The Importance of Hell

By Dane Gardow

The doctrine of Hell is under attack, with skeptics both from within and without Christendom questioning, despising, and denying the irrefutable truth found clearly and adamantly taught in the Holy Scriptures. The negative response to this doctrine arises from serious problems ranging from unbelief to ignorance to self-centered humanism, which ultimately results in attempts to either eradicate the truth of Hell altogether—as in universalism—or else redefine it in a way that is more palatable—as in annihilationism. But despite the severity and horror of Hell and its negative reception, it is actually a crucial and necessary doctrine that beautifies, sanctifies, and glorifies the person and character of God. The eternal and infinite severity of Hell is a mirror that proportionally reveals to us—which we would otherwise not know—the eternal weight of God's justice, holiness, wrath—and yes, even His love.

The severity and eternality of Hell proportionally reveals to us:

• Just how severe and appalling sin is, that it would require such a devastating punishment.
• Just how much divine majesty has been offended by sin.
• Just what Christ had to subject Himself under.
• The courage of Christ in coming to this earth, freely and of His own initiative, to experience the eternal and infinite justice against the sin of His people.
• The love of Christ in taking upon Himself such a task of self-sacrifice and most especially the bearing of infinite shame not merely at the hands of blasphemous sinners, to be hated and despised by vile creatures, but all the more at the hands of Almighty God, to be hated and despised by the Creator, who turned away His face and favor for the first and only time in all eternity, when He was made to be sin on behalf of His people.
• The power of Christ in enduring the wrath of God, and then rising again.

Hell is a beautiful doctrine and to take it away or redefine it is thoroughly repulsive. Anyone who would seek to remove Hell from Scripture is in reality doing nothing except stripping God of His eternal majesty, glory, justice, and honor. They claim to be doing it in the name of love, but that's the very thing they steal from Him. Hell shows us the depth of love with which Christ came to save His people.

The more we know about the severity of our sin and its consequence, the greater love there will be. Take away Hell, and you're left with superficial emotionalism called love even though it's totally void of it.

The Lord very clearly equated the eternality of punishment with that of life. If the wicked do not undergo eternal punishment, then neither will the righteous enjoy eternal life.

The message of the gospel involves the doctrine of Hell because that is one of the doctrines that defines and gives meaning to the gospel. If you take away the doctrine of Hell, you take away the gospel. The gospel teaches us that we are condemned before God because of our sins. Take away the doctrine of Hell and this condemnation is diminished. The gospel teaches us that Christ died for sinners. The doctrine of Hell shows us what exactly Jesus Christ went through in His suffering on the cross. The gospel teaches us that Christ died to set His people free. The doctrine of Hell shows us the high price Christ had to pay in order to do just that. Take away Hell, and Christ's suffering on the cross is diminished. Take away Hell, and the price Christ had to pay is meaningless. Not only that, but the eternality of Hell is directly proportionate to God's eternal majesty. Sin results in an eternal consequence because it is an offense against God's eternal majesty. Take away Hell, and you diminish God's majesty. If Hell is not eternal and infinite, then neither is God's majesty infinite. To deny the clear reality of Hell that Jesus Himself adamantly taught is to blaspheme God and undermine His majesty. It is to mock the Lord Jesus Christ in making light of His suffering and the price He paid for His sheep.

O saints, be vigilant and steadfast! This hated and despised doctrine is under heavy siege in this day and age. Beware of Rob Bell and others like him who advocate the false doctrine of "universalism" which denies the existence of Hell. Also avoid those who compromise and hold to the false doctrine of "annihilationism," as this also denies the eternality of Hell.

Recommended video: Hell is Necessary by Pastor Tim Conway.

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