“The Son of Man will send out His angels and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire.” —Jesus
Hell—Fiery judgment—Eternal damnation.
This is a sobering biblical Truth that many Christians and most unbelievers don’t want to talk about.
“That’s not love!” they shout.
And yet, in Matthew chapter 13, Jesus (the God who is Love) said it three times in close proximity.
Be clear on this; Jesus never said anything that was not spoken in love.
Many people today who acknowledge Jesus say He was a “good teacher.” A “good man.” Or a “wise prophet.”
But tell them He is the Son of God who will “come from Heaven with all His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that do not know God, and that do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, punishing them with everlasting destruction” (see 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9), and they will curse you as a judgmental, hateful, right-wing bigot.
However, the fiery judgment of Hell is not an obscure or isolated truth in the Bible. And Jesus talked about it more than anyone. Read the entire New Testament and you will find it a recurring theme from Matthew to Revelation.
Today’s watered-down message is mostly focused on how to get more blessings and to just think positively. But I don’t find Jesus teaching that kind of watered-down message anywhere in the Bible.
So what does it mean to “speak the truth in love?”
It doesn’t mean to say things in a sweet and syrupy way that will never possibly offend anyone.
If you speak of the things that Jesus taught His disciples to speak, trust me; no matter how sweet and nice you try to say it, you will offend some people. “What?! You’re telling me that I’m a sinner!? And that I will go to Hell if I reject Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross?!”
People all think that they’re “good.”
Most people haven’t murdered anyone, or molested children. Most folks consider the Saddam Hussein’s, the Adolph Hitler’s and the Ted Bundy’s of the world to be the bad people… the “sinners.”
But “me!” No, “I’m a good person!” they will tell you. “Certainly not deserving of Hell!”
However, the Bible clearly states; “There are none who are righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10)
Jesus Himself said, “No one is good but One; that is, God.” (Mark 10:18)
So, according to today’s worldly standards, you may not consider yourself to be a bad person. But God judges man according to His own standard of perfection, not according to ours.
Most of us know people that have thus far rejected Christ. Knowing that the "Truth shall set you free" we are obligated to love them enough to continue, in all possible ways, to speak the truth to them in love. Other times we may know someone who professes to know Christ, but they have chosen a path or lifestyle that will separate them from God, if they do not repent and change direction. Either way, the question is, do we love them enough to speak Truth into their life? Or do we remain silent, afraid to possibly offend them. I would say it is definitely not "love" to remain silent when their soul is in peril.
Where, then, is the real “Love” in all this?
Namely this:
“But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
And this:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
And this:
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Please… read the entire New Testament.
Many people today who acknowledge Jesus say He was a “good teacher.” A “good man.” Or a “wise prophet.”
But tell them He is the Son of God who will “come from Heaven with all His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that do not know God, and that do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, punishing them with everlasting destruction” (see 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9), and they will curse you as a judgmental, hateful, right-wing bigot.
However, the fiery judgment of Hell is not an obscure or isolated truth in the Bible. And Jesus talked about it more than anyone. Read the entire New Testament and you will find it a recurring theme from Matthew to Revelation.
Today’s watered-down message is mostly focused on how to get more blessings and to just think positively. But I don’t find Jesus teaching that kind of watered-down message anywhere in the Bible.
So what does it mean to “speak the truth in love?”
It doesn’t mean to say things in a sweet and syrupy way that will never possibly offend anyone.
If you speak of the things that Jesus taught His disciples to speak, trust me; no matter how sweet and nice you try to say it, you will offend some people. “What?! You’re telling me that I’m a sinner!? And that I will go to Hell if I reject Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross?!”
People all think that they’re “good.”
Most people haven’t murdered anyone, or molested children. Most folks consider the Saddam Hussein’s, the Adolph Hitler’s and the Ted Bundy’s of the world to be the bad people… the “sinners.”
But “me!” No, “I’m a good person!” they will tell you. “Certainly not deserving of Hell!”
However, the Bible clearly states; “There are none who are righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10)
Jesus Himself said, “No one is good but One; that is, God.” (Mark 10:18)
So, according to today’s worldly standards, you may not consider yourself to be a bad person. But God judges man according to His own standard of perfection, not according to ours.
Most of us know people that have thus far rejected Christ. Knowing that the "Truth shall set you free" we are obligated to love them enough to continue, in all possible ways, to speak the truth to them in love. Other times we may know someone who professes to know Christ, but they have chosen a path or lifestyle that will separate them from God, if they do not repent and change direction. Either way, the question is, do we love them enough to speak Truth into their life? Or do we remain silent, afraid to possibly offend them. I would say it is definitely not "love" to remain silent when their soul is in peril.
Where, then, is the real “Love” in all this?
Namely this:
“But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
And this:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
And this:
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Please… read the entire New Testament.
God’s justice, vengeance and judgment, is answered by His own Mercy, Love and Grace—but only to those who will acknowledge their own sin and guilt and need for a savior, and who will openly surrender their heart and turn to Jesus Christ.
Salvation in Jesus Christ is a free gift to all those who will freely believe, and accept it.
For me, the very bad news of Hell and eternal fire was washed away by the amazingly Good News of salvation as a free gift of God's grace, through faith, which is also a free gift.
As an unbeliever some twenty two years ago, I didn't want to hear about Hell. But the Good News sounds even better when you know what the bad news is first. I needed to know why I needed a Savior.
I needed to know what I was being saved from—which is eternal separation from God, and a fiery torment in a place called Hell.
Once I learned who Jesus the Savior is, and what He did for me on the Cross out of His amazing love for me, I simply couldn't say no to Him any longer.
God's grace is an amazing, incomprehensibly wonderful thing!
All you have to do is receive it.
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
Salvation in Jesus Christ is a free gift to all those who will freely believe, and accept it.
For me, the very bad news of Hell and eternal fire was washed away by the amazingly Good News of salvation as a free gift of God's grace, through faith, which is also a free gift.
As an unbeliever some twenty two years ago, I didn't want to hear about Hell. But the Good News sounds even better when you know what the bad news is first. I needed to know why I needed a Savior.
I needed to know what I was being saved from—which is eternal separation from God, and a fiery torment in a place called Hell.
Once I learned who Jesus the Savior is, and what He did for me on the Cross out of His amazing love for me, I simply couldn't say no to Him any longer.
God's grace is an amazing, incomprehensibly wonderful thing!
All you have to do is receive it.
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
