Hell Is a Choice

Millard Erickson wrote, "We should also observe that God does not send anyone to hell. He desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). It is the choice of humans to experience the agony of hell. Their sin sends them there, and their rejection of the benefits of Christ's death prevents their escaping." 

If anyone takes the Bible seriously, as well as the teaching of Jesus, the agony of hell cannot be ignored nor denied. The same Bible that teaches about heaven likewise warns of hell. The same Savior who taught the love of God likewise taught about the wrath of God (John 3:16, 36).

God's love for sinners is found in Christ at the cross. God proves His love for sinners through the death of His Son (Romans 5:8). Millard Erickson said, "Rejection of the benefits of Christ's death prevents their escaping." God's love provides the escape from the judgment of our sins. Erickson concludes, "It is the choice of humans to experience the agony of hell."

"Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture" (1 Corinthians 15:3). God's love invites everyone to trust the full atonement of Christ to take away all of our sins (John 3:16). Through the cross of Jesus, God is both just and the justifier of all who believe. However, the agony of hell is a choice for those who reject Christ. 

What God Foreordained

What God foreordained works in the details of life. God's eternal purpose was foreordained before time began. What God foreordained works in time and history. What God foreordained in your life does not exclude personal choices and actions. What  God foreordained in your life works concurrently with your choices and actions.

What God foreordained was before time began (Romans 8:28-30; Ephesians 1:4-6; 2:10). All that God has foreordained works concurrently with your choices (Philippians 2:12-13). What God foreordained works together for good to those who love Him and for His glory. Those good things are experienced in the lives of God's people.

What God foreordained in life does not take away your choice. God allows us to make choices, even bad choices. He neither condones nor approves sin. Yet, God works to bring good out of evil and glory to God's justice, love, and mercy. Be assured as a believer that God is at work in all the details of our lives. What God foreordained is for your good and God's glory (Genesis 50:20-21; Romans 11:36).

God's work is foreordained in our Lord Jesus Christ. His death on the cross for every believer's sin was determined before time began (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8). The determinate counsel of God was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, as the Savior for all who believe (Acts 2:23). God foreknows His people in Christ, yet the gospel is offered freely to all (Romans 8:29; 10:13). 

How God Is Love

Andrew Murray wrote, "God is love, and speaking with all reverence, he can't help loving. We see his goodness toward the ungodly and his compassion on the erring. His fatherly love is manifested toward all his children." 

God is love in his only begotten Son. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son (John 3:16). God's love is received as we believe his Son Jesus. His love for us as believers is everlasting. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39).

God is love as our heavenly Father. The heart of God is the heart of our loving Father. God's children are delivered from fear, receiving the fullness of his love. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. But he who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18). God the Father's perfect love gives us freedom from fear.

God is love is through the Holy Spirit. Every believer in our Lord Jesus Christ experiences the love of God our Father, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Romans 5:5). The greatest abiding gift of the Holy Spirit is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). That is God's love is forever.

Holy Spirit Conviction

Conviction by the Holy Spirit comes before conversion. Many have been under conviction who have resisted the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). They have spurned the Spirit of grace to their own just condemnation (Hebrews 10:29). Conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit is grace common to all mankind. Yet, conviction without regeneration brings no conversion. 

Those who are under Holy Spirit conviction may come to conversion. There is no conversion without conviction. God's Spirit alone brings conviction to the person who is lost without Christ. When we pray for those who are lost, we should pray that the Holy Spirit will convict them.

The Holy Spirit convicts of the sin known as unbelief. It is the sin that separates us from the grace and love of God in Christ Jesus (John 16:7-11). Only by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ are we saved from condemnation and eternal judgment (John 3:36; Acts 16:30-31).

The Holy Spirit likewise convicts of righteousness (John 16:8). He convinces us of the righteousness of Christ. This is conclusive evidence that our self-righteousness can never save us. Only the righteousness of Christ, accounted to us by faith alone, can please God (Romans 4:5). 

The Holy Spirit convicts you before regeneration and conversion. Your conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ gives all the glory to God, knowing that the Spirit of grace brings conviction and regeneration.

All to God's Glory

The reason for all things is God's glory. For of him and through him and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen (Romans 11:36). We are to do all things to God's glory. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). 

Creation is to God's glory. All things were created to the praise of God's glory. You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created (Revelation 4:11). We were created to the glory of God. The Bible defines sin as falling short of God's glory (Romans 3:23).

Our salvation is to God's glory. We who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:12). Believers give all the glory to God for our salvation. God is working in you what is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory, forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:21).

Prayer is to God's glory. We pray, For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen (Matthew 6:13). Prayer should always be focused upon God's glory in all things. God's kingdom and power work to the praise of his glory. We pray in Jesus name to the glory of God in all things.

God's Wrath Satisfied

And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world (1 John 2:2). Two words describe the propitiation of Christ for believers at the cross. Those words are substitution and satisfaction. Christ died as our substitute for our sins. Also, the sacrifice of Christ satisfied the wrath of God against our sins.

Propitiation is God's wrath against our sins satisfied at the cross of Jesus. Propitiation (Greek: hilasmos) is a New Testament word which means satisfaction. Christ crucified satisfied the holiness and justice of God to save guilty sinners. 

Propitiation is God's wrath satisfied at the cross, through the love of God in Christ. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Christ crucified is love's crowning deed, satisfying God's justice. 

Propitiation is God's wrath satisfied on our behalf as believers in Christ. Justice paid the price for believers in the sacrifice of Christ at the cross. Therefore, God is both just and the justifier of all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3:26).

Believers in Christ our Lord receive God's love revealed at the cross. We are justified by faith in Christ alone. Those who reject the propitiation of Christ at the cross face God's justice and wrath abiding upon them (John 3: 36).

Christ with You Always

A new Christian said to a friend, "When I received Christ, I felt the love and joy of His presence, but I don't have that feeling now. It bothers me. Have I done something wrong?" His friend said, "He's still with you always. Feelings come and go, but He has promised never to leave you. Simply take Him at His word."

You may get excited through special times with the Lord, when you know He is moving in your life. However, remember the Lord is with you today and always. Jesus promised to be with you always. Feelings say, "Sometime I know He is with me. Other times, I'm not sure." Faith says, "He is with me always, whether I feel His presence or not." Faith is not a feeling, and feeling is not faith. Only faith can know the Lord is with you today and always.

As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, remember that He is with you today and always. He will never leave you, because He loves you. That's a good reminder to all believers everywhere. Take the Lord at His word. Jesus said, I am with you always, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).

Every believer is indwelt by the Spirit of the living Christ (Romans 8:9). He comes to live in you. The Spirit of Christ is your constant companion. As an expectant mother may feel the unborn baby move within her from time to time, nevertheless, most of the time she does not feel the baby move. So it is with the Spirit of Christ within you as a believer. He can move within ways you recognize. However, He lives in you today and always.