Saturday, August 30, 2014
WORLD VS. CHRIST (6)
THE WORLD SAYS ...
The Bible and its teachings have become outdated in our day and age. One such teaching includes what the Bible says about "Hell." Many people deny altogether that hell actually exists. Why would a loving God punish someone in everlasting fire? There is a growing belief today that "hell" is, at worse, a "hell on earth" that we perceive in the differences of our highs and lows in life. Tragedy in the world we live in is the only real "hell" one will ever experience. All roads and paths of belief ultimately will lead to heaven.
THE BIBLE SAYS ...
Jesus is MY REDEEMER. A "redeemer" is one who "pays a ransom to set someone free." The Bible says that I have a personal redeemer in Jesus Christ who has paid with His life and innocent blood to set me free from sin (John 8:34, 36), from death (1 Corinthians 15:54, 57), and from hell and the power of the devil (1 John 3:8). The Bible is clear both about heaven as well as hell (Mark 16:16). Because of my sin, I deserve death and eternal punishment from God (Romans 3:23, 24; 6:23). But through faith in what the Bible says about my Redeemer I can be confident in my eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:11-12). Jesus, the only true Redeemer (John 14:6), lovingly warns us in speaking of heaven and hell:
"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:' Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:' And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matthew 25:31-34; 41, 46).
WITH BELIEVING HEARTS WE PRAY ...
Bless me Lord Jesus, with a heart that rejoices in my salvation, with a mouth that shares Your praises, and with a confidence that peacefully awaits Your coming to bring me to my eternal home! Amen.
