What happens after death — comments IV

As we now come to a close on this topic, there is one final argument that a reader brought up that I would like to deal with. This reader made this comment because he disagrees with what the Bible says in regards to what happens after we die.

The reader commented, “For IF the ‘god’ you preach could have someone spend time in an eternal ‘hell’ then he is NOT the loving God of scripture and you would do well, to recognize that.” This reader no doubt has swallowed the lie of the enemy. The lie that says that God will not judge anyone regardless of the way they live because He is only a loving God.

The God of the bible is a very loving God which has given man ample opportunity to repent and receive His Son Jesus before they die because if they don’t they will be judged and will be sent to hell (Acts 17:30-31). If you fail to believe that, look at what the Bible says: Peter wrote, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he have his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God...He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:16-18, 36). Paul wrote, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:” (Col. 3:5-6).

There are so many other Scriptures that teach that God will judge the person that fails to believe in the Son. Why do you think that Jesus had to come to this earth to die for our sins?

Why did Jesus come to save us if we were not going to be judged? He saved us from what?

Paul said, “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment” (Romans 2:5-9). John wrote in Revelation, “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:11-15).

 The God of the Bible is a loving God indeed. It is for that reason that He sent Jesus to die for our sins. But He is also a just God in that He will judge those who fail to believe in Jesus. This is nothing that I made up. It is what the Bible says. Read it for yourself.

Rangel is Senior Pastor of Borderland Calvary Chapel. You may contact him at 956-399-3534 or through e-mail at: gregrangel@msn.com. His services are held at 11 a.m. on Sunday and 7 p.m. on Wednesdays at 299 E. Heywood St. in San Benito.