100:00:00,200 –> 00:00:02,060Why does200:00:04,540 –> 00:00:06,880hell have to be forever?300:00:06,880 –> 00:00:08,240You must’ve thought about this.400:00:08,240 –> 00:00:14,180Is it not reasonable that the punishment the destruction and the exclusion,500:00:14,180 –> 00:00:17,240is it not reasonable that they should last for a time but then at600:00:17,240 –> 00:00:21,280some point, surely, it would come to an end.700:00:21,379 –> 00:00:24,240Why does hell have to be forever?800:00:24,240 –> 00:00:26,740Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.900:00:26,740 –> 00:00:29,740I am David Pick and glad you could join us today as we continue1000:00:29,780 –> 00:00:32,720the message we began last time on the subject of hell.1100:00:32,720 –> 00:00:37,180Colin, it is a sobering topic and one that has probably raised many questions1200:00:37,180 –> 00:00:39,580from many of us over the years.1300:00:39,580 –> 00:00:41,240Including that one we heard just now.1400:00:41,240 –> 00:00:43,840Why does hell have to be forever?1500:00:43,840 –> 00:00:47,619Ultimately we need to look at what the Bible says about hell.1600:00:47,680 –> 00:00:48,900Yeah, that’s right.1700:00:48,900 –> 00:00:52,080And there are a lot of people who are writing and teaching that1800:00:52,080 –> 00:00:54,700somehow it will be for a time and then it will come to an end1900:00:54,700 –> 00:00:57,000and there’s an obvious attraction within that.2000:00:57,419 –> 00:01:00,439There’s always an attempt to soften2100:01:00,439 –> 00:01:04,019what the Bible and our Lord Jesus particularly says.2200:01:04,019 –> 00:01:07,559And one way in which that happens is well it won’t be forever.2300:01:07,559 –> 00:01:10,660Another way is well you know there won’t actually be anybody in hell2400:01:10,660 –> 00:01:13,300because ultimately everyone will end up in heaven.2500:01:13,300 –> 00:01:16,400And yet what we have to do is to take very seriously2600:01:16,760 –> 00:01:19,480what the Lord Jesus Christ himself says2700:01:19,480 –> 00:01:24,599and then embrace the Lord Jesus Christ and his grace2800:01:25,139 –> 00:01:30,099In all of its fullness and it’s only I think really when we see the the horrors2900:01:30,099 –> 00:01:34,139of what he has saved us from that we begin to appreciate more fully3000:01:34,139 –> 00:01:36,980the wonder of what he’s done for us in the cross.3100:01:36,980 –> 00:01:40,540That’s what we’re going to do so I hope you’ll join us today if you can3200:01:40,540 –> 00:01:46,099in Mark Chapter 9 verses 42 to 48 as we continue the message hell.3300:01:46,239 –> 00:01:47,400Here is Colin.3400:01:47,400 –> 00:01:53,599Now friends as terrible as the doctrine of hell is3500:01:54,599 –> 00:02:00,320we should be very, very thankful that hell will always be outside of heaven.3600:02:00,320 –> 00:02:08,759You think what one sin in Adam, through the blood stream of the human race has3700:02:08,759 –> 00:02:14,199done by way of bringing absolute devastation to our world, do you think of all the evil3800:02:14,199 –> 00:02:22,399and all the slaughter and all the violence and all the pain that has plagued the history3900:02:22,820 –> 00:02:29,820this world. God had his gracious reason for allowing one sin to come into the world and4000:02:30,679 –> 00:02:35,619for his ordering of the history of the world it is through this that he has revealed his4100:02:35,619 –> 00:02:42,619glory, his mercy in the redeemer Jesus Christ. The glory of the Lamb will be forever and4200:02:43,199 –> 00:02:50,199forever and forever. But you can be sure, and at this point you should be glad that4300:02:50,339 –> 00:02:56,479hell will always be outside of heaven. That not one sin or even the possibility of sin4400:02:56,479 –> 00:03:03,479will ever enter in there. William still says this. Hell, he says, will be a completely4500:03:05,080 –> 00:03:12,080isolated and insulated realm for the absolute containment of all evil when it is eventually,4600:03:13,020 –> 00:03:20,020finally, banished from God’s kingdom. It will be outside heaven forever because in4700:03:24,139 –> 00:03:31,139the new heaven and in the new earth sin will be no more. That’s the promise of God.4800:03:35,119 –> 00:03:40,699Now, three strands to the teaching of Jesus on the subject of hell. You’re not going4900:03:41,199 –> 00:03:46,600to find anything clearer anywhere in the Bible and I wanted you to hear it from the lips5000:03:46,600 –> 00:03:52,779of Jesus, your Lord and I hope your savior. There is one verse in the new testament in5100:03:52,779 –> 00:03:59,779which the Apostle Paul brings all three strands of the teaching of Jesus together in one place5200:03:59,800 –> 00:04:04,839and it’s worth noting for that reason and that is 2 Thessalonians in chapter 1 and verse5300:04:04,839 –> 00:04:09,6399, where the Apostle, drawing together everything that the Lord Jesus said under the inspiration5400:04:09,639 –> 00:04:16,279of the Spirit said, they will suffer the punishment, there’s the first, of eternal5500:04:17,359 –> 00:04:24,359destruction, there’s the second, away from the presence of the Lord, there’s the third,5600:04:24,799 –> 00:04:31,540and from the glory of His might. That’s the Bible’s teaching and especially the teaching5700:04:31,700 –> 00:04:34,660of Jesus about hell.5800:04:34,660 –> 00:04:41,660Now folks, in the time that remains I want us to consider two questions that you must5900:04:41,880 –> 00:04:46,679have thought about that I’ve thought about many times and it’s important for us to engage6000:04:46,679 –> 00:04:53,420with them. The first is, why does hell have to be forever? Now you must have thought about6100:04:53,420 –> 00:05:00,019this. Is it not reasonable that the punishment, the destruction, and the exclusion, is it6200:05:00,019 –> 00:05:05,260not reasonable that this should last for a time but then at some point, surely, it would6300:05:05,260 –> 00:05:12,260come to an end? Why does hell have to be forever? And there are many things that could be said6400:05:13,339 –> 00:05:17,420but let me say this one thing for you to consider.6500:05:17,420 –> 00:05:24,420Hell goes on forever because sinners never stop sinning. Hell goes on forever because6600:05:25,359 –> 00:05:32,359sinners never stop sinning. You find this in the book of Revelation, that as the judgment6700:05:34,739 –> 00:05:41,739comes, sinners hate God even more than they did before. Revelation 16 and verse 10, people6800:05:43,579 –> 00:05:48,700nod their tongues in anguish and they curse the God of heaven for their pains and for6900:05:49,660 –> 00:05:56,660their sores, and they did not repent of their deeds. The sinner cannot change his heart.7000:05:59,440 –> 00:06:06,440The sinner cannot bring himself to love God. Nobody will be repenting in hell. The heart7100:06:09,640 –> 00:06:16,640of the sinner does not grow softer in hell, or kinder. If you think that the end of sin7200:06:16,700 –> 00:06:23,700for the sinner is the end of this life, you really have not thought very deeply about7300:06:23,700 –> 00:06:30,700the subject of sin itself. In hell the sinner is directly in the company of the devil and7400:06:30,880 –> 00:06:37,880his angels, Jesus says. And that, in that company, sin will sink more deeply into the7500:06:39,019 –> 00:06:46,019sinner and the sinner will sink more deeply into sin. And any remnants of sin the devil7600:06:46,640 –> 00:06:53,320feels, any remnant of compassion or care for other people that were there going in will7700:06:53,320 –> 00:07:00,299get less and less and less as sin does its ongoing work of making a person more and more7800:07:00,299 –> 00:07:07,299and more absorbed with themselves. Hell goes on forever because sinners never stop hating.7900:07:09,100 –> 00:07:16,100They hate God more and more and more and never, never, never less. That’s why sin is such8000:07:17,119 –> 00:07:24,019a deadly disease. That’s why we need a Savior. That’s why you need a Savior, my friend, you8100:07:24,019 –> 00:07:31,019need a Savior. You can’t change yourself. You need someone to save you.8200:07:32,700 –> 00:07:37,079Or you’ll be a person who goes on resisting and pushing God