Degrees / Unending / Just Punishment

The point: Consider the measure to which you are investing in the bank of divine retribution and wrath by continuing in impenitence despite hearing the gospel.

The analogy of accumulating capital in a bank account is used to illustrate how every day of impenitence, despite God's goodness, adds to a 'bank account' of divine wrath, which will be cashed in on the day of judgment.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth. That's the word that's used. It's the word that would be used when you would describe a man who is accumulating a treasure. And here the apostle uses this graphic imagery that when God continues to shower his goodness even in the area of his common gifts and how much more the special gift of his special grace and special mercy in the gospel of Christ.

16:35 - 17:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He expounds on Mark 9:43-48, using the graphic figures of the 'worm that dies not' and 'fire that is not quenched' to illustrate the eternal existence of the tormented soul and…

The imagery of worms feeding on a dead carcass is used to explain Mark 9:48. Just as worms die when their food source is gone, the 'worm that dies not' in hell implies an eternal food source – the eternally existing soul and body of the impenitent.

It's not a very pleasant one, or aesthetically pleasing one, but our Lord used it and I must expound it. When the worms that breed and feed upon a dead carcass have no more carcass on which to feed, what happens to the worms? What happens to them? They die.

30:11 - 30:38 Read in full sermon

Driving home: What is that upon which the worm feeds and the fire consumes forever? It is the soul and body of every impenitent man or woman within the sound of my voice who goes to judgment.

The analogy of a wood stove fire that goes out without more wood is used to explain 'unquenchable fire.' This illustrates that hell's fire is eternal because it has eternal fuel – the souls and bodies of the impenitent.

You children know. If you have a wood stove at home, if Pop doesn't put more wood in the wood stove, after a few hours, what happens to the fire in the wood stove? It goes what? Everyone under seven tell me.

31:27 - 31:39 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Love incarnate can curse a sinner, speaking of Christ. Love incarnate can damn a sinner. And if love incarnate can curse and damn a sinner, it can do it for all eternity.

An extended quotation from a godly Methodist preacher is used to vividly describe the unending, monotonous horror of eternity in hell, with its 'Forever and ever' pendulum.

No day. No night. Forever. In another generation there was a godly and powerful Methodist preacher.

39:23 - 39:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Weigh what you are bartering your soul for against the hell that is God's just retribution for willful continuance in sin.

A quote from a hymn, 'It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,' is used to contrast the fleeting pleasures of sin with the eternal joy of Christ's presence, urging listeners to consider what they are bartering their souls for.

It will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

49:08 - 49:12 Read in full sermon