Pastor Mike will be speaking on Does God Send People to Hell Part 2. He will be reading out of Revelation 14:8-10,20:15.

He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Why would Jesus say that there was two ways? One built their life on the foundation of a rock, and another on the shifting sands of the world. Because you have a choice.

Hello, this is Pastor Mike Sanders from the Open Door Church. And we want to welcome you to our Hope Worth Having radio program. Thank you for tuning in today.

And we’re going to continue our study on does God send people to hell? So I want you to get your Bible, and I want you to join me in Revelation chapter 14. As we answer this all important question. And that if he is a loving God, how could the doctrine of hell be true? This is an issue that troubles many people.

It is so much of a hurdle for many people that they will just reject the doctrine of hell. They’ll just say there’s no way that the love of God is compatible with there being a place of hell for those who do not believe in Jesus Christ. Some even dismiss Christianity altogether and refuse to believe in Christ.

Because they will not believe in a God that sends people to hell. Now some would say that if you believe in a God of love. If God wants all the world to be saved, and if he is not willing that any should perish.

And if he gave his own son to die for our sins. How can it be that any would perish? Why wouldn’t everybody just be saved? What kind of love sends people to an eternal lake of fire? The Bible teaches us that God created hell. He originally created hell according to the gospel of Matthew.

For Satan and his demonic angels who rebelled against him in heaven. A third of the angels were cast out of hell. But not only will we find that there are demonic angels in hell.

But we will find that there are humans. God never intended that you and I, that humans would go to hell. But here we are.

The Bible teaches us, Jesus says, there’s only two ways. There is the narrow way. And there is the broad way.

The narrow way is those who believe in Christ. Those who follow God. Those who are fully devoted followers of Christ.

And then the broad way is those who walk the way of the world. Live selfishly. Do what they want.

Death could care less about God or Jesus. What nothing to do with Christ. The broad way would also include those who are religious.

They are religious on the outside. But there is no relationship with Jesus Christ in their heart. Jesus said in Matthew 7. He said to those who were listening to him.

Depart from me. You that work iniquity. For I never knew you.

My friends, you get to heaven by who you know. Not by what you do. Jesus already did all the work on the cross.

And you must have a relationship with Jesus Christ. That relationship may have high moments and low moments. It may have an ebb and flow to it.

Not because of Jesus, but because of our hearts. And because sometimes of our struggles. And sometimes because of where we’re at in our faith, in our maturity.

But I promise you, my friends. That if you have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us.

That whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall. Be what church? Yeah. And so that’s the most important thing.

We’ll get back to that. And I’m jumping ahead of myself. Which I tend to do.

My wife says, Mike, stick to the notes. Stick to the notes. So three perspectives on this question.

That we have before us. Does God send people to hell? The first thing I want you to see this morning. Is that God’s attribute of love.

Is consistent. With hell. We have a harmony of God’s love.

And God’s justice. We have a harmony of God’s love. And this place that is called hell.

And I think no better verse captures that. Than Romans chapter 5. In verse 8. In which the Bible says. God commended his love towards us.

And while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us. How much does God love you, my friends? So much.

He wants to keep you out of hell. He gave his life for you. He took the punishment.

He took the pain. He took. The very wrath of God upon him.

So you and I do not have to. And that by faith in Jesus Christ. That is applied to our heart.

Now the particulars may vary. From person to person. And society to society.

But there is an agreement. Among all society. And most likely all people.

That things that are wrong. Or what people do that are wrong. Should be punished.

That evil must be judged. I mean. There is a sense of justice in each of our hearts.

Right? Because that’s why you stand up. When you read the news. Or you see it on your social media feed.

Or you see it on television. That’s why you stand up and say. It’s just not right.

Where did that come from? For God has created within us. A conscience. And he has established within us.

A moral compass. That the things that are wrong. Somebody’s got to stand up.

And somebody’s got to say. That it’s wrong. And then it must be dealt with.

