J.C. Ryle | Settle it firmly in your mind that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has spoken most plainly about the reality and eternity of hell. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus contains things which should make men tremble. But it does not stand alone. No lips have used so many words to express the awfulness of hell, as the lips of Him who spoke as never man spoke, and who said, “The word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me” (John 14:24). Hell, hell fire, the damnation of hell, eternal damnation, the resurrection of damnation, everlasting fire, the place of torment, destruction, outer darkness, the worm that never dies, the fire that is not quenched, the place of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth, everlasting punishment—these are the words which the Lord Jesus Christ Himself employs. Away with the miserable nonsense which people talk in this day, who tell us that the ministers of the gospel should never speak of hell! They only show their own ignorance, or their own dishonesty, when they talk in such a manner. No person can honestly read the four Gospels and fail to see that they who would follow the example of Christ must speak of hell.
From J.C. Ryle Quotes
“No person can honestly read the four Gospels and fail to see that they who would follow the example of Christ must speak of hell.”
I sincerely thank you for posting this. It is possible–and necessary–to speak of hell lovingly, to tell people that Christ came to save sinners from the hell we deserve. So, let us preach the WHOLE gospel! Let us preach the good news that salvation is here! Let us preach the truth that, in the end, we choose either the joys of knowing Christ or the torments we have sown!
DO NOT GO TO DAMNATION!
As far as damnation is concerned, many people think that it is not true. They deem it only an invented story that does not need to be taken seriously. They think that it is better not to think about it at all, because they will nevertheless see what really happens when they die: so why take bother one’s head with this issue in which no certain conclusion can be reached? They also discuss with pleasure many spiritual issues that are not essential in the salvation of their sole (female priests, whether God can create a stone so large He Himself cannot carry, etc). They perhaps try to dismiss the discussion about what happens after this life by thinking about these trivial issues.
But is damnation true after all? Is there life after death? Jesus – who spoke much about Heaven by saying, for example: “In my Father’s house are many mansions” (John 14:2) – also often spoke about damnation. He mentioned both places in his speeches, so we should think about whether they are true. How can anyone be 100% sure that the next verses are not true? They indicate that our acts are significant and how we live our lives is nothing but trivial. If we live our life in impenitence, we will not inherit the kingdom of God.
If we live our life in impenitence, we will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Yes, but not because of anything we do or don’t do, but only because if we don’t care about our sin, we might not be truly saved. In true conversion there is repentance before and after salvation. We begin to be bothered by things that we used to enjoy – and that continues throughout sanctification. -Dani