Is Hell Scary?

I’ve at times encountered various unbelievers whilst evangelizing who have retorted to the gospel by exclaiming “I’m not afraid of hell!!! You Christians like to use hell to scare and threaten people!!”

So the question is: Should people be afraid of hell? Is hell scary? Also, should Christians talk to people about hell whenever they are sharing the gospel?

In order understand whether hell is a scary place or not, we must understand how hell is described in the Bible.

Below are some of the descriptions of hell according to the Bible:

1. It is a Place of Everlasting Fire (Matthew 25:41)
2. It is a Place of Outer Darkness (Matthew 22:13)
3. It is a Place of Weeping & Gnashing of Teeth (Matthew 25:30)
4. It is a Place of Eternal Torment (Luke 16:22-28)
5. It is a Lake of Fire (Revelations 19:20)

Therefore to understand what hell is – take a moment to imagine if you, or a person you loved where to spend eternity in a lake of burning fire; or if you, or a person you loved where to spend eternity in a place of eternal torment.
Would such a place not be scary? Would it really be stance of “bravery” and “courage” to be unafraid of hell??? Or would it be evidence of a lack of Biblical understanding, wisdom & knowledge about what hell is really all about?

Hell is a place that NOBODY should desire to go to. It should be a place that people should fear to go to.
It is place that people should preach and warn about.

We live in a world where there are all kinds of warning signs around us. Perhaps you’ve seen a “Do Not Enter” sign; perhaps you’ve seen a “Beware” sign; perhaps you’ve seen a “This Way Only” sign or a “Trespassers Will Be Prosecuted” sign.
These kind of warning signs exist in order to warn us of danger; they exist in order to protect us from danger; they exist in order to inform us of danger and they exist in order to prevent us from suffering the consequences of doing anything that is unlawful.

The reason the Bible talks about hell and warns us about hell is because God does not want us to go to hell.
Therefore God warns us that anyone who rejects Him & rejects the work of Christ on the Cross is in danger of going to hell.
God’s motive is not merely to scare us for the sake of scaring us – but God is warning us; God is protecting us and God is informing us that if we do not heed His warning signs there will be consequences.
2 Peter 3:9 says “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering towards us, not willing that anyone should perish but that all should come to repentance”.

 

GOING TO HELL CAN BE AVOIDED
As scary as hell is – going to such a place can be avoided when we die.
The scriptures teach us that Jesus Christ paid for our sins on the cross. Though we are all meant to go to hell because of sin – Jesus Christ was crucified for our sins in our place. Jesus Christ paid the debt that we could not pay. Jesus took the punishment and wrath of God upon Himself instead of us so that whosever believes and accepts Jesus Christ into his/her life will have eternal life and not perish (John 3:16).
Salvation offered through Christ is a gift which we receive through faith in Christ. We do not enter heaven and avoid hell because of our own personal effort or behavior but it is through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord & Saviour and believing in the work He did for us on the cross that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9).
We can avoid hell not because we deserve to avoid it – we avoid hell because Jesus Christ saved us out of the love and grace of God.

 

DO YOU WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN or A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST???

1. ACKNOWLEDGE: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).
You must acknowledge that you are a sinner and that you therefore need Jesus in your life.

2. REPENT: “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3), “Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out” (Acts 3:19)
Repenting means: to change your mind; a sincere turning away, in heart, mind and action;
Therefore God wants you to repent of sinful values and of sinful living. God wants you to decide to
follow Him and to make Jesus the Lord of your life.

3. CONFESSION: “If we confess our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9)
God is a forgiving God. God will forgive any sin that you have done because Jesus died for ALL your sins and to set you free from the bondage of all types of sin in your life.

4. BELIEVE: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
You must believe that ONLY Jesus can save you and restore your relationship with God. You must believe that Jesus is the ONLY way by which you can have everlasting life and escape from eternal separation from God. You must believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and resurrected from the grave.
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive him, But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:11-12)
By faith, You must receive Jesus as Your Lord & Savior and therefore; you become a child of God; you become born again; you become a Christian; you restore your broken relationship with God

 

Why Not Make Your Eternal Decision NOW?

We become born again Christians by GRACE through FAITH or TOTAL TRUST in Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior (Galatians 3:26) & (Ephesians 2:8,9). Salvation is a FREE gift received through FAITH in Christ.

PLEASE NOTE: You can choose to pray in your own words. This prayer is a sample prayer and it is only an EXPRESSION of your faith, belief & trust in Jesus. Salvation is by GRACE through FAITH or BELIEVING in Christ Jesus as your Lord & Saviour.

“Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your love. I thank You that You died on the cross for me and resurrected so that I may have life through You.
I confess Lord that I have sinned against You and today I ask You to forgive me of all of my sins, past present and future.
I repent of all of my sins and I ask You to cleanse me Jesus.
Thank You for forgiving my sins.
From this moment, come into my life Lord Jesus & take full control of my life. I want to follow You Jesus and I want to follow Your ways. Save me and from today, make me the person You want me to be.
I receive You Lord Jesus right now by faith. I trust You as my Lord and Savior – Amen”

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