QUESTIONS
1.What two things are meant by the expression “original sin”?
Two things are meant by the expression “original sin”: the first sin of Adam, and the sinful nature possessed by every person since Adam, due to Adam’s first transgression.
2.What is the sinful nature called?
Depravity
3.In what four ways are all individuals “depraved” when they are born?
1. He is completely void of original righteousness. “Behold, I was shaped in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5).
2. He does not possess any holy affection toward God. “They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever” (Romans 1:25). “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God” (Romans 3:10,11). “For men shall be lovers of their own selves,...lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:2–4).
3. There is nothing from without a man, that can defile him; but the things which come out of him, these are they that defile the man. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:15,21–23).
4. He has a continual bias toward evil. “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagining of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5).
4.Some individuals claim that people are basically good. How does that fit with the concept of depravity?
The result of man’s depravity, or sin nature, is his willful rebellion against God. Such an attitude cannot but bring forth evil results. The awful results of sin are obvious. It is not possible for men to continue sinning and receive anything but a harvest of sorrows of the worst kind. Paul states in Galatians 6:8, “For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.” Hosea said concerning Israel, “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7). He also declared, “You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity; you have eaten the fruit of lies” (Hosea 10:13).
5.What is the greatest defense against sin?
A great man once said, “Our greatest defense against sin is to be shocked at it”; and when this attitude ceases, sin has accomplished its direst results. Paul, in that terrible list of gross iniquities in Romans 1:24–32, climaxed the whole dread situation when he said, “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (v. 32). When sin loses its sinfulness, and men take pleasure in the grossest of sinful practices, there is little hope left...but for the grace of God
6.Based on that, how do you think the U.S. is faring?
In the United States, probably the richest Christian nation in the world, every institution of correction, every prison of punishment, every sanitarium and asylum is bulging with the results of sin. Every policeman in the country is a silent tribute to the reality of sin.
Memory Verse
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that does good, no, not one.”
ROMANS 3:10–12
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Lesson 23: The Reality of Hell
QUESTIONS
1. What would be the implications if hell were not real?
That would mean that the Bible is a huge hoax, in which more than forty authors collaborated (over a period of 1,500 years) to produce a document revealing God’s character as “just.” They portrayed Him as a righteous judge, who warned that He would eventually punish murderers, rapists, liars, thieves, adulterers, etc. Each of those writers (who professed to be godly) therefore bore false witness, transgressing the very Commandments they claimed were true. It would mean that Jesus Christ was a liar, and that all the claims He made about the reality of judgment were therefore false. It would also mean that He gave His life in vain, as did multitudes of martyrs who have given their lives for the cause of Christ. In addition, if there is no ultimate justice, then the Creator of all things is unjust—He sees murder and rape and couldn’t care less, making Him worse than a corrupt human judge who refuses to bring criminals to justice.
2. What are some of the ways that people picture hell?
Some who are enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season will brush off thoughts of God’s eternal justice by joking, “I don’t mind going to hell. All my friends will be there.” Obviously, those who flippantly say such things don’t believe in the biblical concept of hell. They are like a slow-witted criminal who thinks that the electric chair is a place to put up his feet for a while and relax.
3. What are some of the ways that the Bible describes hell?
“Shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2)
“Everlasting punishment” (Matthew 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.”
4. Why does the concept of annihilation go against our desire for justice?
? Because we are all deserving of it.
5. What will help convince sinners of the reality of hell?
A sinner won’t see that hell is his eternal destiny unless he is convinced by the Law that he has sinned against God. He may consider hell a fit place for others, but not for himself. That’s why we must not hesitate to open up the Law and show that each individual is personally responsible for his sin, and that God’s wrath abides on him because of it.
Memory Verse
“If your eye offends you, pluck it out: it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.”
MARK 9:47,48
1. What would be the implications if hell were not real?
That would mean that the Bible is a huge hoax, in which more than forty authors collaborated (over a period of 1,500 years) to produce a document revealing God’s character as “just.” They portrayed Him as a righteous judge, who warned that He would eventually punish murderers, rapists, liars, thieves, adulterers, etc. Each of those writers (who professed to be godly) therefore bore false witness, transgressing the very Commandments they claimed were true. It would mean that Jesus Christ was a liar, and that all the claims He made about the reality of judgment were therefore false. It would also mean that He gave His life in vain, as did multitudes of martyrs who have given their lives for the cause of Christ. In addition, if there is no ultimate justice, then the Creator of all things is unjust—He sees murder and rape and couldn’t care less, making Him worse than a corrupt human judge who refuses to bring criminals to justice.
2. What are some of the ways that people picture hell?
Some who are enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season will brush off thoughts of God’s eternal justice by joking, “I don’t mind going to hell. All my friends will be there.” Obviously, those who flippantly say such things don’t believe in the biblical concept of hell. They are like a slow-witted criminal who thinks that the electric chair is a place to put up his feet for a while and relax.
3. What are some of the ways that the Bible describes hell?
“Shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2)
“Everlasting punishment” (Matthew 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.”
4. Why does the concept of annihilation go against our desire for justice?
? Because we are all deserving of it.
5. What will help convince sinners of the reality of hell?
A sinner won’t see that hell is his eternal destiny unless he is convinced by the Law that he has sinned against God. He may consider hell a fit place for others, but not for himself. That’s why we must not hesitate to open up the Law and show that each individual is personally responsible for his sin, and that God’s wrath abides on him because of it.
Memory Verse
“If your eye offends you, pluck it out: it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched.”
MARK 9:47,48
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