Hell No! Jesus Saves, No Strings Attached (Right?)

Examining the Influence of Universalism in Conservative Christianity:

When Father’s Heart Ministry launched in 2010, the Lord outlined our mission: to bless, encourage, and comfort those drawn to us for spiritual sustenance. He declared, “You are to be a source of positivity.” He went on to instruct us, “I want you to be so positive, that you make Joel Osteen look like Attila the Hun!” A tall order, indeed. One core value I have is this: It is God’s goodness that leads men to repentance, not the shrill denunciations of red-faced preachers dangling people over the gaping maw of hell with a wet noodle. Let’s consider the words of Apostle Paul:

[Rom 2:4] … it is the goodness of God that leads [men] to repentance.

The inherent instruction of this verse is clear – if you desire to see someone repent, share God’s goodness with them. If you present anything other than God’s goodness, it’s because your fundamental goal whether you realize it or not is achieving something other than repentance.

Hell No?

With that said, let’s address the subject of hell. In recent years conservative Christianity has grappled with this issue of eternal judgment and punishment resulting in many well-known influencers, leaders and speakers suggesting that the traditional thinking and theology regarding such things is unenlightened, unkind and to be set aside by those with higher sensibilities and so-called spirituality who marginalize the idea of hell and judgment, if not reject it altogether.

Why Would a Good God Send Anyone to Hell?

Nonetheless, why would a benevolent God consign someone to hell? Let’s reframe the question: if you stood in God’s place and an unrepentant, belligerent person stood before you in final judgment, would you send them to hell? If you were God, having the power and responsibility to deal with their disposition in eternity, I know I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. For the same reason that I could never sit as a juror in a capital case. For me, it’s simply not possible. There’s no way I could look at another human being in light of the mercy God has shown me time and again in my life and consign them to temporal death or eternal damnation. I don’t believe any reasonable, sober-minded person would disagree with what I’m suggesting.

If We Were God – But We Aren’t!

Recently, I heard a speaker present a scenario where an individual stood before God as an unrepentant murderer, rapist and drug dealer. Before suggesting how God might deal with them, the speaker asked us to imagine ourselves in God’s position. Would we send them to hell or forgive them? Of course, in the analogy, the speaker’s leading statement concludes that we would forgive, and by extrapolation, God would forgive them as well, regardless of their sin, rejection of faith, or belligerence. They concluded by picturing God coming off the throne, embracing the person, and bringing them to heaven. The closing statement was:

“What is so clear is that God is always there, always ready to forgive, absolutely independent of our response. God’s love does not depend on our repentance or our inner or outer changes.”

 

Is God always ready to forgive? What about after death, when a non-believing person stands in judgment? On its face, the statement above isn’t all that controversial, because God does love everyone. “God so loved the world that He gave…” May we conclude then that a good God would never consign anyone to eternal torment? The wording of this statement is where the error is revealed. The statement was that God is “always ready” to forgive, and that just isn’t true. He is ever and always WILLING to forgive, but as human beings, we cannot and will not partake of or be recipients of that love unless we respond to, embrace, and surrender to the merits of Christ. By the same token, once we die, there is no second chance – as Ecclesiastes says, “in the place where the tree falls, there it shall be…” If we die outside of Chris,t our fate is sealed.

To the Word and to the Testimony – What Does God’s Word Teach?

Christian theology historically has maintained belief in the reality of hell, the finality of judgment after death, and the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

The Reality of Hell:

The concept of hell is deeply rooted in biblical texts. Jesus himself spoke more about hell than heaven, using terms like “gehenna” (a fiery garbage dump outside Jerusalem), “outer darkness,” and “eternal fire.” These descriptions, though symbolic, suggest a place of torment and separation from God.

The purpose of hell is not divine cruelty, but rather the consequence of rejecting God’s offer of salvation. God, being just, will not ignore sin. Hell is the ultimate consequence of choosing separation from God, the source of all goodness and life. It represents the natural outcome of a life lived in rebellion against God’s will.

What about those with no knowledge of God? What if a person simply had no knowledge of Jesus, or in their life was never confronted by the claims of Christ? Do they get a pass? One example would be children before the age of accountability. Or the mentally challenged or disabled without capacity to frame a decision of any kind, much less regarding spiritual things. God’s justice and mercy would rejoice together in bringing these individuals into the joys of eternity with God. Those in possession of their faculties and reasoning on the other hand will answer for what they have done with Christ.

The Finality of Judgment after Death:

Hebrews 9:27 states, “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” This verse highlights the finality of death and the judgment that follows. The idea of a second chance after death is not supported by Scripture.

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) illustrates the irreversible nature of the afterlife. The rich man, in torment, pleads for someone to warn his brothers, but Abraham responds, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.” This suggests that earthly life is the time for repentance and acceptance of God’s offer of salvation.

The Necessity of Faith in Jesus Christ:

John 14:6 declares, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.‘” This verse, along with numerous others, emphasizes Jesus as the sole mediator between God and humanity.

Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Humanity’s sin separates us from God, and no amount of good deeds can bridge that gap. Only through faith in Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection can we be reconciled to God.

Ephesians 2:8-9 clarifies, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Salvation is a gift, not something earned through human effort. It is received through faith in Jesus Christ, acknowledging our need for a Savior and accepting his offer of forgiveness.

Addressing the “Good Person” Argument:

The idea that simply being a “good person” is sufficient for salvation is a common misconception. While good deeds are important, they cannot atone for sin or earn God’s favor.

Isaiah 64:6 states, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” Even our best efforts are tainted by sin and fall short of God’s perfect standard. Remember that the tree of disobedience was not just the tree of evil but the tree of the knowledge of GOOD and EVIL. Outside of Christ our goodness condemns us as resoundingly as any evil.

The rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-22) illustrates this point. He was a moral person who obeyed the commandments, yet Jesus told him to sell his possessions and follow him. This highlights that true righteousness comes not from outward actions, but from a heart fully surrendered to God.

The Purpose of God’s Goodness:

While God’s goodness is indeed a powerful motivator, it is not the only aspect of God’s character. God is also just and holy, and he will not overlook sin. This one attribute of God necessitate the sacrifice of Christ. If, ultimately at some point God let’s everyone into heaven then Christ died in vain, because in this scenario everyone is going to “make it” anyway regardless of whether they embrace Christ or not.

Romans 2:4, speaks of God’s goodness leading to repentance. However, this verse is not meant to negate the reality of judgment or the need for faith in Christ. Rather, it emphasizes that God’s patience and kindness are meant to draw us to him, not to excuse our sin.

Conclusion:

The traditional Christian understanding of hell, judgment, and salvation through Jesus Christ is not based on fear-mongering, but on a deep understanding of God’s character and the consequences of sin. While God’s love and goodness are undeniable, they do not negate his justice or the need for a Savior.

The message of the Gospel is one of hope and reconciliation. God, in his love, sent his Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins, offering us the gift of eternal life. This gift is received through faith in Jesus Christ, acknowledging our need for a Savior and surrendering our lives to him.

The choice is ultimately ours. We can accept God’s offer of salvation and experience eternal life with him, or we can reject him and face the consequences of our sin. God’s goodness invites us to choose life, but it does not force us. He respects our freedom to choose, even if that choice leads to eternal separation from him.