away, not only for your life8300:07:37,079 –> 00:07:43,779now but for eternity. It’s hell.8400:07:43,779 –> 00:07:45,579Bishop Ryles says,8500:07:45,579 –> 00:07:51,019Most men hope to go to Heaven when they die but few it may be feared have taken the trouble8600:07:51,019 –> 00:07:55,959to consider whether they would enjoy Heaven if they got there. Heaven is, he says,8700:07:55,959 –> 00:08:00,779essentially a holy place, its inhabitants are all holy, and its occupations are all8800:08:00,779 –> 00:08:07,779holy, what, he asks, could an unsanctified man do in heaven if by chance he got there?8900:08:08,679 –> 00:08:11,700John Owen, the great theologian from an earlier century says,9000:08:11,920 –> 00:08:16,119with the most powerful entrenchment of language, he says there’s no greater folly,9100:08:16,119 –> 00:08:24,119no greater deception out in the world than this, that an unholy person can enjoy Heaven9200:08:24,600 –> 00:08:30,760because the very joy of Heaven is that God is the blessing of Heaven. And Owen makes9300:08:30,760 –> 00:08:38,200this point, he says unholy persons cannot enjoy God, nor would God be a reward to them!9400:08:38,640 –> 00:08:44,859That’s actually a very revealing question. Would you think that God is a reward to you?9500:08:45,039 –> 00:08:52,039Would you think that just to be in the presence of God would be the greatest joy to you?9600:08:52,039 –> 00:08:57,580Or does that not sound like much to you? Well that’s telling a great deal about where9700:08:57,580 –> 00:09:02,559you are, isn’t it? So here’s the tragedy folks,9800:09:02,719 –> 00:09:09,719the sinner could not be happy in heaven and cannot be happy in hell.9900:09:10,739 –> 00:09:15,159This is the tragedy of sin, it is a complete and utter dead end. It leaves the sinner with10000:09:15,159 –> 00:09:21,219no place to go. Of course the sinner would want to be out of hell, but not to be in heaven10100:09:21,219 –> 00:09:27,820because that’s where God is who he hates. And has resisted all his life.10200:09:28,419 –> 00:09:31,260And the Bible says, as the tree falls so shall it lie.10300:09:33,919 –> 00:09:38,900Lincoln Duncan draws attention to the words of Jesus about gnashing of teeth. Isn’t10400:09:38,900 –> 00:09:44,940that an awful expression? Gnashing of teeth. Now what is gnashing of teeth, it’s uuugh!10500:09:46,380 –> 00:09:51,280There’s a resentment that’s going on and here’s what he says, in hell people are gnashing10600:09:51,320 –> 00:09:59,299their teeth at God. There’s no repentance there. There is no one saying, I wish I were10700:09:59,299 –> 00:10:06,780with you God. There is no one in hell who wants to be in heaven. That’s the dead end10800:10:06,780 –> 00:10:13,219you see. I cannot be happy in hell and I could not be happy in heaven. What an awful place10900:10:13,219 –> 00:10:17,380to be! And so Dr. Jim Packer says, I think very11000:10:17,380 –> 00:10:22,039helpfully there is nothing arbitrary about the doctrine of eternal punishment. It is11100:10:22,039 –> 00:10:29,159in essence a case of God respecting our choice and continuing to us throughout eternity the11200:10:29,159 –> 00:10:39,080spiritual condition which we chose to be in while on earth. Are you resisting God today?11300:10:39,080 –> 00:10:46,679Your prayer today should not be deliver me from hell. Your prayer should be oh God, cleanse11400:10:46,679 –> 00:11:00,359me. Change my heart. Save me from this will that always resists you. Can’t change myself.11500:11:00,359 –> 00:11:08,799I need a savior. Oh God make me a new creation in Jesus Christ. You need a savior.11600:11:08,900 –> 00:11:13,059We’ve got to pause the message there just briefly, but we’ll be back in a moment.11700:11:13,059 –> 00:11:17,340You’re listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called Hell. It’s11800:11:17,340 –> 00:11:21,700part of our short series Heaven and Hell. And if you’ve missed any of the series don’t11900:11:21,739 –> 00:11:27,700forget you can always catch up or go back and listen again online at our website openthebible.org.uk12000:11:27,700 –> 