FIRE AND BRIMSTONE
by Douglas R. Johnson
June 18, 1995
FIRE AND BRIMSTONE is a phrase that is used by the world as
a mocking description of the preaching of Jonathan Edwards in his
work, "Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God". That book was talked
about in school in a way to belittle the message. The idea was
that such talk is "old fashion" and subject to valid ridicule.
I am not looking to discuss that work but on the source of the
concept, namely what gets God so angry that he meets out judgement.
The main message about God is one of LOVE as shown in His
Word:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only
begotten son that whosoever believes on him shall not perish
but have everlasting life." [John 3:16]
Take this passage in context with this one:
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and
murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and
all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth
with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
[Revelation 21:8]
This is because the Scripture says:
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die" [Eze 18:4b]
"...It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this
the judgement". [Hebrews 9:27]
The enemy is satan, the devil, because he knows his fate as
specified in Scripture:
"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake
of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet
are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
[Revelation 20:10]
Man was created to live forever. Because of sin, he was to
die, first physically and then the "second death" mentioned above.
God has a Plan of Salvation for individuals so that they might
avoid this second death and have abundant life. This Plan can be
categorized with Scripture verses as follows:
1. FACT OF SIN
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh
after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are
together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good,
no, not one." [Romans 3:10-12]
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God;" [Romans 3:23]
"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into
the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because
their deeds were evil." [John 3:19]
"For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good,
and sinneth not." [Ecc 7:20]
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked: who can know it?" [Jer 17:9]
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a
leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
[Isa 64:6]
"The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of
men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek
God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become
filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one." [Psalms
14:2,3]
2. PENALTY OF SIN
"For the wages of sin is death;" [Romans 6:23a]
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that
believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." [John
3:18]
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and
he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the
wrath of God abideth on him." [John 3:36]
"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This
is the second death." [Rev 20:14]
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." [Eze 18:4b]
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." [Eze 18:20a]
"And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned
against me, him will I blot out of my book." [Exo 32:33]
3. PENALTY MUST BE PAID
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after
this the judgment:" [Heb 9:27]
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not
bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear
the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous
shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be
upon him." [Eze 18:20]
4. PENALTY PAID BY JESUS CHRIST
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time
Christ died for the ungodly." [Rom 5:6]
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." [Rom 5:8]
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also
received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures;" [1 Cor 15:3]
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every
one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity
of us all." [Isa 53:6]
5. SALVATION FREE GIFT
"But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord." [Rom 6:23b]
"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith
without the deeds of the law." [Rom 3:28]
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his
name:" [John 1:12]
"Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee
the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord;
trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." [Psa
37:4,5]
6. MUST ACCEPT
"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;
which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was
confirmed unto us by them that heard him;" [Heb 2:3]
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and
he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the
wrath of God abideth on him." [John 3:36]
"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his
Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not
condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already,
because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten
Son of God." [John 3:15-18]
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God." [John 3:3]
"Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born
again." [John 3:7]
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life
was cast into the lake of fire." [Rev 20:15]
7. ASSURANCE
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life." [John 3:16]
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us
eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the
Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not
life." [1 John 5:11,12]
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh
me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the
still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence
of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup
runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all
the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
for ever." [Psa 23:1-6]
The world's view of FIRE AND BRIMSTONE is that the teaching
is that God is going to punish people for just being human. This
is not what the Word says. The Word says God made man and met
daily with him. Because of man's sin after temptation from the
devil, the sin separated him from God. The lake which burns with
fire and brimstone was prepared for the devil and his angels and
not made for man. Man's sin automatically puts him on the path to
receive the devil's reward.
After man's original sin, God provided one and only one way
of escape from the punishment of sin. This was his Son Jesus who
gave of himself to die on the cross, not for His sin, but for our
sin. The forgiveness for sin was earned by Jesus Christ and is now
available to all as a free gift.
The Word says: "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord
Jesus and shall believe with your heart that God has raised him
from the dead, you shall be saved." [Rom 10:9] When we confess
we speak. The word that we speak are the basis of Christianity
which is "Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of the
world." [John 1:28b]
If you are not sure that you have personalized the message of
Jesus coming to forgive your sins and to give you eternal life, I
suggest that you make this commitment now. Pray this out loud and
sign and date it so you will always know that you did your part.
"Dear heavenly Father, I pray in Jesus name. I confess
and state that Jesus is the Lamb of God, which takes away the
sins of the world. I confess and believe that Jesus died for
my sins. I confess and believe with my heart that God has
raised Him from the dead. I ask for your salvation and I
receive Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour. Amen"
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signed date