Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift
of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus
our Lord.”
The title of this post is a common
question asked in our secular culture, but is really a misconception. The late pastor
J. Vernon McGee, in presenting an answer to this question, that people don’t go
to hell because God sends them; it’s the only place for those who have sinned
against God, rejected Jesus Christ and have no capacity for Lord God Almighty
whatsoever.
John 3:17-18 “ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
him shall not perish but have eternal life. For
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the
world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands
condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one
and only Son.”
Dr. McGee goes on to say that when you say that He’s a loving God,
you’ve only described one part of God. God is also righteous and just and holy.
And if you think that you can violate all the different attributes of God and
then depend on His love to save you, you’re entirely wrong. He’s told us in the
Bible that we’re sinners and cannot come into His presence, that we‘re alienated
from Him (Habakkuk 1:13, Isaiah
59:1-2). All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:22-24 “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and
Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
McGee explains that God had to give His Son to die on the cross
for our sins, and if you’re going to reject the only way He could work out for
your salvation then you must understand that hell is the place for you. Don’t
say that a loving God sends people to hell. Say that there is a holy God, and
when you do not meet His standard you cannot go into His heaven where He is.
The thing that’s going to send you to hell is that you’re a sinner and you don’t
want to admit it. As sinners, we are already condemned to hell … hell is the default.
That’s the problem with the human family. It’s a desire to want to go their
way. God doesn’t send anyone to hell; we send ourself by sin. Yet, God has
provided a way, and any time you want to make the turn, a loving God will save
you.
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his
promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he
is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,
but everyone to come to repentance.”
Where are you going to go when you die? How are you getting there?
In Christ, Brian
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