The Bible tells of the horrors of hell. In Luke 16:22-24, Jesus describes a rich man in hell begging Abraham to send Lazarus with a drop of water to cool his tongue, “For I am tormented in this flame,” he said. 

You may have heard people claim that they, as spirits, will not feel any punishment in hell. What they overlook is the fact that the wicked, as well as the righteous, will have resurrection bodies, before their final judgment. They will be cast into hell in real, physical bodies. They will be eternally conscious of physical pain and torment in hell.

The idea of hell is so repulsive that most people prefer not to think about it. Or they prefer not to accept it as true. But hell exists, and not believing does not make it go away. It is a real and physical place, a place of punishment with real fire and brimstone. The devil has people so doubting today that they will laugh at hearing this. But it is very true nonetheless.

Some claim, “A good God would not send people to hell.” This is true, people send themselves to hell. God is good, and He loves everyone, even the wicked. But He is also just, and that means that every single sin must be paid for. The punishment will be paid for either by Christ or by each sinner himself.

Anyone who truly believes that Jesus is God’s Son, that He died to pay for his sins, and asks for and receives salvation from Christ will owe no payment for his sins. Christ has already paid for every single one. The believer is “Washed in the blood of the Lamb.”

But woe to all unbelievers who die without changing their minds. For they must then pay for all their sins themselves in hell for all eternity. The moment of physical death, the spirit proceeds either to heaven or hell.

I am so grateful to God for His mercy and grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 declares, “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest anyone should boast.” I thank God every day for His love and grace in saving my worthless self. For I know that there is no good in my old, evil self. I praise God for giving me a new nature in Christ.

Everyone who has ever lived, except for Christ Himself, has been a wicked sinner. Even the great Paul had to admit the same in Romans 7:14-15. Here he confesses, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” 

Paul was the best Christian the world has seen, so his statement puts us in our place.

We are all woeful sinners and in desperate need of the salvation only available through Christ the Lord. But, the opportunity ends with earthly life; and no one knows when his opportunity will end.