Reality of Hell and the Only Hope

There are three words translated “hell” in Scripture:
Gehenna (Greek): The place of punishment (Matthew 5:22,29;
10:28; and James 3:6)

Hades (Greek): The abode of the dead (Matthew 11:23; 16:18, Luke 16:23; Acts 2:27)
Sheol (Hebrew): The grave (Psalm 9:17; 16:10)

There are those who accept that hell is a place of punishment, but believe that the punishment is to be annihilated—to cease conscious existence. They can’t conceive that the punishment of the wicked will be conscious and eternal. If they are correct, then a man like Adolph Hitler, who was responsible for the deaths of millions, is being “punished” merely with eternal sleep. His fate is simply to return to the non-existent state he was in before he was born, where
he doesn’t even know that he is being punished.

However, Scripture paints a different story. The rich man who found himself in hell (Luke 16:19–31) was conscious. He was able to feel pain, to thirst, and to experience remorse. He wasn’t asleep in the grave; he was in a place of “torment.”
If hell is a place of knowing nothing or a reference to the grave into which we go at death, Jesus’s statements about hell make no sense. He said that if your hand, foot, or eye causes you to sin, it would be better to remove it than to “go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:43–48).

The Bible refers to the fate of the unsaved with such fearful words as the following:

“Shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2)
“Everlasting punishment” (Mathew 25:46)
“Weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 24:51)
“Fire unquenchable” (Luke 3:17)
“Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish” (Romans 2:8,9)
“Everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 1:9)
“Eternal fire...the blackness of darkness for ever” (Jude 7,13)

Revelation 14:10,11 tells us the final, eternal destiny of the sinner: “He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone...the smoke of their torment ascended up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day or night.”

The above is taken fromt the Evidence Bible

Do you believe:

1) Hell exists
2) Hell does not exist

If Christ offers eternal life, is it not logical that He is the Savior to all those that call upon Him from an eternal damnation in Hell?

No Bananas on the boat!

Well you can forget about black cats crossing your path or broken mirrors, because too many fishermen around the world, there is nothing unluckier than a banana on board a boat.

Recently I went on a big fishing boat. When I got onto the boat, I pulled out some bananas for breakfast only to hear one of the mates on the boat say “no bananas on the boat.” He told me it was a fishing superstition. I asked him about the superstition and he shared a story similar to the following:

Having been cultivated in the Indus Valley as far back as 2000 B.C. , the banana's nickname is "the fruit of the wise" Somewhat ironic when you consider that it is technically classified as an herb (although clearly a member of the "hand-fruit" genus) and is a favorite food of monkeys, whose major leisure activities include hurling bodily waste products and offending sexually uptight visitors at the zoo. The origin of this superstition is uncertain, but many believe that it began in olden times, when bananas were transported by rickety, overcrowded, top-heavy boats plying the tropics (now known as cruise ships). These boats would frequently sink, leaving behind a residue of floating yellow commas, thus leading witnesses to deduce that hauling bananas was unlucky. A more scientific explanation is that since bananas give off ethylene gas when they ripen, it causes other perishable foodstuffs to spoil more quickly. This expended-gas theory could be why it's also considered unlucky to have a politician on board. Yet another theory suggests that crates of bananas would also contain unwanted pests, such as spiders, snakes, flies, mice and Beanie Babies. http://www.nobananasfishing.com/bananaslegend.html

Step back onto the boat with me for the rest of the encounter. I was told that I could eat the bananas on the dock but not on the boat. I began to walk up the dock, and another mate looked at me and said, “Oh no, bananas on the boat!” I asked him if he was superstitious and he said yes. I asked him where he gets his beliefs from, and if he was religious. He wasn’t sure where he got his beliefs from, and he replied that he was indeed religious. I used this as a springboard to share the Gospel with him. The first question I asked was where do think you will go when you die. He didn’t know. I asked him if he wanted to find out. After sharing the Gospel with him to wonderful things took place. He realized he was going to Hell (and he was only 16 years old), and three others heard the Gospel including the owner of the boat!

What a Great Springboard for the Gospel. So next time you go fishing bring a banana (not to offend) but to use as a springboard for the Gospel. Throw it overboard, eat it on the dock, but make sure that you use it as a springboard for the Gospel. In addition, you can bring up the superstition even if you don’t go fishing. It is still a great springboard for the Gospel. We need to create opportunities to share the Gospel.

