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Don’t Go to Hell for
Something You Didn’t Do.
by Pastor Steve Highlander
Nobody wants to get in trouble for something they
didn’t do. However, did you know that it isn’t what you do that
ultimately sends you to hell, but something you didn’t do.
Confusing isn’t it? Well that is why so many people
have a hard time understanding and accepting God’s free gift of
salvation. For one thing they KNOW they have done a LOT
of bad things (let’s go ahead and call them sins) and
making up for those bad thi… …er…sins, seems rather difficult, if not
impossible. So a lot of people think there isn’t much hope for
them—if there is a hell, they are going!
BAD NEWS!
Maybe you could use some GOOD NEWS right
about now! Here is where the GOOD NEWS (that is what "gospel’
means) comes in.
The
single most important question
in the universe!
A man in the Bible asked the ageless question that
affects every man woman and child. (A question that you might
need to ask yourself right now.) At a point of failure, and on the
verge of suicide, the man asked, "What must I do to be saved?"
(Acts 16:30-31)
The apostle Paul gave a direct answer to a direct
question, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved
and your house." (Notice the promise was for his family too.)
The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is
death (bummer), but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23).
Notice eternal life comes THROUGH Jesus (more on this in a
minute). God knew we were going to do lots of bad things (okay, okay,
sins!), and knew we would have a hard time correcting it, so He
devised a different plan to deal with our sins. He choose to
FORGIVE us. Now that is way cool!
However forgiveness isn’t automatic! (You
are probably saying, "I knew there was a catch!")
There is a catch, but it is a relatively small one
and easily overcome. The catch is simply this: in order to receive
forgiveness from God, through Jesus Christ, we must first
believe a couple of things:
1. That God really, really will forgive us
freely without our having to make up for all the sins, and
2. That He can forgive us because of what Jesus did for us.
"What am I supposed to believe Jesus did for me,"
you might be asking. Good question, I am glad you asked. I'll tell you in
a second, but first let’s get back to our main question…how
can you go to hell for something you didn’t do?
It really isn’t our sins that send us to hell,
although people will be punished for their sins in hell. And just
because a person is a "good person’ or a ‘religious person’ or a
‘moral person’ doesn’t mean that they will automatically go to heaven.
Every person, no matter how good or bad in man’s opinion, is still a
sinner in God’s eyes, and each must come to God on God’s terms.
The Bible tells us that that when Jesus died on the
cross He took the sins of the whole world (yours and mine too) on
himself and paid for them. His death was sufficient for every sin
ever committed and every sin yet to be committed. So in God’s eyes
your sin debt to God, and the penalty for each one, has already been
paid in full.
Now, the only way to get in on that provision is to
ask God to forgive you through what Jesus did for you personally on
the cross. God does not ask you to do anything to make up or atone for
your sins. He does ask you to place your
faith in Him, His word, His faithfulness and His love.
So you can see that it isn’t what you do that sends
you to hell, it is what you don’t do: that is, not repenting of your
sins and believing God to forgive and cleanse you through Jesus.
Some people have a question at this point. "How
can a guy that lived 2000 years ago personally do anything in my life
today." Another good question!
Here is how God sees things and how He has purposed
for you to have a relationship with Him.
 The Bible tells us that "all have
sinned" and fallen short of God’s standard, (Shouldn’t be much
argument here from anyone).
Look it up in the Bible >> Romans 3:10
That the wages (reward) for sin is
death. Both physical and spiritual death. (The Bible speaks of a
"second death" or eternity in hell beyond physical death.)
Look it up in the Bible >> Romans 6:23
Jesus, who was sinless, died
(which He didn’t have to do since the wages of sin is death).
Look it up in the Bible >>
I Peter 3:18
The death Jesus died was not to pay for
His sins, since He didn’t have any. Therefore God can justly and
legally credit Jesus’ death (payment for sins) to your account.
Look it up in the Bible >>
2 Corinthians 5:21
Forgiveness isn’t just God saying, "Oh
that’s okay no big deal." God’s righteousness demands a payment
for sin, it is just that Christ suffered as your substitute, if you
will accept it.
Look it up in the Bible >> Romans 6:23
That GIFT of God is eternal life through
Jesus. (A gift is never earned, but freely given and must be
received.)
Look it up in the Bible >> Romans 6:23
When you believe that Jesus died for you
personally, you realize your need to repent (turn away) from your sins
and ask God for forgiveness.
Look it up in the Bible >>
Acts 1:30
When we ask God for forgiveness in faith
(genuine heartfelt believe and trust) THROUGH Jesus, we are saying we
believe what God has said about Jesus (He died and rose again
from the dead) and what God has promised to do (forgive us and give us
eternal life.)
Look it up in the Bible >> Romans
10:8-13
So you can see it isn’t what you do that ultimately
sends you to hell, but what you don’t do. The only thing that will
ultimately send you to hell is not accepting forgiveness through faith
in Jesus Christ, since God has already made a way. Everything you’ve
done that was wrong can be forgiven with one act of faith in Christ.
How about you? Have
you asked and satisfactorily answered the question, "What must I
do to be saved?"
Take our advice and don’t go to
hell for something you DIDN’T do!
Repent and accept Jesus as your savior today.
If you have realized your need for salvation please
stop now and pray, repenting of your sins and asking forgiveness from
God through Jesus Christ. If you need to talk to someone, or just have
questions about God, life or anything else, please use our
TALK TO A PASTOR
form, we want to rejoice with you about your newfound faith, or help
you in any way we can.
Article by Steve Highlander, Pastor of
the Rockville Baptist Church, A Full Gospel Fellowship of Believers
in Rockville, MO. Steve has a Master's Degree in Pastoral
Theology and is currently working on His Doctorate. He has
served as a pastor, teacher and missionary in the body of Christ.
He also founded Door of Hope Prison Ministries, is a published
author and is active in Internet ministry through His Christian
training web site
www.worldbibleinstitute.org.
Steve and his wife Brooke, who holds a doctorate in
Scriptural Psychology and is a board certified Christian Therapist,
have been active in ministry to at-risk youth and world missions
through the years.
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