24. The Lord Jesus also spoke of “…the fire that never shall be quenched.” Mark 9:43.
In the last fifty years or more there has been an increasing denial of the Biblical doctrine of hell fire. Men are trying to convince us that God is too merciful to punish souls for ever, that all mankind, however wicked and ungodly will sooner or later be saved. We are expected to embrace what is called “kinder theology,” and treat hell as a pagan fable. Nevertheless, this question lies at the very foundation of the whole Gospel.
The moral attributes of God, His justice, His holiness, His purity are all involved in it. The Scripture has spoken plainly and fully on the subject of hell. If words mean anything, there is such a place as hell. If texts are to be interpreted fairly, there are those who will be cast into it.
The same Bible which teaches that God in mercy and compassion sent Christ to die for sinners, does also teach that God hates sin, and must from His very nature punish all who cleave to sin or refuse the salvation He has provided. While we ought never speak of hell without pain and sorrow, yet we could be charged with gross negligence if we did not warn people about it.
God gladly offers salvation to the very chief of sinners, to the vilest and most profligate of mankind. Yet without the question of personal sin being put away, there is no hope. And it would be wrong to hide the fact that the Bible reveals a hell as well as heaven…that men may be lost as well as saved. The most important question then has to be, Am I saved?

Russ Nesbit