Talk Too Much About Hell
I’ve been told many times that I talk too much about Hell. Guilty as charged and I don’t plan on changing this. Why? Ray Comfort says that when a doctor tells you that he has a cure for an incurable disease, you just kind of go “uh-huh” and don’t really pay attention. But if the doctor tells you have a deadly disease and there’s nothing you can do about it. Then he describes the disease to you in great detail, your ears perk up. Now you are interested in what the doctor is saying. After the doctor explains this in great details and again says there’s no cure, he further tells you that he sold his possessions and found a cure for you. The doctor doesn’t have to go into great detail about the cure. You immediately want that cure!
Talking about Heaven and Hell is the same way. We all have an disease that we cannot cure and that disease is death. The soul that sins, it shall die. We have all sinned and we all will die one day. We don’t have to spend a lot of time telling people about Heaven, even though we do mention Heaven. No, we talk about Hell so much because that is where every unbeliever is headed and those who die in their sins do go to Hell. This is serious. You need to understand that you have this deadly disease before you will listen about the cure.
Preach 90% Law And 10% Grace
John Wesley used to tell the circuit riders that he sent out that they were to preach 90% Law and 10% grace. In other words, 90% about sin, death and Hell and only 10% about salvation found in Christ alone and about Heaven. A person has to realize they are in danger before they will try to avoid that danger. Street witnessing is this way. People are walking by thinking that they are a good person, that they are alright. Most unbelievers wrongly think that God will accept them as they are because they are basically good. But that’s the problem. Even though people think they are good, in reality, none of us are good. We’ve all rebelled against God and we all deserve to spend eternity in Hell.
But the main reason that I won’t stop talking about Hell so much is because Jesus talked about it. A lot. The Lord talked about Hell more than anyone else in the whole Bible. In fact, when He told the story (not a parable, but an actual account) of the beggar Lazarus and the rich man, He talked more about Hell than Heaven! That’s right, Jesus spoke more about Hell then Heaven when He relayed to the people the story about Lazarus and the rich man.
Beggar And The Rich Man
Please listen to Luke 16:19-31: There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Send Someone From The Dead To My Brothers
Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
I pointed this out before I read the Bible verses but it bears repeating again, when Jesus talked about the beggar Lazarus dying and going to Heaven and the rich man dying and going to Hell, Jesus talked more about Hell than He did Heaven. People say I talk about Hell too much and I suspect they would accuse Jesus of doing the same.
But Jesus is the great Creator. All things were created by Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16). The Lord Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He has a name above every other name. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Jesus is the eternal Lord. He knows all things and sees all things. Jesus talked about Hell because He knows it’s real! No questions asked.
Jesus Knows Hell Is Real
Not only does Jesus know Hell is real, but He also knows that is where every unbeliever is headed. All who die in their sins (without Jesus being their Lord and Savior) go to Hell where they will suffer eternal torments. Yes, Jesus talked about Hell a lot. He warned people about. Christ Jesus warned people when He told them about Lazarus and the rich man.
Jesus also said that unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:5). He described Hell as place of outer darkness where there’s weeping and gnashing of teeth. But the children of the kingdom out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12). The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:41-42).
Did Jesus say even more about Hell? Why yes He did. People like to talk about Jesus’ sermon on the mount because they think of the beatitudes – such as blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. But the sermon on the mount actually includes all of Matthew Chapters 5-7.
Jesus Talks Even More About Hell
Here are just some of the verses from that one sermon. Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13-14). A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them (Matthew 7:18-20).
Did Jesus Talk Too Much About Hell?
Talk about Hell too much? If so, then I’m in good company. Again, Jesus talked about Hell more than anyone else in the Bible. The Lord warned people to flee the wrath to come. He knows that it is real. Jesus suffered great physical pain when He was beaten unmercifully and nailed to the old rugged cross. Even worse, He suffered God’s righteous wrath over sinful men and women who repent and trust in the Lord. Oh, Jesus knows Hell is real and warned people to repent and believe the Gospel.
A few years ago I was witnessing at the Kentucky Derby and I literally was reading the first part of Luke 13, where Jesus said unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:3) and I kid you not, at that very moment a young woman walked by and said “You are not being very Christ-like.” I just replied that evidently I was being very Christ-like because I was literally reading Jesus’ own words!
But lost souls don’t want to hear about Hell. False converts don’t want to hear about Hell. Those who are headed there, do not want to talk about Hell. They’d rather pretend they are going to Heaven. Even those who say there is no God. I’ve talked to more than one atheist over the years who would argue that there is no God only later on in the conversation say that even if God is real, they aren’t worried. Why aren’t they worried? Because they think they are basically good. How could God punish someone that is good?
Too Many People Think They Are Good
That’s the crux of the problem. Too many people think they are good. But the Bible clearly states that there isn’t a righteous person upon the earth. We’ve all sinned, we’ve all gone astray. Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden and we’ve all sinned since then. Your daddy was a sinner; your mommy was a sinner and you are a sinner. I’m not picking on you. The same applies to me. King David said that he was born in iniquity. (In other words, his mom and dad were sinners).
Jesus Christ is the only righteous person that walked this earth. That’s why you must turn to Christ to live. If you don’t, you will die in your sins and you will split Hell wide open. Whether you believe in it or not. Oh, Hell is an awful place of torments. I truly don’t want you to go there. That’s why I talk so much about it.
Talk too much about Hell? Maybe so, but Jesus also talked about it a lot. Heed the warning. Flee from the wrath to come. Repent of your sins and surrender your life to Jesus Christ the Lord. Do this today and be saved. Receive eternal life. Again, I plead with you, turn to Christ and live. Repent and believe the Gospel. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36).
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, MO on November 20, 2020)