Why There's a Hell
Matthew 25:41
By Steve Eutsler

Background: The Greek word gehenna, commonly referred to as ‘hell’ today, originally served as the name of a garbage dump located south of Jerusalem. It had also earned an infamous distinction as a place of child sacrifice to Molech, one of the pagan gods during Old Testament times.

Now the name designates a place of confinement after death to everlasting punishment away from the presence of God (2 Thess. 1:9).

Intr.:   It has been observed that “the [person] who tries to prove there is no hell usually has a personal reason for doing so.” Again, while “hell is getting out of date by today’s thinking,” someone has noted, “… it is not [going] out of business” (McKenzie, Quips & Quotes). Attempts to do away with hell include annihilationism, probationism and universalism. All fail the Bible test.

T. S.:   In light of the errors that circulate and the lack of sound teaching on the same lets review the answers to the question, ‘Why’s there a hell?’

I. ‑Biblical theology answers the question, ‘Why’s there a hell?’ this way:

    A. ‑ God originally designed hell for the devil and his demons (Matt. 25:41).

    B. ‑ God also designed hell as a place of conscious punishment for those who live like the devil (Mark 9:47-48).

    C. ‑ God designed hell to last forever because sin deserves such recompense. (Matt. 25:46).

II. ‑Historical theology answers the question, ‘Why’s there a hell?’ this way:

    A. ‑God never intended for us to use hell to terrorize people (Luke 16:27-28, 31 [19-31]).

    B. ‑God never intended for us to use hell as a long term motivator for people to serve Him (Rom. 1:32).

    C. ‑God did intend for hell to serve as a short term motivator for people to repent (Matt. 10:28).

III. ‑Systematic theology answers the question, ‘Why’s there a hell?’ this way:

    A. ‑Hell serves as God’s means of administrating moral justice (Rev. 20:12).

    B. ‑Hell serves as God’s means of respecting insolent human free will. (John 5:39-40).

    C. ‑Hell serves as God’s incentive for providing a substitutionary sacrifice for sins. (John 3:16,18,36).

Conc.: How should you then respond?

     1. ‑For starters, accept Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

2. ‑Then warn others of the judgment to come. The Apostle Paul makes this application when he explains that: “since … we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men” (2 Cor. 5:11).

Steve Eutsler

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