What Does The Bible Say About Hell 2 | The Radical Reality

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it... Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matthew 7:13–23)

Jesus' most striking words on hell warn that many who look the part will be turned away — the question is whether you have truly believed.

Everyone Has an Opinion on Hell

Everyone has an opinion about hell. Some believe it is a place of remediation, where lost souls are punished for a time, then repent and move on to glory. Others think hell will not be a bad place at all. When Marilyn Manson was asked in 2007 whether he was going to hell, he said he probably would, but that it would likely be more comfortable for him because everyone he knows will be there, and he wouldn't be allowed to do anything fun in heaven anyway. That is one of the prominent pop-culture views — hell as a place of fun and partying. Still others view hell as a myth meant to manipulate the masses.

Our aim in this series is to answer a different question: what does the Bible say about hell? We do this because we believe the Bible is authoritative on every topic of which it speaks. As 2 Timothy 3:16 says, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, that the man or woman of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Rather than tracing every passage from Genesis to Revelation, we are going right to the source — to what Jesus said. Jesus is the definitive expert on every topic he chooses to address, and he spoke about hell more than anyone else in Scripture.

Jesus' Teaching on Hell Is Radical

Jesus' teaching on hell is radical — not so much in his description of it, but in who he says will go there. His description was actually consistent with most of the rabbis and people in and around Israel in his day. What is radical is the identity of those he says will end up there.

As Jesus describes it, hell is a place of dark, tormenting punishment. He uses words like unquenchable, unrelenting fire, and speaks of weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is not a pretty place. This is a heavy reality — the radical reality of what Jesus had to say about hell.

In Luke 16 we see Jesus build on this. Those in this place are conscious of their pain. The rich man, being in torment in Hades, lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off with Lazarus at his side, and cried out for mercy, asking that Lazarus might dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue, "for I am tormented in this flame." He was conscious of his pain and aware that others were not experiencing the same suffering.

Jesus reveals more in that account. Those in torment have remembrance of this life — Abraham says, "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received good things." They are unable to move away from that state, for Abraham says there is a great gulf fixed so that none can cross over. This stands against the idea that hell is a place of remediation. They are unable to return to their former life, contrary to reincarnation. And they are unable to receive comfort there. It is, in every sense, a hellish place — terrible, unending, with no better way to describe it.

Degrees of Punishment

In other passages Jesus seems to indicate degrees of punishment. In Matthew 11, after doing mighty works in Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, he rebuked those cities because they did not repent. He said it would be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon — even for Sodom — in the day of judgment than for them. The degree of punishment appears to be based on culpability: these cities had seen the Messiah, watched him raise the dead and heal the sick, and still did not repent.

In Luke 12:47–48 Jesus says the servant who knew his master's will and did not do it will be beaten with many stripes, but the one who did not know will be beaten with few. "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required." Greater knowledge brings greater accountability.

He says the same of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23, that for devouring widows' houses and making long prayers for a pretense they will receive greater condemnation. To Pilate in John 19:11 he says, "the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin." And Hebrews 10:29 asks of how much worse punishment the one will be worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot and insulted the Spirit of grace. The Scriptures seem to indicate degrees of punishment in hell.

Is There an End to Conscious Torment?

Jesus may also indicate that there could be an end to the conscious torment of hell, a minority position called annihilationism or conditionalism. Paul says in 1 Timothy 6:16 that God alone is immortal, and in 2 Timothy 1:10 that Jesus brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. The view holds that immortality is conditioned upon receiving the gospel, so lost souls will at some point be destroyed.

Some passages seem to allude to this. In Matthew 10:28 Jesus says to fear the one able to destroy both soul and body in hell. In Luke 20:16 the master of the vineyard comes and destroys the wicked vinedressers. Revelation 20 describes death and Hades being cast into the lake of fire, called the second death.

I don't think we can give a definitive answer on either degrees of punishment or annihilationism. The evangelical church has argued these points for more than 500 years, and we won't put them to rest today. Yet both seem to bring balance to God's justice and mercy. The important thing is not to get caught up in these finer points while missing the larger truth Jesus teaches.

Hell Is a Very Real and Terrible Place

Hell is a very real and terrible place. Honestly, I would like to believe there are degrees of punishment, and Jesus seems to teach it. I would like to believe the "good person" who never heard of Jesus will not face the same level of punishment as Jeffrey Dahmer or Adolf Hitler. I would love to believe that those who go there will one day be completely destroyed. Maybe that is what the Scriptures teach. But none of it lessens the reality of a very real and terrible place called hell. We should be challenged by it.

To add to the terror, we turn to what I think is Jesus' most striking teaching on the subject — and certainly the scariest. Matthew 7 is the end of the Sermon on the Mount, the longest single teaching in the Bible. Jesus had traveled Galilee preaching, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand," and healing the sick. Then he sat down on a hilltop by the Sea of Galilee, the Mount of Beatitudes, and taught his disciples. He ends this way in Matthew 7:13–23: enter by the narrow gate, beware of false prophets, know them by their fruits, and not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven.

