How
could hell be eternal separation from God, if God is everywhere?
puricarefiles
"And just
as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes
judgment," Hebrews 9:27 (ESV) English
Standard Version
God’s Word says everyone dies
physically and, after that, comes the
judgment.
Christians have already been
judged and sentenced. Jesus took that sentence upon Himself.
Our sin becomes His and His
righteousness becomes ours when we received Him as Lord and Savior.
"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
Because He took our just
punishment, we need not fear ever being separated from Him again.
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to
the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among
many brothers.
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30 (ESV)
The only way to be declared
righteous before God is through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ (John 3:16–18; Romans 10:9).
Only the righteous inherit eternal
life. The souls of the righteous go directly into the presence of God (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23).
There are only two possible
destinations for every human soul following physical death: heaven or hell (Matthew 25:34, 41, 46; Luke 16:22–23).
For those who do not receive Jesus Christ as
Savior, death means everlasting punishment.
"in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
"They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might," 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 (ESV)
This punishment is described in a
variety of ways:
- a lake of fire (Luke 16:24; Revelation 20:14–15),
- outer darkness (Matthew 8:12), and
- a prison (1 Peter 3:19), for example.
This place of punishment is
eternal (Jude 1:13; Matthew 25:46).
There is no biblical support for
the notion that after death people get another chance to repent.
The judgment for unbelievers is
still to come.
Second Thessalonians 1:8–9 says, “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”
Second Thessalonians 1:8–9 says, “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”
The misery of hell will consist
not only of physical torture, but the agony of being cut off from every avenue
of happiness.
God is the source of all good
things (James 1:17).
To be cut off from God is to forfeit all exposure to anything good.
To be cut off from God is to forfeit all exposure to anything good.
Hell will be a state of perpetual
sin; yet those suffering there will possess full understanding of sin’s
horrors. Remorse, guilt, and shame will be unending, yet accompanied by the
conviction that the punishment is just.
.
There will no longer be any deception about the “goodness of man.”
.
There will no longer be any deception about the “goodness of man.”
To be separated from God is to be
forever shut off
- from light (1 John 1:5),
- from love (1 John 4:8),
- from joy (Matthew 25:23), and
- from peace (Ephesians 2:14)
because God is the source of all
those good things.
Any good we observe in humanity is
merely a reflection of the character of God, in whose image we were created (Genesis 1:27).
.
While the spirits of those regenerated by God’s Holy Spirit will abide forever with God in a perfected state (1 John 3:2), the opposite is true of those in hell.
.
While the spirits of those regenerated by God’s Holy Spirit will abide forever with God in a perfected state (1 John 3:2), the opposite is true of those in hell.
None of the goodness of God will
exist in them.
Whatever good they may have
thought they represented on earth will be as “filthy rags” (filthy as a menstruating woman’s
rags) before the glory of the Lord.
"We are all infected and impure with sin. When we put on our prized robes of righteousness, we find they are but filthy rags[a]
Like autumn leaves we fade, wither, and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away." Isaiah 64:6 The Living Bible (TLB)
Man’s ideas of goodness will be
measured against the perfection of God’s holiness and be found severely
lacking.
Those in hell have forever lost
the chance to see God’s face, hear His voice, experience His forgiveness, or
enjoy His fellowship.
To be forever separated from God
is the ultimate punishment.
Are
you struggling with a big decision or wondering how your eternal future will
play out?
Why
not talk to the God of the universe and let Him work in your behalf?
He
says, “I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel
you with my eye upon you" (Psalm 32:8).
Ask
God to show you what to do. Pray the following prayer:
“Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a sinner and my sins have separated
me from You. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and begin a new
life with You.
Please forgive me. I now receive your Son, Jesus Christ
as my Savior, my Master and my Lord. I believe and confess that Jesus Christ
died for my sins, was buried, and rose from the dead.
I want to receive all that Jesus Christ has provided
for me as my Savior. Your Word says, ‘Whosoever shall call on the name of the
Lord shall be saved’ (Romans 10:13).
I believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the Way, the
Truth, and the Life, and no man comes unto the Father, but by Him.
Lord Jesus, I pray and ask You, to come into my heart
and be Lord of my life. I thank You that you have given me eternal life, and
according to Your Word, I am born again.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy
Spirit that is in me now. I surrender my life to You. . I promise to study Your
Word – the Bible.
Use me for Your glory.
In Jesus Name. Amen.”
.
“LORD I LIFT YOUR NAME ON HIGH”
Maranatha
lyrics
Lord I lift Your name on high
Lord I love to sing Your praises
I'm so glad You're in my life
I'm so glad You came to save us
You came from heaven to earth
(To show the way)
From the earth to the cross
(My debt to pay)
From the cross to the grave
From the grave to the sky
Lord, I lift Your name on high
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