Hell’s Shocking Realities

“Hell’s Shocking Realities”

Rev. 20:11-15

 

SUBJECT: HELL/EVANGELISM

THEME: Perhaps a better understanding of Hell will stir us to become more consistent evangelists for our Lord.

RELEVANCE: Our compassion for the perishing multitudes must be informed and aroused by the realities of Hell, to encourage us to become involved or remain with the task of evangelism. Multitudes are dying without Christ and going to Hell, who will give themselves to consistently point them to Christ?

INTRODUCTION:

The dreadful final future of the unsaved is distinctly outlined for all to witness! Rev. 20:14-15, And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

This is why we need to be motivated to share the Gospel and send out missionaries! Our neighbors and the world are destined for a Devil’s Hell forever! We must be concerned to reach them for Christ before it’s too late.  

MESSAGE:

I.  What Is Meant by “Hell”?

Hell is the place of imprisonment and punishment for those who revolt against God.

A. HELL WAS ORIGNALLY CREATED FOR SATAN AND THE REBELLIOUS ANGELS. Matthew 25:41

B. UNSAVED PEOPLE WILL BE COMMITTED TO HELL ALSO (Mt. 25:41-46).

C. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TAUGHT AND WARNED PEOPLE MUCH OF AN ENDLESS HELL.

D. IN THE O.T. THE WORD HELL (SHEOL) HAS TWO MEANINGS WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND. Hell in common usage designates the grave and the place of future punishment for the unbelieving.

II. What Is Hell Really Like? (N.T.)

We need not be confused or vague about our perceptions of Hell. God afford us reliable insight into this subject in the Bible, especially the New Testament.

A. IMAGERY WE MUST PAY ATTENTION TO!

Hell is a place of conscious and everlasting punishment, judgment, and fiery torment for the wicked, the devil, and his angels.  

1. A Place of Punishment.

Matthew 25:46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Hell is described as a real and final place of conscious torment, fire, and everlasting punishment for unrepentant sinners who reject God.

A.   The Idea of Punishment in Hell is Evident!

·        Revelation 20:15, And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

·        2 Thessalonians 1:9, Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

·        Matthew 13:42, And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

B.   God Warns of the Eternal Punishment of Hell.

·        Everlasting Punishment is Depicted: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal (Matthew 25:46).

·        Fire and Brimstone are Mentioned: And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone... and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever (Revelation 20:10).  

·        The Fiery Furnace is Declared: The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:41-42).  

When referring to the final place of permanent punishment and fire, God uses imagery of unquenchable fire and eternal separation from God’s presence.  

2. A Place of Banishment.

2 Thes. 1:9, Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

They Shall Experience Everlasting Destruction, Vs 9   “....with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”

A.   The phrase “Everlasting Destruction” is not a reference to total annihilation or a ceasing to exist.  Once a life begins it will last forever; the soul and spirit of a person will never cease to exist, they are everlasting in their nature.

B.   It actually means to be eternally separated from the presence of God—banished. This is just what the verse said.  It means complete and final ruin and loss from all that life and eternity could have been. It means being excluded from all the joy, pleasure, companionship, peace, and satisfaction of Heaven. Cut off, banished, separated from God and His glory forever! Everlasting destruction in HELL!

C.   Rev 21:8, But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Leon Morris said, “If there is any truth in scripture at all, this is true---that those who stubbornly refuse to submit to the gospel, and to love and obey Jesus Christ, incur . . . .   an infinite and irreparable loss.  They pass into a night on which no morning ever dawns.”

3. A Place of Fire.

Mark 9:44-48, Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. [45] And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: [46] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. [47] 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: [48] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. (See also Mt. 13:42,50; Mk. 9:44-48; Re. 20:15; 14:10)

1. Everlasting Fire is Defended: Matthew 25:41 declares eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
2. The Lake of Fire is Delineated: Revelation 20:15 tells us anyone not found in the book of life will be cast into a lake of fire.
3. A Fiery Furnace is Described: Matthew 13:42 points to a furnace of fire where there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Hell is often described using fiery imagery to convey ultimate judgment, ongoing destruction, or eternal separation from goodness. These descriptions representing literal physical flames are powerful and profound indicators for spiritual anguish, darkness, and loss.