The Exclusive Claims of Jesus

The biggest objection people have — outside and even inside the church — concerns the exclusive claims of Jesus: "I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but by Me." When Larry King asked Joel Osteen whether Jews, Buddhists, and people of other faiths are going to heaven, the smiley, positive preacher squirmed and finally said only, "My way is through Jesus," without directly affirming it. Many of you have had this experience with a friend or coworker who suddenly changes the subject when the exclusive claims of Christ come up.

But Jesus does not wiggle on the subject. Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many go in by it. Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life, and few find it. Jesus believed and taught that many go to destruction and few find the narrow gate — which he reveals himself to be. "I am the door" (John 10). He is the only way; anyone who tries to enter another way is a thief.

If anyone knows the truth, Jesus does. So I believe and teach what he taught. People will call us bigoted and narrow-minded. I simply report what Jesus himself said. The same people who call us narrow-minded will speak of Jesus as a good teacher and social reformer — yet that same Jesus said many will go to hell.

Most People Go to Hell

Most people go to hell. That should hit us like a ton of bricks. If we can say it and believe it without being troubled, there is a problem.

Some will be angry at God over this. But understand: God, as he reveals himself in Scripture, does not delight in this. He takes no delight in the death of the wicked. Second Peter 3 says he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He gets no twisted glee from people going to judgment. Quite the opposite — this same just God sent his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. He has made a way, and yes, the way is narrow.

Good Works Are More Important Than Good Looks

That striking truth is not the most frightening part. In Matthew 7:15 Jesus cautions his disciples to beware of false prophets who come in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. They look good on the outside, but it is a show. How will you know them? By their fruits. A good tree bears good fruit, and a bad tree bad fruit; every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

There are people masquerading as Christians, looking just like everyone else in the fold, even now. Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. But you will know them by their fruit.

What fruit? Not apples and oranges. Insight comes from the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 25, where Jesus separates the sheep from the goats. To the sheep on his right he says, "I was hungry and you gave Me food, thirsty and you gave Me drink, a stranger and you took Me in." When did they do this? "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." To the goats on his left he says, "Depart from Me into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels," because they did not do these things. Notice that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels — not for humanity.

So the fruit is the works of a person's life. Does this mean good works earn heaven? No. Jesus calls it fruit — the produce of a heart transformed by grace, the overflow of a transformed life. Notice the righteous were not even aware they were doing these works. They were simply living life transformed by God's grace. Hell-bound wolves can look the look, but they can never work the work, because their hearts have not been transformed by grace. Good works are more important than good looks.

Many Religious People Will Go to Hell

Now the scariest passage of all, Matthew 7:21–23. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"

Many religious people will go to hell. You can look like a sheep, say sheeply things like "Lord, Lord" at the right time, even prophesy and do wonderful works — feed the poor, heal the sick, do all kinds of Christian-looking things — and still not be right with the Lord. You can even cast demons out of people. Remember, Jesus sent out twelve men with his power and authority, and they returned rejoicing that even the demons were subject to them. One of those twelve was Judas Iscariot.

The most striking part is that these people are as surprised as anyone when they hear, "Depart from Me." They thought they were fine. "Lord, didn't I say the prayer? Didn't I raise my hand? Didn't I get baptized? Didn't I pay a tithe? Didn't I go on a mission trip?" And many will hear, "Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness." You can be religious, think everything is right, and find out in the end that you were wrong.

How Can I Be Sure?

So the obvious question: how can I make sure I am not among this group? Jesus gives the answer. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." What is the Father's will? Jesus tells us plainly in John 6:39–40: "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing... that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life."

This is the will of the Father — that whoever sees the Son and believes on him may have everlasting life. Why? Because God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

All the religious effort in the world will not save you. All the spiritual jargon will not justify you. Saying "Lord" at the right time, genuflecting, bowing, eating the bread, drinking the cup, going in the water — none of it will save you. But everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have everlasting life. So the question is: have you believed?

You might ask, why not just preach mercy and grace? Jesus' brother Jude writes that we are to save some by mercy, but others by fear, plucking them from the fire. In a religious crowd full of moral people who try to do good and say the right things, sometimes we simply have not believed on the Son. I want to give you the opportunity to do that today.

Closing Prayer

Father God, thank you that you loved us enough to give everything. You who did not spare your Son, but delivered him up for us all — how shall you not also freely give us everlasting life? Lord, we thank you for your grace, and that you love this world. Would you give us a love for the people of this world so that we would not be able to be quiet about your grace, even if people squirm with tough questions about exclusivity. Jesus, you are the only way. Help us to walk in the glory of that and to share it with people.

And God, if there is anyone here today who has good works but has never put their faith in you for salvation, would you draw them by your Spirit? We give you the opportunity to say today, "Lord Jesus, I believe. I want to know you and have you in my life, transforming me."

Dear Jesus, I know that I have sinned. I know that I have walked away from you, and I recognize that I need you. I thank you that you died on the cross for my sin, that you took my place. And Lord, I put my faith in you, and I ask you to come into my life and transform me by your grace. Help me to follow you by faith. In Jesus' name. Amen.