We think about drug dealers. Rapists. Murderers.

Serial killers. Corrupt politicians. Greedy people.

Who get their way. And they push on people. Take advantage of people.

And they create injustices. In our hearts. We know that they must be dealt with.

And that they must be punished. I appreciate Brother Arnold reading Romans 5. Because it’s such a beautiful text to understand. Where you and I are at.

And I want you to understand. That all of us. Are under the wrath of God.

And condemnation. Because we are sinners. We are sinners.

And I know some of you say. Man Mike. I’m a pretty good guy.

I do all these things. And you’ve got your 10 good lists. That you’re doing.

And I’m here. And I’m with you. And I’m glad that you’re doing those 10 things.

But listen to me. Our righteousness. Doesn’t even come close to the righteousness of God.

The prophet Isaiah said. That our righteousness is as filthy rags. And I know you don’t like me to talk about it.

But it’s true. That you’ve got to understand. This is not the rag in your kitchen.

That you’ve been washing dishes with. For the last 30 days. And I would recommend.

That you put it in the laundry. Ladies. You’re killing us.

And guys. I know. Not just ladies.

Excuse me. I am so out of touch. I apologize.

I apologize. But this is the rag. That the lepers would use.

To wipe the pus. Off of their skin. Their skins would be filled with boils.

They would wipe it off. And you would think. That somebody would come along.

And they would give them a new rag. And they would put it in the laundry. And they would clean it up.

But no. This is the same rag. That one leper.

After another. Was used. To wipe.

And they would come. And they would take that same rag. And wipe it again.

All over their body. To wipe that pus off. And here’s what the bible says.

To us. That our righteousness. The best of Mike Sanders.

Is nothing. But a filthy. Leper.

Rag. The best of Mike. Wow.

I know that’s hard to swallow. In this self-esteem world that we live in. When everybody.

Is so proud of themselves. And every once in a while. Somebody will tell me.

And I was just talking to somebody. And they were telling me. How good they were.

And I said. If you don’t say so yourself. Amen.

The bible says. Let another man’s lips praise you. But we often jump in.

And I find myself there. You know. I do something.

And I say. Honey isn’t that nice. I mow that lawn.

Look at that lawn. Isn’t that nice looking out there. And she reminds me.

Let another man’s lips praise you. I said I was hoping your lips would. But here we are.

We are sinners. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We’re all flawed.

We’re not perfect. And this sin must be dealt with. It must be paid for.

And the way that it is dealt with. Is through God’s holiness. And Jesus delivered us.

And how did he do that? By going to the cross. Being our substitute. Taking our place.

Isaiah 53 5 says. He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities.

And the chastisement of our peace was upon him. And with his stripes. We are healed.

How is the love of God. And the holiness of God. How are they compatible.

And how are they in harmony. Because though we are sinners. And though we deserve to be.

In hell. Because of our sin. Out of great love.

God has reached out to us. And he has provided a way for us. To experience the forgiveness.

Of Jesus Christ. And that he has taken our punishment. On the cross.

He has taken our pain. And if we would put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Then my friends.

We can experience. The true love of Jesus. If you have ever doubted.

Whether God loved you. I want you to look to the cross. If you have ever doubted.

Whether God cares about your plight. Look to the cross. Because Jesus.

On full display of love. He gave his life. For you and for me.

Can God’s people say amen. Oh yeah I love it. Now.

God’s provision for salvation. Should ever put to rest. The notion.

That God’s love. And wrath. Or holiness.

Are incompatible. I want you to understand that. Unlike us.

God can do two things at once. Amen. I was taking prayer requests this morning.

And some of the people that usually do that. We have a little Facebook thing. Where we keep track of our prayer requests for each other.

In our Sunday school class. And Pastor Mike was listening. Hearing.

Trying to type on his little phone. Trying to get it in there all by himself. And I told him.

