Of hell and the Gospel

By Elizabeth Prata

I’ve been wrestling with whether to give the Gospel “one more time” to a person who resists and in fact, had blasphemed the other times I’ve shared. I looked up the verse from Matthew 7:6, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”

Though everyone needs the Gospel, when someone has repeatedly rejected it, I think it’s important to choose not to give them further opportunity to blaspheme, nor entrench themselves in further sin at my cause. It’s a hard decision to make in these days of ‘love love love’ and ‘let go and let God’ but God is holy too, and His word warns us to be discriminating about sharing holy things with dogs and swine.

Here is the commentary that helped me clarify what to do, and when-

“The reason we must judge (v. 6). As God’s people, we are privileged to handle the “holy things” of the Lord. He has entrusted to us the precious truths of the Word of God (2 Corinthians 4:7), and we must regard them carefully. No dedicated priest would throw meat from the altar to a filthy dog, and only a fool would give pearls to a pig. While it is true that we must carry the Gospel “to every creature” (Mark 16:15), it is also true that we must not cheapen the Gospel by a ministry that lacks discernment. Even Jesus refused to talk to Herod (Luke 23:9), and Paul refused to argue with people who resisted the Word (Acts 13:44–49).”

“The reason for judgment, then, is not that we might condemn others, but that we might be able to minister to them. Notice that Jesus always dealt with individuals according to their needs and their spiritual condition. He did not have a memorized speech that He used with everybody. He discussed the new birth with Nicodemus, but He spoke of living water to the Samaritan woman. When the religious leaders tried to trap Him, He refused to answer their question (Matthew 21:23–27). It is a wise Christian who first assesses the condition of a person’s heart before sharing the precious pearls.”

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 30). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

It’s hard to watch someone go down to Sheol. It’s agony knowing the hell fires awaiting for the “I’m a good person” person. Yet, I know God is rich in mercy and perhaps the appointment with salvation has not occurred yet, even though the hour grows late. Even if that appointment is not in the Book of Life, I know God is holy and just. We all deserve hell. I know I did. The existence of hell and the Lamb’s perpetual wrath upon it (Revelation 14:10) and the souls within it budges my love for him not one iota. Hell is a jail necessary for rebels, which we all are.

If anyone reading this has not turned from their sin and repented to Jesus as Savior and Lord, please do so before it is too late. “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

Thomas Watson, “A Treatise Concerning Meditation“

Meditate much on Hell. Let us go into Hell by contemplation — that we may not go into Hell by condemnation.

How hopeless is the condition of the damned! There is neither intermission nor mitigation in their pains. The ancients fabled of Endymion, that he got permission from Jupiter always to sleep. What would the damned in Hell give for such a license!

The serious meditation on Hell, would make us fear sin as Hell. Sin is Hell’s fuel! Sin like Samson’s foxes, carries devouring fire in its tail.

Meditation on Hell should cause rejoicing in a child of God. A believer may fear to think of the place of torment — but rejoice to think he shall never come into that place. A child of God, when he thinks of Hell — he rejoices with trembling. A prison is not made for the king’s son to be put in. A great naturalist observes that nothing will so soon quench fire — as salt and blood; but I am sure of this — the salt brinish tears of repentance, and the blood of Christ will quench the fire of Hell to a believer.

Christ Himself has felt the pains of Hell for you — the Lamb of God being roasted in the fire of God’s wrath! By this burnt-offering, the Lord is now appeased towards His people. Oh how may the godly rejoice! Christ being for a time in the fiery furnace of God’s wrath — that fire can do a believer no hurt. The saints have the garment of Christ’s righteousness upon them, and the fire of Hell can never singe this garment!

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” –end Thomas Watson