The Good Book, part six

Context is important. If I told you I saw a man running up to an unsuspecting little boy and rugby tackling him, breaking the boy’s arm in the process, you might want to know was the man reported to the police.

The gospel in 25 words

 A gospel message based on John 3:16.

Imagine...

Imagine

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today... Aha-ah...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

John Lennon (1971)

John Lennon invites us to imagine what it would be like if there were no heaven or hell. Let’s do just that.

Stand to Reason on hell

Hell is a subject I have done a lot of thinking about and writing on. This article from Stand to Reason masterfully and succinctly deals with the attempts of annihilationists to put out the flames of what the Lord Jesus called eternal fire. Please have a read.

The Bible was written by men! Exactly!

A couple of friends and I were speaking to a lady today who took great exception to the notion of hell. When we told her that the Bible clearly declared it and Christ graphically described it she said, "But the Bible was written by men!"

Is hell for real?

Here is an article I was asked to write an article on this subject.

Reprint

My 2013 book, He that Believeth Not... has been reprinted and rearranged a bit. It is now divided up into chapters, and includes a Scripture reference. Could there be any subject more serious?

An updated ebook edition is coming, stay tuned for that. In the meantime, the 3 dimensional book can be obtained here or here.

Just going by what I feel...

I had a very interesting discussion with someone recently about "spirituality". She told me that she formed her beliefs on the basis of what she feels.

Liar, Lunatic or Lord - does it matter?

I have been with a couple of friends at a local High School this week and we have been speaking to the students about the subject of "Finding the real Jesus". We were looking at the evidence that there really was a man called Jesus of Nazareth, that this wasn't some fictional, mythical figure. Then we were showing that, although He was really a man, He was not merely a man - He was God. The subject I was given to speak about was this - does it matter anyway?

Why would God...?

Questions that begin in this way are notoriously hard to answer, and there's no shame in answering many of these questions with an honest, "I've no idea." The Bible does say that God's ways are past finding out. It ought to come as no surprise that there are things God does and allows that we don't understand. However, the question I recently heard asked does not fall into that category.

New year, new book

Happy (not so) new year. Thanks again to those who keep checking here for new posts. I have some things to write about and hope to get to them soon. In the meantime, here is the link to where my first book can be obtained. Those who have been following this blog know that there was a considerable period in which hell was quite a prominent subject. This is the fruit of that. I think you'll be edified in the faith and fortified against the alternate views that attract many but attack the faith.

No substitute for penal substitution

The doctrine of penal substitution states that the Lord Jesus Christ bore the judgment of God in the place of sinners so that they can go free. It means that the Christian Gospel is the only message in the world that maintains that God is a righteous God and a Saviour (see for example Isaiah 45 v 21).

Making reservations

We've all made reservations in life - sometimes the reservation was costly, sometimes the event, hotel, restaurant or whatever exceeded our expectations, and other times it was a big disappointment.  Sometimes we've left it too late, other times we've cancelled our reservation.  But I want to leave with you two verses from Peter's letters about the most serious reservations that will ever be made.

Spot the differences

I have been engaged quite a bit recently with those who deny conscious eternal punishment, and I have noticed a recurring problem with their view. When they see texts in the New Testament that appear to teach eternal conscious punishment they will often cite similar language from the Old Testament in which it seems quite clear that it is talking about a temporal punishment, and then they will say that this shows the New Testament isn't talking about eternal conscious punishment at all.

Where's purgatory?

I was in a conversation recently with a lady from a Roman Catholic background, and she asked me my views on purgatory.

Eternal punishment and a click of the fingers

As you know, if you look on this blog from time to time, over the last while I have been writing quite a bit on the reality of hell.  I know that for some of you who come here you are looking for a simple outline of what the Bible says about the way of salvation, and how to be brought into a right relationship with God, and there is a lot on the site that is too involved or specified for you.  Can I encourage you to look at the labels, and click on Gospel or Salvation, and you'll find there how to know your sins are forgiven.

No rest for the wicked

I have been thinking quite a bit recently about the subject of hell.  One of the most straightforward and serious passages of the Bible on the subject is found in Revelation 14 v 10-11:

Going through hell?

The last few posts have been on this serious subject of hell, and I want to put something else up on it.

"Oh no! Not hell!"

I want to pass on a story my friend told me, which is quite appropriate considering my last couple of posts.

More on the fire fighters!

I am going to address another issue relating to the subject of annihilation.