00:11:33,419Just a reminder that we love hearing from our listeners. So if you’d like to get in12100:11:33,419 –> 00:11:40,419touch this is how you can do it. You can write to us at openthebible p.o box 1420 Cheltonham12200:11:40,419 –> 00:11:55,419GL50 9 P.G. Again that address is openthebible p.o box 1420 Cheltonham GL50 9 P.G.12300:11:55,419 –> 00:12:00,419Open the Bible is supported by our listeners and if you’re thinking about doing that for the first time12400:12:00,419 –> 00:12:06,419this month we would like to offer you something in return. If you’re able to set up a new direct12500:12:06,419 –> 00:12:13,419debit of £5 per month or more, or a one-off gift of £50 or more, we’ll send you a copy of12600:12:13,419 –> 00:12:19,419Pastor Colin Smith’s book. The Ten Greatest Struggles of Your Life. Finding Freedom in God’s Commands12700:12:19,419 –> 00:12:26,419along with five beautiful Psalm 23, note cards. Colin the book is called The Ten Greatest Struggles12800:12:26,419 –> 00:12:32,419of Your Life. So what are some of the most common struggles? Well I think if you went out and did12900:12:32,419 –> 00:12:36,419interviews in the street and just asked people about the struggles of their lives,13000:12:36,419 –> 00:12:42,419they’re going to relate to relationships, problems in relationships, they’re going to relate to13100:12:42,419 –> 00:12:47,419problems with money, people all the time are saying we all experience that we don’t have enough13200:12:47,419 –> 00:12:53,419time and so forth and so on. Then if you think about where these issues are brought13300:12:53,419 –> 00:12:58,419together in one place the answer is God has brought them together in the Ten Commandments.13400:12:58,419 –> 00:13:03,419The Ten Commandments really do speak to the greatest struggles of our lives13500:13:03,419 –> 00:13:10,419and the really good news of the gospel is that God gives what He commands.13600:13:10,419 –> 00:13:16,419He tells us the life that we are to live but then he gives us the power and presence of His13700:13:16,419 –> 00:13:22,419Holy Spirit in order to pursue that life. So the Ten Commandments not only address13800:13:22,419 –> 00:13:27,419the greatest struggles of our lives they actually point us to the new life that is13900:13:27,419 –> 00:13:31,419possible for us in the power of the Holy Spirit when we have faith in the Lord14000:13:31,419 –> 00:13:34,419Jesus Christ. So that’s our gift to you this month of September14100:13:34,419 –> 00:13:39,419if you were able to set up a new direct debit of £5 per month or more14200:13:39,419 –> 00:13:44,419or a one-off gift of £50 or more to the work of Open the Bible.14300:13:44,419 –> 00:13:46,419Full terms and conditions on our website14400:13:46,419 –> 00:13:51,419at www.openthebible.org.uk and you can give online.14500:13:51,419 –> 00:13:54,419Back to The Message now. Here again is Colin.14600:13:54,419 –> 00:14:00,419Last question. And you must have asked this question if you are a Christian.14700:14:00,419 –> 00:14:06,419How can a person be happy in heaven if they have loved ones who are in hell?14800:14:06,419 –> 00:14:09,419That’s surely one of the hardest questions that can be asked.14900:14:09,419 –> 00:14:14,419And I cannot give you a complete answer to that question.15000:14:14,419 –> 00:14:19,419But let me just point to three things that I personally have found helpful15100:14:19,419 –> 00:14:23,419and they may just be useful to you in perhaps moving you forward15200:14:23,419 –> 00:14:27,419in a way that will be helpful in your own walk with the Lord.15300:14:27,419 –> 00:14:30,419The first thing is the clear promise of scripture15400:14:30,419 –> 00:14:32,419twice in the book of Revelation,15500:14:32,419 –> 00:14:36,419that God will wipe away all tears from your eyes.15600:14:37,419 –> 00:14:38,419Let’s give weight to that.15700:14:38,419 –> 00:14:46,419God will wipe away all tears from your eyes Christian.15800:14:46,419 –> 00:14:48,419People sometimes cry in my office.15900:14:48,419 –> 00:14:51,419I hope it has nothing to do with me.16000:14:51,419 –> 