04.04. The Terrors of Hell and Guilt of Sinners

We often hear people say, "I’m tired of hell-fire and brimstone preaching!" "Well," I often reply, "when was the last time you heard any?" It is true, very few people preach on hell anymore - it is no longer in vogue. We shouldn’t scare the poor sinners, no, that wouldn’t do. They’re just unfortunate, misguided souls, right? Wrong! The Bible clearly shows that they are rebels who have robbed and dishonored the living God, infinitely offending Him.(John 8:44; Acts 13:9-11; Acts 1:1-26 Cor 6:9; Galatians 4:16 : Ephesians 2:1-3; James 4:4; 2 Peter 2:12-19) They have no right to look at themselves in any other light. But we, smart as we are, have decided to help God along. He doesn’t understand our generation as well as we do. The things Jesus emphasized in His preaching were all right for the Jews, but our generation needs a more gentle, loving tone. "Tell ’em about heaven!" We talk about heaven, about the "rewards of being born-again," but we completely neglect the other side of the "two-edged sword." (Hebrews 4:12) What right do we have to remove things from the Gospel that Jesus Himself gave great place to in His own preaching?(Matthew 5:22; Matthew 8:12; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 13:41-42; Matthew 13:49-50; Matthew 22:11-14; Matthew 23:13; Matthew 23:33; Matthew 24:48-51; Matthew 25:30; Matthew 25:46; Luke 13:26-28)