4. A Place of Darkness.

2 Peter 2:17, These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. These false religious charlatans are fake! They promise spiritual help and wisdom but offer nothing real or sustaining. These deceivers are completely useless and face a final judgment of eternal darkness in Hell showing they lead people into spiritual blindness and will end up separated from God.

We are warned to watch out for corrupt leaders. These individuals use smooth words, appeal to carnality, and false promises of freedom to trick new believers, but they are really just chasing money and pleasing their own carnal desires.

“The mist of darkness is reserved for ever” points to their perpetual destination. Despite their boasting and manipulation, eternal gloom and divine blackness—judgment are safely stored up “reserved” as their certain punishment (Compass Bible Church). God describes aspects of final punishment using this imagery of “darkness.”

A.   There are Clear References to Darkness

·       “Outer Darkness”: Matthew 8:12, Matthew 22:13, and Matthew 25:30 explicitly use the phrase “outer darkness” where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

·       The “Mist of Darkness”: 2 Peter 2:17 and Jude 1:13 both speak of the “mist of darkness” or “blackness of darkness” reserved for the unrepentant.

B.   Resolving the Apparent Contradiction of Light and Darkness Imagery

·       Merged Ideas are the Correct Focus, not Contradictory: Many view these descriptions as complementary or literally multiple facets of separation from God, conveying total ruin, distress, and the absence of God’s light rather than a mere physical contradiction.

By “outer darkness,” we mean a state of intense separation, deep anguish, sorrow, and regret. Separation from God’s light involves complete detachment from God, who is the Source of light, goodness, and life. Beloved, we are referring to powerful and profound, multifaceted spiritual and physical torment.

B. DESCRIPTIONS THAT ARE HEART GRIPPING!

Visuals of Hell often evoke deep fear because of raw human suffering and psychological terrors. These haunting depictions warn people, enforce moral convictions, and explore the absolute depths of despair. To say the least, these depictions are nothing short of heart gripping!

1. There will be Consciousness and Feelings.

Luke 16:23, And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Also see Matt. 25:30)

The Bible views conscious feelings and emotions as an essential, designed part of human personhood. Because people are made in God’s image, experiencing emotions reflects God’s own capacity for love, grief, joy, and anger. Rather than ignoring feelings, Scripture teaches us to acknowledge, process, and align them with his truth.

A.   Hell is a Space of Awaken and Active Perception. The Bible portrays hell (Gehenna or the lake of fire) as a place of active, conscious awareness. Rather than a state of extinction, the lost will have experiences involving specific emotional and physical reactions like sorrow, pain, and distress.

B.   Note these Wide-Awake Expressions of Conscious Sufferings:

·        Deep Weeping: Jesus repeatedly uses the phrase “weeping” to denote intense sadness, grief, and crying out.

·        “Gnashing of Teeth”: The associated phrase “gnashing of teeth” points to severe physical pain, anger, frustration, or profound regret.

·        Torment and Anguish: When we examine Revelation 14:10 closely we note individuals being “tormented with fire and brimstone (sulfur),” implying an ongoing, conscious sensory and psychological burden.

·        No Rest Ever: Revelation 19:3 and 14:11 state there is “no rest day or night,” indicating an unbroken, alert state of suffering rather than unconsciousness or sleep.

The imagery of hell acts as a gripping, hyper-conscious awakening. These are stark, terrifying visuals—like unquenchable fire, dark pits, and eternal separation—they jolt the human conscience, forcing a sudden, acute awareness of mortality, moral accountability, and the heavy weight of earthly choices.

