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The latest from Rob Bell's replacement after Rob went to

California 

 

Shane Hippel, the teaching pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church, recently posted his thoughts surrounding Rob Bell's book and the issue of hell.

 

Mr. Hippel says-

 

This speculation is perfectly fine. As long as we recognize these are only our beliefs. And beliefs by nature are not certain; they are faith based assumptions. That’s what makes them beliefs. Once you can prove them, they are no longer beliefs; they become a kind of knowing. And the funny thing is once you know, you don’t need to debate anymore.

 

I have never died, so I don’t have a theological position on heaven or hell. I can only entertain theological possibilities. There is a big difference.
 

I take a position when I know something with certainty. Almost always through direct experience. If someone pinches me, I don’t believe they pinched me. I know it. I experienced it. It doesn’t reside somewhere in my head. Nothing to debate. It happened.

 

I consider a possibility when it’s something I don’t know. This is something I merely believe. Either because someone I trust told me, or the Bible seems to say it, or reason supports it. But until I’ve experienced it, this is only something I believe– a possibility. And possibilities should be held with an open hand, perhaps with some humility and even humor. Who knows, I could be wrong about what I believe?

 

Now having said this, I’m only aware of one person who died, and I mean really died, like three days dead, and came back to life again. His name was Jesus. Upon his return from the dead, he didn’t believe anymore; now he knew. So if I wanted some indication about what happens after I die, I should probably pay attention to what he said after he came back from the dead.

 

Here’s what he said about heaven and hell after his resurrection. Nothing. Nada. Zip.

What did he talk about? Here’s just a sampling: He tells his disciples to make students of him (Mt 28:16), to share the good news of liberation in this life (Mk 16:9-20). He says, “Peace be with you,” and “I’m hungry.” (Lk 24:36-41) He says, “Receive the holy breath; now you can forgive sins.” (Jn 20:22) He says, “It’s me, really, touch my side” (Jn 20:27), and “The fishing is better on the right side of the boat.” (Jn 21:6) He says “Let’s eat” (Jn 21), “Feed my sheep; now follow me” (Jn21:18-20), and “Stop worrying about the future and the fate of other people; just follow me.” (Jn 21:22; Acts 1:7-8)

Not exactly a systematic theology of the afterlife. Mostly, it’s a repeated invitation to trust and follow him and not worry about the future. Apparently, he is also hungry a lot. If anyone had the authority and credibility to provide a coherent-once-and-for-all description of exactly what happens after you die, it would be Jesus upon his return from beyond the beyond. But he didn’t. He didn’t even seem all that interested.

 

If it were important to him, you’d think he would have written a book about it. Or preached a sermon or two. But he didn’t. After Jesus rose from the dead, he spends his time talking about this life.

It would seem Jesus is more concerned with this life than the next. Perhaps we should be, too.

We only get one, and it’s short.

 

Bloem's refutation

. We are told in Jude 3, Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints, The faith here is the whole body of Scripture, the Old and New Testaments.

The Bible was written over 1600 years by numerous authors who were all inspired by God.. 2 Timothy 3:16, states, All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; The Greek word for inspired is Theopneustos. The word is translated literally, "God breathed". This is true of all Scripture, it is a no brainer. The doctrine of the eternity Hell  is clearly taught in Scripture.

Mr. Hipps is in error when he says that the Lord Jesus Christ never talked with anyone about Hell after His resurrection. All you have to do is turn to the book of Revelation.

 

Whose revelation is it? Look at verse one

  Revelation 1:1,The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of JesusChrist, even to all that he saw.

 
Rob Bell and Hell 
 
There is has been a whole lot of talking about Rob Bell's teaching on Heaven and Hell because of a recent book that he read. Now he is saying that we should read the book to see what he believes.
If he believes in an eternal Hell then why did he on the talks shows make it very clear what he meant?
Please read below about an important doctrine and then please read the Scriptures after these.
 

The doctrine of the clarity of Scripture (often called the "perspicuity of Scripture") teaches that "the meanings of the text can be clear to the ordinary reader, that God uses the text of the Bible to communicate His person and will." [1] "The witness of the Church throughout the ages is that ordinary people, who approach it in faith and humility, will be able to understand what the Bible is getting at, even if they meet with particular points of difficulty here and there." [2]

This doctrine is in contrast to other positions like that of the Roman Catholic Church, which asserts that Scripture is imperspicuous (unclear) apart from the interpretative framework of the Catholic church and tradition[1], and of positions like that of Postmodernism and Mormonism, which assert that subjective experience should be preferred over knowing the originally intended meaning of scripture, since it is basically unclear.

Christians who promote the clarity of the Bible encourage others to read it for themselves. Those who deny the perspicuity of the Bible have not historically encouraged a personal devotional time of studying the Bible, and have even "denied free access to the Scriptures lest [others] interpret them improperly and disseminate false doctrine." [3]

The issue of perspicuity is not entirely unique to the Bible, as it concerns the basic principles of hermeneutics which are relevant to all texts. That the scripture is clear does not ensure, however, that man will receive it for what it is. Man is depraved and needs the illumination of the Holy Spirit in order to see the meaning for what it is.

 

 

 

Below the doctrine of the eternality of Hell.

 All quotations from the gospels (Matthew-John) are the words of Jesus Christ Himself spoken while He was on the earth.