I said look you guys have got to slow down. Because I can’t take all this at once. It’s too many things going on.

I got to slow down. One thing at a time. Ladies I’m not talking about just manhood.

I know you ladies say well we do all kinds of things. At a time. I hear you.

But God can love you. And God can still punish sin. Did you know that? It’s true.

So the second thing I want you to consider this morning. Is how can a God of holiness. Admit sinful people.

To heaven. Now the Bible says. That God loves us.

But the Bible. Also declares that God. Is not only God of love.

But he is a God who is holy. And someone says. Well Pastor how can a loving God.

Send people to hell. Well let me just invert it for you. Because this is the greater question.

I want you to consider. How can a God of holiness. Admit sinful people into heaven.

That’s the greater question. That’s the most amazing thing. To me.

That I’m not worthy of heaven. I’m not worthy of salvation. I am not deserving.

I didn’t go to church enough. God would say to me. Hey Mike because you came.

50 times out of the year. Then you get a straight pass into heaven. That’s not how it works.

Even if I came 52. And even if I could find a 53rd. And a 54th Sunday.

And I came those extra times. And I got bonus points. It still would not be enough to get me into heaven.

Because the best of Mike. Is nothing but a lepers rag. And therefore the greater question is.

How does a holy God. Allow sinful people. Into heaven.

Isaiah. When he was. In a moment of a crisis in his life.

When the king. Who he administered to. Personally.

And he had become great friends with. King Uzziah. Had passed away.

It was devastating. Because it was a tragedy. It was a surprise.

It wasn’t something that. He was in failing health. And all of a sudden king Uzziah is gone.

And Isaiah is overwhelmed. With grief and sorrow in his heart. He shows up at the temple.

In Isaiah chapter 6. And he is prostrate before the Lord. Weeping pleading with God. And just expressing his grief.

And sorrow. And the bible teaches us that he saw God. High and lifted up.

And around the throne of God. Were seraphims. Angels that were crying out.

The scripture says in verse 3 of chapter 6. Holy. Holy. Holy is the Lord God of hosts.

The whole earth. Is full of his glory. What you and I. Have to learn.

It’s easy for us to want to. Put most emphasis on the love of God. But what we really need to do.

Is balance our understanding. Of who God is. Yes he is a God of love.

But friends we cannot forget. That he is a God who is holy. Think about this.

In all of the bible. You’ll never find. The angels circling the throne.

Crying out. Love. Love.

But every time that we are given this picture. And this scene. Not only in Isaiah.

But as well as in. Revelation. We see the angels crying out.

Holy. Holy. In the Hebrew language.

The repetition is a point of emphasis. It is not only a point of emphasis. But it is a point of priority.

What I want you to know. And understand church. Is that the preeminent.

Attribute of God. Is holiness. That it is out of his holiness.

That all of his other. Attributes flow. That we must first.

Know and recognize. That we have a holy God. Who is righteous.

Who is just a God. Who is above us. Now think about this.

The Hebrew word. For holiness. Has the idea of being a cut.

Above. Sometimes. When I speak to the staff.

I will always remind them. Leaders need to be a cut above. Leaders need to be a cut above.

You say pastor. Why do you dress like. Why don’t you come in here like a slouch.

Why don’t you come in here with your pajamas. And why don’t you come in here with your sweats. Now if that is you.

You do you. I am not putting you down. But I am the pastor.

And I am not going to come in. And I don’t want to offend anybody. And I don’t want to send anybody out.

And upset. So I got to be careful what I say. And I know it is a different generation.

But it is okay. As a leader. I want to be a cut above.

Not better than. But when you think of God. It is not that we think of God.

In terms of man. Kind. But we think of God.

In terms of how the Bible has revealed him. He is a cut above us. He is a holy God.

We cannot retreat from that church. And we cannot back down from that. And we cannot say well.

Out of great compassion and love. We want to bring God down to us. Know my friends.