2. There will be Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth.

Matthew 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus uses this powerful imagery to describe the profound anguish, sorrow, and ultimate rejection experienced by those excluded from the Kingdom of God. –Bible Gateway

A.   The Bible, phrase “gnashing of teeth” appears seven times used only by Jesus in the Gospels (six times in Matthew, once in Luke) to describe the intense anguish, sorrow, and despair of those shut out from the kingdom of God. The phrase portrays extreme pain, agonizing grief, and bitter regret or frustration over eternal loss. (See Matt. 8:12; 13:50; 22:13; 24:51; Luk. 13:28)

B.   Often when Jesus uses this phrase “gnashing of teeth”, it also symbolizes intense anger, rage, and bitter resentment rather than mere physical pain. These actions reflect bitter fury instead of humble repentance! People in outer darkness feel indignant rage and resentment toward God and the righteous because these individuals missed out on their expected rewards. The “gnashing of teeth” captures the defiant responses, outraged frustrations, rebellious attitudes, angry reaction to final judgment and eternal separation from God…an unyielding irritation towards God and His kingdom.

The Bible also uses many other descriptions of Hell! A place of remorse (Lk. 16:27-28), torment (Lk. 16:23; Re. 20:10), a place of worms (Mk. 9:44, 46, 48; Is. 66:24), thirst (Lk. 16:24), a place without hope of escape (Lk. 16:26), and a place of unfulfilled desires and unanswered prayers (Lk. 16:27-31). Beloved, these are heart breaking realizations regarding real people’s forever experiences. We need selfless courage to reach and warn them of the wrath to come!

 

Willful Sin is a Fearful Thing 2

Hebrews 10:26-31

Theme:

Confidence in the Sacrifice of Christ enables us to respond to God in joyful obedience issuing into a holy life of faith. But God also warns against the fearful consequences of sinning willfully; that is drawing back and forsaking faith in Christ. Such behavior will be met with God 's fiery anger. 

Introduction:

Much is made of God’s blessings upon His people and rightly so; the Lord is gracious and kind to us. He daily visits us with benefits and opportunities that move us to marvel at His generosity. Like you, I have had occasions when God was so gracious to me that all I could do was weep in response. My mind and heart literally overflowed with thanksgiving, praise, and appreciation for His unmerited favor in my life and ministry. Yet, I was unable to articulate it in words...my gratitude issued in the form of tears racing down my cheeks. I could not help but weep in joy. His goodness was far beyond human words.... His love, mercy, assurance, forgiveness, and blessings dwarfed my ability to celebrate His awesome goodness. Our Lord God, our heavenly Father, truly is so good to every one of us. 

The modern emphasis on God’s nature and character highlight His gracious qualities. These endearing attributes seem to be far more pronounced in the average Christian book I read or the typical sermon I may listen to on the radio from time to time. The fact that our Father is kind, loving, merciful, patient, and forgiving are prominent themes. He is definitely depicted as such in holy writ. No doubt, much of what I have read, heard, written and preached in these regards are Bible truths. I love and enjoy highlighting the loving nature of our Lord God. However, it is important to be balanced and to observe here a well warranted caution. To only communicate these positive qualities while neglecting His other traits is to mislead our audiences and obscure the biblical portrait of the Almighty. In such a case we would have inadvertently created a god of our own imaginations…in our own image; idolatry is what we would be guilty of because the portrayal of God is incomplete. It is better to know God as He truly is than to relate to Him according to our mere thoughts! In doing so we set ourselves up for disillusionment and those we minister to will experience similar frustrations with God. Ultimately God is misrepresented by His representatives!

In the Book of Hebrews, we find a portrayal of the Almighty that is loving and severe. He is both gracious and just. His grace is seen in His suffering, sacrifice, salvation, and intercession. Hebrews also informs us of His righteousness, holiness, justice, wrath, and anger. He is Creator and Judge, Savior and Corrector, and He is the Sacrifice and consuming Fire. The same great heart that issued the rigid and binding OT Law also evidences immeasurable and extravagant grace without any conflict or contradiction. Throughout the Book of Hebrews, God instructs and inspires, but He also warns and chastens. This is a more comprehensive characterization of the Almighty.

We all cherish deeply the good news, hope filled accounts, and inspiring stories, but we must equally cling to the warnings, cautions, and rebukes from our Lord. I am aware that apparently negative ideas are unpopular and unwanted. We yearn more for affirmations and that which boosts our estimations of ourselves and our prospects. Subjects like divine anger and severe chastening are not particularly welcome; we struggle with appreciating these…it is difficult for us to value them. In fact, to say anything negative these days is automatically regarded as unhelpful and untrue. After all…only positive affirming messages are true…right?  Beloved, please beware. In this short passage, God takes our thoughts to some the sternest and strongest language in the New Testament—a warning of serious judgment and vengeance from the Almighty. Forsaking the Lord for whatever reason is no small issue with our heavenly Father; He takes such matters exceedingly serious!

