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Matthew 25:31-46 Hell is Everlasting Punishment
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Text: Matthew 25:31-46
Introduction
- When Jesus Christ comes back again he will judge the world, all nations, according to the things we have done in our body. This will be the great day of separation. The sheep will be separated from the goats, a few will go on the right side, many others will go to the left. A few will be rewarded with the blessings of heaven and many will endure the punishment of hell – 2 Corinthians 5:10.
- This evening we want to demonstrate that hell is a real place of everlasting punishment, even though few people view themselves as swimming in the lake of fire – Matthew 7:13-14.
Hell is Eternal Punishment for Those that Rebel Against God
- The word hell derives its meaning from the Hebrew (Ge-hinnnom), the Valley of Hinnom, which was a pit into which trash, defiled or filthy things were dumped to be burned. This became a technical term for unending torment.
- In the Bible hell is described as a place of outer darkness, the furnace of fire, the lake of fire, a place where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth and the fire will not be quenched. There will be everlasting destruction, and everlasting punishment in this eternal punishment. Let us make sure we are not bundle up and cast into the fire – Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43 (Wheat and Tares); Matthew 13:47-51 (Net).
- Hell is not a temporary punishment were you burn in fire for a while and go to ashes. Hell’s duration is everlasting, without end which, means in hell your body will not decay from the fire because God says your worm dies not. To avoid this terrible place of punishment, there will be a number of things we must eliminate from our lives – Mark 9:43-48.
- The everlasting fire of hell was prepared for the punishment of the devil and his angels that rebelled against God – Matthew 25:41. Hell is reserved for the devil and his angels and all those that do evil – Jude 6.
- To those that are determined to be disobey, rebel, and to turn away from the truth of God’s Word, will receive their just reward of God which is separation from God in the terrible place of everlasting punishment – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Revelation 21:8.
- If you want to avoid this terrible place you need to have spiritual surgery, and cut out those things that are in your life that are evil and displeasing in the sight of God – Matthew 18:7-9.
- Those that labor endlessly in the body of Christ should take comfort in knowing God will give comfort and rest to them that die in the Lord – Revelation 14:13. But those that do not know God, and obey the gospel of Christ will be punished in hell – 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Harry (Andy) Anderson Jr.
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Second Coming of Christ Jesus
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(The Second Coming)
Introduction
1. A fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith is the second coming of Christ…
a. That Jesus will literally one day return
b. To usher in a series of events that will transform our existence
2. This “second coming” will be…
a. At the “last day”
b. At the end of time as we know it
c. The beginning of a totally new existence that will last for eternity
Body
I. THE PROMISE OF HIS COMING
A. BY JESUS HIMSELF…
1. At the last supper, before His arrest and crucifixion – John 14:1-3
2. Comforting His disciples with the promise of His return
B. BY HIS ANGELS…
1. When Jesus ascended into heaven – Acts 1:9-11
2. The “two men…in white apparel”
3. Who said, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
C. BY HIS APOSTLES…
1. Peter, in his second recorded sermon – Acts 3:19-21
2. Paul, in writing to…
a. The Corinthians – 1 Corinthians 11:26; 15:22-23
b. The Thessalonians – 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 2:19; 3:13
c. The young evangelist, Timothy – 2 Timothy 4:1
3. The writer to the Hebrews – Hebrews 9:27-28
[As I believe in Jesus and His apostles, I believe in their promises. Besides the promise of His coming, there is also…]
II. THE PURPOSE OF HIS COMING
A. TO RAISE THE DEAD…
1. Both the righteous and wicked dead – John 5:28-29
a. Note there is but one resurrection, including both good and evil, that will occur at one time
b. As Paul said, “there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust” – Acts 24:15
2. Those who are alive at the Lord’s coming…
a. Will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, clothed with immortality and incorruption – 1 Corinthians 15:50-54
b. Then “caught up…to meet the Lord in the air.” – 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18
B. TO DELIVER THE KINGDOM TO GOD…
1. When all are made alive at His coming – 1 Corinthians 15:22-24
2. Contrary to the view that Jesus has yet to establish His kingdom on earth, He has been ruling over His kingdom since He first ascended to heaven!
