ETERNITY MATTERS IV: THE SEVERITY OF IT: HELL
MATTHEW 5: 13 – 30
FEBRUARY 2, 2003
INTRODUCTION: Story: Dr. Ian Paisley, the fiery Irish cleric and politician was reputed to have been preaching one Sunday on the End Times - and in particular on the Day of Judgment.
As he reached the climax of his address he said that on the Day of Judgment "there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth".
At which point an old woman put up her hand and said "Dr. Paisley, I have no teeth"
Paisley replied, "Madam, teeth will be provided."
Contributed by: Martin Dale
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Our text for today speaks of action with purpose. We are called to be verbs in a world of nouns. Jesus was a man of action. He calls us to be no less. We have been consumed in the past with legalism, actually the fear of action. If we did nothing, we could do no wrong. We have been caught up in the don’ts, but Jesus also calls us to the world of dos. But why does Jesus call us to action? What is it that is so important that Jesus speaks to us in the imperative? Our text speaks of Eternity Matters. Jesus states that Matters of Eternity must be considered. Just as Dr. Paisley assured this elderly woman of teeth in eternity, Jesus assures us that eternity is broken up in to two locations, Heaven and Hell! And to this He adds, Hell must be avoided at all cost! So HE teaches us that…
THESIS SENTENCE: THE SEVERITY OF HELL SHOULD INFLUENCE OUR BEHAVIOR!
ILLUSTRATION: BEHAVIOR
There’s little difference in ethical behavior between the churched and the unchurched. There’s as much pilferage and dishonesty among the churched as the unchurched. And I’m afraid that applies pretty much across the board: Religion, per se, is not really life changing. People cite it as important, for instance, in overcoming depression--but it doesn’t have primacy in determining behavior.
George H. Gallup, "Vital Signs," Leadership, Fall 1987, p. 17.
I. THE SEVERITY OF HELL SHOULD PROPELL US INTO POSITIVE BEHAVIORS VV. 13 -- 20
1. We have heard since the beginning of our Christian life that we were to be salt and light, but have you ever gotten a real grasp on this truth. Often we over looked what appears to be common knowledge or at least easy to discern information assuming we understand it and others do as well.
2. One of the first truths of these statements is they are imperatives, Jesus states this is “WHO YOU ARE.” You don’t have a choice in the matter, if you have asked Jesus to be your Savior, YOU ARE SALT AND LIGHT.
3. The next important truth here is the “YOU” is plural. Jesus is here referring to the whole church, to those that have received Him as Savior as ONE GROUP. 4. Unity is overly stated here. Jesus speaks to us as a unit, as a troupe of enlisted soldiers. We belong together and we are labeled as HIS own!
A. POSITIVE BEHAVIOR IS A RED HOT CHILI PEPPER
1. Now to the truth of Red Hot Chili peppers.
2. Salt in this context is that of flavoring.
ILLUSTRATION: The other night on the discovery channel, or the Animal Planet channel, they were discussing a monkey that washes its food in the sea. And not only does it wash its food, it actually over washes it. One of the thoughts is that it is not really washing its food, but seasoning it.
3. You see Jesus is not here referring to status, but to function. He is not saying you are a cured ham, though some of us are, He is stating that we are to add zest to life. We are called to be MENTOS!
4. For our context concerning Heaven and Hell, this would refer to those that are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good.
5. And the command is for the WHOLE EARTH, “You are the Salt of the Earth.” 6. “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”
7. The call is to positive behavior, based on the severity of Hell. It means that we must add flavor to the Life of the world. This sounds like the ABUNDANT LIFE THAT OUR CHARISMATIC BROTHERS SEEM TO BE SO SUCCESSFUL AT SHARING. IT MAKES A REAL DIFFERENCE IN HOW YOU LIVE!
B. POSITIVE BEHAVIOR CAUSES OTHERS TO WEAR SUNGLASS (AT NIGHT) 1. Jesus tells us in John 8: 12 “I am the light of the world.”
2. Paul declared that he had glimpsed “The light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (II Corinthians 4: 6).”
3. But what of us as a group, how are we the Light of the world?
4. In Isaiah 49: 6 the Lord speaks to His servant and asks, “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
5. So again the question, how can we be Light to the world?
6. The answer is that we are reflective. Our responsibility is to share His light, His salvation with the world. This is the evangelistic life of the Church. We are to bear the truth of the forgiveness of sin that comes from Jesus Christ alone! We are to be servants to a world that rejects us as it rejected HIM. This is servant hood. 7. Therefore, “A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it one its stand, and it give light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven (vv. 14 – 16).”