00:14:55,419But if they do I have a box of tissues and I hand them a tissue.16100:14:55,419 –> 00:14:57,419I hand them a tissue.16200:14:57,419 –> 00:14:59,419This is much more intimate.16300:14:59,419 –> 00:15:03,419God Himself will wipe tears from your eyes.16400:15:03,419 –> 00:15:07,419Who do you know that you would feel comfortable being that close to.16500:15:07,419 –> 00:15:13,419How close do you have to be to a person to wipe the tears out of their eyes.16600:15:13,419 –> 00:15:17,419And you will be that close to God and you will not be afraid.16700:15:17,419 –> 00:15:27,419And when He wipes tears out of your eyes, these tears will never, never, never, never return.16800:15:27,419 –> 00:15:32,419That’s His promise and you have to give weight to that.16900:15:32,419 –> 00:15:40,419The second thing I’ve found that’s helpful, I found in a little book by Maurice Roberts on the subject of heaven.17000:15:40,419 –> 00:15:46,419And in facing this question, he points to the Garden of Gethsemane.17100:15:46,419 –> 00:15:55,419And the relevance of Gethsemane, of course, is that that was a situation in which Jesus was faced with something that seemed so awful, so horrendous17200:15:55,419 –> 00:16:00,419and it actually involved hell itself because he was going to go into all that hell meant on the cross.17300:16:00,419 –> 00:16:03,419And you remember that in His humanity, he recoiled from it.17400:16:03,419 –> 00:16:07,419If it be possible, let this cup pass from me.17500:16:07,419 –> 00:16:14,419He felt something like you may feel as you think about this question in relation to someone you know or love.17600:16:15,419 –> 00:16:18,419But Maurice Roberts points this out. He says that,17700:16:18,419 –> 00:16:23,419There in the garden, in the agony of that, that none of us can fully imagine,17800:16:23,419 –> 00:16:24,419our Lord Jesus was able to say,17900:16:32,419 –> 00:16:36,419In Heaven the redeemed will be like Christ.18000:16:36,419 –> 00:16:39,419In Heaven the redeemed will be like Christ.18100:16:40,419 –> 00:16:43,419Here’s your saviour, and just try and think of what this was for Him.18200:16:43,419 –> 00:16:45,419Here’s something He completely recoils from18300:16:45,419 –> 00:16:47,419and yet He was able to say18400:16:47,419 –> 00:16:49,419here on the earth,18500:16:51,419 –> 00:16:52,419Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done.18600:16:52,419 –> 00:16:55,419You may not be there now18700:16:55,419 –> 00:16:57,419but in the Presence of Jesus,18800:16:57,419 –> 00:16:59,419you will be like Him.18900:17:01,419 –> 00:17:03,419And that takes me to the last thing19000:17:03,419 –> 00:17:05,420and I found it in the teaching of Dr. R. C. Sproul19100:17:05,420 –> 00:17:07,420and I think it’s very helpful.19200:17:07,420 –> 00:17:09,420He points out that the real problem19300:17:09,420 –> 00:17:11,420that we are dealing with here19400:17:11,420 –> 00:17:14,420is that we don’t fully know yet what sin is19500:17:14,420 –> 00:17:17,420and we don’t fully know yet, what God’s holiness is19600:17:17,420 –> 00:17:19,420and we don’t even fully know yet19700:17:19,420 –> 00:17:22,420what we ourselves will be, what glorification is.19800:17:22,420 –> 00:17:24,420We are now the children of God, John says19900:17:24,420 –> 00:17:26,420but what we will be20000:17:26,420 –> 00:17:28,420has not yet been revealed.20100:17:28,420 –> 00:17:30,420When we see Him, we’ll be like Him20200:17:30,420 –> 00:17:32,420but we don’t yet know all that that involves.20300:17:32,420 –> 00:17:35,420And so, we are peering through a glass Dakly20400:17:35,420 –> 00:17:37,420as it says in First Corinthians20500:17:37,420 –> 00:17:39,420in chapter 13.20600:17:39,420 –> 00:17:42,420Sproul used an illustration20700:17:42,420 –> 00:17:44,420in the light of this.20800:17:44,420 –> 00:17:47,420When he was teaching a seminary class20900:17:47,420 –> 00:17:49,420he would ask that21000:17:49,420 –> 00:17:51,420a student would come forward21100:17:51,420 –> 00:17:53,420and stand in front of the class21200:17:53,420 –> 00:17:55,420to represent