Paul used the tomb to the unknown god in Acts 17, as a springboard for the Gospel. What springboards do you use (if any) as springboards for the Gospel? Now go and be faithful to the call of the Gospel from our great King!

Until the nets are filled...

Phil Sessa <><

The Law of Non–Contradiction

• The Law of Non – Contradiction was discovered and coined by famous philosopher Aristotle. This law of logic helps us discover that which is false. The Law basically states something cannot be both true and not true at the same time when dealing with the same context. Opposite ideas cannot be both true at same time and in the same sense. This is the intellectual too we use to discover things. Consider the following:
  
  Math: 2+2 cannot equal 4 and 9.
  Science: Living things cannot have DNA and not have DNA.
  History: George Washington cannot have been the first President of the United States of American and not the first President of the USA.
  English: Someone cannot end a sentence with the word the.
  

In the law of non-contradiction, where we have a set of statements about a subject, we cannot have any of the statements in that set negate the truth of any other statement in that same set. The Law of non – contradiction is undeniable. For example, we have a set of two statements about Jesus.

1) Jesus is the Way, the truth and the life, no one can enter heaven except through Him.
2) If you Repents and puts their trust in Christ alone for their salvation they will go to Heaven.

Neither statement about Jesus contradicts the other. That is, neither statement makes the other impossible because neither excludes the possibility of the other. The statements can be harmonized by stating: Jesus is the only way to God the Father, and when one repents of their sin and puts their trust in Him alone for their salvation they will go to heave. In order to make the set of statements contradictory, we would have something like:

Jesus is the only way to heaven.
Jesus is not the only way to Heaven.

Since either statement excludes the possibility of the other, we would then have a contradiction. Hence if it is true that Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven then going through Mohammed (Islam), Buddha (Buddhism), Krishna (Hari Krishna), or any other means would be false. Equally if Mohammed (Islam) is right then Jesus is wrong and Christianity is false.

If the Law of non – contradiction works in every other field, such as math, science, history, English, etc…, then why would it not be true spiritually? We live in a society that pushes relativism, which is a belief that all truths are relative. This in itself is a contradiction because the statement itself would be relative, while claiming itself to be absolutely true that all things are relative.

Contradictory worldviews cannot both be true!

The following is adapted from I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist by Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek and from Josh McDowell’s sermon “Evangelism in a New Millennium”:

Truth is discovered, not invented or created. Gravity existed before Newton was born and discovered it. It exists independent apart from anyone’s acknowledgment of it

Truth is transcultural: It is true…

…for ALL people.............It is objective (not subject to one’s feelings)
…at ALL times ...............It is constant (unchanging)
…in ALL places ..............It is universal (everywhere)

Gravity exists for all people, at all times, in all places. If someone 5 or 95 years old, male or female (the only two genders) jumps off a building in India or China at 2pm today or 5 am next Tuesday the person will still fall. It is true for all people, at all times, and in all places. The Earth is spinning for all people, at all times, and in all places.


Truth is unchanging even though our beliefs about truth change. Science believed the earth at one time was flat, yet is never changed the fact that it was indeed round. Christopher Columbus used the book of truth (The Bible) to validate his belief about the round Earth Isaiah 40:22: “He sits enthroned above the circle ... Isaiah wrote this about 700 B.C., 2000 years before Christopher Columbus sailed around the world.

Truth is not affected by beliefs no matter how strongly or sincere one may hold a belief. You can sincerely believe the Earth is flat, but you are sincerely mistaken in your belief.

Truth is not affected by the attitude of the one professing it. An arrogant or prideful person does not make the error or fallacy he or she professes to be true. A humble person does not make the error he professes true.

Contrary beliefs are possible, but contrary truths are not possible. We can believe everything is true, but we cannot make everything true.

We live in a truth war in today’s culture so make sure that you live on the side of truth!

The Evangelism Problem

Have you ever heard someone say, "preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words?" This famous quote is credited to Francis of Assisi. Imagine if I said, "make sick children well, and if necessary use medicine." Those that say that words are not necessary when preaching the Gospel have never read and obeyed the New Testament. Jesus used words, so did the disciples, and the early Church, so why would we not our examples?

I once shared the Gospel with a family following a wedding. Some Christians at the wedding got upset with me because of all the people I shared the Gospel with this one particular family was very offended. Yet this is the method God has implored for His Gospel to go forth. Paul wrote, "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe (1 Cor 1:21).