a. In fulfillment of the prophecy that God would raise up the Christ to sit on the throne of David, Jesus was raised from the dead and made “Lord” – Acts 2:30-36
b. All authority has been given unto Him – Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20-22; 1 Peter 3:22
c. Christians are said to be “in” His kingdom – Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9
d. Christ will continue to reign “till He has put all enemies under His feet” – 1 Corinthians 15:25
1) Note that His reign will be concurrent with the fact enemies are still present
2) As prophesied by the Psalmist: “Rule in the midst of Your enemies!” – Psalm 110:1-2
e. Thus Christ is now “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of Lords” – 1 Timothy 6:15; cf. Revelation 19:16
f. And He will reign “till He has put all enemies under His feet” – 1 Corinthians 15:25
1) The last enemy that will be destroyed is death itself – cf. 1 Corinthians 15:26
2) Which we have seen will be destroyed at the coming of the Lord when He will raise the dead – 1 Corinthians 15:51-54
3. So when He comes, it will not be to “set up”, but to “deliver up” His kingdom!
a. As Paul clearly told the Corinthians – 1 Corinthians 15:23-26
b. As taught by Jesus in His Parable of the Tares – Matthew 13:36-43
1) His kingdom will last until “the end of this age”
2) After which “the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father”
C. TO JUDGE THE WORLD AND PUNISH EVIL…
1. God has appointed “a day” in which He will judge the world – 2 Peter 3:7
a. The one appointed to be the Judge is Jesus Christ – Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10
b. The standard by which He will judge will be the words He has spoken – John 12:48
2. It will be a day of perdition (utter destruction) of ungodly men – 2 Peter 3:7
a. Those who know not God and have not obeyed the gospel will be punished with “everlasting destruction” – 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
b. Those whose names are not in the “Book of Life” will be cast into the “lake of fire” – Revelation 20:11-15
D. TO USHER IN THE “NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH”…
1. As taught by Peter – 2 Peter 3:10-14
a. This will follow the “passing away” of the present heavens and earth
b. In fulfillment of God’s promise – cf. Isaiah 65:17-19; 66:22-23
c. Something we are to “look for”
d. It will be a realm where righteousness dwells, therefore the need for us to be found “in peace, without spot and blameless” when Christ returns
2. As taught by John – Revelation 21:1-22:5
a. It will follow after the first heaven and first earth have “passed away” – cf. Revelation 20:11
b. It will be the place where the “Jerusalem” will abide when it “comes down out of heaven” – Revelation 3:10c; 21:10
c. God will dwell with us in this “Jerusalem” that has “come down out of heaven”
Conclusion
1. If there will not be a second coming, then there will not be…
a. A resurrection of the dead
b. A transfer of Christ’s kingdom to the heavenly kingdom
c. A judgment of the world and subsequent punishment of evil
d. A new heavens and new earth, in which righteousness dwells
2. If there will not be a second coming, then Christians are to be pitied…
a. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen – 1 Corinthians 15:16
b. And if Christ is not risen, our faith is futile and we are still in our sins – 1 Corinthians 15:17
c. Those who have died in Christ have perished – 1 Corinthians 15:18
d. If in this life only we have hope, we are of all men the most pitiable – 1 Corinthians 15:19
3. But we can have confidence in the second coming of Christ…
a. If we believe there is a God
b. If we believe the Bible is the Word of God
c. If we believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
4. The fact that Jesus has not yet come is only an indication of God’s long-suffering (2 Peter 3:8-9). But rest assured, as promised that “day” will come!
