22

“I’ll sum it up for you: the Bible says that ‘all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.1’ Sin is anything morally wrong, like bad actions and even bad thoughts. We’re actually born in sin, and it’s because we’re sinners that there is death and suffering in the world, ‘for the wages of sin is death.2’ Not only that, but the Bible speaks of a second death that all sinners must undergo. The prophetic book of Revelation says ‘Then Death and Hell were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name wasn’t found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.3’

“You may think that only the worst of the worst people will end up in

the lake of fire, but listen to this: ‘as for the cowardly, the unbelieving,

the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur which is the second death.4’ I’m sure you’ve told a lie before, and even telling one lie makes you a liar and, according to this verse, deserving of hell. Also, Jesus said that anyone who gets angry with his brother and insults him or calls him

a fool ‘will be guilty enough to go to the fires of hell.5’ So any way

you look at it, we sinners deserve to go to the lake of fire.

“Now,” he continues, “God is a just judge and must satisfy his justice by punishing sin. Thankfully, he’s also a merciful God; the Bible says ‘God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.6’”

What do you say?

a. “I’m not sure God can forgive me for all that I’ve done.” Go to page 19.

b. “So what else does the Bible say?” Go to page 6.

1 – Rom 3:23, 2 – Rom 6:23a, 3 – Rev 20:14-15, 4 – Rev 21:8, 5 – Mat 5:22b, 6 – Rom 5:8