I want you to exalt God in your heart. I want you to exalt him in your mind. I want you to revel in his holiness.

And his greatness. And as A.W. Tozer said. His transcendency.

And I know you are like. What is that? That is that God transcends. And he is above and beyond.

All that we could ever imagine. And think. This is how great God is.

And so the greater question is. How can a God of holiness. Admit sinful people to heaven.

My third and final perspective. That I want you to consider this morning. When we ask the question.

Does God send people to hell? My answer to you. Is God sends no one to hell. And that is that.

Those who reject God. Choose to go to hell. They choose to go to hell.

The notion that God sends people to hell. Might be accurate in this sense. That as we read in.

Revelation 14 10. That they were cast into hell. Did you see that? They were cast into the lake of fire.

Every once in a while. Somebody will say. I want to go to hell.

No you don’t. And when that moment comes. And the smoke of that torment is.

Coming up. I promise you. You will have to be cast.

But what is it. That would lead to the casting. What is it.

That would lead us to this point. It’s not that God sent anyone to hell. Because people send their.

Selves to hell. By the choices. That they make.

Ralph Powell is a bible scholar. And he said this. If the question is raised.

How can a loving God send men. Or people to an everlasting hell. It must be replied.

That God does not choose this destiny for men. They freely choose it for themselves. God simply concurs.

In their self chosen way. And he reveals. The full consequences.

Of their choice. God loves us. And he loves us so much.

That he has reached out to us. To offer the opportunity. That we could avoid hell.

That we could escape hell. But it is out of this love. That he also gives us.

The freedom. To come. To make.

Our choice. He is not willing that any should perish. But that all.

Should come to repentance. Why would Jesus say. In Matthew chapter 7. Why would he keep saying.

That there was two ways. And there were two people. One built their life on the foundation of a rock.

And another person built it on the shifting sands. Of the world. Why does he keep offering these two options.

Because he is saying. You have a choice. You have a choice.

A musician named Marilyn Manson. Said I’m going to say. Hell would probably be more.

Comfortable place for me. Because everyone I know would be there. I wouldn’t really.

Be allowed to do anything in heaven. That would be any fun. And it’s sad.

To read those words. Because. She has made that choice.

The bible. Tells us in Jeremiah. That the prophet said.

And now because you have done. All these works says the lord. And I spake unto you.

Rising early and speaking. But you heard not. And I called you.

But you answered not. You remember. The story of the great banquet.

In Matthew 22. You remember that the man invited. Everybody to come to this great banquet.

And nobody would come. And so he decided to go out. To the highways and to the hedges.

He invited his family. He invited his friends. And they said no we’re not coming.

So he went. And he invited everybody else in the world. It is a picture of God.

Who has invited. All people to come. He is invited.

The scripture says in Matthew 22 verse 3. He sent forth his servants to call them. That were bidden to the wedding. And they would not come.

And I wonder how many people there are. That still will not come. No matter how many times.

The offer is made. And the option is put before them. And the pleading is put before them.

And the effort is made. To reach them with the gospel. Of Jesus Christ.

That they will not come. To Jesus Christ. So the answer.

To the question. Why would a good God send people to hell. Is simply this.

He doesn’t. But he will let people go. To the place.

That they choose. Hebrews 2. 3 sends out a warning to us. How shall we escape.

If we neglect such a great salvation. It was declared at first by the Lord. And it is attested to us.

By those who heard. Friends I am here to tell you. How will you escape.

I mean you have this great opportunity. But you keep saying no. And how will you escape.

The results and the consequences. Of rejecting Jesus Christ. You say but listen.

My parents are leaders in the church. My parents are active in the church. I cut my teeth on the pews.

Of this church. Surely God would let me in. No my friends.

God has no grandchildren. He only has children. And no matter who you are.

Just as I always told my kids. As they were growing up. You don’t get to go to heaven.

