Evangelism Tip #1: Why Would You Think Hell Isn't Real?
Sometimes when evangelizing you may encounter people who claim that they do not believe in hell. This is an objection that I feel needs to be overcome as soon as it is raised, since how can such people come to the realization that they need the Saviour? If the wages of sin are not death (see Rom 6:23, Rev 20:14. 21:8), ultimately, then what is there to be saved from? Even if such a person believes in Heaven and even GOD, how can they possibly be led to a relationship with GOD through Jesus Christ if they will not acknowledge the reality of their sin and their lost state as sinners?
Some people are reachable by speaking of the benefits of Christ, and to these people it is perhaps not necessary to speak about hell. I am not advocating necessarily bringing it up in every evangelism effort, but when someone denies the reality of hell, tear down that foolishness pronto and bring it captive into obedience to Christ (2 Cor 10:5)!
Just a reminder of some of the benefits in Christ first:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" Eph 1:3,4
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 1 Cor 2:9
The argument I'm going to present is the flip-side of a fairly common atheistic position that denies GOD by claiming that He would not allow such a wicked world to exist. I find this position in writing but can't remember ever encountering someone face to face who seriously argued it. This is because everyone knows that GOD is, and so such an argument is a lie from the get-go (Rom 1:19). Instead, tell a person who denies hell that in this world there is abduction, rape, murder, starvation, genocide, torture, greed, lies, corruption, selfishness, to name just a few atrocities. All these are committed by the free choice of human beings. Now, if GOD allows such evil as this to occur to people, what in the world makes one think that He won't allow Hell? Especially because hell is a place of just redress for all these wicked deeds.
This is an effective rebuttal for the person who claims to believe in GOD but doubts the reality of hell. Where I would go from here in evangelizing is to make sure the person understands next that heaven is not where the 'basically decent' people go and hell is for the depraved lunatics and genocidal tyrants. Hell is where everyone goes who rejects the atonement bought by the Lamb of GOD, JESUS CHRIST! This is because we all have a depraved nature, and though you may not have done things with as wide-reaching negative consequences as some others does not mean you deserve heaven in comparison. GOD judges the heart and you have had wicked thoughts enough to send you to hell forever many times over. Our sin nature makes us capable of things worse than we can imagine, if only circumstances were 'right' for the full scope of our sin-sickness to manifest.
"The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Psalm 14:2-3
We all need a Saviour, and apart from Him, we will all experience the full justice of GOD, which is an eternity in hell. But if we believe in Jesus Christ and His finished works upon the Cross, we can receive the blessed benefits of His atonement and have inner assurance of eternal salvation!
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom 6:23
Some people are reachable by speaking of the benefits of Christ, and to these people it is perhaps not necessary to speak about hell. I am not advocating necessarily bringing it up in every evangelism effort, but when someone denies the reality of hell, tear down that foolishness pronto and bring it captive into obedience to Christ (2 Cor 10:5)!
Just a reminder of some of the benefits in Christ first:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" Eph 1:3,4
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." 1 Cor 2:9
The argument I'm going to present is the flip-side of a fairly common atheistic position that denies GOD by claiming that He would not allow such a wicked world to exist. I find this position in writing but can't remember ever encountering someone face to face who seriously argued it. This is because everyone knows that GOD is, and so such an argument is a lie from the get-go (Rom 1:19). Instead, tell a person who denies hell that in this world there is abduction, rape, murder, starvation, genocide, torture, greed, lies, corruption, selfishness, to name just a few atrocities. All these are committed by the free choice of human beings. Now, if GOD allows such evil as this to occur to people, what in the world makes one think that He won't allow Hell? Especially because hell is a place of just redress for all these wicked deeds.
This is an effective rebuttal for the person who claims to believe in GOD but doubts the reality of hell. Where I would go from here in evangelizing is to make sure the person understands next that heaven is not where the 'basically decent' people go and hell is for the depraved lunatics and genocidal tyrants. Hell is where everyone goes who rejects the atonement bought by the Lamb of GOD, JESUS CHRIST! This is because we all have a depraved nature, and though you may not have done things with as wide-reaching negative consequences as some others does not mean you deserve heaven in comparison. GOD judges the heart and you have had wicked thoughts enough to send you to hell forever many times over. Our sin nature makes us capable of things worse than we can imagine, if only circumstances were 'right' for the full scope of our sin-sickness to manifest.
"The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one." Psalm 14:2-3
We all need a Saviour, and apart from Him, we will all experience the full justice of GOD, which is an eternity in hell. But if we believe in Jesus Christ and His finished works upon the Cross, we can receive the blessed benefits of His atonement and have inner assurance of eternal salvation!
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom 6:23
