They Are Preaching Up The Devil's Old, Favorite Doctrine!


By J.C. Ryle

There is such a place as Hell. Let no one deceive you with vain words. What people do not like--they try hard not to believe. When the Lord Jesus Christ comes to judge the world, He will punish all who are not His disciples with a fearful punishment! All who are found unrepentant and unbelieving; all who have clung to sin; all who have set their affections on worldly things; all who are without Christ......all such shall come to a dreadful end! "Anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life--was thrown into the Lake of Fire!" Revelation 20:15

1) I know that some people do not believe that there is any Hell at all. They think it impossible, that there can be such a place. They call it inconsistent with the mercy of God. They say that it is too awful an idea to be really true. The devil of course, rejoices in the views of such people. They help his kingdom mightily. They are preaching up the devil's old, favorite doctrine, "You shall not surely die!" Genesis 3:4

2) I know furthermore, that some do not believe that Hell is eternal! They tell us it is incredible, that a compassionate God will punish people forever. They imagine that He will surely open the prison doors of Hell at last. This also is a mighty help to the devil's cause.

3) I know also that some believe that there is a Hell--but never allow that anybody is going there! They imagine that . . . all people are good, all are sincere, all mean well, and all, they hope, will go to Heaven when they die! Alas! what a common delusion is this! If I never spoke of Hell--I would think I had kept back something that was profitable, and would look on myself as an accomplice of the devil. Reader, I beseech you, in all tender affection--beware of false views of the subject on which I have been dwelling. Beware of new and strange doctrines about Hell and the eternity of punishment. Beware of manufacturing a god of your own: a god who is all mercy but not just; a god who is all love but not holy; a god who has a Heaven for everybody but a Hell for none; a god who will make no distinction between godly and the ungodly in eternity. Such a god is an idol of your own imagination! It is as truly an idol--as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple! The hands of your own imagination and sentimentality have made it! It is not the God of the Bible--and beside the God of the Bible, there is no God at all. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Names of God's Children

Image
If you are a child of the living God, you are no longer called a sinner; "For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls" 1Peter 2:25. We are still a sinners but God looks at us not as sinners, but as His precious children. Why? Because of what Jesus did on the Cross for you and me, sinners saved by sovereign grace. Jesus, is the Overseer and Lover of our souls, as the Good Shepherd. Jesus said in John's Gospel "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep." John 10:14-15. The Bible has many names for God's children, sinners who are saved by His wondrous grace and mercy. You are the: Beloved of God (Rom 1:7) Beloved Brethren (James 2:5) Children of God (John 1:12) Sons of the Living God (Rom 9:26) Sons of the Most High (Luke 6:35) Children of the Promise (Rom 9:8) Dear Children ( Eph 5:1
Read more

TRUE JOY IS ONLY FOUND IN CHRIST

Image
INTRODUCTION How relevant is this letter to the Philippian Church? Let me ask this question before you answer that one!  Is it easy to be a Christian in today’s world?  The answer is no, it’s the opposite; it’s hard and feels sometimes like an uphill battle.  This letter should encourage you to live for Christ despite the opposition with a joy that nothing can steal that joy away.  Where are you going to find true joy?  Because Paul in this letter radiates a infectious joy, though he writes this letter from a Roman’s prison cell.  In this letter Paul helps us to understand that joy isn’t resulting from comfortable circumstances, but from a living, vibrant communion with Christ.  I say that because look what Paul says in chapter two “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me .” Phil 2:17-18.  Paul’s circumstance doesn’t change hi
Read more

DESPAIR IS SATAN’S MASTERPIECE

Image
Job 6:1-30 I titled my sermon after a statement that the late great reformer Thomas Brooks said “Despair is Satan's masterpiece; it carries men headlong to hell as the devils did the herd of swine into the deep.”  I also came across a fictitious story that Steve Lawson mentions in a commentary, which speaks about, this word despair.  “One day the devil decided to have a garage sale. Taking all his finest tools of destruction: hatred, envy, jealousy, deceit, lust, lying, and pride. He priced each one according to its value and placed them on the driveway. But the most worn tool was set apart from the other instruments. A curious customer saw and picked up the worn tool, looked it over, and noted that it carried the highest price. He asked , “Why is this tool higher than the others?”  The devil laughed and said , “That’s the tool called ‘discouragement.’ It is more powerful than any other tool I have. When I use this tool on a person’s heart, I can pry it open and then u
Read more