Forgetting What Lies Behind – Straining Toward What Lies Ahead (Phil 3:13-14)

INTRODUCTION:

I am writing this as a cautionary article praying we Christians will take our Christianity more seriously than ever before. Instead of writing a lot and sharing my own opinions I have quoted quite a few verses from the bible for your careful personal study so that you can understand God’s opinions for yourself.

The Reality of Hell:

We need to be reminded that there is a heaven and there is a hell. I will not spend much time on heaven but will say something about hell. We need to look deep into our individual and family life. How many are really sure of salvation? Are you sure that if you die tonight you will be in heaven with Jesus? Are you living as if there is an end to your earthly life?

Families: How many of us have a real Christian atmosphere in our homes? Are all our children saved – do we run our families in such a way that each of our children will see in our examples and our lives the Lord Jesus. Are we really disturbed when we know that our child (ren) are going to hell?

Let’s look at the bible teaching on Hell:

Matthew 25:41
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Mark 9: 43-49
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.”
Revelation 14:9, 10
“And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”
Luke 16:19-31
“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”

We need also to establish the fact of the WRATH OF GOD:

John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Rom. 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousnes ssuppress the truth.
Rom. 5:9
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
Rom. 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
Eph. 5:6
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Col. 3:6
On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
Rev. 14:19
So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev. 15:1
Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.
Rev. 15:7
And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever,
Rev. 16:1
Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
Rev. 19:15
From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

The Power of God in the Gospel:

Rom 1:15-17
So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”