Study:

What warnings does this passage give to people who turn away from their faith in Jesus?  What is the worst part of the judgment God has for an apostate member of His people? (Heb. 10:30, 31)

These verses warn against the chastening of God upon those who defect from the New Covenant of Christ. God, who holds the prerogative to discipline His people, will follow through to vindicate the blood of Christ and stir defectors to reconsider their decision. Certainly, the worse thing any Christian could face is an angry God with reasons and rights to deal severely with us. Please note the following three observations; they convey three things we know with certainty. 

A.              We Know Vengeance Is God’s Prerogative (Heb. 10:30).

1.     Willful repudiation of God’s beloved Son is a sin of immense magnitude (10:30).

                                                    i.     God will sit in judgment on all who are guilty of such willful sins.

                                                  ii.     It is a key principle of faith that God judges. He does not just let evil occur without resisting it; He historically upheld righteousness with punishments for violating His holy Law. He irresistibly enforced it when faced with those who despise it. How much more is this true with the newer and higher covenant of grace?

2.     Paul quotes two passages from Deut. 32 to support his claim that judgment belongs to the Lord and that God’s people are not excused from God’s judgment.

                                                    i.     He has said, “Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense” (see Deut. 32:35). Vengeance in this sense means full justice. When used of God it has no thought of vindictiveness or of “getting even.”

                                                  ii.     It is simply the meting out of what a person deserves. Knowing the character of God, we can be sure that He will do as He has said by repaying the apostate according to what’s truly fitting.  Again, this is chastening of believers and not punishment in Hell for sinners.

B.              We Know Judgment Is God’s Promise (Heb. 10:30).

1.     No one should regard this warning, “I will recompense,” as an idle threat. God Himself has claimed the right to take vengeance and to judge His people. The passage Paul quoted twice is Deuteronomy 32:35-36; it most vividly rekindles images of God’s people suffering His retributive judgments (see Deut. 32:19-27).

2.     “And again, The Lord shall judge His people.” God will decidedly deal with those who truly belong to Him; he will scrutinize His people and censure according to guilt.

3.     In stating that this exhortation applies to believers today, but that it does not involve loss of salvation, I am not suggesting that chastening is unimportant. On the contrary, it is important that every Christian obey God and please the Father in all things. Dr. William Culbertson, late president of the Moody Bible Institute, used to warn us about “the sad consequences of forgiven sins.” God forgave David’s sins, but David suffered the sad consequences for years afterward (2 Sam. 12:7–15). David had “despised the commandment of the Lord” (2 Sam. 12:9) and God dealt with him. –Wiersbe, Warren W.

C.              We Know Reverence Is God’s Portion (Heb. 10:31).

1.     Those familiar with descriptions of God’s wrath against “His people,” agree: it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Every believer should live in holy respect of the living God.

2.     God’s power is awesome, and his punishment terrible. These words give us a glimpse into the awesome holiness of God. He is sovereign; his power is unlimited; he will do as he promises. Those who reject the covenant will be punished. For them, falling into God’s hands will be a dreadful experience. They will have no more excuses. They will discover that they were wrong, but it will be too late.—The Life Application Commentary Series

3.     The lesson for us is this: do not be among those who fall into God’s hands for judgment because it is a fearful thing (10:31). Yes, getting on the wrong side of God is to be feared!

