"Hell Won't Give Any Altar Calls"
Text: Luke 16: 19-31
Intro: Different Views of Hell:
1) Anglican Church View: In 1996, purposed that "if there is a hell, it
must be empty"
2) Atheist view: "There is no God, therefore, there can be no hell"
3) Agnostic view: "The idea of hell was born out of revenge on one
side, and cowardice on the other"
4) Liberal view: "There is a God, but he is a God of love and there-
fore can not send anyone to hell"
5) Religion view:
a. Christian Science: "Hell is an error of the mortal mind"
b. Jehovah Witnesses: "The wicked will be annihilated"
c. Mormonism: "all will eventually be saved, and not suffer eternal
punishment"
d. Seventh Day Adventist: "God will blot out all sins and sinners"
In our Lord's earthly ministry, there were three main topics that He
preached on. They were material possessions, kingdom of heaven,
and hell. Of the 162 references to hell in the Bible, Jesus declared
70 of those., Those who believe in the myth of no hell, are myth-
taken. This account is not a parable. In all of Jesus' parables, he
made a reference to 'a certain man, or woman", but in this story He
named the names.
Hell is a word of hope to the righteous, that the scales of justice will be
finally balanced and evil will be judged, condemned and eradicated.
Hell is bad news because actual people go there.
Without Hell, the Gospel is not really good news. Without hell, there
would be no urgency to go into all the world and preach the gospel.



I. There are Certain Lights on the Road to Hell

A) First, There are Caution Lights
1) At the Intersections
where the narrow road crosses with the wide road
where conversion crosses with condemnation
where the blood of Jesus crosses with the lies of Satan
where bad news crosses with good news
where heaven crosses with hell
where life eternal crosses with death eternal
2) About the Information
the bridge of salvation is out ahead (turn around) ("great gulf")
there is a detour from hell just ahead (turn right)
there is a road closure just ahead (turn back)

B) Second, There are Red Lights
1) Of Reason ("Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord")
2) Of Reality
The Gospel is not an "if/then" proposition. If I work, work, work
and do the best I can, then God will let me in His heaven.
The Gospel is a "because/therefore" proposition. Because God
punished your sin in Jesus Christ on the Cross, and because He is
the only salvation and rescue from the wrath of God, therefore re-
pent and believe.

C) Third, There are Green Lights
1) Your Free decision ("For the grace of God that bringeth salvation
hath appeared unto all men")
2) Your Fatal decision (there were two thieves on the cross with Jesus.
Both had the same opportunity, one made a decision with a future,
and the other made a decision that was fatal.
3) Your Final decision ("Is that your final answer?") it could be. This
could be the last day of your life. Or this could be the first day of your
eternal life.

 

II. Thoughts of Conviction lives in the Region of Hell

A) Evident in This Man's Remembrance (vs 25)
1) riches instead of redemption
2) material goodness instead of master's grace

B) Evident in This Man's Regret (vs 27-28)
1) that brothers would follow him to hell
2) that the preaching had not been heeded ("Moses and the prophets")

C) Evident in This Man's Reality (vs 26)
1) Separated by a Great Gulf (judgment)
2) Separated from a Great God
3) Separated from a Great Grace

D) Evident in This Man's Remorse (vs 24)

 

III. Truth of Conversion lacks in the Reality of Hell

A) In the Corridors of Hell
(these words will never be heard)
1) Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
2) Thank you Lord for saving my soul
3) Blessed Redeemer, Jesus is mine
4) Nearer My God to thee

B) In the Confinement of Hell
(these words will be the theme)
1) Almost persuaded, harvest is past
Almost persuaded, doom comes at last
Almost cannot avail
Almost is but to fail
Sad, sad, that bitter wail
Almost but in Hell

C) In the History of Hell
(there will be no altar calls)
1) No more preachers to preach to you
2) No more people to pray for you
3) No more price that can pardon you
4) No more pleas that can persuade you
5) No more promises that can protect you
6) No more peace that could pleasure you

Conclusion: You must decide now, God's grace is free now
You must acknowledge that you are a sinner
You must accept God's free gift of salvation
You must ask God to save your soul