Effect This Should Have on Believers, Part 1

Driving home: If I really believe that to gratify that course of passion and sin and wickedness is to run the writhing in hell forever, before me, do you see what abases passions which may rage like a fire?

The thought of eternal hellfire is presented as a powerful deterrent that abases raging passions and temptations, making one determined and desperate in mortification.

Do you see the context of our Lord's dealing with the subject of hell? He says to his disciples, Your dealings with sin must be prompt, resolute, and full, or you run the wishing in hell. I suggest that there is nothing so calculated as to put determination and I use the word carefully, determination and desperation into the duty of mortification as the doctrine of hell. If I believe, no matter how strong no matter how strong no matter how strong no matter how strong the power of temptation, no matter how activating the seducements of the world, the flesh of the devil, if I really believe that...

15:07 - 16:19 Read in full sermon

The point: If the motivation of hell doesn't get hold of you, you'll make poor work in the duty of mortification.

The certainty of Christ's death is used to illustrate that certainty of an outcome (perseverance) does not negate the necessity of the means (mortification and obedience), nor the reality of the struggle.

Follow me. The certainty that Jesus, Christ, would die didn't make it any the less necessary that he had to die. Was it certain that Christ would die? Yes or no?

19:25 - 19:36 Read in full sermon

The point: Meditate long upon this biblical doctrine that the course of perpetually indulged sin leads to destruction.

Paul's analogy of running a race and boxing in 1 Corinthians 9 is used to illustrate the extreme self-discipline and determination required in mortification, motivated by the fear of being 'rejected' or cast off.

He's giving the illustration from the Greek games, and he says in those games one man out of the whole crowd that enters the race gains the prize, but he said in the Christian race everyone should run as though only one will gain, for each one must gain the prize individually. And so he says by way of application to himself, verse 26, I therefore so run not as uncertainly, so fight I as not beating the air, but I buffet my body, and I don't believe he's speaking literally, he uses a strong word here, I bruise myself, I beat myself till black and blue. He's talking about a man who is determined...

22:29 - 23:46 Read in full sermon

The point: When tempted to turn back from the path of holiness, remember that to turn back is to go back to destruction.

Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress is referenced, where Christian faces 'Hill Difficulty' but presses on because he knows 'the only thing back there is hell,' illustrating the doctrine of hell as a motive for perseverance.

You say, I cannot. To quit and to go back as Bunyan's Christian again and again when he was tempted to do. He says, to go back is to do what? Is to go back to destruction.

25:43 - 25:52 Read in full sermon

The point: When tempted to turn back from the path of holiness, remember that to turn back is to go back to destruction.

Bunyan's 'man in the iron cage' is used as an example of a once-flourishing professor who laid his reins on lust and ceased to watch and pray, ending in despair, serving as a warning against spiritual complacency.

So up he went. Up he went. Ah, dear weary pilgrim, wrestler on the way to heaven, remember when tempted to turn back, to turn back is to go back to destruction. If I'm speaking to some who may be relatively free at this moment from any conscious wrestling with indwelling sin and areas of defect in your character that cause you to groan before God, may I remind you again as Bunyan has it so beautifully in his Immortal Pilgrim's Progress when he's in the house of the interpreter and at that point everything is wonderful.

26:04 - 26:44 Read in full sermon

The point: When conscious fellowship with Christ is distant, have the doctrine of hell firmly fixed in your heart to keep you from sin.

Bunyan's 'man who had a dream' about being unprepared for judgment is used to emphasize the importance of keeping the doctrine of hell fresh in mind as a 'goad' for the journey to the Celestial City.

But then he goes on to say now I have one more thing. He says it twice and he takes him to the man who had a dream and you remember what his dream was about? The day of judgment had come and he was unprepared to meet that day and to hear the sentence depart from me and then the interpreter says to Christian and I'm paraphrasing now because I left my book in the little room in there I brought it in my briefcase but I didn't bring it to the pulpit. He says in essence these words let these thoughts be as golds as you make your way to the celestial city.

27:06 - 27:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Let the doctrine of hell produce unflinching stability in the face of persecution, fearing God who can cast into hell, not men who can only kill the body.

The story of English martyr John Hooper, who replied 'eternal life is sweeter and eternal death more bitter' when urged to recant to avoid the stake, illustrates the power of the doctrine of hell to motivate unflinching stability in persecution.

to avoid that temporal pain and anguish at the price of denying Christ is to leap into the pain and anguish of eternal torment that's what our Lord's saying don't be afraid of those that kill the body does he mean that? absolutely that if someone came in here this morning and pointed a gun at me and said preacher you deny Christ or I'll shoot you that I should just smile at him and look like I'm going to a picnic no our Lord's using a figure of speech he says don't let your real dread be physical death oh sure you'll have some of that you're human beings I know that I made you that way but nev...

36:16 - 37:43 Read in full sermon