NOTE: Purgatory, the imagined place of remedial suffering, has no
scriptural foundation.
There will be no appeal after the passing of sentence at the Great White Throne Judgment. All who have rejected Christ will be present: "The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. . . . Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death" (Revelation 20:13–14).
Billy Graham writes: "No matter how excruciating or how literal the fire of hell may or may not be, the thirst of a lost soul for the Living Water will be more painful. . . . Hell, essentially and basically, is banishment from the presence of God for deliberately rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior."
Helping Strategy
1. If the inquirer is fearful of hell and the possibility of going there, stress the need for certainty about his or her eternal salvation. Explain "Steps to Peace with God," page 11. In Christ, he or she need not fear hell: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
2. If the inquirer denies the existence of hell, share material from the "Background."
3. If the inquirer accuses God of being unjust in condemning people to hell, point out that "the everlasting fire," according to Matthew 25:41, was prepared for the devil and his angels, not for mankind. If a person goes to hell, it will be because of his willful sin in rejecting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (John 3:16–18; John 5:24). Point out that God will forgive and save the person if he or she will receive Jesus Christ. Share "Steps to Peace with God," page 11.
4. If the inquirer accuses God of being unjust for condemning those who have never had an opportunity to hear the Gospel, remind him or her that God has condemned no one to hell, but that those who end up there will have condemned themselves (John 3:16–18). In the case of those who have never heard, trust God to do the right thing! We can be assured that He will be fair and merciful. There are degrees of rewards to be given at the judgment seat of Christ (Luke 12:47–48; 1 Corinthians 3:12–14). One may logically conclude that there will also be degrees of reckoning for those deprived of hearing the Gospel.
Scripture
Matthew 11:23 Matthew 16:18 Luke 10:15 Luke 12:5 Acts 2:17, 31
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Background
The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the Trinity. He is equal to the other two in position and power, possessing all the essential aspects of deity. He shares all the attributes of the Godhead: He is eternal, having neither beginning nor end (Hebrews 9:14); omnipotent, having all power (Luke 1:35); omnipresent, being everywhere present at the same time (Psalm 139:7); and omniscient, or all knowing (1 Corinthians 2:10–11).
The Holy Spirit possesses all the characteristics of personality. He is not an "it" (Romans 8:16, 26, NIV).
The Holy Spirit has intellect, emotions, and will. He speaks (Acts 13:2); intercedes (Romans 8:26); testifies (John 15:26); guides (John 16:13); commands (Acts 16:6–7); appoints (Acts 20:28); leads (Romans 8:14); and reproves and convicts of sin (John 16:8). He can be lied to and tested (Acts 5:3–4, 9); resisted (Acts 7:51); grieved (Ephesians 4:30); and blasphemed (Matthew 12:31).
Each Christian must understand his or her own relationship with the Holy Spirit:
That which has been realized:
• We are born of the Holy Spirit (John 3:6, 8).
• God has given us the Holy Spirit (John 14:16; 16:7).
• We are baptized by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13).
• We are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
• We are sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
That which is potential reality:
Each Christian has the Holy Spirit, but not every Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit. We ought to desire this fullness because God commands it: "Be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18).
Billy Graham writes: "I believe the Bible teaches that there is one baptism in the Spirit— when we come to faith in Christ. The Bible teaches, however, that there are many fillings—in fact, we are to be continually filled by the Holy Spirit. One baptism, many fillings. When we are filled with the Spirit, it is not a question of there being more of Him, as though His work in us is quantitative. It is not how much of the Spirit we have,