4.     Nothing in this passage of Scripture was ever intended to disturb and unsettle the minds of those who truly belong to Christ. The passage was purposely written in its sharp, searching, challenging style so that all who profess the name of Christ might be warned about the terrible consequences of turning away from Him.—MacDonald, William 

5.     What should a believer do who has drifted away into spiritual doubt and dullness and is deliberately despising God’s Word? He should turn to God for mercy and forgiveness. There is no other sacrifice for sin, but the sacrifice Christ made is sufficient for all our sins. It is a fearful thing to fall into the Lord’s hands for chastening, but it is a wonderful thing to fall into His hands for cleansing and restoration. David said, “Let me fall now into the hand of the Lord; for very great are His mercies” (1 Chron. 21:13). –The Bible Exposition Commentary

Many professing Christians walk away from Christ claiming they no longer believe such fairy tales. Some claim they woke up to the reality that Christianity is not true, some because of social pressures forsake the Lord Jesus believing truth is no longer relevant, and yet others because of a fear that “faith” will cost them professionally or economically forsake the Lord. They all quit, stop believing, and refuse the biblical truth about Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. Beloved, this is willful sin against the Lord Jesus and his holy cross! God will deal with His people who fall away.

No doubt someone will object saying, real believers cannot sin willfully. Others may claim that people indwelt by God's Spirit cannot forsake the Lord Jesus. I have a simple question here...to whom is the Book of Hebrews written? To whom is God referring when he says "his people" in Hebrews 10:30?  When the writer of Hebrews says, "we know Him," who are the "we" he readily identifies himself with? Again, in verse 26, he says, "if we sin willfully," including himself in this group to indicate a possibility of real believers committing this willful sin? I believe the writer is addressing real believers. Yes, there could have been lost church members in this group...yes, there may have been false brethren in these congregations, but this warning seems to address believers instead of hypocrites or pretenders. Besides...how can we forsake Christ if we were never with him? Furthermore, how can a person denounce a belief if they never really believed it?

Beloved, these are exceedingly serious matters. They are issues of eternal weight and significance and every one of us desperately needs to be right with God. Certainly, He can save us to the uttermost! We may fluctuate in our feeble minds, but God's saving grace is steadfast and unmovable. Salvation has never been based on our performance; it has always been by grace through faith in Christ's Gospel. In addition, I want you to know God is forgiving and he does restore sinning believers even when we have wandered far from Him into confusion and darkness. It’s time to come back to the God who saves and transforms lives. Remember, He promised believers He would forgive our sins if we confess and forsake them; He will even cleanse us from all forms of unrighteousness (1John 1:7-9). Please understand the consequences of forsaking Jesus Christ are too numerous to delineate and the agony of forgiven sins is something to be dreaded. Forsake your sin; do not forsake the Lord! Beloved, it is high time to get right with God.

If you were never actually saved, then believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all your faith right now. Trust Him for the forgiveness of sins today. Jesus died in our place for our sins; He was buried to demonstrate that He literally died. Yes, our sins were paid for entirely! On the third day, Jesus Christ arose from the grave and death. That is correct, Jesus is alive forevermore. This means He is superior to sin, death, hell, Satan, and everything else associated with these. They all represent the greatest threats to humanity and Jesus soundly defeated them all forever on your and my behalf. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and God. Finally, if you are a weak and wavering believer it is time to repent and believe God's stern warning here. Instead of making things worse by continuing in your rebellion, come back home to the Lord Jesus Christ the Savior today. 

Can God Use Someone Like Me? (Part 1)

1Timothy 1:12-17

Sometimes recent Christian converts wonder if God can use them in His service…. They look back at their colorful past before conversion and wonder if they are somehow disqualified for service through their new church home. Because they love the Lord and honestly desire to obey the Scriptures that encourage ministry and involvement, they wrestle with doubts about being good enough to serve through their church. What should a person with a ‘mucky history’ do? These individuals know they are relatively different than those who grew up under the influence of Christ and the gospel…they not only made mistakes, but they routinely reveled in shameful sinful practices. Now that they are saved…is God willing to use them? Now that they have been born again will they be allowed to serve in meaningful ways?

I would like to answer this question using one of the most respected Christians in the New Testament…the Apostle Paul! The text we will focus on is 1Timothy 1:12-17. Yes, the apostle is writing to Timothy his ministry partner to instruct and encourage him in his pastoral duties at Ephesus. Paul mentions "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God" (1 Tim 1:11) and this stirred Paul to share his own personal testimony. He is case study 1 to answering this question while proving the Gospel of the grace of God really does work in the lives of real sinners. When you read Paul's testimony (see also Acts 9:1-22; 22:1-21; 26:9-18), you are gripped with the astonishment of God's grace and His saving power. You also begin to realize that God uses people with incredibly colorful pasts in many different capacities.

