Pause to remember this: this was written to the church over 2000 years ago, meaning as we read these words today, it is God’s grace and mercy to you and me – so often, I hear people say, “how could a loving God send people to hell?” I’m glad you asked. Here we have an ancient passage literally telling us the future for those who reject Jesus – 2000 YEARS! God has laid out the path to eternal freedom – Paul in Philippians 2:10-11 says there will be a day when everyone will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord – God’s mercy and grace have been extended to you, me, people great and small all over the planet – Romans 1:20, he has made himself known, so that we are without excuse – If God has made himself known, and his grace is extended through Jesus, who sends someone to hell, God or the one who rejects him?

This is about as straight gospel as it gets – Jesus came to bring freedom, healing, to connect you to your ultimate purpose in life Ephesians 2:10 calling, but ultimately you have to choose him – and your eternity is not based on your righteousness, your goodness, your abilities, but based solely on you receiving the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as payment for your sin – whether literal or figurative, theme of Bible (Hebrews 9:22)

1. Sin must be judged by God. God is completely perfect, and cannot and will not tolerate sin – Romans 3:23, we all have it, Romans 5:12, Romans 6:23 – hell is reserved for those who reject the gift God offers through Jesus

2. The Book of Life is reserved for those who receive Jesus, the Lamb of God, as payment for sin. Romans 5:8, Romans 5:21