the Lord Jesus Christ21300:17:55,420 –> 00:17:57,420and he would stand at one side of the room.21400:17:57,420 –> 00:17:59,420Then Sproul would ask21500:17:59,420 –> 00:18:02,420for a second student to come forward21600:18:02,420 –> 00:18:04,420and to represent Adolf Hitler.21700:18:04,420 –> 00:18:07,420And the second student21800:18:07,420 –> 00:18:10,420stood at the other side of the room.21900:18:10,420 –> 00:18:12,420Then Sproul would say22000:18:12,420 –> 00:18:14,420now I want a third student to come forward22100:18:14,420 –> 00:18:16,420and to represent the apostle Paul.22200:18:16,420 –> 00:18:18,420And he would say that22300:18:18,420 –> 00:18:20,420apart from Jesus22400:18:20,420 –> 00:18:22,420Paul was probably the holiest man22500:18:22,420 –> 00:18:24,420ever to have walked the earth.22600:18:24,420 –> 00:18:26,420So, as the student comes forward22700:18:26,420 –> 00:18:28,420to represent the apostle Paul22800:18:28,420 –> 00:18:30,420the question is, where on this continuum22900:18:30,420 –> 00:18:32,420should that student23000:18:32,420 –> 00:18:34,420representing the apostle Paul stand?23100:18:34,420 –> 00:18:36,420Answer?23200:18:36,420 –> 00:18:38,420Very close to Hitler.23300:18:40,420 –> 00:18:42,420Can you do a double take on that?23400:18:42,420 –> 00:18:44,420Very close23500:18:44,420 –> 00:18:46,420to Hitler.23600:18:46,420 –> 00:18:48,420See our first23700:18:48,420 –> 00:18:50,420thought is that see as we see it23800:18:50,420 –> 00:18:52,420in this world, we say23900:18:52,420 –> 00:18:54,420from our perspective, we say well there’s such a huge24000:18:54,420 –> 00:18:56,420difference between24100:18:56,420 –> 00:18:58,420Hitler and Paul that surely24200:18:58,420 –> 00:19:00,420Paul must be very close to24300:19:00,420 –> 00:19:02,420Jesus!24400:19:02,420 –> 00:19:04,420But Sproul’s point was simply24500:19:04,420 –> 00:19:06,420this, the24600:19:06,420 –> 00:19:08,420difference between Hitler and Paul on the one24700:19:08,420 –> 00:19:10,420hand, and Jesus24800:19:10,420 –> 00:19:12,420on the other,24900:19:12,420 –> 00:19:14,420is so great a chasm25000:19:14,420 –> 00:19:16,420that the difference between25100:19:16,420 –> 00:19:18,420Hitler and Paul25200:19:18,420 –> 00:19:20,420is rendered negligible.25300:19:20,420 –> 00:19:22,420Now, says25400:19:22,420 –> 00:19:24,420Sproul, when25500:19:24,420 –> 00:19:26,420you are glorified,25600:19:26,420 –> 00:19:28,420where will you be?25700:19:28,420 –> 00:19:30,420Very close25800:19:30,420 –> 00:19:32,420to Jesus.25900:19:32,420 –> 00:19:34,420And what that means26000:19:34,420 –> 00:19:36,420is that there will be a huge gulf26100:19:36,420 –> 00:19:38,420between you and26200:19:38,420 –> 00:19:40,420all of unredeemed26300:19:40,420 –> 00:19:42,420humanity.26400:19:42,420 –> 00:19:44,420Sproul draws this conclusion and I quote,26500:19:44,420 –> 00:19:46,420Because we are26600:19:46,420 –> 00:19:48,420so Hitleresque,26700:19:48,420 –> 00:19:50,420that’s a very striking description26800:19:50,420 –> 00:19:52,420of sin isn’t it? I have to chew on that one!26900:19:52,420 –> 00:19:54,420That’s what he says. Because we are27000:19:54,420 –> 00:19:56,420so Hitleresque,27100:19:56,420 –> 00:19:58,420we can relate to monstrous27200:19:58,420 –> 00:20:00,420sinners more than we relate to Jesus27300:20:00,420 –> 00:20:02,420Christ. That’s27400:20:02,420 –> 00:20:04,420why we find the doctrine of hell27500:20:04,420 –> 00:20:06,420repugnant.27600:20:06,420 –> 00:20:08,420That’s why we feel sorry for27700:20:08,420 –> 00:20:10,420Azzah when he’s killed for touching27800:20:10,420 –> 00:20:12,420the Ark, that’s why we feel sorry for27900:20:12,420 –> 00:20:14,420Aaron’s sons who were struck28000:20:14,420 –> 00:20:16,420down for playing at worship.28100:20:16,420 –> 00:20:18,420But the day will come28200:20:18,420 –> 00:20:20,420when our passion and28300:20:20,420 –> 00:20:22,420identification with the glory of God28400:20:22,420 –> 00:20:24,420will be so great that our28500:20:24,420 –> 00:20:26,420sympathies will be with God28600:20:26,420 –> 