Psalm 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. I. LET US MEET SOME FALSE OPINIONS CONCERNING HELL AND ESTABLISH ITS REAL EXISTENCE. The Bible maintains it. But consider — 1. The ancient belief is found both in sacred and profane writers. We read of it in the Old Testament. Moses tells of the anger of God burning "unto the lowest hell." Homer speaks of Ajax sending men to hell. And other passages show that the ancients believed in hell. 2. Some deny the existence of any hell beyond the bounds of time, and assert that through God's love all mankind shall be saved. But this contradicts Scripture, and confounds the distinctions between right and wrong. 3. Others say that hell is here in our present sufferings and that there is no other, but that beyond the grave mankind will be glorified. But then, why should Christ die? What pardon do we need if we suffer all the penalty of our sin here? And our sufferings would be the cause of our salvation. 4. Some assert that conscience is hell. But conscience was not designed to be either man's full reward or penalty, but only his guide. It is a witness, a judge, and to some extent an executioner. 5. Others, that the grave is the only hell the Bible speaks of, and that there is no future punishment. But only in 1 Corinthians 15:55 can "hades" be consistently translated "grave." In all other places it means hell. II. THE DURATION OF HELL ETERNAL. Some say that after a while the torments of the damned will be terminated, and the damned will then be saved. But this is to make hell the Saviour, and not Christ. And the word "everlasting" is the true rendering of Aionios. And how can a man be regenerated in hell; but unless he be born again he cannot enter the Kingdom of God? And for the protection of the righteous the wicked shall be shut off from them. III. IN WHAT THE PUNISHMENT OF HELL CONSISTS. 1. The loss of all worldly good. 2. The society the lost will find there. Vile men and devils. 3. The lake of Fire. If this be figurative, then how awful must be the punishment which requires such a figure. 4. The loss of the glories of heaven. 5. And chief of all, of God Himself. (W. Barns.) Parallel Verses KJV: The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.WEB: The wicked shall be turned back to Sheol, even all the nations that forget God. |
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