 

"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court ; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court ; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

 

 

Matthew 5:29 NAS

"If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

 

 

Matthew 5:30 NAS

"If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

 

Matthew 10:28 NAS

"Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

Matthew 18:9 NAS

"If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.

 

 

Matthew 23:33

"You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell ?

 

"If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire...

 

Mark 9:45 NAS

"If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off ; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell,

 

"If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell,

 
"But I will warn you whom to fear : fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell ; yes, I tell you, fear Him!
 

And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity ; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell

.

2 Peter 2:4 NAS

 

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment ;

 
 
 
The Lake of Fire
 
 

And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image ; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.

 

 

Revelation 20:15

 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

 
My blog is http://sbloemreflections.blogspot.com/2011/07/singing-songs-to-heavy-heart.html
  
Revelation 22:10-21
And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the one   who does wrong, still do wrong ; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy ; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness ; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy."Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done."I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying."I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come ; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. 18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book : if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book ; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.
 
Please read below how to be saved and become a child of God.
If you would like more Bible study on how to be saved, please go to our contact us link below.
Thank you.
Rev. Steve Bloem B.A. M.M.
 

 
 
The Bible alone has God's answer of salvation for man.
Revelation is that act of God whereby He discloses Himself or communicates truth to the mind, and He makes manifest to His creatures that which could not be known in any other way.  Inspiration has to do with the recording of the truth. The Spirit of God moved upon men to write the sixty-six books of the Bible (Acts1:16; 2 Peter 1:21). Scripture is fully and verbally inspired; it is God - breathed  (2 Timothy 3:16).  
 
So if we want to learn who Jesus Christ, we need to go to the Bible.
 
  Proof of Deity of Jesus Christ 
 
  Scriptures are from the New American Standard Bible 
 
1.  Jesus Christ is named as  God.  The deity of the Son of God is proved by the application of the name of God to Him.
 
Hebrews 1:8, "But to the Son He says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;  A scepter of rightousness is the scepter of Your kingdom (see also Hebrews 1:9,10).
 
Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a child is born, a Son is given; And the government  will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.
 
Is 7:14 - Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a Son, and she will call His name Immanuel (God with us) Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:19.
 
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. (Theos nv o Logos)  Don't let Jehovah Witnesses tell you the Greek indicates that Christ (the Word), was a god.  The greek omits the article, converts the word into the abstract, denoting the species, "deity" (Shedd's Dogmatic Theology, volume 1, page 315)
 
Titus 2:13 - ...looking for the Blessed Hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus
 
John 20:28 Thomas  answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
 
 
2. Divine attributes are accorded to the Son of God
 
    a. Eternity- Micah 5:2 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
too little to be among the clans of Judah, from You One will go forth for me to be ruler in Israel.  His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity."     (Isaiah 9:6) Jesus is called the eternal Father (literally the Father of eternity).
 
  b. Immensity and Omnipresence - Matthew 18:20 - "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst."
 
  c. Omnipotence -  John 10:17,18 - ..."For this reason the Father loves Me, becasue I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own intitiative.  I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.  This commandment I received from my Father."
 
 
Do You Know the Way to Heaven?

 

Did you figure out the maze on the cover? Could you find a path from any of those things that leads to heaven? Don't feel bad, because I could not find one either. Is the maze broken? No, there's nothing wrong with the maze. What's wrong is that lots of people are still trying to get to heaven in ways that don't work.

How many ways to heaven are there?

 Each religion seems to have its own way (or lots of them) to get there, but they don't agree with each other and therefore cannot all be true. Some say there is one God, some say there are many gods, and some say there is no God. How can they all be right? They can't.

 

Is there a way to heaven? Yes, there is. Can we know what it is? Yes, we can. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14:6). This bold statement leaves no room for any other ways to God. Many people try to take these words lightly, by thinking that Jesus was a good religious teacher and nothing more. Yes, it's true that He was a good teacher--and good teachers tell the truth! That's why we have to take what He said very seriously.

 

One day, Jesus was talking with a religious man. Jesus said to him, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

 

What about my religion?  Religion is not the answer. There is a larger problem that must be dealt with. That problem is sin. Sin is like a wall that separates us from God. People have tried for countless years to climb over the problem of sin by elevating themselves morally, or to go around it by pretending that it doesn't exist. But it does exist, and the reason we can't simply climb over it is that--from God's perspective--sin has made us spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1). Dead people can't climb!

 

How did Jesus Christ make it possible for me to be saved from sin?

Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth to provide the way by which you and I could be "born again"--given spiritual life and a personal relationship with God. Because this is nothing that we could ever do for ourselves, salvation is called a "free gift" many times in the Bible. It is a gift that was purchased at great cost to the Lord Jesus, who laid down His life as a payment for our sin. There, at the cross of Calvary, He "bare our sins in His own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24). Then, on the third day, He rose victoriously from the grave to die no more. 

 

Can I get to Heaven by good works, baptism or through other gods? 

 

No, none of those things gives you eternal life. Now this gift of a new life--the only way to heaven--is offered to you. Will you accept it? Will you acknowledge before God that you are spiritually dead in sin? Will you by faith trust Jesus Christ to be your Saviour? "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

The way to heaven is not something that we can earn or figure out for ourselves. Rather, it is only through faith in Jesus Christ, and is open to all who cast themselves upon the amazing grace of God (Ephesians 2:8,9).

 

Do you know for sure that you have eternal life?