Continuing our series of lessons from the Bible study series, "Questions and Answers."

1. Unquenchable
A Discussion about Hell

2. An Uncomfortable Topic
Let’s be honest...no one really ones
to talk about this subject. It makes
most people (especially those inside the
Church) uncomfortable to even think
about eternal punishment. However,
we must address it seriously because
Jesus did.

3. Question #1
Can God be both Good and Just (fair)?

4. A Contradiction?
Opponents of God (and therefore
divine justice) say that no divine being
can be loving and just. A good “god”
wouldn’t really punish those who
disobey. However, eternal punishment
(and eternal reward) is not inconsistent
with the nature (will & wisdom) of Jehovah.

5. God is Holy
God is Holy (see Isa 6:3) and therefore
cannot be tempted to sin (see James 1:13).
Habakkuk 1:13 says, “You are of purer
eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look
upon wickedness...” It is entirely
acceptable to know that God chooses to
be righteous and bestowed upon us the
same choice (see Gen 3:22).

6. Fair Punishment?
Would anyone in this world say a rapist
or murderer should go without
punishment? There isn’t a society capable
of existence in our world that would
purposefully avoid punishing evildoers.
Does anyone really argue that there
should be no consequence for crimes
against humanity (i.e., Nazis)?

7. It Would be Unfair
If punishment for crime is not just
allowed but encouraged in our society
then God must be given the same
autonomy. God cannot ignore rebellion
against His divine will and act as if it
never happened. We wouldn’t ask anyone
to do that! We would cry out for justice
and a right judgment.

8. Question #2
Why would God feel the need to Punish?

9. Romans 2:23
...for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God...

10. Romans 6:23
...the wages of sin is death...

11. Romans 2:5
But in accordance with your hardness
and your impenitent heart you are
treasuring up for yourself wrath in the
day of wrath and revelation of the
righteous judgment of God.

12. Death is Separation
Physical death separates the soul from
the body (see James 2:26) and spiritual
death is mankind’s separation from God’s
will and wisdom. Isaiah 59:2, “...your
iniquities have separated you from your
God; and your sins have hidden His face
from you...”

13. Death is Separation
The Bible is clear in many verses what
will happen to a person who dies
spiritually separated from God.
Let me be brutally honest when I say it
doesn’t paint a pleasant picture.

14. Daniel 12:2
And many of those who sleep in the
Dust of the earth shall awake, some to
everlasting life, some to shame and
everlasting contempt.

15. Matthew 25:41
Then He will also say to those on the
left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed,
into the everlasting fire prepared for
the devil and his angels...

16. Mark 9:45,46
...It is better for you to enter life lame,
rather than having two feet, to be cast
into hell, into the fire that shall never be
quenched – where “there worm does not
die and the fire is not quenched.”

17. Matthew 25:46
And these (the wicked) will go away
into eternal punishment, but the
righteous into eternal life.

18. Revelation 14:10,11
...he shall drink of the wine of the
wrath of God, which is poured out full
strength...he shall be tormented with
fire...and the smoke of their torment
ascends forever and ever; and they have
no rest day or night...

19. Question #3
So is Punishment Avoidable?

20. Death is Reconciliation
When Jesus died on the cross, His death
was a reconciliation for mankind and
their creator. Jesus Himself said in John
3:17, “...God did not send His Son into
the world to condemn the world, but
that the world through Him might be
saved.”

21. Romans 3:24,25,26
...(all) being justified freely by His grace
through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus, whom God set forth as a
propitiation by His blood...to
demonstrate His righteousness,
because God...passed over the sins that
were previously committed...

22. Hebrews 5:9
...He (Jesus) became the author of eternal
salvation to all who obey Him...

23. Death is Reconciliation
When Jesus died on the cross, His death
wasn’t for any sin He had committed
(see 1 Peter 2:22) but for our sins. Isaiah
53:5,6 says, “He was wounded for our
transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities; the chastisement for our
peace was upon Him, and by His stripes
we are healed.”

24. Death is Reconciliation
God did not put our sins upon Christ,
God put the penalty of our sins upon
Christ. Remember Rom 3:23 & 6:23, we
all sin and deserve to die, however,
Jesus died on the cross to bear what we
deserve and to ensure a way out of hell.

25. Question #4
What about those who don’t Obey?

26. The Hebrews
Look at what happened to them in the
wilderness (banished for 40 years), during
their rule of Canaan (spilt kingdom with
idolatry), and captivity. God stayed His
hand many times when they deserved
punishment.
See Ezekiel 20:25,26.

27. Two Parables
In Luke 16:27,28, the Rich man asks
Abraham to send Lazarus back to the
world to teach his brothers “...lest they
also come to this place of torment.” But
it wasn’t allowed because those men
had “...Moses and the prophets (God’s
OT Law) to hear.”

28. Two Parables
In Luke 12:47,48, Jesus speaks of the
servants who were found not doing the
will of their master.
Those who knew and didn’t act are
beaten with “many stripes” while those
who didn’t “shall be beaten with few.”

29. Hell & Gehenna
When Jesus talks about hell, He uses the
proper name “Gehenna.” The word is
found 12 times in NT, Jesus uses it 11. It
is a transliteration of the OT expression
naming the Valley of Hinnom. That area
was used by evil Hebrews in 2 Chronicles
28:3,33:6 to offer their children as
sacrifices.

30. Matthew 23:33
Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you
escape the condemnation of hell?

31. Unquenchable
A Discussion about Hell