The Bible makes it abundantly clear that not a single person to live has ever deserved to go to Heaven. As all people have fallen short of the glory of God. Everyone has sinned and as such deserves the punishment of hell. Yet, God in His great grace and mercy has made a way for all people to be saved. If they will only turn to Him. Making it so that even though everyone deserves hell because of their actions no one should go. Not even the worst person you may be thinking of right now because still they are able to be forgiven.
Romans 3:23 (ESV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
1 John 1:10 (ESV)
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Many Christians have lost sight of this, forgetting the lives of sin God pulled them out of. Too many Christians look at others who are lost as though they should go to hell. Viewing them with contempt and sadly even hate. Failing to see that such people are not evil but are only under the spell of the evil one. The lost and blindly walking to hell without even knowing what they are headed towards. Do they deserve hell based on their actions? The Bible of course says yes. But the Bible also says they do not have to go to hell. Because God is willing to forgive them just as He forgave us.
1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (ESV)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
The most famous verse from the Bible does not say God sent Jesus so some pretty good people could be saved. Because those good people don’t exist without God. Instead, it says that Jesus came so the whole world could be saved. Jesus Himself declared that He came for the broken and lost, not those who think they are righteous. The message of the gospel is forgiveness for all people with no catches or exclusions. We all have lived a life worthy of hell. But God has made it so we can all be forgiven. Blessing us instead with eternity in Heaven even though we don’t deserve it.
John 3:16–17 (ESV)
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
No action is too wicked, no life so bad that God is not willing to forgive it. The Apostle Paul himself lived a very wicked life before coming to know Christ. As he fought directly against God and the early church. Imprisoning, beating, and condoning the death of many Christians. He even referred to himself as the chief most sinner. Stating that he was an example that anyone could be forgiven regardless of what they have done.
Galatians 1:13 (ESV)
13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.
Acts 8:3 (ESV)
3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
1 Timothy 1:15–16 (ESV)
15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
As Christians, this truth should be more apparent to us than anyone else because we have experienced it first hand. Each and every believer was once headed for destruction but then God stepped in and showed us another path. The same change that took place in our lives can take place in the lives of anyone else. Never should we look at someone on the street or in the news and think well they are going straight to hell. The thought that another person created and loved by God is on their way to hell should never bring us any joy. Instead, it should grieve our hearts because we know that hell is real and no joking matter.
While someone can rightfully deserve such a punishment for all they have done that doesn’t have to happen to them. God is willing to step into their life and save them. Right where they are if they will only let Him. Anytime we hear of someone who lives a wicked lifestyle or has committed an evil act our prayers should go out to them. Praying that they will find God while they still can. Knowing what we know from God’s word we should desire that no one goes to hell. No matter what they have done. Because just as the glory of Heaven will go beyond what we can ever imagine. The perils of hell will be worse than what we can ever imagine. A punishment that should only be reserved for the devil and his angels. Those who it was originally intended for.
Matthew 13:50 (ESV)
50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
2 Thessalonians 1:9 (ESV)
9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
Matthew 25:41 (ESV)
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
If you are reading this and are living a sinful lifestyle know that you do deserve hell. Because you are living contrary to God. But also know that just because you deserve hell doesn’t mean you have to go. Nor does it mean that God doesn’t love you. God loves you so much that He has made a way for you to be saved despite your sins. Scripture proclaims that nothing can separate us from the love of God. A fact that is true for all God’s created people whether they are saved or lost. We know this to be true because it is only because of His love that He stepped into our world to bring us into His eternal kingdom.
Revelation 21:8 (ESV)
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Galatians 5:19–21 (ESV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Romans 8:38–39 (ESV)
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8 (ESV)
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God doesn’t hate you and He doesn’t want to punish you. He wants to give you every opportunity to be saved. Peter even explained the reason the Lord has not yet returned for His church. Because He wants to give everyone every chance they can to be saved. God doesn’t want to see anyone go to hell but because He is just He must stay true to His word.
2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Ezekiel 18:23 (ESV)
23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
God gives you the choice to be saved or not be saved. The choice to go to hell or to go to Heaven. You can repent of your sins which means seeking forgiveness for them and leaving them in the past. Then follow the rest of the plan of salvation. Or you can keep living apart from God and walk towards destruction. No one has to go to hell even though we all deserve to but sadly many still choose to go that direction. Make the choice you know you should and turn your life over to the one who loves you more than anyone else ever will.
Acts 2:37–38 (ESV)
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Everyone who has ever lived deserved to go to hell. I know good and well that was the future in store for me at one time based on how I chose to live my life. But praise God I can now clearly see that while we all deserve hell not one of us has to go there. Because of the great love that God has for all people regardless of nationality, age, sex, appearance, or the life they have lived. A love that as God’s children we should share for all people. Not judging those on the path toward destruction or finding any pleasure in the idea of them going there. But doing all we can to show those who are lost and dying the love their creator has for them. Showing them the same reflection of Christ in our lives that someone else once showed us from theirs.
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