On July 8, 1741, in Enfield, Connecticut, one of the most famous sermons in Christian history was preached by the American revivalist pastor and theologian, Jonathan Edwards. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God produced heavy conviction and repentance among those present and many came to faith that day in Jesus Christ. Edwards was instrumental in advancing Christianity in America during the first Great Awakening and this sermon was his most remembered and perhaps impactful.
This sermon, unlike many today, holds back no punches toward the danger that the sinner is in. It is graphic and powerful. Just listen to the following portion: “The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow. The glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened its mouth under them.”1 To Edwards hell was a very real and horrible place that all unrepentance sinners were destined to go to.
Sadly, today these fire and brimstone sermons are rare and perhaps that’s why so many unbelievers as well as Christians take sin so lightly. While it is true that Jesus loves you, He came preaching a message of repentance for sin. And if there was any doubt that Jesus believed in a literal hell then just listen to what He said about this eternally tortuous place:
“So, it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:49–50)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15)
“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?” (Matthew 23:33)
“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.’” (Matthew 25:41)
“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46)
“But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:5)
In fact, approximately 10% of the verses that Jesus spoke were on the topic of hell. He spoke more on hell than heaven! And since Jesus came preaching a message of repentance we should actually expect this fact since He came warning us of what awaited those who chose not to repent of their sins. Many non-believers can’t accept the fact that hell – a place of eternal separation from God and eternal punishment – is real. They believe that Jesus, if He is a loving God would never send anyone to hell. This sentiment was expressed by the famous 20th century atheist, Bertrand Russell, who rejected Jesus because He believed in and preached about hell. Just consider and contemplate his words: “There is one very serious defect to my mind in Christ’s moral character, and that is that He believed in hell. I do not myself feel that any person who is really profoundly humane can believe in everlasting punishment.”2
As Christians we need to communicate properly why someone goes to hell. One goes to hell because they have a sin problem. And for those who think that Jesus, since He believed in hell, is part of the problem, they have it all wrong. Jesus is the solution and not the problem. Jesus is the only cure for the problem of sin. And if one does not avail himself of the cure then they will not only die in their sin but will pay the penalty of eternal separation from God and eternal punishment in hell.
While many find the idea of hell politically incorrect, the reality is it is part of the message that Jesus came to preach and as such we must emphasize it as much as Jesus did. If we only preach love then we are doing our unsaved loved ones a great disservice since they may get the idea that they are OK when they are in reality in desperate straits.
It is also true that if we don’t preach about hell we are not being faithful to the entire message of why Jesus came in the first place. I dare say that the most unloving thing we can do is not talk about hell and give our loved ones the idea that they are not in any real danger. Perhaps it’s time to bring back the tough but essential message of where will you spend eternity. While God is a God of mercy and His love offers pardon for sin through Jesus, He is also a God of wrath whose judgment demands payment for sin. The next time we share the Gospel let’s share the need for repentance from sin and salvation through Jesus as our only antidote.
1 Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards (blueletterbible.org)
2 Part 6 Why would God send someone to hell for believing the wrong religion? (biblicalworldviewacademy.org)
Anytime we make a case for Biblical truth, it’s important to define our terms. Today’s devotion emphatically makes a true statement, “One goes to hell because they have a sin problem.”
That’s straight forward and direct but what word needs defining? Christians talk about sin all the time, whether it’s their own, others or society, but what is sin?
I John ::4
Sin is lawlessness.
Romans 7:7
If it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin.
Romans 3:20
Through the law comes knowledge of sin.
These are just a few of the verses that define sin as did the catechism,
Q: What is sin?
A: Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.
God’s law is the contractual part of His covenant with mankind.
As a postmillennialist who believed in the victory of God’s kingdom, Edwards’ ministry, like the Puritans, was based on covenant blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience . He never hesitated to preach about covenant law and lawlessness, which is sin and its consequences.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, many denominations stopped preaching the law. A case can be made for the dismal success of the church ever since. The 2nd Great Awakening brought about many aberrant teachings that plague the church to this day. We need a return to the doctrines and preaching of men like Edwards from the 1st Great Awakening.
If we want to warn people about hell we need to talk about their sin and that can’t be done unless we define sin and that means we need to introduce them to the law of God. Without law there is no knowledge of sin but many are teaching that we are “not under law but under grace.” Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I say to you, until the heaven and the earth shall pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the Law until everything has been fulfilled”
Christ fulfilled the Law of God by bringing it to its full expression, thus revealing its complete spiritual meaning and intent. He “filled the Law to the full” To fulfill the Law of God by amplifying its meaning and application is the exact opposite of abolishing the Law. If Jesus had come to abolish the laws of God, He would not have magni- fied and expanded their meaning, making them even more binding. A good example of this expansion of the law is his proclamation of the 7th commandment. “You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you everyone who looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” His formulaic expression says it all, “You have heard that it was said…” “But I say to you.” The opposite of law is not grace, it’s lawlessness. This needs to be preached until men and women once again proclaim, “Oh how love I thy law.”
What a wonderful article which I agree with.