MINNESOTA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION

Hell, the Everlasting Home of the Lost

by Pastor Oliver Sandahl, Berean Baptist Church, Brooklyn Park

Hell is No Joke

The world has more fun talking about the subject of hell as a joke than any other subject that I know of. Having been in the work force and ministry for over fifty years, I have heard such statements as:

• "till hell freezes over"
• "I'm going to be with my friends" (there are no friends in hell)
• "I like what I'm doing and I will just have to shovel more coal" (there is no work there, only suffering)
• God will send me to hell for awhile and cleanse me from defilement and sin and then take me to heaven" (there is no redemption in hell, once there it is everlasting)

On and on we could with the jokes, but hell is no joke, it is a real place and it is being enlarged.

Isaiah 5:14 "Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it."

Jesus said, "How can ye escape the damnation of hell", "there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth"

Matthew 7:13 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:"

In part, what is Jesus saying? Strait gate: repent and be saved. He talks about the broad way and destruction. Multitudes are on it and are going to hell. Jesus talks about the narrow pathway, few are on it but, the few that are on the narrow way are saved and going to heaven.

What does a lost sinner have to do to go to hell? Nothing! Just keep doing what you are doing. What must a sinner do to escape hell? Truly repent of your sins, believe that Jesus died for you, ask him to save you and you will be on your way to heaven.

Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."