Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. I passed a church house
with one of those marquee signs that said, there will be no unbelievers
in hell. I was immediately struck with
several thoughts. I thought about the fact that
too many people today think it is cute to present the gospel
with catchy phrases, that too many preachers portray the gospel
as a series of sound bites, a step-by-step pattern for the flesh to follow,
that often far too many speak without giving very much thought
to what they're saying, That error is perpetuated by copycats
who repeat cliches without investigation. But most of all, the thing that
struck me was the utter error that was set forth in those letters
on that sign. I'm fairly confident that the
scientist was trying to point out that when the wicked get
to hell, they will realize that God really is God and that he
is no figment of their imagination. The scripture sets forth the
same concept in James 2.19, Thou believest that there is one God,
thou doest well. The devils also believe and tremble. Yet the scripture would nowhere
describe the devils as believers. The basic error of the sign stems
from the mistaken concept that believing is something men have
the ability to do if the situation gets right. Those who propose
this idea are ignorant of the fact that men are dead in trespasses
and sins, and apart from a supernatural work of grace, they will not
believe. The sign writer supposes that
these people in hell have been changed by the knowledge they
have, and would now embrace Christ if only given the opportunity.
But men's hearts are not changed by fear, nor are they drawn to
him by the skill and reason of men. Men by nature despise the
way and person of Christ. A man may be temporarily affected
in the flesh by persuasive arguments or dire circumstances, but unless
the Lord awakens him and gives him the gift of faith, he will
not believe, though cast into the most awful situation the
flesh can imagine, even hell itself. The Bible describes believers
as those who are in possession of something rather than those
who consent to a few facts or agree to some principles. Here
are a few contrasts between true believers and those who are in
hell. Believers are those who possess
eternal life given to them by God himself. They have passed
from death unto life. No one in hell has life. Rather,
they are possessors of eternal death, having received the just
recompense of their reward. Believers possess the promise
which is given to them that believe. They have the hope of His calling,
the riches of glory, the working of His mighty power. Those in
hell have no hope, are in abject poverty, and are appointed under
wrath by His power. Believers have received the Word
of God and possess a love of the truth, and it works effectively
in them, that is, their lives are altered by it. They are made
new creatures, being born again. Those in hell despise the Word
of God and have not received the love of the truth that they
might be saved. The fires of hell won't make
a man who hates the Word of God now love it just because he is
tormented. He may cry out for relief and
lament his condition, but he will have no desire for obedience.
Believers possess an admiration for the Lord Jesus. He is precious
in their sight. Those who inhabit hell have no
love for him, for they are forced to worship with his foot on their
neck. Believers possess living water
and shall never thirst. They dwell in the light and darkness
cannot swallow them. Those in hell are dying of thirst,
hungry, and in perpetual darkness. In order for a man to believe
the gospel, he must be born again. John said that those who believe
in Christ Jesus were born not of blood, that is, not of natural
birth or family ties, nor of the will of the flesh, that is,
the ability of man to choose, nor of the will of man, that
is, man as a group could not devise the means, but of God. The greatest and most undeserved
gift on earth is to be given the gift of faith by grace, that
we might believe. Are you a believer? Pause, my
soul, adore and wonder. Ask, oh, why such love to me?
Grace has put me in the number of the Savior's family. Hallelujah,
hallelujah. Thanks, eternal thanks to Thee. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.