Consider the following story from Voice of the Martyrs. "Pastor Stephen Mir was attacked by a mob, angry he had started a small evangelical Church in Bangladeshi village. They beat him and shot him in the face. Through VOMedical, Pastor Mir received reconstructive surgery. With his rebuilt mouth he continues to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ."What would you have done? Would you have continued to preach Christ, with the mouth God gave you?

1 Corinthians 1:21 states the IT PLEASE GOD which is what needs to be the main focus of our lives. We should long to please the God we proclaim to serve. How was God was pleased? God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to SAVE those who believe." This world and many even in "churches" or other "Christians" may tell you not to preach because you too may offend someone. Would you rather risk offending a person by preaching the GOSPEL to please God, or would you rather offend GOD, by holding your tongue and seeking to PLEASE people?

Matthew wrote, “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. and do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matt 10:27-28)." Who should be our focus God or man? Paul words likewise should pierce our hearts. "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Be encouraged! Go and preach what the savior gave you...His Gospel! <><

The Death of Michael Jackson and eternity!
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. 6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified (2 Cor. 13:5-6).

Michael Jackson has died, but was he really ready to go? His music was legendary and his fame extended around the globe earning him the title, “The king of pop.” He had plans to perform a 50 show comeback tour, to represent each of the 50 years of his life. However, his plans were interrupted by death! When the king of pop died, he instantly stood before another King, the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. Was Michael prepared to meet the Savior? Was Michael received into glory or was he sent to Hell? Justin Taylor wrote, “He is dead at the age of 50. He had everything the world offered--but no Jesus.I remember once looking at the liner notes from an album of his, and he quoted the final lines from William Ernest Henley's famous poem, Invictus:

I am the master of my fate:I am the captain of my soul.

Those are not the words you want written on your tombstone.”

Among his many popular songs, one song in particular seemed to send a message for people to examine their lives to see if their lives matched up rightly, and if not people should change their ways. The song I am referring to is called man in the mirror. The following is the chorus of the song:

I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change

Take a look at yourself and make a change is the particular area I want to focus on. How much can a person change their own life? If you are over weight you can exercise and diet; if you smoke you can quit; if you dislike where you live you an move, etc…. But what can you do about your sin, which is humanities GREATEST problem? One can only change in so many areas. President Obama ran his campaign on the word change, but does he, the government, or anyone else the answer for sin?

How do you look when you gaze into the mirror of God’s Law (The 1o Commandments) do you see a truth-teller, or a liar? If you lied, even once, that makes you a liar. Do you see a giver or a thief (one stolen item irrespective of it’s value, makes you a thief)? Have you always honored God’s name or have you taken it in vain (used it as a swear word to express discuss or used it irreverently in any way)? The Bible says that God will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain (Exodus 20:6).

If and when God judges by the 10 Commandments, will you be innocent or guilty of violating His Law? If you are honest, then you will be and are currently guilty just like the rest of us?

Another famous song has the following words:
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see

These words written by an ex slave ship captain which plied the slave trade named John Newton. "Although he had had some early religious instruction from his mother, who had died when he was a child, he had long since given up any religious convictions. However, on a homeward voyage, while he was attempting to steer the ship through a violent storm, he experienced what he was to refer to later as his “great deliverance.” He recorded in his journal that when all seemed lost and the ship would surely sink, he exclaimed, “Lord, have mercy upon us.” Later in his cabin he reflected on what he had said and began to believe that God had addressed him through the storm and that grace had begun to work for him. For the rest of his life he observed the anniversary of May 10, 1748 as the day of his conversion, a day of humiliation in which he subjected his will to a higher power. “Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’tis grace has bro’t me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” He continued in the slave trade for a time after his conversion; however, he saw to it that the slaves under his care were treated humanely.” The rest of his story can be found at http://www.anointedlinks.com/amazing_grace.html

Although slavery should have never been, there is a greater slavery that still exists, and that is being a slave to sin. If you were honest, the you too realized that the 10 Commandments exposed how you too are a slave to sin. Like Michal Jackson suggests, and John Newton implored, take a look at yourself, and make a change. However, you cannot make this change, only Christ can make the change in you if you repent of your sin and put your trust in Christ. His grace saved a wretch like me and can save a wretch like you too! Call out for His amazing grace to save you today!

Luke writes, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19).” “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).” John writes, “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. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been vdone in God (John 3:16-21).”

Just as death seized Michael and came unannounced so too death will one day grab you. Don't be caught unprepared without the Savior, Jesus Christ.
Until the nets are filled....

By Phil Sessa <><
v [John 15:4, 5]; 1 Cor. 15:10