LAWTON CHURCH OF GOD, LAWTON,
OKLAHOMA
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53
HOLINESS OR HELL: WHICH? TEXT:
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the
Lord. The
subject, as stated above, may at first appear rather emphatic and startling, but
in its last analysis is simply the plain teaching of the Bible, and of all
evangelical denominations. All Christians believe that heaven is a holy place,
and that no sin can enter there. Hence, if men are not made holy they cannot
enter heaven, and if they cannot enter heaven they must take up their abode with
the lost. I.
HOLINESS Commanded:
As He which hath called you is holy, be ye holy. Called
to holiness: God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. Chastised
to bring us to holiness: Our fathers “chastened us after their own pleasure,
but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.” Holiness
realized and perfected: Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us
cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God. Established
in holiness: To the end He may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness
before God, even our Father. Holiness
lived: That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve Him
without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.
Holiness
provided: Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it; that He might
sanctify and cleanse it . . . that it should be holy and without blemish. Holiness
experienced: Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. After
this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned
themselves. What
excuse can there be for men not to be holy? II.
THE DESTINY OF THOSE WHO REFUSE HOLINESS The
Bible speaks of it as: ● “Hell,”
(Matthew 5:29, 30; 10:28.) ● “Hell
fire,” (Matthew 18:9; 5: 22.) ● “Furnace
of fire,” (Matthew 13:42, 50.) ● “Unquenchable
fire,” (Luke 3:17; ● “ ● “Fire
and brimstone,” (Revelation 21:8; 19:20.) ● “Outer
darkness,” (Matthew 8:12; 22:13.) ● “Everlasting
destruction,” (2 Thessalonians 1:9.) ● “Everlasting
punishment,” (Matthew 25:46.) ● “Eternal
damnation,” (Mark 3:29.) ● “The
bottomless pit,” (Revelation 20:1.) III.
WHO THE INHABITANTS WILL BE ● “The
Devil and his angels,” (Matthew 25:41.) ● “The
wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalm
9:17.) ● “Them
that know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2
Thessalonians 1:8.) ● “All
things that offend, and them which do iniquity.” (Matthew 13:41.) ● “The
fearful, and unbelieving, and the 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.” (Revelation 21:8.) ● “And
whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire,” (Revelation 20:15.) Hell
is a necessity not only as a punishment for the lawless, but as a protection for
the law abiding. Hell was not created for men and was never intended for them,
but was “prepared for the Devil and his angels.” He who goes there goes as
an intruder. God
does not send men to hell; they go there as the result of their own choice. Men
can be saved if they will be. Hell
is dreadful because of the correspondence (similarity) between the characters
who go there and the place; also because of what is not there. There is no law,
no love, no hope, no truth and no rest in hell. Even
the lost in hell pray against others coming there. (Luke 16:28.)
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