5. In the meantime, what should be our attitude be toward the coming of our Lord?
a. One of prayerful preparation – Luke 21:34-36; 2 Peter 3:14
b. One of joyful expectation – Philippians 3:20-21
c. One of patient endurance – Hebrews 10:35-39
6. Is that your attitude…?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Hebrews 10:26-39 A Warning Against Willful Sin – audio
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Text: Hebrews 10:26-39
Introduction
1. Immediately following a gracious exhortation to draw near to God and hold fast the confession of our hope, we find an ominous warning
a. It is a warning against willful sin – Hebrews 10:26-39
b. It speaks of reaching a terrible state in which:
1) There longer remains a sacrifice for sins
2) There is a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation
2. Is this a warning for Christians? Some would say no
a. They believe in the doctrine once saved, always saved
b. They hold that true Christians:
1) Cannot so sin to point of being eternally lost
2) If they begin to sin to the point where they might be lost, God will intervene and take their life to prevent it from happening
3. Does the Bible teach once saved, always saved?
a. It does teach the security of the believer (i.e., those who remain faithful are secure)
b. But it also teaches that a believer can become an unbeliever, at which point a person has every reason to fear for his or her salvation! – Hebrews 3:12-14
4. The possibility of apostasy (falling away) is taught in the Bible, especially in the epistle to Hebrews
a. We have already seen several warnings implying this possibility:
1) A warning against drifting – Hebrews 2:1-4
2) A warning against departing – Hebrews 3:12-14
3) A warning against disobedience – Hebrews 4:11
4) A warning against dullness, leading to apostasy – Hebrews 5:11-6:6
b. But perhaps now, with a warning against willful sin, we learn the real danger of losing our salvation if we despise what we have received! – Hebrews 10:26-39
Body
I. WHAT IT MEANS TO SIN WILLFULLY (Hebrews 10:26)
A. COMPARE OTHER TRANSLATIONS
1. If we deliberately keep on sinning… (NIV)
2. For if we go on sinning deliberately… (ESV)
3. For if we go on sinning willfully… (NASB)
B. THE SENSE OF THE GREEK IS ONE OF REPEATED ACTION
1. Implying not an act of sin, but a state of sin
a. All Christians have moments of weakness, or ignorantly sin – 1 John 1:8-10
b. It is not inadvertent sin, but deliberate sin that is under consideration
2. A state in which one:
a. Knows the truth – Hebrews 10:26b
b. Yet chooses to deliberately and continuously persist in sin!
C. CAN A TRUE CHRISTIAN EVER REACH THIS POINT? YES!!!
1. Note the pronoun we (the author includes himself in the warning) – Hebrews 10:26a
2. He later describes one who was sanctified by the blood of the covenant – Hebrews 10:29
3. This warning is directed to those who have been sanctified by the blood of Jesus!
4. When one persists in sin willfully, they are in grave danger. This is especially true when one is a Christian!
II. THE CONSEQUENCES OF WILLFUL SIN (Hebrews 10:26-27)
A. THERE NO LONGER REMAINS A SACRIFICE FOR SIN
1. What sacrifice is under consideration here? Christ’s sacrifice!
2. What sacrifice no longer remains? Christ’s sacrifice!
3. The blood of Christ is no longer available for one who persists in willful sin!
B. WHAT DOES REMAIN?
1. a certain fearful expectation of judgment – Hebrews 10:27a
a. One can expect a judgment that is certain! – Hebrews 9:27; Acts 17:30-31
b. One can expect a judgment that is fearful!
1) For we must answer to Christ Himself – 2 Corinthians 5:10-11
2) And we will be in the hands of the living God! – Hebrews 10:30-31
2. A fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries – Hebrews 10:27b
a. A judgment involving fire – Revelation 21:8
b. A judgment involving indignation (the wrath of God) – Romans 2:5-11
c. Such a judgment will devour – Matthew 10:28
III. THE JUSTIFICATION FOR PUNISHING WILLFUL SIN (Hebrews 10:28-31)
A. WHAT WAS REQUIRED UNDER THE OLD COVENANT?
1. Death without mercy! – Hebrews 10:28
2. Such was the punishment for a particular kind of sin:
a. Sin that was deliberate
1) In which one rejected Moses’ law (NKJV)
2) In which one despised Moses’ law (KJV)
b. Sin that was open
1) It had to be seen by two or more
2) For death was not rendered unless there were two or three witnesses
c. Again, it is WILLFULL sin that is under discussion
3. While there was mercy for sins of weakness or ignorance, there was none for open and deliberate sin under the Old Covenant!