Because you’re the pastors children. You have to make a personal decision. With Jesus Christ.

You have to follow Christ. Repent and believe. However you want to term it.

The Bible uses many terms. Of what it means. But you must be sincere.

You cannot ride. On the coattails of your family. You can’t ride on the coattails.

Of the pastor an elder a deacon. Or any other church member. You must come to grips.

And parents I want to tell you. And I am startled by this. By how many Christian parents today.

Have never had a heart to heart. Conversation with their children. About where they’re going to spend eternity.

You talk about being a missionary. And you talk about reaching the world. But why don’t you start in your own home.

How many parents. Have a hundred percent assurance. That their child has responded to God.

In an affirmative way. How many of you have sat down with them. And you say what do you mean pastor.

I’m talking about one on one. Face to face. Not being afraid.

To talk about spiritual things. To your children. Because I’m going to tell you.

Nothing is more important. Nothing is more important. I mean I know you’ll talk to your kids.

And you’ll say do you want to play soccer. Do you want to play baseball. Do you want to do dance classes.

Do you want to be a ballerina. And I think all that’s wonderful. And I’m all in.

But have you ever asked your children. Have you ever asked them. If you died today.

Would you go to heaven. Have you ever asked your child that. Have you ever.

There is nobody that has a greater influence. On that child than you mom. And you dad.

And if it’s not important to you. I promise you. It’s not important to the kids.

And you say well pastor they’re too young. My wife was five years old. When she came to Christ.

When her mother sat her down. And talked to her about her faith. Friends.

Kids are at different ages and maturity. So I’m all in. And all my kids were at different ages.

But if there was anything that was most important to Terry and I. Is that all of our children. Would know Jesus Christ. And let me tell you this.

I’m a grandpa now. And the most important thing. Is that all my grandkids.

And if the parents won’t. And they do. But if the parents won’t.

I will. I always told my kids when they were growing up. If you don’t have a plan I do.

If you don’t know what to do with your life. I do. And I would say that to anybody.

If you don’t know what to do with your life. And you’re in this limbo area. Friends I got a plan.

I got a plan. And I know some of you don’t like that. But I just am so certain.

That I know that God has a plan. For every person in this life. I may not know all the details.

But I know that God has a plan. And we’re going to get on our knees. And we’re going to seek God.

And we’re going to find that plan. And we’re going to be a fully devoted follower of Christ. Listen to me.

Every day people choose to live their lives. Apart from God. And I want to tell you out of great love.

God allows them. If they want to live apart from him. For all eternity.

He will get out of their way. He has done what is necessary. For you to have eternal life.

And now the question is. Have we responded? I know this morning that the truth is jabbing at you. And I know it’s uncomfortable.

And I know this is one of those days. When you came to church. And you said man the pastor is laying it on us.

But the only reason I’m doing it. Is because I believe hell is real. And I don’t want you to go there.

And there’s only one other person. Greater than me. That cares more.

And that. Is Jesus Christ. So I remind you this morning.

In closing. That hell is there. But I also want you to know.

The cross is there. And if you would just turn away from sin and self. And turn towards Jesus this morning.

Heaven. Can be. Your home.

Does God send people to hell? Well the truth is. We send ourselves to hell. God paves the way.

For us to have eternal life. And we respond to that. And so I know that some people.

Struggle with this question. And they even use it as a reason. Why they don’t believe.

But I want you to know. That the most important question is. Not does God send people to hell.

But the question is. Are you going to hell? Have you put your faith and trust. In the Lord Jesus Christ.

And received him as your savior. And if you haven’t. You need to make that decision today.

You need to respond to God. And it all begins by acknowledging. That you’re a sinner in need of a savior.

And then believing in your heart. That Jesus died on the cross. For your sins.

And rose again the third day. And calling upon him. And reaching out to him.

And receiving him as your lord and savior. This is Pastor Mike Sanders. Reminding you that in Christ.

There is hope worth having.

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