Believers have something that the unbeliever wants (although they might not know it!).
God’s ear!
As the book of Job comes to a close there is an intriguing twist. God rebukes Job’s three unhelpful friends and sends them back to Job with their tails between their legs.
What does it mean to ‘fear the Lord’?
Job 28:28 is the first time Job hears the words of God in this long and heavy book. Job has suffered greatly, more than what most could imagine, and finally God speaks. And he says ‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom’. Thanks!
It seems counter cultural to work really hard to call people to Christ, build them in faith, grow a body of believers – only to then send them away!
Over the last few weeks we have done both.
Part 3 on Hell! First we looked at why we should talk about hell. Next we looked at why we don’t. This week let’s consider what hell actually is!
Why even consider this topic? Please read on…
Hell is…
So what is hell?
Hell is not that difficult a concept to grasp – but definitely hard to stomach!
Hell is a place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked.
In Job Chapters 1-2 we get to peak in on a conversation between God and Satan.
God: Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.
Satan (my paraphrase): Of course he is going to be blameless and upright – you protect him and his household and you bless him – if you weren’t so protective he would curse you to your face!
What a cynic. It is so easy to think the worse of someone instead of the best! (notably – a pattern we always see in Satan!)
But does he have a point?!
Welcome to part 2 on Hell! Last week we looked at four reasons why we should talk about hell, so why don’t we?
This week, to continue this rosey topic, let’s consider four reasons why we don’t talk about hell!
1 . People don’t believe in it
When you look at the way our society presents the idea of hell – the idea is often mocked. Several episodes of the Simpsons poke fun. There are businesses which use little devils to market themselves. And the idea of hell is used to promote first world products or services – from ice cream to insurance.
Hell is a toothless idea – in the minds of many.
2. It is objectionable
We don’t talk about hell because it is objectionable. It is not polite, it is affronting.
Welcome to a super rosey edition of the 5pm Update. Let’s talk about Hell!
Over the next few weeks I want to spend some time talking about this unpopular subject.
Why talk about hell, I hear you ask?
Ed – Written on 20th March 2013
As I read through the Acts of the Apostles I realize I am dealing with a unique book in the Bible. Acts links the gospel accounts of Jesus to the ministry letters of Paul, James, John and Peter – in other words – Acts gives us an understanding of how the ministry that Jesus commissioned his disciples to do, turned out (at least in that first generation) as the first church of Christians was established.
One of the key themes that appears in Acts is ‘growth’. Look at this…
‘If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says ‘I repent,’ forgive him.’ (Luke 17:3b-4)
I have always found this verse to be a bit rich and pastorally insensitive. In fact this whole idea of what appears to be unconditional forgiveness seems to be a big ask – and it is not only mentioned here in Luke.
In the gospel of Matthew the disciple Peter asks Jesus ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ and Jesus answers ‘not seven times, but seventy-seven times’!
At 5pm Church TOGETHER this week we looked at what ‘Apologetics’ is and what the Christian Apologist might look like.
The apostle Peter called upon Christians to be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have (1 Peter 3:15). The greek word for ‘answer’ here is apologia[n] which means ‘a speech in defense’. It is where we get the English word ‘apology’ and it is where the idea of ‘apologetics’ is derived.
There are several times in the New Testament where a verbal answer is on show. It is used when someone is defending themselves against falsehood (e.g. Acts 22:1; 25:16; 1 Co. 9:3; 2 Co. 7:11; 2 Tim. 4:16) as well when someone is defending the gospel (e.g. Phil. 1:7, 16; 1 Pet. 3:15). Nothing sorry about that!
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