Why Hobbits?

I. Why Don’t You Change With The Times?

Can anyone prove a change in . . .

1. God? Mal.3:6

2. Jesus? Hb.13:8

3. Bible? Hb.1:2 (13:8)

4. Man? Ro.3:23; 6:23

Man’s only change: his whims2 Tim.4:2-5

“If church of Christ doesn’t change, children won’t stay”

“Change agents” Social gospel Mechanical music…

Acts 20:28

Church’s mission is spiritual Warned of ‘change agents’ (29-31)

“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood”

I. Why Don’t You Change With The Times?

II. Why Do You StillBelieve In Hell?

Prominent preachers

Rob Bell John Stott N. T. Wright Ed Fudge

Hb.10:27, the fire that consumes

Metaphor (Th.); Figure (BDAG)

Do figures also cancel eternal heaven?

Crippled?Mk.9:43

Ab. bosom?Lk.16:23

Paradise?Lk.23:43

Up the river / pay the piper / concrete over-coat / teach a lesson / the chair / hot seat / rope / string up / necktie / give what for /

take medicine / face the music / get what’s coming to him / in doghouse / throw book…

Hb.10:27, the fire that consumes

Metaphor (Th.); Figure (BDAG)

Do figures also cancel eternal heaven? Hb.10:29, more severe than death? Hb.12:29, fire will perish w/o fuel Mk.9:48, body not devoured; fire not

quenched Lk.16, conscious, continuous

Jesus said more aboutHell than anyone

1. Mt.5:22, burning Gehenna

2. Mt.5:29, preferable to worse loss

3. Mt.10:28 (Lk.12:5) . . . to worst fate

4. Mt.18:9, warning to believers

5. Mt.23:15, child of hell

6. Mt.23:33, good intentions

7. Mk.9:43, life is real, hell is not?

Jesus expressed Himself clearly Mt.10:28, destroy is not annihilation

Cannot kill soul (28) Can torment it – 2 Pt.2:8; Lk.16:24

Demons: Mk.1:24 (Mt.25:46; 2 Pt.2:4; Rv.20:10

Sheep, coin, son: Lk.15:6, 9, 24 – lost & found

Wineskins: Mt.9:17

The dead live (Mt.22:..30-32)

If people in hell are destroyed, why not people in heaven??

Can’t have it both ways

“Eternal” (Mt.25:41, 46)

W/o end, never to cease, everlasting –Th.

Same adjective used of saved & lost No annihilation for either

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life –Mt.25:46

If no hell, no justice(Mt.13:47-50)

Evil will not be totally removed from world until the age ends

Criminals walk free; victims still hurt

“Dislike” does not make it disappear(Mt.26:24)

Holocaust Doctor’s report Soldier’s family

If no hell, no need for evangelism(2 Co.5:10-11)

“A true fear of hell has sent many a soul to heaven”