8. The end result is that positive behavior is focused on Matters of Eternity, because for Jesus, Eternity Matters.
II. THE SEVERITY OF HELL SHOULD PROPELL US AWAY FROM NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR VV. 17 – 20
A. NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR IS MISUNDERSTANDING JESUS
1. Regardless of what you might have thought, Jesus says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until haven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished (17 – 18).”
2. Jesus here teaches His followers that HE has come reveal the true purpose of the Law. He is the fulfillment of what the Prophets where teaching of, name they were teaching about Him, Jesus.
3. To abolish the Law would in essence be to abolish the truth of which Jesus is, therefore, the law and Prophets stand.
4. Still to come is the accomplishment of the Law and the Prophet, which again will be born out in the life of Jesus. He has come to accomplish what God had spoken of through the Hebrew writing we call the Old Testament.
B. NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR IS MISUNDERSTANDING THE LAW
1. Now to the avoidance of negative behavior:
2. Jesus states that to “break one of the least of these commandments and teach others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven (vv. 19).
3. The point here concerns actual observance of the teaching of scripture. This is the command of James not to be hears of the word only, but doers. Jesus pushes the point that mere knowledge of the Law and Prophets is not enough; it must be followed by actual practice. Therefore to not practice the Law was to be discounted in the kingdom.
4. Verse 20 continues this theme to the point of quality not quantity as seen with the Pharisee and teachers of the law. They knew the information, and practice the outward signs, but within their hearts was different story.
5. For Jesus this is a matter of integrity and it is a matter of eternity. For unless true righteousness is seen in the disciple, they certainly will not enter the kingdom of heaven and thus will find the severity of HELL!
ILLUSTRATION: In his book I Surrender, Patrick Morley writes that the church’s integrity problem is in the misconception "that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in belief without a change in behavior." He goes on to say, "It is revival without reformation, without repentance."
Quoted in John The Baptizer, Bible Study Guide by C. Swindoll, p. 16
ILL. #2: I saw a church sign the other day that suggested a New Year’s diet plan: Loose the weight of sin, feed on the word of God!
III. THE SEVERITY OF HELL SHOULD INFLUENCE OUR BEHAVIOR VV. 21 – 30
A. BEHAVIOR EXPLAINED
1. Jesus now qualifies what HE is teaching by multiple examples.
2. Actually, the examples run through verse 48.
3. Jesus reveals how he is the fulfillment of the purpose of God’s Law and His teaching through the Prophets. Jesus becomes the explanation, the interpretation of what is written.
4. Again, He pushes us to matters of the Heart, which become matters of Eternity. 5. Now, He moves from the Kingdom of Heaven, to the severity of HELL. 6. Note the end of verse 22: “But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Hell.”
7. Now Jesus continues with the avoidance of negative behavior as the key to avoiding the severity of Hell!
B. HELL FORWARNED
1. Verses 29 and 30 are the clincher here.
2. Jesus teaches that the most extreme measure is not extreme compared to the severity of Hell. Whatever it takes to avoid HELL, DO IT!!
3. MATTHEW 18: 8 & 9 BRING SOME CLARITY TO THE MATTER: “If your hand or your foot cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eyes than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.”
4. And if this isn’t clear enough, hear from the Gospel of Mark: “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. If is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if you foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have tow feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have tow eyes and be thrown into hell, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched (43—49).’”
ILLUSTRATION: Why do men shy away from the thought of God as a judge? Why do they feel unworthy of him? The truth is that part of God’s moral perfection is his perfection in judgment. Would a God who did not care about the difference between right and wrong be a good and admirable being? Would a God who put no distinction between the beasts of history, the Hitlers and Stalins (if we dare use names), and his own saints be morally praiseworthy and perfect? Moral indifference would be an imperfection in God, not a perfection. And not to judge the world would be to show moral indifference. The final proof that God is a perfect moral being, not indifferent to questions of right and wrong, is the fact that he has committed himself to judge the world.
It is clear that the reality of divine judgment must have a direct effect on our view of life. If we know that retributive judgment faces us at the end of the road, we shall not live as otherwise we would. But it must be emphasized that the doctrine of divine judgment, and particularly of the final judgment, is not to be thought of primarily as a bogeyman, with which to frighten men into an outward form of conventional righteousness. It has its frightening implications for godless men, it is true; but its main thrust is as a revelation of the moral character of God, and an imparting of moral significance to human life.
James Packer, Your Father Loves You, Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986.
CONCLUSION: The final question for us today must be what would we allow to cause us to know the severity of Hell? What will you allow to take you to the place that Jesus is so adamant about us not going? Is it unforgiveness? Is it pride? Is it Self? Whatever it is that would keep you from knowing the Heaven and cause you to know HELL, Jesus states, it is better to maim yourself than to ever find out what HELL is all about!!
BENEDICTION: I THESSALONIANS 5: 23-24
