MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HELL
Hell is a very difficult subject to talk about. It can be offensive and controversial. Unfortunately, many Christians avoid the subject entirely. Some even deny its existence. But Jesus often spoke of hell. It was part of His world view and should be part of ours as well. I think some of the problem concerning our misunderstanding about hell is ignorance. People have ideas and opinions about hell that aren’t in the Bible. Some are based on feelings, others on popular culture or literature and still others on appeasing the world. As believers who want to uphold the truth faithfully and lovingly, we need to know what Scripture teaches about hell. The reality of hell and the fact that unbelievers go there after death are essential points of Christianity. Not only is this doctrine important because it addresses the fate of those who reject Jesus, but also because this doctrine is tied to other essential tenets, such as sin, judgment, and God’s holiness.
Misconception 1: There is no hell. Using human reason, some believe that since God is love, there could never be a place like hell. A loving God would never send anyone to hell. Scripture directly contradicts those who believe that hell does not exist. In the Bible, we can read about Jesus talking about hell often. For instance, we read about how Jesus taught that it is better to lose a hand or eye than to sin and be thrown into hell (Matthew 5:29-30). He also gave us the parable of Lazarus and the rich man, which describes the rich man going to eternal suffering after he dies (Luke 16:19-31). Hell does not contradict the character of God, it proves it. A holy God cannot have sin in His presence. All of us have sinned and deserves punishment in hell (Romans 3:232), but Jesus came to die for us (John 3:16). He took sin’s punishment on Himself (Isaiah 53:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21). The fact that we deserve death and hell, but God still made a way for us to be saved, shows His great love (Romans 5:8).
Christians who deny the existence of hell diminish God’s holiness. The one true God is holy and sinless (Psalm 5:4; 99:9). He cannot tolerate sin or stand in the presence of wickedness. As 1 John 1:5 says, “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” Saying there is no hell because God would never punish anyone contradicts His holiness. It also makes the work of Jesus on the cross meaningless. If there is no hell then Jesus’ death accomplished nothing, for no one would have gone to hell anyway. If there is no hell, then unbelievers will spend eternity in God’s presence in heaven, something that is not true at all (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
Misconception 2: Satan and demons live in hell. This error stems from popular folk-lore of Satan as a horned and fork-tailed being ruling in the flames as the king of hell. The truth is that Satan has never been in hell – yet. It was created for Satan and demons (Matthew 25:41) and will be their eternal destiny (Revelation 20:10). Satan freely roams the earth now (Job 1:6-7; 1 Peter 5:8). He is the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). He is present in this world, throwing flaming darts at us (Ephesians 6:11, 16). We must be careful to avoid his schemes and traps (2 Corinthians 2:11). Some demons are presently temporarily locked away (Revelation 9:1-12; Luke 8:30-33), but none are in hell yet. Hell was not created for people, just for fallen angels. However, when sin entered the human race and people rejected God’s provision for removal of sin, then those who die in their sins place themselves under judgment and suffer the punishment of eternal separation from God. That is hell (Matthew 25:46; see also Daniel 12:2 and 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).
Misconception 3: God is responsible for people going to hell. The full responsibility for those who reject God’s gracious provision of salvation is theirs alone, not God’s. John 3:18 says, “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” People choose hell when they choose not to believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection for salvation. To say that God sends people to hell does not consider the full picture, which includes human free will to accept or refuse His grace.
God does not delight in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 18:23). He desires all people to come to Him in faith so that they do not perish (2 Peter 3:9). Despite that, people choose to reject His loving offer of salvation. Jesus, God the Son, has already endured the punishment of eternity in hell which we deserve. No one has to suffer punishment in hell, but they choose to do so when they turn down the Lord’s loving offer of grace. Hell is not a popular doctrine in modern society, but it is a biblical reality. We must base our beliefs about hell and eternal punishment on Scripture, not on feelings, trends, or popular culture.
Revelation 20:10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. … 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. … 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
Have you believed any of these myths about hell? What is God’s truth instead?
Spend some time thanking God that those who have accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation will never have to fear hell.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling)
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