Hell: Is Sin Really That Serious?

In the 1960s, I was invited by a friend to her evening church service. The sermon content is somewhat of a blur, but one thing is etched on my memory. As he was preaching, the pastor pointed his finger throughout the congregation announcing, ‘and you will go to hell’ at every move of the finger.

Along with other young people I was up in the balcony, and I sensed the finger pointing at me. That moment was, literally, life changing.

"If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and un-prayed for.” (Charles Spurgeon)

A portion of this quote was used in a recent sermon at my local Church. I found it deeply moving and deeply troubling and tears came to my eyes. But tears are not enough - what was I going to do about this stark reality? How moving? How troubling? Does it give me an urgency to go and tell people that they need rescuing from the penalty of sin? Am I complacent?

A mention of sin and hell was ‘out of fashion’ in some Christian churches in the 80s and 90s along with a biblical view of judgement. The concepts of a holy God, the sinful nature of all people and the gravity of sin deserving death were not popular themes. A God of love was vigorously promoted at the expense of other attributes of God - His wrath against sin and the inevitable judgement to come.

We need a full, biblical knowledge of God that doesn’t exclude His inexhaustible grace and perfect love - a love so great that it sent Jesus to die for our sin, but does include His holiness and justice, His righteous wrath against sin - sin that deserves the death penalty and hell.

Go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19) … am I going to be obedient?

"How, O Lord, can I not but stand in awe in the discovering of the heaven that I am now bound for and hell that I merit.” (Puritan prayer)

Meet the Author

Wendy is ThreeTen's latest guest writer who shares thoughtful reflections flowing from her love of God, His Word, and Christian doctrine. Learn more about the author and see what else they've written.

Credits: Bible quotes are from the English Standard Version (ESV), and photos are via Unsplash.