FIRST, CONSIDER WHAT PAUL USED TO BE (1Tim. 1:13A).

            1. He Was A Blasphemer.

·        He was a blasphemer because he denied the deity of Jesus Christ and forced others to deny it.

·        The reason this was so striking to the apostle was that he knew so well the pit from which he had been dug.

·        When he gave this description of his past, he was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, he was not exaggerating for the sake of effect. (See Acts 22:4-5, 19-20; 26:9-11 for the vivid truth.)

            2.  He Was A Persecutor.

·        He was a persecutor who used physical power to try to destroy the church. “Threatenings and slaughter” were the very breath of his life (Acts 9:1).

·        He persecuted the Christian church (1 Cor 15:9) and then discovered that he was actually laying hands on Jesus Christ, the Messiah! (Acts 9:4)

·        During this period of his life, Paul consented to the stoning of Stephen and made havoc of the church (Acts 8:1-4).

            3.  He Was Injurious.

·        Paul was injurious, a word that means “proud and insolent.”

·        A modern equivalent might be "bully,"

·        It conveys the idea of a haughty man "throwing his weight around" in violence.

            4.  He Was an Ignorant Unbeliever.

·        But the basic causes of his godless behavior were "ignorance" and "unbelief."

1.      Even though Saul of Tarsus was a brilliant man and well educated (Acts 22:3; Gal 1:13-14), his mind was blinded from the truth (1 Cor 2:14; 2 Cor 4:3-4).

2.      He was a religious man, yet he was not headed for heaven!

3.      It was not until he put faith in Jesus Christ that he was saved (Phil 3:1-11).

·        Yet Paul was shown mercy because his actions were the product of ignorance.

1.      Willful disobedience triggers God’s wrath (Num. 15:22-31; Heb. 10:26).

2.      But God deals gently with the ignorant and misguided (Heb. 5:2).

3.      The German philosopher Nietzsche said, “If you could prove God to me, I would believe Him all the less.” No such willfulness characterized Paul’s unbelief.

SECONDLY, CONSIDER HOW PAUL WAS SAVED (1Tim. 1:13B-15).

1. How Could A Holy God Ever Save and Forgive Such Self-Righteous Sinners?

A) Through Mercy and Grace. (Vs. 13, 14)

·        The key words are "mercy" and "grace." God in His mercy did not give Paul what he did deserve; instead God in His grace gave Paul what he did not deserve.

·        Grace is God’s undeserved, unearned, freely given favor. Grace is God’s loving forgiveness, by which He grants salvation apart from any merit on the part of those He saves (see Rom. 3:24; Gal. 1:6).

·        “but I obtained mercy” If the apostle Paul could find mercy after the terrible things he did against Christ, then God surely offers salvation with “open arms” to all people (see 2:4). 

B) With Faith.

·        faith and love. Attitudes frequently linked with salvation in the NT (see Eph. 1:15; 3:17; Col. 1:4, 23). They are gifts of God’s grace in Christ.

C) With Love.

·        Grace and mercy are God's love in action, God motivated by love paying a price to save lost sinners. It is not God's love that saves us, for God loves the whole world (John 3:16).

·        It is by grace that we are saved (Eph 2:8-9) because God is rich in mercy (Eph 2:4) and grace (Eph 2:7).

2. What Did Paul's "Ignorance" Have To Do With His Salvation? (Vs. 1:13)

A) Is Ignorance An Excuse Before God?

·        Of course not! The fact of his ignorance is related to a special Jewish law (Lev 5:15-19; Num 15:22-31).

·        If a person sinned knowingly "with a high hand" in Israel, he was cut off from the people. But if he sinned in ignorance, he was permitted to bring the proper sacrifices to atone for his sins.

B) Jesus Recognized This Principle When He Prayed On The Cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

C) Their Ignorance Did Not Save Them, Nor Did Christ's Prayer Save Them; but the combination of the two postponed God's judgment, giving them an opportunity to be saved.