00:20:28,420and not with our fellow creatures28700:20:28,420 –> 00:20:30,420who belittle his glory.28800:20:30,420 –> 00:20:32,420We are not there28900:20:32,420 –> 00:20:34,420now.29000:20:34,420 –> 00:20:36,420But in our glorification29100:20:36,420 –> 00:20:38,420we shall be.29200:20:38,420 –> 00:20:40,420And so, my very29300:20:40,420 –> 00:20:42,420last word to you this morning is simply29400:20:42,420 –> 00:20:44,420this, the Lord Jesus29500:20:44,420 –> 00:20:46,420Christ endured29600:20:46,420 –> 00:20:48,420hell on the cross so29700:20:48,420 –> 00:20:50,420that you would never29800:20:50,420 –> 00:20:52,420know what it is like.29900:20:52,420 –> 00:20:54,420What is hell? It is punishment.30000:20:54,420 –> 00:20:56,420It is destruction. It is exclusion.30100:20:56,420 –> 00:20:58,420What happened at the cross?30200:20:58,420 –> 00:21:00,420The punishment that brought us30300:21:00,420 –> 00:21:02,420peace was upon him.30400:21:02,420 –> 00:21:04,420He entered into the destruction30500:21:04,420 –> 00:21:06,420of death, his soul separated30600:21:06,420 –> 00:21:08,420from his body.30700:21:08,420 –> 00:21:10,420And in the darkness30800:21:10,420 –> 00:21:12,420he was shut out, excluded30900:21:12,420 –> 00:21:14,420from the Love of his own Eternal31000:21:14,420 –> 00:21:16,420Father so that out of that darkness31100:21:16,420 –> 00:21:18,420he cries on the cross,31200:21:18,420 –> 00:21:20,420My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?31300:21:20,420 –> 00:21:22,420Jesus endured31400:21:22,420 –> 00:21:24,420everything that hell is on the31500:21:24,420 –> 00:21:26,420cross so that you would never know31600:21:26,420 –> 00:21:28,420what it is like. He took the31700:21:28,420 –> 00:21:30,420punishment friend so that in him31800:21:30,420 –> 00:21:32,420there would be no condemnation for you.31900:21:32,420 –> 00:21:34,420He endured the destruction32000:21:34,420 –> 00:21:36,420of the second death so that in him32100:21:36,420 –> 00:21:38,420you could be raised to new life.32200:21:38,420 –> 00:21:40,420He was32300:21:40,420 –> 00:21:42,420cut off from the Father32400:21:42,420 –> 00:21:44,420there on the cross so that32500:21:44,420 –> 00:21:46,420in him you could be reconciled32600:21:46,420 –> 00:21:48,420to the Father forever32700:21:48,420 –> 00:21:50,420and forever. And so32800:21:50,420 –> 00:21:52,420surely for anyone who32900:21:52,420 –> 00:21:54,420here’s this message today and does not33000:21:54,420 –> 00:21:56,420yet know, trust, follow33100:21:56,420 –> 00:21:58,420Jesus Christ today, you must33200:21:58,420 –> 00:22:00,420say surely I need33300:22:00,420 –> 00:22:02,420this Jesus and He must be mine. I must33400:22:02,420 –> 00:22:04,420come to Him today.33500:22:04,420 –> 00:22:06,420And for everyone who is in Christ33600:22:06,420 –> 00:22:08,420surely you will be saying with me33700:22:08,420 –> 00:22:10,420thanks be to God33800:22:10,420 –> 00:22:12,420for his33900:22:12,420 –> 00:22:14,420indescribable gift.34000:22:16,420 –> 00:22:18,420Well this is Pastor Colin34100:22:18,420 –> 00:22:20,420and I hope that right now34200:22:20,420 –> 00:22:22,420you are seeing with fresh34300:22:22,420 –> 00:22:24,420clarity and joy34400:22:24,420 –> 00:22:26,420just how much34500:22:26,420 –> 00:22:28,420Jesus Christ has done for you.34600:22:28,420 –> 00:22:30,420If you’re a Christian today I hope34700:22:30,420 –> 00:22:32,420you’re lifting your heart in thanksgiving34800:22:32,420 –> 00:22:34,420and saying Lord Jesus34900:22:34,420 –> 00:22:36,420you have done more for me than I can ever put35000:22:36,420 –> 00:22:38,420into words and more for me than35100:22:38,420 –> 00:22:40,420I will ever ever know35200:22:40,420 –> 00:22:42,420you will never know the full35300:22:42,420 –> 00:22:44,420extent of what Jesus35400:22:44,420 –> 00:22:46,420has done for you in the cross35500:22:46,420 –> 00:22:48,420and so let it be settled35600:22:48,420 –> 00:22:50,420in your mind today that you35700:22:50,420 –> 00:22:52,420are loved.35800:22:52,420 –> 00:22:54,420Unfathomably loved35900:22:54,420 –> 00:22:56,420by Jesus Christ and let that36000:22:56,420 –> 00:22:58,420be a strength to you whatever36100:22:58,420 –> 00:23:00,420you are facing. The worst36200:23:00,420 –> 00:23:02,420you will experience in all eternity36300:23:02,420 –> 00:23:04,420is the worst that you’ll experience36400:23:04,420 –> 00:23:06,420here in this life and36500:23:06,420 –> 00:23:08,420so look forward with hope36600:23:08,420 –> 00:23:10,420but if you have not yet become a Christian36700:23:10,420 –> 00:23:12,420I hope that today36800:23:12,420 –> 00:23:14,420you will be persuaded to come to36900:23:14,420 –> 00:23:16,420Jesus Christ. Put your trust in37000:23:16,420 –> 00:23:18,420him. Why would you walk away37100:23:18,420 –> 00:23:20,420from this saviour who has gone37200:23:20,420 –> 00:23:22,420to the extent of his37300:23:22,420 –> 00:23:24,420suffering in order to37400:23:24,420 –> 00:23:26,420redeem you from the37500:23:26,420 –> 00:23:28,420indescribable agonies of hell?37600:23:28,420 –> 00:23:30,420Put your trust in37700:23:30,420 –> 00:23:32,420the Lord Jesus Christ. Come to him37800:23:32,420 –> 00:23:34,420in repentence. End your fight37900:23:34,420 –> 00:23:36,420against God today.38000:23:36,420 –> 00:23:38,420I invite you to come because the38100:23:38,420 –> 00:23:40,420saviour invites you to come38200:23:40,420 –> 00:23:42,420and your opportunity to embrace38300:23:42,420 –> 00:23:44,420him is open38400:23:44,420 –> 00:23:46,420right now. Collyn thank38500:23:46,420 –> 00:23:48,420you for that and I hope that today’s38600:23:48,420 –> 00:23:50,420message has brought you a fresh revelation38700:23:50,420 –> 00:23:52,420of the goodness of God38800:23:52,420 –> 00:23:54,420and the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus38900:23:54,420 –> 00:23:56,239Christ in which39000:23:56,239 –> 00:23:58,239he offers a way out of the punishment that39100:23:58,239 –> 00:24:00,239we deserve. If you don’t39200:24:00,239 –> 00:24:02,239already know Jesus as your saviour39300:24:02,239 –> 00:24:04,239I hope you’ll take the time to39400:24:04,239 –> 00:24:06,239consider it today and39500:24:06,439 –> 00:24:08,439then talk to a trusted Christian friend39600:24:08,439 –> 00:24:10,439or family member ask them about39700:24:10,439 –> 00:24:12,540their experience of Christ39800:24:12,540 –> 00:24:14,540and if possible39900:24:14,540 –> 00:24:16,540make that step of commitment so40000:24:16,540 –> 00:24:18,540that your new life in Christ40100:24:18,540 –> 00:24:20,540can begin. You’ve been listening40200:24:20,540 –> 00:24:22,540to Open the Bible with Pastor Collyn40300:24:22,540 –> 00:24:24,439Smith and a message called40400:24:24,439 –> 00:24:26,439Hell part of our series, Heaven and Hell40500:24:26,439 –> 00:24:28,140and if you’ve missed any40600:24:28,140 –> 00:24:29,339of the series so far you can40700:24:29,339 –> 00:24:31,219easily catch up or go back40800:24:31,219 –> 00:24:33,219and listen again online at our website40900:24:33,219 –> 00:24:35,380Openthebible.org.uk41000:24:36,180 –> 00:24:38,180or find us as a pod cast41100:24:38,180 –> 00:24:40,180those are on all the main podcasts sites41200:24:40,180 –> 00:24:42,180simply search for41300:24:42,180 –> 00:24:44,180Open the Bible UK on the podcast41400:24:44,180 –> 00:24:46,180site or follow41500:24:46,180 –> 00:24:48,180the link from our website41600:24:48,180 –> 00:24:50,180also on our website of course41700:24:50,180 –> 00:24:52,180Open the Bible daily41800:24:52,180 –> 00:24:54,180our series of Daily Reflections41900:24:54,180 –> 00:24:56,180based on Pastor Collyn’s Teaching42000:24:56,180 –> 00:24:58,079and read in the UK by Sue MacLish42100:24:58,079 –> 00:25:00,079theres a new one of those everyday42200:25:00,079 –> 00:25:02,079online and as a podcast42300:25:02,079 –> 00:25:04,079so I hope you will check that out42400:25:04,660 –> 00:25:06,660For Open the Bible I’m Pastor Collyn Smith42500:25:06,660 –> 00:25:08,660I’m David Pink42600:25:08,660 –> 00:25:10,660and I hope you’ll join us again next time42700:25:10,660 –> 00:25:12,660for Open the Bible