Featured Hell is a real place

Hell is a literal place, where the unsaved will suffer eternal punishment. However, these is no way of saying from the teaching in the Bible, that the terms like "fire" are literal, or metaphorical. Again I say that this is the saddest doctrine in the whole Bible.

 

Jon, I hope you don't mind me saying something here, as you are addressing someone else? If you were to read the Gospels, like Mark 9:42-50, you will see that Jesus Himself preached "fiery sermons", which are indeed needed. They are not to "scare" anyone, but as a grave warning because of the severity of "eternal punishment". That is why Jesus told Judas, that it would have been better if he were not even born.

 

I am not shamed to say as a over 55 man, that i have spent many hours in tears for the lost, especially for dear ones close to me, who cannot see the urgent need to repent and believe the Gospel. How my heart wishes this doctrine were not true.

 

Listen to the sick stuff some say about God and the lost in hell:

"One student asked Dr. Gerstner, “How can I be happy in heaven if I’m aware that one of my loved ones is in hell?” Dr. Gerstner responded: “Don’t you know that when you are in heaven you will be so sanctified that you could look at your own mother in hell and rejoice in the display of the justice of God.” And Sproul burst out laughing, informing Dr. Gerstner that his statement was absolutely ridiculous."

2010 Ligonier National Conference - R.C. Sproul (II)

 

sadly this man, and millions like him, have been deceived by the devil into believing his lies. Only the mercy of the Lord can reach such people.

 

Teaching (anything) particularly "about" Scripture is a subject that requires the Teacher to know whom his "students" are.

IMO, according to Scripture, and observing our example, JESUS, and HOW He taught, which included BOTH, teaching to masses, (skeptics AND followers) AND teaching separately exclusively to Followers; reveals Jesus' own teaching methods.

The skeptics, were not bombarded with the threat and fear of the consequences.

Scripture teaches to FIRST hear, read, learn ABOUT Jesus, ABOUT God. The Who, What, When, Why and Where.

And then ~ How God, Jesus "relates" to individuals.

The "punch line" IS, there is "no relationship" between God, Jesus and an individual, WHEN the individual KNOWS nothing ABOUT God, and chooses to NOT know ABOUT God, and chooses to NEVER have a relationship with God.

Even a "skeptic" can comprehend "relationships" are not "one-sided".
Even a "skeptic" can comprehend "they" can be in love with someone, who has NO interest in having a relationship with them.

The entire Scriptural message, is teaching God/Jesus absolutely DOES was a relationship with every man, and it is entirely the man's OPTION to choose to have a relationship with God/Jesus, and He will not REJECT the man, (as human's often do).

It is not necessary for a TEACHER, to open a conversation with a skeptic, with threat of hell fire.

Point being ~ everything has a consequence (good or bad).

A believer IS prepared to learn both. (Prepared, precisely because he has been enlightened to the Truth, trusts it, and submitted in faithfulness)

A skeptic IS not prepared to discuss both. They KNOW not God/Jesus. They "WANT" to argue the "the threat of hell fire".

Why? Should be the big question, should "the skeptic" introduce the topic.
Why? Would they believe in HELL, a place they have never seen, when they do not believe in Christ Jesus/ God, whom they have never seen?

The subject of hell fire can easily be put on hold to a skeptic, if they bring it up, and a believer does not need to bring up, to a skeptic, the threat of hell fire.

And the opportunity returns for the "teacher" to control the "teaching" by teaching ABOUT God/Jesus.

And the primary Scriptural knowledge about "teaching" Scriptural knowledge IS; It is by INVITATION, not FORCE.

The Temple is where men voluntarily went to HEAR ABOUT GOD.
Jesus often went to the courtyard of the Temple, where others "teachers/prophets" would go to speak, AND any man of the public could choose to go and hear.

Men (disciples) often went ahead of Jesus, and announced Jesus would be speaking, and whomever "wanted" to, could arrive at the place to hear Him speak.

Churches announce, they will hold a meeting (service) for anyone who wants to Hear about Jesus/God.

Revivals...same thing.

IF you encounter a skeptic ~ WHO wants to discuss God/Jesus....if they are NOT a believer, they are NOT in the position to BE the "teacher"....so don't let them.

A skeptic WHO wants to discuss God/Jesus, OFTEN wants you to DEFEND God for having a place called hell, that is a tormenting place for unbelievers.

God does not require "DEFENDING".

It is quite simple. An individual man has TWO choices.
1) Stand with God.
or
2) Stand against God.

It is quite simple.
An individual man WHO chooses a standing with God, receives what God has prepared for him.
An individual man WHO chooses a standing against God, receives what God has prepared for him.

Period.

 

Precisely!

An unbeliever is not qualified to teach belief in God or what God has prepared for all men. (believers and skeptics).

"he" (the person in your video) is knowledgeable and skilled in ballet.

His "opinion" "about God" is about as useful as a person's lack of knowledge and skill in ballet, to pretend they are an authority about ballet.

 

The cure for the problem is not to quit preaching on Hell, but to have compassion when we do so. John R. Rice used to make the point that any man who could preach on Hell without weeping was backslidden.

Actually, you can and should. The Bible says in Jude v. 23: "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

My wife was saved at age 20 when she heard a message on Hell by a visiting evangelist in her church. She wept the whole sermon, then went forward and got saved.

One of my mentors, Dr. Monroe Parker, used to preach a very scholarly sermon on Hell, through which many were saved. The difference between him and other evangelists who preached on Hell? Dr. Parker was filled with the Spirit when he did so.

Such preaching never tickled my ears. It should be preached to the church with the goal of getting them out to rescue souls.

Again, what is necessary is (1) compassion, and (2) the fullness of the Spirit, neither of which I see in the author of the OP. (And yes, I've confronted him on these to no avail, so I finally gave up on him

 

And also for repentance of sin BEFORE conversion, and not the modern day heresy that says that to repent means only to change one's mind on Jesus Christ, and after you are saved you can say you are sorry for your sins! What utter rubbish!