3. Paul Stated That It Took "Exceeding Abundant" Grace To Save Him!

      A) The grace given to Paul was “exceeding abundant,” overflowing beyond all expectations.

1.      Therefore the apostle received God’s mercy, not His wrath. God’s grace far outpaced even Paul’s grievous sin.

2.      Where there was once only unbelief, God poured out . . . “faith” . . . “in Christ Jesus.”

3.      Where there had been violent aggression against God and His people, now God poured out the love of Christ. (See 2 Tim. 2:10.)

B) Everything Paul Lacked, God’s Grace Had More Than Amply Supplied.

1.      The term “exceeding abundant”, means “to be present in great or superabundance.”) Here may be seen the full measure of what Paul meant when he spoke of the empowering ministry of Christ (1 Tim. 1:12).

2.      “Paul liked to use the Greek prefix huper (meaning "an exceeding abundant amount"), and he often attached it to words in his letters. You might translate some of these as "superincrease of faith" (2 Thess 1:3); "superabounding power" (Eph 1:19); "superconqueror" (Rom 8:37). This same prefix has come into the English language as hyper. We speak of "hyperactive" children and "hypersensitive" people.” ---W.W. Wiersbe

4. Paul Makes It Clear That This Salvation Is Not For Him Only, But For All Who Receive Jesus Christ (1 Tim 1:15).

A) If Jesus Could Save Saul Of Tarsus, The Chief Of Sinners, Then He Can Save Anybody!

·        “This is a faithful saying.” A phrase unique to the Pastoral Epistles (see 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8), which announces a statement summarizing key doctrines. The phrase “worthy of all acceptation” gives the statement added emphasis. Apparently, these sayings were well known in the churches, as concise expressions of cardinal gospel truth.

·        World refers to all humanity.

·        Save means to deliver or rescue. Christ came to die for the sins of humanity.

·        This faithful saying was based on the statements of Jesus recorded in Matt. 9:13; Luke 19:10.

·        “The central thrust of Paul’s personal digression, begun in verse 12, now becomes clear. It is a testimony concerning the purpose of the Incarnation of Christ. Jesus came not merely to set an example or to show that He cared. He came to salvage sinners from their spiritual destitution—and Paul said he was the worst of that lot. There must be no misunderstanding of this most fundamental point. It is a truth that is completely trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. (Four other passages include this “trustworthy” phrase: 3:1; 4:9; 2 Tim. 2:11; Titus 3:8.)” ---John Walvoord

·        “Here we come to the very heart of the difference between true Christianity and all other teachings. False religions tell man that there is something he can do or be in order to win favor with God. The gospel tells man that he is a sinner, that he is lost, that he cannot save himself, and that the only way he can get to heaven is through the substitutionary work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. The type of law teaching which Paul described earlier in this chapter gives a place to the flesh. It tells man exactly what he wants to hear, namely, that he can somehow contribute to his own salvation. But the gospel insists that all the glory for the work of salvation must go to Christ alone, that man does nothing but the sinning, and that the Lord Jesus does all the saving.”  ---William MacDonald

B) We Admire Paul's Humility!

·        We note that he considered himself to be the "least of the apostles" (1 Cor 15:9).

·         And he referred to himself as the "least of all saints" (Eph 3:8).

·        Notice that Paul did not write "of whom I was chief" but "of whom I am chief." He was “first,” in rank.

·        Paul saw the degradation of sin and understood the sinfulness of human beings. Because of this, he placed himself first among sinners.

·        Few could be considered a worse sinner than someone who blasphemed God and persecuted His church (see 1 Cor. 15:9; Eph. 3:8). Paul’s attitude toward himself dramatically changed (Phil. 3:7–9; Rom 7:7–12).

Clearly God in His infinite grace and mercy can save anyone who realizes their sinfulness and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. Beloved, this is one of the primary reasons Jesus Christ came into this world! Yes, God has you and me in mind for our salvation and good. He took responsibility to provide a means for people to be reconciled to Him and forgiven of their sins. Jesus is His provision; it is Christ who died, was buried, and rose again the third day capable of saving all who will repent believing the gospel.

In the following article, I will further explore the question: Can God Use Someone Like Me?