I suppose by now that you have received your Bible citations to prove that hell is a lake of fire. In case not, I point you to the following...If this phrase means "hell" then why didn't Jesus or Paul (or any of the disciples) ever teach that the Lake of Fire is a place of everlasting punishment in the afterlife? You'd expect that to be their main focus if that were the case - and we'd have that teaching recorded for us in the Scripture.....but I don't see it.
Firstly, disobedience of God and hell itself are to be profoundly feared...
Luke 12:4-7:
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Matthew 3:11-13:
“I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (!!!)
Matthew 5:21-22:
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,a and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
There are so many other passages as the above...read them all...do a Biblegateway search for the word fire and find them.
Once assured of forgiveness one must continue to be on guard against sin and condemnation...remember the parable of the sower and the seeds. (Some have salvation but lose it in the end.) One must never give up, always hope and always love, for the Lord says I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. In fact God's own apostle Peter was in need of merciful forgiveness for his grave sin of denying Jesus 3 times...so we must show the sinner his/her hope with these passages. Repent! we say to the sinner, for the Lord says a broken and contrite heart He will not despise...Psalm 51:17. This requires sincerity, for if the Lord tells us in Romans that love must be sincere (Romans 12:9) then our love and repentance to God must also be sincere and all the more so.
So much more can be said, if you wish to discuss further, post me. But I leave you with this thought...
Matthew 24:11-14:
and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
And the significance of this Christian love growing cold?...
I Corinthians 13:8-12:
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
How do we practice love?
I Corinthians 13:1-7:
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast," but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Therefore...
... now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
The message above is mostly speaking of the love which is shared between all believers, however, this love pertains to our love to unrepentant brothers and sisters as well...with qualifications. We are to rebuke one another and correct one another with the goal of salvation. The individual's knowledge of God helps determine our message and "tactics" with the outsider. We are always to remember to be merciful for judgement without mercy will be shown to those who have not been merciful. (Remembering one sows while another waters and that too much mercy is no mercy at all, correction is needed and that is what is meant by love always protects, and finally Jesus says: Lo, I am with thee even to the ends of the world.)
Amen and Come Lord Jesus!
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