Good Friday

It's Friday but Sunday's Comin' http://t.co/1ylpOKy #fb

Hell? Yes.

Come to Living Stones this weekend to hear what the Bible has to say about hell. Gathering times at 9am, 11am, 5pm, 7pm at the Downtown Campus or 5pm at the Sparks Campus. In preparation for this coming Sunday - here are many verses about hell.

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Ezekiel 33:11 - Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

Daniel 12:1-2 - [1] “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. [2] And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Isaiah 66:24 - “And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

Matthew 25:30 - And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Matthew 25:41 - "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Matthew 25:46 - And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Mark 9:42-49 - [42] “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. [43] And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. [45] And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. [47] And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, [48] ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ [49] For everyone will be salted with fire.

Matthew 10:28 - And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

2 Thessalonians 1:5-9 - [5] This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— [6] since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, [7] and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels [8] in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. [9] They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might

Jude 13-15 - [13] wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. [14] It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, [15] to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”

Revelation 14:9-12 - [9] And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, [10] he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. [11] And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” [12] Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Revelation 20:10-15 - [10] and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. [11] Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. [12] And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. [13] And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. [14] Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. [15] And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Luke 16:22-24 - [22]The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, [23] and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. [24] And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'

Luke 16:28 - for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'

Revelation 19:3 - Once more they cried out, "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever."

1 Thessalonians 5:3 - While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

2 Peter 3:7 - But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

Revelation 6:10 - They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

Revelation 19:1-3 - [1]After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,"Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, [2]for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants." [3] Once more they cried out, "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever."

John 5:28-29 - [28] Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice [29] and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

2 Peter 2:4 - For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

Jude 1:6 - And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Matthew 22:11-14 - [11]"But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. [12] And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. [13] Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' [14] For many are called, but few are chosen."

Revelation 9:2 - He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft.

Matthew 13:40-42 - [40]Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. [41] The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, [42] and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Christocentric: Christ in Colossians | Mission

The final area where the work of Christ in Colossians was proven preeminent was in his work of sending his people for Mission. After the work of the cross and subsequent resurrection, Jesus immediately sent the Church on its mission: the work of preaching the Gospel. Jesus’ mission purchases and empowers the mission of the church. Here are some examples:

- Colossians 1:1—Jesus sent Paul as an apostle or “sent one” of Christ. Epaphras is the faithful of Minister of Jesus Christ (1:7).

- Colossians 1:9—Paul prays that the Colossians would be filled with the knowledge of the will of Christ for the sending of mission.

- Colossians 4:7 and 4:12—Tychicus and Epaphras are referred to as “servant[s] of the Lord” and “servant[s] of Jesus Christ“ (respectively) because they are active members of the mission of Jesus Christ.

- Colossians 4:17—Paul tells Archippus to “See that [he] fulfill[s] [his] ministry in the Lord.” the Ministry of the saints is a ministry in Jesus Christ because they are sent by Jesus Christ, to proclaim Jesus Christ, in the power of the Spirit of Christ.

Jesus is the preeminent missionary and equips us to be sent, also. Christian, do you believe that you are a "sent one?" Do you believe that the knowledge you have received from him is for that purpose? Are you actively participating in what Jesus has going on? It's all too easy to forget that the preeminent one blesses us with salvation in order that we may proclaim him, "warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ." (Colossians 1:28)

It's my hope that—if Colossians has taught us anything—we will embody the gospel of the preeminent Christ, who is working powerfully within us and through us. May he be first—until the last.

Christocentric: Christ in Colossians | Firstborn

Jesus also proves his preeminence by being resurrected on our behalf (Colossians 1:18). Jesus is the first fruits of God's resurrection and physical redemption of humanity. It is through Jesus Christ’s resurrection that everything will have resurrection in the future. “The New Age initiated by Christ’s death and resurrection constitutes nothing less than the new order of human life in Christ, the essential ingredient of which is victory over death in its various expressions.”[1] Jesus is the first fruits of the resurrection for humanity providing humanity with the ability to resurrect through Him. Christians are united to Christ in his resurrection “in which you were also raised with him” (Colossians 1:12).

To the skeptic, this sounds ludicrous. How is the resurrection even possible? If it was possible, how does the resurrection of a man who lived and died (and lived) 2,000 years ago have any impact on the world today? The reality is that—without the resurrection—there is no basis for the Christian faith. (See 1 Corinthians 15) The resurrection is our only hope that Jesus has conquered death and sin and all its forms. The fact that Jesus died and rose again guarantees that all he says is true. The fact that Jesus died and rose again ensures death will never hold us. The death and resurrection of Jesus paves the way for the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, which empowers us for daily victory in the war against sin. Did you know that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in those who believe in Jesus? (Romans 8:11) That's more power and strength and provision than you could ever imagine. Yet, how often do we, as believers, ignore the reality of the power of the resurrection in our lives? We turn the greatest something into the greatest nothing—through unbelief. No wonder the gospel seems powerless to so many.

The resurrection does mean something—today, tomorrow and forever—and without it, we're deader than dead. I hope we're not living like its nothing.

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[1] Wall, Colossians and Philemon p.70

Christocentric: Christ in Colossians | Reconciliation

Jesus Christ also proves his preeminence by being a reconciler. Because of the previous effects of the work of Christ on the cross, Christians have reconciliation with God. Paul tells us in Colossians 1:20 that anything that is reconciled to God is reconciled through Jesus Christ and his cross. All things that are on earth or in heaven are reconciled by the death of Jesus Christ to God from the effects of the fall—rocks, trees, stars, solar systems—all are reconciled to God through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. But most profoundly, Colossians 1:21 tells us that Jesus Christ reconciles unholy humanity to the holy God ”in his body of flesh by his death” making them holy and reconciled to God.

Christian, one of the most unfathomable parts about this is the fact that we, too, are reconcilers. Our Savior reconciled us that we may return the favor. Paul even goes as far as to call us "ministers of reconciliation" in the book of 2 Corinthians. I have to ask you: are you even aware of your calling? Are you breathing it? Are you pleading with the lost to be reconciled to God?

If you have yet to put your faith in Christ, I ask you this: are you aware of your need? Do you feel and experience the effects of the fall—death, disease, pain, injustice—and long for a solution? I ask that you consider Jesus. Consider the fact that he desires to reconcile you to God the Father. Consider how that could change everything. Think about it.