Accepting Christ saves us from Hell.

One of the most common aspects of Christian teaching is the idea that we receive Christ in order to escape Hell. In fact, this often is the basis for exhorting believers to go out and save souls, or to go to the mission field.

Yet, while there assuredly is a Hell and a Lake of Fire, there is no scriptural basis for preaching that we escape Hell by receiving Christ.

The term "hell" is not found in any of Paul's writings, which certainly would not be the case if the Gospel were focused on saving us from Hell.

John 3:16 is not about deliverance from Hell but about gaining eternal life. Eternal life has to do with our possession of the Life of God. Hell is an area of torment where the wicked are confined, such as the selfish rich man who refused to assist Lazarus.

The wicked always will go to Hell whether they are Christians or not. In fact, the wicked would not be happy in Heaven. They are not comfortable among fervent disciples today, why would they suddenly want to be with fervent Christians in the Paradise of God?

Our emphasis today on avoiding Hell and going to Heaven is not scriptural but traditional. We have changed the original Gospel of the Kingdom into a mythology similar to some of the other religions of the world.

Christ saves us from Hell by transforming our personality so we do not belong in Hell. We are mistaken when we tell people they can continue in their wickedness and escape Hell by naming the name of Jesus Christ. This would be to make Christ a supporter of sin. He then would be working against the will of God.

There will be no sin in the Kingdom of God. If we would enter the Kingdom, we must follow the Lamb as He breaks the yoke of sin in our life.

The Lake of Fire has authority over all wickedness. As long as we practice the behaviors over which the Lake of Fire has authority, we are in danger of the second death. It is only as, through Jesus Christ, we cease practicing these behaviors that we escape the authority of the Lake of Fire.

In the last days the angels of God will remove from God's Kingdom all sin, and also all persons who cling to their sin. We think this separation has begun today. Let us work with the Holy Spirit that we may be delivered from sin. If we cling to our sin we shall be removed from the Kingdom of God.

Let us pursue the eternal life that Christ came to bring to us. Eternal life always follows righteous, holy behavior. When we choose to be the servant of righteousness, we gain in eternal life and will gain eternal life in our body, when it is raised from the dead at the Lord's return.

The following two passages are referring to people who have been in the Kingdom of God.

As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (Matthew 13:40-43)

Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:47-50)

To be continued.