B. WHAT IS REQUIRED UNDER THE NEW COVENANT?
1. One is worthy of much worse punishment! – Hebrews 10:29
a. What could be worse than physical death?
b. Only fiery indignation! (hell)
2. Why? Because a Christian who sins willfully has:
a. trampled the Son of God underfoot
1) It denotes contempt of the most flagrant kind
2) Such a person treats Jesus who died for him like dirt!
b. counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing
1) The blood of the covenant clearly refers to Jesus’ blood – Hebrews 9:14-22; Hebrews 13:20
2) It is by this blood one is sanctified
3) Such a person considered Jesus’ blood a common thing!
c. insulted the Spirit of grace
1) A reference to the Holy Spirit
a) Through Whom the message of salvation was given – John 16:13-14
b) Through Whom our sanctification takes place – 1 Corinthians 6:11; Titus 3:5-7
2) A person who openly and deliberately sins insults God’s grace!
3. This passage clearly teaches two things:
a. That a Christian can so sin as to reach this point of open rebellion against Jesus!
b. That the punishment reserved for such is worse than death!
C. IS THIS CONSISTENT WITH GOD’S NATURE?
1. Isn’t God a God of love? Of course! – 1 John 4:8
2. But He is also a God of justice, One who judges His people – Hebrews 10:30
a. To who much is given, much is required – Luke 12:47-48
b. Those who despise His love, set themselves up to be recipients of His wrath – Romans 2:4-6
3. Therefore it truly is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God – Hebrews 10:31
IV. THE SOLUTION TO AVOIDING WILLFUL SIN (Hebrews 10:32-39)
A. REMEMBER YOUR EARLY CONFIDENCE
1. The writer reminds his readers of their former days
a. Those days after they were illuminated (enlightened) – Hebrews 10:32
1) Shortly after their conversion
2) In the days of Justin (ca. 167 A.D.), this term was a synonym for baptism
b. Those days in which they were made a spectacle – Hebrews 10:32-34
1) By their own sufferings
2) And by sharing in the sufferings of others, including those of the author
a) In whom they had compassion in his chains
b) In which they joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods
3) Knowing that they had a better and enduring possession in heaven!
2. It is such confidence they must be careful not to cast away – Hebrews 10:35
a. To cast away is the opposite of hold fast
b. Only in holding fast our confidence is there great reward – Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 3:14
3. Likewise, we need to rekindle the fire of that newfound faith we had when we first responded to the gospel! – Revelation 2:4-5
B. ENDURE TO THE END
1. Endurance is needed to receive the promise – Hebrews 10:36
a. For the Lord is coming – Hebrews 10:37
b. And the just lives by faith – Hebrews 10:38
c. If we draw back (become unfaithful), the Lord will not be pleased! (My soul has no pleasure in him.)
2. The author speaks of his own confidence – Hebrews 10:39
a. He is not of those who draw back to perdition (who cast away their faith)
b. But of those who believe to saving of the soul (who remain faithful to the end)
3. We too need to believe to the saving of the soul, or to put it in the words of Jesus, be faithful unto death – Revelation 2:10
Conclusion
1. We can look forward with great anticipation to the saving of our souls, if we:
a. Remember (and rekindle) that confidence early in our conversion
b. Endure to the end with the faith that saves
2. But with a warning against willful sin, we must never forget that one can
a. Fall from grace!
b. Fall into the hands of the living God!
c. Which is a terrifying thing!
3. How much better, though, to be upheld by the hand of God, as the Psalmist wrote: The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. – Psalm 37:23-24
4. Such is the case of those who remain strong in their faith and trust in the Lord. Are you believing to the saving of your soul…?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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