Why Hell is Forever

* Bob and Jo Scott discuss Time Magazine's Story, What If There's No Hell? Pastor Bob disputes Pastor Rob Bell's book Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. Hell exists because God made us with the ability to love, and that requires the ability to hate. And if God allowed everyone to go to heaven, then He would turn heaven into hell and for all of eternity unleash onto the redeemed the "hell on earth" that so many people already lament. And if God replaced St. Peter's gate with a revolving door, then the rebellion, pride, hatred, cruelty and selfishness that has spoiled the paradise of Eden would forever spoil the heavenly paradise. Also, the deity of Christ and eternal punishment are related doctrines, for cults that do not know that Jesus is God also tend to reject the eternal hell. If the punishment of sin is not eternal, then God could have created something of sufficient worth to pay the price, and He would not have had to sacrifice His infinitely worthy Son. But when Jesus prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will," because the Father's love for the Son was immeasurable, we can be sure that there was no other way to pay for the sins of men. And so, because the demands of righteousness required a full payment for sin, the penalty for sin could not be a finite prison term, for then Jesus Christ would not have had to pay with His life. As Southern Baptist seminary president Albert Mohler said, if Bell were right, then "you don't need Christ, and you don't need the cross. This is the tragedy of nonjudgmental mainline liberalism..." And check out also Bob Enyart's related article on Should Christians Judge? and his Nicer than God Bible seminar below!

* Speaking of the Lost Going to Hell, Jo Contrasts that with a Story of Life and a Baby Saved Today: This little one was scheduled to be dismembered by Planned Parenthood today, April 26, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. A young man driving into the abortion mill's parking lot stopped at the driveway and took literature from sidewalk counselor Ken Scott. He had the literature in his hand as he got out of his car. Jo Scott told him to put it in his pocket because the security guard would try to take it away from him. As the man was putting it into his pocket, security guard Ron Pringle told him that he was not allowed to take the literature into the building. The Planned Parenthood patron ignored him and entered the building anyway. Whenever this circumstance occurs, former Denver police officer Pringle becomes extremely vulgar and agitated. So today Planned Parenthood called the police on their own client and six squad cars sped to the scene to arrest the young man. As the three ring circus played out, two young women walked out of the Planned Parenthood parking lot and asked the pro-lifers about the help that they had offered. Laura was desperate; her husband is out of work and she had no idea that anyone would help her. When she realized that she is not alone and that help is available she decided not to kill her child. The women in the studio audience were tearing up as Jo described Laura's tears of joy! The police told the young man with the literature still in his pocket that Planned Parenthood decided not to press charges and he was released. And he was pleased to hear that he played a part in saving a child's life, for without all that distraction, the security guard would have kept Laura away from Jo Scott! Thanks Jo, thanks Laura, and thank you Lord!

* Today's Resource: You can listen to Nicer than God, a fast-paced critique of today's Christian teaching on the issues of forgiveness, judging, confrontation, etc. by downloading it now or getting it on an MP3-CD. Or you can get a subscribe to our Monthly Bible Study Albums to receive a different Bible Study on MP3-CD mailed to your home each month. Nicer than God would then be just one of the many worthwhile albums you will enjoy!