Do we go to hell because of sin? Many think that’s exactly why we go to hell, but this is not correct. Mankind’s fall into sin and death did not surprise our Lord, and before the fall even came about, He had already predestined how we could be reconciled and saved (Acts 2:23; 1 Pet.1:20; 1 Cor.2:6-8; Rom.8:28-30; Eph.1:5).
We are all sinners. What makes one person not go to hell versus another is not how many sins, or the level of sins, but is strictly on our response to the gospel. The Lord has paid for the sins of all (John 1:29; John 3:16; Acts 20:28; 1 Cor.6:20; 7:23; 2 Cor.5:14-15; 1 Tim.4:10; Col.2:14; 2 Pet.2:1; 1 John 2:2), and whoever refuses His payment will be judged by their own righteousness, which none can earn.
- The Lord will judge us in righteousness (Acts 17:31; Ps.9:8; Ps.35:24; Ps.98:9).
- Righteousness is what saves us (Ps.15:1-2; Prov.10:2; Is. 32:17; Matt. 5:20).
- We receive righteousness from God (Ps.4:1; Ps.24:5; Matt.6:33; Jer.23:6).
- We specifically receive righteousness based on Christ’s work (Rom.3:20-26; 2 Cor.5:21).
- The power of the Gospel is righteousness (Rom.1:16-17; 1 Cor.1:18; 2:4-5; 2 Cor.12:9).
- All have the Gospel (John 1:9; 6:45; Matt.13:19; James 1:21-22; Rom.1:16-21; 10:14-18; Col.1:23).
- We obey the Gospel through faith (Rom.1:16-17; Rom.4:2-5; Rom.6:16).
- Without faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb.11:6)
No one has ever been saved outside the Spirit’s witness of the Gospel (John 6:63; Rom.8:14; 1 Cor.2:4; 1 Cor.2:11-14; 1 Cor.12:3; Acts 5:32; Rev.22:17), and outside of obeying the Gospel through faith.
People go to hell because they have failed to trust in the Lord for their salvation, and instead, reject His salvation and trust in themselves. They fail to trust in Him; they fail to obey the gospel.
Deuteronomy 1:30-35
The Lord your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, just as a man carries his son, in all the way which you have walked until you came to this place.’ But for all this, you did not trust the Lord your God, the one who was constantly going before you to find places for you to set up camp. He appeared by fire at night and cloud by day, to show you the way you ought to go. When the Lord heard you, he became angry and made this vow: “Not a single person of this evil generation will see the good land that I promised to give to your ancestors!
Psalm 78:21-22
Therefore the Lord heard and was full of wrath; and a fire was kindled against Jacob and anger also mounted against Israel, because they did not believe in God and did not trust in His salvation.
Isaiah 30:15
For thus the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing
Jeremiah 13:24-25
Therefore I will scatter them like drifting straw to the desert wind. “This is your lot, the portion measured to you from Me,” declares the Lord, “Because you have forgotten Me and trusted in falsehood.
Jeremiah 17:5
Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord.
Zephaniah 3:1-2
Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the tyrannical city! She heeded no voice, she accepted no instruction. She did not trust in the Lord, she did not draw near to her God.
John 3:16-18
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son [who is the Lord of All, the same Lord that has interceded for man and represented the Father since the very beginning], that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Romans 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness
Romans 9:31-32a
but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith
Romans 10:16
However, they did not all obey the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”
Romans 10:21
But as for Israel He says, “All the day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”
Romans 11:20
Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith.
Hebrews 3:18-19
And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
Hebrews 4:2
For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.
2 Thessalonians 1:7
dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 2:10
and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
1 Peter 4:17
For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
Summary
Our Lord died for all, so that all can be presently passed over in judgment for their sin (Rom.3:25; 2 Cor.5:19), and be offered reconciliation through hearing and obeying the gospel through faith.
Our Lord enlightens all to His Gospel (John 1:9; Matt.13:19; Jam.1:21-22), so that all can observe it through faith and receive the forgiveness of sins.
His Spirit is our witness, and thus it is blasphemy of the Spirit that is the unforgiveable sin (Ps.106:33; Is.63:10; Zech.7:12; Matt.12:31; Mark 3:29; Acts 7:51; Gal.5:17; 1 Thes.4:7-8; Heb.10:29).
Those that reject His Gospel and His payment will be judged and will be condemned.