THE ALTERNATIVE

Section 1: What is God’s Truth about Hell?

“Just a bare majority 58% of Americans believe in hell (down from 71% in recent years) and only 2% believe they will end up there.” – Lee Strobel

1. Hell is a Real Place

Revelation 20:15 – “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

2. Hell is Eternal Conscious Punishment

Matthew 25:46 (NLT) – “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Daniel 12:2 (NIV) – “Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.”

“To limit the suffering of the wicked without limiting the bliss of the righteous is grammatically impossible.” – Robert Morey

John 12:46 (NLT) – “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness.”

3. There are No Second Chances!

Hebrews 9:27 – “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”

Luke 13:24 (NIV) – “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”

Section 2: Why God?

1. How Do You Resolve a Loving God and People Going to a Horrible Hell?

Response:

A. God is just.

Romans 2:11 – “For God does not show favoritism.”

God on hell: I don’t want people to go there.

2 Peter 3:9b – “Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 3:36 (MSG) – “That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever! And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn’t see life. All he experiences of God is darkness, and an angry darkness at that.”

2. Hell is Too Severe a Punishment for Man’s Sin (Seems Unfair)

Response:

A. Sin is willful opposition to God our Creator.

2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 (NKJV) – “Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,”

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 (NKJV) – “In flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction forever separated from the Lord and from His glorious power.”

B. Our sin does merit hell.

Romans 6:23 (NLT) – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Section 3: How Should We Live Differently in Light of Hell?

Jude 21 (NIV) – “Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

1. Focus on Knowing (and Being Known by) Jesus!

Matthew 7:22-23 (NLT) – “On judgment day many will say to Me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your Name and cast out demons in Your Name and performed many miracles in Your Name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God’s laws.’”

2. Focus on Sharing the Good News of Salvation!

Romans 9:2 (NIV) – “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.”

Ezekiel 18:23 (NLT) – “‘Do you think that I like to see wicked people die?’ says the Sovereign Lord. ‘Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.’”

Matthew 25:10 – “And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with Him to the wedding; and the door was shut.”

“The door is open now, but it won’t stay open forever.” – Francis Chan

2 Corinthians 5:20b; 21; 6:2b (ESV) – “We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God…For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God…Behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Discussion Questions:

1. Prior to this morning, how would you have described hell?

2. Do you think about or read about hell often?

3. What types of emotions do you feel about the idea of hell?

4. Do you have any ideas about hell that were challenged by the message today? Share about that.

5. How should you live differently in light of the alternative destination for eternity?