Exhortation and Repentance · Living in Holiness

For those who say: ‘Eternal punishment? That does not exist… God is love!’

5 min read, approximately

“Then he will answer them: Truly I tell you, insofar as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me either. And these will go away to eternal punishment, and the righteous to eternal life.”_ (Matthew 25:45-46)

The dilemma

Throughout history, many people have come forward trying to argue that eternal punishment does not exist, much less a place for such punishment: hell.
They argue that if God is love, there cannot be a God so cruel as to punish his creation. Instead, they say we invented this to manipulate people, instill fear, and intimidate them. However, they do not realize that this leads to thinking that, since we have already been forgiven, we can do whatever we please because there is no punishment, overlooking that the Lord is a just God.

Let us check the Bible

To avoid further misunderstandings, let us turn to the Word and see what it says about the place where this punishment will take place:

\1. It is a place created for the devil and his angels… and everyone who does not do the Father’s will

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41)

\2. It is a place of fire and torment

“And in Hades he lifted 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 in anguish in this flame.” (Luke 16:23-24)

\3. It is a place of shame and everlasting disgrace

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:1-2)

\4. It is a place where the fire does not go out and the devouring worm does not die

“And they shall go forth, and look upon the dead bodies of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.” (Isaiah 66:24)

\5. It is a place where the Lord’s wrath burns

“For a fire is kindled in mine anger, And burneth unto the lowest Sheol, And devoureth the earth with its increase, And setteth on fire the foundations of the mountains.” (Deuteronomy 32:22)

\6. It is a place for those who did not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

“if so be that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you, and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, [even] eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9)

\7. It is a place where all those not written in the book of life go

“And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, [even] the lake of fire. And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14-15)

And I could continue with many more verses!
I do not want to instill terror or anything of the kind… this is simply what the Word says. Please, let us read the Bible… We know that God is love, but he is also just and upright, and

“The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and he will not consider the guilty innocent.” (Nahum 1:3a)

Jesus Christ came to pay our debt; he came to give us life, and life in abundance. Sadly, rejecting or taking this divine gift for granted would mean not accepting God’s forgiveness… a very poor choice, with serious consequences!

Are we sure our names are in the Book of Life?

_**Remember to stop by the Songbook

May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!