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How could a loving God send people to hell?

In 2003 a research group discovered 64% of Americans expect to go to heaven when they die, but less than 1% think they might go to hell
Everyone thinks they are worthy of heaven – No one thinks they deserve going to hell
But the reality is you don’t get to heaven or hell based on what you think – you get to heaven or hell based on what God thinks

There is some liberal theology going around these days that is attacking the foundation of truth that we believe and leading people into deception
The latest is universalism – which believes that everyone is going to heaven and questions the existence of hell

5 keys to heaven, hell and the love of God

1. There is a day of judgment
2 Corinthians 5: 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive what is due to them for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad
And after the judgment that people will be separated into two groups according to their choice about accepting or rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord (Matthew 13:47-51)
Those accepting Christ will receive eternal life in heaven – those rejecting Christ will spend eternity separated from God – that separation is called hell

2. God is a God of justice
To understand God we need to understand is that He is a God of justice
Isaiah 61: for I the Lord love justice
Psalm 89: 14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne
Justice is about making things right
When you have had somebody seriously wrong you – what do you want? – Justice
God wants to make things right in the world – he wants to make things right for those who have been wronged – and that is good news
The bibles description of heaven – is a place where everything has been made right
Revelation 21: 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away
What is the old order of things? Sin & death reigns
God wants to make things right – but in order to do so he has to deal to sin
Sin has a price, Sin has a consequence, a penalty – and the price must be paid
Romans 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life

3. Love conquers sin and death
In demonstrating that love can conquer sin and death, God steps up to pay the price of our sin by coming in the person of Jesus to pay the penalty of death for our sin
John 3: 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life
Romans 5: 8 God demonstrates his own love in this, while we were still sinners Christ died for us
That is extreme love

4. We receive salvation through faith in Jesus Christ
But to access Christ’s love and forgiveness we must be saved
John 3: 3 I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again
We cannot enter heaven without the penalty for sin being paid for our life

People say but he is such a good person – how could he go to hell
Goodness is not the criteria for acceptance in to heaven – salvation is
There is only one pathway to heaven and that is rejection of the world’s way and acceptance of Christ as Lord and saviour
John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

5. We all must make the choice
There is a narrow road to heaven and there is a highway to hell – we all must make a choice as to which path we take
The job of the church is to make sure everyone gets the opportunity to receive the invitation
What about the people that don’t hear?
The great commission to the church is to preach the gospel to all nations – how seriously are we taking it?
God sends no one to hell – hell is a pathway and choice that we make
To end up in hell you have to reject or ignore Christ
1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

What will your choice be?